by Jeffrey McKinney

March 2, 2026

AI Power Shift: How Black ‘Women Of Power’ Are Leading Ethical Tech And Positioning Themselves As Future-Proof Executives

Expert proclaims the demand for people who can bridge AI strategy with human understanding is exploding right now.

When it comes to digital transformation and ethical AI, Black women are leading the charge and helping reshape these areas across diverse business sectors.

Women of color in leadership roles are a driving force both in the United States and globally, according to Alicia Lyttle, CEO of the consultancy firm AI InnoVision. That is critical now as artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving into a mainstream tool in an essential way, changing how people work, run businesses, and embrace technology.

This report projects that roughly over 1 billion jobs could be altered by technology over the next decade, with AI and information processing impacting 86% of businesses by 2030. To help them remain relevant, the 2026 BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit will include AI Bootcamps to assist Black women in this capacity.

Analysis uncovers why that is truly needed. Lyttle shared that Harvard Business Review data indicates only 3% of Black women hold executive roles in corporate America. Only 12% of AI researchers worldwide are women, with Black women being a fraction of that already puny number.

“In AI consulting specifically — one of the most lucrative entry points into this industry — data from my own organization showed that only 23% of AI consultants were women in 2024. That’s climbed to 30% in 2025, which is progress, but we have a long way to go.”

The encouraging news Lyttle touched on highlights the multiple ways Black women are making a difference. For instance, she says they are leading in ethical AI design and advocacy. Lyttle is noted as one of JPMorgan Chase’s “100 Women to KNOW in America” and has trained thousands of entrepreneurs, executives, and government leaders worldwide.

She declared that Black women are leading as educators and translators. “Black women are stepping into boardrooms, classrooms, government agencies, and stages across the globe to make AI understandable and accessible — not just for the already-privileged, but for everyone.”

Entrepreneurially, Black women are building AI-powered businesses at scale. She says those firms range from AI consulting firms to digital product empires. “I’ve trained thousands of professionals, including corporate executives and government leaders, and the level of innovation I see from Black women in those rooms is undeniable.”

Likewise, Black women are showing up as community stewards, ensuring their neighborhoods, schools, and families are not left behind in the biggest wealth-generating revolution of their lifetime, Lyttle says. “That’s a form of leadership the tech industry rarely talks about — but it’s some of the most important work being done.”

Challenge-wise, access, a confidence gap, and motivation to turn AI skills into real income are some of the largest obstacles Lyttle sees for Black women. She cites AI “not for them” as a big barrier, but it can be overcome simply by starting. “The solution is getting into rooms, programs, and networks that teach not just how to use AI but how to build a business and a career with it.”

Jekwenta “Coach K” Primm, a nationally acclaimed business coach, grant-funding strategist, and educator, encourages Black women go to ChatGPT or another AI platform and talk about their business and inquire how to potentially gain capital for it. She uses AI to help clients get financing.

“ChatGPT is going to generate you an entire game plan that shows what your impact is, what your problem and solution statement is, what the need of your business is, and how you can be ethical with getting access to grants and positioning yourself as the most qualified candidate to get access to money for your business.”

Primm added that education and mentorship are pivotal for Black women in AI because people want to learn from people who look like them and whom they can relate to.

“The more we get minority women to understand AI and understand this information, the more we’ll get minority women that have the education to use this tool and use this strategy in their business.”

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by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 1, 2026

Michael Jackson Estate Sued By Four Siblings, Claiming Late Star Abused Them As Children

The siblings filed the complaint as the battle to void a settlement over these very claims.

The Michael Jackson estate has been sued by four siblings, accusing him of sexual abuse and child trafficking.

Siblings Edward, Dominic, Marie-Nicole, and Aldo Cascio filed the complaint Feb. 27, alleging that Jackson “groomed and brainwashed” the children for over a decade, using his star power and influence to do so.

They described Jackson as a “serial child predator” who drugged and raped them as he took them to various parts of the world. According to the siblings, the abuse occurred when Jackson and his own children stayed at the Cascios’ family home.

