Zainab B.

🚀 Exciting News! I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Harlem World to discuss my entrepreneurial journey from the entertainment industry to launching my tech startups, Project Casting and Livy AI. In the interview, I delve into how growing up and working in Harlem has shaped my entrepreneurial spirit and passion for creating opportunities for others. Harlem isn't just a place; it's a pivotal part of my story, influencing my commitment to innovation and community empowerment. 🌟 Project Casting aims to democratize access to opportunities in the entertainment industry, making it easier for aspiring artists to find their big break. Meanwhile, Livy AI is at the forefront of integrating AI into everyday solutions, enhancing how we live and work. I'm thrilled to share how these ventures not only embody cutting-edge technology but also a deep-rooted desire to give back to the community that raised me. Let's keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible! #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #CommunityEmpowerment #Harlem Check out the full interview here for more insights into how Harlem has inspired a broader vision: https://lnkd.in/eRn_vtXK

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- Fashion legend, André Leon Talley was always aspirational. With his grand attire, high-fashion society friends, and exuberant personality, I didn't see myself in him even as a Black woman working in fashion. - That changed when I read his 2020 memoir, The Chiffon Trenches. In my latest Substack post, I reflect on Talley's life and the joy and heartbreak of being a trailblazer. - If you are interested in learning about fashion and its history from a cultural and critical perspective, please subscribe: whitneyjordan.substack.com

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Before attending AfroTech, I often wondered: how would I, a communications professional, fit into this tech-driven experience? But to my surprise, this was exactly where I needed to be. 💡 Communication matters—even in the most tech-savvy spaces. The intersection of communication and technology is where innovation meets impact, and AfroTech 2024 proved that more than ever.  Here are my key takeaways from this unforgettable experience:  1️⃣ AI is a Game-Changer for Messaging: Personalization at scale? Yes! AI is reshaping how we connect with audiences in meaningful ways. 🤖✨   2️⃣ Ethical Storytelling is Necessary: Automation is powerful, but it should never replace authenticity. It’s about using tech to enhance the human connection. 🌍💬   3️⃣ Representation Drives Innovation: When diverse voices are in the room, better, more inclusive solutions emerge. Representation isn’t just important—it’s essential. 🚀  AfroTech reminded me that communication isn’t just relevant in tech—it’s crucial. As a brand strategist, I’m energized to leverage these insights to amplify diverse voices and push boundaries in storytelling.  How do you see communication shaping the future of tech? Let’s chat in the comments! 👇 #AfroTech2024 #CommunicationMatters #InnovationMeetsStorytelling

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Black beauty creators often don't get paid as much as other influencers, despite the fact that Black beauty consumers are spending over $7.4 billion annually. Something has clearly got to change! In our latest Creator Spotlight, powered by What's Trending and PRophet, I got to sit down with beauty star Golloria George who recently made headlines for her videos calling out Youthforia and rhode skin by Hailey Bieber. We explore the passion, mission and positivity that has propelled her brand to reach millions. Watch the full conversation here ▶️ https://lnkd.in/g7kj6jPj #CreatorEconomy #DigitalMarketing #InfluencerMarketing #ContentCreation #Authenticity #BrandStrategy #SocialMedia #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Innovation #BeautyEconomy

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🚨🚨Counting down the days until one of the biggest events of the year for black entrepreneurs!! The Black Commerce Conference is THE place to make incredible connections, gain valuable industry insight, and have an awesome time!! I look forward to making new lifelong connections and learning from unique individuals! 🚀💫 #blackentrepreneurs #events #blackentrepreneurship #hbcuentrepreneur #hbcupride #hbcunews #howarduniversity #blackownerbusiness #genz #genzintheworkforce

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I’ve been lying to myself, and I wrote that lie for many to read. Busy organizing our Happiness Retreat to Jamaica, working with a contractor on Klaviyo flows 😮‍💨, and enjoying a false sense of ease, I convinced myself that continuing to work in restaurants is where I need to be. Entrepreneurship felt easier this way. I realized this was a lie a while ago but disillusioned with entering the job market as an entrepreneur/ waitress, imposter syndrome bullied my angels into complacency. I can now say with conviction that I am not happy working in restaurants. I do not want to experience upward mobility in this industry. I can no longer withstand the emotional, physical, spiritual and energetic drain that is indicative of taking your order and tending to your dietary needs. For as much as I have enjoyed the breath of my wild experience from Michelin Star NYC party filled restaurants to the very different attitudes of the Boston Seaport diner, I am checked out. My profile photo will remain without a prompt but know, I am in pursuit of meaning beyond the plate. I have never been conventional, molds have never fit my existence, and transparency is the light force that sustains me. For some, this level of truth is too much and to them I graciously smile, knowing my spirit is its healthiest amongst people and spaces who truly believe in transformative magic. Alas, much is in need of sorting. I will be applying to jobs with a new life focus, writing out my whys and for who, assessing my past before restaurants and imagining the future I deserve. Alignment, here I come 🫂

