A culture of trust between the founders, investors, and employees is crucial for startups. One way to achieve this is through complete transparency and openness about the company’s vision and operations, both internally and externally. Lack of transparency comes in different forms, such as non-disclosure of information, non-publication of financial data, or lack of participation in decision-making processes.

So, establishing transparency is an essential foundation of a sustainable startup, especially when it’s prioritized from the early stages. This ethos paves the way for a more collaborative work environment and a more engaged and committed investor base.

This journey can be challenging, but the reward is worth it as it significantly differentiates your startup in a competitive ecosystem.

Building Transparency from Within

The first step is to create and execute systems that ensure openness. There are a few steps to achieve this:

Addressing Issues Early: Startups are breeding grounds for disagreements and contrary styles, but addressing these issues head-on, with honesty, allows you to find solutions collaboratively and prevent minor disagreements from growing into major roadblocks.

Creating a Safe Space: A workspace where true and open communication is encouraged allows for vulnerability. This can include sharing the company’s struggles, allowing for communal support.  

Have Hard Conversations: Dedicate time for honest discussions, use phrases like “I feel” or “I’m worried” to communicate your perspective, practice active listening without interrupting, and focus on finding solutions and moving forward collaboratively

State and Restate your Values: Make your company’s values visible. Develop them with the entire team, write them down, and display them publicly. Listing and articulating your cultural priorities and how you want to see them implemented helps establish mutual clarity and trust.

Extending Transparency Beyond the Company

The next step is to establish transparency with the external collaborators of your company: customers and investors.  There are a few steps that’ll lead to this:

Early Disclosure: An early disclosure of your company’s strategies, challenges, and overall health builds trust. For instance, making your salary data or any other allowed financials public sets a novel standard in corporate transparency.

Investor Relations: Maintaining an open dialogue with investors is important. Transparent reporting of progress and setbacks, including sharing detailed financial metrics like revenue streams, cash flow projections, and expense breakdowns, lowers investor skepticism. Women-owned businesses often face higher scrutiny, so this openness proves viability.

Customer Engagement: Honesty and transparency are also important in how companies interact with their customers. Some popular strategies include disclosing the cost breakdown of each product and educating consumers on the intricacies of your product.

Use Personal Stories: Women founders can use financial storytelling, which can be pairing numbers with narratives on customer acquisition and product value to demystify risks. This turns pitches into trust-building tools.

The Benefits of Transparency

Builds Trust – Transparency helps to build trust with customers, investors, and employees. A company that regularly updates its investors and customers about its progress, including on the negatives, cultivates reliability. This can lead to more patient and supportive stakeholders. When people know what to expect and are kept informed, they’re loyal.

Facilitating Better Decision-Making – Transparency encourages collaboration and shares responsibility among team members. When everyone has access to the same information, they can make informed decisions that align with the company’s goals.

Reduces Stress and Anxiety – Hiding information or avoiding transparency can create a sense of unease and uncertainty. Transparency helps to reduce stress and anxiety by setting clear expectations and providing a clear direction.

Drives Sustainable Growth – By maintaining financial correctness and transparency, founders secure better loan terms and scale without. This can also enhance credibility for grants aimed at women entrepreneurs.

Encouraging Employee Engagement: When employees are privy to the company’s vision, challenges, and successes, they are more likely to feel a sense of ownership. 

Attracting and Retaining Talent: A transparent culture can also be a magnet for sustainable talent. Prospective employees are often attracted to companies that are upfront about their operations and prospects. 

Why This Matters for Women Founders

Transparency, then, becomes more than a business strategy. It becomes a tool for equity. When women are open about finances, salaries, funding, and growth, you challenge outdated norms that have historically excluded us from wealth-building conversations. You set new standards, not just for our companies, but for the ecosystems you operate in.

So, transparency is power. It allows women founders to take up space unapologetically, to negotiate from a place of knowledge, and to build businesses that are not only impactful but also financially strong and sustainable.

This article Why Transparency Is The New Gold Standard For Female-Led Startups was originally published on HerAgenda.com

You can build benefits that your team can get excited about, even on a tight budget. All you need to do is spend where it counts and get creative where it doesn’t. Discover how to offer top-tier benefits while sticking to your spending plan. 

Why Benefits Feel Hard In Nonprofits 

You’re hiring for roles that ask for heart and hustle, but are competing with employers who can toss around perks like confetti. It can feel unfair and a little personal. 

One report shows that 96% of Americans think it’s important that a job offers health insurance benefits. It also shows wide variation in perks like flexible schedules and professional development. Those “extras” tend to matter a lot for retention, especially for millennial women who are balancing work, growth, and real-life logistics. 

Since roughly 64% of employees have renegotiated for a better package, ask what they wish existed. 

Build three tiers. Tier one is a must-have, tier two is a nice-to-have, and tier three is “cute but no.” Commit to adding one tier-one upgrade per quarter. If you have the budget and capacity, try incorporating a tier-two upgrade every other quarter. You can forget tier three exists entirely, or you can put it on the back burner until there is a budget for it in the future. 

Budget-Friendly Benefits 

These perks read as high-value, but they can remain low-cost. They also help you recruit employees who want growth and work-life balance in their jobs. 

1. Flexibility 

Flexible setups can feel like a perk, but it’s also an operating system. It works best when you set expectations. Hybrid and remote setups can support satisfaction and retention. However, you also need to think through communication and the social side of work. 

2. Professional Development 

Career growth is a retention benefit. SHRM’s 2024 employee benefits survey found that 65% of workers feel professional development opportunities are extremely important.

Give your team a “learning lane.” Offer one paid hour of training per week, or cover one course per year with a modest cap. Create a rotating lunch-and-learn where staff teach each other what works for them, spreading knowledge. 

3. Wellness Perks 

Wellness programs are a beneficial perk, but you don’t need a branded meditation app or candle. You need actual support that your employees can lean on during rough times. 

Start with two moves. Offer a basic employee assistance program through your broker. Add “mental health day” language to PTO so people feel comfortable using it. 

4. Recognition And Time Off 

Recognition does not have to be expensive. Allow comp time after major events, publish a clear policy so nobody has to beg, and add one floating mission day each year where people volunteer or rest. The nonprofit benefits report shows that time off and scheduling benefits vary. 

Case Studies Of Nonprofit Organizations’ Employee Benefit Solutions In Action

A California nonprofit was facing a 10% health insurance renewal increase. The Difference Card helped it save $1.2 million and reduced its renewal by -12.5%. 

Another nonprofit removed barriers to preventive care by using existing resources for on-site services. The case study reports that 146 employees participated, and the organization addressed a 29.6% drop in benefits planning. 

Nonprofit Megaphone used an ICHRA model so employees could choose individual coverage that fit their lives. It reports 100% employee satisfaction and an administrative lift of about 30 minutes per month. 

The Perfect Plan

You don’t need a luxury benefits budget. Instead, you need a smart one. Pick perks your team will use, make flexibility noticeable, and fund growth in small, steady ways. Then, focus on health insurance coverage to attract and retain a high-quality, motivated team.

This article How Nonprofits Can Offer Top-Tier Benefits On A Budget was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Leaving a traditional job to build something of your own is empowering. You get to call the shots, set your schedule, and be your own boss. It also means dealing with new obstacles. For many, the most significant and often unexpected challenge isn’t the paperwork, but the mindset shift from employee to leader. Make the move seamless and step confidently into your new role with these tips.

1. Shift From Doer To Delegator

When you were a high-performing employee, your productivity defined your value, from how many tasks you accomplished to how well you did them. Now, as an entrepreneur, your business’s success and team’s productivity dictate your worth. Your role is to be the strategist who steers the ship, not the one rowing every oar. 

It can feel strange or even unproductive to have a day that’s not packed with to-dos. Be mindful of this, as it can lead to micromanagement. Use the Eisenhower matrix to make delegating tasks more strategic for your team. Do things that are urgent and important yourself, and consider giving those that are important but not urgent to others.

2. Actively Learn How To Lead

Not all the skills that made you a great employee will make you an effective leader, so learn leadership intentionally. Avoid simply mimicking the management styles of previous bosses without considering whether those methods were effective or healthy. 

Invest in leadership education to gain insights from top leaders and management experts. Active learning is both a sign of strength and a direct path to reversing any toxic habits you might have taken on from not-so-great experiences with your previous bosses. 

3. Create Clarity To Command Respect

Being a leader is about setting a clear, consistent direction so the team can work together to find the answers. A lack of clarity contributes to anxiety, hesitation, and wasted effort. When people don’t know their priorities, they can’t make smart decisions. Authority and respect are by-products of a clear, well-communicated vision. 

Knowing your goals allows you to lead with greater authority, as your team understands what you expect from them. Ensure every team member knows how their role contributes. Be firm with what to prioritize for the week or month. 

4. Build A Team That’s Made To Last

While hiring your first employee is a milestone, the real goal is retention. High turnover is costly, disruptive to workflow, and devastating to team morale. To build a team that wants to stay, you must understand the real reasons people choose to leave their jobs. 

Key drivers are typically fundamental, not frivolous. In 2021, 63% of employees stated that low salary and lack of growth opportunities made them decide to resign, while 57% cited feeling disrespected at work. 

Show your employees a path forward, even if your company is small. This could be through skill development, increased responsibilities, or a clear plan for future roles. Also, lead with respect, trust your team with responsibility, and value each member’s input. 

5. Set Boundaries To Protect Your Best Asset: You

The passion that drives you as a business owner also puts you at the highest risk for burnout. The work is never truly done, making it easy for your job to consume all hours of the day. Think of setting boundaries as a crucial strategy. After all, a tired, burned-out leader makes poor decisions, which can affect the team and overall operations. 

Be intentional to avoid compassion fatigue and improve your work-life balance. Have a defined end to your workday, turn off email notifications after hours, and schedule nonnegotiable personal time. 

Embrace Your Inner Boss

The transition from employee to owner is a journey of internal growth. You don’t need to have it all figured out at once. Your willingness to learn, adapt, and grow will help pave the way to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Step confidently into your new role and embrace your inner boss to build the business you’ve been dreaming of.

This article How To Transition From Employee To Business Owner was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Young dreamers, creators & innovators from across the country all traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit. The Summit recognizes the country’s brightest founders and entrepreneurs who are going beyond the limits and creating change in their communities. 

They have the numbers to prove their impact — that’s $3.8B+ total funding raised by the Under 30 Listers and the social following to match. This year’s list is a standout from the previous year’s. With AI playing a significant part in how Generation Z gathers data, creates insights, and builds systems, the possibilities of what can be created have truly become infinite. 

“Focus on becoming. As you focus on becoming who God has created you to be, and the purpose that’s already evident in the fact that you were born on this earth. I want to make sure people aren’t chasing a list, but they’re chasing a purpose. And as you chase your purpose, things will come to you,” Nyamekye Wilson said, a 2026 Forbes Under Lister and Founder of Black Sisters in STEM, the largest talent ecosystem of Black women in STEM (SIS).

Celebrities like Dwayne Wade, Ashley Graham, Michael Phelps, and the founders of iconic brands like Lindsey Carter of SET Active and Shawn Fanning of Napster graced the main stage to share gems about what it takes to build a viral brand and a community.

“Get into the mindset of the consumer. We all want to feel and be a part of something. We want to connect to the person, not only the product. Treat the consumer like your friend,” was shared during the Viral Marketing 101: How Social Media Can Ignite A Consumer Brand panel featuring Lindsey Carter and Jake Karls. 

“If you want to create a big business, you have to have a strong foundation. For me, that’s VCP, which means vision, capital, and people,” explained serial entrepreneur Marc Lore. 

“If you’re not doing anything new or crazy, PUSH HARDER. Make your scope more ambitious. Don’t be scared when people say your idea is crazy or dangerous,” was advised during the Radical Creation: How to Build Companies That Shake Society, featuring panelists Shawn Fanning and Andrew Frame.

Curious about how to become an Under 30 Lister? Beyond the basics like having to be 29 1/2 years old, the Forbes team that develops this iconic list every year shared insider tips on how YOU can make next year’s list: 

Numbers: Quantify your impact. 

Stories: Know how to tell your story concisely. 

Growth: Show the reach, scale, and potential for growth. 

Founders: Both entrepreneurial founders and full-time (9-5) founders can make the list, too. 

Transparency: Be transparent about your business.

Being in the room reminded me that age is a non-factor. During our 20s, we’re all in a transition with a desire to get somewhere. Our minds are the brightest and filled with ideas the world has yet to see. The difference is — some of us put the strategy in place to get it done, and others don’t. Be strategic, not stagnant.  

It doesn’t matter how radical, unusual, or out-of-the-box your idea may seem. If you’re passionate about what you can do and stay committed to it, then it can happen. 

The beauty about this is you don’t have to do it alone, either. In fact, most founders who are billionaires didn’t. They had a community, team, and investors all backing up the one vision they decided to pursue. Today, those visions are the very tools, apps, and systems we use. It’s what I like to call “ordinary people with extraordinary ideas”. 

Don’t let someone else create the tools our generation needs. We are leading the charge.

This article Where Tomorrow’s Leaders Met Today: Inside The Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Designing a cost-effective, attractive benefits package requires thoughtful choices and careful navigation of often complex benefit combination rules. Tools like health savings accounts (HSAs) and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) are promising options. If you’ve wondered whether you can have an HRA and an HRA at the same time with IRS guidance, here’s what you need to know.

What Is An HSA?

An HSA is a personal savings account designed to help you pay for qualified medical expenses. It’s available only if you are enrolled in a high deductible health plan (HDHP), where:

• Contributions are tax-deductible.
• Your money grows tax-free.
• You can take money out tax-free to pay qualified medical expenses.
• The account is fully portable, even if your situation changes.

This triple tax advantage makes HSAs an appealing long-term strategy, especially since unused funds roll over and can serve as a retirement supplement.

What Is An HRA?

An HRA is an employer-funded benefit that reimburses employees for medical expenses. Unlike HSAs:

• Only employers can contribute.
• Funds do not belong to the employee permanently.
• Reimbursements are tax-free when used for eligible expenses.

Employers decide how much to contribute, which allows you to tailor an HRA to your business needs.

Can You Have An HSA And An HRA At Ahe Same Time, According To IRS Guidance?

The short answer is yes, but with important limitations. You can have both an HSA and an HRA only if the latter is structured in a way that does not interfere with HSA eligibility. 

You may be able to pair an HSA with a:

• Limited-purpose HRA, which covers only dental and vision expenses.
• Post-deductible HRA, which reimburses expenses only after you meet your HDHP deductible.
• Retirement HRA, which is used only after retirement.

You generally cannot contribute to an HSA if you have a standard HRA that reimburses general medical expenses before your deductible is met.

What Are The Advantages Of Combining An HSA And A Compatible HRA?

If set up correctly, this structure contributes to layered financial stability and greater flexibility, enabling you and your employees to:

• Maximize tax efficiency: Use HRA funds first, since they don’t roll over permanently, preserving your HSA for long-term growth.
• Reduce out-of-pocket costs: HRAs can cover specific expenses that might otherwise have to come from the HSA or personal funds.
• Create a strategic safety net: You gain both immediate reimbursement support and a long-term savings vehicle.

For every $1.00 your company spends on health coverage, it gets back $1.47 in employee productivity, retention, and direct medical costs. Investing in a combined HSA and HRA strategy can benefit everyone.

What To Consider Before Combining An HSA And HRA

Your business structure matters because sole proprietors, S-corp owners and partners may have different eligibility rules. HRAs require formal setup and compliance oversight, which adds to the administrative burden. Because the brand funds them, you will need to plan contributions.

It’s wise to choose a firm of administrators that specializes in managing both HSAs and compatible HRAs. According to Taylor Britt — Vice President of Marketing at The Difference Card — “Employers must structure an HRA carefully to avoid unintended consequences.” Working with experts will ensure compliance and avoid IRS penalties.

A Smarter Way To Layer Your Benefits

The most effective approach is often strategic layering. For example:

• Use a limited-purpose HRA to cover dental and vision expenses.
• Continue contributing to your HSA for broader medical costs and long-term savings.
• Let your HSA grow by paying smaller expenses out-of-pocket when possible.

This approach helps stretch every dollar while keeping options open.

Frequently Asked Questions About HSAs And HRAs

This is a complex area. There are some common questions, but seek qualified advice if you are unsure.

What Happens To Unused HRA funds?

Employers decide if funds roll over. Often, they are use-it-or-lose-it within the plan year.

Can My Spouse’s HRA Disqualify My HSA?

Yes. If their general-purpose HRA can reimburse your expenses, you may not be able to contribute.

Are There HSA Contribution Limits?

