Disruption Now

Darnell Smith is a CPG and alcohol industry veteran and cannabis entrepreneur, innovator and advocate. Smith is the founder and CEO of MXXN, a non-alcoholic, cannabis-infused spirits brand that is evolving today’s cocktail culture and disrupting the alcohol and cannabis industry. MXXN is the first product launch of MOJO Ventures, which is part of the digital + creative consultancy MOJO he founded that has done extensive work for Procter & Gamble Ventures, Barcardi’s Incubation group, Pepsico and more.  Prior to founding MXXN and MOJO, Smith was a senior digital transformation lead at Infosys Consulting working with the likes of Adidas, Ralph Lauren, AB InBev, Novartis, GSK, Pfizer, AMEX and more. Prior to that, Smith worked for over a decade in various agency and client side roles focused on innovation and commercialization for the likes of Diageo and Pernod Ricard.     As a Black entrepreneur working in the cannabis industry, Smith is extremely passionate about being on the frontlines of creating a more equitable space. He is committed to working with a diverse set of vendors and supply partners within his companies and always looks to partner with organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion.   Smith earned his Marketing degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he played football as a defensive end under legendary coach Lou Holtz.      

A portion of all MXXN proceeds from sales benefit organizations working to pass federal cannabis reform and repair the disproportionate harm faced by low-income, Black and Latinx communities. 

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Mirthell, is the Founder and CEO of the Onyx brand. For years, he worked as a pastor and marriage & family therapist, but it was his dream to one day work with his family. One day in 2015, he took the giant leap and quit his job; he never looked back since. Now, the family has a multi-million dollar enterprise, which includes a YouTube Original talk show, Onyx Family Dinner (featuring guests such as Jemele Hill and Emmanuel Acho), an animates series, Onyx Monster Mysteries (which has been distributed to platforms such as Peacock and Apple TV), books, a health & fitness app. and more. He tries to inspire and motivate other black men to take the leap too and start their own business too.

Also, the host of the hit podcast, Wrongful Conviction features interviews with men and women who have spent decades in prison for crimes they did not commit, some even sentenced to death. He started his journey to fight the system's injustice last 1993 when he helped a young kid win his case for a non-violence first offense cocaine possession charge for which he served 15 years to life. He also shared statistics that listeners will be shocked that the United States incarcerates black people at six times South African rate per capita during a partile. Jason Flom believes that we should use the resources to uplift people, police are not the answer, and imprisonment is not the answer. He lives by the saying, "If you can help, help, and you can always help!" He always reminds people that Today is a good day to do something good for someone while expecting nothing in return.

Steve is president, special counsel to the CEO of Comcast Cable. He works with executives on a number of important initiatives, including leadership development, strategic planning, diversity, equality, and inclusion, and digital equality. He has enjoyed many affiliations, including his recent board service with Hormel Foods, Shaw Communications, and W.W. Grainger. Steve is active in the academic arena at the University of Denver and serves on the board of New Leaders, which focuses on the leadership development of public school principals. He’s a member of Delta Boule’ and the Executive Leadership Council. Before Comcast, he worked in some leading companies and was promoted several times. He started working as a young boy with his mom and brothers. Because he started working at an early age he realized that an unwavering work ethic and commitment attracts opportunities that lead to an impactful life. Until now, Steve applies the same uncompromising will to keep his purpose front and center. His purpose is to create a table of prosperity that everyone can participate in and enjoy. His life journey translates into life lessons that he shares in his keynote message with large corporate, academic, nonprofit, trade audiences and soon-to-be-released book Uncompromising.

Laws criminalizing HIV must be changed to Cathcart up to facts and science.

