Innovator, accountant, therapist, receptionist, sales rep--Black women entrepreneurs wear many hats. All the Hats acknowledges, supports, and hopes to inspire, as explained by entrepreneur and founding editor Teneshia Carr, who'll tell you about it when you click play.
"It's important for women to see that there is freedom on the other side of fear. I was terrified to speak out. I wasn't sure how it would be received. But I started to realize I have a voice--even if it shakes, I can still use it. We could all do this--just strive to live bravely." Read how Allyson Felix Set an Olympic Record, Stood Up for Moms, and Launched Shoe Company Saysh.
"It is pure mythology that women cannot perform as well as men in science, engineering, and mathematics. In my experience, the opposite is true: Women are often more adept and patient at untangling complex problems, multitasking, seeing the possibilities in new solutions, and winning team support for collaborative action." -Weili Dai
Dai is a successful entrepreneur and the co-founder of Marvell Technology Group, a major semiconductor company.
1 Thing Smart People Do to Boost Their Willpower, Determination, and Odds of Success
Not sleep. Not nutrition. And certainly not self-talk. When you need to stay the course, make sure you don't do this. Read more.
What's Stopping People From Building Credit?
30% of Black Americans and 27% of Hispanic Americans say they were misinformed or tricked in their first interactions with credit, highlighting the need for credit to be accessible and equitable.
A Family Health Crisis Showed Her How Hard It Is to Be a Home Caregiver. She Started a Company to Help
Bianca Padilla founded Carewell as a one-stop shop to educate caregivers and recommend products that simplify their responsibilities. Read more.
"You have to fill your bucket with positive energy--and if you have people hanging around you that are bringing you down and not lifting you up, whether that's your 'boo' or your best friend--you have to learn how to push these people to the side" -Michelle Obama
Obama is an attorney and author who served as first lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017.
You Don’t Have to Leave Home to Find Opportunity
Urban revitalizer Majora Carter theorizes that the key to reviving down-on-its-luck neighborhoods is to treat them like struggling businesses. In this TED Talk, Carter offers a restorative approach to capitalism, which seeks to retain talent, build resilient communities, and prove that the brightest minds don’t have to move out of town to live in a better one.
How to Have an Inclusive Workplace-;Even When You’re Still Working From Home
These changes may be subtle, but they’ll go far in broadcasting a safe space for LGBTQ+ employees. Read more.
"It's not the load that breaks you down; it's the way you carry it." -Lena Horne
Lena Horne was a dancer, actress, singer, and civil rights activist.
How to Make Your Website Accessible to Everyone
Artificial intelligence tools alone may not ensure that your company’s website is navigable for people with disabilities. Read more.
"Whenever I feel bad, I use that feeling to motivate me to work harder. I only allow myself one day to feel sorry for myself. When I'm not feeling my best I ask myself, 'What are you gonna do about it?' I use the negativity to fuel the transformation into a better me." -Beyoncé
Beyoncé is a singer, songwriter, and actress.
Why Black Girls Are Targeted for Punishment at School - And How To Change That
Author and social justice scholar Monique W. Morris shares that around the world, Black girls are being pushed out of schools because of policies that target them for punishment and marginalization, and they are seven times more likely to experience out-of-school suspension. In a fiery talk, Morris uncovers the causes of "pushout" and shows how we can work to turn all schools into spaces where Black girls can heal and thrive.
Let's Reset the Bar for Gifting
Before you start thoughtlessly ordering swag bags for clients and employees--both deserving and undeserving--give some consideration to how you might do holiday gifts better. Read more.
"Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness." -Oprah
Oprah is a talkshow host, producer, author, and philanthropist.
How Khaby Lame Went From Laid-Off Factory Worker to $10 Million Social Media Star
"People are so influenced by the judgement of others. They stop chasing dreams, just because somebody told them that they cannot make it or shouldn't do it." Read more.
"You always have to remember to take care of yourself first and foremost, because when you stop taking care of yourself, you get out of balance and you really forget how to take care of others."
-Jada Pinkett Smith
-Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith is an actress and talkshow host.
Can Beauty Open Our Hearts to Difficult Conversations?
"There are literally formulas written down historically to tell me how to paint White skin, what colors I should use for the underpainting, what colors I should use for the impasto highlights. That doesn't really exist for dark skin. That's not a thing. It's not a thing because the reality is our skin wasn't considered beautiful." Artist Titus Kaphar reflects on his artistic evolution and shares the idea behind NXTHVN, an arts incubator and community for young people in his hometown.
How to Ensure You’re Paying Your Employees a Fair Salary
Keeping your compensation competitive is a persistent challenge. Here’s how to know where to draw the line.
"There is nothing like a concrete life plan to weigh you down. Because if you always have one eye on some future goal, you stop paying attention to the job at hand, miss opportunities that might arise, and stay fixedly on one path, even when a better, newer course might have opened up." -Indra Nooyi
Indra Nooyi is a business executive and former Chairperson and CEO of PepsiCo.
The Secrets to Engaging a Global Audience, According to WhatsApp
Marketing exec Vivian Odior explains what went into some of the messaging platform's most effective marketing campaigns. Read more.
Know Which Threats Really Matter
Not all problems facing your business are equal. Read more to help spot the difference and find out why you should always have a Plan B.
"Don't be afraid to take the tough jobs. You'll develop confidence in dealing with tough issues that will serve you for the rest of your career."
