2026 Women Of Power Legacy Honoree Shellye Archambeau Broke Barriers As A Former Tech CEO And Fortune 500 Board Member
Shellye Archambeau will be honored as a boardroom powerhouse at the 2026 Legacy Awards Gala during the BLACK Enterprise Women of Power Summit.
Fortune 500 board member and former MetricStream CEO Shellye Archambeau will celebrate Black women in the boardroom when she takes the stage at the 2026 BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit to receive her Legacy Award.
Archambeau joins a distinguished lineup of women from business and the arts receiving top honors at this year’s Legacy Awards Gala. She is recognized for over 30 years of experience building and scaling B2C and B2B tech brands and becoming the first Black woman CEO in Silicon Valley with expertise in governance, risk, and compliance, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
A senior executive mentor with the ExCo Group, Archambeau currently serves on the boards of Verizon Communications (chairing the Corporate Governance and Policy Committee), Roper Technologies (chairing the Nominating and Governance Committee), Okta, and Lineage, where she helps advance a more sustainable cold chain. She also sits on the boards of national nonprofits Catalyst and Braven, and previously served on the boards of Nordstrom and Arbitron.
As former CEO of Silicon Valley’s MetricStream, Archambeau helped establish the company as a leader in governance, risk, and compliance solutions. She has also held executive roles, including chief marketing officer and EVP of Sales at NorthPoint Communications, EVP of sales and marketing at Loudcloud, and President of Blockbuster.com, where she launched the retailer’s online presence.
Fortune named the book one of the top business books of 2020.
Archambeau’s other accolades include being ranked the second-most influential African American in IT by Business Insider, being listed among Newsmax’s 100 Most Influential Business Leaders in America, and receiving the NCWIT Symons Innovator Award from the National Center for Women & Information Technology.
Shellye Archambeau’s decades of business leadership will be celebrated at the 2026 Legacy Awards Gala, where she will accept her Legacy Award alongside luminaries such as Angela Bassett, Carla Harris, Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, and Bennie Wiley.
Registration for the 2026 BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit is available HERE.
The film, Melania, chronicles the First Lady in the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second inauguration. While the film opens on Jan. 30 in an estimated 1,500–2,000 theaters nationwide, screenshots shared on social media suggest moviegoers aren’t particularly interested in seeing the doc.
“Not a single ticket sold for the opening night 9:55 p.m. showing of Melania at the busiest movie theater in the metro-Jacksonville area,” Travis Ackers tweeted over a screenshot of a booking screen for the film in Trump’s home state of Florida.
Not a single ticket sold for the opening night 9:55pm showing of Melania at the busiest movie theater in the metro-Jacksonville area. pic.twitter.com/NZz7T7PkwS
One X user joked that Trump would take to Truth Social after the film’s opening night to claim, “The tickets were sold out, everyone was begging for tickets, and I didn’t know what to do,” a remark another user referenced when noting their local theater had sold only 20 tickets.
“Trump claims that Melania screenings are selling out fast. At my large nearby multiplex, for four screenings on opening day Friday, they have so far sold… 20 tickets,” they wrote.
Others mocked billionaire Jeff Bezos, whose Amazon MGM Studios reportedly spent $40 million to acquire the film’s rights and another $35 million on promotion. Reports suggest the movie is expected to earn only $5 million in its opening weekend, resulting in a total loss for the studio.
“Melania the Movie is a disaster for Amazon and embarrassing AF for Melania and Trump. $5M opening weekend. They paid her $40 million and another $35M to get it into 1,400 theaters across 27 countries. That’s an average of $3,571 for each theater. FAILURE!” an X user exclaimed.
Melania the Movie is a disaster for Amazon and embarrassing AF for Melania and Trump. $5M opening weekend. They paid her $40 million and another $35M to get it into 1,400 theaters across 27 countries. That’s an average of $3,571 for each theater. FAILURE! pic.twitter.com/0HRaAa2rc8
MTG Speaks: ‘You Are All Being Incited Into Civil War’
The shooting is added to a long list of wrongs the former MAGA follower encourages both Democratic and Republican leaders to make right.
Former Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene isn’t backing down on her fight for political transparency, calling on her past MAGA colleagues to “take off their political blinders” as she warned of the latest Minnesota shooting as the potential start of a “civil war.”
Taylor Greene expressed her support for law enforcement, particularly ICE agents, but pushed back against their involvement in the shooting of 37-year-old ICU nurse Alex Pretti, pushing against the narrative that he posed a threat to federal officers because he was armed.
