You voted. We listened.

Our team received an outpouring of submissions for our new 'Spark A Convo' initiative where you, the Where Are the Black People community, select which conversations we feature during the conference. Our team narrowed the list down to 10 entries and you picked your three favorites. Take a look at the winning entries below!

Thank you for taking the time to vote over the past few weeks and sharing your thoughts with us. We look forward to having the biggest, boldest, and most engaged WAATBP yet. See you there! Register for WAATBP 2023 here:

Panel Synopsis: Join us as we unlock the power of friendship used to create a thriving professional community. We’ll explore building & maintaining connections, and share insights to abolish the 'only room for one' mindset to amplify growth with peers & mentors.

Panelists: Blake Lynch & Faith McIver

Moderator: Brandon McEachern

Panel Synopsis: How do you advocate for yourself in an industry where we comprise only 4.4% of the population? From growing your influence to uncovering the difference between chasing a dollar versus digging your heels in, the true value of mentorship, and bringing your most authentic self to work, hear from some of today’s leaders who didn’t shy away and got the career they’ve always wanted. Finding the confidence to be your best ally and advocate when your experience vastly differs from the rest is intimidating, but this panel will arm you with the tools to lean in and step up.

Panelists: Alicia Harris, Carlin Dixon, Desmond Marzette, and Oyinda Elias

Panel Synopsis: We rarely talk about anxiety - let alone the impact it has within black communities. But, if we want to create change, we need to start the conversation. So, join leaders from across the creative industry as they discuss their own mental health journeys - within and beyond the workplace - sharing key takeaways for how you can join in shifting the narrative when it comes to mental health.

Panelists: Dyesha Hicks, Akeem Pearce, and Irene Campbell