All three Black Paper Party co-founders, despite coming from varied backgrounds, possess the same passion for seeing a more open-minded world. After returning from her studies in Ghana, CEO Madia Willis launched her fashion line and was later employed at major companies such as Target and Walmart as a textile designer. Willis later transitioned into product development and management roles at Walmart and Five Below, where she further developed several home and seasonal brands.
Chief Creative Officer J'aaron Merchant has a wealth of experience in illustration and animation. Having graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a degree in animation, Merchant has worked as a character designer and storyboard artist for brands such as Sesame Street and Disney. Along with this, she has also done extensive volunteer work for organizations such as the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Havenwood.
Jasmine Hudson serves as Black Paper's Chief Merchant. Through her many endeavors in the e-commerce and supply management space, the Cincinnati native has strived to champion the voices of the Black community. Hudson spent almost a decade at Walmart in various merchandise and financial positions, handling portfolios worth more than $2.3 billion in annual revenue. During this time, she also drove key programming events and initiatives to encourage diversity and inclusion.
Willis met Merchant and Hudson among moving to Arkansas. The three wanted to find a way to combine their skills and soon discovered that African Americans spend 15% more during the holiday season than other demographics on average. Realizing the lack of inclusive seasonal brands on the market, the trio decided to go all-in on the venture and launched their business in September 2020.