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For those looking for funding, check out these grants from Black Women's Business Collective! #Funding #Grants #Entrepreneur #Business #SmallBusiness

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Last week, I had the privilege of participating in not one, but two Fireside Chats at AFROTECH. The first was with non sibi ventures and the inspiring Alysia Green of Chevron, and the second with the brilliant Cherae Robinson of Flybridge alongside the talented Tayo Adesanya of Lola Vision Systems. And let me tell you, those conversations left me #inspired and #hopeful. The biggest lesson I walked away with? The call for a better #EV driver experience is something we need to bring out of the #climatetech group chat and into conversations that include everyone—because this impacts all of us.  At ChargerHelp!, we’ve been doing the hard work—using big #data, reimagining #transportation, and thinking deeply about the future of #mobility. Sharing that vision at #AfroTech with folks who aren’t the usual faces in #electrification was powerful. These were everyday people, people with fresh ideas and unique perspectives, and connecting with them reminded me why this work matters so much.  It also brought me back to my roots. South Central Los Angeles has always been a source of #pride for me. It’s where our journey began, and it’s a community filled with incredible talent, innovation, and leadership—things that don’t always get the recognition they deserve.  That’s why I’m so excited to invite the California Department of General Services and the California Energy Commission to South Central for a conversation we all need to have. This isn’t just about EVs or charging stations. It’s about making transportation equitable, reliable, and accessible for everyone. It’s about opening the door to new voices, ideas, and partnerships to shape a future that includes us all.  So, I’m inviting you to join me. Come be part of this important conversation. Together, we can create something better—not just for the drivers of today, but for the communities and families who will rely on this future tomorrow.  Let’s come together and make it happen. Register below. #pleaseshare

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It was an honor to have one of my work clients on the cover of Black Enterprise. Cam’ron is the true definition of betting on yourself. Whether it’s confounding Dipset, starting several brands, or even his own network with various sports talk shows, he continues to redefine himself as an entrepreneur. Read the full article below: https://lnkd.in/gyNian-a

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$UHURU celebrates the limitless potential of underserved creatives of Africa and the diaspora. Buy into Freedom, Empowerment, Financial Distribution, and incredible art and culture. On this Juneteenth, I want to highlight one of our favorite NOWHERE advisors and dear friend Greg Liburd's newly launched groundbreaking project, $UHURU, the world's first pan-African digital asset ecosystem. They’ll be utilizing NOWHERE to bring their global community together with token gated gatherings, town halls, talks, socials. $UHURU, is a visionary project that celebrates the limitless potential of underserved creatives of Africa and the diaspora. Meme with meaning my friends. Bring incredible art and culture to the globe. As we commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, $UHURU symbolizes a new era of economic liberation and self-determination for people of African descent. Greg Liburd's vision is to leverage the transformative power of blockchain technology to create generational wealth, foster entrepreneurship, and fund global creative visionaries. This Juneteenth, let’s join Greg Liburd pioneering spirit to break barriers and empower communities that have been historically underserved and marginalized by buying $UHURU. Together, we can forge a path towards economic independence and prosperity for all. https://uhuru-coin.com #afrofuturism #financialInclusion #blockchain #economicempowerment

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The Taste Radio podcast by BevNET.com has launched a new series called: “Black Founders Club,” and the premier guest features our #PortCo A Dozen Cousins’ Founder & CEO Ibraheem Basir. In this episode, Ibraheem shares his journey as a Black entrepreneur, his funding experiences, and his future goals for A Dozen Cousins.  Watch the video on BevNET.com or listen to the Taste Radio podcast on major platforms. Don't miss it! https://lnkd.in/enD5mT7n #entrepreneurship #founders #startups #foodandbeverage #podcasts

