Now in its third year, Forbes will bring its impactful ForbesBLK Summit back to Atlanta from October 8-10, 2025, hosting it for the first time at the historic HBCU, Morehouse College. Known as the central meeting place for ascendant Black business leaders in America, this year’s Summit will explore the unique challenges and opportunities that today’s leading executives, entrepreneurs, creators and changemakers face, while leaving them inspired to translate their takeaways from the Summit into world-changing initiatives.
During a pivotal time when the impact of Black entrepreneurship, investment and cultural creation are dominating the global media landscape, this three-day-event will be centered around the theme Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Opportunity: A New Path to Economic Prosperity. Discussions will focus on overcoming the present-day challenges, while also paving a path to help drive Black America forward.
“For 158 years, Morehouse has served as a crucible for intellectual leadership, social justice, and principled prosperity, producing leaders who are obligated to address the day’s challenges while actively creating a better future for our global society, no matter the industry they choose,” says Dr. David A. Thomas, president of Morehouse College. “For such a time as this, we are honored to convene the ForbesBLK Summit on our campus and to contribute to the generational work of advancing equity, innovation, and cooperative economic agency in the Black community in our quest for collective progress.”
The 2025 Summit will feature an elite lineup of speakers including Robert F. Smith, founder of private equity firm Vista Equity Partners, who made history at Morehouse College in 2019 as a commencement speaker when he announced that he was paying off all $34 million dollars of student loan debt for the entire graduating class of 396 students. Stephen A. Smith American television personality, sports host and journalist will also be joining the impressive speaker roster which includes:
- Bea Dixon, Cofounder & CEO, The Honey Pot Company
- Earl “E-40” Stevens, Entertainer & Entrepreneur
- Don Peebles, CEO, The Peebles Corporation
Segueing into Morehouse’s Homecoming Week, this year’s Summit will unite attendees, students and Black business leaders for an immersive mentorship and high-impact networking experience. The Summit will also spotlight local Black-owned businesses and set the tone for HBCU Homecoming Week.
“With a history rich in leadership and service, the vibrant community of Morehouse is the ideal central meeting point to bring together our esteemed guests and outstanding speakers for the 2025 ForbesBLK Summit,” said Jabari Young, Editorial Lead, ForbesBLK, “We look forward to convening and inspiring attendees locally and globally to help reshape and enhance the future of Black America.”
The 2025 ForbesBLK Summit is proud to partner with the Office of Mayor Andre Dickens and the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority (AFCRA).
“At AFCRA, we believe in creating space—not just physical space, but space for innovation, leadership, culture, and possibility,” says Kerry Stewart, Executive Director of the Atlanta-Fulton County Recreation Authority. “As the lead sponsor of the ForbesBLK Summit for three years, we’re proud to champion a platform that celebrates excellence, sparks generational prosperity, and connects changemakers with purpose and power.”
Past speakers at the ForbesBLK Summit include Fantasia Barrino, Russell Westbrook, Nick Cannon, La La Anthony, Stacey Abrams, and Jermaine Dupri.
For more information about the ForbesBLK Summit, visit: 2025 ForbesBLK Summit
For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorship@forbes.com
About ForbesBLK Community
One of Forbes’ fastest growing communities and platforms, ForbesBLK is dedicated to championing Black entrepreneurs, leaders, investors and creators, who are driving systemic changes across business, culture and society. With 57,200 members represented by 92 countries, ForbesBLK alongside its Community Manager, Ayisha Mendez, Assistant Managing Editor, Ali Jackson-Jolley and National Advisory Council members, remains committed to amplifying the voices of Black innovators and leaders around the world.