-Geisha Williams
-Geisha Williams
Geisha Williams is a Cuban-American businesswoman. She was the president and CEO of the Pacific Gas and Electric Company for 11 years.
3 Pieces of Popular Personal Finance Advice That Are Just Plain Wrong
Economists and popular personal finance gurus do not always agree on how you should handle your money. Read more.
This Is What Makes Employees Happy at Work
Michael C. Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work, shares a few ideas about what makes workers unhappy and how companies can improve their bottom lines by fostering satisfaction.
How to Survive Raising Your Company’s Prices, Naked and Unafraid
P&L Survival Guide, Part IV: What to do when you have no choice but to raise prices.
“I didn’t learn to be quiet when I had an opinion. The reason they knew who I was is because I told them.” -Ursula Burns
Ursula Burns is a businesswoman best known for being the CEO of Xerox from 2009 to 2016.
How Vulnerability Makes You a Better Leader
Tracy Young, who co-founded PlanGrid in 2011, worried that employees and investors valued male CEOs more and that being a woman compromised her leadership position. In this personal talk, she looks honestly at women’s constraints when trying to adapt to male-dominated business culture and shares how she developed the courage and vulnerability to lead as her complete, raw self.
What Should You Wear to Work Now?
The pandemic upended the old rules about professional attire. What’s replaced them? A Harvard lecturer explains. Read more.
“You’re never allowed to step on people to get ahead, but you can step over them if they’re in your way.” -Star Jones
Star Jones is a lawyer and television personality.
Make Your Heritage Part of Your Unique ‘How’
As Hispanic Heritage Month begins, a reminder that your background can help you build your business. Read more.
3 Reasons Imposter Syndrome Is Actually a Professional Superpower
Economist and author Tyler Cowen runs through all the reasons hiring managers should see imposter syndrome as a positive thing. Read more.
"I had found that taking risks, being true to myself, and making decisions with good intentions can exceed even my own expectations." -Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez is a singer, actress, and dancer.
Emotionally Intelligent People Use 5 Simple Rules to Make More Friends and Build Stronger Relationships
Strategies from 3 people who used TikTok to launch a business. Read more.
"Dreams can become a reality when we possess a vision that is characterized by the willingness to work hard, a desire for excellence, and a belief in our right and our responsibility to be equal members of society." -Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson is a singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer.
The Next Big Thing Is Coming From the Bronx, Again
"The hood is good" says Jon Gray, founder of the Bronx, New York-based creative collective Ghetto Gastro. The members work at the intersection of food, design, and art, honoring their community's soul and history while applying their unbridled creativity and expansive imagination to unexpected, otherworldly collaborations.
Tips for Turning TikTok Fame Into Business Deals
Strategies from 3 people who used TikTok to launch a business. Read more.
"I am the one thing in life I can control. I am inimitable. I am an original." -Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda is an actor, composer, playwright, and filmmaker.
"Working on the front line for 14 years, I realized that there was a shortage of Black people working to help folks get the care they deserved. That's when I remembered my childhood experiences at Black barbershops." After a decade of working in behavioral health, Lorenzo P. Lewis founded the Confess Project, which offers mental health programs for men of color. In the past six years, his team has trained more than 1,300 barbers in nearly 50 cities. Read more..
Female Founders Are Changing the World. Please Stop Calling Them 'Mompreneurs' and 'She-E-Os'
Enough with the cutesy nicknames. Read more.
"Being a part of this reemergence of a movement both pro-diversity and pro-woman is the best part of being a Black girl. It's more than 'I stand for this because I should.' I stand for this because this is part of who I am as a human being." -Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi is an actress and model.
6 Marketing Drivers to Boost Your Business Launch and Revenue Growth
Here are some key drivers for accelerating the revenue growth of any new business today. Read more.
The Power of the Black Woman's Self Love Journey
"If all Black Women started a Self Love Journey, we could heal generations." In this talk, speaker and educator Denise Francis discusses the relationship between Black women, self-love, and mental health. She hopes to help heal Black women from the trans-generational trauma that the "Strong Black Woman" trope has silenced.
Robots Are Racist and Sexist: A.I. Isn’t Ready for Recruiting
Humans struggle with not letting bias creep in, but it looks like artificial intelligence has a worse problem. Read more.
“The path to your success is not as fixed and inflexible as you think.” -Misty Copeland
Misty Copeland is a ballet dancer who was the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre.
Here Are the 5 Best States to Start a Business. 3 of Them Will Surprise You
New York and Massachusetts didn’t make the list. Who did? Read more.
How I Claimed a Seat at the Periodic Table
Nuclear chemist Clarice Phelps was the first African American woman involved in the discovery of a chemical element. In this talk, she debunks the myth of solitary genius and shares stories of women of color making their way in science.
"Just remember the world is not a playground but a schoolroom. Life is not a holiday but an education. One eternal lesson for us all: to teach us how better we should love." -Barbara Jordan
Barbara Jordan was a lawyer and politician who was a leader in the civil rights movement.
Female Founders Are Showing Strength in a Tough Venture Capital Environment
Startups with at least one woman on their leadership team have raised $20.8 billion so far this year, according to recent data from Pitchbook. Read more.
Why Peers Make the Best Mentors, According to 2 Female Founders
Nicole Gibbons, the founder of paint brand Clare, and Ishveen Anand, founder of sports marketing company OpenSponsorship, sat down to share their experiences with peer mentorship.
4 Odd Brain Hacks That Will Supercharge Your Creativity
Researchers found that people who have fun on the job are more creative and productive. Read more.