Yes. The IRS sets annual maximums for individuals and families that are updated periodically.

Making the Right Choice for Your Health Care Benefits Package

Balancing an HSA and an HRA can align your health care strategy with your business and personal goals. With the right setup, it brings immediate financial relief while helping you and your employees build a financial cushion for the future. This combination can offer many advantages, provided you understand the rules and design your benefits intentionally.

This article Double The Benefits? Understanding If You Can Have Both An HSA And An HRA was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Due to a rise in demand for both flexibility and autonomy within the workplace, there has been an uptick in the presence of solopreneurs. According to an article in the US Chamber of Commerce, a solopreneur is an individual building and running a business on their own without any employees. They handle every aspect of the business, including delivering the work, marketing, and customer service. 

Thanks to technology and artificial intelligence, AI, solopreneurs can now get started and hit the ground running. Furthermore, with the now lower barrier to entry, solopreneurs can start, grow, and scale with the help of autonomous agents. A study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the nation’s 29.8 million solopreneurs, businesses with no paid employees, contribute $1.7 trillion to the U.S. economy, representing 6.8% of total economic activity.

Mark Valentino, Los Angeles-based head of business banking for Citizens Bank, chatted with CNBC, regarding the fact that he has seen a large increase in business loan applications for solopreneurs. In that same article, Angela Berardino credits AI with being able to strike out on her own as the solo founder of boutique marketing firm Brouhaha Collective. “I know, everything is AI these days, but at a startup level: AI has given me an army of admins and interns that take notes on calls, do first rounds of research, and help me analyze large data sets,” stated Angela Beraridino.

What Is An Autonomous Agent

An article by, 21AI, an AI development company, defines autonomous agents as AI systems capable of performing tasks and making decisions independently, once given a defined objective. They are designed to operate without ongoing human input, using available context to act in real time.

Furthermore, in the world of a solopreneur, autonomous agents allow for a vast landscape of opportunity. Meta’s head of business AI, Clara Shih, told CNBC, “The more AI does, the less people have to do, at least in traditional definitions of roles.”

How Can An Autonomous Agent Help You As A Solopreneur

Technology has granted several liberties. The ability to leverage skill, creativity, and a bit of elbow grease is allowing individuals to walk away from the traditional 9-5 work model. Specifically, paired with the access to use of a laptop coupled with the ladder, individuals now have access to entrepreneurship. With the power of autonomous agents, one set of hands can easily do the work of an infinite number of people. Making possibilities within the entrepreneur model essentially endless.

To further elaborate, this quote summarizes it all perfectly: “Solopreneurship also responds to rapid changes in the labor market, where skills and creativity are more valuable than organizational structures”, said Najiba Benabess, the business dean at Neumann University.

What The Future Holds

The rise of solopreneurship is being led by women. It is no surprise that women are leading this charge in this wave of flexibility, ownership, and realignment of what success looks like. An article by Biz Journals, a media outlet, shares that due to several factors, including:

• care taking responsibility
• a desire for ownership
• the need for flexibility
• unsatisfactory work-life balance
• the yearning for control
• a shift in what defines “success.”
• increasing fragility in job security
• decreased room for diversity and accommodation

Overall, women are not opting out of the workplace, it is the opposite, women are electing to build a career that has promise of longevity, sustainably and void of hierarchy. Although the future is not promised, the increasing number of women jumping on the solopreneurship bandwagon tells a clear story. It appears as if a huge shift in what work looks like is happening, and artificial intelligence is making room, closing gaps, and offering a leg up for those looking to join the movement.

This article The Rise Of The Solopreneur In The Age Of Autonomous Agents was originally published on HerAgenda.com

In March, Anifa Mvuemba, the founder of popular fashion brand Hanifa, announced she is shutting down the beloved brand, indefinitely, after 14 years. 

This public announcement set the internet into a frenzy, inviting many opinions and discord. Most conversations centered around what it means to build and sustain a business that can last generations. While others shared what extending grace to Black women-owned businesses truly looks like.

Anifa’s decision and announcement made some entrepreneurs feel seen. The long nights, sacrifices, and pressure to grind to make it often feel like a heavy burden we carried all for a facade. We hear about mental health and wellness gems, but how many of us running our own business actually follow them? Anifa choosing to do what’s best for her, her family, and her brand was radical in the most admirable way. 

This moment also stirred up the realistic and reflective question: In 2026, what does it take to truly build a legacy business? 

While talking about this with Gabrielle Wyatt, the founder of Meet Me At The Highland whose work and research is deeply rooted in legacy, rest and women leaders, she challenged this question further stating, “Black women have always been builders of the long arc — creating businesses, movements, and institutions meant to carry forward long after the moment passes.” She continued, “legacy work asks a deeper question than what is trending: What am I building that will still matter when the spotlight moves on?”

For many people, launching their own business and beginning their entrepreneurship journey, is decided upon having more freedom, turning their passions into profit and building something that outlasts their lifetime. They’re not investing their time, energy and money into their business to see it dissolve within our lifetime. Today’s founders desire legacy and for their business to last generations. 

Gabrielle Wyatt describes legacy as, “Legacy isn’t a destination. It’s a daily practice. It lives in the boundaries we protect, the rest we allow ourselves, and the discipline to build from intention rather than urgency. In a culture that celebrates speed and visibility, slowing down can feel countercultural. But the leaders who build what lasts understand that stillness is not the opposite of leadership — it’s what sustains it.” 

Anchored in this definition of legacy, here are 5 ways today’s visionaries, leaders, and challengers can build a legacy business that outlasts: 

She Builds In Purpose 

Your “why” is your North Star when you launch your business. It  sustains your business too. Your “why” is found in your mission and vision statement. It’s what differentiates you from other businesses in your industry. It’s what your customers and clients connect to when they choose to do business with you. Remain deeply rooted in your “Why” for starting your business. No matter how many years you’ve had your business, whether you’re just starting or it’s been over a decade, you will continue to communicate to others your “why”. Your purpose will outlast any hype cycle, social media trend, or economic downturn happening in the world. When you build your business in purpose, it’s promised to last.

She Builds In Rest

Who said you must neglect your sleep, your leisure time and restful moments for this business to last? For you to be here to continue building the business, rest is required. To build a legacy business, restorative moments can no longer be optional. 

“If you want to build something that lasts, rest is not optional. It is essential. Legacy organizations are built through sustained vision, and you cannot lead that kind of work while running on empty. In a culture that glorifies speed, the leaders who build what endures understand that stillness is not a pause from the work — it is what sustains it.”, said Gabrielle.

She Builds In Honesty

Building a business that lasts requires being honest with yourself and others. Entrepreneurship will test your faith and reflect the areas within you that need inner work. Being honest first with yourself about your journey and where you can use the extra support can help you grow and sustain the business. Operating your business in integrity will build a trusted and reputable brand your clients confidently rely on. She challenges the status quo and does what feels genuine to herself. Charging what her skills are worth because that includes being honest with herself and the transformation she can bring to her clients’ life.

She Builds In Wisdom

Trends come and go, but a business that outlasts the current hype circle is possible when building in wisdom. You’re not stuck in your ways thinking “But this is how it’s always been done.” She seeks knowledge and applies it with understanding. She knows where to locate information, upskill and can predict industry trends. She listens to what clients are trusting her to provide that can fulfill their needs. Asking questions, and staying curious and current about the times is her superpower. She makes wise decisions that impact the business today and in the future.

She Builds In Community

Building a business that lasts requires a solid community. This looks like supporting other women on their journey, finding time to pour into her friends and family, and building with others and sharing resources. Receiving mentorship and providing mentorship are key parts of the strategy. She knows visibility and showing up are crucial; people need to know you exist and that you are ready to serve them. She finds spaces that align with her values where she can show up, be herself with others, and embrace what makes others unique. Knowing who, how, and when to ask for help is important for a leader who is building a business that lasts.

Building a legacy business has been done gracefully and successfully before by our ancestors. Let that be a reminder that you can do it too. 

This article How To Build A Legacy Business That Outlasts The Current Hype Cycle was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Here at Her Agenda, we celebrate and support the ambitious woman. But our ambitions wouldn’t be possible without the incredible women who have come before us.

This Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting trailblazers who have paved the path forward, allowing us to dream bigger and bolder. 

1. Sojourner Truth

Although she was born enslaved to the name Isabella Bomfree in 1797, Sojourner Truth rose to be a fierce abolitionist and women’s rights activist. After experiencing a tumultuous youth, being enslaved, she eventually escaped in 1826 with her infant daughter, forcing her to leave her other children behind. Truth later sued for her five-year-old son’s freedom and won. Making her the first Black woman in US history to sue a white man and win.  She continued this advocacy, eventually giving her famous “Ain’t I a Woman?” speech in 1851 that spoke about the exclusion of Black women in women’s rights spaces.

2. Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells was a pioneering journalist known for her work against lynching. Despite how difficult it was for women in the workplace at the time, she rose through the ranks and became a prominent editor for publications such as Memphis’ “The Evening Star,” “Free Speech,” “Headlight,” and owner of “Conservator.” Wells also started a number of organizations for Black women’s freedom, including the Alpha Suffrage Club, the League of Colored Women, and the National Association of Colored Women. A year before her death, she became the first Black woman in Illinois to run for state senate.

3. Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisolm was born and raised in Barbados, eventually making her way to Brooklyn, which became her home for the duration of her life. She became a nursery school teacher, and this led her to be very involved in the community, even joining the NAACP. In 1964, she was elected to the New York state legislature and served two terms. In 1968, she became the first Black woman ever elected to Congress and served seven terms, pushing for women’s rights, children, and education. In 1972, she also became the first Black woman to run for president and is known for her slogan “Unbought and Unbossed.” 

4. Addie Wyatt

Addie Wyatt was born in Mississippi, but she became a Chicagoan when her family moved during the great depression. She found work at a local factory applying to be a typist, but was denied and offered a position canning food because of segregation. After becoming outspoken at her job, she eventually became president of her local United Packinghouse Workers of America chapter, making her the first woman to do so. She eventually started working for the UPWA and helped to fight for equal pay for workers of all races and genders.  She continued this work by eventually founding the Coalition of Labor Union Women and the National Organization for Women. In 1975, alongside Representative Barbara Jordan, they became the first two Black women to be named Time Magazine’s woman of the year.

5. Kimberlé Crenshaw

Kimberlè Crenshaw began her career as a law professor at UCLA not long after graduating from Harvard Law School. Her work has helped form legal frameworks, including critical race theory. She also created the term “intersectionality,” referring to multiple prejudices happening simultaneously. Both of these ideas have helped shape programs and policies that have helped form more inclusive workplaces for women. She founded the African American Policy Forum, an organization dedicated to efforts that help to eradicate structural inequalities. In 2014, AAPF created #sayhername to lift the stories of black women killed by the police. 

This article 5 Women Who Paved The Way For The Modern Workplace was originally published on HerAgenda.com

For decades, the “power list” has served as the professional world’s most coveted shorthand for success. However, as the global economy undergoes a major shift, the traditional recognitions of achievement are changing. 

Today, leadership is no longer defined solely by tenure or title, but rather by the audacity to build in the face of uncertainty. At Her Agenda, we recognize that modern women are moving beyond the era of seeking permission. They are designing their own frameworks, funding their own visions, and, quite literally, designing their own paths.

To honor this evolution, we are proud to announce the call for nominations for our inaugural list of The Groundbreakers. Her Agenda will celebrate 50 women who are transforming their fields and shaping the infrastructure of tomorrow.

Being recognized on a curated list is more than a fleeting moment of prestige. We are documenting shifts in those making economic and professional moves. Research shows that visibility is an important tool for women in business. 

According to the 2025 Women in the Workplace report by McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn.Org, women continue to face the “broken rung,” where for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 87 women (and only 81 women of color) make that first step up. Inclusion in a high-profile list helps repair this rung by providing the external visibility and third-party validation necessary to attract sponsorship, venture capital, and board seat invitations. By highlighting these 50 leaders, we are creating a platform for their personal brands, ensuring their impact is seen by the decision-makers who shape the global economy.

Defining The Groundbreakers

A Groundbreaker is a woman who sees a void and treats it as a blueprint. Our 2026 index will focus on five distinct pillars of impact:

• The Ambitious: Rising stars who are fueled by vision and drive. These women are early in their journey but already demonstrating bold action, focus, and promise.
• The Agenda Setters: Cultural visionaries and media influencers shaping conversations across entertainment, fashion, art, and digital platforms.
• The Achievers: Proven leaders with track records of exceptional business results, organizational impact, and measurable success in their industries.
• The Advocates: Changemakers in nonprofit leadership, caregiving, social justice, and community building – perfect for purpose-driven brand alignment.
• The Architects: System builders and infrastructure creators whose work enables others to rise. These women design the frameworks, institutions, and foundations that transform entire fields-their innovations outlast trends and shape what comes next.

We invite you to help us find the women who are challenging norms and redefining the very nature of success. Whether they are building the tech of the future or the social justice frameworks of today, we want to hear their stories.

Nominations for the inaugural Groundbreakers are now open! Applications close on July 18, 2026.

This article The Groundbreakers 2026: Nominations Open Now! was originally published on HerAgenda.com

The hardest part about building a website isn’t building it, but rather starting it. Women when it comes to our businesses, new entrepreneurs can passionately talk about our ideas endlessly. We are excited to share our visions for our website design with like-minded people. But when it’s time to start it, it’s easy to overthink the process. That overthinking then turns into procrastination. 

Do you find yourself asking any of the following?:

• How many pages do I need?
• Do I let my content fill the entire webpage?
• How should I evenly rotate my brand colors throughout my site?
• Is this webpage crowded with too much?

It quickly becomes more questions than answers. The lack of a clear starting point keeps many concepts stuck offline instead of turning it into an amazing website. 

Squarespace Blueprint AI Turns Your Vision Into Reality

Squarespace’s newest feature, Blueprint AI alleviates that rabbit hole of being stuck with a half-designed website. It’s the ideal program for anyone who has the motivation but is lacking the discipline to start. And it is okay to not have that discipline. Blueprint AI takes that load off your shoulders, and carries you along with them.

Blueprint AI starts as a five-step interactive guiding session. AI has become a big power tool. But Squarespace has designed this program to make sure you’re not starting from scratch. You will first be approached with some prompting questions. These questions are intentionally asked to get an understanding of your brand and what you want in your website. 

Design Guidance Without Losing Creative Control

Now just because you’re telling Blueprint your ideas, does not mean Blueprint AI will take it and run with it. The greatest factor about this feature is that everything is a draft until you finalize it. Based on how you answer the prompted questions, it creates a first draft so you can get a sense of what your website will look like. But you’re not tied down to that draft. You still have creative control. 

From the layouts, fonts to brand color combinations, you have the final choice in how it looks. 

The process is meant to feel like a collaborative experience. And it doesn’t stop with the reveal of a first draft. You’re able to swap out and personalize everything on your site. And all it takes is just a few clicks. And you can watch these changes be updated within minutes. 

Moving Out Of Draft Mode

It’s clear that creativity is not the struggle for most first-time website builders. It’s where to start and have structure with that creativity for their brand. With the Squarespace Blueprint AI feature that no longer becomes a problem. The purpose is meant to make the building of your brand or business become more efficient. 

Whether your business is in photography, real estate, ecommerce, Blueprint AI tailors your website to your ideas and mixes it with key components from your desired industry. Even if you second guess your choices, this program will adjust to present the best personalized website. 

The great thing about this feature is that you’re not locked into it. You are offered a 14 day free trial, but need to have a paid Squarespace account to publish your site. Blueprint AI is a great starting point for people who are indecisive or have no coding experience. It takes the stress away. Something that could take you hours, days, or weeks, can now take just minutes.

Ready to see what Squarespace Blueprint AI can do for you? Get started with a free trial, then use code HERAGENDA10 for 10% off a new Squarespace plan.

[Editor’s note: This content is sponsored by Squarespace. All editorial views expressed are the author’s own.]

This article A Smarter Way To Build Your Website Without Overthinking It was originally published on HerAgenda.com

When you’re in the planning stages of building a brand or expanding a brand, two things can be true at once. You are excited for the next step, but then can become overwhelmed quickly. Excitement spreads when you’re gathering all of your ideas and consulting friends and mentors on the right concept. But then comes time to execute afterwards. And usually that execution starts with building your website. This is the part where women can become overwhelmed. 

According to a Clutch survey, “83% of small businesses now have a website, up from 64% in 2018.” And choosing the right platform is a decision that can be a lot. There are so many options to choose from. And so much you have to consider. As well as what features actually fit best for what you’re doing. The truth is, there isn’t one “best” website platform. There’s just the right one for where you are right now.

