By AFRO Staff
Every year, the much-anticipated Forbes 30 Under 30 List features rising stars in several industries. The magazine receives more than 20,000 nominations, collectively, for the North America, Europe and Asia lists. Then, that list is refined – researched, analyzed and vetted – until 600 candidates emerge for the U.S. list. Among those luminaries, Black innovators and artists usually shine bright. Alumni include the likes of Zendaya, John Boyega, Kendrick Lamar and Stephen Curry. This year’s 86 honorees are no less impressive, featuring Broadway’s youngest Black playwright, Jordan E. Cooper, U.S. sprinter Sha’carri Richardson, and social media’s favorite food critic, Keith Lee. Here is the 2024 list of Forbes’ (Black) 30 Under 30:
Ice Spice, winner of the award for best new artist, poses in the press room at the MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Jordan E. Cooper arrives at the 76th annual Tony Awards on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the United Palace theater in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Sha’Carri Richardson, of the United States, poses after winning the bronze medal in the Women’s 200-meters final during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Music
Latto, rapper
Ice Spice, rapper
Steve Lacy, musician
Bktherula, rapper
Trippie Redd, rapper
Armani White, musician
Art & Style
Paul Hill, founder, Strada
Adefolakunmi Adenugba, founder, Ise-Da
Tia Adeola, founder, Tia Adeola
Akea Brionne, artist
Josh Holm, founder, Castles & Queens
Kreshonna Keane, founder, Visuals By K Studios
Ludovic Nkoth, artist
Ambrose Rhapsody Murray, artist
Larissa Rogers, artist
Courtney Spears, dancer
Justice Faith Betty and Nia Faith Betty, co-founders, Révolutionnaire
Kendra Walker, founder, Atlanta Art Week
Jacob Webster, photographer
Sophia Wilson, photographer
Hollywood and entertainment
Jordan E. Cooper, playwright
Jasmin Savoy Brown, actor
Eric Jordan Darnell, agent, William Morris Endeavor
Gabe Kunda, voice actor
Lexi Underwood, actor
Alyah Chanelle Scott, actor
Consumer Technology
Tony Morino, co-founder, Wiseday
Fai Nur, Blossom Okonkwo and Great Okonkwo, co-founders, Wishroll
Education
Savannah Smith and Ebony Welborn, co-founders, Sea Potential
Justin Shaifer, founder, Fascinate Media
Myles Gage, co-founder of Rapunzl
Alliyah Logan, co-founder, Cultivate Global Education
Energy
Kiana Kazemi, co-founder, Intersectional Environmentalist
Food
Camari Mick, executive pastry chef, The Musket Room
Keith Lee, creator/social media food critic
Games
Xalavier Nelson Jr., founder, Strange Scaffold
Manufacturing and industry
Oluseun Taiwo, co-founder, Solideon
Marketing and advertising
Chinonye Vanessa Mbonu, vice president of Digital Marketing & Communications, NAACP
Brandon Smithwrick, head of content, Kickstarter
Shauna James, senior manager, Digital Marketing of Black Music, Atlantic Records
Bridget Kyeremateng, senior manager, Inclusive Marketing, Twitch
Simone Jackson, global brand manager, Spotify
Amala Okpala, strategic partner manager, Instagram
Media
Dillon St. Bernard, founder, Team DSB
Devon Blackwell, associate producer, The New Yorker
Dominic-Madori Davis, reporter, Techcrunch
Hunter Harris, writer
Aiyana Ishmael, associate editor, Teen Vogue
Mya-Breyana Morton, co-founder, Unconscious Media
Paula Ngon, senior global communications manager, Condé Nast
Science
Clare Luckey, aerospace engineer, NASA
Nialah Wilson-Small, industry assistant professor, New York University
Matthew Clarke, assistant professor, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Saadia Gabriel, incoming assistant professor, University of California, Los Angeles
Social Impact
Wawa Gatheru, founder, Black Girl Environmentalist
Sydney Montgomery, founder, Barrier Breakers
Social Media
Drew “Druski” Desbordes, creator
Taylor Cassidy, creator
Drea Okeke, creator
Monet McMichael, creator
Sports
Ronald Acuña Jr., outfielder, Atlanta Braves
Nepheesa Collier, forward, Minnesota Lynx
Anthony Edwards, shooting guard, Minnesota Timberwolves
Austin Ekeler, running back, Los Angeles Chargers
Matt Howard, senior associate, KB Partners, a venture capital firm fostering teams focused on intersection of sports and technology
Stasia Foster, brand consulting executive/sports marketer, Creative Artists Agency
Lamar Jackson, quarterback, Baltimore Ravens
Tyshawn Jones, professional skateboarder
Kyle Kuzma, forward, Washington Wizards
Angel Reese, forward, Louisiana State University
Sha’carri Richardson, sprinter, Team USA
Isiah Turner, agent, WME Sports
Retail & e-commerce
Amira Rasool, founder, The Folklore Group
Philomina Kane, founder, Kin Apparel
Kadidja Dosso, founder, Dosso Beauty
Jordan Bentley, founder, Hypland
Finance
Temilayo Butler, vice president, Harbourview Equity Partners
Saheedat Onifade, investment strategist, Churchill Asset Management
Nina Meyers, growth equity investor, Goldman Sachs
Kennedy Ekezie, founder, Kippa
Venture Capital
Sesana Allen, associate Investor, Smash Capital
Brandon Greer, director of corporate development, Hubspot