The Most Powerful Woman You've Never Heard Of
Septima Clark was the teacher of legendary activists including Rosa Parks, Diane Nash, Fannie Lou Hamer, and thousands more. Clark laid out a blueprint for change-making that inspired GirlTrek co-founders T. Morgan Dixon and Vanessa Garrison to launch a health revolution in the U.S.--and get one million women walking for justice.
"The state of Black America does include highly educated and qualified Black people in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics world. We're not just the consumers of technology, but also the builders and the solvers in this space. Being a part of the movement here at NSBE, we help to manifest this idea." The CEO of the National Society of Black Engineers, Janeen Uzzell, shares a common misconception and some steps her organization is taking to help. Read more.
12% vs. 3%
The reason Black engineers cited most often for why they were not working was being laid off (12 percent), compared with just 3 percent for White engineers, according to National Bureau of Economic Research.
A Harvard Biologist Says This Is the Worst Myth About Exercise He Most Wants to Debunk
Believing this myth can drastically affect how many healthy and productive years you get to run your business. Read more.
"Many Latino kids should become scientists because we need scientists all over the world from all different backgrounds. We have many tough problems, and we need everybody's help to solve the problems." -Mario J. Molina
Mario J. Molina was a chemist who played an important role in the discovery of the Antarctic ozone hole, and was a co-recipient of the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
These Two Founders Used the Pandemic as a Time to Regroup. Now, They Say, They're Ready for Anything
During a recent Meta Small Business Studios event in Columbus, Ohio, local founders shared how they pivoted their businesses to survive the pandemic, and how they're planning ahead. Read more.
"We will all, at some point, encounter hurdles to gaining access and entry, moving up and conquering self-doubt; but on the other side is the capacity to own opportunity and tell our own story." -Stacey Abrams
Stacey Abrams is a lawyer, entrepreneur, and author who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017.
How the Most Influential People In the World Turn Their Insecurities Into Strengths
Even the top entertainers and business leaders have insecurities. How they deal with them is what determines their success and happiness. Read more.
3 Steps to Getting What You Want in a Negotiation
Organizational psychologist Ruchi Sinha thinks that negotiations should not be a fight; it's about crafting a relationship. Her three key steps will help you master this essential skill.
Want to Be More Successful? Forget Willpower, and Create a Few Simple Rules Instead
Can't, or don't want to rely on willpower alone? Instead of hoping it will see you through, embrace the power of rules. Read more.
"You can't just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You've got to get out there and make it happen for yourself." -Diana Ross
Diana Ross is a singer and actress.
How to Effectively Lead from the Heart
A call to all leaders: Ditch the harshness and mind the heart. Here are four ways to lead from your best self.
Using Your Voice Is a Political Choice
Author Elizabeth White opens up an honest conversation about financial trouble and offers practical advice on living a richly textured life on a limited income.
6 Ways to Find a Business Purpose That Inspires You and Your Team
Contrary to popular belief, there is great value in leading from the heart with purpose in business. Read more.
"Whatever relationships you have attracted in your life at this moment, are precisely the ones you need in your life at this moment. There is a hidden meaning behind all events, and this hidden meaning is serving your own evolution." -Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra is an author and alternative medicine advocate.
"I didn't want to start over and launch anew. I wanted to rest, to retreat, but I was simply compelled to do it again. I think it's OK to embrace that I might have an addiction: I have a need to see challenges, find innovative ways to address them, and turn those into enterprises that create financial abundance and give back." After 15 years of building Happy Family Organics, Shazi Visram has taken the lessons she's learned to apply them to her new startup and shares why it's OK to start over. Read more.
"Enthusiasm is the electricity of life. How do you get it? You act enthusiastic until you make it a habit. Enthusiasm is natural; it is being alive, taking the initiative, seeing the importance of what you do, giving it dignity and making what you do important to yourself and to others."
-Gordon Parks
-Gordon Parks
Gordon Parks was a photographer and film director.
To Find Huge Success, You Have to Adapt
Iman Abuzeid of Incredible Health shared details about the company's latest round of funding, which brought its valuation to the unicorn level of $1.65 billion, and the importance of being assertive about your mission. Read more.
An Honest Look at the Personal Finance Crisis
Author Elizabeth White opens up an honest conversation about financial trouble and offers practical advice on living a richly textured life on a limited income.
How to Build Partnerships That Grow Your Business
The key to building a successful business is the partnerships that you create. Read these three tips on developing and maintaining relationships that keep delivering for you.
"Nobody can teach me who I am. You can describe parts of me, but who I am -- and what I need -- is something I have to find out myself." -Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic.
"I like doing things my own way. And the only place you're really going to be successful doing things you want to do is running a business." Steven Murphy was on the brink of having to close down his restaurant, A Taste of Louisiana, when the community proved how much they needed him by helping him stay afloat. Read more.
How to Fire Employees With Empathy and Compassion
Letting go of employees is never easy, but a few steps can make the decision better for everyone involved, says M.M.LaFleur founder Sarah LaFleur.
"I believe that fortitude is key. More than anything, be consistent. Go at it. Go at it. Go at it. When you succeed, don't forget the responsibility of making somebody else succeed with you." -Antonia Novello
Antonia Novello was the United States Surgeon General from 1990 to 1993.
"We've hired people who'd never had a job before, who didn't even know what they were going to do with their lives. And, as a result, they've bought homes and cars--even started businesses." To carry on her father's legacy, Rhonda Grayer registered his side business and continued the mission of uplifting the people of Flint, Michigan. Read more.
