Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Media And Speaking Engagements
Authorship
Timeline
Generic

Leonard E. Burnett, Jr.

Miami ,FL

Summary

Dynamic and visionary media entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience launching and scaling influential media brands and companies. A trailblazer in multicultural marketing, digital advertising, and content creation, with a proven track record of building platforms that amplify underserved voices while driving significant business growth. A sought-after speaker, author, and strategic thinker who brings a unique combination of entrepreneurial innovation, operational leadership, and deep cultural insight to every venture. Passionate about developing sustainable media ecosystems that empower communities and generate impact at scale.

Overview

32
32
years of professional experience

Work History

Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer

Hero Media
01.2019 - Current
  • Launched a next-generation ad tech and content company focused on reaching multicultural audiences through data-powered digital media, influencer marketing, and branded content.
  • Developed and launched HERO ONE, the industry’s first AI and culture-powered programmatic advertising DSP designed to reach the next generation of consumers with over 300 million impressions per month.
  • Scaled revenue to over $15 million by building strategic partnerships with brands, agencies, and publishers focused on cultural authenticity and measurable outcomes.
  • Led cross-functional teams spanning sales, strategy, media planning, and product development to deliver best-in-class marketing solutions.
  • Curated digital-first campaigns that integrate display, CTV, social, and experiential activations.

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Homestead Entertainment
01.2018 - Current
  • Founded a full-service independent distribution and production company focused on film and television content created by and for multicultural audiences.
  • Oversees a library of 800+ films across multiple genres, distributed on AVOD platforms including Tubi, Peacock, and more.
  • Built strategic partnerships with filmmakers and financiers to fund, produce, and distribute original content with global appeal.
  • Developed and scaled a micro-budget film model for urban content, enabling underrepresented creators to gain visibility and monetize their work.
  • Manages licensing, acquisitions, and sales operations for digital distribution and physical media.

Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer

Uptown Media Ventures
01.2004 - Current
  • Co-founded one of the most iconic luxury lifestyle media brands targeting affluent African American consumers.
  • Built the UPTOWN 360 Experience, an integrated media platform that spans digital, social, print, influencer, and live event channels.
  • Directed sales and revenue strategy, creating major sponsorships with brands such as Lexus, Moët Hennessy, Diageo, Cadillac, and Northwestern Mutual.
  • Produced premium events including Uptown Honors Hollywood, Uptown House at Martha’s Vineyard, and the Uptown Vineyard experience.
  • Helped reshape multicultural marketing by aligning premium content with high-net-worth African American lifestyle interests.

Co-Founder & President, Advertising & Sales

Vanguarde Media
01.1999 - 01.2003
  • Co-founded and served as revenue lead for Vanguarde Media, a pioneering Black-owned media company that launched iconic publications such as Savoy, Honey, and Heart & Soul.
  • Raised capital, assembled a national sales team, and established key advertising relationships with Fortune 500 brands.
  • Played a critical role in shaping editorial and brand voice to reflect and celebrate Black excellence and urban sophistication.
  • Drove early conversations around the economic power of multicultural audiences and helped redefine urban media strategy for major marketers.

Launch Team & VP of Sales

Vibe Magazine
01.1993 - 01.1999
  • Original member of the launch team for Vibe Magazine, founded by Quincy Jones in partnership with Time Inc.
  • Developed and executed national advertising and sponsorship strategies that generated over $40 million in annual revenue within four years.
  • Pioneered integrated advertising packages across print, events, and branded experiences long before they became industry standard.
  • Cemented Vibe’s position as a cultural authority by working closely with entertainment, fashion, automotive, and beverage brands to align with hip-hop’s explosive rise in the ‘90s.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Business and Industry

Florida A&M University (FAMU)

Skills

  • Entrepreneurship & Venture Creation
  • Multicultural Marketing Strategy
  • Digital Media & Ad Tech Platforms
  • Revenue Growth & Business Development
  • Strategic Brand Partnerships & Sponsorships
  • Content Development & Experiential Programming
  • Film/TV Distribution & Executive Production
  • Influencer, CTV, OLV & Programmatic Media
  • Team Leadership & Executive Management
  • Fundraising, Scaling & Investor Relations

Media And Speaking Engagements

  • Featured speaker and panelist at ANA, Black Enterprise, AdWeek, CultureCon, Cannes Lions, and more.
  • Regularly featured in media discussing trends in culture, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
  • Contributor to conversations on the future of Black media, ownership, and audience representation.

Authorship

Co-Author, Black is the New Green: Marketing to Affluent African Americans, Palgrave Macmillan, 2009, One of the first books to address the buying power of upscale Black consumers and provide strategic guidance for marketers looking to reach this influential demographic.

Timeline

Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer

Hero Media
01.2019 - Current

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Homestead Entertainment
01.2018 - Current

Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer

Uptown Media Ventures
01.2004 - Current

Co-Founder & President, Advertising & Sales

Vanguarde Media
01.1999 - 01.2003

Launch Team & VP of Sales

Vibe Magazine
01.1993 - 01.1999

Bachelor of Science - Business and Industry

Florida A&M University (FAMU)

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