Invest Fest 2026: A Movement of Unity, Wisdom, and Wealth

 Atlanta Mayor, Andre Dickens, stands with Invest Fest Co-Founder Troy Bilings and Rashad Bilal

Earn Your Leisure did it again. For five years now, Invest Fest has grown from a conference into a movement — and this year proved that the momentum is only building. As an independent media outlet, we intentionally seek out the stories that uplift our community, the ones the mainstream often overlooks. Invest Fest 2026 gave us no shortage of them.

It was a wonderful display of Unity and Leadership to see the Mayor of Atlanta stand shoulder to shoulder with entrepreneurs, investors, and everyday dreamers at Invest Fest this year. It was a reminder that when a city's leadership shows up for its people's economic growth, it sends a message far beyond the room: this work matters, and it is being seen.

Terrence J, Steve Harvey and Nick Cannon have an insightful conversation about business and mentorship.

Supporting one another is important.  This point was emphasized during Terrence J's discussion with Nick Cannon and Steve Harvey.  Nick Cannon praised Steve Harvey for giving him advice early on in his career.  Nick learned that you shouldn’t let someone control all your money. You sign the checks. You can build legacy. Legacy is what you have done for others and lineage is your family.

Ms. Business definitely deserves appreciation for the level of service she has provided at Invest Fest in the Vender’s Marketplace. The discussions and energy were so uplifting.   

Serena Williams brought both fire and wisdom to the stage, speaking directly to the importance of investing in Black female entrepreneurs. Her message went beyond capital — she spoke to mindset. Bettering yourself every day. Learning something new, whether it's a word or a language. Understanding that losing isn't the opposite of winning — it's part of how you learn to win. She reminded the room that every founder isn't meant to be a CEO, and that real growth means having the humility to bring in people more seasoned than yourself. It was a masterclass not just in business, but in self-belief — telling yourself you're great until, eventually, you believe it.

Dr. Yahki Awakened offered a message that stayed with the crowd long after he left the stage: your health is your first asset, and discipline is your first investment. He challenged attendees to think of their bodies the way they think of their businesses — as something entrusted to them, something to steward wisely. From the rhythms of the sunrise to the simple discipline of movement and hydration, his message was clear — wealth without health is incomplete. We know the words to the songs, he reminded us, but how many of us know the names of the bones that carry us through life?

19 Keys closed out Invest Fest with a word on intentionality that set the tone for everyone walking away from the weekend. He spoke to the value of independent media, the importance of building rather than merely consuming, and the power of a people who create what they want to see rather than waiting for permission. His challenge to the room was simple and direct: don't look at your phone before you look at the sun. Read. Meditate. Focus. Build.

Invest Fest keeps getting better — not just in scale, but in substance. Thirty thousand people didn't just gather this year; they left with tools, with challenges to grow, and with a renewed sense that unity and intentional building are the path forward.

To Troy Millings, Rashad Bilal, Michael J. MacDonald and the entire Earn Your Leisure team — keep up the great work!  I look forward to attending next year, God willing.  May I have a VIP upgrade?

(Edited by Dr. Audrey Muhammad. Virtue Today Magazine is an independent media company that proudly covers the stories that uplift and inform our community. Read more at VirtueTodayMag.com.)