"Courage has nothing to do with our determination to be great. It has to do with what we decide in that moment when we are called upon to be more."
-Rita Dove
-Rita Dove
Rita Dove is a poet and essayist.
The Mindset You Need to Become a Better Leader
Do you take innovative business ideas and turn them into reality through action and grit? Here's how to grow the mindset needed.
Racial Equity in Higher Education
Current rates of change suggest that it would take about 70 years for all not-for-profit educational institutions to reflect underrepresented students fully. For Black and Native American students and faculty from all underrepresented populations, there was effectively no progress from 2013 to 2020.
5 Tips for Working From Anywhere
Want to know what it takes to run a fully-remote business? Consider these tips from two founders who work remotely from trailers. Read more.
This Founder Believes Authenticity Is the Key to Success
Co-Founder and CEO of Siete Family Foods Miguel Garza has brought a voice to a new generation of consumers and found success in staying true to himself.
The Economic Indicators You Should Care About
"Many of us stay up until 2 a.m. watching stuff on Netflix, but you get off of work at 6 o'clock. So, what could you do from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. that can prove this company is worth it." -Candice Matthews Brackeen
Candice Matthews Brackeen is the CEO and CoFounder of Lightship Capital
Steal This Energizing Way to Shorten Meetings
For the Best Workplaces of 2022, Inc. looked at companies that have implemented a simple but important policy to solve a problem or improve their culture. Read how the team at Addigy, a Miami-based software company dealt with productivity issues surrounding meetings.
Futureproof Your Business
Jessica O. Matthews, founder and CEO of sustainable infrastructure company Uncharted Power, talks about preparing for uncertainty.
"My humanness doesn't insulate me from racism or sexism. In fact, I think I can deal effectively with the world precisely because I am a black woman who is so comfortable in my black-womanness. I know what I can accomplish. And anything I have accomplished, I did so not in spite of being a black woman, but because I am a black woman." -Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union is an actress and entrepreneur.
Beyoncé Said 'Quit Your Job'--Here's How to Do it Right
Taking Queen B's advice could backfire if you're not prepared. Read more to step correctly into your next phase.
How To Resolve Racially Stressful Situations
Psychologist Howard C. Stevenson is an expert on resolving racial stress and trauma affecting health at every stage of life. In this inspiring talk, learn more from him about how to decoding racial threats can help youth build confidence and stand up for themselves in productive ways.
"We didn't lose people. People stayed with us. They emailed us and said, 'Charge me whenever, even when you're closed, make sure that you can stay open.'" Find out how Alex West Steinman's company, the Coven, got through lockdowns and other hardships while other co-working spaces collapsed.
"Rising from the ashes of my earlier life, I learned that our thoughts, words, and deeds are unified through spiritual practice. They are made whole within us. And when our thoughts, words, and deeds are aligned with our most positive intentions, magic happens."
-Tina Turner
-Tina Turner
Tina Turner is a singer and actress.
What if Women Built the World They Want To See?
Educator and builder Emily Pilloton-Lam makes the case for putting power into the hands of young women dreaming of inclusive construction sites by daring to ask: What if women built the world they want to see?
How to Expand Opportunities for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs
In Thursday's Inc. Town Hall, Partake Foods founder Denise Woodard and Cadre founder Ryan Williams talked about advancing economic empowerment. Read more.
"Power doesn't have to show off. Power is confident, self-assuring, self-starting and self-stopping, self-warming and self-justifying. When you have it, you know it." -Ralph Waldo Ellison
Ralph Waldo Ellison was a writer, literary critic, and scholar.
"I think entrepreneurs who grow their companies to be sustainable are those who say, 'All right, I'm wearing a lot of hats. The marketing hat, branding hat, and community-building hat fit me well. The Excel spreadsheet hat or the HR managing and policy hat is giving me a headache.' Tapping people with superpowers complementary to your own is a trait that's shared by the most successful entrepreneurs I've ever met." Sam Calagione, the founder of four-time Inc. 5000 honoree Dogfish Head Brewery, offers Harlem Brewing Company founder Celeste Beatty some hard-won wisdom on succeeding in the industry. Read more.
How Prison Time Helped This Founder Start His Own Company
Coss Marte spent his teen years selling drugs on the streets of New York, which eventually landed him in prison. In 2016, Marte founded his workout studio, ConBody, using the business skills he learned in the most unexpected way: as a drug kingpin on Manhattan's Lower East Side.
Meet the Founder
Here's how Joshua Flournoy built a home-care company during a health care labor shortage: Step 1: Name the company after your mom. Step 2: Pay higher wages than your twin brother does at his competing company. Step 3: Make the Inc. 5000. Read more.
"It's up to you to bring yourself to the attention of powerful people around you. They're not going to find you on their own." -Richard Parsons
Richard Parsons is a former chairman of Citigroup and a former chairman and CEO of Time Warner.
Inc.'s National Small Business Town Hall on the State of Black Business in America is today at 12 p.m. ET
Join Inc. in conversation about the goals, ambitions, and unique challenges of Black entrepreneurs in the U.S. -and why they're important for everyone.
"If you want the cooperation of humans around you, you must make them feel they are important--and you do that by being genuine and humble." -Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist who served as that country's first president.
6 Ways to Use Video Marketing to Strengthen Your Brand
It's not your product or your services that sell; it's your brand. Here are some ways to use video to help you become recognizable for the things that set you apart.