“I unapologetically believe in border security and deporting criminal illegal aliens, and I support law enforcement. However, I also unapologetically support the 2nd amendment,” the former MAGA loyalist said.
“Legally carrying a firearm is not the same as brandishing a firearm.”
She then took a trip down memory lane to Jan. 6, 2021, when dozens of armed insurrectionists threatened lawmakers and subsequently took over the U.S Capitol.
Greene noted that many Republican leaders, including President Donald Trump, defended the group and their Second Amendment rights. She questioned if it was OK then, it should be the same for Pretti.
“We lost our minds when we watched Biden’s FBI track down and aggressively carry out home invasions and arrest on peaceful J6’ers who walked in the Capitol through open doors….” Imagine if one of our MAGA independent journalists or even just a MAGA supporter stood in the street outside a J6’er’s house while Biden’s FBI carried out a law enforcement operation, home invasion, and arrest,” she said.
“What would have been our reaction? Both sides need to take off their political blinders. You are all being incited into civil war, yet none of it solves any of the real problems that we all face, and tragically, people are dying.”
Trump’s stance on Pretti differentiates from J6. After Homeland Security released a picture of a handgun, allegedly taken from the victim before the shooting, the 47th president shared it, defending his ICE troops.
“This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!) and ready to go,” he wrote on Truth Social, according to The Hill.
“What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE officers? The Mayor and Governor called them off? It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do!”
The shooting is added to a long list of wrongs the former MAGA follower encourages both Democratic and Republican leaders to make right. Taylor Greene did a complete 180 on her conservative colleaguesbeforeo abruptly announcing her retirement from Congress in November 2025.
Her switch-up came from several concerning issues, including economic policies affecting her rural region and her party’s failure to disclose full records related to disgraced financier and late-indicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Let’s Go! Cleveland Browns Rookie Shedeur Sanders Makes Pro Bowl
Sanders becomes the second fifth-round draft pick to be invited to the annual event
After a very lackluster first season in the NFL, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been selected to play in the league’s upcoming Pro Bowl game.
Journalist Jordan Schultz reported via his social media account that the rookie will be heading to the Pro Bowl as a replacement quarterback. That move makes Sanders the the first fifth-round draft pick to be invited to the annual event since Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua.
Sources: #Browns QB Shedeur Sanders has been added to the Pro Bowl roster as a replacement.
The trajectory of Sanders’ career has taken an unexpected turn, making him a Pro Bowler despite his stats suggesting otherwise. After being expected to be a high first-round draft pick, the quarterback fell to the fifth round before Cleveland rescued him. Yet, although the Browns selected him, they had three other quarterbacks and picked another quarterback before Sanders’ drop. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett were traded, DeShaun Watson missed the season due to an injury, and rookie Dillon Gabriel lost the starting spot after suffering a concussion, leading to Sanders becoming the starting quarterback.
CBS Sports reported that, as the team’s starter, Sanders posted a 3-4 record while completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions across 8 games. After his first start in Week 11, he had the second-worst completion percentage since he took over the starting position. In the last eight weeks of the season, he threw an NFL-high 10 interceptions. Another stat that worked against the young player, Sanders was pressured on an NFL-high 51% of his dropbacks, yet blitzed at the seventh-lowest rate (24%).
He did have a great week when he won the Rookie of the Week honors in Week 14. Sanders was 23-for-42, passing for 364 yards and three touchdowns, while adding a team-high 29 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He became the first Browns player to throw for at least 300 yards and have at least three touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown in a game.
Just How Many Businesses Does Snoop Dogg Really Have?
The Long Beach, California native has established a vast business empire across multiple industries
Snoop Dogg stands as one of hip-hop’s most lasting artists. Snoop’s staying power might very well be linked to his persona but we can’t ignore his business portfolio that matches the scale of many Fortune 500 founders.
The Long Beach, California native has established a vast business empire across multiple industries through his foray into venture capitalism, cannabis, media, spirits, and entertainment, which employs significantly more people than his fans typically know.
Snoop Dogg’s diverse business ventures generate hundreds, if not thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities across the United States. Snoop Dogg demonstrates cultural ownership through his rap career by showing that hip-hop’s true power exists in its ability to create substantial paychecks alongside charting achievements.
The following highlights a few of Snoop Dogg’s primary business ventures alongside their role in generating employment and economic effects.
Death Row Records
In 2022, Snoop Dogg purchased Death Row Records, which had originally helped him start his music career. Under Snoop’s leadership, Death Row functions as a modern music and media company which manages its historic catalog while building new artists and digital platforms. The label’s relaunch creates a dual role for the Dogg Father, as a cultural and economic powerhouse who creates employment opportunities across music production, publishing, licensing, marketing , digital strategy and artist management, all based in Los Angeles’ creative economy.
