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In conjunction with fundraising platform IFund Women of Color, global finance company American Express has announced another commitment to the Black community — this time targeting Black women. This week, American Express revealed the 100 Black women entrepreneurs it hand-selected to participate in its “100 for 100” program, designed to provide women with adequate funding and business resources. View this post on Instagram A post shared by American Express (@americanexpress) According to a press release , the program specifically consists of $25,000 grants and 100 days of access to business education, mentorship, marketing, virtual networking, WorkSpaces by Hilton hotel reservation credits and more. American Express partnered with IFundWomen of Color — the leading platform for women of color to raise capital — to create a program made to offer support for Black businesswomen looking to jump start and grow their entrepreneurial ventures. “American Express is proud to support the...
For years Black women have fought for a seat at the table in their respective industries. People of color are often excluded and neglected in the tech industry thus proving it difficult to find safe spaces to convene together. The disparity for Black women in tech has made it a struggle to level the playing field across the board, but these three founders created a platform to disrupt the lack of diversity in tech and empower Black women looking to grow billion-dollar enterprises. Esosa Ighodaro, Lauren Washington, and Regina Gwynn all recognized the challenges that many Black women face trying to launch and maintain businesses when they first met. They then banded together to create Black Women Talk Tech (BWTT), an organization founded to connect Black women in the tech industry and provide them with the tools they need to be successful business owners. Established in 2017, the organization has grown to expand into 10 local chapters in cities across the country with one overseas in...
The college student loan debt crisis is a serious issue America has been faced with for decades. Americans owe over $1.64 trillion in student loan debt as we’re burdened with the cost of higher education more than ever in 2020. While politicians like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have made proposals for free college tuition and forgiveness for the current student loan debt, others are making their own strides to eliminate debt for current college students. Clark Atlanta University alum and female entrepreneurs, Pinky Cole and Stacey Lee have made an effort to put a dent in the student loan debt crisis by helping clear balances for 30 fellow CAU college students. The 30 Clark Atlanta University seniors were surprised with a special gift from these businesswomen as they were originally led to believe they were simply meeting the two alumni. Little did they know these dynamic entrepreneurs were going to give them a clean slate after college by completely wiping their debt. “We...
In the world of finance and corporate leadership, Mellody Hobson stands as a beacon of excellence and a role model for aspiring professionals. An investor, businesswoman and financial educator, Hobson is a former chair at companies like Starbucks and Dreamworks, TED Talk frequent-flier, and importantly the president and co-CEO of Ariel Investments. With a career spanning decades, she has redefined what it means to be a Black leader in the investment world while championing diversity and inclusion at every step. But Hobson’s journey to becoming one of the most influential businesswomen in America is as inspiring as it is groundbreaking. Early Life And Education: Foundations Of Success Born in Chicago in 1969, Hobson grew up in modest circumstances, raised by a single mother who instilled in her the importance of hard work and education. Hobson excelled academically and eventually earned a full scholarship to Princeton University, where she graduated with a degree in Public and...
It’s no secret Issa Rae is rooting for everybody Black and things are no different this holiday season. Joining forces with American Express, Issa Rae will be curating the ByBlack Bazaar marketplace on Saturday, Dec. 11 in Downtown Los Angeles. “As a curator at the marketplace, in its simplest form it will be a great place to stop by and get a gift especially if you do not know what to get people because there will be a range of options,” Issa Rae shared exclusively with AfroTech. “It will also be a great way to establish community amongst business owners and allow owners to establish and forge relationships. You will see the family behind the business and you will see directly or hear about the history of these businesses. With online businesses, you don’t get the neighborhood store feel often. So, the Bazaar marketplace really excites me for that.”
Because Black women can drive big rigs too! When it comes to the $800 billion trucking industry , women are often left out of the conversation. The Leading Ladies of Logistix are using their platform to change this. Samantha Smith, Tawana Randall, Tristen Simmons, and Vanessa Gant created the organization to not only empower businesswomen of the transportation and logistics industries but to also educate and create opportunities for them. “I was just looking to connect with other women in the industry that either had trucking companies or worked within dispatch or broker freight,” said Smith in an exclusive interview with AfroTech. “It’s definitely more of a value when you have everyone that can collectively come together and provide different pieces of the industry and different types of values from the industry and then mentor other women who wish to join the trucking industry,” Randall added. Each of the Leading Ladies of Logistix offers a different asset to the organization as a...
Last year, AfroTech reported on the launch of American Express’ Coalition to Back Black Businesses committing $10 million to support Black entrepreneurship. Today, the group has announced that it’s continuing that mission by awarding 25 small Black-owned businesses $25,000 in grants to support their long-term success and resilience just ahead of Black Business Month. According to the grantees, this funding goes a long way in helping these businesses survive and thrive in the wake of the pandemic. “My business and life have done a full 180 since receiving support from the Coalition to Back Black Businesses program,” grant recipient Deandre Wade — owner of sports uniform company Fresh Sportswear — shared in a statement. “With the enhancement grant, I will be moving my business out of my living room and purchasing the tools and equipment needed to begin mass-producing our products.” The Coalition to Back Black Businesses launched last September after a tumultuous year of small...
Forbes has announced its inaugural CEO Next list — which spotlights 50 business leaders and executives who are “using innovation, technology, creativity and culture to reimagine and reinvent their roles” at their respective companies. Among the honorees are 11 Black business executives who are getting their fair shine as innovators of the business world revolutionizing the structure of the industry and on the course of making history. Check out this year’s notable leaders to learn more about their companies and achievements. Bozoma Saint John Photo Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images Position: CMO Company: Netflix Over the last two decades, Bozoma Saint John has proven herself to be a marketing powerhouse for some of the most popular consumer brands today — including Uber, Apple Music, PepsiCo, Endeavor and now Netflix. As chief marketing officer (CMO), she helps the company stand out from competition like Disney and Amazon to name a few, while driving engagement to bring great stories...
