2013 Conference Speakers

Francisca Brown

Multicultural Marketing Manager,

American Family Insurance

Francisca Brown leads the multicultural marketing efforts at American Family Insurance.  She is actively involved in a variety of organizations including YWCA Madison Board of Directors, Life Insurance and Marketing Research Association (LIMRA) – Diversity Committee. |Read More

Lindsey Brown

Spelman College Student, C'2014

Lindsey Brown is a junior economics major at Spelman College from Seattle, Washington. She currently is an intern for the LEADS office under the direction of Dr. Jane E. Smith and has been actively involved with the Women of Color Conference for the past two years. Lindsey serves as the social committee chair for the Spelman chapter of Habitat for Humanity and as a chair for the External Affairs Committee for the organization Sisters Keeping It Real Through Service. |Read More

Jennifer L. Capouya

Director of Portfolio Strategy,
SunTrust Investment Advisory Group

Jennifer Capouya directs the activities of SunTrust Bank’s Portfolio Strategy Group which is responsible for deriving the firm’s capital market forecasts, strategic and tactical asset allocation guidance, and portfolio construction solutions. |Read More

Jacqui Chew

Founder, iFusion Marketing

Jacqui Chew believes that innovation is the engine to growth and economic development. As founder of iFusion Marketing, she puts that belief to work by helping high-growth and Internet-enabled businesses build products that customers want to buy. |Read More

Lisa Trevino Cummins

President & Founder, Urban Strategies

Lisa Trevino Cummins founded Urban Strategies in 2003.  She leads the company’s efforts to formulate strategic partnerships and design relevant and effective programs to strengthen and expand the capacity of grass roots organizations.  |Read More

George E. Curry

Editor-in-chief,
National Newspaper Publishers Association

George E. Curry is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, also writes a weekly syndicated column for NNPA, a federation of more than 200 African-American newspapers. . |Read More

Dr. Valerie Daniels-Carter

Founder, President & CEO V&J Holding Companies, Inc.

Dr. Valerie Daniels-Carter along with her brother John started V & J Foods with a single Burger King restaurant in 1982. Within sixteen years, she nurtured the company into a 142 unit, a national multi-brand (multi-state) operation. |Read More

Tomika DePriest

Executive Director of Communications,
Spelman College

Tomika DePriest is the executive director of communications at Spelman College. She is a member of the president’s senior staff and responsible for visual identity/brand management, internal communications, publications, media relations, the College’s website and social media. |Read More

Alicia Diaz

Director of Government Affairs and Legislative Policy, Cuban American National Council

Alicia Diaz is an energetic professional with a dynamic personality and a strong commitment to public health and diverse communities. She recently returned to the non-profit sector to take over the position of Director of Government Affairs and Legislative Policy for the Cuban American National Council’s DC office, an office she launched in 2002 and has guided   through unprecedented expansion and growth over the years. |Read More

Brooke Jackson Edmond

Executive Vice President & Founder,
Jackmont Hospitality, Inc.

Brooke Jackson Edmond is one of three founding principals of Jackmont Hospitality, Inc. where she serves as executive vice president. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Jackmont is a comprehensive foodservice management company that is committed to excellence in service and attention to detail. |Read More

Sharon Epperson

Senior Commodities & Personal Finance Correspondent, CNBC

A award-winning journalist and author Sharon Epperson is the senior commodities correspondent and personal finance correspondent for the CNBC television network. She's a highly respected financial expert particularly in the areas of energy and commodities prices and overall personal financial security. |Read More

Angela Esteva

Director of Business Development & Sourcing,

The Right Plan

Angela Esteva is a corporate executive with over 25 years of management experience within the international hospitality, meeting planning, and publishing industries. |Read More

Dr. Kym A. Harris

CEO, Your SweetSpot Coaching and Consulting, LLC

Kym A. Harris, Ed.D., the 2012 Spelman College Leadership and Women of Color Conference Coach, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Your SweetSpot™ Coaching and Consulting. Dr. Harris is a certified career and life coach with a doctorate in organizational leadership. Her expertise is in leadership development, career coaching, and life coaching for women and minority leaders. |Read More

AJ Johnson

Founder, THE AJ ZONE

You’ve seen actress AJ Johnson share the screen with Julia Roberts, Sylvester Stallone, and Whoopi Goldberg. You’ve learned all of her dance battle moves with Tisha Campbell Martin in the classic movie House Party and watched her grow up with Tyrese in the critically acclaimed film Baby Boy. Now, Johnson is one of the most world renowned lifestyle coaches and wellness advocates. |Read More

Jennifer Keitt

Speaker, Author and Radio Talk Show Host

Passionate, engaging, powerful  . . .  Speaker, Author and Radio Talk Show Host Jennifer Keitt invokes change and improvement in lives of people around the world!  She has the unique ability to challenge individuals in ways they had not thought of before. |Read More

Karan Kendrick

Actress & Entrepreneur

Karan’s riveting onscreen work captivates audiences with portrayals deeply rooted in her southern experience. Subtle, yet powerful truth has become her signature. Her body of work is diverse and dynamic, ranging from blockbuster feature films (The Hunger Games, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, Madea Goes to Jail) to small screen dramas and made-for TV-movies. |Read More

Shanteal Lavern Lake

2013-2014 President,
Spelman Student Government Association

Shanteal Lavern Lake is a Georgia native who always has “others on her mind." With a spirit synonymous with terms such as outspoken, tenacious, and persistent this fearless young woman has made it her life’s mission to positively impact as many people as she can. |Read More

