Mosaic method Agency Founder Keisha McCotryMosaic method Agency
The wealth gap in the US is at an all time high and without proper exposure and education to AI tools and other growing technologies the Black community is on a trajectory of missing out on significant generational wealth building potential. In many industries from marketing and manufacturing to education, AI remains a topic of skepticism to either fear or embrace. Keisha McCotry, owner of Mosaic Method Agency, is pushing to rebrand AI within the Black community from another media buzzword to a tool that can be used for entrepreneurship and everyday community activities. This AI-based agency is creating avenues for Black professionals and entrepreneurs to adopt the increasing number of AI tools available and use them to their advantage.
Keisha sat for an interview to discuss AI, its role within the Black community and how her Agency is changing the narrative and making this technology more accessible. Keisha McCotry is the founder of Mosaic Method Agency, a marketing and PR executive with over 20 years of experience. Recognized as one of the Top 10 Black AI Communicators by the Black Tech Public Relations Society and a featured main-stage speaker at the prestigious Black is Tech Conference. She has lead campaigns for Ernst & Young, Apple, McDonald’s, Netflix, American Express, Amazon, P&G, Snapchat, Universal Pictures, Disney, and Hulu.
Why AI Adaption Lags In Black Communities
Many Black neighborhoods across the US are plagued by inadequate access to high-speed internet which is just one pain point in a growing web of systematic barriers distancing young Black students from cutting-edge technologies like AI ultimately making them irrelevant and out of reach.
Keisha recognizes that these disparities do not exist in a vacuum and is using the hurdles of underfunded schools, and digital redlining as an all-to-action to fill in the gap. Rather than waiting, Mosaic Method Agency is bringing AI education to trusted pillars within the Black community.
Stephanie Tharpe: What historical or systemic factors do you believe contribute to the slower adoption of AI in Black communities, and how can we begin to dismantle those barriers?
Keisha McCotry: The roots of AI adoption disparities run deep into systemic inequities that have historically impacted Black communities. While many focus solely on the current digital divide, we must acknowledge the cascading effects of underfunded schools, limited STEM exposure, and digital redlining that have left many Black neighborhoods without adequate internet infrastructure. These aren’t just barriers to AI adoption—they’re manifestations of broader systemic challenges that have kept transformative technologies out of reach.
At the Mosaic Method Agency, we’re taking a ground-up approach to dismantling these barriers. Rather than waiting for traditional tech education to reach our communities, we’re creating our own pathways. We are working on partnering strategically with HBCUs, churches, and community centers—trusted institutions that have historically been catalysts for change in Black communities. By bringing AI literacy programs directly into these spaces, we’re not just teaching technology; we’re building trust and showing that AI can be a tool for community empowerment.
Stephanie Tharpe: How can cultural context influence how AI is introduced and adopted in underrepresented communities? Are there specific narratives or examples that resonate more deeply?
Keisha McCotry: Cultural context isn’t just important—it’s essential for meaningful AI adoption in Black communities. When we frame AI through the lens of entrepreneurship, generational wealth building, and creative expression, we see immediate shifts in engagement and understanding. Our community doesn’t need another tech tutorial; we need to see how AI can amplify our existing strengths and traditions of innovation.
The most powerful resonance comes from practical, tangible examples. When we show how a local beauty salon owner uses AI to personalize customer experiences, or how a fashion designer leverages generative AI to compete with major brands while maintaining cultural authenticity—that’s when eyes light up. These aren’t just success stories; they’re blueprints for possibility that speak directly to our community’s entrepreneurial spirit.
Stephanie Tharpe: What are the risks of not addressing the tech literacy gap in Black communities as AI continues to reshape industries, and how can we accelerate closing that gap?
Keisha McCotry: If we don’t address the tech literacy gap, Black communities risk being sidelined in the next industrial revolution. With 24% of Black workers in highly automatable jobs, compared to 20% of White workers, our community is disproportionately vulnerable to job displacement. The gap could widen existing wealth disparities, locking us out of opportunities in AI-driven industries.
We can close this gap by prioritizing culturally relevant education, creating accessible pathways into AI, and offering mentorship to inspire confidence. Mosaic Method accelerates this through partnerships, hands-on training, and showing how AI is a tool for empowerment, not exclusion.
Future Proofing Careers: AI as a Catalyst
A common fear amongst Americans particularly Black Americans is AI’s potential to take jobs through automation. From Keisha’s standpoint the conversation needs to change from viewing AI as a career displaced to recognizing it as a “ Career amplifier.” AI should be used as a creative collaborator within Black businesses. For instance a hairstylist can use AI to forecast style trends and advertising and Black professionals can elevate existing skills with data driven insights, and automation. Mosaic Method Agency aims to demystify AI by making it relevant and tangible.
Stephanie Tharpe: Beyond automation, how do you see AI transforming traditional career paths, particularly for Black professionals who may not have access to tech-heavy roles?