"My brush with death was a gift. I knew what my future would have looked like if I had stayed in my corporate job: I would have worked hard from 9 to 5, gotten a promotion, and been comfortable, and my parents would have been proud. But I had the idea in my head, and I wanted to be brave." Amber Leong of Circadian Optics shares her incredible story of triumph and what eventually led her to a Shark Tank investment. Read more.
2 Things Every Black Female Founder Needs to Know About Fundraising
Wanona Satcher, founder and CEO of Makhers Studio, a manufacturing and urban design firm, shares some advice about being open to unconventional funding sources.
Inc.'s Best in Business Application Got You Stumped? Answers to the 5 Most Frequently Asked Questions
The deadline is coming! Fear not. Here are some tips to help you produce your best application.
"Reinvent yourself over and over and over and over and over until you find home. There is no timeline for the soul."
-Malebo Sephodi
-Malebo Sephodi
Malebo Sephodi is a writer and social commentator on issues of identity and gender.
This $1.3 Million Black Small Business Grant Program Is Now Taking Applications
Back for the third year, the Coalition to Back Black Businesses has awarded more than $6.4 million in grants to Black business owners who were financially harmed by the pandemic. Read more.
A recent study involving more than 83,000 job applications found that compared with applicants with distinctively White names, those with distinctively Black names were less likely to be contacted by an employer. This isn't a new finding; similar studies have been conducted since the 1970s.
"We have really focused on quality hires over the past few years, but the Great Resignation has been a big challenge. We created team happy hours and a monthly company huddle where we talk about everything that's going on in the business, to keep everyone engaged and happy. Still, you don't have a lot of control over employees' mental state amid a pandemic. Acknowledging their struggles is so important." Ashley Reynolds, founder of Cloth & Paper, talks about knowing what your customers want and how to keep your team engaged. Read more.
"If you have the opportunity for your art to meet activism, you shouldn't pass that up when it comes your way." -Regina King
Regina King is an actress and director.
The Genius Growth Hack AptDeco Used to Find Its First 100 Customers
AptDeco's co-founder Reham Fagiri shares how she and co-founder Kalam Dennis found their very first customers with a tactic inspired by Reddit.
What Drives the Leaders of Inc. 5000 Companies--and What Keeps Them Up at Night
Here's what's on the minds of the CEOs running today's fastest-growing U.S. companies. Read more.
"I don't think that any clothing should specifically be for someone. Anyone can wear whatever they want, and be whatever they want to be." Jaya Iyer launched her brand Svaha after she could not find a girl's style outer-space T-shirt for her daughter, who wanted to be an astronaut. Read how a partnership with former NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg was the perfect fit.
Have You Heard About This Trailblazer?
Mary Wallace became the first woman to drive a Chicago Transit Authority bus in 1974. She first applied to be a driver at the age of 19 as a way to meet new people and was told women couldn't be drivers due to the lack of facilities. Undeterred, Wallace went to the CTA office every week for three years until they gave her the job, where she remained until her retirement. "When I opened this door, it opened up a whole lot of opportunities." (Photo: Chicago Sun-Times Collection, Chicago History Museum)
Navigating the Tech Industry as a Black Woman
Angela Benton, a thought leader in the Black tech community, shares her take on the best way to advance diversity and inclusion in the world of startups and entrepreneurship. Read more.
"To be truly visionary we have to root our imagination in our concrete reality while simultaneously imagining possibilities beyond that reality." -bell hooks
bell hooks was an author and social activist.
The Cost of Work Stress--and How to Reduce It
Wellness Advocate and relationship coach Rob Cooke reminds us that stress can affect productivity and that work-related stress drains the U.S. economy of nearly $300 billion annually. He shares some strategies to help put mental, physical, and emotional well-being back at the forefront.
"Becoming a wife and a mother, specifically a mother, really taught me so much. I remember clearly wanting to remove the negative energy around me quickly...Doing it for this new soul made sense to me. And then that evolved into realizing that if it's not really feeling like the right thing for me...if it's not feeling really good, I'm not going to do that. I used to say yes to everything." -Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys is a singer, songwriter, and pianist.
"I've always had that entrepreneurial mindset. I was the kid selling candy out of his locker and flipping cars before I could drive. I graduated from high school two years early, and started college before I was 16. I planned to go to med school, but decided to go to Yemen after my freshman year to study Arabic for a year. I ended up spending about five years in Saudi Arabia, studying Arabic, along with religion and philosophy, at a university there. That's where I became aware of language services as an industry--and a path for me." Read about how Mohamed Hussein turned his love of languages into a multimillion-dollar business.
"Stop holding your truth; speak your truth. Be yourself. It's the healthiest way to be."
-Tiffany Haddish
-Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Haddish is a stand-up comedian and actress.
5 Ways to Create Stronger Connections
Robert Reffkin, founder of real-estate startup Compass, shares his tips and tricks for establishing authentic connections on the job during a time when it can be difficult to do so.
5 Steps to Turn Your Dreams Into Reality
Whether your big dream is to start a business, write a book, go back to school or forge a lasting partnership, you can use this guide to set yourself up for success.
"This is what most girls are taught--that we should be slender and small. We should not take up space. We should be seen and not heard, and if we are seen, we should be pleasing to men, acceptable to society. And most women know this, that we are supposed to disappear, but it's something that needs to be said, loudly, over and over again, so that we can resist surrendering to what is expected of us."
