In 2025, WBENC continues its legacy of honoring exceptional women business owners through the WBE Star Award. Each WBE Star has been hand-selected by one of the 14 Regional Partner Organizations, with a special focus this year on honoring those who embody the spirit of “ACCELERATE” by championing progress, growth, and advancement for themselves, their businesses, and the communities they serve. The WBE Star Award stands as a powerful acknowledgment of the profound impact these extraordinary women have made throughout their careers, shaping industries and inspiring lasting changes in their communities.
The 2025 WBE Stars are being celebrated throughout the year, with the culmination at the vibrant WBENC National Conference, held June 23-26, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana. This dynamic event served as a hub for business excellence, innovation, and networking. Thousands of attendees gathered to celebrate the strength and rich tapestry of the WBENC Network. It was a time to recognize the ongoing contributions of entrepreneurs and change makers, including the 14 exceptional WBE Stars ACCELERATING impact across the network.
Meet Darcy Ann Flanders, Founder and Chief Brand Strategist of BaselineGroupNY, with the Women’s Business Enterprise Council Metro NY Regional Partner Organization. With over 35 years of experience, Darcy Ann Flanders is a powerhouse of creativity, strategy, and vision. She brings a unique blend of design expertise and collaborative leadership to every project, working with her team to build brands by building relationships. Darcy has the unique ability to understand client goals and translate them into creative, targeted solutions that address not only today’s challenges, but also lay the foundation for future success.
Darcy’s approach blends big-picture thinking with meticulous attention to detail. She prioritizes keeping projects on time and on budget while consistently exceeding expectations. Her ability to inspire her team, alongside her unwavering commitment to client satisfaction, has made BaselineGroupNY an invaluable partner for their clients.
Get inspired by Darcy’s insights, and stay tuned for more wisdom from the other 2025 WBE Stars throughout the year!
BaselineGroupNY is an award-winning creative agency that partners with clients, wherever they are on their brand journey, to go beyond the expected and deliver brand excellence. For nearly 30 years, they have partnered with leading and emerging brands, building strong and successful relationships through communication, collaboration, and adaptability. From website development to event design and branding, they are a strategic partner, delivering brand excellence, cohesion, and eye-catching designs.
Wisdom from WBE Star, Darcy Ann Flanders
What does “ACCELERATE” mean to you in the context of the WBENC network?
The WBENC network can accelerate a business leader’s growth through the many programs offered to WBEs. The WBENC network can also accelerate growth as fellow WBEs become clients or strategic partners, and you meet corporations who may also become clients.
For business owners and leaders who are looking to ACCELERATE their success, what key advice or actionable steps would you recommend for them to implement today?
Look for relationships that lead to continued work. One-offs are great, but acceleration happens faster when you spend the time to get a client who can use you frequently.
What strategies do you use to stay motivated and inspired as a leader?
I think it is important to always continue learning, and that helps inspire and motivate.
What are some key trends or challenges you see in your industry, and how do you plan to adapt to them?
A key trend we have been seeing is more digital design. Our team has built a full digital capability, so we can design, code, and maintain. Also, with the rapid increase in the use of AI, we have to consider how that will impact what we do. At the moment, the writing and design tools function more as research and ways to generate ideas for designers and copywriters. It cannot replace the quality, personal direction, and level of what is done by a true design team now, but we must see what happens as it evolves.
What legacy do you hope to leave in the business community?
My team is a lot younger than I am, and I plan to have them be my legacy and continue doing amazing design and branding. I am also in a phase of giving back to those coming into this network behind me through mentorship and advice. I hope to impact the lives of my team and other younger WBEs, and that will be my legacy!