Keisha McCotry: We need to shift the narrative from AI as a job replacer to AI as a career amplifier. What excites me is how AI is democratizing access to advanced capabilities that were once gatekept by large corporations or expensive education. A freelance writer can now compete with major marketing agencies using AI tools for content strategy. A small accounting firm can offer enterprise-level financial analytics. These aren’t hypothetical scenarios—they’re transformations we’re facilitating every day at Mosaic Method Agency.
The key insight we’ve discovered is that AI adoption isn’t about abandoning traditional career paths—it’s about evolving them. When a hairstylist uses AI to predict trending styles and automate their booking system, they’re not becoming a tech worker; they’re becoming a more powerful entrepreneur. This perspective shift is crucial for Black professionals who may feel that AI isn’t “for them” because they’re not in traditional tech roles.
Stephanie Tharpe: How can AI tools be positioned not just as efficiency boosters but as creative collaborators that allow small business owners and entrepreneurs to scale authentically?
Keisha McCotry: Think of AI as a personal creative team that never sleeps. For Black entrepreneurs who often bootstrap their businesses, AI can fill the roles of multiple employees—market researcher, content creator, strategy advisor—while maintaining the authentic voice and vision that makes their brand unique.
Stephanie Tharpe: With many industries undergoing AI-driven transformation, how can we ensure that Black professionals aren’t just consumers of AI but creators and leaders in this space?
Keisha McCotry: The path from consumer to creator isn’t just about learning to code—it’s about understanding how to shape AI solutions that address our community’s unique challenges and opportunities. At Mosaic Method, we’re building what I call a “creation-first mindset.” This means teaching not just how to use AI tools, but how to identify gaps in current AI solutions and develop new ones that serve our community’s needs.
Mosaic Method Agency actively mentors aspiring Black AI entrepreneurs and works with industry partners to open doors for leadership roles. We’re building a future where Black professionals shape the tools, systems, and policies that drive AI. But more importantly, we’re fostering entrepreneurship in the AI space. When our community members see themselves as potential founders of AI companies, not just employees, that’s when real transformation begins.
Wealth Creation Through AI
While the general narrative around AI often focuses on its potential to eliminate certain jobs The Mosaic Method Agency wants to recenter the conversation around how AI can catalyze entrepreneurial ventures for Black creatives and innovators who have historically been excluded and gate kept from the tech industry and its advances. Keisha specifically emphasizes “micro- innovations” which are small scale AI- driven solutions that address everyday problems that can scale into businesses. A concept that is on the rise is “ cultural AI commerce” where culturally specific demands meet AI capabilities adressining community specific needs. This does more than just create profit for the Black community but gives representation often missing in the mainstream AI landscape.
Stephanie Tharpe: Many conversations about AI focus on replacing jobs, but what are some overlooked ways it can spark entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for Black creatives and innovators?
Keisha McCotry: The real opportunity in AI isn’t in the technology itself—it’s in the problems it can solve and the dreams it can unlock. We’re seeing Black entrepreneurs use AI to break into industries that have historically had massive barriers to entry. A single parent working from home can now run a competitive e-commerce business using AI for inventory management and customer service. A musician can use AI to handle production tasks that would have required an expensive studio just a few years ago.
At Mosaic Method, we’re particularly excited about what we call “micro-innovations”—small, AI-powered solutions to specific community problems that can scale into significant businesses. We are working with community members to develop AI tools for everything from hair care product recommendations to cultural event planning. These aren’t just businesses; they’re solutions built by our community, for our community.
Bridging the Divide: The power of Storytelling, partnership, and Mentorship
Bridging The tech gap takes more than just training. It’s about shaping an overarching narrative. Keisha and Mosaic Method understand that when AI is depicted as an abstract concept driven by Silicon Valley it becomes an unattainable idea to those in underserved communities. She also understands that partnerships and storytelling are crucial in closing the tech gap. Mentorship with targeted, intentional action and investment in Black entrepreneurs and students are the driving forces when it comes to this demographic seeing themselves in leading tech roles.
Stephanie Tharpe: What practical advice would you give to someone in a non-tech field who wants to launch an AI-driven business? How can they merge their industry knowledge with emerging tech?
Keisha McCotry: Start with what you know, not with what you think AI should do. Your industry expertise is your superpower—AI is just a tool to amplify it. I always tell our clients: “You don’t need to become a programmer; you need to become a visionary who knows how to leverage AI.
We recommend a three-step approach: First, deeply understand the problems in your industry that need solving. Second, explore how existing AI tools could address these problems. Third, build partnerships with technical experts who can help bring your vision to life.
Stephanie Tharpe: Are there particular AI innovations that excite you for their potential to disrupt industries that have historically excluded Black entrepreneurs and creators?
Keisha McCotry: Generative AI is revolutionizing creative industries in ways that particularly benefit Black entrepreneurs. What excites me most is how these tools are dismantling traditional gatekeeping mechanisms. A Black fashion designer can now use AI to generate and test hundreds of designs, create virtual fashion shows, and build a global brand without the traditional backing of major fashion houses. We’re seeing similar transformations in music production, publishing, and digital art.
