Culture and Convos

When it comes to engaging consumers and generating support for a brand, there’s no disputing the influence African American celebrities bring. And recently, we’ve witnessed how important it is for brands to address these issues by partnering with the national and grassroots organizations who are on the frontlines fighting for Black lives every day. For this episode of “Culture & Convos,” we’ll sit down with actor, activist and best-selling author Hill Harper and NAACP’s vice chairman of the board of directors, Karen Boykin-Towns, to discuss how brands can partner with civic organizations and celebrity influencers to deliver on promises to create greater equity and equality for Black Americans.

Considering the recent uproar across the nation following the death of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breona Taylor, now more than ever are Black consumers are watching what brands are speaking up against racial injustices and which are silent. Peaceful protests have turned into full rebellions, and soon consumers will be demanding a lot more than words from major brands. In this episode, find out: What does this mean for brands moving forward? What roles should companies play in political and societal issues? How should marketers and advertisers address racism? Are multicultural consumers paying attention and more importantly, are black consumers loud enough about which brands they support and why? Special guests: Nsenga Burton, Ph.D., Award-winning Writer, Professor and Editor-in-Chief, Burton Wire Andrew McCaskill, Culture Analyst, All Def Digital & Culture + Economics Contributor, SiriusXM Alexis Davis Smith, (Host) CEO, PRecise Communications

What better time to talk about the shift in psyches and behaviors during this unprecedented global pandemic. In this episode, we’ll discuss: What impact of Covid-19 has had on Black consumers mentally? How this unexpected virus has impacted the way we shop? What brands/products have surprisingly increased in sales? How multicultural consumers can adapt and thrive during these difficult times? How marketers can do their job more strategically and with sensitivity? Special guests: Dr. Joy Harden Braden, Clinical Psychologist and Founder, Therapy for Black Girls Cheryl Grace, SVP Strategic Community Alliances and Consumer Engagement, Nielsen Alexis Davis Smith, (Host) CEO, PRecise Communications

Majority of black-owned businesses (59%), are either founded or led by a Black woman, according to Nielsen data. For our first episode, we decided to celebrate this by speaking with the founder + CEO of PRecise Communications, Alexis Davis Smith, about: 1) why she left the comfort and security of one of the biggest PR firms in America to start her own firm. 2) The challenge of being an AA female in PR and having to teach brands to embrace the power of culture in communications. Follow the guest: www.linkedin.com/in/alexis-davis-smith-112a325 Follow the firm: www.precisecomm.net #PRecise