Imani Ellis wore a cream sweater as she delivered a sermon to her more than 260,000 Instagram followers.
The founder of the must-attend festival CultureCon told fans that she recently spoke to a friend about her goals for 2026, but her friend simply said, “I just want to cherish the gifts that God has given me.”
A joint post between her company and personal account garnered 26,000 likes, more than 700 comments and 400,000 views.
The daughter of two pastors who grew up splitting her time between Florida, Alabama, and Atlanta, she became a cultural leader as a young CEO with a unique approach to rest.
“Just because I’m a leader doesn’t mean I don’t have anxiety,” Ellis told USA TODAY, adding, “As I embark on this brand, I want to make sure that my own demographic is included in the brand.”
Over the past decade, Ellis has evolved from a plucky NBCUniversal PR executive to a full-fledged founder who has found his calling. While Americans sought spaces for deeper community during that time, CultureCon, which now bills itself as the world’s largest creator networking event, grew from a gathering of 21 people in Ellis’ apartment to a destination that attracts 12,000 attendees each year.
Imani Ellis: “I never imagined it would turn out like this”
CultureCon first blossomed in Ellis’ room in 2017, when community was not yet a buzzword. As a full-time spokesperson for one of the world’s most famous brands, Ellis maintained a busy social life and a fulfilling career, but something was missing.
She invited 10 friends to her apartment for tacos one night. There was one rule. The idea was that everyone would invite someone who could vouch for themselves. “I’m a woman, I live alone, and I just try to keep it cute,” Ellis told USA TODAY.
That first night, the group of strangers began with one question: “What do you do? It’s not a job.” Ellis, a Vanderbilt University graduate, said the room was “confused,” but afterward, guests came to understand the unknown.
“Complete strangers were telling me, ‘I’m trying to find the courage to tell my mom this happened,'” she said, calling the first event “very healing.” Some of the guests ended the Q&A night at Ellis’ apartment, and they asked their own questions. Will she repeat this meeting every month?
My apartment got crowded at night, so I moved to a coworking space. And so many people flocked to those events that Ellis developed the idea for a conference. “Never in a million years could I have imagined what it would be like,” Ellis said.
Andy Cohen: ‘Couldn’t be more proud’ of CultureCon founder’s growth
The first Culture Con was held in October of the same year in New York’s Meatpacking District, and the keynote speech included a fireside conversation with legendary film director Spike Lee. Mr. Ellis’ team developed the Spike Lee Room, which treasures the two-time Oscar winner’s iconic career. She stayed up until 3 a.m., painted gold letters in Lee’s room in the apartment, and came up with various clues.
Mr. Ellis described a moment he will never forget when Mr. Lee walked into the room that bears his name. “We took him to Spike Lee’s room, and yeah, he melted down,” Ellis said.
The second conference featured Charlamagne Tha God, Colman Domingo, and John Legend. The third edition included Tracee Ellis Ross, Elaine Welteroth, Keki Palmer, and Regina King. Michael B. Jordan, Naomi Campbell, Regina Hall, and Billy Porter attended the fourth annual Culture Con of 2021, which was held in the country due to the pandemic. Later versions featured appearances from Top Gun: Maverick star Jay Ellis, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, and former first lady Michelle Obama.
Single-day general admission tickets are $145, weekend passes are $249, and weekend VIP passes are $409. Student tickets are $89. CultureCon offers free scholarship tickets to students with financial need and partners with universities to provide free admission.
The CultureCon ecosystem includes Marquee Festival, its storytelling and content agency CultureCon Studios, its education pipeline platform CultureCon on Campus, and its foundation launching this fall. As CultureCon grew, Ellis continued working at NBC and was promoted to vice president of communications. But in 2023, more than a decade after joining the network as a page at NBC, Ellis left the company to focus on CultureCon.
Famous Bravo star Andy Cohen celebrated his 10-year tenure as a guest bartender on the late-night Bravo show “Watch What Happens Live.” At the Bravo Clubhouse, 30 Rock’s studio, which is littered with merchandise and memorabilia from the Real Housewives world, organizers wished Ellis well.
He later reiterated these sentiments in a statement. “I’ve watched Imani grow from a junior publicist to a leader, builder and influencer in the cultural world, and I couldn’t be more proud,” Cohen told USA TODAY last month. “She has been a great guide for me both personally and professionally. Watching her career explode makes me so proud. I’ve known her forever!”
Porsha Williams, one of the most influential Housewives in history, which lasted 11 seasons, agreed. “Imani’s vision is unique yet impactful because it touches so many people and makes everyone feel like CultureCon has something for them,” she said in a statement.
“I’m not trying to create a CEO facade.”
CultureCon has grown into a cultural phenomenon. The conference will return to Brooklyn’s Digital Greenhouse for the sixth time during its October 2025 run, with festival attendance increasing by 2,000 from the previous year.
“We can only move forward and grow as much as the community wants us to,” Ellis said. “If 12,000 people don’t come to CultureCon, it’s not the biggest conference for creatives.” Multihyphenate Jennifer Hudson, actor Jesse Williams, actress Kerry Washington and “Abbott Elementary” star Sheryl Lee Ralph were among the biggest names at last year’s jamboree, where A-lists rubbed elbows with the general public.
Hosted by Chase Ink, the festival also includes numerous other corporate partners including HBO Max, BET, Uber, National Football League, NBCUniversal, New Balance, Nike, Pinterest, Sprite, Spotify, ESPN, and more. The biggest request from Ellis’ creator community is to turn the three-day event into a full week-long festival.
To someday reach that goal, Ellis has begun reevaluating hustle culture in recent months, prioritizing rejuvenation over the long-held stereotype that corporate CEOs are always struggling. She currently splits her time between her hectic life in New York and her life back in Atlanta.
“That’s why I keep pushing this seasonality. I’m not going to create a façade of a CEO who’s never rested,” Ellis said.
She has been traveling to Cabo and Barbados in recent months in an effort to rebuild. Next October, nine years after that night in her living room, Ellis will show the world how far she can grow.
