Hi there! šš¾Howdy.š¤ Have you learned boots on the ground yet?! I have NOT, but I do feel the pressure. Itās clearly a 2025 cookout, conference, and event staple.
The conference and event industry is projected to reach $2.5T by 2035.
Thatās trillion with a āTā, yaāll.
The industry is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.8% and according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in meetings, conventions, and events is projected to grow substantially faster than most US occupations.
However, the past year has presented several new challenges for many major conferences, festivals, and events.
The Challenges:
High Labor and Production Costs
Increased Complexity
Greater Competition
The Opportunities:
āMeet Cuteā Trend
Growth of Artisans and Small Merchants
Tech-enabled Personalization
Hereās My Take:
I have attended several hundred conferences, festivals, and events across 41 countries and 5 continents. Iāve produced over 50 events for Visible Figures alone. Events in general have been a major source of social, financial, and cultural capital personally and professionally.
Given the current volatility of brands, consumers, and sponsors, event producers have to be more agile, responsive, and innovative than ever. IRL experiences are increasingly important marketing tools for small businesses to multinational corporations. A well-executed, thoughtful experience shared among diverse, like-hearted peeps does it for me. Hereās where Iāll be this year:
8.6 - 8.23: Multiple Events - Marthaās Vineyard, MA
8.25 - 9.1: Burning Man - Black Rock City, NV
11.5 - 11.12: Afropunk Brazil - Salvador, Bahia, BR
12.3 - 12.5: Art Basel - Miami, FL
12.26 - 1.2.2026: Detty December - Accra, GH and Johannesburg, ZA
What Iām Reading: Of My Own Making by Daria Burke - Iām not goinā lie, Iām a lil memoirād out, but this one strikes a different tone. Itās raw. Daria and I have crisscrossed paths many times over in the Black Girl Magicsphere, but I never realized how much we have in common until now. Sheās a glitch in the matrix. I look forward to watching the rest of her story unfold and hopefully Visible Figures play a role in her next chapter.
What Iām Watching: Opus on HBO Max starring Ayo Edebiri - OMGosh! Ayo fills the void that ABG Issa Rae left behind. *trigger warning* This is a psychological thriller with graphic depictions of violence against women. If you know anything about Oprahās 1988 interview of White supremacists, youāll get the secret message underlining the film; this an important message on how journalists are complicit in perpetuating the harm they claim to oppose.
Love Always Wins,
Maji Moment š
The āMajiā are citizens of the mythical African kingdom of OrĆÆsha in Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone who are born with the ability to summon magical powers.
Jill Scottās rendition of the National Anthem performed at Essence Fest 2023.
Things You Should Know š
Elise Smith recently sold the $18.7M venture-backed company she co-founded, Praxis Labs, to leadership and coaching enterprise Torch (TechCrunch). In 2018, Praxis was among the early, brave, new startups entering the HR L&D space with VR. Elise has been a loyal member of Visible Figures and long-time activist in disrupting unconscious bias. Now, she is American royalty š as Gayle and Oprahās new daughter-in-law (People). You go girl!!
Abby Phillip is publishing her first book on October 28th, 2025 and it is NOT a memoir.šš¾ A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Political Power focuses on Jacksonās 1984 and 1988 presidential runs, and specifically explores how the politician, 83, built an unlikely coalition that showed how Black political power could be consolidated (People). Iāve seen Abby a few times on the Inkwell and several times on CNN. Sheās sharp, thoughtful, and adept at journalistic integrity. So needed rn. Reverend Jackson is certainly a timely subject. I look forward to the read.
Hon. Shannon Frison is seemingly unlike any judge of the Massachusetts Superior Court you will ever meet. She embodies the bias-busting characteristics and practices that she extols in her TEDx talk. Judge Frison carries the credentials (Harvard + Georgetown), experience (Marines), wisdom, intelligence, and empathy of an ideal POTUS. Iām crushing! Weāve never met, but when we do Iāll likely faint. Maybe sheāll catch me. š¤j/k Iāll be good, your honor!
A Number to Remember šš¾
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Black womenās unemployment rate has grown faster than any other American demographic, reaching 6.2% in May (vs 4% overall). Trends in Black unemployment are said to be the canary in the coal mine for looming US recessions.
For Paid Subscribers Only š
Visible Figures Book Discussion & AMA - Wednesday, July 24th @ 7PM ET/4PM PT - Our next members-only event will be a virtual discussion and AMA for corporate professionals and founders curious about publishing a book. Subscribe to join us.