Cedric the Entertainer has built a career at the intersection of entertainment, entrepreneurship, and cultural storytelling. From executive producing Kings of BBQ and building AC Barbeque into a lifestyle brand rooted in Black excellence, to launching Setta Wines with philanthropy at its core, Cedric has approached brand-building as an extension of purpose. This conversation explores what it takes to build businesses that do more than sell products, using storytelling, culture, and community to create lasting connection. From brand partnerships to mission-driven growth, Cedric shares lessons on building with authenticity, intention, and impact.
Cedric 'The Entertainer' is an EP, actor, comedian, and entrepreneur with a 30 year career. Known for The Neighborhood, Barbershop, and The Original Kings of Comedy, he's currently starring on Broadway in August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. In 2023, he released his debut novel, Flipping Boxcars, for Amistad Press HarperCollins. He is the co-founder of AC BBQ, with his partner Anthony Anderson, and the founder of Setta Wines.
Abby Phillip
Moderator (CNN Anchor, NewsNight with Abby Phillip)
Abby Phillip anchors CNN’s NewsNight with Abby Phillip and Table for Five. She was previously their senior political correspondent and anchor of Inside Politics Sunday. Phillip joined the network in 2017 and served as a White House Correspondent through 2019. She has been an essential player in CNN’s special coverage of a range of political events, including election nights, State of the Union Addresses and the January 6th Committee hearings. Prior to joining CNN, Phillip worked at The Washington Post, ABC News, and POLITICO. She was named to the TIME100 Next list in 2021 and has been the recipient of awards from the National Urban League, the Gracie Awards, and the News and Documentary Emmy Awards. She was raised in Bowie, Maryland, and is a graduate of Harvard University with a degree in government. When not on television, Phillip spends time with her husband, daughter, and their pup, Booker T.
