SVP on AfroTech, Helen Adeosun raised $32M and recently sold CareAcademy, Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye of Ami Colé joins Kim Kardashian, and 3 new mayors you should know.
Hello from Salvador de Bahia 🇧🇷! AKA the Black blackity blackiest state outside of Nigeria. ✊🏾🤌🏾🫶🏾 Thank you Allen Lamb, Potyra Lavor, and Dominic Bednar. I met so many powerful, raw, conscious, and intelligent Afro-Brazilian women. This was one of the most inspirational VFMH international activations I’ve ever done!
💡Did you know the concept of race was invented by the Portuguese in the 15th century (PRX)?
A few weeks ago, I had the esteemed honor of representing Visible Figures as an AfroTech Executive and hosting a fabulous salon in a private speakeasy space in Houston, TX.
Blavity Media Group is the digital media empire that owns AfroTech, 21Ninety, Shadow & Act, Travel Noire, RNB House Party, and Home & Texture. According to their website, Blavity “builds solutions for influential audiences and the enterprises that want to reach them.”
Blavity has raised an estimated ~$12M YTD in venture capital.
Co-Founders of Blavity: Aaron Samuels, Morgan Debaun, Jonathan Jackson, and Jeff Nelson.
The AfroTech conference launched in 2016, two years after the founding of Blavity in Silicon Valley. It has since been hosted by Oakland, Austin, and Houston. Like most 21st century media companies, conferences and events aren’t just a feature, they’re a 🗝️ product. AfroTech has many elements of SXSW, HBCU homecomings, and top professional conferences (2025 Schedule):
📣brand activations
⭐expert speakers
🌮food trucks and vendors
🎫peripheral parties and events
🤝large career fair/expo
Viarae activation @ AfroTech 2023 in Austin, TX
Here’s My Take:
I’ve known Morgan for a decade now. She appeared in our 2018 Vanity Fair spread, though our first 1 on 1 conversation was last year (2024) @ Janeen Uzell’s home; an intimate, private garden party 🏘️ on Martha’s Vineyard.
While most tech founders were writing code and pitching SaaS, Morgan was growth hacking for Blavity, a new-age media platform, by repurposing content and doling out Blavity t-shirts @ SXSW. Now, she is among the last of us, venture-backed Black female founders, still standing; she just secured a cool fresh milli 💰 last month (LOT)!
Look, I am a veteran conference attendee (circa 1990). I’m talkin’ hundreds of professional conferences since age six (thanks, Grandma 👵🏾). Still, I was caught off guard by what I witnessed @ AfroTech: soooo many Black jobs....lots and lots of smiling, energetic, engaged, and highly intelligent Black people of all ages enthusiastically working this beautiful Black-owned company. Whether onstage, backstage, side-stage, or sidewalk, the throughline between AfroPunk and AfroTech was Black jobs. AI is eliminating jobs. Periodt. We need to reskill talent to adapt, YES AND in the meantime folx need jobs. Morgan is creating real jobs for real people in real-time (see her Substack). She risin’ and liftin’. Big props, Boo!
My relationship goals?! Venus and Serena Williams. I have always admired (and occasionally side eyed 😄) this relationship. I met them both on South Beach in Miami a million years ago, pre-Uber, in a shared taxi 🚖 from the after to the after-after party with my college bestie Dr. Theresa Johnson. In a nutshell, Venus and Serena are silly, competitive, and ruthlessly protective of each other. I love it and love that they’re officially “on air” together. Hopefully, one day, Richard will adopt me.🤞🏾
This is the most useful book I’ve ever been gifted 🎁 by a Visible Figures member (Thank You, Yemi Adewunmi)! And timely. I have hosted ~60 Visible Figures events across the world and hope to host hundreds more. Priya has done an excellent job communicating the significance of understanding your ‘why’ for any human convening and how to mold experiences, pre-invitation to post-event, to achieve your desired outcomes. I convene to facilitate authentic, long-term connections in comfy, cozy 🛋️ spaces to nurture our community whilst financially supporting small business owners.
Love Always Wins,
Things You Should Know 👀
Helen Adeosun, solo founder CEO who raised $32.39M for CareAcademy, has recently sold her company to Activated Insights (PR Newswire).
