#BlackStarsExperience | November 12–13 | New York City
The BlackStars Experience (BSE), one of the nation’s premier platforms celebrating leadership, innovation, and impact across industries, is proud to unveil its distinguished 2026 Class of Honorees.
Representing some of the world’s most influential organizations, this year’s honorees are redefining the future of technology, healthcare, finance, business, media, and more. Selected from nearly 1,000 nominations, the 2026 honorees exemplify the excellence, courage, and impact that continue to advance industries, strengthen communities, and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Their achievements reflect the mission of the BlackStars Experience: to recognize those whose leadership is creating lasting opportunities and shaping a more innovative, inclusive, and prosperous future..
In no particular order, meet the 2026 honorees:
- Benjamin Lloyd Crump, Civil Rights Attorney, Ben Crump Law
- Francessca Vazquez, Vice President, Frontier AI Engineering & Services, AWS
- Christopher Rice, Executive Vice President of Taxation & Corporate Structure, Shell
- Alexandria Segal, SVP and Chief Equality & Engagement Officer, Salesforce
- Aaron Anderson, Chief Accounting Officer at Meta Platforms Inc., Ally Award
- Pamela Maynard, Chief AI Transformation Officer, Customer & Partner Solutions, Microsoft
- Melonie Parker, Vice President of Employee Engagement, Google
- Dr Randy V. Bradley, Dean, Jack C. Massey College of Business, Belmont University
- Celeste Player, President, EviCore
- Shaown Nandi, Vice President, Technology, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Ally Award
- Justina Nixon-Saintil, Vice President & Global Chief Impact Officer, IBM
- Dr. Kulleni Gebreyes, Principal, Vice Chair & U.S. Life Sciences &Health Care Industry Leader, Deloitte US
- Herschel Frierson, Strategic Networks Leader & Principal, Crowe LLP
- Troy Dennis, Regional Product & Solutions Lead, Experian
- Jewel McGowan Watson, Vice President, Corporate Counsel, The Prudential Insurance Company of America
- Brandon J. Hurst, Owner, Chick-fil-A, Entrepreneurship Award
- Sandy Choute, Executive Director & Head of Diverse Wealth Strategies, JPMorgan Chase
- Sherette A. Constant, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
For the full list of honorees and their biographies, please visit our website here
The 2026 BlackStars Experience will take place in New York City on November 12–13, bringing together visionary leaders, rising talent, global corporations, entrepreneurs, and changemakers for two days of learning, connections, and impact.
The experience will feature:
- The BlackStars Summit — A full-day convening of global executives, innovators, policymakers, and thought leaders exploring the ideas shaping the future of business, leadership, technology, and workforce development.
- Networking & Career Expo — Connecting exceptional talent with leading employers while creating meaningful opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and career advancement.
- The BlackStars Awards Gala — An unforgettable evening celebrating the extraordinary leaders whose impact continues to transform industries and communities around the world.
Last year’s experience welcomed nearly 1,500 attendees from across the country and beyond. This year’s event promises even greater opportunities for learning, networking, and collaboration.
To learn more, visit www.blackstarsexperience.com. For sponsorship and partnership opportunities, email contact@panagenius.com.
For more information and to register, visit www.blackstarsexperience.com.
Media Contact
PanaGenius
contact@panagenius.com
www.panagenius.com