Casa Verde Capital
Casa Verde Capital operates as Snoop Dogg’s venture capital firm which invests in cannabis and cannabis-adjacent companies since its establishment in 2015. The firm manages a $300 million portfolio that includes investments in Dutchie and Eaze, which provides dispensary operations and delivery services and cannabis tech infrastructure. Casa Verde Capital supports the cannabis industry by investing in its operational systems instead of selling cannabis products directly. This approach fosters employment opportunities in technology and logistics and compliance and marketing and operations throughout various states.
Leafs By Snoop
The cannabis brand Leafs By Snoop started in 2015 as one of the initial celebrity-endorsed cannabis brands. Through licensed partners, the brand distributes its products in legal markets by offering flower and cannabis products that represent Snoop’s personal brand and lifestyle. The brand creates jobs through cultivation, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, retail and regulatory compliance, which are all essential parts of the legal cannabis supply chain.
Through Snoopadelic Films, Snoop Dogg produces television shows, films and documentaries, and scripted and unscripted projects across networks. Snoopadelic Films as a production company hires both on-screen and behind-the-scenes crew members including writers and directors, as well as editors, set designers, camera operators, and production staff, who contribute to Hollywood’s freelance and full-time workforce.
The Snoop Youth Football League creates community impact. Since its establishment in 2005, the Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL) has provided football opportunities to numerous young athletes throughout Southern California. The organization operates as a nonprofit, yet it hires coaches together with administrators, event staff, and trainers, and has supported players to reach college and professional sports. The league demonstrates Snoop’s commitment to building lasting community through its creation of economic activity and job opportunities.
19 Crimes Wine
In 2020, Snoop Dogg joined forces with 19 Crimes to create Snoop Cali Red which marked the brand’s first California-made wine and the initial U.S. celebrity-fronted wine label. The partnership between hip-hop culture and a global wine brand resulted in Snoop Dogg’s image reaching retail shelves across the United States through the Lodi region grape production. The collaboration between 19 Crimes and Snoop Dogg has grown to feature Snoop Cali Rosé alongside Snoop Cali Blanc and Snoop Cali Gold sparkling wine and Cali Smooth, creating multiple options for younger diverse consumers to engage with wine. Through the 19 Crimes partnership, Snoop Dogg extends his economic influence from spirits to the global wine industry by supporting employment opportunities in viticulture production, bottling distribution, marketing logistics, and retail operations.
Snoop Doggie Doggs
In 2022, Snoop introduced a lifestyle brand extension which entered the pet industry. SMAC Entertainment and Little Earth Productions developed the collection, which features Snoop’s signature branding and playful aesthetic, across plush toys, feeding bowls,leashes and collars, and pet apparel. The Snoop Doggie Doggs brand reaches consumers through major online retailers and specialty pet platforms while creating employment opportunities in product design, manufacturing, merchandising, ecommerce, marketing, and retail distribution.
Broadus Foods
Broadus Foods started operations in 2022, through a partnership between Snoop Dogg and Master P. The company works to increase minority presence within the grocery and consumer packaged goods industry. The food company Broadus Foods uses Snoop Dogg’s legal name to market breakfast products that include Snoop Cereal and the Momma Snoop line. Broadus Foods achieved national retail distribution through its partnership with Post Consumer Brands, which placed its products in major grocery chains. The company provides support to organizations that work with food insecurity and underserved community populations.
Pharrell Williams Awarded France’s Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur
The fashionista was given the honor by French President Emmanuel Macron
Talented Virginia native Pharrell Williams, who has made his mark in both music and fashion, was celebrated once again in Paris when French President Emmanuel Macron awarded him the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour).
According to Women’s Wear Daily, the distinction, initially announced last July, was handed to Pharrell during fashion week at the private residence of the president, the Élysée Palace. The honor was given to the hitmaker for his contributions to culture and the creative industries in France. The ceremony took place Jan. 23, days after the revealing of his latest Louis Vuitton fall 2026 collection at the Fondation Louis Vuitton.
Macron draped a medal with a red ribbon as he decorated Williams as a Knight.
Vanity Fair reported part of the speech Macron gave to Pharrell while presenting him with the honor.
