Lilly Workneh (ABJ, Publication Management ’12, BS, Consumer Journalism ’12) is an award-winning storyteller and an acclaimed speaker and content strategist. She is passionate about creating meaningful and mission-driven media. With nearly a decade of experience as a journalist, Lilly has amplified underrepresented voices and stories in key leadership roles as the first-ever Editor-in-Chief of Black millennial news platform Blavity News, editor-in-chief of Black entertainment site Shadow & Act, and senior editor of HuffPost’s Black Voices.

Lilly, who is a 2018 Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, currently serves as the Head of Digital Content at kids media and empowerment company Rebel Girls. She is the editor and author of the best-selling kid’s book 100 Real-Life Tales of Black Girl Magic. She is also an accomplished content consultant, helping change-making businesses and brands bloom through strategic storytelling.

Lilly has spoken to audiences all around the country about a myriad of topics. She is a proud Ethiopian-American who wholeheartedly believes powerful stories can shift perspectives, expand imagination, and deepen understanding, helping to build a better future for all of us.

Geneva Greene (ABJ, Public Relations ‘07, AB, Sociology ’07) is the Chief Growth and Strategy Officer for Sprouts, a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consulting firm. She is also founder of Women Without Limits, a global community that advocates for women and encourages them to unlock their voice, reclaim their power, and pursue their spirit-led paths no matter how unconventional it may seem. Geneva is an instructor of DEI in Communications at Georgetown University.

After graduating from the University of Georgia, Geneva focused on empowering youth and inspiring change within corporate culture. During her time with Lockheed Martin, she partnered with local schools in Orange County, Florida leading to the company recognition of “Top Partner in Education” in 2009. She also built relationships with local schools in Dallas/ Fort Worth, Texas. In 2020, her team raised more than $12,000 for education and community organizations. She is now a board member for OmniQuest, an organization that serves youth across the District of Columbia metro area through cultural and educational enrichment.

As a DEI Change Culturist, Geneva has engaged in training more than 2,000 leaders, devised strategies for business resource groups touching more than 25,000 members and activated internal campaigns to provide greater support for mental health and women of color in the workplace. She currently partners with the Howard University school of business to provide DEI executive education and influence global, corporate social responsibility programs.

Geneva completed her Master of Business Administration with marketing and international concentrations at Southern Methodist University and is Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certified. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Communications, Culture and Media Studies at Howard University. Geneva is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Tamara Best (ABJ ‘09) is a culture writer, editor, and creative. Raised in New York and Atlanta by Barbadian parents, her worldview is informed by the rich cultural traditions of New York City, the South, and the Caribbean.

During her time at the University of Georgia she served as president of the National Association of Black Journalists, Grady Ambassador, McGill Fellow and managing editor of The Red &Black. Upon graduating, she relocated to New York City to pursue a career in journalism.

Her work delves into the intersections of culture, identity, and activism within communities of color. As a writer her reporting has taken her everywhere from Paris Fashion Week to underserved communities to tell authentic stories. Her writing has appeared in Time Out New York, The Daily Beast, and The New York Times where she received the Publisher’s Award.

Her cultural commentary and insight have landed her on stages moderating discussions for Spotify, Showtime, Essence Festival, The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art and more. In 2021, she was named a Neiman Visiting Fellow at Harvard University. Her research explored how a centralized hub within a social media platform can be utilized to amplify the stories of an underrepresented community and create avenues for civic engagement to advance racial justice.

She currently lives in New York and is working on a variety of creative projects including her debut play, Hindsbury Hill.