Esther Leonard is working to ensure others have the confidence to not only know their worth but also to demand it. Fortune reports Leonard, a career coach and sourcer, had a growing interest in digital literacy and the wealth gap, following her move to Boston, MA, nearly seven years ago. Leonard previously lived in Chicago, IL, and had years of experience working in education and with nonprofits.

The cannabis space is still in need of some serious diversifying, but actress and activist Rosario Dawson is helping to change the face of the industry with her newly-appointed role. Today, Dawson joined the Board of Directors of leading cannabis-infused beverage company Cann, making history as one of the first queer women of color to serve on the board of a major cannabis brand. Image Courtesy of Cann The barrier-breaking move is one that the actress was eager to be a part of, noting that the cannabis company is setting an example that could be a catalyst for change across the industry. “Cann has proven to be such a leading voice for diversity and inclusion in the cannabis industry that I knew I had to get involved with the company,” Dawson tells AfroTech exclusively. “Their example is one to follow. As one of the first multi-racial women to serve on the board of a major cannabis brand, my mission is to use this position to push the industry towards much-needed change happening...

As it pushes to support more Black and Latinx women entrepreneurs in innovation and technology, New Jersey-based digitalundivided launched a new fellowship program, according to a news release. The social impact nonprofit is hosting the Do You Fellowship as a 12-month program to boost 12 Black and Latinx women founders with coaching support, $5,000 in funding and other professional development resources. The inaugural cohort will also receive access to digitalundivided’s newly formed Mentorship Council which is a growing network of CEOs, investors, industry leaders and other supports looking to help guide minority women founders. “We launched the Do You Fellowship to better position these diverse founders to lead, raise capital, become profitable, and scale,” Lauren Maillian, CEO of digitalundivided, said in a release. “The Do You Fellowship received incredible support from corporate, foundation, and accelerator partners, all eager to invest in this first, powerhouse cohort of...

As more women of color step into leadership roles in the entertainment world, this media veteran finds herself climbing the ladder at another major company. Showtime’s head of communications, Johanna Fuentes is making a transition to Warner Bros. as their head of global communications. “It’s a transformative moment in our industry, and I couldn’t be prouder to join a legacy and storied company like Warner Bros.,” said Fuentes on her new role. “I believe in Ann’s vision for the future of the company and am excited to work with some of the top communications professionals and storytellers in our field as we map the strategy for the continued expansion of our iconic brands, films, games and television series.” Fuentes has led a rewarding career in entertainment since beginning her career at CBS corporation in 2001, according to The Hollywood Reporter. As a former director of entertainment communications, she worked on programs including “Survivor” and “Everybody Hates Chris.” Fuentes...

Being the “only one” in the room is an experience all too familiar for many women of color—particularly Black women—in the workplace. The new Women in the Workplace 2018 study published by LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company found nearly half of women of color are often the “onlys” of their race at work and over 80 percent face microaggressions. The study showed these experiences are found to make women of color feel closely watched, scrutinized and excluded in their workplace. For women overall, being an “only” contributes to feeling “under pressure to perform” and “on guard.” However, that isn’t the only impact. Despite numerous reports of companies committing to improving diversity in their workforce, this study shows women are still facing barriers when it comes to climbing the corporate ladder. Black women are 40 percent less likely than men to receive the first promotion to manager, reflecting the largely stagnant progress for the advancement of women in the workplace overall....

Two weeks ago on Instagram, Dana Chanel shared an image of belittling signs that often fill the windows of local beauty supply shops where many women of color have to go — despite the disrespect — because of the limited availability of products for them elsewhere. The post announced the launch of her online shop that gives women of color a space to purchase the products they want while supporting black business. Chanel founded Curl Bible , a black and Hispanic-owned online beauty supply shop that brings both well-known and smaller indie brands to consumers looking for a safe space to purchase their products. The site got up and running in just six months. The store houses popular brands such as Shea Moisture and As I Am, but provides opportunities for smaller brands as well. On Curl Bible’s home page, the phrase “We don’t just empower women, we provide them with opportunity!” is scrawled along the top of the page, and through the positive shopping experience, ease of use and its...