Melissa Jean-Baptiste is a first-generation Haitian American and former New York City high school teacher. As the “Beyoncé of personal finance,” she paid off $102,000 in student loan debt on a teacher's salary while writing and producing the award-winning “Millennial in Debt” web series. She has since pivoted into personal finance and career coaching to help millennials and Gen Z build generational wealth and gain financial freedom in a shame-free digital environment. Her journey and money lessons have been featured on Good Morning America, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Business Insider, Forbes, and CNN, among other media outlets. She can be found at millennialindebt.com and millennialindebt on all social platforms.
Hello, I'm Jakayla, a person of many trades, but dance has always been my first love. I've been dancing since I was a baby, and from there I've grown tremendously. Line dancing has always been a part of my life, something we've always done at home and at family functions. The joy of seeing people come together and do something I've always enjoyed = brings peace, joy, and happiness. I love that what I do brings people together to uplift their spirits and forget about their problems. I am happy to bring these dance traditions that go back generations to the forefront for today’s audiences. It’s truly a dream come true.
Visionary. Innovator. Advocate. Angle Bush embodies the transformative power of leadership in technology. In 2020, Angle founded Black Women In Artificial Intelligence, driven by a singular mission: to Educate, Engage, Embrace, and Empower Black Women in AI.
Under her leadership, the organization has become a global force, uniting members across five continents and forging partnerships with industry leaders such as Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Amazon. These alliances reflect her unwavering commitment to opening doors, creating opportunities, and shaping the future of AI through inclusivity.
Angle’s influence extends beyond her organization. As a sought-after speaker and thought leader, she challenges the tech world to think bigger, innovate smarter, and build with purpose. Her dedication to creating spaces where Black Women thrive is not just a mission, it’s a movement.
An alumna of Central Michigan University with studies at Harvard, Angle brings both academic rigor and a relentless drive to her work. Currently, she serves as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Miami and sits on the Central Michigan University College of Science and Engineering Advisory Board, championing the next generation of innovators.
Notable Highlights- TEDx Talk, New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell, NPR, Bloomberg, M.Live, Inc.Magazine, PBS-North Carolina, Forbes, National Urban League Conference, National Black Women In Artificial Intelligence Day
Cynthia Respert is an impact-driven AI strategist and business consultant, dedicated to empowering businesses and individuals through the transformative power of technology. Leveraging three decades of experience in corporate, non-profit, and entrepreneurial ecosystems, Cynthia fulfills her passion for simplifying technology for equitable access and impact. She has helped 2,000+ entrepreneurs, small business owners, and professionals to improve their operational systems and AI aptitude to increase revenue and transform their businesses. Clients include AT&T, Cadillac, ComcastNBC Universal, the City of Detroit, Rocket Community Fund, Venture for America, and eMerge Americas. The mission of her AI BuildHER Academy is to simplify AI/technology for 100,000 women, empowering them to disrupt and innovate their industries.
The Effective Communication Coach is an award-winning consultancy dedicated to transforming emerging and established professionals into exceptional leaders by mastering the art of effective communication. Founder/owner Denise Thomas has been recognized for excellence in leadership by such firms as General Electric and MolsonCoors. With more than 20 years of experience at Fortune 500 companies, Denise continues to focus on coaching effective communication worldwide, teaching professionals in Israel, Colombia, and South Africa. Denise has honed the ability to deliver and receive messages across language, cultural, and communication-style barriers. She is The Effective Communication Coach.
Dr. Raquel Martin is a licensed clinical psychologist, professor, scientist, and podcast host on a mission to radically reimagine Black possibility. She promotes Black mental health as a key to legacy building and longevity. As a professor and scientist at Tennessee State University, she teaches courses on the psychology of the Black experience, activism, and mental health. Dr. Martin’s research and publications focus on Black identity as a bridge to esteem development and a shield against mental health difficulties. Additionally, Dr. Martin’s psychological and consulting practice, Martin Psychological Services, focuses on Black mental health, burnout, anti-racism, and anti-oppressive care. Dr. Martin has presented at esteemed events like SXSW and TEDx and hosts the Mind Ya Mental podcast, which centers the Black experience and wellness. Her influential work has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Buzzfeed, and USA Today.