Personal Brands And Early Stage Businesses

If you’re a woman who just started a business or has a personal brand, the main focus is letting people know who you are. People need to know what they would be seeking from you. If you align with what they’re looking for. And where they can seek your services or products. That is what your website is designed for. 

Typically most new brands and businesses are looking to save costs. And that usually results in a business owner creating their own website. Here are some things to consider for your website. When looking for a website platform, view plans that work for your budget. Most websites offer a monthly or annual payment option. And they also offer free trials, if you’re just experimenting and trying things out. 

A few platforms that work well for women in this stage are:

• Squarespace
• Wix
• WordPress

It’s not necessarily the creative ideas that are causing the challenges, it’s the structure. 

Scaling Businesses

A recent Adobe survey conducted that “53% of small business owners are planning to revamp their websites.”

After you’ve had your business for a while, it’s time to scale. And that also includes your website. That’s where structure and creativity merges. Your brand or business might be outgrowing the systems in place such as email marketing, website customization needs to change, or you’re gaining more website traffic than your platform can keep up with. 

Women business owners go from beginner to intermediate when it comes to scaling their platforms. But the key is to find a platform that doesn’t make you have to switch platforms every year. That’s why most website platforms have incorporated CMS systems. 

A few platforms that work well for women in this stage are:

• Squarespace
• Shopify
• GoDaddy

You’re still able to balance the growth of your business with one platform as you continue to evolve.

Where Squarespace and Squarespace Blueprint AI Fit In

No matter what stage you’re in while building your website, there are some key things many women business owners want. They want guidance because “15% of small businesses feel they lack the technical skills to build or run a website themselves.” This is where the website platform Squarespace comes into play. Squarespace is the platform that meets you in the middle.

They offer a new Blueprint AI feature that helps women stop staring at a blank screen for hours. It gives you a five step, interactive session that simplifies website customization. It takes the stress away from women who might not be great with technology. 

You can add in your ideas from when you were planning your website. Then it’ll take your ideas and create a framework you can start with. There’s no pressure for the final product to be done in one sitting. You’re able to make modifications where you see fit. And you don’t have to worry about the technical terms of grid layouts, margins, custom coding, HTML embedding and more.

Q2 has quietly snuck up on us. The pressure is kicking in for business owners. But don’t let where you host your website be one of the things that make you procrastinate any longer.

Ready to see what Squarespace Blueprint AI can do for you? Get started with a free trial, then use code HERAGENDA10 for 10% off a new Squarespace plan.

[Editor’s note: This content is sponsored by Squarespace. All editorial views expressed are the author’s own.]

This article Choosing The Right Website Platform For Where You Are Right Now was originally published on HerAgenda.com

For first-time founders, choosing the right website platform can mean the difference between a fast, professional launch and costly delays. Website builders are no longer just publishing tools, as they’re evolving into a business infrastructure that shapes growth. 

In fact, 45% of small businesses use platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress for their ease of launch and all-in-one functionality, according to Zipdo. In 2026, the ideal platform balances speed, scalability, and aesthetics, letting entrepreneurs launch quickly, manage efficiently, and scale with ease. 

For those looking to build their next website, three platforms consistently stand out: Squarespace, WordPress, and Webflow. 

Here’s how they compare across key factors, including ease of use, integrated features, overall costs, and more. 

Ease Of Site Launch

Squarespace: This platform is designed for speed. Its drag-and-drop editor and prebuilt designer templates let founders get a professional-looking site online within hours. No technical skills are required, making it ideal for entrepreneurs who want to focus on business, not coding.

They’ve also recently introduced Blueprint AI. It’s a guided design system that enables users to construct fully customised websites through a streamlined five-step process. 

WordPress: This option offers more flexibility but comes with a steeper learning curve. While WordPress.com simplifies setup, self-hosted WordPress.org requires domain setup, hosting configuration, and plugin selection. Launching quickly may require some technical know-how before starting. 

Webflow: This strikes a balance between design freedom and speed. Its visual editor allows drag-and-drop site building, but unlike Squarespace, there’s more customization potential. However, beginners may need a short learning period to fully leverage its capabilities.

Maintenance and Updates

Squarespace: Maintenance is mostly hands-off. Squarespace handles updates, security patches, and hosting, freeing founders from technical upkeep. This makes it attractive for busy entrepreneurs who prefer focusing on content and marketing.

WordPress: Maintenance is a larger responsibility for this platform. Founders must manage updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins. Security requires attention, and hosting choices affect site speed and reliability. This platform works well for founders willing to invest time or hire support.

Webflow: This platform offers automatic updates and reliable hosting. While more complex than Squarespace, Webflow reduces maintenance headaches compared to WordPress. Its CMS and design tools are integrated, so founders can update content and layouts without touching code.

Cost Transparency

Squarespace: A predictable pricing plan is offered, ranging from $16 to $49 per month. All-in-one packages include hosting, SSL certificates, and support. The transparent costs make budgeting straightforward for first-time founders.

WordPress: While WordPress can be inexpensive upfront, its costs vary widely depending on hosting, premium themes, and plugins. The software itself may be free, but ongoing expenses can escalate unexpectedly if advanced functionality is required.

Webflow: This platform’s pricing starts at $14 per month for basic sites and scales with CMS and business features. Its pricing is more transparent than a self-hosted WordPress setup, though advanced features may increase monthly costs.

Integrated Tools And Features

Squarespace: This platform shines with built-in features such as email campaigns, analytics, and e-commerce tools. Entrepreneurs can manage most aspects of their site without third-party integrations, reducing complexity.

Long associated with sleek, design-led templates and tools that allow users to build professional sites without coding knowledge, the company now expands its offering with a feature that promises more than 1.4 billion possible design combinations, all without requiring users to start from a blank canvas.

WordPress: On the other hand, WordPress excels in flexibility and extensibility. Nearly tens of thousands of plugins are available for SEO, e-commerce, analytics, and more. While powerful, integrating and maintaining these tools may require technical skills.

Webflow: Webflow offers a diverse CMS, SEO controls, and e-commerce functionality. Its visual design tools and integrations allow more control over custom interactions and animations, giving founders professional-level features without extensive coding.

The Bottom Line

For first-time founders in 2026, Squarespace may be ideal for speed and simplicity, WordPress is best for full customization and extensibility, and Webflow offers a middle ground with advanced design freedom and integrated tools. Choosing the right platform depends on your priorities, such as launch timeline, scalability, or ultimate flexibility.

Ready to see what Squarespace can do for you? Get started with a free trial, then use code HERAGENDA10 for 10% off a new Squarespace plan.

[Editor’s note: This content is sponsored by Squarespace. All editorial views expressed are the author’s own.]

This article Best Website Platforms For Entrepreneurs In 2026 was originally published on HerAgenda.com

It’s 11 p.m. on a Tuesday and after doomscrolling for a couple of hours, you realize you finally have an answer to that question. The answer is you and your business idea. At this moment, the time to act is now before overthinking gets in your way. You’re excited and you’re ready to launch sooner rather than later. But then you remember the part you absolutely hate: building a website. 

For many entrepreneurs, templated website builders have made life so much easier. But the ease of those websites also provided a “sea of sameness.” Everywhere you look you can name the template because it has the same layout, same buttons, same stock images, same about us page, recycled again and again.

With this business idea, you know you need to be different. You also know you don’t have the patience for a blank canvas tonight. Lucky for you, you don’t have to with Squarespace.

Enter Squarespace Blueprint AI.

The same platform known for quality website design has a new approach to bring ease to launching a website utilizing artificial intelligence, also known as AI. Squarespace Blueprint AI takes a conversational and personalized approach to starting the design process instead of simply assuming what you want. Blueprint AI is trained on Squarespace’s design expertise, generating sites that are fully customizable within the powerful, flexible Fluid Engine editor.

It starts with asking you questions like what is your site about? What are your goals? What kind of brand personality do you want to project? Then you get to select everything that comes with it including color palettes, font appearance, the tone for your copy, even suggested imagery.

What you end up with is something just as unique as your business idea with over 1.4 billion unique design combinations that have been pre-vetted by the Squarespace design team, meaning you get an elevated, launch-ready foundation, meaning fewer time-consuming revisions later. Moreover, with Squarespace, you get to see a live preview every step of the way. Squarespace Blueprint isn’t designing for you, it’s designing with you. 
What sets Squarespace Blueprint AI apart from the rest, was shared by the company’s chief product officer when Blueprint was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025, “We wanted to make sure the user felt AI was enhancing their story, but wasn’t taking over for them.” At its core, support and enhancement are key to the user experience.

There are plenty of tools on the market designed to get you from point A to a published website in record time. But what many of them fail to realize is that every person coming to their platform is someone with a vision. Most with a voice who knows exactly what they want and what they don’t want but they just aren’t quite sure how to execute it. Because of that Squarespace has found its lane. 

Squarespace Blueprint is simply here to make things easier for you, so that the gap between saying “I have an idea” and presenting that idea to the public becomes frictionless and still visually powerful. When you jump back in bed at 1 AM you can be rest assured knowing that you are ready to share your business idea with the public. 

Ready to see what Squarespace Blueprint AI can do for you? Get started with a free trial, then use code HERAGENDA10 for 10% off a new Squarespace plan.

[Editor’s note: This content is sponsored by Squarespace. All editorial views expressed are the author’s own.]

This article Squarespace Doesn’t Want To Build Your Website For You (And That’s The Point) was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Over the years, DEI has become a helpful tool for women entrepreneurs. It allowed for branded issued statements, launched initiatives, and promised more opportunities for founders who had long been overlooked. Last year’s pull of DEI programs under Trump’s leadership made the commitments expected, adding another layer to an already difficult task for women business owners.

For Be Rooted Founder Jasmin Foster, navigating the retail space started way long before this “safety net.” She’s intentionally made choices from the beginning that honor growth without compromise. Through Jasmin’s lens, she shares how community, values, and smarter growth allow for great adaptation, especially as traditional retail pathways become more restrictive. 

Her Agenda: With DEI commitments quietly disappearing across retail, what’s the biggest shift you had to make as a founder once you realized the “safety net” was gone?

Jasmin Foster: I don’t know if we really ever had a safety net. I think that while DEI programs were incredibly important, and are incredibly important for brands to be discovered, and for them to have a strategic position within retailers across the board. It never was a guarantee that we were going to have shelf space, it was never a guarantee that once we got shelf space, that we were going to keep shelf space.

As a business owner [I] double down on all of the things that continue to matter to our customers, which is providing products that make them feel seen, help them go after their goals and increase their productivity. And how do we continue to do an even better job at communicating how we do that every day to them. Yes, it’s very disappointing to see the country kind of take a shift in their stance around DEI, [but] it’s never been a guarantee for our people.

Her Agenda: Instead of chasing scale at all costs, you leaned harder into community and DTC. What did that look like in practice, and why did that approach feel more sustainable right now?

Jasmin Foster: I know that particularly for products like these, whether they’re going to be someone’s school supplies [or] someone’s monthly journal, it needed to be affordable. I never wanted to build a brand that was aspirational luxury. I wanted to build a brand that was attainable and relatable to my customer and meet them where they’re at, and so that requires me to be at a price point that is attainable for as many people as possible. 

Now, when you talk about scalability, there is a lot of room for us to continue to scale. As a small brand, while it may feel big because we are in retail, there’s still so many people that do not know us yet, and so I love going to trade shows and to events because I get to connect with my customer base there. But I also get to meet so many new people that we’re introducing Be Rooted to for the first time. So from a scaling standpoint, there’s so much opportunity for us to continue to penetrate the household of the multicultural consumer within the United States and even abroad. [With] the choices that we have made from a design perspective, it’s been incredibly important for me to stay true to our mission.

In the beginning, I’ve always wanted to make a brand that reflected the community that I lived in and reflect the young girls that I know like myself growing up who didn’t see imagery that looked like me. black art is something that is often seen as not mainstream enough or too niche, so it was important for me to be able to put black art forward, and while that may feel like it is limiting to some, to me, it’s just being really clear about who we serve and continuing to double down on our mission. 

Her Agenda: I love that. I have a piggyback question off that because you’re learning a lot of stuff along your journey. Is there any belief or strategy that you had to unlearn in order to grow smarter within your journey so far?

Jasmin Foster: On a monthly [and] weekly basis, I’m learning and unlearning something. But over the last year or two, [it] has really been clear to me about defining what does success mean? on my own terms. I think that you oftentimes see people post about what feels like their overnight success, or people chasing kind of like unicorn acquisitions, and those are amazing, and wonderful goals for those who have them. 

Her Agenda: During a year when many brands pulled back, Be Rooted still grew DTC by over 30%. What did customers respond to emotionally that numbers alone can’t explain?

Jasmin Foster: We [were] dealing with a macroeconomic climate that was putting a lot of economic pressure on our customers’ wallet. So us as business owners are not just navigating one thing. And so for me, there were a couple of things I think allowed my customers to continue to connect with us. one, maintaining an affordable price point, even while dealing with economic pressure with the tariffs happening, which meant relooking financially at how we structured the company to be able to absorb that cost.

Secondly, it was giving them something new and exciting to come back to the website for. Normally during the holiday time, we do a completely new collection. But because of all that was going on, we actually decided to delay that collection. Instead of doing this huge drop, what we did was collaborate with other Black-owned businesses and create small batch newness that got our customers excited. like our collaboration with Pretty Honest Shop on a candle collection specifically for holiday and our collaboration with the Joran Tea House with our first Be Rooted relaxing tea, which was an item that ended up taking off last year. But giving them something fun to talk about.

The last thing that I would say is really doubling down on acquiring new customers. there were so many people that were in discovery mode last year. And there were also so many people that were looking to shift their dollars to e-commerce. And so we needed to meet people where they were and ensure that from our marketing efforts, it was a lot about new customer acquisition more than probably any other year. 

Her Agenda: For founders who don’t have corporate retail experience like you did, what’s one mindset shift they need to make as traditional retail becomes more restrictive?

Jasmin Foster: I don’t know if it’s a mindset shift, but I think my piece of advice would be that we should all be building businesses that can be retail ready and e-commerce friendly. There are still partners out there that you can align with. And like always, we should be courting and dating our partners. With any retail partnership every year, you should be evaluating their messaging, their core values, their beliefs, how they’re treating you, and decide whether or not you want to do business with them. And I think that that message hasn’t changed.

Truthfully, the metrics that you need for e-commerce and for retail are often different. So that can be hard. But I think with any brand that is either trying to get their foot off the ground, it’s making sure that you also focus just as much time on e-commerce as you are doing your retail objectives. 

It’s really interesting, because maybe about a decade ago, everyone was looking for only e-commerce first businesses, like those were the shiny stars, and the big kind of VC checks were the people that were winning on DTC, [thinking they] may be able to translate into retail. Then about five years, the shift went from brands that were retail friendly. And it didn’t really matter if you had a DTC. And so I think now, it’s important to just make sure that you have your foot on the gas on both of them, because the ties turn really quickly, and you want to be able to move with them based off of how things are changing.

This article How Women Founders Are Navigating Growth Without The DEI Safety Net was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Zewiditu Jewel is the co-founder of Cloudy Donut, a Black-owned brand she is building one store at a time, with a goal of opening a new location every single year. What makes her story even more remarkable: she has done all of this without stepping foot in the kitchen.

A fourth-generation Washingtonian who watched gentrification reshape her hometown, Zewiditu has built something that pushes back: a brand with four locations, partnerships with Oatly, LVMH, and Tiffany & Co., and a philosophy she coined herself called reverse gentrification, bringing Black-owned businesses into affluent communities where they have historically been absent.

A former teacher turned entrepreneur, Zewiditu brings the same commitment she once poured into young students into every community she now serves. Her vision extends far beyond donuts. 

There is a rare quality to Zewiditu’s presence. She is the kind of person who makes you feel grounded in conversation while simultaneously making you want to move. In our chat, she offers a peek into what it truly takes to be a visionary.

Her Agenda: Can you describe the brainstorming session that ignited Cloudy Donut Co. into existence?

Zewiditu Jewel: Cloudy Donut is essentially like this love story. Derek and I met in 2019 and a couple months after we met, he had just started Cloudy Donut. I was teaching. I’d been teaching for 14 years, and I was kind of at the end of the line in my journey.

We had a conversation in the year 2020. I distinctively remember I was literally on a lunch break in the library, and I was really frustrated with my job. Basically, we went over the numbers of how much money I was making as a teacher. And he said, ‘If I can match this, what do you think about coming on and starting the business with me?’

