Amani Duncan is an award-winning business leader, enchanting storyteller and featured keynote speaker who leaves an enduring and heartwarming mark in every room she’s in.

She frequently speaks at advertising industry events, a constant guest on leading podcasts and has conducted interviews with culture-defining leaders and artists, including award-winning American film icon, author and activist Jane Fonda, advertising scion Sir John Hegarty, and multi-hyphenated, award winning producer and musician Wyclef Jean.

Amani Duncan | Transformational Leadership

Amani Duncan stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of strategic partnerships and audience growth. Her career is marked by a relentless pursuit of creative innovation, which has propelled her to the forefront of industries such as beauty, fashion, media, advertising, music, and manufacturing. Amani’s unique approach, which she describes as that of an “outsider in unfamiliar territories,” has consistently challenged conventional thinking, leading to the delivery of sustainable and innovative solutions for businesses.

Amani’s journey in the world of marketing and brand strategy began with a deep-seated passion for challenging the status quo. Over the years, she has honed her skills and expertise, becoming a sought-after speaker and thought leader in the fields of leadership, branding, and marketing. Her ability to captivate audiences with her insights and experiences has made her a mainstay at industry events and conferences, where she shares her wealth of knowledge and expertise with others.

Amani’s influence extends far beyond the boardroom. She is a firm believer in the power of people, purpose, and profits, and her work reflects this ethos. Through her strategic partnerships and collaborations, Amani Duncan has consistently generated positive outcomes for businesses, driving audience growth and fostering creative innovation. Her track record speaks for itself, showcasing her ability to deliver results across diverse industries and sectors.

Amani’s expertise and background make her a standout choice for event planners seeking a dynamic and engaging speaker. Her unique perspective and innovative approach to marketing and branding have set her apart as a thought leader in her field. Whether she is sharing insights on leadership, branding, or marketing, Amani Duncan’s presentations are sure to inspire, educate, and empower audiences.

In 2023, Amani Duncan was the keynote speaker at Heineken USA and ChiefX’s inaugural conference in October, as well as a featured panelist at Advertising Week New York and at The BOARD annual board meeting.

Amani Duncan is an accomplished marketer and brand strategist with nearly three decades of experience in establishing and executing strategic partnerships that drive audience growth while fostering creative innovation. As a self-described “outsider in unfamiliar territories,” Amani brings a unique perspective to the businesses she collaborates with, challenging conventional thinking to deliver sustainable and innovative solutions.

With a proven track record spanning diverse industry, including beauty, fashion, media, advertising, music, and manufacturing, Amani consistently generates positive outcomes across the three pillars of success: people, purpose, and profits.

As the former CEO of BBH USA, a creative agency specializing in enhancing brand value, Amani Duncan was responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, as well as high-level strategy and direction for clients such as Heineken, LinkedIn, Google Shopping, Netflix, Barbie, Lionsgate, and Brighthouse Financial. Her tenure as CEO began in February 2022, following her appointment as President of BBH NY in September 2020.

Under her leadership, BBH USA successfully executed major campaigns, including Glass Ceiling Breaker—a portrait homage to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris—and the award-winning initiative Google’s Black Owned Friday, recognized as the “Most Purposeful Campaign of 2021” by Campaign US and recipient of four Cannes Festival of Creativity Lions in 2022.

A passionate advocate for female leadership and diversity, Amani Duncan serves as a founding member of Chief, a leadership network for women, and holds positions on several boards and committees, including the 4A’s Board of Directors, 4A’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Steering committees, and the Board of Directors of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC), the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturer, marketer, and distributor.

Amani’s exceptional leadership has garnered industry acclaim, including Ad Age A-List’s 2022 Agency Executive of the Year, Adweek Women Trailblazer 2022, Campaign Female Frontier Award honoree, and Advertising Week’s Future is Female Awards winner. In 2022, she served as President of the Entertainment Lions for Music jury at Cannes Lions, a Clio Music Awards Music Marketing juror, and Campaign Female Frontier Awards juror. In 2021, Duncan served as a Cannes Lions Entertainment Lions juror, Effie Awards co-chair, and Grand Effie juror.

Amani Duncan presided as 2023 Jury President for Entertainment and Grand Prix for Good at the Dubai Lynx Festival of Creativity, and she will serve as a juror for Ad Age’s Creativity Awards and Creative Marketing, as well as Advertising Week Africa and Europe’s “Future is Female” Awards juror. In May 2023, Amani was honored by the Girl Scouts of Greater New York at their annual Gold Achievement Gala.

Amani’s extensive career includes a significant role as MTV’s Senior Vice President of Music, where she bolstered the network’s industry relationships through innovative artist-driven initiatives, strategic campaigns, and the creation of music content. Prior to MTV, she served as Head of Brand Marketing at Martin Guitar, where she revitalized the 200-year-old brand and crafted an ambitious global marketing plan that paid off.

As Chief Marketing Officer of Sean Combs’ Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group, Duncan orchestrated synergy through marketing and publicity across the company’s various verticals, including fragrances, clothing, music, TV/film, spirits, and charitable initiatives. She has also held senior positions at Capitol Music Group, where she served as Senior Vice President of Marketing, and Virgin Records, where she worked as Vice President of Production and Promotions.

Throughout her career, Amani Duncan has made an indelible mark on every organization and brand she’s worked with, propelling emerging artists, iconic brands like Martin guitars, and countless others to new heights, all while gaining brand partners and new fans along the way. Her remarkable career and boundary-pushing approach have been profiled by Billboard, Fast Company, Variety, Huffington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and more.

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