Still shot of Kendra Bulluck‑Major.
When Kendra Bulluck-Major bought the rights to the Orange Blossom Classic, a legacy HBCU football game founded in 1933 by Florida A&M University, she was bringing back to life more than a sporting event. The acquisition held a special meaning to her, one that had been passed down through generations. In 2025, the game is entering a new chapter under a multi-year naming rights agreement as the Invesco QQQ Orange Blossom Classic—a title partnership that reflects both a rebranding effort and commitment to empowering HBCU students.
“This is personal for me. My passion for the Orange Blossom Classic was born from my father’s stories, his pride in Florida A&M University and the way the OBC represented more than just a football game” Bulluck-Major said. “It was about culture, community and coming together during times when we weren’t always seen. That legacy stayed with me, and when I had the opportunity to revive the Classic, I knew it had to be bigger than the field. It had to reflect who we are as a people, our excellence, our resilience and our joy.”
Operating as the First Black Woman to Own an HBCU Sports Property
As the first Black woman to own exclusive rights to a major HBCU sports property, Bulluck-Major has transformed the platform into a cultural enterprise. What began as a single-game tradition is now a full-scale ecosystem that spans sports, entrepreneurship and community. So far, the organization has already raised over $400,000 in scholarship funds for HBCU students.
FAMU football player catching a football.
“Being the first Black woman to own exclusive rights to a major HBCU sports property is an honor, but it’s also a responsibility I carry with care,” Bulluck-Major said. “I lead with purpose because I understand the weight of legacy, not just for my children, but for the entire community that gathers around this moment every year. My leadership is rooted in honoring the past, serving the present and building something sustainable for the future.”
The Elevation Experience: Centering Black Women in Leadership
While football remains the centerpiece, Bulluck-Major has expanded the event into something far more powerful, starting with a slate of programming that centers Black women unapologetically, one of which includes the Elevation Experience. The Elevation Experience, the official kickoff to this year’s Invesco QQQ Orange Blossom Classic, is a free, one-day leadership and empowerment event that convenes women leaders, creatives, entrepreneurs and change-makers from across Florida for a day of celebration and networking, with panels, brand activations and a headline performance by Grammy-nominated artist, Yo-Yo.
“I wanted every woman who walks through those doors to feel like she belongs, like this space was created with her in mind, not just as a professional, but as a whole person,” Bulluck-Major said. “It’s a place where you don’t have to shrink, explain, or prove, you just get to be and be poured into. My hope is that women leave feeling more connected, more inspired, and more clear about the power they carry.”
Equip, Align, Execute Presented by Bacardi Denny’s Orange Blossom Classic.
For those who assume women and football don’t mix, Bulluck-Major sees it differently.
“Women love sports, and more importantly, women shape culture,” she said. “The OBC honors that by designing experiences that reflect our full presence, whether in the boardroom, the tailgate or the 50-yard line.”
Redefining Power, Culture, and Who Gets to Lead
At the heart of her mission is a desire to challenge outdated rules about who gets to lead, and how.
“I’ve broken through the idea that Black women can’t lead in spaces traditionally dominated by men, money, and legacy institutions. I want to break the barrier that says we can’t scale, that our ideas don’t deserve capital, and that our culture is only valuable when it fits a stereotype,” Bulluck-Major said. “I want to redefine what leadership looks like, not just for me, but for the next generation of Black women watching and building behind the scenes. And I’m not interested in just leaving a blueprint. I want to leave open doors, broken ceilings, and unapologetic examples of what’s possible when we lead in our fullness.”
