From the Yard to the World: Spelmanite Alex Ebanks Continues To "Make The Choice To Change The World" With ESSENCE

Written By: Dani Canada

"The world is your oyster" often feels cliché for students entering the workforce, but for Alex Ebanks, a sagacious Spelmanite, it’s a rite of passage. She believes in showing people your dreams through your actions. As the Vice President of Communications at ESSENCE Ventures, Ebanks realized the power of this philosophy amid her extensive work in public relations, where fellow Spelmanites have played integral roles. "It's such a family," she told OffTheYard.Net about Spelman's vast community of excelling Black women. "The [Spelman] network includes amazing women doing incredible things, like being the CEOs of major companies. This support system is unique and instrumental in our professional and personal lives."

Ebanks’ journey with Spelman began in middle school when she fell in love with the campus during a visit. Determined to make her HBCU dream a reality, she dedicated her high school years to building an outstanding application and making connections. Her hard work paid off, and upon enrolling, she dove into various activities including the Student Government Association, the NAACP chapter, and the PR Society, eventually becoming its president her senior year. She also expanded her academic experience by taking classes at neighboring Morehouse and Clark Atlanta and joined Greek life through the Mu Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

"My top moment was crossing [AKA] at Spelman, which opened up numerous doors for me," Ebanks said about the "incredibly competitive" experience that taught her the "art of going after what she wants." "That drive has been crucial in my career," she added.

Ebanks' career blossomed as she developed and executed global brand strategies and high-profile media campaigns for companies like Coca-Cola and Microsoft, and now ESSENCE, where she fulfills her passion to tell the stories of Black people and make a difference. At ESSENCE, she impacts African-American women by bringing them into the fold of the No. 1 media, technology, and commerce company dedicated to Black women and communities.

"I created a communications team and got to hire young Black women, grooming them to continue to be the next generation," she proudly told OffTheYard. "I've really had my voice heard in a way that honestly, I've never had happen at any of the other organizations in my entire career. As I got added responsibilities, it showed just how much they trust me and trust what I have to say."

Now fully established in her role and backed by the confidence of her superiors, she aims to make the 30th annual ESSENCE Festival of Culture an unforgettable experience. "There's been a group of us working on the 30th for over a year, talking about milestone moments that are part of the culture and thinking about how we as a trusted brand can bring those moments to life like nobody else," she told OffTheYard. "And that's something I'm really proud of."

Ebanks also beams with pride over her work connecting her employer with her HBCU through a November chief-to-chief conversation between Caroline Wanga, President & Chief Executive Officer of ESSENCE Ventures, and Spelman President Dr. Helene D. Gayle.

"It was an amazing experience to bring such an opportunity to the campus, directly impacting young women," she told OffTheYard. "It was women talking to women, and after the bigger moment, we had a more intimate discussion, getting to talk one-on-one and pour into students. That was probably my favorite thing I've done in my whole career because it was impactful and touched these young women on a granular level."