Amani Duncan is a visionary business leader, inspiring storyteller, and sought-after keynote speaker known for leaving an enduring and heartwarming impact in every room she enters.
Amani frequently speaks at industry-leading events and is a featured guest on prominent podcasts. She has interviewed and collaborated with culture-defining icons, including award-winning actor, author, and activist Jane Fonda; advertising legend Sir John Hegarty; and Grammy-winning producer and artist Wyclef Jean. Her speaking engagements have included high-profile appearances at Advertising Week New York, The BOARD Annual Meeting, and ChiefX’s inaugural conference.
Amani Duncan is an accomplished marketer, brand strategist, and cultural innovator with nearly three decades of experience driving transformational growth and innovation. She has a proven track record of creating strategic partnerships and delivering measurable success across industries such as beauty, fashion, media, advertising, music, and manufacturing. As a self-described “outsider in unfamiliar territories,” Amani brings a fresh perspective to every endeavor, challenging conventional thinking and fostering innovative solutions that inspire action and create lasting impact. Her work is grounded in the three pillars of success: people, purpose, and profits.
As the former CEO of BBH USA, a globally renowned creative agency, Amani led the consolidation of three distinct agencies into a unified, agile model. Under her leadership, the agency achieved double-digit revenue growth for two consecutive years, expanded its workforce by 70%, and increased racial diversity to 47% and gender diversity to 58%. During her tenure, BBH USA executed groundbreaking campaigns such as the award-winning "Glass Ceiling Breaker," which honored Vice President Kamala Harris, and Google’s “Black-Owned Friday” initiative, which was named “Most Purposeful Campaign of 2021” by Campaign US and earned four Cannes Lions awards.
Amani’s leadership extends beyond her corporate roles. She is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Grit & Glory Agency, a consultancy dedicated to empowering executive leadership teams with culturally impactful business strategies. In this role, she has advised C-suite leaders across industries, equipping them to navigate a rapidly evolving socio-economic landscape with clarity and purpose.
A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, Amani serves on the boards of several organizations, including the Girl Scouts of Greater New York, where she was honored at the 2023 Gold Achievement Gala, and Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. She is also a founding member of Chief, a leadership network for women, and has served on the 4A’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Steering Committee.
Amani’s career achievements have earned her widespread recognition, including Ad Age’s 2022 A-List Agency Executive of the Year, Adweek’s Women Trailblazers Award, Campaign’s Female Frontier Award, and Advertising Week’s Future is Female Award. She has served as Jury President for the Entertainment Lions for Music at the Cannes Lions Festival and has held juror roles for prestigious awards, including Ad Age’s Creativity Awards, Dubai Lynx Festival of Creativity, and the Effie Awards.
Her extensive career includes pivotal roles such as Senior Vice President of Music at MTV, where she revitalized the network’s music strategy and industry relationships, and Head of Brand Marketing at Martin Guitar, where she drove the brand to record-breaking revenue and engagement. As Chief Marketing Officer at Sean Combs’ Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group, she unified marketing efforts across the company’s diverse ventures, including music, fashion, spirits, and philanthropy.
Amani’s boundary-pushing approach has been profiled in leading publications such as Billboard, Fast Company, Variety, The Wall Street Journal, and more. She is also the creator of the celebrated Monday Morning Musings newsletter, where she shares reflections on leadership, faith, and personal growth. Currently, Amani is working on her debut book and expanding her thought leadership into new platforms, including Substack and YouTube, to inspire audiences worldwide.
A native Angeleno with deep roots in Los Angeles, Amani is committed to fostering community and creating spaces for connection and growth. Her legacy is one of relentless creativity, transformative leadership, and a steadfast dedication to making a positive impact on people’s lives.
