From Super Bowl to Startup: How One Black Woman Turned Displacement into Innovation
In a remarkable tale of resilience and ingenuity, Shacole Hamlett, one of the 300,000 Black women laid off in recent workforce cuts, has turned her frustration into a revolutionary AI-powered platform that's changing the event planning industry.A Career in High-Stakes Event Planning
Shacole Hamlett's journey began as a high-stakes brand activations manager at some of the world's biggest events, including the Super Bowl and Coachella. With budgets running into millions and timelines immovable, she navigated the complex landscape with ease. However, despite her expertise, she encountered a common problem: the planning process was a chaotic mess.
From Displacement to Ownership
When Hamlett became one of the 300,000 Black women impacted by workforce cuts, she could have easily given up. Instead, she chose to turn her frustration into innovation. With a clear vision and determination, she built PlanBrite, an AI-powered pre-production planning platform that streamlines event planning in just five minutes.
A Community of Support
Hamlett's decision to build PlanBrite in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was intentional. The city is experiencing a tech renaissance, with major investments from companies like NVIDIA and Microsoft. Moreover, initiatives like Black Tech Street are working to revitalize the city's legacy of Black innovation. For Hamlett, building in Tulsa provided her with the community and support she needed to bring her vision to life.
Innovation Born from Experience
PlanBrite reflects the power of lived experience turning workforce displacement into ownership. With a deep understanding of the event planning industry's pain points, Hamlett has created a platform that is intuitive and user-friendly. By leveraging AI technology, she has eliminated the fragmented chaos that plagues the industry, making it easier for anyone to create professional event plans in under five minutes.
Shacole Hamlett's story is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and innovation. From Super Bowl to startup, she has turned her displacement into a revolutionary platform that's changing the face of event planning. As we celebrate her achievement, we're reminded that even in the darkest moments, there's always hope for a brighter future.