Jackson began his acts when the kids were “as young as seven or eight,” the 23-page suit obtained by People states.

The Cascio siblings reportedly met Jackson in 1984 when he stayed at a luxury hotel that their father, Dominic, managed. After Jackson allegedly gained their parents’ trust through gifts and attention, the siblings claim that Jackson began to take advantage of them.

“The family staunchly defended Michael Jackson for more than 25 years, attesting to his innocence of inappropriate conduct. This new court filing is a transparent forum-shopping tactic in their scheme to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars from Michael’s estate and companies,” said the estate’s attorney, Marty Singer.

Singer emphasized how the Cascios issued several statements in the past, all denying any wrongdoing by Jackson.

“With the Estate’s financial success growing, the Cascios, through two different attorneys, threatened to go public with heinous accusations that completely contradicted their previous statements defending Michael unless his Estate paid staggering sums of money,” he said.

According to Rolling Stone, the Cascios filed the complaint amid another legal bout with the estate. They are attempting to void a financial settlement, claiming that the payout seeks to “silence victims of childhood sexual abuse.” A follow-up hearing on the matter remains set for March 5.

In the filing, all four siblings expressed their own accounts of the abuse, some of which occurred at the residences of Jackson’s famous friends, including U.K. home of Elton John and the Switzerland home of Elizabeth Taylor.

“He would train me to say no to any authority and the police,” Aldo Cascio said. “If anyone asked, ‘Are you doing this?’ you would say no. He would say that people think this is wrong, but they’re wrong. This is real, this is love, but these people think it’s wrong and I could get into trouble—they’ll want to kill me…he would make me ‘Promise you love me and that you’ll protect me’…And so you felt responsible for helping him in any way.”

Jackson died in 2009 from a propofol overdose.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 1, 2026

Boston Man Uncovers Ancestor’s Freedom Papers While Cleaning Out Mom’s Maryland Home

Aaron Haynes used the freedom papers to learn more about his long-lost relative.

Boston resident Aaron Haynes used the discovery of long-lost freedom papers to reveal more about his family history.

Haynes is the descendant of freed man Samuel Jones, whose own identity as a freed Black man was concealed for generations until Hayes discovered Jones’ freedom papers after cleaning out his mother’s home in Anne Arundel, Maryland, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“And I opened it up and looked at it and was very confused as to what this might be,” he told WCVB. “And she said, ‘That’s your ancestor’s freedom papers.’ And I said, ‘Hold on!'”

The discovery led Haynes to learn more about his ancestor’s life. When he returned to Boston, he visited a library within American Ancestors. With the help of conservator Todd Pattison, Haynes confirmed the legitimacy of the document

“Generally, we don’t have as much material from more marginalized people, from people that didn’t have access to collections and weren’t collected by institutions,” said Pattison. “I think there has been a bias in institutional collecting that we collect, you know, Founding Fathers materials, and we collect wealthy people because we have historically tried to tell that story.”

The actual document was produced in 1834. The text itself states that Jones was 21 years old when he signed the crucial paper., which declares he was born and raised a free man in a Maryland county.

“Knowing that, probably I’m here because he did this step,” said Haynes. “Just a feeling of being grateful of what I have and feeling grateful for what my family has been through and knowing that through these trials and tribulations we can just overcome any obstacle.”

His family passed down the treasured paper unknowingly for years.

“I haven’t realized just how much it just weighs in on just the history of not just my family but of this country itself,” said Haynes. “And what it means to be just as an African American man, knowing that I have a relative’s freedom papers.”

Now, Haynes hopes that others can find these keepsakes that remain a testimony to Black American history.

by Ahsan Washington

March 1, 2026

Black Art Has Its Moment During L.A. Art Week

Los Angeles Art Week has grown to become one of the country's leading cultural and commercial art events that features Black art.

Los Angeles Art Week (Feb. 26 to March 1) has grown to become one of the country’s leading cultural and commercial art events, featuring fairs alongside blue-chip galleries and museum-level programming throughout the city.

