CultureCon CEO Imani Ellis Makes Creating Space For Black Entrepreneurs And Creators Her Business

Thousands of creators, enterprise house owners, entrepreneurs, and freelancers stay up for the dynamic programming, activations, and unmatched headliners that The Creative Collective NYC curates at CultureCon. This yr is not any completely different. Except that it’s formally making its manner again to New York City in particular person after going digital throughout the pandemic. Imani Ellis, founder and CEO CultureCon and The Creative Collective (TheCCnyc), says this yr will probably be paying homage to a homecoming.

“CultureCon was born in New York. So, this is absolutely a homecoming of sorts that we’re going to have,” mentioned Ellis.

Homecoming celebrations inside the Black tradition are deeply rooted in celebrating the very best of who we are and what the group has to supply each other. One of these choices is the reward of collaboration. CultureCon is an innovation hub the place individuals can discover inspiration, new connections, enterprise companions, and extra. In 2016, that is what Ellis envisioned. Now, the seed of her thought has been fruitful as she has constructed her staff, the enterprise, and the TheCCnyc group to over 100,000 members.

“When you talk about the evolution of an idea, I think the best part is once the idea gets into the world and gets into the hands of collaboration, it can become so much more than what you could have ever initially planned. That is what comes out of CultureCon, collaboration,” mentioned Ellis. “Behind the scenes, there’s a group of us who are powerful. Everyone in their zones of genius is doing what they do best. And the product of that is CultureCon.”

There Is Power In Collaboration

Knowing learn how to determine alternatives for collaboration is vital.

“Whether that is you having a dream and working with your friends, or with your family, or making new friends and building something, I think that it’s been really powerful to see how an idea, once it gets momentum, can grow and become your wildest dream.”

Since founding CultureCon and TheCCnyc, Ellis has strategically secured prime expertise to construct her staff on all sides of the enterprise. To her profit, she has a wealth of management expertise and understands the significance of blind belief – which she attributes to her coaching as a ballerina and a monitor star.

“I did ballet for 14 years. That was where I first saw teamwork in terms of having partners and having people that you’re literally putting your life in their hands. You had to trust that the person was going to hold you. And yes, you’re beautiful in your tutu, but if you didn’t trust the person, the performance was over,” mentioned Ellis. She later went on to run monitor. “My favorite race was the relay. We did the four by one – and I was always the second leg on the straightaway. I had to have blind trust for my colleagues,” she added.

There’s No Way Around Building Trust

Developing the discernment for establishing blind belief as she builds her staff and produces CultureCon as a three-city tour and occasion collection is one thing that may be attributed to Ellis’ success. Along along with her dedication to servant management.

“When I looked at the scale, impact, and the resources of something like CultureCon, I can’t look at that and not look at the team. The beginning of wisdom is recognizing that you don’t do it alone. Ego tells you that you do things alone. I haven’t met a single leader I admire who doesn’t also reflect their team,” mentioned Ellis. “I think the true mark of leadership is being able to be of service. And so, I am of service to my team, just as they are in service to the cause.”

An African Proverb states, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Ellis is aligned with that manner of working. She additionally leans into the knowledge of her mom. “My mom would always say (to her and her siblings), ‘Make space for each other. Let it breathe,'” Ellis shared.

“I always over-communicate that because I know people love a story where one person pulls themselves up by their bootstraps and does it all alone. But, I think the more realistic and better story is when people can come together for a mighty-mighty purpose.”

Showing Up And Showing Out Requires Discipline

Ellis’ journey as a founder and her notable position as a Vice President inside a number one media firm has positioned her on the nationwide radar. While she has shared how she has been capable of climb the company ladder as a Black lady inside public relations, what she desires others to remove for themselves is how paramount being disciplined is.

As somebody who has at all times needed to handle a decent schedule, Ellis discovered to be disciplined early with the help of her mother and father. They additionally made positive she was anchored in religion. And as somebody who works higher underneath strain, Ellis has coached herself to be all of the extra structured.

“At this leadership level, procrastination is not a luxury I have. There are consequences for procrastinating. So, what I’ve really been working on is managing myself,” mentioned Ellis. For her, meaning waking up at 5 within the morning most days, holding herself accountable, and working towards grace as she manages her day-to-day personally and professionally. “Once you can manage these little things, it’s crazy how you can start to manage teams and processes. If you can’t manage yourself, it’s kind of like you don’t take yourself seriously.”

She shared considered one of her favourite quotes, “I can’t hear what you’re saying because what you’re doing is so loud.”

“You might not say, ‘I don’t take myself seriously,’ but if you always set goals for yourself and never see them through, you do not take yourself seriously. And, of course, I’m speaking in a vacuum. There are so many obstacles and external forces. But I’m talking about setting goals for yourself and then working to attain them,” mentioned Ellis.

Five Tips For Getting Organized And Goal Setting

If you’ve got discovered your self challenged by your routines or your incapacity to fulfill your mark as an entrepreneur, Ellis has 5 suggestions for you:

1. Spend a while in silence to determine what your goal is actually saying to you.
2. Think concerning the areas the place you thrive after which the place you might be in partnership with others the place they thrive.
3. Set tangible and actionable objectives.
4. Be clear and trustworthy about the way you finest function.
5. Hire your weak point. Either delegate, study or discover partnership in areas the place you need assistance.

Ellis’ recommendation does not solely come from the perceivable shiny moments many have grow to be enamored with. Rather the moments when she admittedly has fallen brief, struggled along with her confidence, and in situations when she forgot what she delivered to the desk.

“Those are the ebbs and flows. There are certain times when you feel unstoppable. Sometimes you set goals, and maybe you didn’t get them right this time. All of those things either make you humble and figure out your purpose. Or, it’s going to make you stronger. I have to talk about the duality of it because the “shine” wouldn’t be so great if you didn’t know what the not-so-shiny moments felt like,” mentioned Ellis.

CultureCon Is The Culture

CultureCon is designed with nice intention. And along with it being a secure house for Black entrepreneurs, creators, and enterprise house owners, Ellis shared that it’s a courageous house. “I completely agree with safe spaces. But I also feel like being safe implies that you have to be quiet and small and in danger. Brave spaces imply that you can be your whole self and show up and be larger than your wildest dreams.”

This yr, attendees can stay up for a star-studded lineup of celebrities, influencers, and changemakers all through numerous industries who will probably be taking to stage to share info to assist individuals get from the place they’re to the place they need to be of their careers or enterprise.

“When people come to CultureCon, the goal is for them to build community, find resources, change their minds, and be curious. It’s a space where you can be every part of your creative process. But the most important thing is that they feel like they’re coming home to the space that was built for them,” mentioned Ellis.

Learn extra about CultureCon NYC by visiting the web site or following the Instagram account.