So [Cloudy Donut] was very, very new, and I was essentially in a place where I was ready for transition. I met Derek, I think maybe two or three weeks after my grandmother had passed. My grandma and I were very, very close, and I had said to myself, when my grandmother transitions. So will I. 

I had the privilege of helping my mother take care of my grandmother. So essentially, when she passed, I knew that I was in a particular place that was ready for change. I was one year sober from alcohol. I met Derek, we started building Cloudy Donuts and that really turned into a big thing for the both of us.

Her Agenda: At what point did you and your partner solidify the reverse gentrification aspect of the business model?

Zewiditu Jewel: I’m a fourth generation Washingtonian, and that’s important for the context, because I saw how hard gentrification hit my city. I literally grew up in Chocolate City, and I saw the city change. So we were unpacking some boxes, we were opening in Brooklyn Heights, our first location. So we’re unpacking these boxes, and a Black woman comes in, an older Black woman, and she’s like, asking us, essentially, who are we? And we’re kind of perplexed, like, what do you mean? And she was like, ‘Well, you know, I was wondering if you guys work for this company or, like, what’s happening here?’ [We told her] ‘no, we’re the owners of [this] shop.’ And she was floored. She couldn’t believe that there were Black people that were coming into the neighborhood and actually owned a business. And so from that conversation, I actually did my own research to see, are there other Black owned businesses in this neighborhood? And come to find out, there were not. So with the context that I have being from DC, I coined the term reverse gentrification. So it’s not the dictionary (definition of the word, which refers to the displacement of lower income residents) of  version which speaks to real estate. This is a term that I created based off of the work that we’ve done, which is bringing our Black owned businesses into affluent communities, affluent communities absent of color.

Her Agenda: What did it take, emotionally and mentally, to claim space in neighborhoods where Black-owned businesses are underrepresented?

Zewiditu Jewel: So when Derek and I first met, in the beginning phase of dating, we established that we were going to be transitional people. I assumed that was particular to our personal relationship, right? We want to create a healthy tone for relationships within our family based off of the family that we’re creating based off of the dynamics that we’ve seen. What I later found out, as we started to progress into the business is that we have become transitional people within the culture. It could feel heavy because it can feel like it’s a burden or a personal responsibility, but I say just being is enough. As long as I walk into this world as an honorable woman, I’m true to myself, I’m true to my family, then I understand that I’m doing the best that I can and being the best example that I can be. And I see it. There are some times where I feel a little bothered, you know, frustrated knowing that my white peers and counterparts have an easier time within the same industry that I’m in solely based off of their skin color, when I feel that my product is far more superior, I have to work 1,000 times harder to get people to see me. That can be a bit difficult. And I think that some people don’t want to keep hearing you say Black this, Black that. They want you to just be happy with the fact that you “made it.” But until we all make it, I didn’t make it.

Her Agenda: As a woman, what are some of the challenges you face, once people realize you are not the one making the donuts? 

Zewiditu Jewel: I am someone who is always honest and standing in my truth. So I would find people come into the shop and they’d be like, ‘Oh my God, you’re the baker. You made that.’ I’m like, actually, I’m not. Like, if I was the baker. We probably wouldn’t be standing in the shop today, right? But I also understand that for some people, gender roles are just a way for them to feel comfortable and understand and associate based off of examples and things that we’ve seen, you know? 

I was raised by very strong women, but these are also women that raised me to understand that the man is the head of the household. Now, the man that was the head of the household in my family dynamic was my grandfather, and rightfully so.

When we talk about gender roles, it’s not enough that a man has a penis and he is a man, right? What value does he bring to his family? Is he an earner? Does he create opportunities for his family? It goes beyond just you’re a man and I’m a woman, and so in our household I was taught how to be the type of woman that I was raised to be, and reminded of what that looks like, based off of the standards that Derek had before I came into this relationship. He cooks, he cleans, all these things are standards that he has for himself. And so he showed me, this is how he shows up in the relationship. And then in turn, this is the expectation for me. And on my end, I create a level of softness, and also a warmer tone in the house. [It’s him] myself and our dog (who was very much a boy dog). So [I’m] creating a space for light heartedness [and] fun, but also creating that nurturing environment. We do well, playing within our roles as male and female, but also understanding there are going to be times where I’ve got to step up and I’ve got to make money for the house. I run those shops. I’m responsible for the sales and making sure that we keep the money coming into the house. So it’s not just one person pulling more weight than the other. It’s really understanding the value of each. 

Her Agenda: How do you see reverse gentrification creating new experiences not just for Black customers, but for neighbors encountering a Black-owned, vegan business for the first time?

Zewiditu Jewel: We did a lot of positive and progressive things for the neighborhood since we’ve been there, and specifically when we first opened. We were the first business to have a ribbon cutting ceremony. We had a private opening for the neighborhood first, and then we opened. This was really to set the tone for how we would conduct ourselves as a business. Before we even opened, we were constantly giving out free products, as we were cooking in the kitchen, trying out the food and testing equipment and things like that. 

We gave out so many free donuts and products. I was going to the neighborhood association. I went to the churches. I went to the schools. I sat with the council person of that particular area. I was very intentional with introducing not only myself, but the business and creating the expectations of what we were looking to bring. We’re not just slapping our business in the neighborhood and saying, “we’re open.” We serve as an amenity. So what that looks like to this day, when kids are coming into the store, because we’re only open on the weekend, the kids running into the shop on Saturday saying, ‘donut, donut, donut.’ I can’t tell you how many kids I have experienced have their first donut. Seeing that experience is something that ‘s very special to me. I grew up in a neighborhood, I remember going to my neighborhood deli since I was a kid. And having that sense of connectivity to a space, and then being able to connect with the business owner, I know so many of the neighbors and the residents, and it’s a part of their weekend routine, they can’t wait for Saturday or Sunday to come into the shop. That is a level of community that I feel is lost. It’s really important for me to uphold that standard, because it’s where I come from, it’s what I value.

I say it all the time. Locals keep local businesses open. The majority of my customers are white people, specifically white moms and their kids, and they know who we are. They don’t all follow us on social media but some of them do so. They see the messaging. They see the tone and the same conversations that we’re having online, we’re having in the store. We have to be comfortable with ourselves everywhere we go. I can’t now open in a predominantly white neighborhood and feel like I have to shrink myself. I still have to show up as I am. And there will be some people that will embrace that, and there’ll be others that don’t, and that’s okay. My goal is to create a phenomenal product, which we’ve done, to provide excellent hospitality, which we do, and to stand on all 10 every day, every day. 

Her Agenda: How was the initial seed money for the business acquired? What did raising the money teach you about yourself and others?

Zewiditu Jewel: Oh, we worked and grind every day. Every year from 2019 to 2024 we’ve opened a new Cloudy Donut. That’s four Cloudy Donuts that we’ve opened. And the ones in Baltimore, Derek owns those buildings. We just came back from Baltimore, Sunday, we did a pop up. We’ve been doing pop ups every month or so. But the reality is that you can’t replicate yourself no matter how hard you try. So if you don’t have people that are going to uphold the same standards and integrity, the business is going to suffer. 

We don’t have any investors. I don’t come from a family of money, and neither does he. Every time we opened a new location, we had to work extremely hard. When we acquired our place in Brooklyn Heights, (obviously we rent in New York) we had to double down and triple down on the work that we were doing in Baltimore, just so we could have the money to pay for that. There isn’t a surplus of money that has afforded us the opportunity to now open and expand. It’s really just like, ‘Okay, we want to do this. All right. Let’s get on.’ If we got to get to it what can we create for ourselves where we can get this money so we can fuel this dream? But there is everything we’ve done, everything that you see online, we’ve acquired these things just by putting in the work.

Her Agenda: Being fully self-funded, what does this next milestone, opening another city location, represent for you personally as a woman building without institutional backing?

Zewiditu Jewel: The goal for us was, once we saw what we had with our first store, Cloudy Donut and the product, we thought, why not expand? We always wanted to expand to New York, because I lived here. I always wanted to move back. Derek was like New York is a great opportunity for us to go to a larger city, but not to be too far from Baltimore, because we still have businesses there to maintain.

So, building a life that you want to live, not just settling with the life that you’re living in. And in order for us to elevate, we had to expand.

Her Agenda: When customers walk into Cloudy Donut Co., what do you hope they feel or understand beyond enjoying a donut?

Zewiditu Jewel: Every customer is different. I want people to feel the possibility. All I do in my shop is talk to the customers. I am always looking to reach women. Particularly, Black women, but over all, women. I want women to see a level of possibility for themselves beyond just what we assume we deserve. Going after everything you truly deserve.

Understanding that you can strive for more and greater. As well as, understanding that what you’re striding for, it requires a certain type of [hard] work. I live in Tribeca, along with some of the wealthy and elite. I have learned that everyone that has it, works hard for it. I say all the time that vulnerability is my superpower. I know that what I am doing in my life is creating what I thought was impossible and now sharing it with other people so that they can see that it is possible.

Her Agenda: What are a few unique aspects of Cloudy Donut Co. and how do you see them directly benefiting inspiring women creatives?

Zewiditu Jewel: Self-care is a luxury. I don’t spend a lot of time alone. It is important to me that I spend time with the right people. Having positive friends around. It is really important to take an inventory of the things that we surround ourselves with. 

Her Agenda: How does your pivot from teaching now to an entrepreneur impact your mental health and your work-life-balance?

Zewiditu Jewel: My work-life-balance is definitely better now. Teachers are superheroes. We are trying to change a system that was never meant for us to change. It was really hard for me, as I got into the later years of teaching, I kept hitting a wall. I realize that I kept trying to make a difference in these students’ lives. I found myself in a space where I was extremely burnt out. Now, in the restaurant I find myself teaching and knocking down doors. But, if we are going to knock down doors, we might as well use the doors as a bridge. Now, I feel charged, I am teaching again, now, just in a different aspect. 

[Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.]

This article A Peek Inside Her Agenda: Zewiditu Jewel  was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Entrepreneurial success rarely hinges on a single flash of brilliance—or even on executing a brilliant idea perfectly. What truly separates lasting leaders from the rest is their willingness to pay attention: to study what’s working, confront what isn’t, extract the lesson, and move forward wiser than before. Then do it again. And again. And again.

It takes courage to revise the plan, rework the model, rethink the story, and keep going, anyway. The entrepreneurs and leaders of the Dreamers & Doers community embody this kind of staying power. Their success isn’t defined by getting it right the first time, but by their ability to adapt with intention and momentum.

Read on for the pivotal lessons and hard-won mindsets that shaped their understanding of resilience—and continue to guide the way they lead.

Farida Raafat

Founder & CEO of DALYA NYC, an NYC-based women’s custom clothing brand redefining tailoring for modern women.

In the early days of DALYA, I was building the business while working full-time, self-funding production, and constantly navigating cash flow uncertainty. Eventually, I realized that the pressure never really stops and had to learn to keep going by grounding myself in why I started and trusting that I was building the right thing. Discomfort is often just the cost of building something meaningful. 

Nicte Cuevas

Brand & Hue Strategist of Nicte Creative Design, helping growing brands turn scattered visuals and messaging into a unified, purpose-driven identity.

When my son was born premature and spent months in the NICU, I ran my business from a hospital room without a roadmap. As a military spouse navigating those early medical needs for our child, I’ve been forced to reinvent repeatedly, and it’s taught me that resilience isn’t just about pushing through; it’s about staying moldable and building contingency plans so you’re never caught without options. When reinvention feels gut-wrenching, I shift my focus to how I want to feel on the other side.

Dom Farnan

Founder of DotConnect, embedded talent acquisition for growing startups.

For an entire year, our largest client told us that they were going to renew—but decided not to at the last minute. It left us very vulnerable. I revised the business model and decided to go back to being solo, ultimately leading to exciting new professional opportunities. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that when you attach to an outcome, life throws you curveballs. It might keep you stuck, but when you’re open, adaptable, and flexible, many things that seem like setbacks can really be springboards.

Victoria Anderson

SVP, Cultural Strategy & Communications of 160over90, a global cultural strategy and marketing agency within WME Group.

One of the truest tests of my resilience has been leading through constant industry change—moments when the ground is shifting even as you’re expected to keep building. I adapt by anchoring less to fixed models and more to principles: cultural fluency, clarity of value, and trust. Don’t confuse consistency with rigidity. Reinvention isn’t a failure of the original idea; it’s often proof that you’re listening closely enough to evolve.

Amanda Lien

Founder, Content Marketer & Strategist of Minutiae Content Co., a full-stack content writing and strategy firm specializing in creating creative, converting marketing content for founders, entrepreneurs, and SMBs.

Within a few weeks in late 2024, I lost my entire client roster as a result of economic pressures and AI anxieties. Rather than panic, I used the sudden pause to audit my business model. I cut unnecessary expenses, repositioned my offerings around what clients actually valued, and developed flexible packages that met founders where they were financially. When business gets tough, resist the urge to let fear paralyze your decision-making. Your most creative, strategic solutions often emerge from the pressure itself.

Ellen Hockley

Founder & CEO of Ellen Hockley Consulting, SAGE Women, and Good Ideas & Bad Decisions, leveraging expertise in both service and product-based industries to guide female founders to achieve their dreams.

As soon as quarantine began during the pandemic, I had to shift my entire business model and mindset to account for remote-only events—and adjust to the idea of potentially never going back to in-person. In the end, I rebuilt my business and sold it, but it was a long, hard, and winding road. You won’t know what is coming around the next bend, and while this is hard and scary, I am a firm believer in trusting your intuition and believing that you will end up exactly where you’re meant to be, even if you can’t see it in the moment.

Yewande Faloyin

CEO & Founder of OTITỌ Leadership & People Development, partnering to improve your leadership and performance by transforming how you show up.

Losing one of my largest clients was a real test of resilience, both financially and emotionally. Instead of reacting, I practiced what I preach in my coaching: creating space, listening to my intuition, and reflecting on the direction I truly wanted for my business. That pause allowed me to realign and create room for more integrated work. Turn potential setbacks into opportunities. The moments that feel disruptive often contain the clearest signals about where you’re meant to shift.

Natanya Wachtel

Founder & Chief Strategy Officer of The New Solutions Network, an interdisciplinary “company of companies” spanning media, enterprise solutions, and integrative wellness.

I’ve rebuilt my life and companies more than once, but the most destabilizing moment came when I sustained a near-fatal traumatic brain injury. There was no time to recover, forcing me to redesign leadership in real time as structure instead of performance. What kept me moving wasn’t heroic resilience, but learning to ask for help, let others lead alongside me, and build systems that could hold when I couldn’t—imperfectly, collaboratively, and more than once.

Routh Chadwick

Founder & Head Coach of Joie de Vivre Coaching, helping achievers shift out of struggle and burnout into work-life harmony and sustainable success.

I was running a successful referral-based business for years—until, suddenly, the referral streams dried up. At first, I panicked, but then I realized it meant I needed to accept help and try some different things. This shift created fresh energy and opportunities in my business. I believe that by relaxing into a challenging situation, our creativity can emerge, and we can be open to the flow of new ideas and insights.

Dorothy Fulop

Co-Founder & Head of Excitement of Gamewiz, an award-winning European board-game e-commerce company focused on turning customers into long-term brand fans.

My husband (also my business partner) was battling health challenges, and I suddenly found myself carrying the weight of the business. A colleague saw that I was crumbling and reminded me that success sometimes simply means not giving up. That moment taught me that resilience isn’t just about being strong, but about surrounding yourself with people who can hold you when you can’t do it on your own. 

Kristina Unker

Founder & Creative Director of MA’AM, a woman-led branding agency for hospitality clients who deliver indelible experiences to their guests.

In 2021, I contracted COVID and was chronically ill for over two years. I leaned heavily on my team and network of collaborators to survive personally and professionally, and it yielded some of the most profitable years for the business. Entrepreneurship is a constant balance of surrender and grit.

Patty Williams-Downs

Founder & CEO of BreakingBounds® Enterprises, a consulting firm delivering high-impact solutions for business transformation.

When business development fluctuated, we allowed it to inspire new business endeavors and unexpected opportunities. Instead of letting the challenge intimidate us, we accepted what was, which created the clarity to see new possibilities and boldly move toward what could be.

Ariana Friedlander

Founder & Principal of Rosabella Consulting, LLC, helping mission-driven teams and leaders create the conditions for clarity, connection, and growth.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, forcing me to scale back my workload and redirect my energy toward treatment and recovery. Receiving became both a leadership skill and a resilience practice. That year became my most profitable to date, largely because of the reputation and relationships I had built and my ability to express my needs.

Ashira Jones

Founder, CEO & Executive Coach of Perfect Ten Coaching, strengthening voice and presence for high-performing leaders navigating high-stakes moments. 

