The evolution of business-to-business (B2B) advertising has changed over the decades. Previously, businesses would spread the word about their services by sharing business cards, postcards, mail brochures, newspaper classified ads, online classifieds, full-color magazine ads and pay for booths at in-person company conventions. But with the founding of Twitter by Jack Dorsey , Noah Glass, Biz Stone and Evan Williams came the introduction of a new way for companies to network via digital marketing . It’s largely credited to a product designer named Chris Messina in Silicon Valley. His idea? Hashtags. Why Were Hashtags First Used? Messina observed how Internet chat rooms were using the pound (#) symbol and thought it would be useful for a “group organizing framework.” Although his 2007 idea was originally dismissed as “nerdy” and others were convinced it wouldn’t catch on, clearly Messina was right in the long run. By 2009, Twitter was using hashtags. In 2012, hashtags became popularly...

Landing the right job is a skill. It involves marrying your abilities and interests with an organization that aligns with your values and perspectives about the future. While the concept seems simple in theory, it’s a bit more complicated–but not impossible– in practice. And is the story and experience of Katie Slaughter and Komatsu. Komatsu is a global leader in the manufacturing and supply of equipment and technology solutions for industries such as construction, mining, forestry, and industrial machinery. With a strong commitment to safety, innovation, and sustainability, Komatsu strives to improve customer operations through advanced products and services. Their solutions are designed to enhance productivity, reduce environmental impact, and support the efficient use of resources, ensuring they meet the evolving needs of a diverse range of industries worldwide. In addition to its strong industrial presence, Komatsu is also a tech company, leveraging cutting-edge practices to...

Requesting for a letter of recommendation can feel daunting sometimes, but you have to be objective about it. Asking for a recommendation means you are asking someone to promote your competencies while simultaneously trying to sell yourself to them. We have a guide that will help reduce your toil and present the request in a way that it demands minimal time and inconveniences from the recommender. This guide is applicable in contexts of job applications, college admissions, and scholarships alike. Choose the Right Person First, identify who to ask. Pick someone who knows you well and can speak positively about your abilities, character, and achievements. Ideally, this person should be relevant to the context of your application. For example: Academic purposes: Choose a teacher, professor, or academic advisor. Professional purposes: Consider a current or former supervisor, mentor, or colleague. Personal character reference: A community leader, coach, or family friend who knows you...

President Joe Biden is unveiling plans that will provide relief to minority borrowers. A press release shares the Biden administration is looking to build on its efforts to eradicate debt for Americans. Already, it has provided financial relief to 4 million borrowers. Now, pending on approval of its latest proposal, the Biden administration is looking to scale its efforts to more than 30 million borrowers and projects it will positively impact Black borrowers, among other targeted demographics including Hispanic borrowers as well as working- and middle-class families. According to Education Data Initiative, Black graduates owe an estimated $25,000 more in student loan debt than their white counterparts. Furthermore, four years after graduation, Black students will be burdened with over 188% more debt than white students. A separate study looking into students who started college between 1995 and 1996 showed the median debt for white borrowers  decreased by 94% 20 years later, with...

Be honest: how much thought have you put into financial planning? Depending on where you are in life, you might think that you’re not making enough money for that to be a concern; or that you’re too young to be thinking about retirement or life insurance. But the truth is it’s never too early to take the necessary steps to set yourself and your family up for the future. And the idea that financial planning is one of the best ways for people of color to start leveling the playing field when it comes to generational wealth really is a thing. Especially if those plans include a life insurance policy. Now before we go any further, let’s dispel some of the shame and judgment that exists around this sensitive topic. Yes, communities of color remain severely under protected when it comes to life insurance. Yes, Grandma’s house could have stayed in the family longer if only she’d had life insurance. But if you’ve ever made a slick comment about someone’s family having to turn to...

