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Imani Ellis

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  • CEO and Founder of CultureCon and The Creative Collective

Former NBCUniversal executive Imani Ellis is the CEO and Founder of CultureCon and The Creative Collective, a community dedicated to facilitating brave spaces for Black and Brown creatives. Founded in Ellis’s one-bedroom apartment, The Creative Collective has grown into the largest community devoted to creatives of color. In addition to community events, The Creative Collective provides countless resources and workshops. The Creative Collective’s marquee event, CultureCon, is the first-of-its-kind ideas conference that caters to all aspects of creative and young professional life. Past CultureCon speakers have included Tracee Ellis Ross, Will Smith, Regina King, John Legend, Spike Lee, Lena Waithe, and more.  As a leader in talent development in media and creative industries, Ellis’s perspectives are crucial for organizations seeking a creative spark.

Ellis is regularly invited to speak at high-profile events and conferences, including Amazon, Jordan Brand, Pinterest, Advertising Week, Meta, the Women of Power Summit, Columbia Business School, and many more. Named a "Breakthrough Creative" by Ebony, a “Visionary” by Forbes, “One to Watch” by Black Enterprise, and a “Diversity Champion by AdWeek, Ellis shares invaluable insights on cultural competency and innovation.

 
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Past Hosts Include:
  • Amazon
  • Verizon
  • Civic
  • REC (Resources for Every Creator
  • LinkedIn
  • Google
  • Meta
  • Columbia University
  • Women of Power Summit
“
With REC's mission of connecting, inspiring, and equipping creatives, choosing Imani Ellis to speak at REC's Creator Day presented by Google was a no-brainer. Imani, a leader in the creator economy, captivated our audience by moderating an engaging conversation with media personality and host Scottie Beam. Imani's preparation, experience as a creator, and personal connection with Scottie Beam led to an authentic and moving discussion that left attendees inspired. Imani’s presence was impactful, and we are eager to welcome her back to speak to our community of creatives anytime.
”
More rave reviews

"Amazon Design invited Imani for a fireside chat at our creative conference, Conflux. Her work in developing CultureCon and inclusivity in the creativity industries is vital to our collective future. Her belief that we all have a creative purpose challenged attendees to think beyond their day-to-day roles and inspired them to actively develop their communities. She was not only inspiring but also a joy to work with, as she brings a unique vibrancy and enthusiasm to her work. We look forward to finding ways to collaborate again."

-Amazon

"Imani was the perfect fit as a keynote speaker for our event. She was engaging, relatable, down to earth and inspiring. She was easy to work with, and well prepared. We were especially impressed by her commitment to deadlines, her tangible examples in her keynote, and her commanding presence on stage. She left the audience inspired and filled with clear, helpful takeaways."

-Verizon

"At Civic, we’ve had the pleasure of interacting with Imani both as a media executive & entrepreneur. In any setting or context, with a special mix of gravitas and relatability, Imani was always a joy to work with and be around. So, when the opportunity arose to ask her to host and keynote a program for one of our clients, we jumped at it. In that role, she was a true partner, considering our program’s needs as her own. As an emcee, she commanded the stage and effortlessly held the audience’s attention. As a keynote speaker, she inspired. She was also generous with her time, enthusiastically interacting with our guests at a post-event mixer."

-Civic
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Talks & Conversations with Imani Ellis
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Building (& Maintaining) a Community

Visionary founder of The Creative Collective and CultureCon, IMANI ELLIS shares her transformative insights on building and sustaining vibrant professional and creative communities. In this keynote presentation, Ellis shares her strategies for creating authentic connections while ensuring long-term engagement through practical advice to help you cultivate a thriving and resilient community.

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Talent Empowerment: How to Spark Creative Innovation

Unlock your team’s full potential with IMANI ELLIS’s expertise on talent empowerment in this keynote equipping you with the tools to inspire your team, harness creativity, and achieve breakthrough results. Ellis offers a compelling framework for identifying and nurturing talent, fostering an environment of collaboration, and driving innovative thinking by creating a culture where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best ideas.

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How the Creator Economy Benefits Your Business

Discover the untapped potential of the creator economy with IMANI ELLIS’s insightful presentation on leveraging creative talent for business success. Ellis explains the benefits of engaging with content creators, from enhanced brand authenticity to increased customer loyalty and market reach.

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