“Dear Pharrell, listing all your achievements would be impossible: you have the rare ability to live a thousand passions within a single lifetime,” he said. “You managed to do so because you are incredibly talented, but also thanks to your steadfast discipline that could intimidate even an Olympic athlete. A five a.m. wake-up call. Five hundred sit-ups. Meditation. A hot bath, a cold shower—and sometimes even a burst of songwriting in the bathroom itself.”
According to Hot97, along with Pharrell’s wife, Helen Lasichanh, and their four children, some of the fashionista’s friends from the world of hip-hop attended, including Future, Pusha T, and Quavo.
Just days after accepting the honor in Paris, the “Happy” producer is also being honored by the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective on Jan. 29 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
Pharrell will receive the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award for his musical achievements, entrepreneurial innovation, philanthropic efforts, and global cultural influence.
Coco Gauff Speaks On Racket Smashing After Emotional Quarterfinal Loss At Australian Open
The 21-year-old tennis star explained what led to the public display of her frustration.
Coco Gauff took her quarterfinal loss at the Australian Open hard, breaking down in tears as she walked off the court.
Gauff had hopes to add another Grand Slam title to her list as she entered the tournament. However, her time at Melbourne Park came to an end following a heartbreaking loss to Elina Svitolina, 1-6, 2-6. The swift defeat left Gauff in distress as she left the court, taking her frustrations out on her racket.
According to NBC News, Gauff smashed her racket a whopping seven times, including six for every dropped serve she had in the Jan. 27 match. As the No. 3 seed, Gauff had high hopes to best Svitolina, ranked 12th as she entered the competition.
However, Svitolina dominated the match as Gauff struggled to catch a stride with her serve. Alongside Gauff’s five double-faults in the first set, Svitolina took the victory in just under an hour. Frustrated by her lackluster performance, Gauff tried to let off steam away from the cameras. The 21-year-old even noted that the intimate moment was taken away from her because of the lack of privacy in the arena.
“Certain moments — the same thing happened to Aryna (Sabalenka) after I played her in the final of the U.S. Open — I feel like they don’t need to broadcast,” Gauff said in her post-match news conference. “I tried to go somewhere where I thought there wasn’t a camera because I don’t necessarily like breaking rackets.”
Gauff also mentioned how breaking rackets is not an infrequent occurrence, having done so before at the French Open. Despite this, she tries not make a habit out of doing so. She also acknowledged that it could appear as a bout of poor sportsmanship.
“I broke one racket (at the) French Open, I think, and I said I would never do it again on court because I don’t feel like that’s a good representation. So, yeah, maybe some conversations can be had.”
However, she still considers it a better way to deal with the heartbreak than to lash out at her team. She finds the physical release therapeutic, especially as she leaves herself all on the court.
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Like I said, I don’t try to do it on court in front of kids and things like that, but I do know I need to let out that emotion.”
Although Gauff’s run at the 2026 Australian Open has ended, the rising tennis star still has plenty of time in her already-successful career to go for another title.
California To Investigate TikTok Over Reports of Censorship On Anti-Trump Content
Newsom’s announcement comes amid broader accusations that TikTok is flagging content that criticizes the Trump administration, immigration, and the release of the Epstein Files.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that his office will investigate whether TikTok is breaking state law by censoring content that is critical of President Donald Trump.
“It’s time to investigate,” Newsom said on various social media platforms. “I am launching a review into whether TikTok is violating state law by censoring Trump-critical content.”
Newsom’s announcement comes amid broader accusations that TikTok is flagging content that criticizes the Trump administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the release of the Epstein Files.
These allegations come days after the Chinese platform owned by ByteDance finalized a deal with a U.S. company to avoid a nationwide ban.
ByteDance sold its U.S. entity to the tech giant, Oracle, for a reported $14 billion. Larry Ellison, a staunch Trump ally and billionaire, co-founded the tech company.
California Governor’s Office Receives Multiple Reports of TikTok Censorship
In another post on X, Newsom’s office said it had received multiple reports and had independently confirmed “instances of suppressed content critical of President Trump.”
NEW: Following TikTok’s sale to a Trump-aligned business group, our office has received reports — and independently confirmed instances — of suppressed content critical of President Trump. @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom is launching a review of this conduct and is calling on the… https://t.co/D6vQ890gO8
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) January 27, 2026
The governor’s office told Politico that it tried sending a direct message on the platform containing the word “Epstein,” but later received a warning that it could not be sent because it “may violate” TikTok’s community guidelines.
TikTok’s U.S. venture has since responded. In a post on X Monday, the U.S joint venture attributed the censorship incidents to recent bugs and a “major infrastructure issue” caused by a power outage at one of its U.S. data center sites.
