The 23rd Annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival hosted its signature event, the Women’s C-Suite Soirée, a luncheon for Black and Brown female trailblazers to gather in the spirit of sisterhood. Held at the beautiful Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown, on August 7th, over sparkling wine (from Taraji P. Henson’s Seven Daughters), Absolute specialty cocktails, fresh oysters, pasta and more, a group of hand-picked business executives and entrepreneurs celebrated leadership, networked, and made life-long connections. It was an amazing event that I wish had been around during my 28+ years as Head of PR for several music labels and brands.
Launched in 2021 by festival co-founder Stephanie Tavares-Rance, this year’s Women’s C-Suite event featured a fireside chat with Broadcast Journalist Joy Ann Reid and Win With Black Women founder Jotaka Eaddy. We also heard from dynamic C-Suite managers Aisha Glover, Audible, Global Head of Urban Innovation; Amanda Baker Lane, Amazon, global head of customer inclusion; Tinisha Agramonte, SVP and Chief Diversity Officer, Disney; Melonie Parker, VP, Google Engagement and Liliahn Majeed, Chief DEI Officer, North America, L’Oreal. Also in attendance were actress Susan Kelechi Watson and Bogolo Kenewendo, Botswana Minister of Minerals, and event host Janine Rubenstein, People Magazine Editor At Large.
Claire Sulmers, founder and EIC, fashionbombdaily; Stephanie Tavares-Rance, Co-founder, MVAAFF, Jeanne Liburd, Communications and Social Impact Strategist, Pauline Malcolm, former Chief Revenue Officer, Essence, not CEO of Brand Story at the MVAAFF Women’s C-Suite Soirée at the Harbor View Hotel, Edgartown, MV
Stephanie Tavares-Rance opened the program encouraging the ladies to “meet someone new, build connections.” “This afternoon is about women building together, growing together.” She concluded with: “Black women are not a trend, they are a force.”
Joy Ann Reid spoke of her West Indian heritage, and how her passion for the arts grew while at Harvard as a Pre Med major. Growing up, international news was always on their TV or radio at home, igniting her thirst for news. At college she discovered a passion for short stories and poetry, sparking a love for writing and journalism. Working in Broadcast News was a natural fit, leading her to eventually host MSNBC’s “AM Joy,” and “The Reid Out,” and now, on YouTube, “The Joy Reid Show” which amassed over one million views within the first two weeks of launching.
Reid also spoke about her transition from on-air talent to becoming a C-Suite manager running her own small business with “The Joy Reid Show” and feeling more connected to Black women in business than ever. Reminiscing on her career in news, she explained that Black women “have the ‘Curse of Competency.’ Where you’re the best at what you do and you’re the person everyone calls.” And too often we end up doing more and getting paid less. Whereas our non-melanated counterparts have the “Presumption of Brilliance” when they are not. They get the opportunities and the grace and this is “just a thing that is true that we all have to deal with.”
In speaking on pouring into the next generation she said: “Someone saw in me my potential.” “I am a doorstop. If you hire me, you’re getting a whole lot of us.” Reid pulled in Mellisa Harris Perry, Tiffany Cross and many more while at MSNBC.
The Women’s C-Suite Lunch is a much needed celebration of women leaders of color. It is important that we come together, connect and celebrate each other. Many of us try to manage the burden and stress of leadership on our own. Connecting with like-minded women of color who have navigated successfully through your same issues is a necessity.
Thank you Stephanie Tavares-Rance and MVAAFF for creating this safe space for Black and Brown women executives and entrepreneurs to find and help on another.
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