-Roxane Gay
-Roxane Gay
Roxane Gay is a writer, professor, and editor.
"In the TV business, I'd single-handedly outsold huge departments in New York City and L.A., so I figured there wasn't any reason not to try a tech business." SnapNurse founder Cherie Kloss spent 10 years working as an anesthetist and then as a TV producer before launching her business, whose annual revenue went from $3 million to $88 million in 2020, and then to $1.1 billion in 2021. Read more about the spectacular growth of SnapNurse.
"I can never be safe; I always try and go against the grain. As soon as I accomplish one thing, I just set a higher goal. That's how I've gotten to where I am." -Beyoncé Knowles-Carter
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is a singer, producer, and actress.
A Business-Minded Mom Makes Sweet Treats Safe for Everyone
"There are customers who just want to support conscious companies and understand that their dollar is having a positive social impact." Denise Woodard founded Partake Foods in 2015 after the birth of her daughter. Here's how she landed on this year's Inc. 5000 list.
Profit's Not Always the Point
Harish Manwani, the former COO of Unilever, argues that including value, purpose, and sustainability in top-level decision-making is not only savvy, but also the only way to run a 21st-century business responsibly.
What It Took to Build a $20 Million VC Fund, and How Founders Should Pitch It
Arlan Hamilton of Backstage Capital sat down with me at Inc. Founders House during Black Tech Week to to give advice on leadership, securing funding, and making tough financial decisions. Read more. -Teneshia
How Startups Recover From Failure
Why experienced entrepreneurs are prepared to fail. Read more.
"We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and will go away, but there will always be science, engineering, and technology. And there will always, always be mathematics." -Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson was a mathematician who was critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights.
72%
of workers reported DEI being an important factor in staying at their organization.
Nearly 50 percent of workers are concerned a recession will cause additional setbacks for women in the workplace. As the threat of recession continues, business leaders must keep DEI at the forefront of all decisions they make.
Science Says the More of This You Give, the Happier You'll Be (Hint: It's Not Money)
Steve Jobs once said this was the most precious resource we have. He was absolutely right. Read more.
Advancing Diversity in the Tech Industry
Join Angela Benton, founder and CEO of Streamlytics, and our small-business host Beatrice Dixon, founder of The Honey Pot Company, for a candid conversation about diversity in the tech industry. Are you ready for Your Next Move?
"Dream small dreams. If you make them too big, you get overwhelmed and you don't do anything. If you make small goals and accomplish them, it gives you the confidence to go on to higher goals."
-John H. Johnson
-John H. Johnson
John H. Johnson, American businessman and publisher. Johnson was the founder of Johnson Publishing Company, publisher of the first Black magazine and others including Ebony and Jet.
How Cryptocurrency Can Help Startups Get Investment Capital
Ashwini Anburajan, the founder and CEO of Social Data Collective, thinks we need a flexible system that doesn't squeeze entrepreneurs and investors into one rigid outcome. She shares how her company became part of an entirely new way to raise capital, using the powers of cooperation and cryptocurrency.
How to Work With a Writer to Build Your Personal Brand
Maintain your authentic voice with the help of a great writer and a proven system that brings structure to ongoing content production. Read more.
"I had reasoned this out in my mind; there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty, or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive; I should fight for my liberty as long as my strength lasted, and when the time came for me to go, the Lord would let them take me." -Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist and social activist born into slavery, who escaped and then went on 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.
"I tell customers that I value honesty and open communication. I think they appreciate that. I know I can stand by everything we tell them and everything we write on our website. As an industry and as a community, we have to adjust the way we do business, because if we don't do it and we keep accepting these old ways, then nothing will change. So I'm hoping our company can be a part of a new wave of businesses in this industry that does things differently." Read about Carolina Alvarez launching J&S Building Maintenance after spending 13 years working in the male-dominated janitorial industry.
Possible Futures From the Intersection of Nature, Tech and Society
A trip to Disneyland as a child taught biodesigner Natsai Audrey Chieza that art and design had the power to imagine other possible futures, and she began to ask herself how she could build them. Chieza invites us to consider what kind of world we wish for and what systemic changes and collaborations need to happen for it to exist.
3 Simple Mindset Changes to Bring More Fun Into Your Life
Fun isn't frivolous. A boatload of science shows it helps us be happier, healthier, and more successful. Read more.
AspireMKTPLC
Magic Johnson launched the Aspire TV network in 2012 to celebrate, share, and reflect the Black culture and urban lifestyle. As a part of the network, AspireMktplc was established as a way to discover and connect with Black-owned businesses, buy Black, and shop with a purpose.
Amazon Is Looking for the Products of Tomorrow
Amazon launched the Products for Tomorrow Awards, a grant of $20,000 along with additional resources, for founders who create a highly effective product that's centered on design, technological, or chemical innovations and that has sustainability attributes. Applications close on August 18, so read here how you can apply.
"Tax planning as a concept is something that people have deemed optional. That's an oversight and a mistake for business owners. Tax planning is a necessity. If you're not strategically minimizing your tax burden, you're paying too much. In fact, statistics show that 93 percent of business owners overpay in taxes." Cindy McGhee launched the CPA firm NextGen in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2017. An all-female company in a male-dominated industry, NextGen has expanded rapidly: It hit $1.5 million in revenue in 2021. Read what you can do to reduce your tax burden.
242%
Top companies hired 242% more Black directors in 5 months in 2020
In the five months following George Floyd's death in May 2020, companies in the Russell 3000 Index hired 130 Black directors, compared with just 38 in the five months prior. That staggering 242 percent increase makes it clear that more diverse hiring is possible--companies just need to commit to it.
