We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Xavier Anglin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Xavier below.
Alright, Xavier thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
In 2017, I began a holiday event called Black Christmas, an annual gala curated to celebrate our community of Black millennials and allies during the holiday season. The way this brand came to fruition stems from several factors. For me, Christmas has always been my favorite time of year – a festive moment in my life filled with family, friends, and celebration. But back in 2016, when I was living in Miami for grad school, I realized just how limited my time was when I went home to NY for the holiday break. I would only be home for a little over two weeks, and with a large family and a wide circle of friends, there just wasn’t enough time to see everyone I wanted to. So, when I went back to Florida for the Spring semester, I vowed to myself that I would find a way to make the next Christmas season better, where I could truly spend quality time with all my loved ones.
As a creative, I’m constantly inspired by what I see around me – whether it’s scrolling through Instagram, watching YouTube shows, or attending events. I’m always catching something that I pinpoint in my mind for future ideas. One day, I came across Kim Kardashian’s Instagram, where she posted pictures from her family’s annual Christmas party. Believe me when I say I was just casually browsing, but when I came across those pictures, I was inspired by the unique event she had curated with her family. It just looked like so much fun having all her family and celebrity friends under one roof in an elegant setting. Afterwards, I remember thinking to myself, “I want to do something like this.” That moment was the spark, and so I did. But I wanted to add another spin to it. I’ve always been a fan of the Met Gala’s bold, artistic experience, and I realized that for Black millennials and allies in NYC, there wasn’t an event that combined that kind of elegance with a true celebration of our culture and community. The club scene just didn’t cut it for me anymore – overpriced bottles and VIP tables felt disconnected from the kind of meaningful experience I wanted to create. I wanted to offer an inclusive gala experience, one where everyone could come together, enjoy great music, food, and entertainment, and, most importantly, feel like they were part of something bigger than themselves.
So, in 2017, I decided to take the leap. I found a loft-style venue in Manhattan and began spreading the word to friends and family. What started as a small idea quickly gained traction. The people I knew were excited, but the real turning point came when others – people I hadn’t met before – started to reach out and express interest. By the last day of ticket sales, we had already exceeded 110 tickets, which was beyond our established goal. The night of the event was everything I had manifested and more – it was a vibrant, celebratory environment with an open bar, buffet food, live entertainment, and photo opportunities, all creating an unforgettable experience. The energy in the room was electric, and as the night ended, I had people coming up to me, urging me to do it again the following year.
That was the moment I knew this idea was more than just a formal gala – it was something game-changing. Over the years, Black Christmas has grown from an annual 300-person gala to a full-fledged brand with a wide-reaching impact. Thanks to an amazing team of my closest friends and like-minded individuals, we’ve expanded into new ventures that focus on partnerships, celebration, and philanthropy, all with the core mission of uplifting and empowering our community. What excites me most is that we’re still innovating and creating unique experiences, and I’m thrilled to see how we continue to evolve as we head into 2025.
Xavier, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Born and raised on Long Island, New York, I was fortunate to grow up in an environment where my parents always encouraged me to explore hobbies and activities that aligned with my interests. Over time, this mindset nurtured my creative spirit and sparked a passion for living life beyond the norm. As an entrepreneur and innovator, my first real taste of creativity came in high school when I was assigned a team project in my Marketing class to create a commercial promoting a product. My classmate and I came up with the idea of creating a pair of sunglasses that allowed you to see life in various colors. To promote the product, we filmed the commercial in our school hallway, adding humorous and persuasive elements. While we got an A on the project, looking back, I was more fulfilled by the fact that I spent time doing something I considered fun, rather than thinking of it as a class project. However, at the time, I wasn’t mature enough to realize that, as I was heavily involved in sports and dreamed of playing football in college. While that didn’t work out, I decided to study Athletic Training in college, hoping to pursue a career in the sports field.
After being accepted into an Athletic Training graduate program, I quickly realized that the path I had chosen wasn’t bringing me joy. The long hours of studying and the weight of maintaining extensive medical knowledge didn’t sit right with me. Despite this, my interest in marketing remained constant, and in 2016, I had the opportunity to intern at a boutique showroom that sold consignment clothes and curated brand activations and pop-up events for major brands across the sports, entertainment, and fashion industries. My primary responsibility was to get creative on social media platforms to help promote consignment items and events. What truly excited me were the events—I built valuable relationships with clients in these industries and was exposed to the right people who inspired me to realize what I was truly passionate about. The pivotal moment came when I was involved in creating experiential events at our showroom during Art Basel, collaborating with major brands like Adidas, Genius, Ciroc, and hip-hop artists such as Fabolous, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz. This experience unlocked my passion for curating special events that could bring people together, celebrate culture, and make a lasting impact.
In 2017, I channeled that passion into the creation of Black Christmas. As of today, Black Christmas has evolved into more than just an annual gala—it’s a thriving brand. With the support and leadership of my closest peers on my team, we’ve grown the event from a modest gathering of 100 people to over 350 attendees. Our community-driven and innovative mindset has allowed us to build incredible partnerships with brands such as D’USSE Cognac, Teremana, Uncle Nearest, and Tito’s Vodka, and we’ve built a strong network of Black creatives who share knowledge and inspiration with each other.