This Juneteenth, it’s not only important to commemorate the value of Black liberation, but health and wellness as well — according to this New York city-based fitness club. Blaque — known as the first luxury fitness experience designed by Black people, for Black people — understands that our community has specific needs for wellness services because of the disproportionate rate at which preventable diseases affect us. This is what prompted the platform to launch The BLAQUE Movement App — the first all-in-one fitness app that caters to Black people. “Our mission [at BLAQUE] is to help Black people live their best lives through optimal fitness and wellness,” the company shares. “Our app-driven coaching program is built by fitness and wellness professionals and provides a customized, interactive and focused approach on cultivating members’ optimal well-being.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by BLAQUE.INC (@blaque.inc) According to BLAQUE, the new app’s features include...
Pharrell Williams is teaming up with fashion house Chanel to take his nonprofit organization to the next level. As previously reported by AfroTech, the super-producer and entrepreneur launched his nonprofit, Black Ambition, back in December to help support underserved entrepreneurs with startups across tech, design, healthcare and consumer products/services. According to Complex, now he’s upping the stakes with Chanel by launching a two-part mentorship program in addition to sponsoring two competitions this summer with prizes for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs as well as emerging talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). “Chanel’s support of Black Ambition is a cornerstone of Black Ambition’s mission and is vital to the success of the next generation of Black and Latinx entrepreneurs,” Williams said in a statement, “to honor their commitment to investing in human potential and advancing greater representation in culture and society, Chanel has put together an...
For the first time in history, two Black women CEOs are featured on the Fortune 500 list. This year, Fortune reports that women-run Fortune 500 companies have hit an all-time record of 41 CEOs, with women like Roz Brewer of No. 16 Walgreens Boots Alliance and Thasunda Brown Duckett of No. 79 TIAA making strides for Black businesswomen. Brewer, who’s a former Starbucks executive, was named the new CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance back in March, briefly making her the only Black woman to run a Fortune 500 company this year until she was joined by Duckett, former JPMorgan Chase exec and now the new CEO of TIAA. According to Fortune, only one other Black woman, Ursula Burns of Xerox, has run a Fortune 500 business on a permanent basis with the exception of Mary Winston, who served as Bed Bath & Beyond’s interim chief for several months back in 2019. Ever since then, Black women CEOs have been missing from the Fortune 500 list but it looks as though that’s beginning to change. Now, these...
In recent years, brilliant innovations in technology have occurred on account of diverse techies putting themselves in a position to bring their creative ideas to life. While there are many inventions that stem from people in STEM-focused fields, the reality is that these revolutionary technologies can come from any wide range of perspectives and people that come from all walks of life. Though Silicon Valley has been called out for its failure to diversify its workforces, Black and brown technicians and app developers around the world aren’t letting that stop them from creating their own seat at the table. Take for instance Apple’s recent efforts to boost diversity in tech as a result of its $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative. These efforts include creating programs that aim to address issues of racial equity in education, employment and economic inequality. Moreover, bold initiatives like this have created opportunities for diverse, self-taught app developers to be...
Back in December of last year, Aveeno® announced the launch of a new accelerator program dedicated to creating more diversity, inclusivity, and equity in the skincare industry for Black women. Today, the brand — in partnership with leading media, tech, and commerce company ESSENCE — announced the winners of its accelerator program who will receive funds toward their business goals. According to a press release, Dr. Isfahan Chambers Harris — founder of Alodia Hair Care™ — is the first-ever recipient of the Aveeno Skin Health Startup Accelerator. She will receive tools, resources, ongoing mentorship, a feature in ESSENCE’s e-commerce portal — ShopEssence — as well as a $100,000 grant to grow her business. “I’m honored to be the first Black women entrepreneur Grand Prize winner of the Aveeno® Skin Health Startup Accelerator program,” Dr. Isfahan said in a statement. “This is substantial in helping my company grow our business and fill a need that Black women consumers are searching for...
Black businesswomen have been the highlight of Women’s History Month this year, and now one of the music industry’s brightest stars is pitching in to help support these women. Grammy-nominated artist Brent Faiyaz has launched a new grant program alongside his latest music video, “Show U Off,” to pledge support toward today’s Black women entrepreneurs making moves. The Show U Off grant program is offering $50,000 in funds to these Black businesswomen as a small investment in their professional ventures. Qualified applicants for the grant program must record and submit a one-minute video introducing themselves and their business/startup, discussing any challenges their business has encountered and how the grant money will help support them. Courtesy Graphic Video submissions should be sent to [email protected] by 1 p.m. EST on March 16. Five winners will then be selected and announced by Brent and his team next week. Check out the newly released music video below:
In honor of International Women’s Day, we here at AfroTech thought it was only fitting to recognize the work of 31 Black women in tech. Too often, Black women’s accomplishments, especially in the technology field, are overlooked or overshadowed. We encourage you not only to check out these women’s profiles and businesses but also to help shine a light on other Black women in tech this month and throughout the rest of the year. Check out the list of 31 Black women in the tech sector below: Asmau Ahmed, CEO of Plum Perfect, an app that helps women find beauty products in line with their skin tone Sheena Allen, Founder and CEO of CapWay, which works to service the underbanked Shellye Archambeau, Current Board member of numerous tech companies, former President of Blockbuster.com, and CEO of MetricStream Angela Benton, Founder and CEO of Streamlytics, which helps make transparent what users are consuming on streaming services Jean Brownhill, Founder and CEO of Sweeten, which helps to...