By Gabby Paul, @deca.gabby | Stoughton High School, MA
Happy Black History Month! In honor of Black History Month, we are taking this time to highlight Black professionals who are changing the business scene and creating their own history.
Timnit Gebru
An Ethiopian-born Eritrean computer scientist, Timnit Gebru, is changing the way the world interacts with artificial intelligence by working to combat algorithmic bias. She is the co-founder of Black In AI: an advocacy group that fights for more Black roles in AI research and development. She is also on the board of AddisCoder, a nonprofit organization that teaches algorithms and computer programming to Jamaican and Ethiopian high school students.
In addition, Gebru has founded the DAIR (Distributed AI Research) Institute, which is "an independent, community-rooted institute set to counter Big Tech’s pervasive influence on the research, development and deployment of AI" (dair-institute.org). Thanks to Gebru’s work, artificial intelligence is becoming more inclusive and safer for all.
Candice Matthews Brackeen + Brian Brackeen
Power couple Candice Matthews Brackeen and Brian Brackeen are elevating marginalized people of color through many POC-focused endeavors. Lightship Capital is an investment firm focused on investing in “remarkable businesses led by FOC (Founders of Color), LGBTQ+, Women & Innovators with Disabilities” (lightship.capital). Together, they have acquired and combined three nationally recognized programs: NewMe Accelerator, Black Tech Week and Founder Gym.
NewMe Accelerator is the 1st startup accelerator dedicated to minority founders and works with founders through a series of programs and guidance to ensure industry success. An annual summer conference, Black Tech Week brings together Black Tech leaders to explore tech culture and celebrate the achievements of the Black tech community. Finally, Founder Gym is an online education platform that teaches young Black entrepreneurs essential business skills. Through Lightship Capital, Candice Matthews Brackeen and Brian Brackeen are using their knowledge to help uplift fellow entrepreneurs.
Rihanna
Many people know Rihanna for her phenomenal, critically acclaimed music, but she has also revolutionized the makeup industry with her Fenty Beauty brand. Commonly described as the “Fenty Effect”, Rihanna has made great strides for inclusivity in the makeup sphere. Debuting her brand in 2017, she launched her Pro Filt'R foundation in a revolutionary 40 shades, immediately setting Fenty apart from its competitors. Her inclusivity-first branding has since forced competitors to follow suit by allowing brands to realize the significance of inclusivity and shade diversity.
Previously, in the makeup industry, many people with dark complexions had no access to quality makeup products designed for their skin tone. Rihanna saw this inclusion gap and worked to create thoughtful makeup products grounded in science and formulated for darker skin tones. Due to Rihanna’s impact on the beauty industry, makeup has become more inclusive.
Jason Wright
As a former NFL running back, Jason Wright embodies the power of duality, having created legacies on the field and in the office. Wright made history by becoming the 1st Black President of an NFL team in 2020. During these historic 4 years, “revenue grew, engagement grew, [and] the quality of the stadium matched the experience” under his leadership. He entered this position with a strategic marketing plan that had already paid off. With his leadership and collaborative efforts, the Commanders have come closest to the Super Bowl in 30 years.
Additionally, Wright helped oversee the football team’s name change in light of its original controversies while also involving fans in the process. Since this historic feat, Jason Wright has moved on to a new goal: closing the investment gap in women’s sports. He currently works as managing partner and head of investments at Ariel Project Level, where he works to support Project Level’s goal of “harness[ing] the exploding talent, fandom, viewership and media interest in women’s sports by working to accelerate growth through diversified investments and significant ownership stakes."
During this significant month, it is important to recognize those who have become historical inspirations to all. However, it is equally important to shed light on Black individuals who are currently trailblazing and working towards a diverse and inclusive space, whether through technology, finance, sports or many other fields.
