Chanise Robinson is the founder of the OOO Connect Summit. The event began as a cross-company ERG (employee resource group) convening, designed to bring Black and POC professionals together to share real-life working examples of how inclusion, innovation and culture-driven initiatives were being built and successfully scaled inside their organizations. Rooted in the idea that culture and success do not have a single uniform, the summit has since evolved into a cross-industry gathering for professionals, founders and creators while staying grounded in its original mission of community and access. Now in its third year, with growing attendance, expanded programming and new AI-powered experiences, Robinson continues to choose New York City as the home for her rapidly growing platform. Read on to learn more about Robinson’s vision for the summit’s next chapter.
Chanise Robinson, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings
What was the goal of OOO Connect Summit, and how did it develop to where it is now?
Chanise Robinson: The goal was simple but ambitious: give attendees tangible case studies they could take back to their companies and use to champion change with credibility and data.
After producing the first summit, it became clear that the model worked but could go further. We expanded beyond ERGs to include professionals more broadly, deepening the case studies and breakout sessions so attendees weren’t just inspired, but were equipped with tools they could immediately implement.
Now, as we approach our third year, OOO Connect has evolved into a multidisciplinary summit serving professionals, founders and creators. The through line has stayed the same: moving people from inspiration to implementation while keeping culture as the anchor of everything we do.
How much has OOO Connect grown since your first event?
CR: From an attendance standpoint, growth has been intentional and significant. Our first summit was hosted on Amazon Studio’s campus in Culver City, California, and attendance was capped at 150. We opened the after-party to welcome the individuals from our waitlist and drew over 500 people. In year two, we hosted the summit at Convene near One World Trade Center in NYC, welcoming 500 attendees during the day and more than 1,000 people at our after-party at Musica.
From a concept standpoint, the evolution has been just as meaningful. Year one centered on ERGs. Year two expanded the scope. Year three brings together professionals, founders and creators under one roof while staying grounded in our four pillars: community, career, culture and commerce.
This year, we’re also leaning heavily into AI and practical execution. Attendees won’t just hear ideas; they’ll leave with playbooks, demos, strategies and road maps they can apply immediately.
What made you bring the OOO Connect Summit to NYC?
CR: We made the decision to move OOO Connect from Los Angeles to New York City because NYC is where culture, innovation and industry intersect at scale, and our community was asking for it. The feedback from our NYC audience was clear, and the decision felt natural. As a global hub for talent across tech, media, finance and the creative industries, New York City embodies the pillars the summit is built on.
NYC is a city where movements start, ideas spread and culture shifts. It’s the perfect backdrop for a summit designed to turn conversation into action.
What makes the Marriott Marquis the perfect location for the 2026 Summit?
CR: The New York Marriott Marquis sits at the heart of the City’s energy and accessibility. Its central location makes it easy for both local attendees and those traveling in, and it’s convenient to many of our corporate partners’ offices.
The venue reflects the scale, ambition and dynamism of where the summit is headed and offers the infrastructure needed to support meaningful programming, high-impact networking and memorable experiences.
What should guests be most excited about for this year’s summit?
CR: They should be excited about the caliber of speakers, the relevance of the content and the intentionality behind the experience. Each year, we stay closely attuned to cultural shifts and what our audience is navigating in real time. This year is no exception.
VIP ticket holders can also look forward to enhanced benefits, including curated on-site connection recommendations, highlighting up to 10 people they should meet during the summit. This takes the guesswork out of networking and helps attendees build meaningful, aligned connections with ease.
Chanise Robinson and Ms. Tina Knowles
Any special guests that you can share?
CR: In years past, we’ve had the honor of welcoming speakers such as Ms. Tina Knowles, Earn Your Leisure, Alphonso David and Miles “Deuce” McBride, along with live performances by Eric Bellinger and Jim Jones.
While we’re not quite ready to announce this year’s lineup, we can share that we’re curating another top-tier roster of speakers and special guests. The bar remains high.
We recommend subscribing to our newsletter and following us on Instagram for first access to speaker and guest reveals.
Are most of your attendees based in NYC or traveling in from elsewhere?
CR: Our audience is truly national, but OOO Connect is a destination summit with a strong local heartbeat. Roughly 50 percent of attendees are NYC-based; the rest travel from cities like Seattle, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Chicago, Atlanta and Houston.
Courtesy, Tatiana by Kwame Onwuachi
You come to NYC often. What are your favorite neighborhoods or spots—and why?
CR: Tatiana is hands down one of my favorite restaurants in the City. It’s where I took my team for our celebration dinner during last year’s summit. I also love Lillistar, Record Room and DUMBO House.
What have been your biggest challenges with the Summit to date?
CR: Like many live experiences, fundraising has been the biggest challenge, especially amid shifts in the economic climate and corporate budgets. That said, we’re proud to share that we already have early commitments from partners including Google, Uber, Shea Moisture, Levi’s and Spotify.
These partnerships signal strong momentum, and we’re optimistic about the opportunities ahead as more brands look to engage audiences through culture-forward, impact-driven experiences.
Chanise Robinson
How do you see the Summit continuing to grow?
CR: This year, we’re projecting attendance to exceed 1,000 people, and that’s just the beginning. Long term, the vision is to grow OOO Connect into a cultural tentpole on the scale of festivals where talent, attendance and content continue to deepen and expand year over year.
We’re incredibly excited about what’s ahead and about welcoming the next wave of attendees, partners and collaborators to New York City.
Get your tickets to OOO Connect Summit 2026 here.