Pernell Cezar

Pernell is the Co-founder/CEO of social enterprise BLK & Bold Specialty Beverages; a Certified B-Corp, the 61st fastest growing private company in America according to the 2023 INC 5000, and one of NMSDC’s Top 50 fastest growing Minority Business Enterprises; across industries. His diverse career portfolio which spans from Target, SheaMoisture, Unilever, and C-Suite/consumer goods consulting, highlights his ability to influence and build brands at scale whether start-ups or multinational brands. Pernell has served on Target’s Entrepreneur Advisory Council, co-founded Target’s Forward Founders accelerator program, and currently serves on Amazon’s Accelerator Division’s Advisory Council.
The social entrepreneur welcomes the obligation to equip young people with tools to overcome familiar unfortunate circumstances by turning a daily ritual into a means of giving back. Pernell takes much of his inspiration from his own upbringing in Gary, Indiana, where philanthropy and community programming helped his widowed, disabled mother take care of Pernell and his sister while indoctrinating him at a young age with the values of “it takes a village to raise a child.”