In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Our list of 40 Next celebrates the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
These BE Nexters–those 21—35 years old making a measurable impact within their respective business, organization, industry, or field–are standouts in the areas of entrepreneurship, corporate America, academia, nonprofit, the arts, and the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). And they prove every day that “business as usual” is not so usual. For them, leveraging expertise in one area to maximize an opportunity in another is standard operating procedure.
Using the legacy of their business predecessors to forge their own way, this new generation of leadership accepts the torch without trepidation. But the commonality between then and now is that success still takes a focused, strategic, and passionate mindset. Here, we introduce you to one of our 40 Next.
Kelli Coleman, 25
Vice President, Business Development
GlobalHue, New York
Coleman is an integral part of the day-to-day operations of the multicultural ad firm where she leads the new business team and serves as president of Cutting Edge Productions, a broadcast production house under its corporate umbrella. Coleman manages across key areas, including new business, production, public relations, and The Coleman Entrepreneurial Scholarship.
Education/Degree – Spelman College, Class of 2006; BA, Political Science
Favorite business book: The New Mainstream: How the Multicultural Consumer is Transforming American Business by Guy Garcia
Favorite leisure book: Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
Manifesto-How do you plan to change the world? By being the change I want to see in the world, infusing my passion for entrepreneurship and philanthropic stewardship.
Be sure to pick up the commemorative 40th anniversary August 2010 issue of Black Enterprise, which contains the entire 40 Next list.