The week is an essential market for Black art. From Inglewood to West Hollywood, Black creatives are having a moment.

The arrival of collectors, curators, and cultural power brokers in LA capitalized on this momentum. Here are some highlights.

Raymond Saunders Solo Exhibition at David Zwirner

The David Zwirner Gallery presents “Notes from LA,” a solo exhibition featuring the late Raymond Saunders, a pioneering Black American painter and educator. The exhibition presents Saunders’s mixed-media paintings with works on paper to deliver a concentrated study of the artist’s creative development. Through assemblage and conceptually driven works, Saunders helped define late 20th-century Black art on the West Coast. The show marks the first Los Angeles-focused Saunders exhibition in more than 10 years, and it is curated by Ebony L. Haynes. The exhibition will be open to the public at the gallery through April 25.

BUTTER LA Fine Art Fair

The BUTTER Fine Art Fair launched its first Los Angeles edition through BUTTER LA, which was established by Malina Simone Jeffers and Alan Bacon of GANGGANG. The event prioritizes Black visual artists who belong to the African diaspora. The fair, which runs to March 1 at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, features artists at different career levels who keep full ownership of their sales revenue.

Black Diaspora Exhibition

The Black Diaspora exhibition “Here Then and Now” features historic and contemporary Black artists Jean-Michel Basquiat, Kehinde Wiley, and Julie Mehretu and is curated by Tanya Weddemire in partnership with Hamilton-Selway Fine Art. The exhibition takes place until March 15 and explores legacy and migration and collective memory and identity through both seminal and newer works. The exhibition seeks to trace Black artistic development across global and diasporic contexts while establishing Los Angeles as part of wider historical and social transformation dialogues.

‘BLK IRL’ ART GAL Virtual & Physical Exhibition

The group exhibition “BLK IRL” at ART GAL showcases the work of artists such as Skye Arthur, Bella Adeola, and Isaiah Salery.. Through virtual reality, sound, film, and mixed media, the exhibition examines contemporary Black existence. The exhibition, on view though April 16, seeks to modernize Black lived experiences within digital and mixed media contemporary art discussions while providing audiences with new ways to experience Black stories.

Ebony G. Patterson Solo Booth at Frieze Los Angeles

The Moniquemeloche gallery presents a solo booth exhibition of Jamaican artist Ebony G. Patterson at Frieze Los Angeles through March 1. After receiving the MacArthur “Genius” Grant, Ebony G. Patterson has her first major solo show at the fair.

Samella Lewis Retrospective

Samella Lewis, who founded the Museum of African American Art and curated “Black Art: An International Quarterly,” died in 2022. Louis Stern Fine Arts in Los Angeles presents a rare gallery exhibition called “The Work Is Never Finished, which features Lewis’ diverse artistic collection—lithographs, drawings, and paintings that reflect her decades-long socio-political activism. The exhibition allows viewers to study Lewis’ artistic legacy.

Delroy Lindo, NAACP Image Awards, racial slur, BAFTA

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 1, 2026

Delroy Lindo Addresses BAFTA Racial Slur Controversy At NAACP Image Awards

The incident has divided the entertainment community.

Sinners star Delroy Lindo addressed the BAFTA controversy onstage with the film’s director, Ryan Coogler, at the NAACP Image Awards.

During the Feb. 22 ceremony, Lindo and his co-star, Michael B. Jordan, were presenting an award on stage when an attendee with Tourette Syndrome, John Davidson, shouted the n-word. The outburst was reportedly a tic, a symptom of the neurological disorder.

Appearing with Coogler to a standing ovation, Lindo spoke to the audience about the incident for the first time.

Ryan Coogler and Delroy Lindo receive a standing ovation at the NAACP Image Awards:

‘We appreciate all of the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend … it is an honor to be here amongst our people’ pic.twitter.com/2etg8OJfrI
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) March 1, 2026

“I’d just like to officially say, I appreciate, we appreciate all the support and love we have been shown in the aftermath of what happened last weekend. It means a lot to us,” Lindo said. “It is an honor to be here amongst our people this evening. “

He called the matter a “classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive.”