What you will learn:

• How Fear Drive modern HIV Laws in Ohio
• Why Current HIV Laws are against public health Interest
• How marginalized communities are hurt by HIV criminalization
• Why current HIV Laws in Ohio aren’t aligned with Science 

•  Isoul Harris is the Editor and Chief of EDTION. Edition’s mission to uplift and amplify Black creatives across industries. Isoul brings a vast array of expertise in the space – from serving as a multimedia content producer, to fulfilling award-winning journalist roles in which he was able to tell powerful stories disrupting cultural narrative. Prior to joining EDITION, Isoul served as the editor-in-chief at UPTOWN, where furthered the national magazine’s mission profiling affluent African American life in partnership with the world’s leading celebrities, philanthropists, creatives, futurists across industries throughout the diaspora. Isoul also served as Deputy Editor of exclusive luxury lifestyle magazine, Mosaic where he worked to bring the profiles of LGBTQIA+ people of color front-and-center within the magazine.

• What you will learn:

• Why we need to embrace our beaty not just our struggle. 
• The importance of owning your truth 
• The power of being uncomfortable

Kern Alexander is a veteran turned business mogul. Learn about his  unexpected Cannabis journey and how his passion for helping veterans lead to a multi million dollar business. US Military Veteran Kern Alexander discusses how he founded and scaled The Higher Collection, an Oakland-based cannabis distribution and delivery company.  

As Founder and Managing Member of Genesis Companies, Karim oversees the firm and it’s strategic direction. Karim enjoys focusing on forging new partnerships and pushing innovation in our operations and investment approach. Karim’s experience as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs and a private equity investor at General Atlantic Partners, allowed Karim to develop the investment acumen he now devotes to Genesis’ financial strategies.

Karim holds several advisory seats in local organizations, including his roles as Trustee of the Randall’s Island Park Alliance and a Member of the Reform Leadership Council for Vera Institute of Justice. Karim earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Philosophy from Amherst College, an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master’s in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School. Karim is an active member of the Harlem community where he lives with his wife and two daughters. 

Alexys Feaster is the Founder and CEO of The Kinship Advisors, a strategic

advisory company launched in January 2021, focused on creating alliances within

the sports, entertainment, and other industries, who are committed to personal

development, social justice, strategic business expansion and sustaining impact in

underserved communities.

The Kinship Advisors provides intentional collaboration to close the gaps with

culturally connected business and brand strategy, innovative program

development and philanthropic support, creating lasting social and personal

impact. In addition to managing the $5.3M Jrue and Lauren Holiday Social Impact

Fund, Alexys leads the advisory work for various NBA Players and clients such as

Metro Esports and Bleeker, a company focused on helping people of color create

meaningful careers. She is also the Executive Producer at Just Women’s Sports, the

premiere media company focused on shining a light on the stories, athletes and moments that define women’s sports.

• Phaedra Ellis Lamkins is the CEO of Promise, a payment technology platform that simplifies how people manage government payments like utilities, child support, parking tickets and more by offering customizable plans and providing digital payment options. The organization has secured funding from a wide array of investors including Roc Nation, Starbucks, Bumble, Kapor Capital, XYZ, First Round, and many more. Promise secured 20 million dollars in its Series A collectively raising  50 million dollars overall which is one of the largest funding rounds for a Black, women-led startup with investors like Kapor Capital, Bronze, First Round, and Y Combinator.

Phaedra herself is a rockstar in the world of social justice and music: prior to starting Promise, she served as the Executive Officer of the South Bay AFL–CIO Labor Council, she served as the personal manager for legendary musician Prince, and helped procure Prince’s ownership of his catalog, negotiating his deal with Warner Bros and co-founding NPG Music Publishing LLC. She also succeeded Van Jones as the CEO of Green For All, and worked with the Congressional Black Caucus to advocate for standards in environmental protection and spearheaded state, local and federal victories in creating solutions to both poverty and pollution.

Her work and leadership has been recognized over the course of her career, including highlights like:

the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader

Essence for their 25 Most Influential African Americans

Ebony for their Power 150

The Grio for their 100 History Makers in the Making

Black Enterprise for their 40 Next: Emerging Leaders for our Future

2018 SPUR Award from the San Francisco Urban