Fawn Weaver

EXCLUSIVE
  • Serial Entrepreneur
  • CEO & Founder, Grant Sidney, Inc. and Uncle Nearest, Inc.
  • New York Times Bestselling Author, 'The Argument Free Marriage'
  • Certified Corporate Director by Harvard Business School and Board Member, Endeavor Group Holdings

Serial entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and groundbreaking business mogul Fawn Weaver is an expert in crafting compelling stories; as a writer, powerhouse investor, and values-driven leader. Weaver leverages 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, from founding and serving as CEO of Grant Sidney, Inc., a privately held investment company, to launching the fastest-growing whiskey brand in U.S. history, Uncle Nearest, Inc. The brand boasts significant accolades as the most awarded American whiskey, including bourbon, of 2019, 2020, and 2021, sweeping 16 of the top 18 award competitions in the world. Weaver also built the $50M Uncle Nearest Venture Fund, investing in minority founded, owned, and led brands with the greatest potential to grow into legacy brands. A multi-hyphenate and popular TED speaker, Weaver is a highly sought-after voice in conversations about accelerating growth without sacrificing values, inclusive organizational strategy, and leadership, making an impact with audiences of all kinds.

The first Black American woman to build a $1B+ company from the ground up (founded, majority-owned and led) who is not a celebrity, Weaver has been featured in The New York TimesBloomberg, The Washington Post, CNBCFast CompanyOprah MagazineLos Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and more, and she has appeared on FOX Business, the TODAY Show, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, among countless others. She is a regular contributor to Inc. Magazine, and her revelatory segment on NPR’s How I Built This with Guy Raz had the internet abuzz for weeks. A committed philanthropist, Weaver is the Founder of the Nearest Green Foundation, which offers full scholarships to every descendent of Nathan ‘Nearest’ Green, the world’s first known African American master distiller. She is certified as a Corporate Director by Harvard Business School and sits on the Endeavor Group Holdings board of directors, where she also serves on its audit committee. In riveting conversations, Weaver offers key insights and impactful takeaways about cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset and what it takes to succeed across industries in business and in life.

 



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Past Hosts Include:
  • TriNet
  • Impace Ventures
  • Dine Diaspora
  • International Wealth Builders, Inc.
  • Kenosh Area Business Alliance
  • The Enrollment Management Association
  • Microsoft Corporation Worldwide
  • Nike Inc.
  • Celebrate & Elevate
Rave Reviews About Fawn Weaver as a Speaker
Fawn was everything and more. The event was a huge success.

Bosses You Should Know with Fawn & Keith Weaver | National Museum of African American Music - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Fawn Weaver
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Author Talk: ‘Love & Whiskey’

New York Times bestselling author FAWN WEAVER unveils the hidden narrative behind one of America’s most iconic whiskey brands in Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest. Weaver's work highlights the im ...

New York Times bestselling author FAWN WEAVER unveils the hidden narrative behind one of America’s most iconic whiskey brands in Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest. Weaver's work highlights the importance of acknowledging those who have shaped our cultural landscape yet remain in the shadows.

Information on book buys and signings is available upon request.

Moderated Q&A: Fail Harder

Serial entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and Uncle Nearest, Inc. Founder and CEO FAWN WEAVER has launched numerous successful business ventures across industries, solidifying her place as a groundbreaking business mogul. Weaver offers key insights and impactful takeaways for individua ...

Serial entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and Uncle Nearest, Inc. Founder and CEO FAWN WEAVER has launched numerous successful business ventures across industries, solidifying her place as a groundbreaking business mogul. Weaver offers key insights and impactful takeaways for individuals and organizations seeking to accelerate growth and overcome obstacles while sustaining their values in this impactful moderated conversation.

Moderated Q&A: Building the Next Great American Brand

Multi-hyphenate business mogul FAWN WEAVER launched Uncle Nearest, Inc. and it quickly became the fastest-growing whiskey brand in the country, the most awarded whiskey brand for multiple years in a row, and an instant legacy brand. Leveraging 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, Weaver shares ...

Multi-hyphenate business mogul FAWN WEAVER launched Uncle Nearest, Inc. and it quickly became the fastest-growing whiskey brand in the country, the most awarded whiskey brand for multiple years in a row, and an instant legacy brand. Leveraging 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur, Weaver shares her journey founding this historic and ground-breaking company, and the organizational strategy and leadership it takes to build the next great American brand in this riveting moderated conversation.

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<p><strong>Fawn Weaver’s new book, ‘Love & Whiskey,’ reveals hidden histories </strong></p>

Fawn Weaver’s new book, ‘Love & Whiskey,’ reveals hidden histories

New York Times bestselling author FAWN WEAVER unveils the hidden narrative behind one of America’s most iconic whiskey brands in Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest. Weaver's pursuit highlights the importance of acknowledging those who have shaped our cultural landscape yet remained in the shadows. Join Fawn Weaver on this extraordinary adventure as she navigates through the layers of history, friendship, and the unbreakable bonds formed by the legacy of America's native spirit, ensuring the stories of Nearest Green and his descendants live on in the heart of American culture. Gayle King, journalist and co-host, CBS This Morning, said, “I so admire Fawn Weaver. I’m thinking, if you need an investigation, we need to call her.”

