business Archives - Rolling Out

Richelieu Dennis announced that he would step down as CEO of Essence Communications following an explosive statement allegedly issued by past and current employees of the media company. Dennis, the founder of Shea Moisture and Sundial Brands, bought Essence Communications from TIME in 2018, which allowed the company to be 100 percent Black-owned. However, an…

Netflix has hired powerhouse Bozoma Saint John as its new global chief marketing officer. Saint John, who was formerly named among Forbes list of World’s Most Influential CMOs, will be taking over for Jackie Lee-Joe beginning in August. She made the exciting announcement on social media with the caption, “#WATCHmework has taken on a whole…

Mary J. Blige is joining the growing list of celebrities who have ventured into the wine business. The queen of R&B, who has long provided us with the musical soundtracks to our lives, has launched Sun Goddess Wines. She made the announcement Monday, June 29, 2020, on Instagram. “It’s finally here! @sungoddesswines I’ve been creating…

Vena “Pretty Vee” Excell is a comedian, actress and entrepreneur who has quickly made a name for herself. Her comical Instagram skits have helped her rise to social media fame, amassing over 4M followers. The Miami native continued her career by securing her spot a cast member on Nick Cannon’s popular TV show “Wild ‘N…

Kamica Hampton has always had an affection for fabulous shoes. Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, her love for bold fashion was sparked at an early age. As an adult, she turned her passion into a paycheck when she launched her eponymous luxury shoe company in 2014. Kamica Hampton’s designs combine Italian craftsmanship and Texas…

We all know that access to capital is one of the biggest struggles that Black entrepreneurs face when trying to start and sustain their businesses. In response to this problem, Comerica Bank has decided to do its part in supporting Black-owned small businesses. On June 19, 2020, Comerica Bank announced its $1 million commitment to…

Ben & Jerry’s has joined the Facebook ads boycott. The ice cream makers followed a number of high-profile companies in choosing not to post advertisements on the social media site throughout the month of July in support of the Stop Hate For Profit campaign, which was launched to help stop the spread of racist and…

Jabari Paul

The recent uprisings surrounding police brutality and racial inequality inspired many companies to issue support for the Black Lives Matter movement. However, it remains to be seen how those companies will move beyond issuing statements on social media and put action behind their activism. Jabari Paul understands what it takes for companies to back up…

Google has vowed to increase its diversity leadership 30 percent by 2025. CEO Sundar Pichai has announced that the search engine giant will be adding more Black employees and those from “underrepresented groups” in top roles over the next five years. Google’s promise comes after global Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of…

Juneteenth, celebrated each year on June 19, commemorates the emancipation of African slaves in America. As we approach this day of celebration, rolling out is urging our community to continue to support Black businesses. While countless Black-owned businesses are serving and uplifting our community, we have compiled a short list of 11 here for you…

The death of George Floyd has resonated around the world. From the streets to the corporate suites, there has been a call for an end to racial injustice. On the corporate front, companies such as Nike, Citigroup and Papa Johns have aligned themselves with the Black Lives Matter movement. Nike released the statement, “NIKE, Inc.…

Basketball great Allen Iverson is known for his successful career in the NBA, his iconic style that changed the game, and his smart business moves. Iverson, who turned 45-years-old on Monday, has a lot to celebrate, including a significant payout that he can expect in the next 10 years on his 55th birthday. According to…

Rihanna has pledged her support to the Blackout Tuesday movement. The 32-year-old star has taken to her Instagram account to announce that her Fenty fashion and beauty brands won’t be doing any business on Tuesday, June 2, 2020, in response to George Floyd‘s death last week. Underneath a black box, Rihanna wrote: “we ain’t…

Khala Whitney is a young designer who is shaking up the fashion industry. The Houston native is the creator of Grayscale, an edgy feminine brand launched in 2016 that has captured the attention of many celebrities, including Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Summer Walker and more. The brand spearheaded by Whitney — a proud graduate of…

Michael Persaud and his brothers, Mark and Irwin Persaud, understand the value of leveraging culture. After years of working in the fields of music, media and entertainment with companies such as Quincy Jones’ Qwest/Warner Brothers Records and RCA Records, the Persaud brothers decided to delve into the financial arena. They now serve as wealth management…

Larry C. Tripplett is the chairman and CEO of the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association, a 48-year-old advocacy group for African American owners of McDonald’s franchises. He has been an owner-operator in California’s Pacific Sierra region since 1988 and was one of the founders of the Pacific Sierra’s BMOA chapter. Tripplett shared with rolling out…

Ludacris was viewed by most as the winner of the “Verzuz” battle against Nelly that took place on Instagram. However, Ludacris caused a stir on social media after debuting a new song before the battle which was watched by nearly 500,000. On the song, “Silence of the Lambs,” Ludacris mentions R. Kelly and Bill Cosby.…

Ruby’s Natural Hair Care brand was created to establish and maintain healthy locks and skin using natural ingredients. It is the brainchild of two mother-daughter duos, LaShonda Sims and her daughter, Amber Edwards, and their cousins Felice Thomas Sherrod and her daughter, Shanika Adediran, who founded the brand in 2017. The family-based brand is named…

Monique Idlett-Mosley is an entrepreneur and investor who has conquered both the world of entertainment and tech. Idlett-Mosley founded Reign Ventures Capital (RVC), a $25 million dollar fund that focuses on women and minority-led startups in 2017. She is also a host on a new talk show, “Chatter,” which airs on FOX Soul. We spoke…

Christianna Hurt is the CEO of WealthyCollegeKid, a digital education platform that teaches people how to make a passive income online through a variety of courses. The 25-year-old who is currently a student at the University of Central Florida, started her brand in 2016 after being fired. Since then her grit has helped her to…