Meet Cedoni Francis: Digital Creator and Columbia Business School Student Carrying Her Caribbean Roots Across NYC
This Caribbean American Heritage Month, meet a full-time influencer and Columbia MBA student with a focus on building community.
In honor of Caribbean American Heritage Month, Columbia Neighbors caught up with Cedoni Francis (BUS'26), a Trinidad-born TikTok creator and Columbia Business School student, as she juggles life as a full-time influencer and MBA candidate.
From campus life in Manhattanville to her deep connections to Harlem and the Caribbean community, Francis shares how she’s been building her future while honoring her roots.
Caribbean Roots, NYC Raised
Francis emigrated from Trinidad to New York City as an infant, raised by her Trinidadian father and Guyanese mother (originally from the capital city, Georgetown) in East New York, Brooklyn.
Her early connection to Harlem came through her aunt, dubbed the family’s “beauty connoisseur,” who lived in the neighborhood. Trips for hair appointments or pampering rituals shaped Francis’ view of Harlem as “the pinnacle of Black beauty” in the city. To this day, Harlem remains her go-to spot for all things style and self-care.
"Community shapes how I go through life," Francis said.
Her Columbia Journey
Now pursuing an MBA at Columbia Business School, Francis is on a hybrid degree track studying product management, entrepreneurship, and media and entertainment.
Her path to Columbia began during her undergraduate years as a Posse Scholar at Vanderbilt University, where she realized she wanted a graduate program that offered both academic flexibility and access to a media-forward city.
Community shapes how I go through life.
Columbia University’s Manhattanville campus fit the bill. On campus, Francis is an active and proud member of the Black Business Student Association and takes part in community outreach, spending time off-campus as a mentor to a 12-year-old student at Harlem Academy, staying grounded in the neighborhood that has long inspired her.
Uptown Favorites & Local Icons
Francis shared some of her Uptown favorites with us. Her go-to dinner spot? Vinateria, a Central Harlem eatery serving up Italian and Spanish-inspired cuisine. When it comes to catching the recent energy around a Knicks game, she recommended The Fox or Harlem Tavern as gems for watching the team play. For beauty upkeep, she frequents Harlem Nail Bar or JolieDen Beauty Bar near Strivers Row for hair braiding.
During our conversation, she also reflected on the icons from the Caribbean and here in Harlem. She celebrated Harlem-born, Trini-descended multihyphenate Teyana Taylor, as well as Harlem entrepreneurs like Harlem Shake’s DarDra Coaxum, who is also the owner of HRLM Champagne.

What’s Next
The large population of Caribbean immigrants in New York City has made it easy for Francis to remain bonded to her culture and feel a sense of community, especially with her friends with whom she shares similar childhood experiences.
“You’re never alone," said Francis.
She grew up witnessing the communal aspect of building generational wealth as she watched her family work together to purchase properties during the recession and transform these homes into multigenerational spaces.
This winter, Francis will return to Guyana with her family for the first time since 2006—a homecoming she’s deeply looking forward to. In the meantime, she’ll create content from Jamaica this summer while attending a music festival, continuing to blend her love of travel, culture, and digital storytelling.