C-Suite Elite! These Black Women Bosses Are Dominating the Media Industry
by Yasmine Jameelah
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March 4, 2023

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C-Suite Elite! These Black Women Bosses Are Dominating the Media Industry

It ain’t easy breaking into the C-suite, but gone are the days where we take no for an answer. Black women are being bolder, shining brighter, and doing better than generations before us ever dreamed. Did y’all know Black women only account for 4% of C-suite positions (a company’s top management positions where the “C” stands for “chief.” for ex. CEO, CFO, CIO, COO, etc.) versus 62% for white men and 20% for white women, according to McKinsey & Co. Well, those are the stats.

Despite the statistics, doors slammed, and ceilings that felt too high, these women continue to shatter the glass ceiling and make their mark! This Women’s History Month, we’re honoring Black women changing the game in their respective industries all month long. With sisterhood and self-love at the core, Black Love Inc. is highlighting some of the women in the C-suite we most admire for their achievements and women in media are up first! Starting with media powerhouses, let’s celebrate these boss ladies and their journeys to the top despite these significant obstacles and feel inspired by them blazing a trail for us and generations of Black women to come! 

These Black Women Bosses Are Dominating the Media Industry
Morgan DeBaun

Morgan DeBaun – CEO of Blavity and AfroTech 

Kicking off our list with the woman dubbed “Your Favorite Millennial CEO,” Morgan DeBaun has been building companies and communities for the past ten years. She is CEO and founder of Blavity & AfroTech, non-profit Blavity.org, and WorkSmart advisor, a global community designed to unite, encourage and equip black entrepreneurs and small business owners.

When Black Love spoke with Morgan, here’s what she shared on advice to women looking to climb the ranks in business on what keeps her going!

“I advise anyone looking to climb the leadership ranks to stay focused on your goals and have faith in yourself. Taking calculated risks, remaining resilient in the face of adversity, and having a clear vision will help you reach your targets. At each level you reach you have to be deeply self aware, developing strong relationships with people who can provide support during difficult times and help open doors for you will be invaluable throughout your journey.”

These Black Women Bosses Are Dominating the Media Industry
Codie Elaine Oliver

Codie Elaine Oliver – CEO of Black Love, Inc. and Partner/Co-Chair of Confluential Films

All while being a badass mama to three amazing boys, Codie Elaine Oliver is a proud Howard University alum, film and television producer, as well as a partner at Confluential Films. She co-created with husband Tommy Oliver and directs and showruns “Black Love”, the ground-breaking 4-time NAACP Image Awards-nominated series. Codie also oversees Black Love Inc, a media company created and owned by the Olivers that explores and celebrates 360 degrees of Black Love 365 days per year. 

Oliver’s advice on leading while juggling all of her personal responsibilities? Delegate. “Having it all doesn’t mean doing it all. I can’t be the best Codie I can be to myself, my kids, husband, or businesses if I don’t ask for what I need. Allow yourself the support you need to build and sustain the life you want and deserve. Sometimes that even means making an investment in support at home and at work.”

These Black Women Bosses Are Dominating the Media Industry
Caroline A. Wanga

Caroline A. Wanga – CEO of Essence Communications

After working in Diversity & Inclusion, the phenomenal force that is Caroline A. Wanga decided that when she became CEO of Essence, she would unapologetically take up space for Black people at all times in every area of partnership and business. Essence Communications Inc. is the number one media, technology, and commerce company dedicated to Black women and communities. She also serves as Chief Growth Officer for Essence Ventures, parent company of Essence.

BlackLove.com Related Articles:
Codie Elaine Oliver on Motherhood, Social Justice, and Black Love
Black History Now: Dynamic Duos Building Together
#BlackBusinessMonth: Meet the Influencer Turning Her Husband’s Childhood Home Into a Wedding Venue

These Black Women Bosses Are Dominating the Media Industry
Thai Randolph

Thai Randolph – CEO of Hartbeat

Thai Randolph is a mom, wife, boss, and believer on the move! Randolph is the CEO of Kevin Hart’s global media company Hartbeat and is responsible for leading a $100 million fundraiser — talk about securing the bag! She’s also the founder of Hartbeat’s comedic screenwriting fellowship “Women Write Now” a comedic writing fellowship designed to champion the next generation of Black women in comedy through mentorship, advocacy, production, and exhibition, something she’s very passionate about as she expressed to Black Love when sharing why these stories matter. 

“I’ve always wanted to tell stories that empower, enlighten and entertain, and am honored and humbled to be in a position where I can now help to elevate more of these stories and the creatives behind them, especially the voices of women who look like me in entertainment. Hartbeat’s comedic screenwriting fellowship “Women Write Now” is a program created to do just that, and we’ve been able to collaborate with an incredible group of Black women screenwriters and directors over the last two years. Watching it continue to bloom and grow, with the second installment of writers’ shorts recently premiering at Sundance, is incredibly inspiring.”

These Black Women Bosses Are Dominating the Media Industry
Eden Bridgeman Sklenar

Eden Bridgeman Sklenar – CEO of Ebony Publishing

What’s better than one CEO of one magazine that changed the game in Black culture and media? Two! Eden Bridgeman Sklenar is the CEO of Ebony and Jet magazines. Born in Los Angeles, CA but raised in Louisville, KY, Bridgeman Sklenar’s background includes a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Louisville and an MBA in Entrepreneurship at Loyola University’s Chicago-Quinlan School of Business, where she was inducted into The International Business Honor Society.

As owner of Ebony and Jet’s parent company 1145 Holdings, LLC., Bridgeman Sklenar is investing her more than 15 years of senior management experience into the success of these iconic brands and continues to oversee their resurgence as the CEO of Ebony Publishing. 

These Black Women Bosses Are Dominating the Media Industry
Liz Jenkins

Liz Jenkins – COO of Hello Sunshine

Liz Jenkins is committed to disrupting the norms of storytelling and is shining as the COO of Hello Sunshine, a media brand and content company founded by Reese Witherspoon and dedicated to female authorship and storytelling across all platforms. Jenkins joined the company in 2018 as its CFO.

During her time at Hello Sunshine, she has been responsible for establishing and overseeing finance, business affairs, physical production and operations as well as facilitating the growth of the company’s business, including their Scripted, Unscripted, and Kids & Animation studios and Reese’s Book Club — all of which put women or girls at the center of each narrative. 

These Black Women Bosses Are Dominating the Media Industry
Kimberly Paige

Kimberly Paige – EVP and CMO of BET

Come on, leader of Black Entertainment Television! Kimberly Paige is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for BET Networks, managing and implementing brand strategy across all platforms, including the BET and BET Her linear networks, BET+, BET Digital, BET Social and BET Experience. Paige also leads BET’s awarding-winning Brand Creative Team, best-in-class Consumer Insights & Analytics Team and all Media Planning. In addition, she stewards BET’s Live Events business. 

We hope that you feel just as inspired by these women in the C-suite as we do. As Morgan DeBaun shared with us, as you’re climbing the ranks of leadership, or feeling discouraged wondering what your next career move might be, “Above all else, believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams!” 

Have a Black woman in the C-suite who you admire? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned for the next round of bosses we highlight in various industries!

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