Maggie Anderson

Maggie Anderson is a lawyer, author, activist, and leading voice on economic justice and empowerment. She previously studied law under Barack Obama, served as a legislative aide to Congressman John Lewis, and worked as an executive at McDonald’s, reporting directly to the CEO. In 2009, Maggie and her family took a bold stand by pledging to “buy Black” exclusively for an entire year. "The Empowerment Experiment" was a deeply personal and challenging journey—her mother was battling terminal cancer, her family faced threats, and for months, they struggled to find essential goods from Black-owned businesses. Yet her efforts led to significant outcomes, including a landmark Kellogg study demonstrating that nearly one million jobs could be created with increased support for Black-owned firms. Major media outlets around the world covered their story, and it became a powerful symbol of both the challenges and the potential of Black entrepreneurship. Her book about the experience, Our Black Year: One Family’s Quest to Buy Black in America’s Racially Divided Economy, was widely praised, with Publishers Weekly calling it “dynamite” and Library Journal describing it as an “effective probe” into racial disparities in the economy. Anderson’s work has always been about bringing people together—she advocates economic solidarity not just for Black communities, but as a broader solution to racial and economic inequality. She believes that supporting entrepreneurs of color is a way for all people, regardless of background, to fight systemic injustice. A daughter of Cuban immigrants and a first-generation American, Maggie's perspective is shaped by her family’s story of resilience. While she champions Black business empowerment, she believes that supporting entrepreneurs of color is a solution to racial and economic inequality that benefits all communities. A compelling speaker, she urges conscious consumers and committed corporations to engage with Black professionals and firms that can create jobs, opportunities, and wealth. Maggie has appeared on CNN, The New York Times, and PBS NewsHour, where she highlights how economic injustice and the lack of Black business ownership destroy neighborhoods—and how economic unity can counter racism and inequality. For her sustained activism and powerful speeches, she has received numerous honors, proclamations, and awards from universities, corporations, municipalities, and rights groups, including the Partnership for a Racism-Free Society, BET, Harvard University, and New York Life. She was also named YWCA’s “Woman of the Year” two years in a row. She now extends her platform through The Maggie Anderson Show, where she hosts business leaders, experts, and changemakers to share stories of success and struggle for businesses and communities of color. Maggie continues to challenge audiences worldwide to rethink economic equity, collective empowerment, and the role each of us can play in building a more just and prosperous society.