At the end of Q3 in 2025, I realized I wasn’t going to hit the ambitious growth goals I had set, despite increasing my visibility, outreach, and effort. Instead of questioning my strategy and long-term vision or pushing just to feel productive, I made the intentional decision to pause and recalibrate, inspiring the creation of a new signature workshop. Connecting with other founders during that time was also critical for reminding me that ebbs are part of the cycle.

Caitlin Daley

CEO & Founder of Face The Tiger, a boutique consultancy dedicated to helping female founders navigate the emotional journey that comes with business ownership.

The first time I was ghosted by a client, I was confused and embarrassed. Instead of running away from this emotion, I spent time feeling it. Self-reflection should be a key part of your business strategy. So often, I see founders overlook this important tactic, which leaves them drained, feeling lost, or lacking confidence. 

Folake Dosu

Founder & Lead Strategist of Fans In Focus, for organizations driving narrative change, creating audience-centric strategies to fuel growth and engagement.

Faced with shifting political and economic headwinds, more nonprofits viewed storytelling and audience development as a discretionary cost rather than an essential investment. By focusing on the impact media ecosystem, I shifted my efforts to engaging potential clients who already recognize the importance of narrative. Focusing on a niche can be intimidating when opportunities feel less abundant, but defining your target audience makes your point-of-view sharper and more memorable.

Cynthia Hellen

Co-Founder & CEO of QINTI, an applied AI and digital transformation platform helping traditional and small businesses adopt practical automation without losing their human edge.

Launching QINTI meant stepping away from established lanes and rebuilding from scratch in a rapidly evolving space. I adapted by returning to basics, focusing on practical implementation, global accessibility, and designing systems that strengthen people rather than replace them. Reinvention becomes possible when you stop protecting old identities and start building toward the future you know needs to exist.

Victoria Repa

CEO & Founder of BetterMe, a leading health and wellness platform that provides a tailored, holistic approach to well-being for millions of users worldwide.

After nine years of leading a global company, I realized that crises and unpredictable situations can arise at any stage of growth. What supported me most in these moments was discipline in both business and personal well-being, such as prioritizing sleep, movement, and mindfulness. While you can’t always control what happens around you, you can always control yourself, managing your thoughts, reactions, and energy so you respond consciously instead of acting quickly.

All individuals featured in this article are members of Dreamers & Doers, a highly curated community and PR Hype Machine​​ amplifying extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders through authentic connections, credibility-boosting visibility, and opportunities that accelerate big dreams. (Learn more about membership here.)

This article Women Leaders On The Strategies And Mindsets That Keep Them Resilient was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Hard decisions rarely announce themselves as turning points. More often, they arrive disguised as impossible tradeoffs: stay or go, scale or simplify, speak up or stay quiet, hold steady or pivot fast. For leaders, especially, the weight of those choices extends far beyond themselves.

For the leaders and entrepreneurs in the Dreamers & Doers community, resilience and adaptability were shaped in these moments. In each case, growth followed a decision: a clear-eyed assessment of what was no longer serving them or their business and the resolve to choose differently.

Read on to learn how they navigated the hard calls that strengthened their resilience, sharpened their adaptability, and ultimately positioned them to move forward with even greater clarity and conviction.

Catharine Montgomery

Founder & CEO of Better Together Agency, a values-led, AI-forward public relations and marketing agency built for organizations ready to make a positive impact in the communities they serve.

After two years of building with VC backing, investors tried to take control of the brand I built from scratch. I walked away from the money and started over with full ownership. It was the hardest business decision I’ve made, but protecting my mission mattered more than their timeline. The founders who make it are the ones who can reinvent without losing what matters.

Samantha (Sam) Alvita

Founder of Work Rewritten, a career strategy and coaching business helping professionals navigate work, identity, and change.

A moment that truly tested my resilience came when more and more people were asking for my support while being less able to pay for it because of unemployment and financial stress. I knew my work could help them and found myself offering more spots and resources at discounted rates, sometimes at a detriment to my own sustainability. Ultimately, this period forced me to rethink how to serve people generously while still running a business that could survive more challenging and complicated economic moments. 

Clara Ma

Founder & CEO of Ask a Chief of Staff, a boutique executive search and career development platform dedicated to placing and empowering the next generation of strategic operators.

Last year, I had to replace a teammate who had originally been a close personal friend—a decision I avoided for too long because I didn’t want to damage the relationship. Once we finally had the hard conversation and acknowledged the role was no longer a fit, we hired a new team member and that half of the business turned around almost overnight. It was a powerful reminder that “familiar” isn’t the same as “serving you,” and that making space, emotionally and operationally, is often the prerequisite for new energy and opportunity to come in.

Nicole Leon

Founder of L Leon Virtual Assistance LLC, providing high-level virtual and executive support. 

I lost a major client when they asked me to go full-time in a way that wasn’t aligned with why I started my business, and walking away meant losing a significant portion of my income. It forced me to get clear on my boundaries and quickly diversify my client base, so I leaned into community, relationship-building, and collaboration. Within about two months, I replaced that income by staying visible, networking intentionally, and trusting the long game.

Jessica Sikora

Founder & Executive Director of Superbands, a nonprofit at the intersection of music, culture, and youth mental wellness, transforming fandom into connection, resilience, and lasting impact.

A defining moment came when I realized that leading with crisis-centered mental health language was limiting our growth and partnerships, so I stepped back and rethought our messaging and how we showed up culturally. Repositioning Superbands as a culture-first, upstream platform rooted in music and fandom allowed us to move forward with clarity, confidence, and renewed momentum. Often, resilience looks like pausing, admitting something isn’t working anymore, and giving yourself permission to change the story as you go.

Dominique Mas

CEO of Group Coaching HQ, equipping organizations and coaches with the expertise and support to lead the future of coaching.

Early in my partnership with my co-founder, we hit a painful truth: our goals weren’t aligned, and our personal and professional commitments meant we couldn’t both give the business the time and energy it needed. For a while, I tried to push through and make it work, but I eventually accepted that the most resilient move was choosing clarity. We had a heartfelt conversation and agreed that I would buy them out. Writing that check felt like stepping into the unknown. But that decision became a turning point, allowing me to realign with what I wanted to build and how I wanted to build it.

Katherine Sprung

Founder of Squish Marshmallows, a small batch, handcrafted marshmallow company in NYC.

When the pandemic began, I had a storefront, and I had to halt everything except for the website’s nationwide shipping, which instantly increased like wildfire. Initially, I had to furlough staff, too, and started producing, fulfilling, and shipping everything myself. Being agile is the name of the game, and after going through all of that, I completely changed my business model, which was the best thing possible.

Marianna Sachse

Founder & CEO of Jackalo, a circular children’s clothing brand designing long-lasting, sustainable pieces that can be returned for resale when outgrown.

When tariff uncertainties threatened our supply chain in 2025, we doubled down on our resale program, encouraging customers to return outgrown pieces so we’d have inventory to bridge any product gaps. We also reimagined what “new” could mean by adding graphics and features to existing inventory, proving that innovation isn’t always about producing more. Your constraints can become your greatest creative catalyst. 

Peri Finkelstein

Founder & CEO of Team Peri Foundation, driven by justice, compassion, and the belief that true inclusion celebrates diversity.

After accepting discounted legal assistance recommended by a friend as I started forming my nonprofit, I discovered that the organization had been structured incorrectly, forcing me to start over. Rather than giving up, I treated it as a learning moment, sought better guidance, and secured pro-bono legal support to restructure the organization correctly. Resilience means pivoting when needed, seeking better solutions, and adapting your approach as your organization grows.

Sydney de Arenas

Founder of The Hive, Summit Chasers, Northwestern Millwork, The Etho, Etho Interiors, Ítaca, a serial entrepreneur who builds businesses designed to last.

The hardest moment in my career was making the call to undo a venture that had significant traction but structural misalignment at the leadership level. As deeper governance and trust issues surfaced, it became clear the foundation wasn’t sustainable, and I made the very tough decision to call out my partner rather than compromise my integrity. That decision reshaped how I am rebuilding the business today: tighter controls, clearer alignment, and zero tolerance for compromised integrity. I recommend feeling the pain of a “failure,” then setting your mindset to see opportunity in the dark. It’s always there!

Amanda Northcutt

Founder & CEO of Level Up Creators, helping founder-led B2B companies install Fortune-500-level clarity without the bureaucracy.

Several years into growing my firm, I experienced significant health challenges that forced me to confront a hard truth: my business depended too heavily on my personal capacity. I could not continue operating at that pace, so I rebuilt around clear structure, recurring revenue, and defined operating systems so it could function sustainably, regardless of my energy levels. Resilience is about designing a business that can withstand real life. If your company only works when you are working at full intensity, it is time to rethink the structure.

Bea Bennett

CEO of Liquid Collagen Stix, the first great-tasting ready-to-drink collagen shot.

During the R&D process, we were testing the most efficient way to produce our product. Unfortunately, the machine failed on several occasions, leading to loss of product, raw materials, and thousands of dollars. We worked through this and ultimately mastered our production process, made sellable products, and grew closer as a team. 

Natasha “Tash” Durkins

Founder & CEO of Fiercely Joyful LLC, an executive counsel firm for leaders with enterprise-level accountability who need someone in their corner who will tell them the truth.

After a 30-year career in institutional authority, I stepped away to build a business from scratch. I had no guaranteed clients, no safety net, and an identity that had long been tied to my title. I kept moving by telling the brutal truth about what was hard, choosing optimism on purpose, and deciding my authority would come from alignment, not a title. 

Emily Dick

Brand Strategist & Designer of Unbuttoned Brands, a bold brand studio helping values-driven service providers stand out without burning out.

I decided to rebrand my business after years of building under one name. Creating an entirely new online platform from scratch, starting with a new domain and zero traffic, rebuilding a website instead of tweaking it, explaining the change, updating every link, every graphic, every system… it all tested me. I kept moving forward in small, steady ways. Resilience doesn’t always look like pushing harder. Sometimes it looks like slowing down long enough to realign, even when it costs you short-term visibility.

Rachel McCollum

Co-Founder of SYS, a modern relationship ecosystem helping exceptional people find and sustain extraordinary love and connection.

Building SYS while becoming a single mother forced me to confront everything at once: my identity, my capacity, and my limits. There were moments I didn’t know how I would manage it all, but I had to let go of proving anything and rebuild the business around sustainability, community, and the kind of life I actually wanted to live. Reinvention asks you to walk away from what looks secure but feels misaligned, without knowing exactly how things will unfold.

Daria Leshchenko

CEO and Managing Partner of SupportYourApp, providing secure technical, customer support, and CX services to growing companies.

Our expansion to the Philippines was one of our toughest lessons. We scaled fast, but within months, turnover hit 80%, operational continuity was disrupted by blackouts and storms, and our remote management model simply didn’t translate culturally. Instead of doubling down blindly, we paused, reduced the hub, and rebuilt our global expansion framework using a lean approach, testing small, analyzing cultural fit, and scaling gradually. Those lessons later shaped our more sustainable entry into Argentina and taught me that resilience comes from designing your business for volatility.

Lisa Friscia

President & Founder of Franca Consulting, LLC, a leadership and operating advisory firm helping purpose-driven organizations build the infrastructure that makes performance sustainable.

As a consultant whose work depends on long-term partnerships, I feel the recent challenges across the social impact sector directly. Instead of retreating, I doubled down on clarity—refining my core offers, listening closely to what leaders were actually struggling with, and building infrastructure in my own business the same way I advise my clients to do in theirs. Reinvention and pivots work best when they’re built on foundations, not panic.

Natalie Nicole

CEO & Founder of Impackedful Creative, unleashing creativity for a cause to help businesses attract and engage the right audience.

I hit a point where the business demanded a level of leadership and structure I hadn’t yet developed, and continuing the same way would have capped growth. Instead of staying comfortable, I put myself in rooms where I was the least experienced, sought out mentors who challenged my thinking, and treated that season as the work required to become the founder the business needed. Treat your business as a training ground where every obstacle is preparing you for the next level, pushing you to learn, adapt, and evolve with it.

All individuals featured in this article are members of Dreamers & Doers, a highly curated community and PR Hype Machine​​ amplifying extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders through authentic connections, credibility-boosting visibility, and opportunities that accelerate big dreams. (Learn more about membership here.)

This article The Hard Decisions That Forged Resilience And Reinvention For Women Leaders was originally published on HerAgenda.com

For lack of more prestigious words, Madam CJ Walker should be known as the Queen of self-promotion. Born as Sarah Breedlove, Madam CJ Walker has solidified her legacy as the first female self-made millionaire in America. Together, the use of sales techniques and simple business practices, coined the “Walker system,” constructed the business model that propelled Madam CJ Walker into success. The Madam CJ Walker business model is timeless. Applying what worked then, certainly can be applied in today’s fast-paced digital age.

What once was a simple door-to-door business quickly scaled to a million-dollar empire. Madam CJ Walker is an inspiration and a clear example that creating a system, being authentic, selling direct to the consumer, and building a tribe actually works. Largely due to access to the internet and social media, these same business practices translate seamlessly online.

A Rinse And Repeat System

Madam CJ Walker understood her clientele. She was aware of the importance of a simple, easily to follow regimen that would not be complicated. A no-fuss and burden-free, easy-to-repeat system means happy customers. Happy customers make frequent customers. Frequent customers equate to consistent cash flow.

Fast forward to the digital age, and this business practice still rings true. Customers find value in products that are easy to use, simple, and convenient. According to a press release by Research and Markets, a data company, the global subscription economy, which includes everything from streaming services to subscription boxes, is expected to gross $996 billion by 2028. Companies worldwide are leaning on subscription services to increase profit margins.

Authenticity

Nothing is easier to tell than the truth and that is what Madam CJ Walker did. She won her clients trust and money by telling the story of her hair and scalp journey. Using her own hair as a first hand testimonial, allowed Madam CJ Walker to be authentic while building her brand Identity.

Sprout Social reported on data that showed consumers want to learn more about the people behind their favorite brands. For example, seventy percent of consumers reported feeling more connected when a brand’s CEO is active on social media. 

Direct To Consumer

Madam CJ Walker built her brand one customer at a time. Relying on door-to-door sales, churches, word of mouth, and later catalog sales, Madam CJ Walker was able to grow sales and bring her product directly to her customers.

Today, direct-to-consumer is a popular business model. Social media, e-commerce, and digital platforms allow entrepreneurs to sell online without relying on a distributor or shelf space in brick-and-mortar locations.

Community

Servicing the people around you and offering a product that people can rally around is impactful. Madam CJ Walker not only sold her products, but she also built a community of women who wanted not only to grow their hair, but also to become businesswomen. The collection of sales representatives known as hair culturists grew to over 40,000 women.

Similarly, in today’s digital world, brand ambassadors are used to scale sales and build community online. Brand ambassadors promote a brand’s products and services to boost awareness, strengthen a company’s reputation, and increase revenue. Through the use of brand ambassadors and user-generated content, brands are building strong communities of loyal customers.

Getting To The Roots

Madam CJ Walker started from humble beginnings. With no formal education,  business partners, or seed money, a young widow earning money as a laundress morphed into an influential businesswoman and philanthropist. The use of a few core business practices propelled what some would call a side hustle into an enterprise. Her business model, although simple, still has a mighty punch. A punch so powerful that the strategies used by Madam CJ Walker translate directly to modern business models despite the heavy reliance on the digital era of this century.

This article How The Madam CJ Walker Business Model Applies To The Digital Age was originally published on HerAgenda.com

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Her Agenda is proud to present She-Built This City: Northeast Edition! This curated directory honors formidable founders who are doing more than just running businesses. These founders are creating legacies and supporting the economy in their local cities. From tech innovators to wellness pioneers, these She-Builders represent the ambition, resilience, and community-first mindset that defines the modern career woman.

Want to be featured in the upcoming She-Built This City: Midwest edition? Nominate yourself or a founder you admire now!

New York City

To Be Hosted | Amber Mayfield Hewett

The Mission: Bring people together meaningfully

The Legacy: Est. 2017

The Founder’s Why: To Be Hosted is a supper club and boutique event company based in New York City. I started this supper club in 2017 because I was lonely and I wanted to make more meaningful connections while living and working in NYC. Through these events, we highlight Black chefs, musicians, and artists, creating inspiring environments for diverse guests to meet, eat, and connect.

Words To Build By: “I have stood on a mountain of no’s for one yes.” B. Smith

The Connection: Website | Instagram

Bonus: Amber’s debut party planning book, Your Turn to Host: A Guide to Great Parties and Gatherings, is available for pre-order now! Inside, readers will find Amber’s step-by-step guide to throwing parties that make guests feel seen, cared for, and connected. Pre-order your copy at BEM Brooklyn (a black woman-owned bookstore), Amazon, and Bookshop.

