This year's theme, "Vision," is highlighted by honoring legendary, iconic, African-American visionaries: Actor Diahann Carroll, Astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison and Combat Pilot Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour ~ Speaking Appearances by Gladys Knight, Joy-Ann Reid, Pauline Brown, Susan Fales-Hill, Anne Myong, Yara Shahidi and Yari Rodriguez ~ Performances by En Vogue, Freddie Jackson and Tasha Cobbs

(Black PR Wire) NEW YORK - May 26, 2016 - For the 17th year, an exclusive gathering of over 500 multicultural professional women from all over the country will convene at the 2016 Odyssey Network Business Retreat from May 31, 2016 - June 3, 2016 for four days of inspiration and personal development at the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach, FL.

Sponsored by Prudential, The Coca-Cola Co, Johnson & Johnson, Intel, LVMH, AT&T, Comcast NBCUniversal, EY, MARS and Walmart/Sams Club, this invitation and referral-only event - currently sold out - will feature a number of esteemed experts and leaders who will speak on this year’s theme of “Vision.” Several iconic “visionaries” will be honored during the program for their career achievements and cultural impact: actress Diahann Carroll (the first African-American actress on television), Dr. Mae Jemison (the first African-American female astronaut) and Dr. Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour (the first African-American female combat fighter pilot).

The purpose of the retreat is to encourage attendees -- mostly affluent, executive-level women professionals and entrepreneurs -- to explore solutions to work-life balance challenges, exchange ideas, connect with peers and most of all - relax!

Program highlights include: speaking appearances by “The Empress of Soul” Gladys Knight, MSNBC anchor Joy-Ann Reid and romance novelist Zane; “In His Footsteps,” a panel on activism and social justice moderated by Intel’s Rosalind Hudnell (Vice President, Human Resources and Director, Corporate Affairs) and featuring the daughters of historical giants Malcolm X (Ilyasah Shabazz), Reginald Lewis (Christine Lewis Halpern) and Henry Cardenas (Zaidy Cardenas); a panel on breaking into big box retail moderated by Anne Myong (SVP and Chief Financial Officer, Global eCommerce, Walmart); a discussion of “passion” and “purpose” with author/producer Susan Fales-Hill; a “Business of Millennials” roundtable featuring “Black-ish” actress Yara Shahidi, Yari Rodriguez (MIT researcher and Mars One Astronaut Candidate) and Sandra Simms-Williams (Chief Diversity Officer, PublicisGroupe), moderated by former LVMH CEO Pauline Brown (Professor, Harvard Business School); and sure to be unforgettable performances by legendary R&B group En Vogue, ”The Crooner” Freddie Jackson and gospel phenom Tasha Cobbs.

“I created the Odyssey Network Business Retreat 17 years ago because no one was telling the truth about what it was like to live in two worlds: your career world and your home world,” says Odyssey Media CEO and founder Linda Spradley Dunn. “I wanted to design a welcoming and luxurious environment where influential multicultural women executives, entrepreneurs and moms-in-chief could unwind, acknowledge their issues and be celebrated.”

She adds: “I couldn’t be more excited about this year’s retreat. We have put together a stunning lineup of activities and speakers who will inspire us with their own “vision” and empower us with the tools needed to plan for the future.”

For information on the Odyssey Network Business Retreat, visit www.odysseymc.com.

ABOUT ODYSSEY MEDIA
Odyssey Media is a marketing & communications company focused on connecting and empowering influential and affluent multicultural women around the world.

Odyssey’s unparalleled blend of conferences, business retreats, boot camps, philanthropy initiatives, digital forums, resources, adventure activities, and networking opportunities has helped us amass a database of thousands of women.

The Odyssey community includes: multicultural female corporate executives, attorneys, physicians, entrepreneurs, small business owners, educators, community leaders, spouses, retirees, and women in transition who are key decision makers and need to stay connected.

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