Imani Ellis On CultureCon's 2025 Tech, Sports & Creator Expansion
When it comes to cultivating culture, Imani Ellis isn't just part of the conversation—she's leading it. As the founder and CEO of CultureCon and The Creative Collective, Ellis has created a platform that not only celebrates diverse creatives but also builds infrastructure for them to thrive.
As CultureCon heads into its 2025 season, the beloved summit is expanding its reach with three new verticals—Creator, Sports, and Entrepreneurship Summits—along with a groundbreaking tech initiative and a first-ever film showcase.
In a time where DEI rollbacks are challenging spaces built for us, CultureCon is doubling down on its mission: to take up space, build community, and empower the next generation of storytellers, innovators, and change makers.
I sat down with Ellis to talk about how CultureCon is evolving, what creators can expect this year, and why the summit continues to be the go-to destination for those redefining culture on their own terms.
With content creation becoming a full-fledged career path, the Creator Summit is designed to help attendees think beyond likes and followers.
'Creators are small business owners. They're building legacy work,' Ellis shares. With the rise of the creator economy, Ellis and her team are committed to ensuring that Black and Brown creatives aren't left behind. The Creator Summit—launched in partnership with Kensington Grey—goes beyond surface-level success and dives deep into strategy, long-term positioning, and personal branding.
'It's about helping creators see themselves as brands,' she says. 'And we're making sure they're not just going viral—but building something that lasts.'
When asked about the evolution of the creator space, she notes: 'We wanted to move away from one-off panels and create real tracks that give creators frameworks to scale. This is the kind of access that changes trajectories.'
'This summit is about reminding creators that they are the brand. It's not just about growing a following—it's about building a foundation that outlasts the algorithm,' Ellis recognizes.
For Ellis, launching a sports vertical at CultureCon was deeply personal. 'I'm a former athlete—I ran hurdles at Vanderbilt—and I know firsthand the power of storytelling in sports,' she adds.
The Sports Summit will explore how athletes are extending their influence beyond the game—through entrepreneurship, fashion, media, and philanthropy. 'You can't talk about culture without talking about sports. It's a universal language,' Ellis explains. 'Athletes are cultural leaders now. They're building brands, investing in tech, owning production companies—it's time we spotlighted that.'
As athletes increasingly step into roles as entrepreneurs, investors, and cultural tastemakers, the Sports Summit is designed to spotlight how sports now lives far beyond the scoreboard.
'We're showcasing the full 360 of an athlete—not just their game-day performance, but their impact in boardrooms, media, and culture. Sports is a business, and athletes are brands,' Ellis shares.
She continues, 'This summit is about the locker room and the boardroom. It's about redefining what a career in sports can look like, on and off the field.'
Entrepreneurship has always been a pillar of CultureCon, but 2025 is taking it to the next level. With a new focus on mentorship, tactical advice, and infrastructure, the Entrepreneurship Summit is designed to help creatives build sustainable businesses.
'We know our community doesn't lack inspiration,' Ellis says. 'What they need is frameworks, mentorship, and guidance through the messy middle—whether that's managing taxes, hiring your first employee, or knowing when to scale.'
Ellis emphasizes the importance of representation in business spaces: 'When we see ourselves at the table, it changes what we believe is possible. We're not just starting businesses—we're building empires.'
CultureCon's new AI summit aims to demystify artificial intelligence for creatives. But Ellis is clear—AI should enhance the creative process, not replace it.
'Our community has the juice,' she states. 'We're showing how AI can serve as a tool—like a notetaker, a personal assistant, a brainstorm partner—not the creator itself. It's about integration, not imitation.'
With artificial intelligence rapidly transforming creative workflows, the AI Summit aims to equip CultureCon attendees with the tools to adapt—without losing their creative essence.
'AI shouldn't replace your creativity—it should enhance it,' Ellis expresses. 'We want our community to feel empowered by tech, not intimidated by it. This summit is about showing how AI can be a co-creator, not a competitor.'
In addition Ellis adds, 'There's a lot of fear around AI in the creative world. But we're bringing in the experts to show how it can actually protect your time, extend your output, and keep your creative integrity intact.'
For the first time ever, CultureCon will host a film showcase through CultureCon Studios, launched in 2023. The goal? To spotlight rising Black and Brown filmmakers whose stories deserve to be seen.
'We've always said the talent is there—it just needs a light,' Ellis says. 'We're creating a platform for the next generation of directors, producers, and storytellers to shine.'
She continues, 'So many of our stories never get greenlit, not because they're not brilliant, but because the people in power don't see the value. We're changing that narrative—and backing our own.'
With over 12,000 attendees expected in Brooklyn on October 4–5, CultureCon's 2025 theme, Take Space, is a rallying cry for collective imagination and courage.
'Imagination is its own form of bravery,' Ellis shares. 'Whether you're a first-time entrepreneur, an athlete with creative dreams, or someone searching for community—you belong at CultureCon.'
As for what's next? Ellis dreams of CultureCon becoming a global movement, empowering creatives around the world. 'We want to blur the lines—between corporate and creative, between startup and storyteller. This is about helping people build the most abundant lives possible. And that starts with access, community, and opportunity.'
She closes with a smile, 'We're not here to fit in—we're here to take up space. Loudly. Unapologetically. Together.'
CultureCon returns October 4–5, 2025 in Brooklyn, NY. For tickets and more information, follow @theCCNYC and @CultureCon on all platforms.
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