Our February Women of Color Feature Series continues with sage advice from Black women business owners to other Black women entrepreneurs, straight from their own experiences and journeys. Join us throughout February and the entire year for encouraging and enlightening guidance from our Women of Color WBEs and leaders.
Hear from some of our many powerful WOC WBE business leaders sharing their advice.
Angela Randolph, Stellar Ledgers®
From day one seek out trusted advisors, mentors and network with fellow business owners for support and development. Business ownership can seem like a lonely journey but you are not alone. Aligning with like-minded individuals will keep you motivated and positive to weather the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. Also enroll in leadership and development programs that will assist you with mindset and prepare you the types of decisions CEOs will have to make.
Our personal experience as Black female business owners has influenced our business practice in many ways. We wear being Black female entrepreneurs like a badge of honor recognizing that we are walking, living, breathing proof of the educational progress and economic necessity of diversity and inclusion in this country. Don’t be afraid to embrace who you are because never has there been a better time than now to showcase black excellence.
I can’t stress enough the importance of networking (and I’m an introvert at heart). Organizations like WBENC are invaluable and have connected me with some amazing people that have helped me develop and grow my business. I would also suggest being a lifelong learner. There’s so much to learn about owning a business and the environment changes so quickly. Taking as many courses, classes, and workshops as you can will help to elevate your game and take your business to the next level.
Sylvia Walker, NAIWBE Natural As I Wanna Be
Keep dreaming your dream and nourishing that dream until it becomes a reality. You have to see yourself making it as a successful businesswoman. I’ve learned it’s okay to take small steps. Achieving one goal a day gets you closer to realizing your dream. Research the industry you are trying to enter, read product reviews and conduct focus group sessions to help you determine where and how you fit into that market and the demand for your product or service in that market. Develop your business locally first to achieve brand recognition before expanding.
Tameka Flowers-Ball, Epiphany Blue
Simply put…NEVER GIVE UP! While we will face challenges, adversities, and even some setbacks, these will make us stronger, more confident, more experienced, and more resilient. Continue to dream bold, dream big, and bring those visions to life! You ROCK and never forget that!
Pamela Smith, PTS Compliance Consulting
You must have perseverance and not let anyone or anything deter your from your goal of providing the best products or services.
Elizabeth Caulder, Phoenix Lifestyle Marketing Group
Follow your dream with both passion and pragmatism. Strategize and plan. Identify and use your resources. Stay the course and always remember that all things of value are worth working and fighting for.
Tanika Vital-Pringle, Brand Rebirth 
Entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. Pivot when necessary, but stay true to your core and what you offer and how you want to serve your customers, employees and stakeholders.
And last but certainly not least, short, sweet and to the point!
Aimee Griffin, The Griffin Firm PLLC
Don’t try to do it alone. We are better together.
Does the wise advice from these outstanding WOC WBES resonate with you? Share this post on social and add what encouraged you to start your business! We can’t wait to hear more advice on the entrepreneurship journey and becoming WBENC-Certified from our WBENC WOC Network and all of our WBEs.
About the WBENC Women of Color Program
The Women of Color Program
is an outreach and development program designed to build and strengthen a dynamic ecosystem for women of color entrepreneurs. WBENC launched the Women of Color Program in 2017 to create an effective and successful business ecosystem designed to engage, advise and drive the growth of women of color women-owned businesses. Since then, hundreds of women entrepreneurs have attended in-person and virtual sessions at WBENC events, designed to address the challenges faced by many women of color business owners and provide resources and programming to address those challenges.