The handling of the incident has divided many. Some have questioned Davidson’s intentions, but others noted how tics are uncontrollable. Beyond this, the varied empathy towards all parties sparked backlash among the Black and disabled communities.

Tensions rose even further after the BBC, the network that aired the BAFTAs, failed to remove the slur. The British Film Academy and the BBC later apologized to Lindo and Jordan for the incident, a move made after critics called out their lack of accountability. A judge for the BBC also stepped down in light of the controversy.

The NAACP Image Awards continued to amplify the achievements of Black Hollywood. Sinners took home 11 awards, including Best Motion Picture and Directing for Coogler. Jordan also won Best Actor and Entertainer of the Year. Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku received Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards for their respective roles.

Coogler reminded Black people that their truth remains the same and to remember their own power.

Ryan Coogler with a powerful speech after winning ‘Outstanding Motion Picture’ at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards for Sinners

pic.twitter.com/IHLQKAP50F
— Horde (@wearehorde_) March 1, 2026

“Since our people been here over four centuries, there’s always been a lot of lies told about us. A lie, no matter how powerful the person saying it is, it’s still a lie,” Coogler told the audience. “The truth, no matter how little power the person that’s saying the truth is still the truth. Y’all are loved, y’all are beautiful, and y’all are powerful and mighty.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 1, 2026

Iman Shumpert Reveals Early Uber Bet, Says He Flipped It For Multiple Profits

Shumpert explained what motivated him to invest in the billion-dollar company — and why he ultimately chose to cash out.

Iman Shumpert revealed how his early investment in Uber resulted in some profitable returns for the former basketball star.

The retired NBA player appeared on the Club Shay Shay podcast to speak to Shannon Sharpe about life, love, and apparently, his investment portfolio. Shumpert revealed how he was able to jump at the opportunity when the start-up just began, despite his lack of knowledge in the stock market.

He decided to invest in the venture as the concept reminded him of a scene from classic Black ’90s film, B.A.P.S. In the film, a fictional cab service, Page-A-Cab Luxury Cab Co., had a similar business model to the ride-sharing app.

“I ain’t know nothing about nothing. I was broke,” shared Shumpert. “They gave me some money, somebody said something about that. Uber sounded like, you remember rent a cab. In B.A.P.S., they basically was talking about Uber. What if you could have a private driver whenever you want… And when I heard of Uber, I’m like, ‘That’s kind of like’… And I’m like, ‘But wait a second, let me put a little money in there.'”

The “little money” invested ended up yielding substantial profits. Although he sold his undisclosed shares relatively early, the payout still amounted to a lofty sum. Shumpert told the podcaster how he sold the stock after seeing the money make itself back, plus more.

“Soon as I seen it was making a little money, I got up out of there,” he added. “That sh-t flipped about two, three times. Well, I took that money out so quick and bought something…”

As to why he cashed out so quickly, Shumpert lacked confidence in the company’s ability to make it big. Despite this, he still feels that he made a good deal.

Shumpert continued, “I still made my money. I just didn’t make as [much money].”

However, given the company’s current market cap valuation at over $155 billion, according to Yahoo Finance, Shumpert seemingly missed out on an even bigger payday. However, his willingness to initially bet on the growing company still provided him with some gains in the process.

Shumpert does not wholly regret his investment moves, speaking about selling his stocks in a 2020 interview. Calling it “inexperience,” the faux pas with Uber has made him a smarter investor today.

Malatrice “Mali” Montgomery, Ayanna “Nikki” Carver, Vine & Olive, Black Women-Owned ,Olive Oil

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 1, 2026

This Black Women-Owned Olive Oil Brand Now Has 4 Locations In Atlanta And Continues To Defy The Odds

Malatrice “Mali” Montgomery and Ayanna “Nikki” Carver built Vine & Olive into a four-store success, proving passion and flavor can win in a crowded market.

