**Celebrating Creativity and Innovation: Earn Your Masters Redefines Black Excellence at Art Basel Miami 2024**
Art Basel Miami Beach, a global showcase for contemporary art and culture, took on a transformative dimension on December 5, 2024, when it became the stage for a monumental event at Freehold Studios: the Earn Your Masters finale. Created through a visionary partnership between UnitedMasters, Ally Bank, and the financial literacy pioneers behind the Earn Your Leisure podcast, the evening served as both a celebration and a call to action, spotlighting Black innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
For attendees, this event was more than just an artistic gathering—it was a movement. As one participant put it, “This wasn’t just about displaying talent; it was about activating potential.” Against the backdrop of Art Basel Miami, Earn Your Masters made a bold statement that creativity and empowerment are deeply interconnected.
### Driving Empowerment Through Earn Your Masters
The Earn Your Masters initiative is rooted in a singular goal: empowerment through access and education. In a world where systemic barriers often restrict opportunities for marginalized communities, events like these create crucial pathways for voices that deserve to be heard. UnitedMasters founder Steve Stoute articulated this vision succinctly:
*”This isn’t just about art or entrepreneurship—it’s about making sure that creators, especially Black creators, aren’t just participants in culture but leaders of it.”*
UnitedMasters has long been dedicated to giving artists more than just a platform—it equips them with the tools, control, and autonomy needed to shape their careers. Alongside Earn Your Leisure co-founders Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, Steve Stoute added new energy to Miami’s creative ecosystem, proving that cultural expression and financial literacy can work hand in hand to drive impactful change.
### A Moment for Innovation: Jeff Darko and Mixplug
The highlight of the night was undoubtedly the announcement of **Jeff Darko**, founder of the startup **Mixplug**, as the winner of the $50,000 seed funding award. Mixplug’s revolutionary mission—to democratize music production using AI-driven mixing and mastering—struck a chord with judges and attendees alike.
“Music should be accessible to everyone, not just those with access to expensive studios—Mixplug is making that possible,” Darko shared in his acceptance speech, encapsulating the broad impact of his vision.
But the prize was more than just financial support. Darko will also gain mentorship from prominent figures in the industry such as Stoute and key executives like Ally Bank’s Bridget Sponsky. Reflecting on the evening, Darko remarked, “It’s one thing to have a vision, but it’s another to have people invest in that vision with belief.” His words underscored the transformative energy of the night—a safe space where ideas didn’t just take flight but gained momentum.
### Vital Dialogues for Cultural Change
Earn Your Masters wasn’t only about technological or entrepreneurial triumphs—it also created a stage for vital cultural conversations. In a dynamic keynote “Mogul Talk,” Drink Champs podcast hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN discussed the importance of building a legacy that goes beyond financial aspirations. Their insights galvanized attendees to think deeply about the long-term influence of their endeavors.
Additionally, a powerful panel discussion, “Creating Cultural Capital in Women’s Sports,” featured WNBA superstars Breanna Stewart and Renee Montgomery. Their conversation shed light on both the challenges and opportunities that come with elevating women athletes as leaders in sports and business. Stewart delivered a moving statement during the session: *“It’s not just about winning trophies—it’s about creating spaces where women feel celebrated, not sidelined.”*
These discussions reinforced the evening’s overarching theme: that creativity, business, and equality can evolve together when the right platforms are provided.
### Building a Legacy of Progress
As vibrant sounds from DJ-led celebrations curated by 99 Jamz personality K.Foxx filled the venue, one thing was clear: Earn Your Masters was more than an event. It was a beacon of lasting progress. By empowering Black entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators, the initiative sent a powerful message—creativity is a gateway to opportunity.
UnitedMasters, Earn Your Leisure, and Ally Bank set the stage for this transformation, but the movement goes far beyond one night. As Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings prepare to release their book, *You Deserve to Be Rich*, in early 2025, their mission to make financial literacy accessible to all remains unwavering. Together, they are redefining what it means to build cultural and economic capital within marginalized communities.
Jeff Darko’s Mixplug is just the beginning. The connections formed that night and the ideas sparked will undoubtedly ripple far beyond Miami. Earn Your Masters showed us that when creativity meets opportunity, true progress becomes not just possible—but inevitable.
