Chad Easterling is the CEO and co-founder of Obsidianworks, the marketing agency built for the rising generation of multicultural affluence. Founded in 2020 with Michael B. Jordan, Obsidianworks brings together enterprise-level scale, cultural fluency, and creative excellence to help brands earn relevance with the audiences shaping today’s economy.

Grounded in purpose and reflective of the founders’ diverse upbringings, Obsidianworks was created to help brands authentically connect with younger, more diverse, and more dynamic consumers. With cultural edge, strategic discipline, and creative swagger, the agency enables clients to break through with work that resonates deeply with the communities driving today's cultural and economic momentum. Brands including Target, Marriott, Coach, Meta, and Jordan Brand turn to Obsidianworks to navigate market dynamics, build genuine affinity, and bring to life powerful storytelling that earns a place within culture.

Prior to launching Obsidianworks, Easterling built a dynamic career at Nike, where he held multiple leadership roles across categories and territories within both Nike and Jordan Brand. Over more than a decade, he led iconic brand moments and disruptive campaigns, including the World Basketball Festival, All-Star Weekends, and Basketball Never Stops, while shaping brand strategies for signature athletes including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Russell Westbrook, and Zion Williamson. Recognizing Nike’s profound influence within inner-city communities—and the influence those communities have on culture—Easterling championed grassroots initiatives that deepened the brand’s presence across Summer Leagues, high school basketball, and the NBA.

A proud graduate of Hampton University, Easterling earned a degree in Sport Management and played on the university’s basketball team. His career continues to reflect a lifelong passion for sports, culture, community, and elevating the voices shaping the future.