Career Pivoting Is the New Normal: Here's How to Do It Correctly
While changing careers can be intimidating, more people are doing it than ever before. Here's what you need to keep in mind as you switch.
"Greatness occurs when your children love you, when your critics respect you, and when you have peace of mind."
-Quincy Jones
-Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones is a record producer with a career that spans 70 years and 80 Grammy nominations.
How To Manage for Collective Creativity
"If we want to build organizations that can innovate time and again, we must unlearn our conventional notions of leadership." Harvard professor Linda Hill, co-author of Collective Genius, has studied some of the world's most creative companies, and shares some of the tools and tactics to keep great ideas flowing.
How Many Good Ideas Are You Currently Wasting?
Have you ever found yourself looking at an empty notebook or laptop screen, waiting for your next big idea to come to you? Best-selling author of Four Thousand Weeks Oliver Burkeman argues that we should spend less time searching for new ideas and more exploiting the ones we already have. Read more.
"Don't let anything stop you. There will be times when you'll be disappointed, but you can't stop. Make yourself the best that you can make out of what you are. The very best."
-Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander
-Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander
Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander was a civil rights activist and the first African American to receive a PhD in economics in the United States.
A Bold Marketing Move Helped Sassy Jones Grow 4,515 Percent in 3 Years
Charis Jones, founder of accessory brand Sassy Jones, shares how a pivot from trade shows to e-commerce helped secure her company an Inc. 5000 spot in 2020.
Serena Williams Is Retiring From Tennis to Focus on Business and Family
The tennis star is giving up her athletic career to fully transition to her new life as a mother, entrepreneur, and investor. Read more.
The loser is always a part of the problem; the winner is always a part of the answer. The loser always has an excuse; the winner always has a program. The loser says it may be possible, but it's difficult; the winner says it may be difficult, but it's possible."
-Althea Gibson
-Althea Gibson
Althea Gibson was a professional golfer, tennis player, and one of the first Black athletes to cross the color line of international tennis.
"I hope it inspires the innovators of tomorrow by letting them know that we can solve the problems of climate change and deforestation. We just need to focus our energies on coming up with those solutions." Scientist Lisa Dyson is the founder of Air Protein, a food company that uses NASA technology to yield a meat alternative. Read more.
What Advice Would You Give Your 25-Year-Old Self?
"Own your power. Never let anyone make you doubt that which is uniquely you." Carla Harris is one of the few Black women who have made it to a top position on Wall Street, as Morgan Stanley's vice chairman of wealth management. She is currently a senior client adviser at the company. In this talk, she shares some of the things she would tell her 25-year-old self that she's learned from her journey.
How These Founders Are Detoxifying the Denim Industry
--and Helping to Save the Planet
--and Helping to Save the Planet
Most jeans manufacturers rely on petroleum-based dyes and pollutants. Tammy Hsu and Michelle Zhu are on a mission to revolutionize the industry with planet-friendly, microbe-based dyes. Read more.
"You are growing into consciousness, and my wish for you is that you feel no need to constrict yourself to make other people comfortable."
-Ta-Nehisi Coates
-Ta-Nehisi Coates
Ta-Nehisi Coates is an author and journalist, whose Between the World and Me is addressed to his 15-year-old son.
Arlan Hamilton on Making Hard Decisions
During Black Tech Week, Arlan Hamilton joined me at the Inc. Founders house to discuss the future of funding for Black women, barriers facing her fund Backstage Capital, and her love of General Hospital. Watch here.
-Teneshia
-Teneshia
The 4 Stages of Growth and How to Lead Your Company Through Them
Growing your business with less drama, less stress, and less work may not sound possible. But it is. It comes down to your ability to evolve along with your company. Read more.
You Don't Have To Be an Expert To Solve Big Problems
"Sometimes just one fresh perspective, one new skill set, can make the conditions right for something remarkable to happen. But you need to be bold enough to try." Tapiwa Chiwewe, after noticing a large cloud of air pollution hanging over Johannesburg while he was driving, helped develop a platform that uncovers trends in pollution and helps city planners make better decisions. Watch here.
"Trust me, you can't change anything without causing some degree of disruption. It's impossible--that is exactly what change is. Some people are uncomfortable with the disruption that change causes, but the disruption is necessary if anything is going to change." -Afeni Shakur
Afeni Shakur was a political activist and member of the Black Panther Party.
"Americans are walking around with nutrient deficiency, so my idea was a simple step of helping people add more nutrients to their diets. It does not require a significant habit change." Raina Kumra used her grandmother's teachings in Ayurveda, an ancient medical practice from India, to heal her family. Read the story of Spicewell.
How to Raise Successful Kids -- Without Over-Parenting
Julie Lythcott-Haims, the former dean of freshmen at Stanford, makes a case for parents to stop defining their children's success by grades and test scores. Instead, she says, they should focus on unconditional love.
"Time kills every deal, and you will definitely lose top talent if you are not quick on the process. Most companies -- especially large ones -- can take over four weeks to get through their processes. And if you can be more agile than they are, you will have a huge competitive advantage. Top talent will already be working at your company while others are still trying to coordinate interview number seven." Read the story of how two friends, Ranil Piyaratna and Geetesh Goyal, grew Human Bees into the fastest-growing private company in America.
"You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world's problems at once, but don't ever underestimate the importance you can have, because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own."