Originally published on Black News

At a time when small retailers across the country are fighting to stay afloat, two Atlanta women are quietly building a culinary brand that’s capturing national attention.

Malatrice “Mali” Montgomery and Ayanna “Nikki” Carver, co-founders of Vine & Olive, are proving that passion, community, commitment and exceptional flavor can cut through even the most competitive food marketplace. The longtime friends and self-described food lovers have grown their premium olive oil and balsamic vinegar company into four thriving retail locations, all while each maintaining demanding full-time careers.

A Brand Built After Hours, on Lunch Breaks, and on Weekends

Mali is a Certified Physician Associate and Assistant Professor while Nikki is the General Sales Manager for a major media outlet. Unlike many food entrepreneurs backed by investors or free schedules, Mali and Nikki built Vine & Olive during lunch breaks, late nights and weekends. As Black women in a historically underrepresented corner of the gourmet food industry, they had no blueprint. All they had was a shared belief that food can bring people together and elevate everyday life.

“People always ask how we do it,” says co-founder Mali Montgomery. “The truth is, we’re fueled by joy. This business brings us joy and we try to pour that same joy into every bottle, every tasting, every customer experience.”

Standing Out in a Crowded Marketplace

What began as a post-pandemic idea has grown into an Atlanta favorite thanks to a customer-first model that encourages tasting, exploration, and education. Vine & Olive offers premium olive oils, flavored extra virgin oils, and balsamic vinegars, all of which customers can sample in-store, creating a curated culinary experience that big-box retailers simply can’t match.

This year alone, Vine & Olive achieved several major milestones, including:
• A feature cooking segment on a national TV show
• A partnership with Sarah Jakes Roberts’ Woman Evolve Conference
• Two new locations: one inside Atlanta’s Ponce City Market and another on the Atlanta BeltLine (near Krog Street Market), expanding their footprint to two of the city’s most popular destinations
• Their first corporate tasting experience in collaboration with KPMG
• An airport expansion that will introduce Vine & Olive to global travelers
Their momentum reflects a rising trend: consumers increasingly seek artisanal, high-quality food products with heart and story behind them.

Building a Business That Feels Like Community

Every Vine & Olive storefront is designed to feel warm, welcoming and approachable. No culinary intimidation, just good flavor and good people.

“We’re not just selling olive oil,” says co-founder Ayanna “Nikki” Carver. “We’re building a community of people who love food, love discovery, and want to make everyday meals taste extraordinary.”

Customers often describe the stores as “a happy place” and praise the team for introducing them to new flavors they never knew they needed. That hospitality-driven model keeps Vine & Olive thriving even as small businesses across the nation continue to feel the weight of economic pressures.

What’s Next for Vine & Olive

With a total of four locations, a fifth retail partnership on the horizon, more corporate tasting partnerships ahead and growing media interest, Mali and Nikki are just getting started.

Their journey is a powerful example of what’s possible when passion and determination meet grit and when two friends decide to build something together, one bottle at a time.

About
Vine & Olive is the only Black woman-owned olive oil brand based in Atlanta. It was founded by friends Malatrice “Mali” Montgomery and Ayanna “Nikki” Carver. Known for its premium olive oils, thoughtful flavor pairings, and welcoming customer experience, Vine & Olive currently operates four retail locations. The company’s mission is simple: make every meal a masterpiece. Their products can be ordered online and shipped nationally at VineandOlives.com.

Black Woman Entrepreneur, Therapy Practices, mental health

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 1, 2026

Meet The Black Woman Entrepreneur Who Owns Mental Health Practices In 3 States

Mental health advocate Jalinia Logan founded Growth & Guidance Counseling, a private therapy practice in Florida, Georgia, and Illinois.

