Black Executive Justin Jay Norman Leaves Spotify to Launch Verse + Hook
Justin “Jay” Norman, the Detroit-based creative strategist, music producer, and Ad Age Creator 100 honoree who most recently served as Global Director of Creative Strategy and Global Head of Music Marketing at Spotify, has formally departed the streaming platform to lead Verse + Hook (V+H), the culture-first creative strategy, branding, and marketing consultancy he co-founded. The announcement marks one of the more notable creative executive departures from the streaming industry in recent memory. Norman spent years at Spotify overseeing some of the platform’s most culturally significant global campaigns,
Founder of First Black Woman-Owned Skateboard company Proper Gnar launches art inspired collection
Latosha Stone-Keagy, the founder and CEO of Proper Gnar, the first Black woman-owned skateboard company, is marking a new chapter defined by intentional design, creative independence, and a renewed commitment to its original mission. Since its founding in 2011, her company has been recognized for challenging the norms of a traditionally male-dominated skate industry. Built from the ground up, initially out of a spare bedroom, the brand quickly gained national attention, earning features with major platforms and retailers while cultivating a dedicated community of women and girls in
George E. Johnson Changed Black Beauty — and Black History
By Joe Williams The Johnson Products founder broke Wall Street’s color barrier, created a multimillion-dollar business and helped bring Soul Train into homes across America. Johnson built Johnson Products into the nation's dominant Black hair care company while opening doors for Black entrepreneurs and celebrating Black identity. His investments also helped propel Soul Train into a national phenomenon. He parlayed a $250 personal loan into a business empire and, in the process, changed how Black America saw itself. A beauty-products pioneer, he broke Wall Street’s color barrier
Sam’s Club CEO Latriece Watkins becomes one of the most powerful women in business
Just months after taking the helm of Sam’s Club, CEO Latriece Watkins has been recognized by Fortune as one of the world’s most influential business leaders, highlighting a nearly three-decade career that has positioned her at the forefront of one of retail’s largest membership-based chains Watkins, who became president and CEO of Sam’s Club in February 2026, debuted at No. 87 on Fortune’s 2026 Most Powerful Women in Business list, which was released May 27. The annual ranking recognizes women shaping major industries across the global economy. She now oversees a business generating roughly $96 billion in annual
OHM Advisors names Kelly Jackson VP of Human Resources
Architecture, engineering and planning firm OHM Advisors has promoted longtime Human Resources Director Kelly Jackson as the company’s first vice president of human resources. “People are the foundation of any successful business, and over the last three decades, Kelly has been crucial in building and expanding that foundation,” said OHM President Jon Kramer. “Since the firm’s inception, we have grown from fewer than 100 people working in one building to nearly 1,000 employees across eight states. Over the past 30+ years, Kelly has been instrumental in shaping and supporting the continuity of our
Clarinda Barnett-Harrison Becomes First Woman CEO of Detroit Wayne Joint Building Authority
Detroit Wayne Joint Building Authority has a new leader — and a first. Board commissioners have appointed Clarinda Barnett-Harrison as chief executive officer, making her the first woman to hold the top job at the Detroit Wayne Joint Building Authority, the public body responsible for stewardship of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center. In the role, Barnett-Harrison will work with the Authority’s Board of Commissioners and oversee facilities management and capital improvement programs tied to the municipal center. The building houses major public functions for Detroiters and Wayne County
The Ke’nekt Founder Kiyomi Rollins Shares Insights on Southwest Atlanta’s Entrepreneurial Scene
New Partnership With Pittsburgh Yards Built on Aligned Missions Atlanta is widely regarded as fertile ground for business start-ups, supported by a robust ecosystem that actively champions minority- and women-owned enterprises. The region has become a destination for aspiring entrepreneurs and established small businesses seeking access to resources and innovative programs designed to combat financial inequities, build capacity, invest capital, and revitalize underserved communities. In an exclusive interview with Atlanta Daily World, Kiyomi Rollins, founder and CEO of The Ke’nekt Cooperative, shared insights into Atlanta’s entrepreneurial
Christa Stephens Expands Global ‘Amazon of Business Solutions’ for Entrepreneurs, Small Businesses and Nonprofits
TymFlo, a fast-growing, minority and woman-owned global business solutions company, is soon marking six years of helping entrepreneurs simplify operations, scale smarter, and save time with an all-in-one ecosystem of tech-powered services. Founded in 2020 at the height of the pandemic by Christa Stephens, TymFlo has rapidly become a go-to resource for entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and small businesses seeking streamlined, affordable, and innovative support. Designed as an “Amazon of Business Solutions,” TymFlo (“Tym” = Your time back. “Flo” = Systems that move without friction.) provides a comprehensive suite of services, ncluding
Meet Roxanne Brown, the first African American and the first woman President of the United Steelworkers
In a significant moment for the labor movement, Roxanne Brown, set to become the first African American woman elected as President of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s largest industrial union, joins Make It Plain with Rev. Mark Thompson. With the official transition happening in March, Brown’s ascent is more than just a personal achievement; it represents a shift in the labor movement’s leadership reflecting the demographics of today’s workforce. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she moved to New York at the age of two and was raised by what
Grace Wales Bonner Becomes First Black Woman To Lead At Major Fashion House
Grace Wales Bonner has made fashion history. According to WWD, Wales Bonner was appointed as menswear creative director at Hermès, making her the first Black woman to lead design at a major European luxury fashion house. The announcement from Hermès International follows the departure of Véronique Nichanian, who held the role for 37 years. “I am deeply honored,” Wales Bonner said in a statement. “Joining such a lineage of artisans and creators is a dream for me.” Born in London to a British mother and Jamaican father, Wales Bonner launched