Anika D. Grant
Founder + CEO, Idlewild Experiential
As the Founder + CEO of Idlewild Experiential, Anika launched the agency in 2018 to help brands build, market, and execute unforgettable and profitable live events and experiences to diverse audiences. Since then Idlewild has grown exponentially working with brands such as Disney, Coca-Cola, Gilead Sciences, Amazon, Prudential, Pintrest, Synchrony Bank and has been one of the few Black-owned agencies on the Event Marketer's Top 100 Agency List since 2020 and is has been recognized as one of the Top 10 Fastest Growing Agencies by Adweek.
In 2020, at the height of the George Floyd social justice movement, Anika and Idlewild launched the BEEM List (Black Event & Experiential Marketers) to create opportunities for Black entrepreneurs. The list started as a crowd-sourced Google spreadsheet with thousands of Black businesses and has evolved in 2024 to feature BIPOC vendors including Hispanic/Latino-owned companies as well as companies owned by entrepreneurs of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. In 2024, for Black Business Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, the 2024 BEEM List highlighted a targeted list of Idlewild-vetted vendors who have strong track records of delivering exceptional service to corporate partners. Additionally, Idlewild has supported these vendors through hosting BEEM Pop-Ups at an industry conferences where BEEM-List vendors get the opportunity to network, attend and meet potential clients or customers at different events. The initiative is about increasing visibility for minority-owned businesses and to foster meaningful connections and opportunities that might not otherwise be available. It is Anika’s hope that the BEEM List will be a valuable resource for corporate leaders who are looking to expand their supplier diversity pipeline.
Her experience in live events spans nearly two decades as a brand marketing and sponsorship executive in a diversity of industries including large-scale live events & festivals, music and entertainment, publishing, sports and non-profits. Prior to launching Idlewild she oversaw Sponsorship & Client Solutions for one of the largest live events in the U.S. - the ESSENCE Festival - which experienced exponential growth in sponsor revenue, audience size and impressions under her leadership. She has also held roles at Madison Square Garden, Jazz at Lincoln Center and New York City Ballet. Anika prides herself on building strong, innovative and diverse teams, managing complex executions and uncovering new business opportunities for live event properties to drive incremental revenue.