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 | | Actor and musician Tyrese Gibson surprised attendees during Day 2 of the 2025 ForbesBLK Summit in Atlanta. Jamel Toppin For Forbes |
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| Cheers to a great week, ForbesBLK. Jabari here. We’re finally starting to descend from the 2025 ForbesBLK Summit—a truly memorable event. Yes, Emma Grede delivered early motivation and took us inside her grit. Billionaire Robert Smith explained why leading with love upgrades us from good to great. And why building talent through the draft, not the trade, is smart. And Stephen A. Smith also didn’t completely rule out running for president. Surprisingly, superstar actor and singer Tyrese Gibson also crashed the summit. I first noticed him sitting in the front row on Day 2 of the fireside with Robert F. Smith. Of course, Tyrese found his way backstage. There, he held court with Smith and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, did an improv session with Wyclef Jean playing the piano, and ended with a surprise introduction of real estate tycoon Don Peebles. A remarkable summit indeed. Thank you to everyone who attended; the volunteers for our Service Day (see more below), speakers, performers, and my Forbes colleagues behind the scenes, holding things together. |
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 | | Entrepreneur Emma Grede opened the first day of the 2025 ForbesBLK Summit with a fireside chat on October 9. Jamel Toppin For Forbes |
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Quickly, back to Robert F. Smith.
During our fireside discussion, I asked Smith if he’s had a chance to reflect on his success. He’s the founder, chairman, and CEO of private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, which has over $100 billion in assets under management and is a leading player in enterprise software. Smith is also worth $10 billion, according to Forbes data.I assumed Smith found time to reflect on his journey. “No,” Smith said, responding to the question. “What I do is move forward every day.” That stuck with me. It’s a reminder to avoid staying complacent. Not to get lost in your journey—be it the highs or lows. So, I’m already moving forward, considering topics and themes for the 2026 ForbesBLK Summit. And some attendees helped spark ideas, including panel talks on energy —specifically oil and gas —and healthcare, and people want more leadership conversations. We’ll work on it. Still, before moving forward too fast, one final: Thank you. Back to work: 2 Chainz joined me on The Enterprise Zone this week. In a wide-ranging interview, we examine his business approach, why he’s ready to downsize a fleet of 22 cars, and how a $300,000 investment in a used tour bus paid off. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. My One Interesting Read: Why the ultra-rich are abandoning things like private jets and boats and instead seeking luxury experiences. They include premium Super Bowl tickets, writes The Economist. |
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| The 2025 ForbesBLK Summit kicked off with Service Day, where a group of dedicated volunteers joined Wells Fargo and Habitat for Humanity to make a lasting impact—not just on construction sites, but in the lives of families working toward homeownership. Thank you to our volunteers and to Wells Fargo for creating this opportunity to give back. |
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| ForbesBLK members participated in a Service Day with the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta before the summit. Volunteers gathered at the historic Camp Timber Ridge to help beautify and enhance the camping site. A special thank you to volunteers for their support in building a brighter future for the next generation of Girl Scouts.
As part of our ongoing commitment to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), we also brought summit attendees to Clark Atlanta University for a powerful Service Day dedicated to mentorship and industry insights. Through curated panels and conversations, students gained firsthand knowledge and guidance from professionals across business, entrepreneurship, media, and sports. Watch a behind-the-scenes look at the experience here.
Read Morehouse HBCU student journalist Freddrell Green’s takeaways from the 2025 ForbesBLK Summit in his latest The Maroon Tiger article, ForbesBLK Provides Platform on Achieving Black Wealth. Follow ForbesBLK on social media: Instagram
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