Josh Rodgers

Restaurants and pop culture have a special relationship with Red Lobster. From the mention of its signature biscuits in songs to being one of the go-to spots for family and friends, Red Lobster has decades of impressions among millions of consumers. Now, the fast-casual restaurant has a new CEO at its helm, 35-year-old Damola Adamolekun. Adamolekun is a Nigerian native who now leads Red Lobster after a successful stint as the top executive and first Black CEO of the Asian-fusion restaurant P.F. Chang’s. According to the National Restaurant Association, Adamolekun helped generate an estimated $1 billion in revenue for the chain. This level of expertise is part of the reason the former Goldman Sachs investment banker was hired to help Red Lobster overcome its looming business performance problems. In May 2024, the seafood chain filed for bankruptcy. CNN noted that years of mismanagement, inflation, and competition led to more than $1 billion in debt and less than $30 million in cash...

As a global financial and information technology company, Bloomberg has always remained a leader when it comes to helping investment firms small and large make smarter and faster business and financial decisions. Over the years, its mission has been to give markets the necessary tools to be better informed and more efficient, which helps grow economies, create jobs and raise living standards for people all over the world. Terrence Crossdale, a Team Leader for the Content Management System (CMS) Platform Engineering team, joined Bloomberg in 2020. His interest in Bloomberg was sparked by his understanding of the global impact of the Bloomberg Terminal. “I have a background in Information Systems and was excited about the prospects of contributing to technology with significant global relevance,” he recalls. The challenges and opportunities of working on technology that supports the global financial markets were compelling factors in his decision to join Bloomberg. The Backbone of...

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been a staple in Black American culture. With touted alums like Vice President Kamala Harris, Chadwick Boseman, Shannon Sharpe, Taraji P. Henson, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., HBCU graduates have positively influenced and impacted several industries. Despite the challenges, HBCUs have shown remarkable resilience. Their deep cultural histories and the long list of influential alums stand as a testament to their enduring importance in the Black academic experience. Why Are Black Males Enrolling Less? However, recent data shows a decline in enrollment among Black males. According to the American Institute for Boys and Men, HBCUs have seen a general enrollment decline of 11% since 2010, a trend that mirrors what’s happening across higher education. However, the drop in enrollment among Black male students is more significant, with a 25% decrease at HBCUs compared to a 22% decline at all institutions. Although the percentage...

The year was 2003, and Jay-Z’s iconic “Black Album” would be released on Nov. 14. According to the Grammy Awards website, the album would also be his sixth-straight No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 and was initially signaled to be his retirement project. All of this was riding on the moment of an earlier debut that summer, with the launch of Sean Carter’s 40/40 Club. A New Type Of Night Club Situated in New York, NY’s Flat Iron district, the 40/40 Club was created as a luxury sports bar that doubles as a nightclub. Based on a report from Rolling Stone, the name pays homage to a rare achievement in baseball: hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases in a single season. The nightlife concept saw success. Two years after opening, additional locations opened in Atlantic City, NJ; Las Vegas, NV; Atlanta, GA’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and Brooklyn, NY’s Barclays Center. “I love sports,” Jay-Z said via Flatiron Nomad. “[I] wanted to create an environment that is conducive...

There is very little that’s as encouraging as family and friends’ support, and Keisha Caine Bishop has been a shining example regarding her son Noah Lyles during the 2024 Paris Olympics. While Lyles may be at the center of many of the conversations, Bishop was a decorated athlete in her own right. Lyles’ parents, Kevin Lyles and Bishop, met at Seton Hall University during the 1990s. According to People, both were accomplished track and field athletes in college. As a student, Bishop studied political science and Spanish. Keisha Caine Bishop’s Track Record According to her 2018 Hall of Fame induction bio, Bishop was a standout athlete for the Seton Hall Pirates, earning All-American honors nine times. She contributed to two NCAA national titles as a member of the 4×400 relay teams and played a key role in winning the 4×400 relay at the 1994 Championship of America at the Penn Relays – University of Pennsylvania. Bishop was also part of two BIG EAST Championship-winning teams and was...

A new season has dawned — and that is AFROTECH™ Conference season. The 2024 iteration of the conference is just three months away, happening Nov. 13-16 in Houston, TX. AFROTECH™ Conference always provides an incredible opportunity for people to gather worldwide to learn more about business and tech, expand their network, and immerse themselves in a top-tier experience highlighting Black excellence and achievement. Even Jay-Z understands the vibe, evidenced by his 2017 song, “Legacy.” “We gon’ start a society within a society That’s major, just like the Negro League. There was a time America wouldn’t let us ball Those times are now back, just now called Afro-tech.” In 2016, Blavity Inc. Co-founders Morgan DeBaun and Jeff Nelson were inspired by the conferences held by tech giants like Meta (formerly Facebook) and Google. The duo sought to create something of similar merit for a BIPOC audience, as they believed Black and brown communities are disproportionately underrepresented at...

One of the most anticipated decisions of the 2024 election was made when Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate. Political pundits and supporters have applauded the choice, seeing it as a unifying move for the Democratic Party. Harris’ choice also speaks to the type of policies Walz would champion. Before Harris made her official choice, Forbes reports that she had a short list of other political standouts, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Despite the accomplished list of potential running mates, Walz rose to the top based on his consistent record of accomplishments and relatability. According to Politico, Walz is a former high school geography teacher, football coach, and veteran who turned a Republican-leaning district blue in 2006. Harris believes this resume will not only speak to the American people...

