Imani Ellis

NEW EXCLUSIVE
  • CEO and Founder of CultureCon and The Creative Collective

Former NBCUniversal executive Imani Ellis is the CEO and Founder of CultureCon and The Creative Collective, a community dedicated to facilitating brave spaces for Black and Brown creatives. Founded in Ellis’s one-bedroom apartment, The Creative Collective has grown into the largest community devoted to creatives of color. In addition to community events, The Creative Collective provides countless resources and workshops. The Creative Collective’s marquee event, CultureCon, is the first-of-its-kind ideas conference that caters to all aspects of creative and young professional life. Past CultureCon speakers have included Tracee Ellis Ross, Will Smith, Regina King, John Legend, Spike Lee, Lena Waithe, and more.  As a leader in talent development in media and creative industries, Ellis’s perspectives are crucial for organizations seeking a creative spark.

Ellis is regularly invited to speak at high-profile events and conferences, including Amazon, Jordan Brand, Pinterest, Advertising Week, Meta, the Women of Power Summit, Columbia Business School, and many more. Named a "Breakthrough Creative" by Ebony, a “Visionary” by Forbes, “One to Watch” by Black Enterprise, and a “Diversity Champion by AdWeek, Ellis shares invaluable insights on cultural competency and innovation.

 


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Past Hosts Include:
  • Amazon
  • Verizon
  • Civic
  • REC (Resources for Every Creator
  • LinkedIn
  • Google
  • Meta
  • Columbia University
  • Women of Power Summit
Rave Reviews About Imani Ellis
With REC's mission of connecting, inspiring, and equipping creatives, choosing Imani Ellis to speak at REC's Creator Day presented by Google was a no-brainer. Imani, a leader in the creator economy, captivated our audience by moderating an engaging conversation with media personality and host Scottie Beam. Imani's preparation, experience as a creator, and personal connection with Scottie Beam led to an authentic and moving discussion that left attendees inspired. Imani’s presence was impactful, and we are eager to welcome her back to speak to our community of creatives anytime.

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Talks & Conversations with Imani Ellis
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Building (& Maintaining) a Community

Visionary founder of The Creative Collective and CultureCon, IMANI ELLIS shares her transformative insights on building and sustaining vibrant professional and creative communities. In this keynote presentation, Ellis shares her strategies for creating authentic connections while ensuring long-term ...

Visionary founder of The Creative Collective and CultureCon, IMANI ELLIS shares her transformative insights on building and sustaining vibrant professional and creative communities. In this keynote presentation, Ellis shares her strategies for creating authentic connections while ensuring long-term engagement through practical advice to help you cultivate a thriving and resilient community.

Talent Empowerment: How to Spark Creative Innovation

Unlock your team’s full potential with IMANI ELLIS’s expertise on talent empowerment in this keynote equipping you with the tools to inspire your team, harness creativity, and achieve breakthrough results. Ellis offers a compelling framework for identifying and nurturing talent, fostering an environ ...

Unlock your team’s full potential with IMANI ELLIS’s expertise on talent empowerment in this keynote equipping you with the tools to inspire your team, harness creativity, and achieve breakthrough results. Ellis offers a compelling framework for identifying and nurturing talent, fostering an environment of collaboration, and driving innovative thinking by creating a culture where everyone feels empowered to contribute their best ideas.

How the Creator Economy Benefits Your Business

Discover the untapped potential of the creator economy with IMANI ELLIS’s insightful presentation on leveraging creative talent for business success. Ellis explains the benefits of engaging with content creators, from enhanced brand authenticity to increased customer loyalty and market reach. ...

Discover the untapped potential of the creator economy with IMANI ELLIS’s insightful presentation on leveraging creative talent for business success. Ellis explains the benefits of engaging with content creators, from enhanced brand authenticity to increased customer loyalty and market reach.

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How Imani Ellis went from NBCU Page to VP to CEO in under ten years

CEO and Founder of CultureCon IMANI ELLIS’s career trajectory, from her start at NBCUniversal to creating a successful and influential community for creatives of color, provides a powerful and motivational story. Ellis began her career in the NBC page program and rose to the position of Vice President of Unscripted Entertainment Publicity within a decade. At the top, she saw an opportunity to support talent development for other young creative professionals and began organizing The Creative Collective’s pop-ups, panels, and fireside chats that lead to employment opportunities for attendees. Ellis’s experiences resonate with audiences seeking inspiration in entrepreneurship, leadership, and resilience.

Watch Imani Ellis in conversation with Handcrafted Pod >>

Watch Imani Ellis on HERStory >>

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Biography

Imani Ellis is the CEO and Founder of CultureCon and The Creative Collective, a community dedicated to facilitating brave spaces for Black and Brown creatives. Born in Imani’s one-bedroom apartment as a means to foster meaningful connection, TheCCnyc has since parlayed into the largest community devoted to creatives of color. TheCCnyc's marquee event is CultureCon, a conference celebrating the impact diverse voices have on culture. Past speakers include Tracee Ellis Ross, Will Smith, Regina King, John Legend, Spike Lee, Lena Waithe, and more. CultureCon is the first of its kind ideas conference that caters to all aspects of creative and young professional life. In addition to community events, The Creative Collective provides countless resources and workshops. 

In the height of the pandemic, The Creative Collective launched CultureCon At Home, a virtual campus that reached over 22,000 creatives in over 131 countries around the world, and Creative Curriculum, a series of digital masterclasses touching on everything from entrepreneurship to navigating the corporate world. Named a "2021 Breakthrough Creative" by Ebony, and a "Diversity Champion '' by Adweek, Imani has been recognized by Forbes as a "Visionary" and "One To Watch" by Black Enterprise. Imani graduated from Vanderbilt University with a major in communications and a double minor in German and Film.