The Black Professional Network (BPN) recently brought entrepreneurs, doctors, and corporate leaders from across the country to network and learn from one another at the 2024 Black Professionals Summit (BP Summit). This year marks ten years of the conference, which shares career advice for upward mobility and investments that can help start a legacy for individuals. With impactful speakers and insightful sessions, the Black Professional Summit offered plenty for attendees this year.
“I’ve been seeing it for years, and I knew that this year I wanted to be in the room. Actually, I needed to be in the room. There have been incredible panels, and there is so much quality information, just connecting with like-minded people. I could not have asked for a better first experience,” said Brittany Marie Harris, CEO and coach with Brittany Speaks LLC.
The Black Professional Summit took place November 22- 24 at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino in Hollywood, Fla. More than 300 professionals attended to discover how to reach six figures in their careers, how to use real estate to generate wealth, and what it takes to be a certified legacy builder.
“Every panel is customized to support what we call the certified legacy builders journey. We extract what we think are the most pressing subject matters at the time you should know and have in your back pocket,” said Kenasha Paul, founder and CEO of the Black Professional Network and BP Summit.
Paul and BPN gathered experts from different industries to teach people how to achieve these milestones. They intentionally assembled a schedule of sessions that equipped attendees with the needed knowledge. Sessions like “How to create multiple streams of income” and “How to amplify social causes” were among the list of panels for people to attend. The Black Professionals Summit also hosted national talent to educate local professionals. This year, psychology expert and life coach Dr. Cheyanne Bryant taught attendees how to fail their way to success.
“Embrace that you will fail yourself to success, and that’s perfectly okay. Let failure provide wisdom and not disempower you. When this happens, you have two options: to be in the wilderness or the promised land. Those are not destinations or locations; those are mindsets,” said Dr. Cheyanne Bryant during the conference.
At a fireside chat, Dr. Bryant discussed how the wilderness mindset keeps you in survival mode, and you cannot thrive in it. Thriving allows people to love themselves and stand true to who they are she said. Dr. Bryant also shared how she has seen too many people try to act like others, and that is not good for those who truly want to uncover who they are.
“I want people to remember that you’re an image of God, and he made no mistakes when he created you. I think people want to be so much like others that they lose who they are. Losing a sense of self defers hope; hope deferred makes a heart sick, and sick people make sick decisions,” said Dr. Bryant.
Another impactful and most anticipated voice at the conference was Fawn Weaver, CEO of Uncle Nearest Whiskey brand and the summit’s Keynote speaker.
“I have just seen the room, and it’s beautiful to see so many black business people in the same space for the same reason,” said Weaver.
Dawn’s keynote touched on legacy. She emphasized how we have to prioritize our own legacy building and be better about not building for other people. Weaver encouraged the audience to put everything into every season they enter to reap what they sow. She followed up by sharing how she sees everyone living for their obituary.
“It made me think, are we just living for legacy but not being intentional with how we created it and how we live? My legacy is not solely created by me but by the people around me. Making sure that is in alignment with what I deserve is what I want to see for my lifetime,” said Weaver.
In the keynote, Weaver mentioned her journey. She shared that she studied American titans like Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller to learn how they built their empires. She also spoke on entrepreneurship and explained that failure only happens when you quit before you succeed. In a boxing analogy, she shared that you will hit the mat plenty of times, but you have to get up before the count of 10.
The Black Professional Summit combined major pieces to inspire and empower South Florida professionals. Paul and BPN aim to make the summit a transformative place where professionals can come to connect, learn, and grow every year.
Check out some footage from this year’s BP Summit.
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