Each time the Olympic Games come around, the world anticipates who will become the next record holder in a particular sport. In the men’s 100-meter race, Noah Lyles snatched the gold medal on Aug. 4, 2024, per NBC New York. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Noah Lyles (@nojo18) Born in Gainesville, FL, Lyles was raised and spent most of his developmental years in Alexandria, VA. According to a Team USA profile, his athletic interest began with gymnastics. However, at age 12, he developed an affinity for track and field, eventually leading him to Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. He followed in the footsteps of parents Kevin Lyles and Keisha Caine Bishop, who both graduated from the university in 1995. A Lyles Family Tradition Kevin Lyles was a Seton Hall record holder, once known as the most decorated track and field athlete in Big East Conference history based on an Asbury Park Press report. His athletic prowess led him to be elected to the university’s Hall of...

The 2024 election cycle is upon us, which means a slew of campaign ads, varied media coverage, and policy positions that could influence voters on who to support and how. Aside from the historic positioning of Kamala Harris as the nation’s first woman Democratic nominee for president, Michigan has its own historic slant with Hill Harper submitting his candidacy for U.S. Senate. Harper, most known for his acting roles on shows like “CSI: NY” and “The Good Doctor,” has a resume beyond his acting credits. He’s a Harvard Law School alum, author, and small business owner. These on- and off-screen accomplishments have led him to receive many accolades and have also given him leverage as a potential senator. He is committed to advocating for the rights of Michigan residents, with priorities including creating a robust economic community, supporting union jobs, ensuring affordable and universal health care, protecting reproductive rights, reducing student debt, addressing the climate...

Since 1908, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and its members have made their marks across several industries and impacted communities and spaces. Some influential members include Phylicia Rashad, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Vice President Kamala Harris, according to ESSENCE. Harris was officially sworn in as vice president of the United States on Jan. 20, 2021, making her the first woman, Black person, and South Asian American to be elected to the office. While this historical marker is noteworthy, it was not the beginning of her story. Kamala Harris’ Road To Howard University A native of Oakland, CA, Harris’ roots in education and public service start with the influence of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan. According to a profile from the White House, Gopalan earned her doctorate in 1964, the same year Harris was born, and worked as a breast cancer scientist. Harris’ father, Donald J. Harris, came to the United States from Jamaica to study...

Sometimes, a childhood dream does not materialize in ways that were expected. It happens pretty frequently with people and their career choices. The kid who wanted to be a firefighter is now a doctor. The child who dreamed of being in the NBA is now a leading attorney. And because of the rise and advancement of tech, many people are looking at their current career and educational choices to figure out how they, too, can pivot and be a part of the rising tech industry. Breaking into tech is a pivot that’s possible, but it’s also one that is filled with nuance. During the first quarter of 2023, AFROTECH™ covered workforce layoffs that heavily impacted the tech industry. That coverage revealed that the industry was negatively affected by the influx of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workforce. While this landscape seemed complicated to navigate, the value of those jobs remained strong despite the fear of AI, making the industry a viable option for those looking to break into tech....

An artificial intelligence (AI) developer wants to make his next creation your next bestie. Some young people have imaginary friends. Television shows and movies like “Barney & Friends” and “Toy Story” brought the concept of imaginary friends to screens and may have even created nostalgia for that feeling. Avi Schiffmann is turning that feeling into reality with a device he calls “friend” that he promoted on X (formerly Twitter). The video in the post , which has garnered 22.5 million views at the time of writing, shows users with a wearable pendant engaging in a detailed conversation via a chat prompt on their mobile phones. The users press the button on the pendant, which responds to what the person says and is constantly listening to find prompted and unprompted ways to communicate with the user. Although AI fuels the pendant, the company’s website says friend is not imaginary. The product was birthed out of the 21-year-old founder’s personal need for connection. “friend is an...

Summer is here, which could mean wearing less and going out more. However, for some, it means doubling down on learning and growth. And who doesn’t want a little elevation alongside an epic cookout? Depending on where a person is on their academic journey, several Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) offer courses to prepare students to be college — and university — ready or to advance their current collegiate status or expertise. Below is a list of schools and programs that offer summer programs for little to no cost. While these programs have been previously noted as free, interested applicants should check with the school’s financial aid office or website for details regarding courses and programs. Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, TX) Prairie View offers a bridge program for incoming first-year students and students 17 and under. Many of the programs are free or minimally expensive. The school also provides youth and teen summer camps for various...

The Olympic Games present one of the world’s biggest stages and displays of athletic prominence. From basketball to golf and now breakdancing, the Olympics always prove to be a place where people can support the top athletes representing their country. The 2024 Games are in Paris, France, welcoming big names like LeBron James, Coco Gauff, and Sha’carri Richardson. Among those names are players who bring in massive salaries. Their performances in the Olympics showcase their talent and possibly open the door for additional revenue dollars through brand deals and partnerships. Setting Records And Increasing Earnings At The Olympics According to Sportico, the top 20 highest-paid athletes collectively earned about $1.35 billion over the past 12 months ending in June 2024. While this list accounts for some of the most recognizable names in sports, it is exclusively represented by men, and about 65% of the entries are NBA players. Although NBA players dominate the list with 13 entries,...

Former Morehouse College President Dr. Robert Michael Franklin Jr. once called the institution the “International Headquarters for Black Male Excellence” during a school-wide address. As the president at the time and an alum, many could argue his opinion was slightly biased. However, the institution makes a solid case for the claim when considering notable alums like Spike Lee, P.J. Morton, Samuel L. Jackson, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Morehouse College, one of many Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), develops young Black men who impact industries and make waves across various sectors. One of those individuals in this emerging vanguard is Atlanta, GA-based creative Cam Kirk. Cam Kirk’s Big Move Cameron Kirkland, a native of Prince George’s County, MD, moved to Atlanta, GA, to pursue a business degree from Morehouse College. This decision, however, eventually led him from his initial goal of becoming a music executive and into visual storytelling. “I moved to...