NORFOLK, Va. — Virginia Beach native and Grammy Award-winning musician Pharrell Williams is bringing the first-of-its-kind business forum to Hampton Roads. Plans are moving forward for Mighty Dream Forum, coming up in just a few weeks. It'll bring together business leaders and young people from Hampton Roads and around the world.
The event is expected to draw hundreds of people downtown and to the Neon District for a business block party. But it's not just a party—it's a chance for people to bounce ideas off each other to improve business, thus improving the economy.
The three-day event, which includes live music and food, kicks off on Nov. 1.
Virginia Beach resident Nadia Sertyurek is hoping to attend. Her family owns Phone Repair Guy, a small phone business in Norfolk and Virginia Beach.
“There’s so many benefits of connecting with other small businesses, whether it’s marketing or even just referring,” Sertyurek said.
The Mighty Dream Forum is partnering with about a dozen different venues that will be spread throughout downtown Norfolk and the Neon District.
Pharrell is hosting the event. The business mogul’s team said he is expected to be there.
Mighty Dream is a springboard to Pharrell’s Elephant in the Roombusiness conference last year. It shares the same idea of unity at his Something in the Water music festival.
Robby Wells, the executive producer of Mighty Dream, said this year’s event is more than just a forum. It’s an opportunity for all walks of life to connect and share ideas about doing business in a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable way.
“They're designed to uplift, elevate and inspire, not only with the content that happens at that particular event, but the very presence of that event within the community is a signal to the community that things are happening here,” Wells said.
The event is already creating a lot of buzz.
"I think it’s great. I am super excited to hopefully participate being that my family is also a small biz owner," said Sertyurek, who works in Norfolk. "I would love to see more events like this. I think Norfolk needs it and it's going to absolutely benefit because it’s a beautiful city, lots of history."
Organizers are hoping to make Mighty Dream a yearly event.
"I think it’ll bring people together and that’s always a great thing," Sertyurek said.
Click or tap here for more information about the event schedule and tickets.