Gail Perry Mason

Author & Financial Advisor

Detroit native Gail Perry-Mason has come a long way from foster care to caring for others. The author, financial coach and talk show host is a respected authority in the financial industry. It’s her years of experience, coupled with her down-to-business style that has made her a sought after speaker and presenter. |Read More

Tiffani “T.” Murray

Freelance Writer & Owner, PersonalityOnaPage.com

With feature articles in such magazines as Workforce Management, SmartMoney, Money, Black Enterprise, Redbookand Upscale, Tiffani Murray is a proven business woman, entrepreneur and writer with a range of talents that continue to be recognized by her peers and colleagues alike. |Read More

Michele Ozumba

President & Chief Executive Officer,
Women’s Funding Network

Michele brings a field-tested, grassroots perspective to the global leadership of Women’s Funding Network. Previously, she led the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention to reduce the teen pregnancy rate in Georgia, which, at the beginning of her tenure, was the highest in the United States. |Read More

Mary Parker

President & CEO of ALL(n)1 Security Services, Inc.

Mary Parker, President & CEO of ALL(n)1 Security Services, Inc., has more than 30 years of experience in the security industry.  ALL(n)1 Security is the only nationally certified African-American woman owned full service security firm in the United States.|Read More

Nicole Ari Parker

Actress, Founder, Save Your Do

Considered an opinion leader and a go-to expert as it pertains to the largest demographic in the world  ̶  working mothers. Parker is the founder of Save Your Do, a fashionable hair accessory that allows women to workout and save their hair.  She and her husband actor Boris Kodjoe have also launched a new health & wellness movement called Strive To Thrive to encourage healthier lifestyles. |Read More

Maci Peterson

Co-founder, My Mentor Life

Maci Peterson is a co-founder of #MML, My Mentor Life. She was the founder and editor-in-chief of Mwari Magazine, a lifestyle publication for women of the African Diaspora that she started while in college. |
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Helen Smith Price

Assistant Vice President & Group Director,
Global Community Connections
The Coca-Cola Company
Executive Director, The Coca-Cola Foundation

Helen Smith Price is an Assistant Vice President and Group Director, Global Community Connections for The Coca-Cola Company.  She also serves as the Executive Director of The Coca-Cola Foundation, managing the day-to-day operations and grant making. |Read More

Avery*Sunshine

Singer, Songwriter, Pianist

The word “feel-good” gets thrown around often in music circles. For certain artists, it just works. In describing her sound, singer-songwriter Avery*Sunshine quickly catches herself when the cliché term slips out. “It’s feel-good music,” she says. |Read More

Julius Pryor, III

General Managing Partner, J.Pryor Group LLC

Julius Pryor, III, is a leading edge thinker. He is a speaker, author and strategic consultant. Pryor conducts seminars for a variety of audiences: business schools, universities, corporations, the military and government agencies. |Read More

Reverend Lisa D. Rhodes

Dean of Sisters Chapel, Spelman College

Rev. Lisa D. Rhodes is the dean of Sisters Chapel at Spelman College.  In 2003, she gave vision and leadership to the establishment of the Sisters Center for WISDOM (Women in Spiritual Discernment of Ministry), a Center of Distinction she now directs. |Read More

Katie Rost

Co-Founder and COO of My Mentor Life

Katie Rost is Co-Founder and COO of My Mentor Life, a mentorship platform that uses tech to advance and connect Gen-Y women.  |
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Allison Samuels

Senior Writer, Newsweek Magazine/ The Daily Beast

Allison Samuels, an award winning senior writer with Newsweek magazine and The Daily Beast website has spent more than a decade at Newsweek significantly raising the magazine’s focus on minority and racial issues not limited to the world of politics. |Read More

Gael Sylvia

Founder, Sylvia Global

Gael Sylvia is a pioneering businesswoman, prolific speaker, and ardent philanthropist. Her life’s goal is to empower and inspire all to see the good that is around us.  Acting out of her core values, she recently founded Sylvia Global Media, a global broadcasting digital platform that serves as a sphere of influence for women and girls around the world. |Read More

Dr. Jane E. Smith

Executive Director, LEADS at Spelman

Dr. Jane E. Smith is an accomplished educator and nonprofit executive. Since 2004, she has served as the executive director of the Spelman College Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement. Prior to joining LEADS, Dr. Smith served as president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women and CEO of Business and Professional Women/USA. |Read More

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum

President Spelman College

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum has served as president of Spelman College since 2002. Her tenure as president has been marked by a period of great innovation and growth. Spelman College, long recognized as the leading educator of women of African descent, is now ranked among the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the nation. She recently spearheaded the launch of a Wellness Revolution at the college to empower and educate Spelman women and the world on the value of lifelong wellness. |Read More

Dr. Brenda Wade

Clinical Psychologist, Television Producer & Host

As creator and founder of the Love, Money & Seva Seminars, Dr. Brenda Wade has ignited change and transformation for thousands of people during her career. Employing her powerful, unique blend of psychology, science and spirituality, she has become one of the most renowned psychologists in America earning numerous awards for her TV programs, best-selling books and breakthrough Love, Money and Seva Seminars. |Read More

Teneshia Jackson Warner

Founder, Egami Consulting Group

Teneshia Jackson Warner began her career as a mentee of the globally successful innovator, entrepreneur and hip-hop Mogul, Russell Simmons. For five years under Russell’s leadership, Warner gained valuable experience as the General Manager of Rush Communications. Inspired and encouraged by Russell, she embarked upon her own entrepreneurial path, founding her own company, Egami Consulting Group. |Read More