Born and bred in New York City, Gabrielle Babson is a creative strategist who has leveraged her master's-level education in Public Relations and Integrated Communications to help shape the next generation of talent. With years of hands-on experience across social media, talent management, and brand strategy, Gabrielle has grown from her early days as a social media manager into a multihyphenate brand builder who actively amplifies innovative voices. As a champion for emerging talent of color, Gabrielle now merges her industry insight with her passion for representation and access. Equal parts strategist and storyteller, she is carving out space for creators to be seen not just as influencers, but as innovators, pioneers and cultural leaders.

Athena Partington is a New York–based marketing and communications professional with years of experience in influencer marketing. She has built her career working across both the brand and talent sides of the industry, using her expertise to bridge the gap between creators and the companies they collaborate with. Currently, Athena supports influencer campaigns, where she leverages her strategic insight to drive impactful partnerships and measurable results. Her work reflects a deep commitment to empowering creatives of color to build sustainable, values-driven businesses while reshaping how influence and opportunity are shared across industries.