Coming off my high of my Shark Tank audition yesterday, I am reflecting on an inspiring Brunch Business Summit I attended hosted by Walker's Legacy and sponsored by Google and Wells Fargo. How could I have imagined that a few of the highest positions in those companies were held by black women.
It was a powerful experience that followed an amazing experience pitching for Shark Tank. I was inspired by these black women who are paving the way for many more black women business owners and entrepreneurs to gain access to resources that will grow and sustain businesses. Businesses that communities need to thrive. Half of black New Orleans children live in poverty. You find the data here or here.
This part of the year marks when I first met my husband. 10 years ago our worlds collided. There was no way to know that New Orleans and Ghana not only had contemporary ties, they were historical. Or that many of the same problems exist in both places with even the CIA naming New Orleans equal to Zambia in income inequality. Or that safe water access would be an issue to fight right here.
I really didn't need #ProjectDiane to tell me that it has been near impossible to access capital to grow so that I can begin to deliver safe water. I encourage you to read the report. The report has only validated what I was experiencing trying to start up in New Orleans. Constantly feeling gaslighted by the incubators touting entrepreneurship in New Orleans. And receiving millions of dollars while limiting many companies from accessing those resources. The Idea Village launches entrepreneurs like the founders of Launch Pad or Dinner Lab. All the way back in 2010 the data was out there.
Unfortunately that trend followed post Hurricane Katrina as the data I am certain shows that these incubators here in New Orleans are overwhelmingly supporting white male entrepreneurs. In a majority black city, investment should not be going mostly to white male entrepreneurs. Especially when black women entrepreneurs are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in America.
I left the brunch yesterday inspired by overcomers. Inspired by trailblazers.
It was a powerful experience that followed an amazing experience pitching for Shark Tank. I was inspired by these black women who are paving the way for many more black women business owners and entrepreneurs to gain access to resources that will grow and sustain businesses. Businesses that communities need to thrive. Half of black New Orleans children live in poverty. You find the data here or here.
This part of the year marks when I first met my husband. 10 years ago our worlds collided. There was no way to know that New Orleans and Ghana not only had contemporary ties, they were historical. Or that many of the same problems exist in both places with even the CIA naming New Orleans equal to Zambia in income inequality. Or that safe water access would be an issue to fight right here.
I really didn't need #ProjectDiane to tell me that it has been near impossible to access capital to grow so that I can begin to deliver safe water. I encourage you to read the report. The report has only validated what I was experiencing trying to start up in New Orleans. Constantly feeling gaslighted by the incubators touting entrepreneurship in New Orleans. And receiving millions of dollars while limiting many companies from accessing those resources. The Idea Village launches entrepreneurs like the founders of Launch Pad or Dinner Lab. All the way back in 2010 the data was out there.
Unfortunately that trend followed post Hurricane Katrina as the data I am certain shows that these incubators here in New Orleans are overwhelmingly supporting white male entrepreneurs. In a majority black city, investment should not be going mostly to white male entrepreneurs. Especially when black women entrepreneurs are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in America.
I left the brunch yesterday inspired by overcomers. Inspired by trailblazers.
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