Kenneth Ebie is the inaugural Executive Director & Chief Development Officer of Black Entrepreneurs NYC (BE NYC), a first-of-its-kind municipal initiative in a major American city to help address the racial wealth gap by empowering Black entrepreneurs and business owners. In this role, he is responsible for establishing public-private partnerships and developing programs to increase the number of Black-owned businesses in New York City by addressing structural challenges to business ownership, particularly in high-growth and high-priority industries. Under Ebie’s leadership, BE NYC has established launched six programs and initiatives, including the City’s first online Black business directory (Shop Black NYC) and hosted over 60 webinars and special events, providing over 4,600 entrepreneurs with the opportunity to receive mentorship, gain information on how to start and grow their business, and build community.
An entrepreneur himself, Ebie is also the Founder & Principal of Ebie Strategies LLC, a boutique social impact and public affairs firm that advises corporate, non-profit and individual clients on human capital, social impact and public-private partnerships. With prior experience in law, politics, City government and public affairs, Ebie has created innovative social impact initiatives at the highest levels of government, entertainment, and philanthropy.
Ebie has been recognized by Brooklyn Magazine as one of its “100 Most Influential People in Brooklyn Culture”, the New York Urban League as its Equity & Inclusion Ambassador, the New York City Commission on Human Rights as a Trailblazer for unique contributions to the City of New York, and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce with its Community Leader Award. Passionate about racial, social and economic justice, Ebie previously served as the campaign manager for the late Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson, whose historic election in 2013 resulted in the establishment of a nationally renowned Conviction Review Unit that exonerated over 20 wrongfully convicted individuals during his brief tenure.
Ebie currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Harvard Club of New York and the Board of Directors for Soho Repertory Theatre. He holds a B.A. from Harvard College, where he was elected as a Class Marshal, and a J.D. from Yale Law School.