Originally published on Black News

Entrepreneur, licensed therapist, nurse, and mental health advocate Jalinia Logan, MSW, LCSW-CCATP, is transforming access to mental health care through Growth & Guidance Counseling, a multi-state private therapy practice serving individuals, couples, and families across Florida, Georgia, and Illinois. Her mental health practices also seeks to provide job opportunities to clinicians dedicated to working in mental health.

Founded with a mission to reduce barriers to care and normalize mental wellness, her business Growth & Guidance Counseling offers comprehensive mental health counseling and therapy services for adults and adolescents, including individual therapy, couples counseling, family therapy, and group therapy. The practice provides in-person and telehealth services in Georgia and Illinois, with virtual-only services available throughout Florida, allowing clients to receive care that fits their lifestyle and needs.

Beyond traditional therapy, Jalinia Logan is committed to expanding mental health education, empowerment, and prevention through innovative wellness initiatives. These offerings include:
• Women’s Mindset Conferences focused on empowerment, resilience, and emotional wellness
• 24/7 Mental Health, an online course that provides mental health education and support
• Mental health e-workbooks
• Journal Your Journey, a guided journal designed to support reflection, healing, and personal growth
• Mental Motivation, a podcast centered on inspiration, mindset development, and mental wellness
At the core of Logan’s practice, Growth & Guidance work is guided in commitment to empowering individuals to nurture their true selves, while actively reducing fear and stigma surrounding mental health care. Through culturally responsive, accessible services and community-based education, Growth & Guidance Counseling is taking mental health beyond the therapy room and into everyday life.

“Mental health is not just about treatment — it’s about empowerment, education, and transformation,” said Logan. “Our goal is to meet people where they are, but not leave them there, provide tools that last, and help individuals and families thrive emotionally, mentally, and relationally.”

As Growth & Guidance Counseling continues to expand its reach and impact, the organization remains focused on innovation, accessibility, and whole-person care, taking mental health to the next level across communities and generations.

Learn more by visiting her official website at GrowthGuidanceCounselingServices.com

Be sure to listen to her Mental Motivation podcast on Amazon Music, Apple, and Spotify podcast networks.
Also, visit her YouTube channel.

Dr. Angeline Dean, STEAM box,Melanated Neurons, children

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 1, 2026

Black Female Doctor And Innovator Launches Identity-Affirming STEAM Subscription Box For Black Children

Dr. Angeline Dean founded Melanated Neurons to instill pride and confidence in children ages 7 to 12 while challenging harmful racial stereotypes.

Originally published on Black News

Melanated Neurons, an innovative monthly identity-affirming STEAM and culture subscription box+ for Black children ages 7–12, officially launches as a bold response to the rising erasure, miseducation, banning of books, closing of African-American museums, and racial hostility Black children experience in classrooms across the nation.

Founded by Dr. Angeline Dean, a cultural gap architect, scholar, and community transformation leader, Melanated Neurons was birthed from a personal and painful moment. After her 7-year-old great nephew was called “N*gger,” “BLACK,” and “Black monkey” at school, and while she herself was navigating white-injected oppression (commonly known as internalized racism-Matzimoyo) inside graduate school, Dr. Dean saw the urgent need for identity-affirming, place-based learning education that tells the truth, protects Black childhood, and nurtures Black genius.

Across the country, Black families are driving a historic shift in education. Homeschooling and micro-schooling among Black households have grown at record rates as parents seek culturally grounded, truth-based alternatives to schools that increasingly censor race, history, and identity. National data shows homeschooling has risen more than 40% among non-white families, while the subscription-learning industry is projected to surpass $25 billion by 2030.

Melanated Neurons emerges at the intersection of both movements, meeting the growing demand for educational tools that affirm, empower, and restore cultural memory.

What’s Inside Each Box: Every month, children meet a different Black innovator, artist, scientist, mathematician, astronaut, engineer, agriculturalist, or inventor through:
• A hands-on STEAM+ history and/or geography project
• A cultural learning activity
• An identity-affirming lesson
• Truth-based storytelling grounded in melanin, brilliance, and ancestral knowledge
• Vocabulary and discussion prompts that help families talk about systems, bias, and Black history openly
Melanated Neurons is not a craft box; it is a liberation learning experience delivered directly to families, homeschools, microschools, youth ministries, and community programs. Before launching, Dr. Dean conducted a month-long pilot with children ages 7–12 in Southern New Jersey.

