National retail can help emerging Black-founded brands scale, but DEI pullbacks, boycott pressure and big-box economics are changing the risk calculation.
IDEAS · TODAY
TODAY'S BBD500 SPOTLIGHT · Speaking & Sales
VIEW PROFILE →Ashley Nicole Kirkwood
Attorney, entrepreneur, corporate speaker and founder of Speak Your Way to Cash. She teaches experts how to build paid-speaking businesses, create premium offers, sell services and secure corporate clients.
MORE FROM THE BBD500More people
More people
to know.
The BBD500 is Black Biz Daily's curated stage for Black founders, executives, investors, educators, authors, consultants, creators and business authorities whose work deserves to be seen. It is not a popularity ranking; it recognizes useful authority, demonstrated impact and sustained contribution.
EXPLORE THE BBD500 →01Leadership & Publishing
LABBD500 EXPERT VOICE
Luvvie Ajayi Jones
Four-time New York Times bestselling author, speaker and founder of The Book Academy. She teaches leadership, communication, courage and how experts can develop books that extend their ideas and impact.
02Venture Capital
Melissa Bradley
Investor, professor, exited founder and founder of 1863 Ventures. She teaches entrepreneurs about capital, business development and growing New Majority companies from high potential to high growth.
03Inclusive Business Leadership
Adrienne Trimble
Senior vice president and global chief inclusion officer at Visa and former CEO of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. She shares expertise on supplier diversity, inclusion strategy and economic opportunity.
WHAT WE’RE WATCHINGThe questions
The questions
shaping what
comes next.
The Brief tells you what matters now. This desk follows the deeper business shifts our newsroom believes deserve sustained attention.
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