BIO
Ryann Richardson is a brand and culture leader, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of culture, technology, and equity. She first made national headlines as the 50th Anniversary Miss Black America, reclaiming the iconic title as a platform for cultural critique and social change.
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Long before that spotlight, Ryann built her reputation inside some of the world’s most influential companies. For more than a decade, she has led high-impact marketing campaigns, driven internal culture transformation, and helped teams earn the trust of increasingly diverse and discerning audiences.
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At Uber, she oversaw East Coast marketing and partnerships, launched the company’s first multicultural marketing strategy, and co-founded the employee-led Diversity & Inclusion Task Force—helping spark a shift in corporate culture from the inside.
As VP and Head of North American Marketing at Victor, she led U.S. expansion for the British luxury tech brand. At T-Mobile, she played a pivotal role in the national growth of MetroPCS after its acquisition.
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Her leadership earned her recognition as the youngest honoree on Savoy Magazine’s list of the Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America.
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Today, Ryann is in her second act as a founder, building ventures across tech, wellness, and media—each designed to challenge exclusionary systems and expand access for historically underestimated communities.
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She brings this same vision to her political work, having served as a national surrogate for Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign, advancing equity-focused policy across battleground states. Since 2020, she has served on the boards of Secure the Ballot and Climate Power, and led grassroots organizing efforts in New York to build political power from the ground up.
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Whether in boardrooms, on stages, or at the frontlines of social movements, Ryann moves seamlessly across spaces—collaborating with world leaders, CEOs, artists, and activists alike.
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As a speaker, she blends strategic insight with magnetic storytelling. Her TEDx Talk, The Politics of Beauty and Power, explores representation and the social systems that shape worth. She also stars in the acclaimed documentary Subjects of Desire and has spoken to audiences ranging from presidential campaign rallies to global business summits.
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Ryann’s mission is to help visionary leaders and purpose-driven organizations shape the future with clarity, integrity, and imagination.
MISS BLACK AMERICA
Founded in 1968, Miss Black America is the oldest pageant organization in the United States for
women of color. Originally conceived as a political protest against the exclusion of black women from
American institutions and cultural celebrations of
beauty, it was the first American pageant to feature black women and went on to become a nationally televised annual event. Over the years Miss Black America became a black culture phenomenon, showcasing future icons like Oprah Winfrey and Toni Braxton as contestants, and inspiring generations of black girls and women.
Today the program serves to spotlight the talent, intellect, and exceptional accomplishments of black women while enriching communities of color through service, mentorship, and advocacy.
