On May 11, EBONY and Rhum Barbancourt partnered for LEGACY, a special event to celebrate their companies’ longevity. Held at the Brooklyn Atrium in New York City, EBONY CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar and Delphine Gardere, CEO of Rhum Barbancourt, sat down with host Angela Yee to discuss the stories, strategies, and mechanics behind running their successful entities, which encompass a 235-year history between the two iconic brands.
Delphine Gardere, CEO of Rhum Barbancourt, and EBONY CEO Eden Bridgeman Sklenar at LEGACY event. Image: Jamel Martin.
Founded in 1945, EBONY remains a leading African-American lifestyle publication and a cultural touchstone. For decades, the publication has featured some of the most notable figures in African-American history. Bridgeman Sklenar, who took over the role of CEO in July 2022, revealed how she’s learned to make her voice heard in the executive world. “I have two older brothers, but I was fortunate enough to grow up seeing my mother’s presence, that she was the boss in her domain allowed me to understand how I can show up as a leader.”
Founded in 1862, Rhum Barbancourt is a Haitian rum brand that has been family-owned and operated for five generations. Gardere spoke about the challenges involved with securing financial investments. “One of the banks that I pitched to help me on a leveraged buyout, they just didn’t believe in me, as a woman running a liquor business. I still get that sometimes,” she shared. “This is something that we still have to bring awareness about.”
Lauren O’Brien at “Legacy” event. Image: Jamel Martin.
Guests enjoyed a Rhum Barbancourt Cocktail hour featuring specialty Barbancourt cocktails made by Lauren O’Brien of Netflix’s Drink Masters. DJ Zeke provided the evening’s music. Fueled by Culture set the evening’s ambiance under the creative direction of Toni Antrobus.
