In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Our list of 40 Next celebrates the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.
These BE Nexters–those 21—35 years old making a measurable impact within their respective business, organization, industry, or field–are standouts in the areas of entrepreneurship, corporate America, academia, nonprofit, the arts, and the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). And they prove every day that “business as usual” is not so usual. For them, leveraging expertise in one area to maximize an opportunity in another is standard operating procedure.
Using the legacy of their business predecessors to forge their own way, this new generation of leadership accepts the torch without trepidation. But the commonality between then and now is that success still takes a focused, strategic, and passionate mindset. Here, we introduce you to one of our 40 Next.
Tristan Walker, 26
Director, Business Development
Foursquare Labs Inc.
Palo Alto, CA
With nearly 2 million users “checking in,†Foursquare is elbowing its way into the Holy Trinity of social networking platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter). Spearheading business development, Walker has closed deals with clients such as Starbucks, providing a 40% increase in check-ins in its nationwide promotion. The former Twitter intern and Stanford Business School grad says a number of brands are gaining benefits from location-based marketing.
Education
Undergrad: Stony Brook University, 2005 (economics)
Graduate: Stanford Graduate School of Business, 2010
Favorite Book
Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool’s Guide to Surviving with Grace by Gordon MacKenzie
BE Manifesto
Just like Facebook was able to socialize the Internet, I want to socialize loyalty in ways that haven’t been done before.