Pixi Presence & Muslimah HQ | Fatima Younus

The Mission: Building platforms, empowering Muslim women globally

The Legacy: Est. 2023

The Founder’s Why: Through Pixi Presence, my creative marketing agency, and Muslimah Inc.®, I build platforms that empower Muslim women to own their power, pursue their dreams boldly, and create lasting impact in the world.

Words To Build By: “Dream boldly, execute relentlessly”

The Connection: Website | Instagram

Brothers & Briefcases | Guildia Lopez

The Mission: Elevating ambitious men shaping culture.

The Legacy: Est. 2017

The Founder’s Why: Guildia chose this work and mission because she wanted to inspire her nephew and other young men in her community. She has continued this mission for nearly ten years now because she has built a community of like-minded men who are committed to being better in themselves, their families, and their communities.

Words To Build By: “Build the table you wish existed—then invite others to thrive with you.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram

Harlem Shake Restaurant Group | Jelena Pasic

The Mission: Burgers, shakes,  and good times!

The Legacy: Est. 2013

The Founder’s Why: Jelena had nearly 15 years in the restaurant industry before establishing Harlem Shake as the Founder/CEO. Under her leadership, she maintains a growing gender and racially diverse staff from front of house to management; donates and partners with 25+ local to national charitable organizations, mostly food insecurity organizations, including City Harvest, Citymeals on Wheels, Food Bank for NYC, etc.

Words To Build By: “People who say it can’t be done should not interrupt the ones doing it.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram

Philadelphia

Touch of OShea Natural Skincare | Octavia Phillips

The Mission: Skincare built for real life.

The Legacy: Est. 2016

The Founder’s Why: Our mission at Touch of OShea is to deliver authoritative skin-barrier protection engineered for high-impact environments and the unique demands of the therapeutic-care community. We help educators, parents, brick masons, fire-fighters, nurses, and others overcome the physical and emotional challenges of eczema and skin irritations to lead productive lives with confidence.

Words To Build By: “No matter how far it feels like you are from your goal, work like it is so, even though it ain’t so, and it will become so.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok

Mint & Ocean Apothecary | Odalis Avant

The Mission: Garden-grown, ocean-borne wellness. 

The Legacy: Est. 2017

The Founder’s Why: Mint & Ocean Apothecary nourishes our community’s physical, spiritual & mental wellbeing by way of organic, botanical recipes sourced from both the earth & sea, Afro-Panamanian spiritual practices, and holistic education. Beginning in 2025, we were humbled to release our Giving Bar handmade bar soaps, for every bar sold, one bar is donated to local and international shelters/survivors in need. We also prepare and donate bars for urgent circumstances, such as our Hurricane Melissa survivors in Jamaica. To date, we are blessed to have donated over 700 bars and climbing!

Words To Build By: “Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram

The Belle Agency | Rachel MacRae-Keith

The Mission: Intentional visibility. Thoughtful representation.

The Legacy: Est. 2011

The Founder’s Why: With more than 15 years in communications, she has helped artists, leaders, and organizations navigate defining moments with clarity and intention. Her approach goes beyond traditional publicity, focusing on long-term positioning, narrative ownership, and sustainable growth.

Words To Build By: Your gift will make room for you. – Psalm 18:16

My focus has always been stewarding that gift with intention and letting the work speak.

The Connection: Website | Instagram

Washington, D.C.

Ami J Creates | Ami Jalloh

The Mission: Turning visibility into profitable brands.

The Legacy: Est. 2022

The Founder’s Why: Our mission is rooted in empowerment. We work with busy entrepreneurs and growing organizations who know they are experts at what they do but struggle to communicate that expertise in a way that converts. Through strategy, full-scale social media management, custom visuals, photography, and event content, we create personalized frameworks that help brands build authority and generate measurable growth without relying solely on paid ads.

Words To Build By: “Visibility gets attention. Strategy builds the business.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Asha Bey Communications | Asha Bey

The Mission: Elevating brands through purposeful communication.

The Legacy: Est. 2024

The Founder’s Why: At Asha Bey Communications, we know no business is alike. We make your business, our business, and craft marketing and communication materials to help tell your unique story. Through skill, passion, and curiosity, we help clearly message what sets your business apart and keep clients coming back for more.

Words To Build By: “The words that start on your page will indeed change the world for the better.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram

Read With Carylee | Carylee Carrington

The Mission: Joyful, inclusive literacy for every child. 

The Legacy: Est. 2021

The Founder’s Why: Carylee Carrington’s contribution to the community is rooted in literacy, representation, leadership, and legacy-building. As the founder of Read With Carylee, she has created more than a platform—she has built a movement centered on increasing access to diverse children’s literature and elevating independent authors. Through curated book lists sent to major publications, weekly features, school partnerships, and public programming, she connects families, educators, and communities with books that reflect and affirm all children.

Words To Build By: “Stories shape how children see themselves and the world—so I make sure every child has the chance to see their brilliance on the page.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram

Boyd Cru Wines | Jon’ll Boyd

The Mission: Wine. Community. Culture. Legacy. Together.

The Legacy: Est. 2022

The Founder’s Why: Boyd Cru Wines exists to shift the narrative of who belongs in wine. Co-founded by Jon’ll Boyd and her husband, Matthew Boyd, Maryland’s first Black family-owned, grass-to-glass wine company is rooted in sustainability, representation, and radical hospitality. We produce award-winning wines using 100 percent Maryland-grown grapes, but our true product is access.

Words To Build By: “Wine should feel like community, not exclusivity. We built Boyd Cru Wines to create a space where people can connect, celebrate, and see themselves in the story.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Want to be featured in the upcoming She-Built This City: Midwest edition? Nominate yourself or a founder you admire now!

This article She-Built This City: The Northeast Edition was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Women-founders are more likely to own nonemployer businesses, or be solopreneurs, than men, and their income is suffering because of it, a recent study shows. 

Women-owned businesses make up 43.7% of all nonemployer businesses, an increase of 11.8 percentage points from 2002, according to the 2026 Impact of Women-Owned Businesses annual survey from Wells Fargo. They also earn $35,000 fewer than their male counterparts. 

The share of men-owned non-employer businesses has dropped 4.1 percentage points during the same period, although they still make up 51.3% of firms in the category. 

“ Different from men, particularly women –  and women of color – our whole lives have been shaped around being the doer,” Dr. Dawn-Nicole McIlwain, founder of ProcuraFind, said. However, she noted, that can have an adverse impact. 

“ In entrepreneurship, it’s quite the opposite,” she said. “ You become an entrepreneur when you learn the undoing of doing.” 

Her Agenda sat down with three women founders:  

Dr. McIlwain, founder of ProcuraFind, which connects small businesses to corporate buyers;  Danielle Coke Balfour, founder of Oh Happy Dani, which is a direct-to-consumer discretionary brand; and Khadijah Ndiaye, founder of modest clothing brand Jellabyia, for advice for women-founders to go from solopreneur to employer. 

Her Agenda: How did you go from solopreneur to employer?

 Dr. Dawn-Nicole:  ”There are [state-funded] on-the-job training programs… that are already out there that are designed to help entrepreneurs hire their first person. That is what gave me the chops to finally hire my first person and then my second person. So, my first year of hiring, I hired all my people through this program, which really afforded me this space in the cushion to operate on training wheels and ramp up.”

ProcuraFind was founded in 2023 and now has three employees, she said. The number of employees has changed over time. 

Danielle: “ The end of the first six months is when I had one or two independent contractors …  were both my friends.”

Cashflow was not an issue for Oh Happy Dani after launching in 2020, and all employees were paid through revenue, she said. While head count has varied, the company now employs a virtual assistant and two part-time employees and renders the services of an accountant and legal expert. 

Khadijah Ndiaye: “Every decision around hiring was intentional. I didn’t raise external funds. Instead, I reinvested directly from revenue back into the business. So when I brought someone on, it was because there was already enough demand to support that role sustainably.”

Jellabiya was founded in 2019, and the first employee was hired in 2021, she said. Now, the clothing brand has approximately 20 employees internationally. 

Her Agenda: How did your business grow after adding employees?

Dr. Dawn-Nicole: “ Having a dedicated person at the wheel freed me up to go and bring in deals, write grants, and do the things that matter, the things that can’t be duplicated. If the first year, for example, I made $115,000, with a person there, I was able to easily see $450,000 the next year.”

Danielle:  ”The demand was always there, but I never had enough hands or time or sharp enough systems to always meet like the high end of the demand.

 Revenue became a lot more predictable and consistent [after adding employees]. I was able to focus on things outside of the shop that really helped other income streams be more consistent.”

Khadijah: “Bringing in support had a real impact on my personal life. With [the assistant]  handling day-to-day and organization, I was able to create more structure in my schedule. I had time to be with my kids without feeling like I was always split between work and home. And that balance has been just as important as the business growth.” 

On the production side, having better coordination with the workshops helped us keep within our timelines more consistently.”

How did you decide which tasks to delegate?

Dr. Dawn-Nicole:  ”What I learned is that I knew when I hired my first person that I needed to delegate, but I wasn’t really sure how to prioritize, what to let go and what to keep.  You’re gonna write down all this stuff that’s mission-critical.  Then cross out the things that you don’t wanna do or the things you wanna give up.  With that list, I was able to identify what my person was gonna do and what I was gonna keep.”

Danielle: “ When it came to the day-to-day operations of the business, I realized very quickly that I wasn’t superwoman. …I figured out pretty early on that I didn’t wanna be in the weeds of fulfillment.”

Khadijah: “ I was buried in messages. So, she became essential to running the day-to-day. 

She took over customer experience, operational tasks, managing all the [social media] messages [and] emails, organizing incoming orders [and] collecting the measurements [for garments].

That also allowed me to step back from constant back and forth and focus more on design, partnerships, and just creative direction.” 

Her Agenda: What did you learn from your experience of adding employees?

Dr. Dawn-Nicole:  I cannot be the only leader because the moment you become the only leader, you become the bottleneck.

Danielle: “ I was a bottleneck for a very long time, and the more hands-off I’ve been, the more I’ve been able to invest in other ideas.  But this will be six years in operation this year, and I didn’t get to that point till year five.”

Khadijah: “A few things I’ve learned are to start before everything feels perfect. … You figure things out as you go, and waiting too long can slow your growth.

Also, be intentional if you’re hiring. Don’t rush to build a big team, bring on people, when there’s a real need, and the business can sustain it.”

Her Agenda: What advice do you have for women-founders trying to scale their businesses? 

Dr. Dawn-Nicole:  Try to see very early on where people are naturally leaning towards and don’t make somebody what they aren’t, but meet someone where they are.” 

Danielle: “ It’s important to know early on what you do and do not want to do. I also figured out certain types of collaborations that I did not want to do, because even if the demand is there, if your desire to do it is not there, you won’t be doing it for long.”

Additionally, retaining the services of a professional to build out a lot of systems early on would have made a positive difference in her business, she noted. 

Khadijah: “Growing sustainably gave me more control, and it also allowed me to build something that’s more solid over time.”

This article How To Go From ‘Solopreneur’ To Employer And Scale Your Business was originally published on HerAgenda.com

The creator economy has afforded creators and builders the opportunity to earn from an array of devices. Starting with brand sponsorship, the field has evolved to creators advertising for various brands, to creating their own branded products. Brand sponsorships involve partnerships where a company offers financial or material support to a creator in exchange for sponsoring a product or service. It often leads to exposure and promotion of the brand and increased brand awareness and sales. 

However, there are challenges that come with it. Brand sponsorship deals depend on the marketing ecosystem and budgets, so these sponsorships may not be available all year round. There can also be creative restrictions as sponsors often dictate messaging, tone, or even content length. Lastly, audiences prefer content based on authenticity as they can feel when content shifts to prioritize ads over realness. 

Sponsorships work, but don’t provide the foundation creators need to thrive long-term. Creators now use the power of their community to build brands that offer products and services that reflect their audience’s values, solve their community’s problems, and transform loyal followings into a sustainable, revenue-generating business.

Why The Shift Toward Community-Driven Ownership?

Currently, there’s a clear shift of creators toward building brands around their communities, prioritizing direct relationships and member value. The shift happened when creators realized they could sell directly to their audience. With a dependable community, they have something even more valuable than brand sponsorships—they have trust. The line of thought is, “Why promote someone else’s brand when you could build your own?”

Today’s audiences are different. They want independent content solely shaped by creators they’re interested in, not a feed dictated by different brand sponsorships. This direct support turns them into active partners. This relationship creates a deeper loyalty between the creators and their audience, a natural growth of community through referral and word-of-mouth, and a mutual and simultaneous growth of the creator and their community. 

This community-driven model turns inconsistent income into predictable and recurring support. Audiences can now support their favorite creators directly by essentially putting their money where their mouth is. They now fund the creator’s voice instead of the sponsor’s message. This might also lead to developing a creative niche, engaging in riskier and more experimental projects, and tailoring their content a lot more to their audience. Creators can finally focus on depth.

Community-Driven Ownership Models

This has led to the development of community-driven ownership models where creators provide their own products and services directly to their audience. This model has multiple ways it presents, but the two most common ways are subscription models and the creation of physical or digital products. 

Membership And Subscription Communities

The creator economy has led to an ecosystem of membership-based, community-driven, and hybrid monetization tools. Each of them helps creators build sustainable creative independence while staying genuinely connected to their audiences. The subscription model dominates community monetization in 2025. A paid community of about 26 members at ~$40/month yields $1,000 monthly, which is certainly more efficient than sponsorship alternatives needing 100,000+ followers.

There are several benefits of membership platforms for content creators, which include the provision of a steady stream of revenue, a direct line of communication between the creators and their subscribers, a model of exclusivity for the community, and total execution of content by the creator. 

A creator who does this excellently is Omondi, the creator of The Cutting Room Floor, a podcast of deep-dive interviews with elite members of the fashion industry. They have a dedicated Patreon account where they post the podcast episodes. The basic membership plan starts at €5.50 per month. 

Physical And Digital Products 

As we know, creators start by building a personal brand through regular, authentic content and storytelling. Over time, they learn what their audience cares about, what problems they face, and what would excite them. Then they transition to launching a product that fits seamlessly into that lifestyle.  

They choose based on their audience’s needs, their personal bandwidth, and their long-term brand vision.  They either create physical products from scratch or digital products such as e-books, courses, and other digital tools. 

Leah Kateb, an alumna of the reality television show Love Island, was able to build her career as a digital creator up to becoming the Chief Creative Officer and Refounder of Skylar,  a clean and California-inspired fragrance brand that offers hypoallergenic and conscious formulas for a modern lifestyle. 

This article Moving From Brand Sponsorships To Community-Driven Ownership Models was originally published on HerAgenda.com

When speaking with Dr. Arleen K. Lamba, it becomes immediately apparent that her transition from her career as a physician and anesthesiologist to skincare was ignited by a personal mission: making radiant skin a reality for everybody. Frustrated by her own personal skin problems that she couldn’t find solutions for in the current market, she decided to build her own skincare brand based on medical science. Founded in 2012 just outside Washington, D.C., GLO30 emerged as a next-generation skincare studio focused on delivering medical-grade, AI-personalized treatments through a unique membership model.

Dr. Arleen believes that glowing skin should be a part of everyday life, not just a luxury. “Thirteen years ago, when I founded GLO30, the vision was simple but bold: create a place where people could see real, measurable change in their skin, not just feel pampered for an hour. From the beginning, I believed skincare should sit at the intersection of medical science and consistency. Skin is a living organ. It changes every 30 days. It responds to stress, hormones, lifestyle, and age. Yet, we were treating it like a one-time luxury service instead of an ongoing health practice.”

To achieve this, she provides treatments that are both smart and adaptable. These treatments are designed to meet the changing needs of the skin every month. Over the years, GLO30 has experienced remarkable growth, expanding rapidly to over 100 studios across the United States, including locations in Texas, Florida, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Arizona. This expansion is driven by an innovative franchise model emphasizing community, empowerment, and wellness. The brand is expanding by partnering with entrepreneurs to establish their own GLO30 communities.

The Challenges Dr. Arleen Faced

Skincare has often been depicted as a vanity or luxury industry. This has primarily been based on its branding or marketing strategy as well. Skincare and spa treatments are marketed as things that cost not only money but also time. The relaxation is part of the spa essence, but using time for nothing but skincare is seen as a privilege, not as taking care of health.

