Kandi Burruss is still collecting accolades three decades into her career. The Atlanta-born singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star was honored this afternoon at the third annual ForbesBLK Summit, where she received Forbes’ Bernard Osei Creative Icon Award.
Kandi Burruss Reflects on Her Journey at ForbesBLK Summit
The honor marked just the second time the award has been presented—following producer Mike WiLL Made-It’s recognition last year. Kandi took the stage for the event’s final panel, “The Kandi Burruss Experience: A Fireside Chat with a Creative Icon,” moderated by Jabari Young, senior writer and editorial lead for Forbes BLK.
“I feel like this year has been transitional,” Kandi shared. “I started the year off on fire… everything was on point, and then somewhere around six or seven months in, I was like, ‘Wait, what is going on? What is life?’ But now I feel like I’m getting back to my best self.”
She looked back at her Atlanta upbringing, recalling memories of “Mama Joyce,” church conventions, and driving by gated neighborhoods she dreamed of one day living in. “The neighborhood I live in is one of the neighborhoods I used to drive past every day that we couldn’t get in because of the gate,” she said.
When asked to describe her career in one word, she didn’t hesitate: “Rollercoaster.” From Xscape and Grammy wins to Bravo stardom and Broadway, Kandi has seen incredible highs and some tough dips.
She also reflected on her entrepreneurial path, calling the restaurant industry her biggest challenge. “It depends so much on the people that are working for you, and since COVID, it’s been high turnover,” she said. Still, she’s proud of what she’s built: “My goal was to one day be able to say I employed at least 100 people—and I did that.”
Three decades in, Kandi is still evolving. As she told the crowd, “I’m always working on my next move while I’m on my current move.”
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