The ESSENCE Festival^® presented by Coca-Cola^® announces the expansion of its Money & Power Expo into a weekend-long conference, entitled Path To Power, during the daytime programming taking place June 30–July 2, 2017, on the second floor of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA.

Free and open to the public, the  weekend-long conference will offer daily general sessions, 40+ workshop style intensives and networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and business professionals at all career levels. Confirmed speakers include: Carla Harris, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley; Lisa Price, Founder of Carol’s Daughter; Master P, Founder of P. Miller Enterprises;  Jessica O. Matthews, Founder & CEO, Uncharted Play, and Bari A. Williams, Head of North American Business Operations at StubHub.

This year’s topics will include the following:

• Creating Your Value Proposition & Marketing Your Brand
• Small Biz Tech Start Up Kit
• Doing Business With Corporate America
• The Power of the Pivot: Knowing When It’s Time to Change Direction
• Developing a Profitable and Sustainable Business Model
• Innov8HER: Transforming Tech through the Federal Government
• Using Technology To Grow Your Business

Programming partners for the 2017 ESSENCE Festival^® Path To Power Conference include Time Inc., the Minority Business Development Association, National Minority Supplier Development Council, National Urban League, United States Black Chamber, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and #YesWeCode. Sponsors include State Farm Bank.

Registration for the 2017 ESSENCE Festival^® Path To Power Conference is now live!  Download the 2017 Essence Festival App to register for the Path To Power Conference today.

For more information about the ESSENCE Festival^®, visit http://www.essence.com/festival/pathtopower