Inside The 5th Annual BOMESI Summit, And Why You’ll Want A Seat At The Table Next Year
Detroit was the home of this year’s 5th Annual BOMESI Summit, and by every account, it delivered. Held at the Cambria Hotel over four days, the gathering brought together Black and diverse-owned media founders, senior brand leaders, and investors around this year’s theme, Mobilizing Culture — The $5.3 Trillion Opportunity for Media & Brands.
The BOMESI Summit moved well beyond a standard media conference format. Attendees moved through keynotes, fireside chats, and closed-door strategy sessions, along with a morning of cultural immersion at the Motown Museum and dinners across the city designed to turn networking into genuine community. By the numbers, the event featured 55 speakers across 21 sessions over two and a half days of programming, with 60% of attendees representing diverse-owned media companies and creatives.
Even more so, every session was live-streamed, so the conversations reached far beyond the room. Three stood out as fan favorites. The top-ranked session of the entire Summit was a keynote from BET+ EVP and GM Jason Harvey. Close behind was a panel on revenue growth, AI, and multi-platform strategy featuring Ali Jackson-Jolley, Damian Benders, Maria Teresa Hernandez, Deadra K. Rahaman, Joe Ligé, and Lynnwood Bibbens, all digging into what it actually takes to build revenue that holds up across platforms. Rounding out the top three was a fireside conversation between journalist Jemele Hill and Lodge Freeway Media co-founder Ashlee B., covering media, ownership, and staying power in the industry. Full replays of every session are available on BOMESI’s YouTube channel for anyone who couldn’t attend live.
None of it comes together without the organization behind it. Founded by Her Agenda‘s founder Rhonesha Byng and Bleu Magazine‘s Founder Devon Johnson, BOMESI has spent since 2020 working to strengthen diverse-owned media, and this Summit is where that mission plays out in real time.
Planning for the 6th Annual BOMESI Summit is already underway, with dates and venue details to be announced. BOMESI is also opening the floor for input on next year’s programming, inviting the community to weigh in on session topics, speakers, workshops, and networking formats that would help diverse-owned media businesses grow, innovate, and thrive.
