Barkue Tubman-Zawolo
Chief of Staff, Talent and Diasporic Engagement, Essence Ventures; Founder and Chief Experience Officer (CEO), MBL International Group
Barkue Tubman-Zawolo is the Chief of Staff, Talent and Diasporic Engagement for Essence Ventures, a portfolio of brands that aims to activate a boundary-less and frictionless Global Black economic ecosystem. In this position, Barkue is responsible for streamlining efficiencies and operations across the EV portfolio. She’s also focused on bridging the gap between Sub-Saharan Africa and United States ESSENCE audiences. Acknowledged by Fast Company as a “Brands That Matter” 2023 Honoree, Essence Ventures brands include Essence Communications, the number one media, technology and commerce company dedicated to Black women and communities; AFROPUNK, the multi-medium platform that uplifts and unleashes Black expression and individuality now and in the future; Beautycon, the experiential and content focused platform that aims to transcend the aesthetic of attraction and enable an individualized empowered existence and experience on what beauty is; and Essence Studios, a production studio and original content hub focused on authentic Black storytelling, story-making, story-sharing, and story-doing. Prior to joining Essence Ventures, Barkue built a very successful career in the male dominated U.S. music industry, including the management and working on the management teams of some of the most successful international artists of the 1990s and 2000s including Outkast, Usher, NEXT, and Donell Jones. She’s also the founder of MBL International Group, a boutique creative, experiential and strategic partnership agency with a keen focus on the global African diaspora.
