The Ebony Power 100
On November 30, 2018, EBONY Magazine presented the 7th annual EBONY Power 100 Gala, honoring the nation’s 100 most powerful and influential individuals who have had a positive impact on the African-American community. These include Ebony Icon Award recipient, Motown Records, and the inaugural Chairman Award recipient, former BET Networks Chairman & CEO, DebraL. Lee.
This year’s Ebony Power 100 returned to the iconic Beverly Hilton's International Ballroom and was hosted by Chairman Emeritus of Ebony Media Operations, Linda Johnson Rice, Chairman and CEO, Michael Gibson, and Co-Chair, Willard Jackson.
Following red carpet arrivals in the Wilshire Ballroom, media room activations, sponsor activations, and an elegant cocktail reception, approximately 640 guests were seated for a dinner program emceed by comedian, actor, and humanitarian, Chris Tucker.
Over the course of the evening, attendees were entertained by musical performances, including Motown artist, JAMES DAVIS, and a rousing finalé performance by NE-YO, who brought the audience to their feet.
DJ Spicoli performed throughout the event, and DJ Clark Kent spun at the post-reception in the International Foyer and Terrace, where guests also enjoyed a variety of activities and sponsored social sharing stations.
Celebrities and A-listers in attendance and featured onstage included This is Us stars, Susan Kelechi Watson and Melanie Liburd, JB Smoove from Curb Your Enthusiasm, Ryan Wilson and TK Petersen of The Gathering Spot, and the President of Motown, Ethiopia Habtemariam.
The Ebony Power 100 was presented by Nationwide, as well as other sponsors including United Airlines, Lexus, Diageo, and Motown. The event also partnered with the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, raising funds throughout the evening through a text to pledge.
Empire was honored to serve once again as event producer for the Ebony Power 100, responsible for venue logistics, décor, production, talent coordination, registration, videography, event logistics, and onsite management.
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
