Year Three: Black Coffee at the World's Most Powerful Conference
- Jamin P. Butler
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
A Live Interview with Black Coffee Company's CFO, Straight from Beverly Hills, CA
May 2026 | The Black Coffee Company Blog
For the third consecutive year, The Black Coffee Company showed up and showed out at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, one of the most powerful gatherings of minds, money, and mission on the planet. While thousands of attendees from Google, NVIDIA, Amgen, and global financial institutions filled the halls, our cups were in their hands.
We caught up with Dr. Leonard Lightfoot, CFO and Co-Founder of The Black Coffee Company, live on the ground for a quick interview. Here's what he had to say.
On the Biggest Moment
Q: What was your single biggest moment or conversation this year, the one that still has you thinking?
Dr. Lightfoot: Honestly, it happened just seconds before this interview. I'm walking through the conference and I pass by the Mayor of Atlanta, Andre Dickens. I'd seen him the day before. He sees me, daps me up, and goes, 'I see you, Black Coffee.'
And that was special, because our cups and sleeves are floating around this entire building, a beautiful black and white cup with the logo, right alongside Google, NVIDIA, Amgen. And the fact that the Mayor of his own city recognized that a company from Atlanta was well represented at one of the biggest conferences in the world? That was a game-recognized-game moment right there.
On Surprising Connections
Q: Who did you connect with that surprised you most?
Dr. Lightfoot: Two moments stand out. Sunday night at a private dinner, I had the opportunity to sit next to Tony Ressler, the owner of the Atlanta Hawks. Just a cool, down-to-earth guy. We got to chit chat, I got to go deeper into the Black Coffee story, and I think he fell even more in love with it.
John Hope Bryant was at that same dinner and gave us the perfect alley-oop. He introduced us to the room, told the story of how we were all connected, and made it a full-circle moment. Because John had invested $25,000 into Black Coffee earlier, and now he's sitting at a table watching that investment come to life in real time. The coffee gets to sit at every table.
Then, same night, I'm in an SUV heading to this private event and the door opens. Bill Ackman just hops in the back seat, buckles up, and starts talking. The conversation got very personal, very real, very human. And that's what Milken does that you can't replicate on a screen. These things only happen when you're actually in the room.
On Introducing Yourself as CFO of Black Coffee
Q: How do people respond when you introduce yourself as the CFO of The Black Coffee Company?
Dr. Lightfoot: They're always shocked. They're trying to draw the connection, what is Black Coffee, and why are you here at this conference? And that's exactly the opening I need. I get to walk them through our three pillars: financial freedom, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. And then I drop the bomb that we're actually sponsoring the coffee for the entire conference.
That's when the light bulb goes off. And being able to experience that moment across so many different international participants, from first-timers to people who've been coming for years and actually look forward to having our coffee every year, it just certifies that we have a seat at this table.
On the Session That Hit Hardest
Q: Was there a specific panel, speaker, or session that hit hardest for you, and why?
Dr. Lightfoot: There was a panel earlier today about leading a company with morals, can you actually do that in today's economy? On the panel was Marvin Ellison, CEO of Lowe's, the CEO of Patagonia, and the CEO of Chobani. All three of them are using their companies to truly drive change in their communities and in the world.
And that's the reason we built the coffee house. The ability to offer retirement plans, encourage financial literacy, encourage investing, provide safe spaces and higher wages, that's not a bonus, that's the mission. And hearing it validated by CEOs who've built billion-dollar companies tells us we're on the right path. It doesn't have to be strictly about revenue. Put people first and the dollars follow.
How Does Year Three Compare to Past Years?
Q: Compared to last year, when you met Magic Johnson and Michael Milken, what felt different or bigger about this year?
Dr. Lightfoot: Being here the third time gave us more confidence in why we belong here. I don't think it's just about coffee anymore. It's about how a team from Los Angeles, California, built something centered around coffee to promote financial freedom, community empowerment, and entrepreneurship, and made it real.
Hearing all the different stories, being around all these people, it validates that we have a seat at this table and something real to say. We should be bold and aggressive in pursuing this vision, because it's not just wanted, it's needed.
And what I truly experienced more than anything this time: I know God is on our side. There's no way these moments are happening by coincidence. I jumped in a van not knowing where I was going. The sleeve situation worked itself out. I didn't know if I'd be on the invite list for a private event. I just kept showing up, playing the cards I was dealt, and God kept connecting the dots. This is way above our strategic plan. This is all God's work.
What's Next on the Agenda?
Q: Before we let you go, what are you heading into next?
Dr. Lightfoot: I'm actually on my way to a session right now on economic development in Africa, and I'm genuinely excited about it. By 2050, 25% of the global workforce will be located on the African continent. That's not a projection you can ignore. That's the future of global business.
And what makes it even more meaningful being here is that Mayor Andre Dickens is keenly aware of this. He wants Atlanta invested in that future growth. So the fact that we're here, at this table, in these conversations, as a company rooted in Atlanta, it just further confirms that we're exactly where we're supposed to be.
The coffee is already in the room. Now we make sure Atlanta is in the conversation.
Shoutouts
Dr. Lightfoot closed the interview by giving credit where it's due:
Dr. Lightfoot: First, I have to shout out our CEO. None of this is possible without the tone he sets. Nobody on this team is going to outwork him, and that go-get-it mentality filters through everything we do.
Second, the whole BCC team, Ayron, Tinesha, the crew at HQ, Morehouse, Grady, DMV, and Houston. None of this happens without everything running in harmony back home. And our mentors Tammy Dickerson of TBG Events and John Hope Bryant of Operation HOPE, we are grateful beyond words.
It's tough building a business at this scale while raising a family and growing together. The sacrifices of this team compound every single day and lead us right here, to moments like this.
Stay Connected
Visit us online at
theblackcoffeecompany.com and follow our teams across the country for the latest updates, pop-ups, and community moments.
Atlanta @BlackCoffeeAtlanta
Open seven days a week across three Atlanta locations: our main headquarters in Lakewood, our kiosk at Grady Memorial Hospital, and our campus cafe at Morehouse College. @BlackCoffeeMorehouse
DMV @BlackCoffeeDMV
Follow Dr. Leonard Lightfoot and the DC, Maryland, and Virginia team. Catch them at their weekly driveway pop-up in Fairfax, Virginia, biweekly pop-ups at Metro Bar in DC, and Faherty at Mosaic District.
Houston @BlackCoffeeHouston
Popping up all over the state of Texas. Follow along to find us near you.
Rooted in Legacy, Built for What's Next.
The Black Coffee Company | Atlanta, GA
Lakewood HQ | Morehouse College | Grady Memorial Hospital | Houston | DMV
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