Participants:
• Walked a 75-acre Black-owned farm and learned from elders while gleaning enslaved artifacts
• Explored Black Wall Street economics with a Black banker
• Visited their first Black-owned bookstore
• Studied neurons, nature, and melanin outdoors, which produced a lesson on colorism
• Attended Harlem’s Children’s Festival, witnessing Black youth entrepreneurs and local political leaders. The outcomes were powerful: children stood taller, spoke prouder, and began to see themselves as creators, innovators, and leaders.

Melanated Neurons is designed for:
• Families seeking identity-affirming education
• Black homeschool networks
• Cultural community organizations
• Faith-based programs
• Educators wanting supplemental truth-based STEAM content
• Sponsors and donors who want to seed liberatory learning in their communities

Bulk and institutional sponsorships allow schools, churches, and youth programs to provide boxes to children at scale, expanding access and impact. Learn more here

“Black children deserve learning that frees them, not learning that distorts them. Melanated Neurons restores what schools remove: truth, brilliance, and cultural memory,” says Dr. Angeline Dean, founder.

Toni Gilliard, Founder and CEO of Resort Beverage Co

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 1, 2026

Founder Of Black Woman-Owned Beverage Brand Debuts All-Natural Premium Cocktail & Mocktail Mixers

Toni Gilliard, founder and CEO of Resort Beverage Co., a Black woman-founded company, launches line of all-natural margarita mixers.

Originally published on Black Business News

Toni Gilliard, founder and CEO of Resort Beverage Co., a Black woman-founded and NMSDC-certified company, recently announced the launch of its debut line of all-natural, agave-sweetened margarita mixers. Engineered for modern inclusivity, Resort Mixers provide a premium, dual-purpose base for crafting bar-quality cocktails and sophisticated mocktails in seconds—perfectly aligning with the values of connection, celebration, and conscious consumption central to culture and family gatherings.

In a beverage market where options have often felt limiting, Resort Mixers arrive as a versatile solution. They empower hosts to effortlessly cater to every guest’s preference, whether they’re enjoying a spirited margarita or a zero-proof sip, ensuring no one settles for a subpar drink. The launch directly serves the growing “sober curious” movement and the desire for elevated, convenient home entertainment—trends strongly embraced within the Black community.

“Our mission is to make every gathering feel inclusive and elevated,” says Gilliard. “Growing up, the heart of our home was the kitchen and the dining table, where everyone was welcome. We’re crafting Resort to be that same symbol of hospitality—a premium, accessible tool that puts a delicious, craft-culture drink in everyone’s hand, without compromise. It’s about flavor, freedom, and bringing people together.”

Product Highlights & Key Features

• Dual-Purpose Excellence: Each bottle is a complete base for a perfect cocktail (just add your spirit) or a ready-to-drink, non-alcoholic mocktail. One solution for all your guests.

• All-Natural, Real Ingredients: Made with real fruit and natural agave nectar. Contains no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners.

• Founder-Led & Certified: The company is proudly woman-founded, NMSDC-certified, and a Certified South Carolina product.

• Three Signature Flavors: The line features three top-selling varieties: Strawberry, Pineapple, and Classic Lime.

Availability & Launch Promotion:

Resort Mixers are available for direct purchase nationwide through the brand’s online Shopify store. For a limited time, new customers can use code WELCOME10 for 10% off their first order.

About
Resort Beverage Co. is on a mission to democratize the bar-quality drink. Founded by Toni Gilliard, a former attorney and CPG entrepreneur, the company creates premium, versatile beverage mixers that bridge the gap between the cocktail and mocktail experience. Focused on clean ingredients, inclusive design, and strategic partnerships, RESORT is building a modern brand for the mindful social era.

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