Entrepreneurship and accelerating a culture of lifelong learning within the career creator community are core to the American Influencer Council (AIC) mission and its membership. On June 30, 2020, amid the pandemic's height and on the 10th anniversary of Mashable's Global Social Media Day, the AIC launched as the sole 501(c)6 not-for-profit trade association dedicated to advocating for career creators.

The Council's Founder, Qianna Smith Bruneteau, formed the association with the support of 12 Founding Members, who set out to ensure influencers know their small business rights and have access to resources. To mark the occasion and to celebrate the Council's continued growth, AIC Members, partners, and friends gathered at Soho Works 55 Water in Dumbo, New York, for an evening of knowledge sharing and community on 'How to Grow Your Career Creator Brand: Diversify Your Income.'

From merchandise lines to co-branded products, podcasts, affiliates, NFTs, newsletters, and courses, our key opinion leaders (KOLs) on our panel dived into diversification as a growth strategy and why it is vital for an entrepreneur. Influencer content converges media, shopping, and entertainment. The creator-to-consumer brand narrative is more important than ever. Creators are taking the reins and diversifying their brands into products, services, and experiences. Sponsored content is one monetization option, and having a multi-channel digital presence is not optional.

MEET OUR KOLS Patrick Janelle, Founder of the talent agency Untitled Secret and AIC Board Chairman; Blair Breitenstein, illustrator, known as @blairz, 1989 Sisters NFT artist and AIC Art & Culture Committee Chair; Aisha Beau Frisbey, podcaster and self-care diversity advocate; and Tiffany M. Battle, fashion expert and digital curator of The Werk! Place. The AIC thanks #SohoWorks55Water for their collaboration to ensure creative professionals have a platform to be seen and heard.

Engage with us on Instagram @americaninfluencercouncil @creatorswithinfluence; Follow us on Twitter @aic_tweets @creatorswithinfl; Join us on TikTok @creatorswithinfluence. #CreatorswithInfluence