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🏆 Black Girl PR™ is a Black-owned digital public relations (PR) firm committed to empowering Black women in ecommerce to create impactful content that attracts media coverage and expands their reach. After leaving corporate America, Nantale Muwonge founded Black Girl PR in 2020 and has since helped 5,355 entrepreneurs boost their visibility. Her clients have been featured on major platforms like Essence, Fox TV, Insider, MSN, Rolling Out, Shondaland, Time, and Yahoo News. Nantale’s accomplishments challenge the status quo, sparking essential conversations about inclusion. Not only is she a Black woman driving change in PR, but she’s done so while overcoming a major physical setback. Following a car accident that left her with only one functional arm, Nantale launched Black Girl PR during her recovery, proving that preconceived notions about capabilities are often outdated. Nantale herself has been featured by Black Enterprise, Harvard Business Review, and PR Daily for her work and impact. Nantale won a Silver #StevieAward for Communications Professional of the Year in The 2024 American Business Awards®. 🏆 Enter the 2025 program ➡ https://hubs.ly/Q02Y51Lv0

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Digital Prosperity Pipeline- Your AI-Powered Wealth Blueprint Pt 1 of 6 Let’s talk about the elephant in the room - As Black women entrepreneurs, we've been told success requires grinding 24/7, sacrificing everything, and playing by rules that weren't written for us. But what if I told you AI could change that game entirely? I remember staring at my laptop at 3 AM, exhausted from juggling client calls, admin work, and content creation. That breaking point became my breakthrough moment. Today,

Digital Prosperity Pipeline- Your AI-Powered Wealth Blueprint Pt 1 of 6 Let’s talk about the elephant in the room - As Black women entrepreneurs, we've been told success requires grinding 24/7, sacrificing everything, and playing by rules that weren't written for us. But what if I told you AI could change that game entirely? I remember staring at my laptop at 3 AM, exhausted from juggling client calls, admin work, and content creation. That breaking point became my breakthrough moment. Today,

Warner Bros. Entertainment Why Can’t We Have a New Urban Gossip Girl? Picture this: A brilliant, young tech founder with a knack for disruption. She’s born and bred in New York City, navigating the vibrant chaos of Harlem, but her parents are Nigerian immigrants who instilled in her a deep sense of culture, resilience, and ambition. Now, she’s making waves in Atlanta—a city buzzing with creativity, tech innovation, and the energy of Black excellence. She’s got it all: the hustle of Serena van der Woodsen, the cunning of Blair Waldorf, and the heart of someone who knows the grind firsthand. Her world is a swirl of high-stakes VC meetings, Atlanta’s tech scene, HBCU homecomings, and the ever-present whispers of social media gossip. Why not this as the backdrop for a new, urban Gossip Girl? We need stories that reflect the layered lives of women of color, especially those breaking barriers in spaces like tech. Stories where culture, ambition, and identity collide in ways that feel fresh and true to today. A tale where our lead isn’t just navigating love triangles but also pitching to investors, managing cultural expectations, and being the blueprint for a new kind of success. The original Gossip Girl gave us the drama and glamour of New York’s Upper East Side. But this? This would serve the grit, growth, and glow-up of a Black girl thriving in an ever-changing world. So, why not dream of it? What would you want to see in a new urban Gossip Girl? Let’s make it happen. #IapprovethisMessage Warner Bros. Entertainment @Alloyenterinment WarnerMedia @creativeavalanche

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Inclusion is looking a lot different in the wake of last year’s Supreme Court “Harvard” decision. Since that landmark ruling, anti-DEI activists and lobbies have doubled-down, threatening litigation against both corporate and law firm diversity initiatives. If a university admissions office cannot give someone an explicit edge because they are a member of a protected group, these activists argue, then neither can private business. So we took notice of an announcement from Westbound Equity Partners, of their new $100 million investment fund that favors “black, latin and diversity-minded founders” That’s the kind of language and branding one can expect to see more often on what are (now guardedly) called DEI initiatives: showing there are opportunities open for those who are members of an underrepresented group AND for others who are focused on diversity or who have been touched by discrimination. This isn't just about diversity for diversity's sake and placing labels on innovators — it's about looking at individuals to back the best applicants and companies. SCOTUS says, that’s OK. And so does the data: as we noted, at a recent Entrepreneurs conference at Princeton University, one VC after another said they had looked at the data, and learned that diverse management teams make for higher returns. Westbound says their goal is to transform the startup world into a more diverse and inclusive space, where wealth-building opportunities are accessible to all. We hope that opens doors for innovators from all backgrounds, including those championing neurodiversity. We are looking forward to seeing the full effects! #inclusion #DEI https://lnkd.in/eQzdwj9y

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