Entertainment and Sports Marketers Convene at MOBE Symposium

All roads lead to Newark on April 25-26 for the MOBE Symposium. An acronym for Marketing Opportunities in Business and Entertainment, MOBE has long been recognized as a respected marketing conference for Black professionals and entrepreneurs, as well as those targeting the Black consumer market.

The conference kicks off on Thursday evening, April 25^, with a VIP reception for sponsors and registrants at the Grammy Museum Experience at Prudential Center. They will be treated to interactive exhibits simulating the recording process, performing on stage, remixing a song, playing the drums and more.

The symposium officially opens Friday, April 26, with breakfast and welcome remarks from title sponsor Prudential and co-sponsors P&G, AARP and Urban One.  As part of AARP’s presentation, Dr. William Pickard will set the tone for the day sharing his business acumen and experiences growing Black businesses. A multimillionaire and generous philanthropist, he is the founder and chairman of Global Automotive Alliance, one of the country’s leading minority-owned logistics and manufacturing companies.

This one-day immersive event is packed with informative panels that will help provide insights into trends and opportunities for new entrepreneurs and experienced marketers, all under the theme Our Money Matters. “At MOBE, our content is unique in that we provide examples of case study successes, and connect budding and seasoned entrepreneurs with professionals to accelerate business success. Our intent is to leverage our ability to positively tap into our cultural base and creative influence and understand the economic impact of working and growing together,” says MOBE founder Yvette Moyo.

The luncheon keynote will be delivered by Michele Thornton Ghee, EVP of Business Development for Endeavor Global Marketing. She and her team help brands better leverage the cultural relevance of the world around them while creating programs that connect to consumers.

Lyneir Richardson, executive director of the Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CUEED) at Rutgers-Newark, has curated a global marketing panel with extensive experience in Africa, Asia and Europe to discuss strategies for making connections and profitable deals in other countries.

Clayton Banks, co-founder and CEO of Silicon Harlem, assembled a group of sports executives to examine the wildly popular e-games, gambling and how technology is transforming the sports experience.

Dorinda Walker, CEO of Cultural Solutions Group, leads the panel of executive women who will review the power of female professionals leading the charge and their forecast for the future. Included on the panel is Aisha Glover, president & CEO of Newark Alliance, an organization dedicated to the economic revitalization of the host city.

Social justice and its influence on consumer/brand engagement will be tackled by activist and filmmaker William Calloway. It was his advocacy for the release of the video of LaQuan McDonald’s murder by a Chicago police officer that sparked a movement. Nike and Colin Kaepernick, Pepsi and Kendall Jenner are contrasting examples of why brands should collaborate with social justice influencers and plan appropriately.

Filmmakers, music creators and visionaries make up the Music, Film and TV panel, Our Voices, Our Stories Matter. They will provide guidance to the attendees on creative ways to finance the stories and earn more from the stories.

A closing cocktail reception will offer attendees an opportunity to further network with the presenters and fellow registrants. Updates are posted @mobesymposium on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Cost of the symposium is $99 for professionals and $25 for college students with valid ID. It includes access to the opening reception, a full breakfast, lunch, all panels and keynote addresses, and the cocktail reception. Interested parties can register at www.mobesymposium.com. Registration is managed by Black-owned ticketing platform Eventnoire.com. Registration ends April 22, and there is no on-site registration. Questions can be directed via email to [email protected].