Logo

Three Black customers to talk about their own journeys, the mentors that led them to the point they are now, as well as their dreams and hopes to shape our future.

       Karl Ferguson Jr.  

Karl is a believer in the philosophy that your job should be able to fund your passion until the passion you have can finance your life. Karl is able to achieve exactly that By balancing his work and his love of portrait photography. A quick scan of the website will make you awestruck at the number of stars he's captured within the world of entertainment. Karl's digital presence has helped show off his work to an array of potential clients in a matter of minutes. "One among the greatest attributes is the method that allows me to drag and drop images and arrange them at a second's notice," Karl says.

The community has played an important factor in Karl's growth in photography. Sharing ideas with fellow Black photographers gives him an underlying sense of community in an industry that can be isolating at times. Karl wants to pass on the love in his own career, so that he can create a similar type of community for the newest creatives in the space. "Paying it forward is making myself accessible," Karl says. By openly sharing his experience and expertise, Karl hopes to help other creatives become the best that they could be.

When asked what he might tell his younger self, as a person just starting his photography career Karl's recommendation is: "Don't get so intense that you lose interest in creating. Being patient and enjoying the process is one of the most essential things to do as a photographer."

For more information about the work of Karl, go his website. his website.

        Black In Corporate  

Ambassador and social media consultant Candace Marie is the founder of Black In Corporate Black In Corporate, a community that champions Black people working in the corporate world. The concept behind Black In Corporate was born through her personal experience of navigating work environments where systemic racism makes it hard for Black employees to succeed. "While Black In Corporate was born out of my own personal experiences," Candace says, "a important reason behind the creation of the organization was that I knew that there were several Black individuals within my circle who's experiences were comparable, if different from my personally."

One of the many foundations Black In Corporate is based on is the virtual Mentorship Program, which offers Black professionals access to options, opportunities and collaboration. The Black In Corporate website has been pivotal in helping spread the word about the program's benefits to its target group of customers. "While the press and social media are the primary drivers for traffic, the beautiful style and ease of the navigation on the site keep our visitors entertained and interested," Candace says about the positive impact of their site.

The saying "it requires the whole village" is especially true for Candace as she embarks on her path to launching Black In Corporate. The success of her venture has been made possible with the assistance of mentors, sponsors, friends, and family who have supported her on the way. Many ways, Candace has now extended this same level of support to Black professionals. "This experience isn't easy enough on its own," she says. "Whenever I'm able to give some advice or even take part in a panel discussion, or make an introduction to someone who is a coworker, I'm focused on helping other Black individuals in this field."

Learn more on Black In Corporate on their site.

       Elton Anderson Jr.  

In the past 14 years, Elton Anderson Jr. worked as a photographer as a photographer, shooting famous people and of the most popular brands. However, he decided to pivot when he realized that the job he'd previously been enthusiastic about wasn't satisfying. Following a potentially life-threatening bout of malaria during a trip through Brazil, Elton vowed to commit his whole life towards improving his own life and the lives of others.

In the present, Elton is doing just what every day. Alongside seeking out new positions such as producer, creative director and travel show host, Elton also launched Creators of Color which is a platform that focuses on telling the stories of Black creators in various fields.

For Elton the changes is a crucial aspect of creative processes. Elton's suggestion for younger Black creatives who want to switch careers is to follow their intuition. "If there's no way to say Yes and it's not a No," Elton says. "This motto has made my numerous career transitions a lot more successful and authentic to me."

A creator such as Elton, who has multiple projects on his plate Digital marketing is the biggest role in sharing his ongoing story. Elton's goal is to become an "Master Storyteller." Both of his websites, as well as his social media presence enable him to accomplish exactly this. "I use my website as an area where visitors can come in, take a seat, and get to know me," Elton says. "My social media is where you can take my journey at any time."

You can learn more on Elton and his story through his site.