Helen, is an OG Visible Figures member. We have mutual investors. She’s in the Vanity Fair shoot. She is another great example of entrepreneurship creating real jobs for real people in real-time. Her focus on and conviction around the value of (re)skilling for the care economy deserves a Nobel prize🏆. I pray she gets the rest and rewards necessary to refuel for an even greater next chapter. Jobs in care👩🏾⚕️aren’t going anywhere, ya’ll.
Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye, former founder & CEO of Ami Colé has been tapped by Kim Kardashian to lead Skims Beauty (Allure).
Diarrha’s struggles raising for Ami Colé was one of many factors that contributed to my decision to leave venture capital and focus on Visible Figures full-time. I didn’t dig deep into her deck, but I know for she did not get a fair shot. Kudos to Kim K for recognizing and rewarding🫰🏾talented, connected, capable, and intelligent women who take risks.
Show Her Work 📜
Mary Sheffield was recently elected the first woman mayor in Detroit, Michigan’s 324-year history.
In 2013, Sheffield at the tender age of 26 was the youngest council member ever elected in Detroit. Born and raised on the west side to a civil rights activist and pastor, she has a long and storied tenure in Detroit. Sheffield began her civic career working in the county jail system as a disciplinary hearing officer and community work as co-pastor of New Destiny Christian Fellowship Church. In January 2026, at 38 years old Sheffield will become the first female, of any race, to hold the mayoral seat in Detroit, Michigan. Sheffield earned at BA in Public Affairs from Wayne State University and a MA in Public Administration from Central Michigan University.
Dr. Dorcey Applyrs was recently elected the first Black mayor of Albany, New York.
Applyrs is a DC-native and long-time Albany resident. She began her public service career in HIV/AIDs advocacy work and was the founder CEO of InVision Her, an “unapologetic women’s empowerment lifestyle brand.” In 2013, Applyrs began her political career winning the Albany Common Council election . In 2020, she became the city’s chief auditor. In January 2026, Applyrs will become the first Black mayor, male or female, of Albany, New York. Applyrs, a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., earned a MS and PhD in Public Health from the University of Albany, SUNY where she defended her dissertation titled “Corticosteroid use, emotional health and work/regular daily activities: ethnic differences in women with systemic lupus erythematosus.”
Sharon Owens was recently elected the first Black mayor of Syracuse, New York.
Owens began her career as a coordinator and director in youth, family, and homeownership service organizations. In 2010, she began her political career as Deputy Commissioner for the City of Syracuse. In 2013, Owens founded Syracuse Community Connections, a not-for-profit holding extension of the Southwest Community Center, home of multiple family and community support programs. She has served as Deputy Mayor for the City of Syracuse since 2018. In January 2026, Owens will become the first Black mayor, male or female, of Syracuse, New York. Owens earned a BA in economics from Syracuse University.
A Number to Remember 👇🏾
As of July 2025, eight (8) Black women serve as mayor of the top 100 most populous cities in the United States according to the Black Women in American Politics2025 report sponsored by the Center for American Women and Politics. Based on the aforementioned elections, this number is expected to rise in January 2026.
Upcoming Expert Events 📅
Managing Your Online Brand - Tuesday, November 25th @ 6PM ET via Zoom
This expert-led discussion and AMA will cover how to strategically build and manage your online professional brand across platforms like LinkedIn, personal websites, and digital portfolios. Participants will gain actionable tips and insights. Emphasis is placed on maintaining a consistent, professional digital presence that supports your long-term career development.
Facilitator: Stephanie Van Putten (Bio and LinkedIn)
Utilizing AI for Employment - Thursday, December 11th @ 12Noon ET via Zoom
This discussion and AMA will focus on the intersection of artificial intelligence, talent acquisition, and the evolving landscape of work. Participants will gain an understanding of how AI and macroeconomic trends are transforming hiring practices, reshaping workforce dynamics, and influencing organizational strategy.
Facilitator: Stephanie Van Putten (Bio and LinkedIn)
Congrats on the activation and for dropping gems on people at AfroTech! And major kudos to Helen!! Wow!! Thanks for another great newsletter!