Dana Frank is president of TD Frank Family Properties, a third-generation family real estate business based in the Seattle Central District. She is committed to helping other under-represented families reshape their narrative by teaching how to leverage real estate investment to create generational wealth. A philanthropist and author, Dana Frank is an in-demand speaker and educator, covering such relevant topics as “Having It All, A Power Woman in Business,” “The Unique Challenges of a Family Business - Effectively Addressing the Succession Plan,” and “Transformational Lessons from Influential Mentors - Taking Risks and Leveraging Your Network.” Dana is the author of “Get Up and Get On It: A Black Entrepreneur’s Lessons in Creating Legacy + Wealth,” a national best-seller and winner of Pinnacle Book Achievement Award.
Tim Murphy is vice chair for Mastercard, serving as an ambassador for the company globally and focusing on strategic relationships with regulators and policymakers.
Throughout his 25-plus year tenure at Mastercard, Tim has also served as chief administrative officer, general counsel, chief product officer, president of the company’s U.S. region and executive vice president of customer business planning and analysis.
Tim is chair of the Board of Trustees for the National Urban League and co-chairs the Cyber Readiness Institute. He sits on the boards of Northwestern Mutual, the Mastercard Impact Fund, Community Solutions and is a trustee of the U.S. Council for International Business.
Based in Charlotte, Hugh Allen is responsible for providing strategic direction and sales leadership to TD Bank’s consumer, small Business and commercial banking operations and lending services from Delaware to South Carolina. Hugh has more than 30 years' experience in banking and joined TD Bank in 2014 as a commercial real estate regional director. He previously worked with PNC Bank, First Union/Wachovia, and Wells Fargo. He is a member of numerous professional organizations including the Urban Land Institute, the Real Estate Roundtable, and Mortgage Bankers Association, and was a founder of African American Real Estate Professionals (Washington, D.C.). Hugh was appointed to the NCWorks Commission by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper in 2022 and is co-founder of BP Basketball, Inc., a Charlotte based non-profit dedicated to mentoring youth.
Tiffany Eubanks-Saunders reports to the President of the Private Bank and is responsible for leading strategies that cultivate business development with traditionally underserved client segments, including women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community. Previously, Tiffany served as the Market Executive for the Tennessee Private Bank. Under her leadership, the market achieved significant business growth, targeting high-net-worth families, institutional clients, and prospects throughout Tennessee and Kentucky. Before joining the Private Bank, Tiffany served as Bank of America’s Supplier Diversity and Development Executive, responsible for the corporate commitment to spending $10 billion with diverse-owned businesses. As a result of Tiffany’s leadership, Bank of America was the first financial services institution inducted to The Billion Dollar Roundtable for Supplier Diversity in 2014. In 2019, Oprah Winfrey honored Tiffany with the prestigious UNCF Maya Angelou “Women Who Lead” award.
Quentin James is the founder and president of The Collective PAC, the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to recruiting, training, funding, and supporting Black candidates to run for office. Since 2016, The Collective PAC and its five affiliate entities have helped elect over 500 Black candidates to public office by raising, bundling, and spending over $50 million, training over 2,000 candidates and campaign operatives, and registering over 250,000 voters. Previously, Quentin served as the African American outreach director for the Ready for Hillary Super PAC and as national director for the Sierra Club’s Student Coalition, the nation’s largest youth environmental organization. More recently, Quentin founded Inclusv, a national diversity hiring initiative, and Vestige Strategies, one of the nation’s top civic and community engagement consulting firms.
Dr. Jay Barnett is an esteemed author and widely acknowledged expert in mental health who is making an incredible mark in the field with his impactful storytelling, innovative strategies, and insightful lessons focusing on mental wellness and holistic restoration. He's also the host of the newly launched podcast Just Heal with Dr. Jay on the Black Effect and iHeart networks. Dr. Barnett led the "Just Heal, Bro" tour, a groundbreaking initiative to dismantle mental health stigmas among men and create supportive environments where vulnerability is celebrated. The tour covered 36 cities over three years, reaching 18,000 men. His work exemplifies resilience and the transformative power of healing, making him a vital figure in the mental health community.
Litt is a dedicated social impact strategist and leadership advisor, driven by a deep belief that while genius is evenly distributed, opportunities are not. Her background in healthcare, education, and community leadership has shaped her commitment to fostering sustainable change.
Recently elected to serve as the twelfth President of the National Urban League Young Professionals (2025-2027), Tyler aims to inspire others to “League Well” through leveraging her experiences and skills to further the NULYP's mission of advancing the affiliate mission. Her YP leadership journey began in 2018 when shortly after joining she served as Professional Development Chair, Vice President (2021), and President (2022-2023) of the Urban League of Louisiana Young Professionals: A Volunteer Auxiliary of the Urban League of Louisiana.
