During my corporate tenure, I had the pleasure to meet amazing, dynamic professionals and colleagues full of promise, who were excited by what prospects lay ahead, despite the challenges they encountered. I knew early on corporate life was not my calling, but made the most of the time and privileges afforded while working in the revered halls of business.
One of the external colleagues who stood out was a professional in advertising sales at the time, Maximillian L. Hamilton. His visits to the department were legendary and especially enjoyable, filled with banter, gut laughter and good doses of lessons, as he extolled the benefits of corporate support of The Network Journal, a business publication for Black professionals and small businesses, as well as the Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit and Women of Power Summit, initiatives that mixed social events with business seminars rife with strategies to advance one’s financial well being.
I have to admit I was especially fascinated with Maximillian and his association with Black Enterprise and felt a sort of cultural linkage, especially as my employer at the time had supported the magazine’s Ski Challenge for years and I was asked along with other colleagues to work the 5-day event.
Turns out, for several years I landed in Denver in February for a trip to Vail with my two sons in tow. Here was a chance to introduce them to a slice of life I knew absolutely nothing about, not even remotely. At the behest of the senior officer at the event, I enrolled them in ski school in which they excelled at learning to ski and snowboard. For my part, my greatest challenge was to learn to navigate altitude sickness.
A most memorable moment from that work eperience was when a woman I consider the most beautiful film actress –Pam Grier – approached our work tables and chided, “Good morning, welcome. Are you affected by altitude sickness? Be sure to drink lots of water, I was born here and I understand how to ease altitude sickness.”
I met Maximillian over the years at events in Washington, DC, New York and Atlanta; he was always touting the reasons companies should support multicultural brands and communities. As it turns out, he was seriously ahead of his time.
Hamilton and I reconnected recently on LinkedIn, after more than 14 years. He reached out to ask how I was surviving during this pandemic. And I was intrigued about where life had taken this former U.S. Air Force veteran, whom I felt was always pushing himself and others to achieving better. I also wanted to know how he was faring as a proud African American man in these times of society’s racial reckoning. Unsurprisingly, the conversation was real, brash and hopeful.
I was not surprised by his successes. I found out that Maximillian L. Hamilton is now the CEO & Founder of Rogue Media Group, LLC (RMG), a premier multicultural advertising, marketing and media agency, formed in 2013 under the influence of noted greats in business, Earl G. Graves Sr. (Founder & Publisher of Earl G. Graves Publishing Co./Black Enterprise) and Richard “Dick” Parsons (former Chairman of Citigroup and the former Chairman and CEO of Time Warner).
RMG is headquartered in New York City, with operations in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit and Houston. The company maintains a list of esteemed clients including AARP; Belvedere Vodka; the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; Legal & General America; Lee Hecht Harrison; Lexus Automotive; MetLife; Morgan Stanley Wealth Management; and Toyota Motor North America.
As one of the country’s leading multicultural agencies, RMG services its clients with general market, Black, Hispanic, Asian and LGBT marketing and advertising, digital and traditional advertising, diversity and inclusion and corporate social responsibility consulting. Additionally, RMG has established partnerships with Asian American Business Development Center; Bloomberg, LP; Corporate Counsel Women of Color; and the National Association of Black Hotel Owners & Operators.
Maximillian’s work and achievements commanded my attention. I wanted to learn more, especially about a virtual event he invited me to attend: FUEL, billed as: The Ultimate Men’s Summit, created with the belief that by sharing thoughts, information, and ideas, in a private and intimate setting, we can elevate each other to higher heights as well-rounded, healthier, and grounded Black men. All of these sessions over these two days, were crafted with these objectives in mind.
With my sons now young men, and while there has been an oh so necessary and long overdue focus on issues that impact girls and women, in some ways I was beginning to feel that the narrative that includes boys and men, especially men of the African Diaspora has been left wanting.
Q. When I saw that Earl Graves, the Black Enterprise Founder, had passed away, I immediately thought of you. What did he mean to you?
A. I was heartbroken when I heard the news of the passing of Mr. Graves. He was by far larger than life and a history maker who provided a platform that showed the world that African Americans are brilliant, intelligent, educated and business savvy. He was my boss and mentor. I strongly believed in Black Enterprise's mission to educate and empower our audience to become full participants in wealth creation within the global economy. As such, it became my dream job.
Q. Tell me about how you are dealing during pandemic, has your business been impacted?
A. The pandemic impacted both my personal and business lives. Loves were lost and no chance to say final goodbyes, revenue was halted. Crisis is the birthplace of opportunities, so I used this time to get fit, eat right, reconnect with family, have wellness check-ins with clients and friends and stay abreast of current trends, ready to pivot to support our clients’ goals and objectives.
Q. Do you still draw on your days in the Air Force for strength and survival?
A. Absolutely yes! Military training is all about readiness and I work to be always prepared and ready.
Q. Let’s talk FUEL, I am inordinately intrigued. What is its goal?
A. The goal of FUEL is to provide Black men a platform where they can discuss the importance of mental health, physical health, education, mentorship with a special emphasis on economics.
Q. What do you want people to come away with from the Fuel Summit?
A. We want people to come away with the following from FUEL:
Learn how to buy the right franchise
Become mentally fit
Learn how to raise capital to fund your business or project
Connect with like-minded Black men
I came away from my conversation with Maximillian thinking that with all the time which had passed, our conversation felt so familiar. There are no accidents in life.
I had to write to Hamilton after the summit:
Dear Maximillian:
I managed to sit in on some segments of the FUEL summit. I found it especially useful, as I now find myself engaging in an assessment exercise about the viability of my consultancy. Thank you for the complimentary invitation.
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Credits & Acknowledgement:
Visual of CEO Maximillian L. Hamilton and,
FUEL Logo - both compliments of Rogue Media Group
Newsletter Editor: Ellie Meek Tweedy