The “Pink Tax” is a term derived from sales or marketing where products targeted towards women are priced higher than those for men, despite being identical in function. Women’s skincare often suffers from shrinkflation and price markups from the men’s version of the same products or services, even within the same companies. According to data, Gilette is the company most associated with the Pink Tax because they literally display the products of blue and pink with different packaging and pricing. By offering high-quality, easy access, and affordable skincare, Glo30 reduces the disparity in skincare.

How Glo30 Is Redefining Skincare

The perception of skincare overlooks its vital role in overall health and well-being. Skin, being the largest organ of the body, serves as a crucial barrier against environmental pollutants, pathogens, and harmful UV rays. Treating skincare as part of healthcare means acknowledging its importance in protecting and maintaining the body’s first line of defense. Proper skincare routines can prevent a host of skin conditions, from acne and eczema to more serious concerns like melanoma.

By integrating skincare into healthcare based on Dr. Arleen’s methods, individuals can proactively manage their skin’s health. According to Dr. Lamba, “For a long time, skincare lacked what I call the three A’s: Affordability. Accessibility. Approachability. Luxury has traditionally meant expensive, exclusive, and intimidating. Skincare lived in that space for decades. It allowed high margins without always delivering measurable results. When something feels hard to access or understand, it becomes positioned as indulgent rather than essential. But skin is your largest organ. It protects you daily. It reflects inflammation, stress, nutrition, and hormonal balance. That’s not luxury, that’s health.”

The Glo30 Model And Why It Works

Glo30’s unique business model operates like a fitness club. Rather than a traditional spa, where every visit is an expensive splurge, this model provides everyone membership for affordability and lets you fall into a routine for your health and schedule similar to a gym.

According to Dr. Lamba, “The membership model was honestly born from a consumer mindset. I had no formal business training. I simply asked: What does skin need to improve? The answer was consistency, every 30 days, aligned with the skin cycle. Then I asked: Where do people already show up consistently? Gyms. Fitness studios. Health clubs. So, we built what we call The Health Club For Your Skin. Members commit to monthly SmartGLO treatments. This builds routine, accountability, and visible progress. It removes decision fatigue and replaces sporadic appointments with structure. Traditional spas focus on occasional visits. GLO30 focuses on ongoing transformation.”

The clients receive personalized skincare and long-term value. Glo30 analyzes your skin and creates the perfect skincare treatments for you using their AI Gloria. Studies show that modern skincare AI has a high degree of accuracy and is a useful tool for dermatology.

Want To Get Involved? Consider Franchising!

Glo30’s franchise model is a helpful tool for more women to open their own businesses. They provide an entire support system, with training, tools, and the business model. Helping more women enter the business sector is how to close the gender gap, grow individual women’s confidence, and support the growth of more economic communities. Former “Real Housewives of Potomac” star Robyn Dixon opened a Glo30 franchise of her own after being a longtime user.

The entrepreneurial growth is one of the most important things to Dr. Arleen. “We’ve watched women open one studio and grow into multi-unit operators. They lead teams. They create jobs. They collaborate with local businesses. They build wellness hubs in their neighborhoods. But most importantly, they create true GLO communities where members don’t just come for treatments, but connection and confidence. Empowering women to own, lead, and scale within a proven system is one of the most meaningful impacts GLO30 has had.”

Dr. Arleen has transformed skincare from a luxury into an accessible health practice with GLO30. By creating her membership and franchise model, she promotes consistent, personalized care and empowers communities through entrepreneurship. Her approach not only challenges traditional industry norms but also has made breakthroughs for other women.

This article Putting The Convenient In Luxury: Dr. Arleen K. Lamba And Glo30’s Subscription Spa was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Balancing work and home life can feel like a juggling act that may not always flow. Many career women find themselves missing out on family birthdays, holidays, and important life events due to their drive, ambitions, and will to accomplish their goals. However, experiencing loss is inevitable, and when it happens, it puts a lot of things into perspective.

If you’re a millennial woman looking to find ways to navigate the loss of a loved one while still pursuing your dreams, Her Agenda has gathered some insight that may help.

Allow Yourself Time To Grieve

Although work can be a great distraction, it won’t take away the loss of a loved one, and the pain you may feel. By allowing yourself to be still and sit in the realization that you’ll no longer see that family member, you’re allowing yourself to let go of that person and what they meant to you. This doesn’t mean you forget about them, but you continue life and learn to live without them.

According to NBC News, for our own health, we shouldn’t stop or delay grieving. We have to go through it, and while we can’t control it all, we can take measures to make it manageable while we’re maintaining other obligations.

Don’t Feel Guilty For Being Career Driven

Guilt can be overwhelming when death is involved. Don’t allow guilt to rear its ugly head and make you feel worse because you weren’t around as much as you would like. No one ever said chasing dreams would be easy. As a career woman, you have to sacrifice time often, and most times your family suffers, but that doesn’t make you a bad person for going after your goals.

Help Guide says, don’t judge yourself, think that you should be behaving in a different way, or try to impose a timetable on your grief. Grieving someone’s death takes time. For some people, that time is measured in weeks or months, for others it’s in years.

Lean On Your Village

According to Help Guide, when you lose someone you love, it’s normal to want to cut yourself off from others and retreat into your shell. But this is no time to be alone. Even when you don’t feel able to talk about your loss, simply being around other people who care about you can provide comfort and help ease the burden of bereavement.

Call on your “true blues” since diapers, your high school and college friends, co-workers that have become friends, and your peers that understand completely how you feel. Career woman to career woman is unmatched when it comes to the fast-paced lifestyle, always on the go, never enough hours in a day, getting home late just to come back to the office three to four hours later. Enlist people who know and love you to help you through this trying time.

Prioritize Time For Family Every Week

Death will force you to change your perspective on life. Losing a loved one simply makes you aware that you have to cherish the short time we have here. No matter how busy you may be, arrange time in your schedule to make a brief call to your parents, elderly family members, nieces and nephews, and so forth during the week. That short call could change the entire trajectory of someone’s day– even yours.

Indeed states, establishing your core values means identifying what’s important in your life. When you understand what you want and enjoy the most, you might find it easier to balance your work and family life. Consider reviewing each aspect of your life and seeing if it contributes to your mission.

This article How To Navigate The Loss Of A Loved One As A Career Woman was originally published on HerAgenda.com

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Her Agenda is proud to present She-Built This City: South & Sunbelt Edition! This curated directory honors formidable founders who are doing more than just running businesses. These founders are creating legacies and supporting the economy in their local cities. From tech innovators to wellness pioneers, these She-Builders represent the ambition, resilience, and community-first mindset that defines the modern career woman.

Want to be featured in the upcoming She-Built This City: Northeast edition? Nominate yourself or a founder you admire now!

Atlanta

HEARD (Human-Enabled AI Reporting & Documentation) | Rachell Dumas

The Mission: Empowering patients to be heard

The Legacy: Est. 2025

The Founder’s Why: Rachell Dumas represents a new generation of nurse innovators who are transforming personal adversity into systems-level change. Rather than allowing medical trauma and pregnancy loss to silence her, she built both a technology platform and a nonprofit ecosystem designed to protect and empower other families.

Words To Build By: “Your voice can save your life. Never stop advocating for yourself.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok

The HBCU Experience Movement | Dr. Ashley Little

The Mission: Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Storytelling, and helping others gain opportunities. 

The Legacy: Est. 2019

The Founder’s Why: Dr. Ashley Little, a HBCU graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, has founded The HBCU Experience Movement, the first Black-owned company to launch books written and published by prominent alumni throughout the world who attended Historically Black Colleges & Universities.

Words To Build By: “Create your own seat at the table.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram

Dallas

The Vault Media & Crisis Management Firm | Dr. K.C. Fox

The Mission: We Protect & Amplify, You Succeed 

The Legacy: Est. 2016

The Founder’s Why: The vault is nationally known to take on high-profile cases that become media sensations both negatively and positively. Its core mission is a commitment to authentic storytelling, strategic influence, and safeguarding reputation.

Words To Build By: “Pressure doesn’t break leaders—it reveals them.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram

Houston

Curly Crown Collective | Janel Caminos

The Mission: Empowering women to embrace natural curls.

The Legacy: Est. 2023

The Founder’s Why: Janel Caminos is a community builder who turned her own natural hair journey into a global movement. As founder of Curly Crown Collective and author of Curly Gyal Hair Affirmations, she has created safe spaces where women can embrace their natural hair while also building careers, businesses, and confidence.

Words To Build By: “My natural hair is professional hair.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram

Las Vegas

Dr. Monica’s Natural Beauty | Dr. Monica Riley

The Mission: Empowering Healing Through Conscious Self-Care

The Legacy: Est. 2016

The Founder’s Why: Dr. Monica’s Natural Beauty is rooted in a century of plant-based healing traditions, bringing intentional wellness to women 40+ through hand-curated, sustainable skincare, haircare, and bodycare products designed specifically for Melanated Beauty.

Words To Build By: “No matter what stage of life she’s in, a woman should never sacrifice her vim, vigor, and vitality.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

Miami

Game Changers United | Kenisha Brown-Alexander

The Mission: Championing Athlete Wellness Beyond Sports

The Legacy: Est. 2024

The Founder’s Why: By 21-years-old I lost both my parents. I was a junior in college when I lost my mother to breast cancer, and I was a student athletic trainer. I did not receive the support that I needed from athletics, and it turned into a suicide attempt. I thank God that he said “Not Yet” because somehow I picked up the pieces of my life to have an extensive career in the sports industry.

Words To Build By: “There is relatability in vulnerability. There is power in showing up authentically, because you never know who might find strength, healing, or hope through your story.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Everyday Digital AI | Leslie Barreto

The Mission: Transforming leaders through strategic AI integration.

The Legacy: Est. 2025

The Founder’s Why: Instead of climbing back up someone else’s ladder, I built my own. I launched Everyday Digital AI in 2025, and within days, closed multiple Fortune-level client engagements. My mission is simple: teach leaders how to leverage AI strategically without losing their humanity. Human First. AI Powered.

Words To Build By: “Your setbacks aren’t disqualifications—they’re your competitive edge. Pivot with purpose.”

The Connection: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn

Nashville

Mojo Impact Collective | Monchiere Holmes-Jones

The Mission: Turning Heritage Into Economic Power

The Legacy: Est. 2014

The Founder’s Why: The mission behind my work is rooted in a simple belief: culture is not only heritage, it is also capital. For more than two decades, I have built a career amplifying brands, launching initiatives, and elevating historic and cultural organizations whose stories shape communities and cities.

Words To Build By: “Love Your Minutes.” – God

The Connection: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Want to be featured in the upcoming She-Built This City: Northeast edition? Nominate yourself or a founder you admire now!

This article She-Built This City: South & Sunbelt Edition was originally published on HerAgenda.com

In-person events are often a hit or miss. With travel, booth fees, several hours at the event, and other tiny expenses, the costs can add up very quickly. There are a few tips and tricks to get the biggest bang for your buck and maximize your time, even with zero sales.

Although very frustrating, it is best to keep a level head and think strategically when conducting in-person events. Planning ahead and being well prepared will put you in the best position. When sales are low, focus on lead capture, brand awareness, and consumer feedback. You will want to take advantage of the golden opportunity of face-to-face engagement.

Lead Capture

The ability to contact potential customers is critical to businesses in any industry. Although people are not yet ready to buy, this does not discount that they find value in your product. Properly capturing a lead is the key to staying in touch with potential customers and not missing sales.

A great example of a fun and exciting way to capture leads at pop-up type events is a giveaway or freebie. The task is easy and pressure-free. I simply approach nearby patrons, letting them know that we have an exciting giveaway at our booth. Interested individuals are shown the freebie and reminded that simply signing up for our newsletter registers them for the freebie. This works 99% of the time.

It is important to use a SaaS product like MailChimp or Constant Contact to collect leads. I typically have an electronic device in hand with the landing page ready. The patron enters their information, I am shown the confirmation screen, and then the patron receives the freebie! It is as simple as that.

Brand Awareness

Brand recognition is often undervalued. Getting the name of your business in front of people has so many advantages, and pop-ups are a great opportunity. Even though people are not making purchases, there are still several ways you can connect with the patrons and help them keep your brand top of mind.

A common tactic is giving away swag. People love free, branded items. These swag items help you and the brand increase recognition and build loyalty with potential customers. One common swag item is a coozie, or a more practical one is a phone charger. My go-to swag item is a branded everyday item like lip gloss or key chains, but we can’t forget stickers! People love stickers.

Consumer Feedback

Face-to-face events are amazing for real-time feedback. I love to ask customers product preferences. As well as other great questions regarding the product selection, their must-haves and their not-so-favorites. This valuable feedback helps me understand the wants and needs of the customer. This helps me save time and money on what items I bring to my next pop-up event.

It is important not to take feedback personally, but as free market research. Learning about price sensitivity, product preferences, and quality concerns directly from customers is priceless, valuable first-hand feedback.

I find it very interesting to offer a deal when a customer is on the fence. A pop-up is the perfect time for getting a better understanding of why people are not buying. Is it price vs quantity or quality vs price?

Showing Up For The Business

A long day at a pop-up event with zero sales does not feel good. But don’t be discouraged, there are a few things that can make your pop-up event a win. Despite low or even if you leave with zero sales. Capturing leads, generating brand awareness, and getting valuable consumer feedback are three simple ways to maximize your time and effort. In-person events have value, even if you don’t make sales.

This article 3 Ways To Make A Pop-Up Event Worth Your Time, Even With Zero Sales was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Anifa Mvuemba, the celebrated founder behind the Black-owned fashion label Hanifa, has announced that she is halting production indefinitely. After almost 15 years of redefining contemporary fashion and inclusive sizing, Mvuemba shared that she is stepping back to focus on her mental health and family following a turbulent season of business challenges.

The decision follows a difficult period for the brand after its annual Hanifa Friday sale in November 2025. While the sale was a massive success, unexpected production delays from manufacturers led to significant shipping backlogs. The situation traveled to social media, where disgruntled customers took to TikTok and Instagram to voice frustrations over missing orders and a lack of communication.

For Mvuemba, the crisis hit at an incredibly vulnerable time. The designer had just given birth in December and was forced to cut her maternity leave short to manage the public relations fallout.

“I just had a baby. I didn’t fully process any of it because I went straight from postpartum into crisis management,” Mvuemba told The Cut. “There were nights where I was sobbing in one room and then wiping my face to go be the best mom I could be for my children in the next room.”

Despite the brand fulfilling every order from the sale and issuing refunds where possible, the personal nature of the online backlash took a heavy toll. Mvuemba noted that the margin for grace is often much thinner for Black women in leadership.

“Founder-led brands operate under a different kind of scrutiny. And when you’re a Black woman, the margin for grace is thinner. That reality is exhausting,” she wrote in a statement.

Since its launch in 2011, Hanifa has been a trailblazer for fashion. The brand gained global acclaim for its innovative 3-D virtual runway show during the pandemic and its commitment to dressing women up to a size 3X.

Now that Hanifa paused production, Mvuemba admits she does not have all the answers regarding the brand’s long-term future. However, she is choosing to embrace the uncertainty rather than rushing to “prove resilience” at the cost of her own well-being.

“Right now, I’m reflecting. I’m protecting what matters to me in this season,” Mvuemba shared. “And I’m allowing myself to be human in the process.”

This article Anifa Mvuemba Announces Hanifa Pauses Production Indefinitely was originally published on HerAgenda.com

The ability to invest your money can come in many shapes and sizes. For women looking for a smaller barrier to entry, fractional real estate investing might be the vehicle for you. This method of investing is quickly gaining popularity. Mainly because it offers a more accessible, diversified, and flexible path to property ownership and a diverse portfolio.

According to an article on City National Bank’s website, there’s a strong connection between home ownership and wealth, at least in the United States. Millennial women are using fractional real estate investing to circumvent the traditional way of buying real estate. Prior to, an investor looking to acquire ownership in real estate would have to absorb all associated costs. Including the purchase of the property, taxes, maintenance, insurance, and more.

Currently, with fractional real estate investing, the costs are shared, and the barriers to entry are lower. This reduces the need for large amounts of capital. An additional perk of this method is that your risks are minimized by sharing the burden across several different owners, not just you.

Accessibility

Women interested in allocating part of their investment portfolios to fractional real estate investing might not know exactly where to look or how to get started. Turning to professionals who have already done it might be the best example. Real Estate Investment Company, Real Bricks, makes it possible for fractional ownership by providing more control over the properties you are investing in. According to Real Bricks’ website, fractional investing is an alternative option to investing in REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) because investors can choose exactly which properties they want. In contrast, REIT investors invest in a managed portfolio that includes numerous pre-selected properties.

