Detavio Samuels is the CEO of REVOLT, America’s fastest-growing Black-owned media firm.
Samuels is considered one of company America’s youngest and most achieved senior executives. With greater than a decade of government expertise, he has helped a roster of prime international firms like Walmart, McDonald’s, AT&T, Chrysler, the NBA, and Johnson & Johnson construct impactful manufacturers with deeper connections to their shoppers.
Samuels was current on the 2023 Essence Competition of Tradition and spoke with rolling out about his lengthy historical past coming to the occasion, Black tradition, and the way forward for Black media.
What are a few of the modifications you’ve seen since coming to Essence?
One of many greatest modifications that I’ve seen is Caroline Wanga is now the CEO of not simply Essence however Essence Ventures, so with the ability to see the properties that Essence Ventures owns and watching them come to the desk is cool, particularly once you’re speaking about all the things from Afro-punk to BeautyCon. I believe with the ability to present the true energy of their platform on this stage is completely different and distinctive. I additionally assume the Essence Competition simply over time has modified due to two issues. One, you’ve gotten the film, Ladies Journey, which was a pivotal second in making this cultural phenomenon recognized globally, then when you consider post-COVID, you by no means know what’s going to return again and what’s not going to return again. It’s lovely to see this pageant come again so robust. That is going to be one of many prime festivals within the nation and the world.
As a CEO, what does seeing the method of Essence do to your artistic pondering on concepts for REVOLT?
It helps me dream. You understand, Caroline all the time says that we’re mates and we’re companions, however we’re aggressive in a way. It’s like Michael Jordan versus Larry Chicken or Michael Jordan versus Magic Johnson, each is attempting to push the opposite to the following degree, and also you want that wholesome competitors. I like seeing what they’re doing right here. I like seeing how they’re increasing. I like seeing what they’re constructing and it’s completely going to encourage us and the issues that we plan on doing at REVOLT Summit. We’re going to push it to an entire new degree. Every considered one of us is pushing one another to be nice within the spirit of Black excellence, however on the identical time being mates and companions alongside the journey.