“While the network has been recovered, the outrage caused a cascading systems failure that we’ve been working to resolve together with our data center partner,” the team wrote.
They added that people may notice “multiple bugs,” “slower load times,” or “timed-out requests” when posting new content.
As part of the new deal, ByteDance owns only 19.9% of the TikTok USDS Joint Venture. New investors own 80%, according to Engadget.
Recording Academy Honors Brandy With Prestigious Black Music Icon Award Ahead Of 2026 Grammys
The Recording Academy is honoring Brandy for her achievements as a Black Music Icon.
Brandy’s more than 30 years of excellence across music, film, and television will be honored on the main stage as the Recording Academy presents her with the Black Music Icon Award, one of its highest distinctions.
Just days before the 2026 Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective will honor Brandy at the fourth annual Recording Academy Honors, where she will receive one of the Academy’s highest distinctions. In announcing the honor last month, the Recording Academy said the award recognizes Black music creators whose artistry, innovation, and service have shaped the industry and inspired generations worldwide.
It’s an achievement Brandy views as the culmination of decades of work and her place among Black music greats.
“So grateful and truly humbled to receive the Recording Academy’s Black Music Icon Award. This honor means more than words—standing on the shoulders of those who paved the way, and celebrating the legacy, resilience, and brilliance of Black music,” she said in a statement. “Thank you to the Recording Academy for seeing me, supporting me, and honoring the journey.”
Longtime fans have followed Brandy’s rise in Hollywood, from her quadruple-platinum self-titled debut album to starring in the hit ’90s sitcom Moesha and making history with her iconic role in Disney’s TV adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Her second album, Never Say Never, went five times platinum and included the GRAMMY-winning hit “The Boy Is Mine.”
With eight studio albums, including 2023’s Christmas With Brandy, she has sold over 40 million records worldwide. As an actress, she has captivated audiences in film and television, from the cult-classic I Still Know What You Did Last Summer to the drama Queens and Disney’s Descendants: The Rise of Red. Her upcoming project, the memoir “PHASES,” will explore her life and career, a work shaped by years of reflection, effort, and healing.
Alongside Brandy, Kirk Franklin will be honored with the Black Music Icon Award, while Pharrell Williams will receive the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.
“Pharrell, Brandy and Kirk are true visionaries and masters of their craft,” said Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Each has built a legacy that transcends genre, defies convention, and shapes culture. Their artistry continues to inspire generations of artists worldwide. I’m thrilled to join the Black Music Collective in honoring three of music’s brightest stars in January and celebrating their immeasurable contributions to the industry.”
Colin Kaepernick Integrates AI And Literacy In Nashville School Pilot Program
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick promotes literacy and technology through his tech company, Lumi AI, and partners with Nashville schools.
In conjunction with Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), Kaepernick will launch an AI literacy and storytelling pilot program. Kaepernick is the CEO and co-founder of Lumi, an AI-powered storytelling platform that allows users to engage in literacy in an immersive way. Students can create visual narratives, characters, and text-based stories with support from built-in generation tools, the MNPS announced. The pilot with MNPS is intended to help students explore AI tools while building literacy, creativity, and critical thinking skills.
In a statement, Kaepernick said, “Storytelling has always been one of the most powerful ways people understand themselves and the world around them. Lumi is about giving students tools to tell their own stories, develop their creativity, and see technology as something that expands what’s possible rather than limiting it.”
The first pilot launched in Prince George’s County Schools in December 2025. A reception was held to celebrate.
“You are the ones looked at as innovators, as building the future, as the ones that are creating the groundwork for what everybody else is going to be following,” Kaepernick said. “We want our students to make sure we are keeping our students engaged. We want to make sure they are building with the best technology. … And also preparing them for a future that is the present.”
The pilot will be introduced in phases, beginning with a small group of students and educators in several schools, according to Metro Nashville Public Schools. District officials said the program aims to integrate Lumi’s AI tools into schools. However, the district is not seeking to replace the current literacy curriculum. The goal is to reinforce the district’s existing literacy framework, support students, and help them learn and engage with current technology trends.
MNPS Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle spoke about the need to build the “confidence” and technological acumen of Nashville students.
“We want our students to approach artificial intelligence with confidence and curiosity, not fear,” Battle said.
The pilot also emphasizes responsible use of AI transparency and academic integrity as students engage with the tools, the district said. The partnership was made possible through private philanthropic support coordinated by PENCIL, a nonprofit that connects Nashville’s business and civic community with public schools, the district said. PENCIL’s involvement reflects an effort to bring innovation and creative learning opportunities into the classroom.