As I reflect on this journey, I’m incredibly proud of how far Black Christmas has come. It started as a vision, and through hard work, creativity, and the dedication of my team, we’ve cultivated an inclusive space where our community is uplifted and celebrated during the holiday season. The event continues to grow year after year, and the opportunities we’ve had to collaborate with other brands and creatives have only expanded the reach and impact of our mission.
To anyone reading this, my advice is simple: find what you’re passionate about. Whether it’s through your career, hobbies, or personal interests, let that be the template for reaching joy and fulfillment. Life is too short to chase anything that doesn’t bring you happiness. When you do what makes you happy, you’ll naturally add value to your life and the lives of those around you. That’s how you create real success—by staying true to yourself and your passions.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
When I first started Black Christmas, I didn’t have a lot of capital to work with. I primarily relied on the money I earned from my regular day job to fund the early stages of the event. At the time, I wasn’t making a great sum of money, so I had to get creative. To cover the costs, I reached out to a few peers who believed in the vision and were willing to invest in the gala each year. Their support was crucial in getting things off the ground, but as the event grew in scale, so did the financial needs.
As the event gained traction and began to draw more attention, I realized that in order to take it to the next level, I would need more capital. This is when I turned to brand partnerships and sponsorship opportunities. I knew I wanted to work with brands that shared the same core values as Black Christmas—ones that valued community, culture, and celebration. The idea of aligning with brands that could support the event while simultaneously benefiting from the visibility and audience we were building became a powerful tool for funding.
However, this process wasn’t easy in the beginning. I had to do extensive outreach, messaging over 100 different individuals on LinkedIn who had titles at companies I thought would be a good fit for collaboration. I spent countless hours refining my pitch, reaching out to people, and building relationships. Once I tapped into my personal and professional network, I began to share the story of Black Christmas and the unique benefits these brands could gain by partnering with us. I also created a pitch deck to clearly communicate the value of the partnership.
The more I shared the story and vision of Black Christmas, the more opportunities began to open up. The process wasn’t instantaneous, and there were definitely some tough moments, but persistence paid off. I realized that gaining sponsorships could be a sustainable and mutually beneficial way to fund the event while expanding its reach.
For any creatives or entrepreneurs who are looking for sponsorships and financial investments, I’d encourage you not to be afraid to take this route. There is a lot of gatekeeping when it comes to this information, and I’ve never quite understood why. I believe in being inclusive within my community, and I think the more we share resources, knowledge, and opportunities, the more we can all grow together. As long as you have good intentions and an unique mindset, you’re worthy of support, and I’m a firm believer that everyone deserves the chance to succeed in their endeavors. You just have to be persistent, keep believing in your vision, and don’t be afraid to reach out and make connections with people who can help bring your ideas to life.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Oh yes, most definitely. I’m always eager to learn from like-minded individuals who exhibit a high level of entrepreneurial thinking and innovative philosophies. I’ve found that learning from others’ experiences—especially those who’ve built successful brands and overcome challenges—has a profound impact on how I approach my own ventures. I’m especially drawn to entrepreneurs who have built something impactful while staying true to their values, and I actively seek out content that showcases these types of stories.
A big part of my learning comes from watching YouTube videos that showcase successful entrepreneurs like Fawn Weaver, Magic Johnson, Derek Jeter, and Emma Grede. Their journeys are incredibly inspiring to me. Fawn’s dedication to storytelling and building her billion dollar whiskey brand, Magic’s transformation from an NBA legend to a successful businessman, Derek Jeter’s disciplined approach to both sports and entrepreneurship, and Emma Grede’s innovative thinking in the fashion space all offer invaluable lessons on perseverance, leadership, and strategic thinking. Their stories remind me that entrepreneurship isn’t just about success—it’s about having a vision, working hard, and staying committed even through setbacks.
Additionally, a book that had a profound influence on my entrepreneurial mindset is The Mamba Mentality: How I Play by Kobe Bryant. This book is not only a tribute to Kobe’s work ethic but also an exploration of his mindset, which can be applied to business and leadership. Kobe’s relentless drive, his focus on continuous improvement, and his ability to approach challenges with a clear and determined mindset resonated deeply with me as I grew up idolizing him as a basketball player. It reinforced the importance of always striving for greatness and pushing through adversity, both of which are crucial when building a brand or business.
Ultimately, whether through watching interviews, reading books, or consuming content from these incredible individuals, I continue to find inspiration in their stories and philosophies. They’ve taught me that building something successful is about more than just the idea—it’s about execution, maintaining resilience, and understanding that growth comes from both triumphs and failures.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blackchristmasnyc.com
- Instagram: @blackchristmasnyc_
- Twitter: @blkchristmasnyc
Image Credits
Sunday Bamgbose
Justin Sanchez