Trailblazing Together: Black Women Celebrating Black Women
Hard to believe that Galantine's Day is a relatively new concept.
The popular sitcom Parks and Recreation is credited with creating the holiday during an episode aired on Feb. 10, 2010. Ladies have been celebrating ladies since.
But entrepreneurship can be lonely, with limited role models to look up to or a community to consistently draw from. To succeed, you have to overcome the doubters, the statistics, and maybe your insecurities.
According to a report from J.P. Morgan, the number of businesses owned by Black women grew 50% from 2014 to 2019, representing the highest growth rate of any women demographic. However, only 3% of Black women run mature businesses (older than five years).
Representation matters, and so does learning from those who came before us, especially when the going gets tough.
While we can't bring every Black woman business owner in the same room, we can provide motivation courtesy of our community members and their business inspirations.
Let's celebrate these incredible leaders this Galantine's Day.
Rikki Kelly, Ego Tequila
"Issa Rae is a role model I admire and draw inspiration from for being an entrepreneur. She is her authentic self everywhere she goes and with whomever she speaks. She started from the ground up and invested her time, tears, and effort into every venture she's started. Her flowers are definitely due and should be given to her.".
Erica Patterson, Blended Self Care
"I admire Beatrice Dixon, founder of the Honey Pot Co., and Nancy Twine, founder of Briogeo Hair Care. They have both built incredible omnichannel brands with social impact tied to them. My goal with Blended Self Care is to be an omnichannel brand that is bigger than just products but also helps to positively shape our world."
Cherlyn Carby, LushUs Kids
"In the pursuit of building my business from the ground up, I draw inspiration from the remarkable journey of my mentor and friend, Melissa Hibbert (right). Her role as the visionary force behind SHYFT BEAUTY, a contemporary beauty brand strategy and marketing agency for established and emerging brands, is impressive. Melissa's resilience, strategic insight, and dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion within the industry are my guiding light. Her success reflects the possibilities for Black women in entrepreneurship. It exemplifies the transformative power of determination and passion in carving one's path in the business world. She is a testament to the heights that can be achieved through hard work, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to one's vision."
Marcia Cole, Fourth Phase
"I draw inspiration from Lisa Price, founder of Carol's Daughter. She began making her products in her home. I watched her grow that company from her kitchen, open her first store in Brooklyn, get celebrity and institutional investors, and drill down on her base customers via pop-up shops. She wasn't just giving orders but unpacking boxes and setting things up. She eventually sold her company to L'Oreal and is still very much connected to her brand, finding new ways to make it relevant to all. Melissa Butler, who co-founded The Lip Bar. Mr. Wonderful called her company a cockroach on Shark Tank because he believed their idea--blue and purple lipsticks--would not sell. They walked away with no funding but didn't stop. Today, they're in Ulta and Target and closed on $6.7 million in funding in 2022. Emily Weiss is the founder of Into the Gloss and Glossier. Emily paid it forward and provided start-up funding to Black beauty brand owners via their grant program. As one of their recipients, their program has been invaluable--not just for the financing but also for the access to the people who run Glossier. Finally, Kendra Bracken-Ferguson founded Brain Trust and co-founded DBA, the first influencer agency. Kendra is a visionary, whip-smart, and one of the hardest-working people I know. She helped Halle Berry and Samuel L. Jackson launch companies. She recently created a fund to help Black beauty founders, launched a podcast highlighting founders, and published a book."
Azizah Lloyd, Azizah Healing
"Madame CJ Walker is a monumental figure in my admiration for Black woman entrepreneurs. Her journey from the cotton fields of post-Civil War America to becoming a self-made millionaire exemplifies unparalleled resilience and innovation. Walker's legacy goes beyond her pioneering developments in the beauty industry; she crafted a business model that was as much about uplifting Black women as it was about profit. By providing thousands of women with opportunities as sales agents, she opened doors to economic independence at a time when such paths were nearly nonexistent. Her approach to entrepreneurship was revolutionary, intertwining the pursuit of personal success with the broader mission of community upliftment. Walker's life teaches me that true entrepreneurial success comes with the responsibility to advocate for and invest in our communities. Her enduring legacy serves as a beacon, guiding my own path and reminding me of the power we hold as entrepreneurs to achieve our dreams and empower others along the way."
Saria Hawkins-Banda, Manifest Your Purpose
"Tabitha Brown is someone I look up to. I love how her branding is so consistent across the board! She has a seasoning line, a hairline, and a plethora of other business ventures, but they all are true to who she is. And she is among the most gracious and loving people I've ever met!"
Tarina Hodges, Pepper’s Hotdogs
"Pinky Cole is my mentor as an entrepreneur because her trailblazing success with Slutty Vegan inspires me to push boundaries and challenge the norm in the food industry. Her commitment to community and authenticity aligns perfectly with the values I uphold at Pepper's Hotdogs."
Melissa Jagessar, Cali Meets NYC
"As a Black woman, having an entrepreneur role model to navigate these waters is imperative. And my maternal grandma, Clara, was my role model. Although she is no longer here physically, she was my first look at entrepreneurship. For over 20 years, she owned a convenience store called The Roundup in the Bronx. Hearing her stories, trials, and tribulations are memories, inspirations, and aspirations I hold dearly. She is still my role model, and I am honored to be her legacy."
Ashley Johnson, Wine Not
"My Black entrepreneurial role model is Rihanna. As a DJ, I connect with her ability to straddle artistry and business acumen, removing the boxes people try to put her in. She continually pushes boundaries and refuses to be confined by traditional expectations, all while exploring every aspect of her desires. She shows up unapologetically as herself, inspiring me to embrace my own entrepreneurial journey with confidence and creativity."
Khareen Georges, Teazert Tea
“One woman who inspires me is Wendy Jules, co-owner of Fleur De Lis Beauty & Esthetics in Brooklyn. Wendy and I went to junior high school together. Her journey to becoming a co-owner of a thriving business reflects resilience, hard work, and motivation. Her dedication and kindness contribute to the success of her business and uplift those around her. The fact that she speaks life into me and other women entrepreneurs and genuinely wishes for our success is a powerful testament to the strength of supportive relationships among Black women entrepreneurs.”
Bottom line: Role models are needed to show that the dream is possible. Success is achievable. So, channel your spirit, boss lady, for those late nights or early mornings when the odds are stacked against you. Your fairy godmother. Your Galantine will lead the way.