OUR FOUNDER
Candace Marie
“During my 10+ year career navigating from company to company in the corporate realm, I saw not only a lack of Black colleagues but the systematic racism that was embedded into the guidelines, policies and practices that propelled white individuals towards success and Black individuals towards failure.
Knowing that corporate culture was not a system built or designed with Black individuals in mind, I thought it was vital to create Black In Corporate — a much needed resource for those looking for assistance, support, and guidance behind corporate walls, where change is needed most.“
– Candace Marie
Aaminah Shabazz
Aaminah Shabazz is a marketing professional with over 5 years of experience working with pharmaceutical, finance, ecommerce, and beauty brands within digital media, advertising, and currently, brand marketing. She has led the strategic media planning for her clients to help scale and drive business growth.
In the marketing space, she has witnessed the lack of diversity and inequities that Black individuals face. Her mission is to increase Black visibility within white spaces by expanding black partnership opportunities, challenging antiquated hiring practices, and addressing racist and prejudice media practices.
Cherise Matthew
Cherise is a fashion professional with over five years of experience in the industry. As someone who has spent most of her career as a creative in a corporate environment, she understands the struggles of working while Black in a predominantly white space. She knows how crucial community and representation are to survival in these rooms and has made it a point to highlight and uplift Black talent in her personal work in styling and blogging. Cherise looks forward to the day when diversity and inclusion become the industry standard instead of an occasional courtesy.
Jannelle Watson
Jannelle Watson works at the intersection of tech and politics advising politicians, public officials, government agencies, and advocacy groups on how to maximize their digital strategy on social media. She has over 10 years of experience in government affairs and public policy and served as a political appointee under the Obama Administration. Jannelle is now leading government and political outreach in the Southwest for Facebook and Instagram.
She is passionate about elevating black voices in the corporate space, uplifting black-owned travel hotels through her blog and creating programs that provide students of color with mentorship and guidance on how to build their brand on social media.
Nia Mair
Nia is currently a Master of Architecture candidate at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. She started her undergraduate studies in Rome, Italy and ultimately graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelors of Business Administration with emphasis on Finance.Her many interests circle around the deep rooted inequality and lack of representation in the real estate development and fashion industries, cultural immersions as well as renaissance and modern art and architecture. Nia has set out to combine her global travels, finance background, and current studies in Architecture to positively contribute to global real estate development alongside inclusive, innovative, and sustainable urban development.
Nefatari Cooper
Nefatari Cooper is a creative with a passion for beauty, fashion, and music. Her experience in entertainment has laid the foundation for her natural transition into social media consulting for beauty brands such as NARS and Moroccanoil. Nefatari is now serving as a Content and Influencer Marketing Strategist for some of the industry's top names in retail and beauty.
Semhar G. Salvati
Semhar Salvati is passionate about creating strong visual identities for brands. She has over 10 years of experience in Account Management and Project Management in Advertising.
Her main expertise is in luxury products and over the years she focused on fashion, beauty and accessories; working between London, Milan and New York City.
Semhar's career has focused on enhancing brands, enabling them to engage with their customers and tell their stories. She has led diverse teams and helped brands reach their objectives, with Black in Corporate Semhar wants to help young Black individuals to advance in the corporate world and reach their dreams.
Shiqueen Brown
Shiqueen is a creative, entrepreneur, and social justice visionary. As someone who has spent her career in multiple sectors, including non-profit, government, and tech, she has seen the need for Black support across industries. Shiqueen is passionate about centering racial equity, especially for Black women in all sectors. As a social impact strategist with over 5+ years of diverse experience, including partnership management, with Black in Corporate Shiqueen hopes to contribute to the advancement and uplift Black people in their journey. In her free time, she enjoys podcasts, films, and spoken word.
Join the Team