The anticipation continues for Black Enterprise’s 10th Annual Women of Power Summit, where power women across the nation will convene for three days of fellowship and networking. Added to the list of keynote speakers is the president of Ariel Investments L.L.C., Mellody Hobson, and the inspiration for Scandal‘s Olivia Pope, Judy Smith.
Hobson worked her way up from intern at Ariel Investments L.L.C. to president of the Chicago investment firm. Ariel is known as one of the largest African American-owned money management and mutual fund companies in the United States. In addition to her role as president, Hobson serves as chairman of the board of trustees for Ariel Investment Trust.
REGISTER TODAY: Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary in Florida for 2015
Aside from her work at Ariel, Hobson is chairman of Dreamworks Animation SKG Inc., as well as the director of The Estée Lauder Cos. Inc. and Starbucks Corp. Hobson is nationally recognized as a financial expert and has contributed her expertise in investments to the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Black Enterprise, and ABC’s Good Morning America. In 2010 she earned a spot on Black Enterprise‘s 75 Most Powerful Women in Business list, and in 2013 she was announced as one of Black Enterprise‘s Most Powerful Corporate Directors.
Smith, recognized by many as the real-life Olivia Pope, Smith has paved a career for herself as an author, television producer, and CEO of the crisis management firm Smith & Co. Prior to founding Smith & Co., the Washington, D.C., native served in several high-profile roles including partner at a few Washington, D.C.-based nonprofits, and a White House position as special assistant and deputy press secretary to former President George H. W. Bush. She later broke into television as senior vice president of Corporate Communications at NBC, just to name a few.
Her work in crisis management for many notable cases including Monica Lewinsky, actor Wesley Snipes, and NFL player Michael Vick caught the attention of screenwriter and director Shonda Rhimes, who developed the popular television drama Scandal inspired by Smith’s work. Serving as co-executive producer of the show, Smith offers expert advice and insights on how to portray crisis management issues on-screen.
With exemplary resumes that have catapulted them to become nationally recognized businesswomen, Mellody Hobson and Judy Smith will offer advice and business tips on how to take charge of your career at Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit.
The 10th Annual Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm, March 2–4, 2015, will be held at Fort Lauderdale Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale, FL. This executive leadership summit is designed to train, equip and encourage women to become industry leaders, learn career strategies, and discover proven work–life balance techniques. Register Now! http://www.blackenterprise.com/wps
article by Courtney Connley via blackenterprise.com
Posts tagged as “State Farm”
According to usatoday.com, the National Basketball Association has hired longtime marketing executive Pamela El as its chief marketing officer, two years after she was named one of the 100 most influential women in advertising
El will join the league on Aug. 18 and be responsible for brand development and will oversee marketing and advertising for the NBA, WNBA and NBA Development League. El has worked 30 years in marketing, most recently with State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.
“Having personally worked with Pam for many years on the NBA’s partnership with State Farm, she will be a huge addition as we work to build our brand on a global scale,” NBA Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum said in an e-mailed release.
The NBA had $5.5 billion in revenue last season. The league’s international presence includes games and programming in 215 countries and territories, according to the release.
El was named to Advertising Age’s 100 Most Influential Women in Advertising in 2012 after she helped State Farm through its first logo refresh in nearly 60 years. She has also served on the board for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the LeBron James Family Foundation.
“I love the competitiveness of the game and admire the league’s world-class teams and passionate global fan base,” El said in the release.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson and Lesa Lakin (follow @lakinhutcherson)
Advertising and marketing trade publication Advertising Age announced its 2013 Agency A-List honors this week, highlighting a black advertising CEO as its Executive of the Year. Steve Stoute, CEO of Translation, is a partner with Jay-Z for the agency, which launched first as a multicultural firm but now serves as a general market agency.
Stoute came from the entertainment world, if you couldn’t tell based on his ad agency partner, working with Sony Music Entertainment and Interscope Geffen A&M Records. His connections in the entertainment industry are appealing to his clients, which include State Farm, A-B InBev, McDonald’s, and Coca-Cola. Transitions was also behind the marketing campaign to introduce the Brooklyn Nets basketball team.
Entertainment is a hot industry, but Stoute told Ad Age that there’s more to it than that. “…I think our strategy department is the best in the industry,” he said. “The thinking in our agency never gets the credit it deserves because we have a celebrity. We are first and foremost a strategic and creative shop. And second, we have a Rolodex in entertainment and sports that’s unique in the industry.”
Elsewhere on AdAge’s list, LatinWorks, a Hispanic-focused shop, was honored as multicultural agency of the year, and the number three advertising agency, Grey, has Michael Houston serving as managing director and CMO.
Read more at http://madamenoire.com/259579/ad-age-honors-black-ceo-as-exec-of-the-year/#a2gHhHY3ohZxcBVd.99