But the real game-changer is in what I call “cultural AI commerce”—businesses that combine AI capabilities with deep cultural understanding. At Mosaic Method, we’re seeing entrepreneurs develop AI-powered platforms that specifically cater to Black hair care, skin care, and fashion preferences. These aren’t just businesses; they’re filling crucial market gaps while building generational wealth in our community.
Stephanie Tharpe: What role does storytelling play in making AI feel accessible and relevant to the Black community? Are there misconceptions about AI that need to be reframed?
Keisha McCotry: Storytelling isn’t just important—it’s the bridge between skepticism and adoption. When we share how a single mother used AI to scale her catering business into a thriving enterprise, or how a barber leveraged AI to build a booking empire across multiple cities, we’re not just telling success stories. We’re rewriting the narrative about who gets to innovate with AI. The biggest misconception we battle is that AI is either a threat to jobs or a technology reserved for Silicon Valley engineers. Through our storytelling, we showcase AI as a tool for empowerment—much like how our community has historically taken existing tools and reimagined them for our own advancement. When people see AI through this lens, adoption becomes natural rather than forced.
Stephanie Tharpe: What community-based solutions or partnerships do you see as essential for bridging the tech divide, particularly for younger generations in Black communities?
Keisha McCotry: Community partnerships are vital. Collaborating with organizations like HBCUs, nonprofits, and tech companies ensures resources reach the right people. Mosaic Method works with partners to create mentorship programs and accessible training tailored to younger generations.
Stephanie Tharpe: When it comes to mentorship and skill-building, what key areas of AI literacy should be prioritized to ensure long-term success and impact?Keisha McCorty: Our approach focuses on three critical pillars of AI literacy:
Keisha McCotry: First, ethical AI understanding—teaching not just how to use AI, but how to recognize and mitigate bias. This is crucial for our community, as we’ve historically been on the receiving end of biased technological systems.
Second, practical application skills—focusing on how to leverage AI tools for immediate business and career growth. We emphasize what we call “rapid implementation cycles”—getting from learning to earning as quickly as possible.
Third, strategic thinking—developing the ability to identify opportunities where AI can solve community-specific challenges. This isn’t just about using existing tools; it’s about imagining and creating new ones.
Shaping an AI-Ready Future: From Reactive to Proactive
With Ai in its infancy with seemingly limitless possibilities the Black community is in a position where it can take a proactive stance on leading in this industry rather than a reactive one. Mosaic Method argues that this requires what they call the “three E’s”: Education, Entrepreneurship, and Equity ownership. Mosaic Method has a “Culture-First Framework” that gives AI lessons to real-life community scenarios, such as planning family reunions or coordinating faith-based events.
Stephanie Tharpe: As the AI market continues to grow, how can the Black community move from a reactive stance to a proactive one, positioning itself as a leader in this space?
Keisha McCotry: The shift from reactive to proactive requires what I call the “three E’s”: Education, Entrepreneurship, and Equity ownership. Through Mosaic Method’s initiatives, we’re not just teaching AI skills—we’re incubating AI startups, facilitating investment connections, and helping our community members patent their innovations.
The key is understanding that leadership in AI isn’t just about technical expertise—it’s about vision and application. We’re encouraging our community to think beyond using AI tools to create AI solutions that address our unique challenges and opportunities. When a Black entrepreneur develops an AI algorithm that better recognizes diverse skin tones or creates a language model that better understands cultural nuances, that’s proactive leadership in action.
Stephanie Tharpe: What does a culturally responsive approach to AI education and integration look like, and how can companies like Mosaic Method ensure they are meeting the community where it is?
Keisha McCotry: Cultural responsiveness in AI education means more than just making technology accessible—it means making it relevant and resonant. We’ve developed what we call the “Culture-First Framework” for AI integration. This means teaching AI concepts through cultural references, using familiar spaces for learning, and ensuring that every example and case study reflects our community’s experiences and aspirations.
For instance, rather than abstract coding exercises, we might teach AI concepts through the lens of organizing a family reunion or optimizing a church community program.
Stephanie Tharpe: How do we balance the promise of AI-driven economic advancement with ethical concerns around bias and exclusion in AI models? What responsibility do Black entrepreneurs and leaders in AI hold in this space?
Keisha McCotry: As Black leaders in AI, we have a unique dual responsibility: advancing our community’s economic interests while ensuring ethical AI development. We can’t separate these missions—they must work in tandem. Our community’s historical experience with systemic bias positions us uniquely to identify and address potential AI biases early in the development process. We’re not just users of AI; we’re its conscience and its critics. By actively participating in AI development and leadership, we ensure that future AI systems reflect our values and serve all communities equitably.
This isn’t just about avoiding harm—it’s about proactively creating AI systems that advance equity and inclusion. Through our work, we’re demonstrating that ethical AI and profitable AI aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, we’ve found that AI solutions built with ethical considerations from the ground up often outperform those that aren’t, because they serve a broader, more diverse user base.
Keisha and the Mosaic Method Agency are placing AI in spaces where trust already exists within the Black community and entrepreneurial landscape and using it as a tool for new wealth creation and lasting impact on the Black community.
