Icons, Rock Stars, & Innovators: Lincoln Stephens
What makes you an Innovator?
You’re not the problem, you’re the solution! You are traveling the roads not taken…being a pioneer of change…and fearlessly creating groundbreaking initiatives and solutions!
Lincoln Stephens is a former Advertising Account Management Executive (TracyLocke, Martin Retail, Carol H Williams Advertising, TPN, and Moroch) turned education advocate and social entrepreneur. In his professional career, Stephens has worked with top brands such as Frito Lay, Quaker, Pepsi, Cadillac, Hummer, Chevrolet, Western Union, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Lexus and Moet Hennessy USA.
Born in Dallas, Texas, Lincoln is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia where he received a Bachelor’s in Journalism with a focus in Strategic Communications and recently completed his Master’s Degree in Entertainment Business at Full Sail University.
He also has a passion for community organizing and fundraising. In that capacity, he has served as the Chicago & Dallas Street Team Leader for Rock The Vote, as well as an active leader & servant in a variety of organizations such as African American Leaders of Tomorrow, American Cancer Society-Relay for Life, Dallas Urban League Young Professionals, YMCA, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and is the current chair of the South Blvd Park Row Neighborhood Association.
In November 2008, he decided to quit his job to pursue his passion for mentorship and co-founded a nonprofit organization called the Marcus Graham Project. The organization which is focused on bringing more diversity to the advertising industry through mentorship, exposure, and career development, has been featured in Advertising Age, Black Enterprise Magazine, Savoy Magazine, and on CNN and NBC. Additionally, Lincoln has been acclaimed as one of Advertising Age’s top 40 marketing leaders under 40, Ebony Magazine’s top entrepreneurs under 34, the Dallas Business Journal’s Minority Business Leader Award, AT&T Game Changer, Adweek Rising Star Brand, and honored with the University of Missouri School of Journalism’s Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in the Media Industry.
Follow Lincoln on Meta, Instagram, and Twitter; find him on LinkedIn!
The ACNY Foundation is proud to recognize outstanding industry professionals, during our 4th Annual Black History Month recognition series titled, “Icons, Rock Stars & Innovators”.
It is our way of shining the spotlight on exemplary talent, integral to the evolution and growth of the advertising industry. Each day during Black History Month we profile a selected “Icon, Rock Star & Innovator” across all our digital platforms. Though we cannot be together in person, the spirit of our history and the legacy of our excellence lives on in us. Follow the series on Instagram, Meta, Twitter, and LinkedIn!
P.S. Check out our other content from previous years
2020 – Honorees
2019 – Sizzle Reel
2019 – Online Exhibition