If securing top-tier talent during AFROTECH Conference is on your to-do list, then you have the right idea. With over 20,000 attendees scheduled to be at AFROTECH, there will be unlimited potential walking through the exhibit hall, looking to land their next role. This moment serves as a prime opportunity to staff organizations. While the end result may be employment, how companies attract talent is a critical step. From the booth’s design to the recruiters’ authenticity, all points of contact matter when seeking to add people to your teams. With the job market in flux, on-site interviews can be the perfect opportunity to tap into interested job seekers to make a pivot or start fresh in their careers.

When people think about building wealth, many are drawn to the immediate gratification that they may see via social media, celebrities, etc. And many are consistently looking at diverse ways to increase their current worth, from earning a top salary, strategically investing, to starting a business or side hustle. And rightfully so. Today’s job market and economy are in flux. With major layoff announcements occurring almost weekly, earning all you can seems to be at the top of people’s minds. Considering the aforementioned, having a wealth building plan is crucial to the pathway towards building and maintaining financial wellness that leads to creating generational wealth. It all starts with developing positive savings habits and learning how investments and insurance can be wealth-gaining tools, providing security for the future – for yourself and for those you love. What is important for many is breaking down the stigma that financial health and generational wealth are only...

One common misconception about managing money is that the decisions of one individual only affect that person. Because our lives exist in ecosystems that impact multiple people, creating a financial plan often must bear in mind all those connected to the source. But how do you establish a personal financial model that is best for the earner and still beneficial for all involved? Getting your family or loved ones on board with an agreed-upon financial support model may not be the easiest thing to do, but it is not impossible. MassMutual believes one must build that financial planning muscle to achieve those collective goals. MassMutual wants to empower people with tools to align with their loved ones on a shared vision to achieve financial dreams and peace of mind – providing an understanding of how to do so with a growth mindset. Here are a few ways to strengthen financial muscles for you and your family. Budgeting Creating a budget that accounts for all income and expenses is a...

UCLA quarterback Chase Griffin has developed a blueprint for capitalizing on name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.

As talent across the African continent consistently rises in numbers, its tech ecosystem is growing right along with it. From securing millions of dollars for funding initiatives such as for climate change to creating innovative technology that aims to disrupt industries, there is a movement of African founders and tech entrepreneurs who aim to build a promising future. At the same time, there are global events taking notice of this powerful movement and bringing it to center stage including AfroTech Executive D.C. On May 11, executive leaders will join together to discuss Africa’s growth in the tech industry.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by AFROTECH Events (@afrotech.events) Ahead of AfroTech Executive D.C., Prosper Africa, the leading U.S.-Africa trade and investment initiative, has partnered with the Africa Fintech Summit.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Africa Fintech Summit (@afrifintechsummit) Africa’s fintech sector, leaders, and pioneers...

Absorbing books, consuming news, and learning new information has seen a significant shift with the popularity of podcasts. And whether you prefer Apple, Spotify, Audible, or any platform in between, listeners across the globe can access information otherwise not available, be entertained, and gain tools to maximize their trajectories. With great efficiency from the comfort of their smartphone, podcast listeners have a huge library of choices from genres such as comedy, society and culture, and entrepreneurship. The next time you are chilling, running errands, or engaging in the never-ending cycle of adulting, check out these podcasts that are putting in overtime to inspire and help you tap into the next level of your future.

Lyft is working to ensure transportation will not hinder individuals from landing jobs.

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace has become more and more of a priority in recent years and while some companies still struggle, there are others that are making tremendous strides. In 2018, Forbes and market research firm Statista began their annual Best Employers for Diversity list.  They surveyed 60,000 Americans working for businesses with a minimum of 1,000 employees about the workplace environment. Participants were asked to openly and honestly rate their employers based on general diversity, as well as age, gender, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation equality. Answers from workers belonging to minority groups were taken to account and weighted accordingly. Now in its third year, the final list features 500 companies including employers such as Netflix, Google, eBay, and more. Here are the top 5 employers and how they rank in terms of diversity in the workplace.   1. SAP Industry : IT, Internet, Software & Services SAP is a great place for women to work....