By Hazel Scott/ASU
Alumnus Courtney Stewart, founder and CEO of Right Hand Co., Right Hand Foundation and The Network ATL, is once again “Coming Back to Give Back” to his beloved alma mater, Alabama State University.
Stewart, who’s best known for discovering and developing multi-platinum-selling, award-winning, global superstar Khalid, will deliver the keynote speech at ASU’s 123rd Founders’ Day celebration on Friday, February 3, at 11 a.m. The virtual ceremony can be viewed at facebook.com/asu.
The 50 Under 50 member, who is a former communications major, is committed to supporting his alma mater; he recently donated $100,000 to create scholarships for communications students and to help make enhancements to ASU’s communications department.
President Quinton T. Ross, Jr. said the University is thrilled to have a Founders’ Day speaker of Stewart's caliber to help honor the University’s resilience and leadership over the past 155 years.
“We are looking forward to hearing from Mr. Stewart, who is one of our esteemed alumni. He is a laudable representative of the thousands of graduates who have been prepared by this institution to be successful and to make a difference in their communities and in the world. We invite all of Hornet Nation to join in the virtual Founders’ Day Convocation and commemorate the legacy of those who paved the way for our great University,” said Ross.
Founders’ Day activities can be found on ASU’s website starting next week.
About the Speaker
As founder of Right Hand Co., Right Hand Foundation and co-founder of Keep Cool Records, Stewart leverages a 360-degree approach to all aspects of his business and philanthropy.
By sharing a similar spirit and vision to the clients, projects and causes he supports, the artist manager, record label executive, tech investor, real estate developer and humanitarian maximizes opportunity for success from all angles. This ability to align and collaborate closely with artists not only fostered the breakout of multi-platinum, global superstar Khalid, but it also cemented Stewart among the industry’s leaders recognized on Billboard’s prestigious “40 Under 40,” Variety’s 2018 and 2019 “Hitmakers” list, and Billboard’s 2020 “Power List.”
Stewart is a founding member and serves on the board for the Black Music Action Coalition, an advocacy organization of artists, managers, lawyers and music executives whose mission is to eradicate systemic racism within the music industry and society.
Under Stewart’s management, Khalid has received multiple accolades, including winning six Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist, Spotify’s most streamed artist in the world in 2019 and named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2019.
Stewart has built an impressive career beyond the music industry. As an Atlanta native, he has invested in real estate throughout Atlanta to support revitalization. His development projects include dozens of single and multi-family homes, as well as The Network ATL, a premiere event space in the city.
Additionally, he founded Right Hand Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that provides single mothers and children with free housing, educational programs and resources that support long-term success and independent sustainability. His charitable outreach in Atlanta has been longstanding and has provided a wide range of support impacting hundreds of families across the metro area.
Stewart is committed to the advancement of HBCUs and was honored with an Alabama State University 50 Under 50 alumni award as a donor, advisory committee member, and ambassador of the University. Stewart often does speaking and panel engagements with campuses across the country to inspire the next generation of leaders.
As an entrepreneur, Stewart believes in the power of new ideas. In 2021, he partnered with startup accelerator Techstars Music. Along with its member companies, Techstars Music commits capital for underrepresented tech founders and is committed to having 50 percent of program CEOs being diverse with a particular focus on Black, LGBTQ, and female founders. As a Techstars Music partner, Stewart helps foster innovation and advance ideas that promote positive social and economic change for communities around the world.
Stewart is a music industry, business and community leader with a passion for connecting culture and community to drive success.
“Success comes from sharing a common vision and goal,” he explains. “When I align with a client or a charity, we’ve got to be in sync and share the same passion and drive. When those two things come together, greatness is inevitable,” he explained.