Darlene Gillard Jones

“[HER] notoriety flows not from being famous, but from a career spent in the backrooms and boardrooms where real power is found"

Darlene Gillard Jones is a dynamic, multi-hyphenate professional known for her results-driven approach and her ability to make things happen. With a career spanning media, PR, entertainment and entrepreneurship she has become the idea to execution force behind some of the most well-known brands and a trusted advisor to a who’s who of tech, fashion, politics, entertainment, business and fashion.

Darlene's journey began as an editor at fashion and lifestyle publications like Elle, W, and Essence Magazine, where she was first to showcase (then-nascent) European brands like Roberto Cavalli and Christian Louboutin in the US. Her leadership roles at media giants Fairchild Publications, Hachette Filipacchi Magazines, and Time Inc. cemented her reputation as a visionary and trendsetter.

Darlene later founded Gillard Jones Agency, a PR, marketing, and event planning firm specializing in fashion and entertainment. Her agency created strategic partnerships, generated exposure, and organized high-profile events for global clients such as the WNBA, eBay, Condé Nast, Disney, and The International Downtown Association.

Darlene's journey continued as co-founder of digitalundivided, a social enterprise dedicated to empowering Black and Latinx women startup founders and entrepreneurs. Serving as Senior Advisor, she played a pivotal role in expanding the organization to multiple cities and establishing signature programs like the BIG Incubator, the first tech incubator exclusively supporting Black and Latinx women founders of high-growth tech companies.

A sought-after public speaker, Darlene has graced the stage at Georgia Tech, the Grace Hopper Conference for Women in Computing and SXSW, sharing her expertise and insights. Her impact has garnered attention and mentions in The New York Times, as well as appearances on CBS, and NBC’s Today Show. Darlene has also been quoted in TechCrunch, Inc. magazine, and Business News Daily among other media outlets and publicaitons.

As the Executive Producer of the Build The Damn Thing podcast and the film "Athazagora," Darlene has earned recognition and awards, including the Best Screenplay at the Paramount Film Festival, the NY Screenwriters Awards, and The Webby Awards.

Darlene Gillard Jones continues to be a trailblazer, influencer, and force to be reckoned with, shaping the worlds of media, technology, and entertainment with her passion and innovation.