Lincoln Stephens
CEO/Co-Founder and Man of Lesiure in Dallas, Texas
Lincoln Stephens is a former advertising agency account management executive turned talent advocate, D&I champion, and social entrepreneur. In his professional career, Stephens has worked with top brands such as PepsiCo, Cadillac, Hummer, Chevrolet, Western Union, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Lexus.
Born in Dallas, Texas, Lincoln is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia where he received a Bachelor’s in Journalism with a focus in Strategic Communications and recently completed his Master’s Degree in Entertainment Business at Full Sail University.
He also has a passion for community organizing and fundraising. In that capacity, he has served as the Chicago & Dallas Street Team Leader for Rock The Vote, as well as an active leader & servant in a variety of organizations such as African American Leaders of Tomorrow, American Cancer Society-Relay for Life, Dallas Urban League Young Professionals, YMCA, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and is the South Blvd Park Row Neighborhood Association.
In November 2008, he decided to quit his job to pursue his passion for mentorship and co-founded a nonprofit organization called the Marcus Graham Project. The organization which is focused on bringing more diversity to the media, marketing and advertising industry through mentorship, exposure, and career development, has been featured in Advertising Age, Black Enterprise Magazine, Savoy Magazine, and on CNN and NBC. The Marcus Graham Project was recently highlighted in Forbes Magazine, discussing the expansion of its efforts in an on-demand talent & resource platform, called Locomotus, also co-founded by Stephens.
Additionally, Lincoln has been acclaimed as one of Advertising Age's top 40 marketing leaders under 40, Ebony Magazine's top entrepreneurs under 34, the Dallas Business Journal's Minority Business Leader Award, AT&T Game Changer, Adweek Rising Star Brand, and the University of Missouri School of Journalism's coveted Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in the Media Industry.
Stephens is also the proud father of the nearly InstaFamous #MontgomeryJames, his 5-year old son.