CultureCon 2024 continues to serve as a premier gathering for Black creative professionals and entrepreneurs. Hosted by The Creative Collective NYC, CultureCon had a full lineup of culture leaders, creators, and changemakers for an inspiring two-day experience. Here is my recap for my first time attending!
Building Community and Embracing New Ideas
I started my day with the panel “Campfire: How to Build an Engaged Community”, where speakers shared actionable advice on turning creative ideas into reality. One standout takeaway: if an idea crosses my mind more than three times, it’s time to execute it. The panel also stressed the importance of being honest and authentic with your audience— A key way to build a trusting community for your brand.
The event continued with the June Ambrose x Gucci Changemakers Creative Fellows panel, celebrating the fifth anniversary of Gucci Changemakers North America. This discussion was led by creative director June Ambrose, who was the creative director of Puma and has dressed icons such as Jay Z, Missy Elliot, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and more. The panel featured the inaugural class of Gucci Changemaker Creative Fellows. These fellows—emerging fashion designers, filmmakers, and visual artists—received grants to complete projects aimed at inspiring positive social change. The conversation shed light on their creative processes, sources of inspiration, and how their new works challenge societal perceptions.
Embracing AI and Protecting Creativity
A major theme at this year’s CultureCon was the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the creative process. During the IONE Digital panel, speakers emphasized that AI is not a trend to ignore. As one panelist put it, “If you don’t embrace AI, it will eventually run over you. What you’re not doing, competitors will.” Discussions focused on how AI can streamline workflows, helping editors and creatives focus more on the artistic aspects of their work while leveraging AI for tasks like research and thought starters.
Victoria Fleary echoed this sentiment, using AI to jumpstart ideas and rewrite content but cautioned against over-reliance, reminding us that AI is “a breeding ground for the germination of ideas,” not a replacement for creativity. Similarly, Allison McGevna emphasized that while AI is here to stay, it’s important for creatives to understand the technology in order to safeguard their work.
Protecting intellectual property (IP) was another important topic, as discussed by Markus Robinson, who offered advice on licensing and protecting AI-generated art. He encouraged us to protect our IP but also to use AI as a tool to accelerate ideas and streamline processes like accounting and customer service.
Empowering Black Businesses
The Shea Moisture discussion, “Where Are All the Black Jobs and the Future of Black Business,” highlighted the importance of community support in building successful Black-owned businesses. Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan, shared her journey of supporting three small businesses to help them stay active while managing a team of 300 employees. Her dedication to uplifting her community was apparent, as she discussed the broader impact her brand has on the confidence of other Black-owned businesses.
In line with this mission, Shea Moisture made a $10,000 donation to the Pinky Cole Foundation, reinforcing their commitment to supporting Black entrepreneurs. Cole also touched on the challenges of trusting others to manage her business, emphasizing that to grow, you must trust your team.
Milan Harris, owner of the Womanaire Club, which empowers boss women and mothers, joined Shea Moisture in discussing the importance of continual learning. As Harris put it, “The more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know.” Education, she stressed, is the key to success.
Leading with Confidence and Joy
Celebrity stylist Law Roach took the stage to share his personal story of building confidence and resilience. Roach spoke candidly about the challenges he faced growing up queer and how he learned to embrace his uniqueness. A powerful message from his grandfather stuck with him: “No one will ever forget your name.” Roach also emphasized that he uses his platform to help elevate the careers of others, motivated not by recognition but by the joy and fulfillment it brings him.
Navigating Success and Seizing Opportunities
A particularly memorable moment at CultureCon came from Tyler James Williams of Abbott Elementary. Known for his role as Greg, Williams shared a heartfelt story about his relationship with the camera operator, Jeremiah Smith, and how their friendship enhances those awkward, unplanned moments when Greg looks straight into the lens. Reflecting on his journey, Williams emphasized the importance of living in the moment and encouraged those still in their “waiting period” for success not to rush it. “You’re going to miss this time,” he reminded us. “Learn from everything and try everything.”
Also in other news, Tyler doesn’t like chocolate—but we’ll grieve that later.
The Era of Influencers
Shannae Ingleton Smith, CEO of Kingston Grey, shared some valuable insights about the influencer space, particularly the power of data. While follower counts are often seen as a marker of success, Smith emphasized that engagement is what truly matters. She encouraged influencers to focus on authenticity and stand firm in their beliefs, including those that fall under religion.
Smith also discussed untapped opportunities for influencers in the corporate and tech spaces, noting a significant gap there. She highlighted the potential of Gen X influencers and an emerging category—Gen Alpha—who she believes will “change the game” and push the creator industry to new heights. After all, Gen Alpha grew up surrounded by technology and social media in a way previous generations didn’t.
An All-Black Creative Team on Reasonable Doubt
One of the most exciting panels at CultureCon featured the cast of Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt, moderated by Onyx Collective. The cast discussed their experiences on a Black-led set, highlighting the importance of representation in front of and behind the camera. This season was directed by all-Black directors, written by an all-Black writers’ room, and co-executive produced by prominent Black producers Raamla Mohamed, Larry Wilmore, and Kerry Washington. The actors, including Morris Chestnut and McKinley Freeman, spoke about how working with an all-Black production team allows for a level of authenticity that translates directly onto the screen.
Morris Chestnut noted that this was the “most Black crew” he had ever worked with, underscoring how this commitment to Black representation and culture made a significant impact on the storytelling. Additionally, the show features Hip-Hop and R&B classics like Jeezy’s “Vacation” and SZA’s “Good Days,” - we love to see it!
Engaging Workshops and Activations
In addition to the panels, I dove into some amazing workshops and activations from brands like Kickstarter, McDonald's, SheaMoisture, and Ciroc. Honestly, there was so much to see, I wish I could have attended them all!
The Kickstarter activation focused on essential strategies for creating compelling projects. We learned about drafting pitches and setting funding goals, along with best practices for marketing and promotion on crowdfunding platforms. This session opened my eyes to the possibilities of turning my ideas into funded realities.
At the McDonald's activation, I met designers from their “Change of Fashion” campaign, which pairs five Black designers with fashion insiders for mentorship. They hosted trivia games about Black fashion history and interactive art projects, making it a fun and engaging experience.
SheaMoisture also hosted workshops and Q&As about careers, life balance, and hair care. I appreciated the networking board they set up for attendees to connect, and I was so excited to receive a goodie bag full of hair products—they will be put to good use! They also hosted consultations offering valuable insights into our hair.
Looking Ahead
CultureCon 2024 was a powerful reminder of the impact that Black creatives and entrepreneurs continue to make across industries. From embracing AI and protecting intellectual property to building communities and empowering future leaders, the event offered me a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for my career.
I’m excited to bring these important conversations into my own work and see how our community continues driving meaningful change in the creative industries next year!