Watch Fawn Weaver at the National Museum of African American Music >>

Watch Fawn Weaver on Potential to Powerhouse >>

<p><strong>Fawn Weaver and Uncle Nearest Whiskey – the fastest-growing whiskey brand in the U.S.</strong></p>

Fawn Weaver and Uncle Nearest Whiskey – the fastest-growing whiskey brand in the U.S.

Ground-breaking business mogul FAWN WEAVER is a leader across industries, and leveraged over two decades of experience as an entrepreneur to launch Uncle Nearest, Inc and Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey – now the fastest-growing whiskey brand in U.S. history, and the most-awarded year after year. When Weaver, also a New York Times bestselling author, first read about the story of Nathan ‘Nearest’ Green, she didn’t expect to find her next business venture. But as she began to research Green’s story – he was the world’s first known African American master distiller – she was inspired to create a foundation and eventually a whiskey in his name, honoring his legacy of excellence and his contribution to American Whiskey.  Green’s techniques for making whiskey became what Tennessee whiskey is known for today, and Weaver’s brand celebrating his legacy is making headlines all over the world.

Weaver is the first Black American woman to build a $1B+ company from the ground up (founded, majority-owned and led) who is not a celebrity. CEO Weaver and this incredible story have been featured in The New York TimesBloombergCNBCFOX Business, the TODAY ShowNPR’s How I Built This with Guy Raz. In honor of Green’s legacy, Weaver founded the Nearest Green Foundation, which offers full scholarships to every descendent of Nathan ‘Nearest’ Green, and built the $50M Uncle Nearest Venture Fund, investing in minority founded, owned, and led brands with the greatest potential to grow into legacy brands. In riveting conversations, Weaver offers key insights and impactful takeaways about following your inspiration as a leader in business, building a values-driven brand, and the principles for success across industries.

Watch Fawn Weaver on CNBC >>

Watch Fawn Weaver’s interview for Potential to Powerhouse >>

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Biography

Fawn Weaver has been a serial entrepreneur for more than 25 years. As the CEO and founder of Grant Sidney, Inc., a privately held investment company, Weaver has often been active in her investments, serving in leadership capacities behind the scenes. Weaver is a popular TED speaker,, as well as a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author who has appeared on 100s of popular newspapers, radio, morning and television talk shows across the US, including FOX Business, the TODAY ShowThe New York TimesCBS This MorningGood Morning AmericaCNBCFast Company, Washington Post, and Oprah Magazine. She is a regular contributor to Inc. Magazine and has been interviewed by top shows in Canada, United Kingdom, South Africa, Italy, Belgium, Australia, Ireland, Australia, Poland, Spain and New Zealand on topics ranging from accelerating growth in business without losing your soul to creating a happy balance between work and family.

Weaver is the first Black American woman to build a $1B+ company from the ground up (founded, majority-owned and led), who is not a celebrity. She serves as the CEO of Uncle Nearest, Inc., a company she founded in 2016, which sits under the Grant Sidney umbrella. Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey is the fastest-growing American whiskey brand in U.S. history, the bestselling African American founded spirit brand of all time and was the most award-winning American whiskey (including bourbon) of 2019, 2020, 2021 and has now extended that winning streak to include 2022. The super-premium brand has earned more than 600 awards, including more than 400 Gold medals or higher, "World’s Best" by Whisky Magazine two years in a row, as well as the industry coveted "Double Gold" by San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Wine Enthusiast’s "Spirit Brand of the Year."

The Nearest Green Distillery opened in Shelbyville, Tennessee in September 2019. This 323-acre distillery is the first in U.S. history to commemorate an African American and is the only major distillery in the world owned and operated by a Black person. In March 2021, Weaver was named to the Endeavor Group Holdings board of directors, alongside Elon Musk. She was simultaneously appointed to serve on its audit committee. Endeavor, the parent company of UFC, WME and IMG, is a publicly traded entertainment and content company listed on the NYSE and valued at over $10 billion. Weaver is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), a global leadership community of 29,000 of the most successful young CEOs in the world, contributing $9 trillion USD in annual revenue.

Weaver launched her first company, a public relations and special events firm, in 1996. In addition to her firm, from 1998-2003, she served as Partner and Business Manager for G. Garvin's LLC, operator of G. Garvin's Restaurant (named one of the Top 10 New Restaurants by Los Angeles Magazine). Weaver developed the business plan, secured development and operational funding, and was business manager for the first four years.

Taking a six-year break from entrepreneurialism, to learn what it was like to be the employee rather than the employer, Weaver held a variety of positions in the hospitality sector. She worked as the head of special events and catering for the world-famous Viceroy Hotels and as a General Manager for Dimension Development Co., the operator of more than 50 Marriott and Hilton brand hotels throughout the US. The experience profoundly changed how Weaver invests and manages.

Weaver is the founder of the Nearest Green Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that offers full scholarships to every descendant of Nearest Green, the world’s first known African-American master distiller. Through their Operation Brother’s Keeper initiative, the Foundation supplied more than 300,000 N-95 and cloth masks to workers on the frontline and people in disadvantaged communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, in response to the BLM movement, the Foundation formed an alliance with Jack Daniel Distillery to create the Nearest and Jack Advancement Initiative, to elevate people of color within the American whiskey industry and to greatly increase diversity in the spirits industry overall. She formerly served on the executive boards of MEND Poverty and Slavery No More.