-Michelle Obama
-Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama is an author and attorney who served as first lady of the United States.
Daymond John: Why Being Broke Can Be a Blessing in Disguise
Daymond John explains why staying scrappy and creative can have a big payoff.
The Art of Doing Nothing: An Entrepreneur's Dilemma
Sometimes the hardest thing is learning to do nothing. Read more.
"Money doesn't fall out of the sky. We had a business plan, an extraordinary proposal, and the right timing. I want to make sure that anyone who aspires to my kind of wealth understands what it took to get there." -Sheila Johnson
Sheila Johnson is the co-founder of BET, CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, and the first Black American female billionaire.
The Beautiful Balance Between Courage and Fear
Cara E. Yar Khan always knew she wanted to be a humanitarian, but at the age of 30 was diagnosed with hereditary inclusion body myopathy, an extremely rare muscle-wasting disease. She was told to limit her career ambitions and dial down her dreams. Ignoring that advice, she instead continued to pursue her biggest ambitions. In this powerful talk, she shares her philosophy for achieving all of her dreams while letting courage and fear coexist.
"When you go through an acquisition, it's always in your mind that maybe you and the new leadership won't see eye to eye. We had a simple disagreement over price points and strategy. That was it. I had no idea I was going to be fired." Stacy Spikes co-founded MoviePass in 2011 and was fired shortly after it was acquired in 2017. Spikes shares what happened next and the beauty of creating something new. Read more.
"I raise up my voice--not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard. ... We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back."
-Malala Yousafzai
-Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist for female education and the world's youngest Nobel Prize laureate.
Why All Entrepreneurs Need to Balance Passion With Numbers
Jessica O. Matthews, founder of Uncharted Play, explains how to scale a business without losing your head.
"Women show up 20 years late to the party, and almost everything is gone. And then we get the leftovers. If we understood the game well enough to play it early on, then we get to decide when the party ends." She's a soldier and successful entrepreneur who is focused on bringing as many women to the table as possible. Meet Phyllis Newhouse, the woman behind the new TV series Woman of Wall Street. Read more.
Want to Change the World? Start by Being Brave Enough to Care
Artist and poet Cleo Wade recites a beautiful poem about being an advocate for love and acceptance even when they seem in short supply. She encourages us to walk into more rooms saying I am here to help.
"The thing about crises is that at least you're clear on what is important and what isn't. It was one of the more electric moments for us as a company--we were all hands on deck. Everyone knew it was one of the most important things we'd do together as a team. This experience made us, as a company, more willing to say yes, because we knew the max that could be done--but also because it reoriented the 'why' for us." Shiftsmart co-founder of Aakash Kumar shares how he led his team when they had 72 hours to staff up a remote call center for the Small Business Administration to handle Paycheck Protection Program questions. Read more.
Help! My 9 to 5 is becoming my 24/7
In this Fast Company podcast of Hit the Ground Running, Christina Royster and Yasmin Gagne discuss creating healthy boundaries for yourself at work and how to get closer to maintaining a work-life balance.
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these." -George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver was a scientist and an inventor.
"You don't have to graduate from an Ivy League school, and work at a particular place, and get an MBA to start a billion-dollar company. But you have to have a purpose. If you start a company because you think you should, but your heart is not in it--that won't give you the fuel to get through the hard stuff." Jen Rubio, the co-founder of suitcase company Away, shares her journey to $300 million in revenue and how her company almost went out of business. Read more.
"My Ancestors don't only rejoice at the external shows of success, or work I've done. They rejoice when I rest. Because that means I am safe enough. Whole enough. Warm enough. Nourished enough. Free enough. Present enough. Loved enough. Aware enough. Healed enough to release the trauma of endlessly laboring and being defined by what I've produced." -Octavia Raheem
Octavia Raheem is an author and yoga + meditation teacher
Anger, Fear, Joy: The Unspoken Side of Entrepreneurship
When you're your own boss, managing the highs and lows of business is a skill unto itself. Here's a roadmap.
The Rise in Black Business Ownership
The number of Black business owners in the U.S. surged to almost 1.5 million in August 2021, up 38 percent from February 2020, with women driving that growth. According to another analysis, there are 30 percent more Black-owned businesses in the U.S. than before the pandemic.
"I saw that there was a really natural progression of skills you can build to go from being a home health aid to a registered nurse--but those kinds of pathways to opportunity in our country are really broken. With online training, that could change." Helen Adeosun shares how CareAcademy, a training business for care workers, has become one of the fastest growing companies in America. Read more.
"Women make up more than half of the world's population and potential. So it is neither just nor practical for their voices, for our voices, to go unheard at the highest levels of decision-making."
-Meghan Markle
-Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is an American member of the British royal family.
5 Steps To Remove Yourself From Drama at Work
DEI professional Anastasia Penright outlines in this talk the five steps you can take to better co-exist with your co-workers and focus on the things that really matter.
How Reggie Watts Became a Top Performer by Not Following the Rules for Success
The comedian, beatboxer, and Late, Late Show bandleader lets intuition guide his performances and his career. Read more.
"Science is not a boy's game, it's not a girl's game. It's everyone's game. It's about where we are and where we're going. Space travel benefits us here on Earth. And we ain't stopped yet. There's more exploration to come."
-Nichelle Nichols
-Nichelle Nichols
Nichelle Nichols was an actress known for her portrayal of Nyota Uhura in the original Star Trek television series.
Feb 1, 2022