As the founder of HireLitt, Tyler focuses on nurturing emerging leaders, promoting strategic problem-solving, and mobilizing resources for expanded impact. Her decade-long career has included national philanthropic advising, place-based grantmaking, community investment, and education initiatives, where she has championed equitable outcomes.
A Baton Rouge native, and resident, you can find Tyler listening to audiobooks at increased speed, spending time with her Granny or god-twins, or eating crawfish. Beyond her professional work, Tyler enjoys spending time with loved ones and contributing to local, regional, and national boards.
Frank James is a 17-year veteran of Marriott, recognized for his strong relationships, broad knowledge, and expertise in the hospitality space. In his current role, Frank is responsible for the performance of franchise accounts across the Marriott Select Brand portfolio. Most recently, Frank served as hotel manager for The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta. With a team of 500 associates, Frank navigated the pandemic towards a new normal as guests returned at full capacity. Frank began his career with Marriott as a front desk clerk in 2007. What began as a job to sustain him through college was the start of a long career, which has included various operations roles at multiple hotels and brands, including Courtyard, Marriott Full Service, and Residence Inn. As the general manager at the Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Norcross, he led a comprehensive renovation and achieved substantial growth. His performance earned him the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association’s General Manager of the Year award for two consecutive years.
Marc H. Morial is President and CEO of the National Urban League, the nation's largest historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization. As Mayor of New Orleans from 1994 to 2002, Morial led New Orleans’ renaissance, and left office with a 70% approval rating. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics and African American Studies, he also holds a law degree from the Georgetown University.
Rhonda Spears Bell stands at the forefront of the movement for racial equity, shaping how the National Urban League communicates, connects, and catalyzes change. With over 25 years of experience in media, marketing, and communications, she brings both vision and voice to one of the nation’s most historic civil rights organizations.
As the National Urban League’s CMO, Bell drives the League’s national brand presence, overseeing strategy for marketing, media relations, digital engagement, signature events, and public awareness campaigns. She is the executive producer of the National Urban League Conference, the largest civil rights gathering in the country, and the creative force behind the organization’s highly anticipated “State of Black America” report.
Bell was named one of the 25 Influential Black Women in Business by The Network Journal and earned a spot on PRWeek’s prestigious Power List. In 2020, BET honored her as an Election All-Star for co-creating the Reclaim Your Vote campaign and launching the first-ever National Black Voter Day, galvanizing Black voter engagement across the country.
Powerful, purpose-driven, and always pushing the culture forward, Rhonda Spears Bell is not just shaping narrative; she’s changing the game.
Justin M. Bibb is the 58th mayor of Cleveland, where he is leading efforts to modernize city services and uplift the community. His administration launched impactful initiatives, including the Southeast Side Promise program and a $100 million housing investment fund, to expand affordable housing and revitalize neighborhoods. Through the Raising Investment in Safety for Everyone (RISE) initiative, Cleveland saw a 36 percent drop in homicides, complemented by record-high police recruitment. On the national stage, Mayor Bibb serves as president of the Democratic Mayors Association and co-chairs America Is All In, advocating for climate action and equity. Mayor Bibb is also a national co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
Hard-hitting, inspiring, intelligent, honest, and direct—these words define the style and approach of Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Ed Gordon. Known for his stellar interactions with newsmakers from the worlds of politics, entertainment, and sports, the veteran journalist is the president of Ed Gordon Media, a multi-service production company. Gordon hosts the nationally syndicated radio program “Weekend with Ed Gordon” and serves as a special correspondent for the BET/CBS News magazine “America in Black,” which premiered in February of 2023. In 2020, Gordon authored his first book, Conversations in Black,” a best-selling compilation of interviews with more than 40 leaders and influencers on the state of Black America. In addition to his Emmy, Gordon is the recipient of the NAACP Image Award and the prestigious Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Black Journalists, among many other honors.
Marsha A. Mockabee is the first female to serve as president and CEO of the 105-year-old affiliate. In this role, Mockabee leads an agenda that empowers Black Americans and other underrepresented and underserved communities of color to achieve their full potential. During her 14-year tenure, Mockabee has attracted a distinguished cadre of board members, resolved significant debt, and increased revenues by 400 percent. She serves as co-chair for the City of Cleveland’s Racism as a Public Health Crisis Coalition and also serves as the co-chair of the Governance and Leadership Committee for the NSF Engines Grant development team. Mockabee is the governance chair for the Greater Cleveland Career Consortium, a regional career pathway initiative working with six local school districts. Additionally, she serves on other community boards/committees, such as the Ohio Council of Urban Leagues and the City of Cleveland Broadband Coalition.