Meet Our Founder: Jovanca Maitland
With over 20 years of expertise, Maitland has created brand experiences for clients including Nike, L'Oréal, Disney, Walmart, Target and Ford as ESSENCE's Live Events & Experiential Director; where she oversaw signature events such as ESSENCE Festival, Black Women In Hollywood, Black Women In Music, and Fashion House.
A recipient of LASSO’s ‘Top 50 Women In Events’ 2019 Award, Maitland was recognized for breaking through the industry’s glass ceiling and paving the way for a more diverse and equal landscape. In 2020, Maitland was named to Eventex’s ‘Top 100 Most Influential People in the Event Industry’, a list recognizing professionals for their creativity, vision, and capacity for innovation. She has served as a judge for industry campaigns such as the REGGIE Awards and Eventex Global Awards.
She is an Allied Industry Council Member of The National Society of Black Wedding and Event Professionals, and a member of the East Brunswick Regional Chamber of Commerce in New Jersey.
Often a guest speaker at The Fashion Institute of Technology, Association of National Advertisers, The Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network Summer Academy, and the GirlBoss Rally NYC, Maitland credits her first career in the fashion industry as an executive with Saks Fifth Avenue and Macy’s as the foundation for her success.
“On behalf of The WEEN Academy, we would like to thank Jovanca for her mentorship. Her efforts to encourage the participants to follow their dreams and goals are truly appreciated. It was an honor to have her speak and take time out of her busy life to empower, inspire and impact the WEEN women.”
