Women en Blanc celebrates African-American female leadership
23rd July 2018 · 0 Comments
By Kelly Parker
Contributing Writer
In the spirit of the 2018 Essence Music Festival and the celebration of female leaders and game changers in various areas, Insights Marketing hosted the annual ‘Women en Blanc’ Honors Brunch on July 7 at Generations Hall. The invitation-only, all-white affair, celebrated extraordinary African-American women in the areas of business, entertainment, sports, media, community, civics, politics and technology.
“We are thrilled to celebrate such an amazing group of women who have served as trailblazers in each of their respective industries,” says Alva Adams-Mason, director of African American Business Strategy, Corporate Communications at Toyota USA.
With more than two decades of marketing experience, Insights, an Atlanta-based agency, paves the path for innovative events in sports marketing avenues; which includes works with the likes of Beyonce and Magic Johnson, along such notable brands such as Covergirl, The Coca-Cola Company, Procter & Gamble and Victoria’s Secret.
“Celebrating our 20th anniversary is a major milestone, and our team is excited to bring together this phenomenal group of women to honor their achievements at the inaugural honors brunch in the culture-filled city of New Orleans,” Keshia Walker, president of Insights Marketing said.
In addition to such guests as singer LeToya Luckett, the afternoon’s event also hosted local city leaders such as District E Councilmember Cindy Nguyen and District D Councilmember Jared Brossett.
“What drew me to this event is the need to continue to be inspired by other women,” Nguyen told The Louisiana Weekly. “So many women are doing so much for their communities, but their efforts go in silence. As councilwoman for District E, I get my energy from what others are doing.”
The 2018 list of honorees included Regine Moore, Director, Multicultural Marketing, Walmart (Business), Mikki Taylor Media Veteran, author Editor-at-Large at Essence Magazine (Media), MC Lyte, Hip Hop Icon (Entertainment), Swin Cash Canal, former WNBA Player & Entrepreneur (Sports), Tarana Burke, civil rights activist and founder, along with Chelsea Fuller of the #MeToo Movement (community), New Orleans’ own Karen Carter Petersen, Louisiana State Senator (Politics), Sonia Jackson Myles, Author and Founder, The Sister Accord (Civic) and Burunda Prince – Jones, Managing Director, The Farm NBCUniversal.
The audience was treated to many nuggets of wisdom from honoree Mikki Taylor, accomplished beauty authority, author and influencer, who expressed her appreciation to be honored in the company of such a group of empowered women. Taylor also shared her insight on the importance of not leaving sisters behind along the journey to success.
“I hear so much at conferences about when you get to the top, send the elevator back down, and I just don’t believe that,” she shared. “When you get to the top, you should get back in the elevator and get your sisters and bring them up.”
She also paid tribute to her family, in particular, her daughter who was in attendance, and her celebration circle, a support system “whose love and support I thrive in,” she added.
“Every woman should have a celebration circle,” Taylor believes. As she states in her book: Editor in Chic, How to Style and Be Your Most Empowered Self, “a celebration circle is a group of empowering women that will show support in times of triumph as well as tribulation, and ‘want to see you win.’”
Taylor also shared with the crowd the blessing of following your passion and destiny.
“I never worked a day in my life,” Taylor told those in attendance. “I heard a wise man say once that if you do what you love, you never work a day in your life. And I am so in love with us. I am honored to be able to tell the magnificent truth of who we are; to showcase our womanhood – all shades, shapes, sizes and hair textures.”
State Sen. Karen Carter Petersen thanked her family, along with her mother, who was in attendance and challenged women in the audience to vigilantly take an active role in political leadership.
“As African-American women, if we use our collective efforts and actions, we can change the course of history. We need African-American women running for political office,” she said. “Three hundred years from now, they’re going to write about us and ask what did we do. Whose names will be included? What are they going to say about 2018? Is your name going to be in the book? It better be!”
“Women are in charge,” Councilmember Nguyen said. “Amazing women are everywhere, and it is a wonderful thing to be among them.”
This article originally published in the July 23, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.