Diversity

Mitigating risk without a lot of capital is one benefit of investing in fractional real estate. Diversification of your real estate portfolio is another great benefit of fractional ownership. According to an article in Arrived, investing in different locations, property types, and markets allows for diverse portfolios. Others may find the level of experimentation that is not possible with single-owner investments attractive as well.

Fractional real estate investing not only allows you to diversify the types of real estate investments in your portfolio, but also allows you to use this method of investing in tandem with more popular methods of investing, such as the stock market, gold, crypto, and private equity.

Flexibility

Unlike timeshares, which grant limited usage rights, fractional ownership provides actual equity in the property. According to an article on BHSUSA.com, a real estate investment company, fractional shares can grow in value and be sold or transferred, just like traditional real estate. In contrast, according to The US Securities and Exchange Commission, a REIT buys and develops properties primarily to operate them as part of its own investment portfolio.

Both timeshares and REITs function by utilizing real estate, but operate in two completely different ways. Timeshares grant usage for an allocated time in a designated space. According to the Securities and Exchange website, REITs are a company that owns income-producing real estate (e.g., apartment or commercial buildings) or real estate-related debt (e.g., mortgages). Publicly traded REITs have their securities registered with the SEC. Securities are listed for trading on the NYSE or NASDAQ exchange. 

The Bigger Picture

Millennial women are using fractional real estate investing to diversify their portfolios. This method of investing offers acceptability to people with smaller amounts of capital, flexibility for individuals looking for more control, and diversity for people looking to experiment with different assets.

This article is intended solely for informational purposes and does not constitute tax, legal, or financial advice. The content provided here is not a substitute for professional advice from a qualified tax advisor, attorney, or financial planner. Readers are encouraged to consult with a licensed tax professional. Also, connect with a legal advisor to obtain advice tailored to their specific circumstances. It is important to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

This article How Millennial Women Are Using Fractional Real Estate Investing To Diversify Their Portfolios was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Launching a sustainable business in this economy can be a challenge. Nothing is promised, and a circular economy is quickly becoming the new normal.

If you aren’t aware, a circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling, and composting. 

Here are tips to ensure that your business gets a fair shot at launching properly and sustaining the economy as circulation and processing inevitably does its thing.

Network: Before, During, And After Launching

There is no on or off switch when it comes to networking. You have to network to obtain connections and sustain connections. This requires you to have a strong marketing plan, to utilize all communication channels (phone, email, social media), and to know how to present your brand.

According to Management Executive Education, indirect connections forged through professional networking can pay off down the line. As your company grows, you’ll need to reach out to more people in your industry to keep things running smoothly. If these people already trust you on a personal level, you’re already a step ahead.

Create A Solid Plan (And Stick To It)

Creating a solid brand looks like brainstorming, outlining important details, cementing the foundation of your company, setting your standards and integrity in stone, and being the vessel that essentially keeps the ship moving.

As referenced from Accountant Cape Coral, a business plan is your strategic blueprint for success, detailing everything from your objectives to marketing strategies and financial forecasts.

You need to focus on a solid business plan structure to lay the groundwork for achieving your goals. Start with effective goal-setting strategies to clarify your vision and path forward.

Market analysis techniques are crucial to understanding your industry landscape and competition, which in turn informs your strategic decisions. Highlighting the importance of financial projections demonstrates your business’s viability and potential to stakeholders.

Do Your Research!

Founding and launching a company is no easy feat; You have to research your competitors, analyze the field you’re stepping into, understand what a circular economy is and how that will affect your business, and create a plan that will sustain your business. Before a business is able to be launched, comprehensive strategies should be weighed thoroughly. 

Considering the difficulty of starting, research should assist you in spotting allies in business. These are not necessarily family and friends. Talking about help, those who could help by offering training, loans, and advice, and those who could give referrals. These are people who are willing to help because you are or might be of importance to them or their businesses. To them, having a good relationship with you or your business will help them flourish. Such could be money rendering firms or firms that could find your interdependence valuable.

Maintain A Healthy Work-Life Balance

According to Promise Care, here are some practical tips to help you keep a healthy work-life balance:

1. Prioritize Physical Activity: Engage in physical activities that are enjoyable and suitable for your age, such as walking, yoga, or swimming. This not only helps manage stress but also boosts your physical health.
2. Healthy Eating: Focus on nutritious foods that fuel your body and mind. Incorporating fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins into your diet can have a substantial impact on your energy levels and overall health.
3. Manage Health Proactively: Regular check-ups and understanding your medical entitlements, like Medicare and supplemental plans, are crucial. Stay informed about the healthcare services and benefits that are available to you.
4. Cultivate Social Connections: Maintain and expand your social network. Engaging with community groups or finding new social hobbies can decrease feelings of isolation and increase your life satisfaction.
5. Mindfulness and Relaxation: Techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or even reading can significantly reduce stress and improve your mental health.

Accept The AI Integrations

AI is here and progressing daily; it’s something we must accept and grow to learn. As technology grows, so will AI’s reach. According to Entrepreneur, emerging technologies are enabling business owners to automate routine tasks, like scheduling, invoicing, and inventory tracking, allowing employees to focus on more strategic, value-added work. This shift is especially valuable for companies navigating labor shortages, which affect 61% of businesses.

This article How To Launch A Sustainable Business In A Circular Economy was originally published on HerAgenda.com

The creator economy consists of a variety of individuals who produce and distribute content throughout an array of platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, with the aim of monetization and eventually earning a living. With the availability of about 1.5 million digital creator jobs reported in the United States, this is incredibly feasible. 

In 2024, the global creator economy market was valued at 205-212 billion dollars, and there are approximately 205 million content creators worldwide. This industry is no longer new but is now established enough to have a proper roadmap. The core model is a direct engagement with one’s audience, building a relationship that enables creators to build trusted brands. 

Monetization keeps the industry going, and with the use of an effective strategy, creators can earn their way towards financial sustainability. There are multiple ways to approach this, and more often than not, they have to be done in conjunction with each other. A multiple stream revenue model is advised, especially as a creator on platforms where algorithms and policies frequently change, making it risky to depend solely on one source of income. Adopting multiple monetization strategies leads to greater financial stability and resilience.

In this article, we’re exploring the different revenue streams and why creators have to rely on multiple. 

Platform Optimization And Creator Funds

Major social media platforms have introduced creator funds and reward programs, offering direct payouts to creators based on performance metrics. These platforms distribute money among eligible creators based on factors like views, engagement, content quality, and adherence to platform guidelines. 

The aim is to reward creators for their contributions to the platform’s ecosystem and, more importantly, encourage continued content creation. This monetization provides accessible helps creators with revenue generation while building a sustainable financial foundation. 

Some of the platform programs include: YouTube’s Partner Program, TikTok’s Creator Awards Program, and Instagram.

Furthermore, it’s important to diversify platform monetization across multiple platforms to reduce dependence on any single revenue source. Lastly, make sure to monitor the content’s performance and adjust the content strategy based on revenue data and platform feedback.

Brand Partnerships

Brand partnerships are a major revenue stream for content creators. These collaborations involve creators using their platforms to promote products or services in exchange for compensation. The brand deal is influenced by audience size, engagement rates, niche relevance, and the creator’s past performance in driving results for brands.

This content can manifest in various formats, such as blog posts, video endorsements, social media campaigns, and interactive advertisements. 

When executed effectively, sponsored content enhances the perceived authenticity of the promotion. There needs to be an alignment between the content creator’s personal brand and the sponsor’s marketing objectives.  Audiences can distinguish between genuine recommendations and overt advertisements.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing allows creators to earn commissions by promoting products they genuinely use and recommend. Unlike brand partnerships that require the product or content to advertise the brand’s products, the creators just share a unique link to these products on their socials, encouraging their audience to buy them. 

This leverages a creator’s influence to drive sales, with creators receiving a percentage of each sale made through their unique affiliate link. Creators sign up for affiliate programs offered by brands or through affiliate networks. When their audience makes a purchase through these links, the creator earns a commission. Creators only earn when a sale is made, incentivizing authentic recommendations and effective promotion.

Subscription Models And Membership Sites

Subscription-based platforms, such as Patreon, OnlyFans, and Substack, have revolutionized how content creators monetize their work. These platforms enable creators to cultivate fan bases who pay for exclusive content. This decentralized approach to monetization has given creators more freedom. 

In addition to providing creators more control over their earnings, subscription-based models can help creators ensure closer relationships with their audience, resulting in a more loyal and engaged fanbase. 

Subscriptions and memberships represent a powerful shift towards direct-to-fan monetization, offering creators a more stable and predictable income stream. This model fosters independence from volatile ad revenues and algorithm changes. Subscriptions scale with fan loyalty, so a smaller and highly engaged audience can generate significant income through recurring payments. 

Products And Services

Products and Services offer the highest profit margins and scalability potential for creators with expertise to share. Creating for your audience can generate substantial recurring revenue.

Merchandise such as apparel, physical products, online courses, and digital products can serve as a tangible extension of the creator’s brand. It transforms a creator into a true entrepreneur with tangible assets.

This allows creators to increase revenue margins, build brand equity, deepen fan connection, diversify income and potentially create new business ventures.

Speaking Engagements

Speaking and event opportunities provide high-value revenue streams while building professional credibility and expanding your network within your industry. These opportunities often attract premium rates while offering added marketing and business development value.

Consulting And Coaching

Develop consulting services that solve specific business problems while leveraging your expertise and experience to provide valuable insights and strategic guidance for clients.

They are high-value monetization opportunities where specific knowledge translates into elite pricing and direct client relationships.

Implement various service models—such as one-on-one consulting, group coaching, done-for-you offerings, and strategic advisory services—to identify those that best align with your expertise and business goals. Then, establish clear consulting workflows, including discovery calls, proposal development, and project management, to ensure professional delivery while safeguarding your time and interests.

Live Streaming

Live streaming is a highly interactive avenue for creators to engage with their audience in real-time, offering immediate and multiple opportunities for monetization. 

It approaches monetization by combining audience support with commercial partnerships. Creators earn recurring income through subscriptions or memberships offering exclusive perks, while one-time revenue comes from virtual gifts and donations during live sessions. Additional income is generated through ticketed or premium streams, integrated merchandise sales, brand sponsorships, and affiliate marketing, all of which leverage the high engagement of live audiences.

Why The Multiple Income Stream Strategy?

Concerning a monetization strategy, content creators must evaluate numerous factors, including audience demographics, platform capabilities, niche alignment, and content type.

The diversification of income streams is a tactic for financial stability and also a necessity for long-term sustainability. Relying solely on one form of revenue, such as ad revenue, leaves creators vulnerable to shifts in platform policies, changes in consumer behavior, or economic downturns. 

By diversifying their income sources, creators can do the following:

• Risk Diversification: A decline in one revenue source, such as ad income, can be offset by others.
• Higher Earning Capacity: Multiple smaller revenue streams can collectively produce significant income.
• Audience Targeting: Different monetization options appeal to different audience segments, from casual viewers to dedicated superfans.
• Long-Term Sustainability: Diversified income supports reinvestment in content quality, team growth, and new opportunities.

Stacking your revenue streams is the smartest approach for sustainable growth and building a robust business model around your content and community.

This article Monetizing Multi-Stream Revenue Models In The Creator Economy was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Could it be true? Are two minds really better than one? There is a growing trend. The boards of directors of profitable companies are opting to have two people fill the role of CEO, rather than the traditional one-person model. Several factors are the cause of this new trend. A few positive results of having two leaders include slower burnout, increased collaboration, more flexability and greater diversity.

A Harvard Business Review has shown that the average tenure of a CEO has been decreasing year after year. This information has been convincing enough for leadership to take a second look at the current C-Suite structure. Not only does having two leaders reduce the workload, but it also increases profits. The average company with one CEO yields roughly 6.9% returns for shareholders while companies with two CEOs yield around 9.5%, according to an article by Russell Reynolds , a global leadership firm.

A Real Life Example

According to Marie Claire, Shan-Lyn Ma cofounded Zola in 2013 and has since raised $150 million in venture capital and hired more than 200 employees for her modern wedding-planning company. Earlier in 2022, she appointed Rachel Jarrett, a former co-worker at Gilt Groupe, as co-CEO.

Ma says Jarrett’s promotion—previously she served as COO—was a natural move to reflect the role she had already been playing. “Either one of us is capable of being a successful CEO on our own, but every day we choose to work together as partners, and we recognize that we and the business are made stronger because of that,” said Ma in an interview.

More Flexibility And Less Burnout

Women in the workforce require more flexibility. The co-CEO model allows for two individuals to share the workload that was previously on the shoulders of one individual. This new model not only offers flexibility in shared responsibility but also the potential for a more hybrid model of the role.

With wellness and self-care at the forefront of the future, companies are acknowledging the importance of work-life balance and the high demands required of leaders in the C-suite. Shared responsibilities mean more capacity. While less stress equates to higher performance and greater results for the organization.

Diversity In Skills And Talent

There is a declining commitment to gender diversity in the workplace. The new revolution of the co-CEO is an opportunity for women to advance within companies and create pipelines for the career advancement of others. The co-CEO model allows for two individuals with two completely different strengths to offer a multitude of different skills, all while working toward a common goal.

The co-CEO model is growing in popularity and changing the way leadership is viewed. Having two people share responsibility, share influence, and contribute to the upward mobility of a company is being adopted across several industries. This shift in thinking is making way for more women in the workplace, according to an article in Forbes.

Succession Planning And Talent Retention

An often overlooked perk of a co-CEO leadership structure is succession planning. A co-CEO model allows the existing CEO time and space to properly transition duties and responsibilities while sharing existing processes and culture. Another great perk is the retention of talent. Companies are not forced to choose one candidate and phase out the other. An organization can keep both qualified contenders and have the best of both worlds.

Change Is Good, Success Is Better

Although the idea of what or who fills the position of Chief Executive Officer is evolving, the impact and importance of the role remain the same. The title of Co-CEO still has weight and power, and as luck (and strategy) would have it, the crown now comes in a matching set and just happens to be a little-bit-lighter. Women across different sectors are setting a new executive standard with the co-CEO revolution.

This article The Co-CEO Revolution And Why Shared Power Is The New Executive Standard For Women was originally published on HerAgenda.com

As an email marketing professional, there are several tips and tricks when it comes to deploying successful email marketing campaigns. Typically, there are four mistakes that immediately stick out. Let’s identify these mistakes and explore tactics to make sure your next email marketing campaign is a huge success!

Staring at a blank screen can feel intimidating. Aside from how to write the best copy, which pictures tell the complete story? Starting with the goal is the first step. What are the desired results from sending this email?

Weak Call To Action

Once the goal is identified, everything else is centered around achieving said goal. Next is arguably the most important aspect of the email: The call to action.

Identifying the call to action, often referred to as a CTA, is the “what.” What is it that I am asking the recipient of this email to do? A strong CTA can be as simple as “Click Now” or as bold as “Don’t Wait, Claim Your Offer!”

Time and energy are spent crafting your email campaign. It would be a shame not to:

• Display a simple and clear CTA: tell your recipient what to do and how to do it.
• Have a visible CTA button for readers to easily identify and select.
• Create more than one CTA button positioned in at least two areas of the email, often referred to as the primary and secondary positions.

Zero Incentive

Another common mistake is failing to have an incentive. Depending on the circumstances, your audience may need a little nudge. A good example of an incentive can be as simple as “receive a $5 gift card” or “get 50% off your next purchase.” A strong incentive is helpful in persuading your audience to participate in the “what” and click the CTA. The higher your email engagement, the higher your conversion rate. Conversion rates, click rates, and open rates are great key performance indicators or KPIs to determine if your email marketing campaign is successful.

No Urgency

All too often, businesses make the huge mistake of forgetting to instill urgency within the email. Urgency accomplishes several objectives that will immediately increase KPIs for your email marketing campaign:

• creates a firm end date
• provokes immediate action
• prevents delayed responses
• decreases the amount of time a client can change their mind
• prompts a quick decision
• increases FOMO or fear of missing out

A few examples of creating urgency within your email are as simple as “Offer Ends Soon” or “Limited Time Offer.” Using words that convey the message that this offer will not last forever, this offer has limited quantity, and this offer is a special discount creates urgency and signals to the recipient of the email that they should act quickly.

Lack of Value Proposition

Simply put, a value proposition is a clear and concise message to your potential customers that conveys why your offering is worth their time or money. Neglecting to do the following can result in a failed email marketing campaign:

• positioning your offer in a strong, compelling manner
• clearly delivering the message of why your offer is better than the competitors
• quickly demonstrating value
• clearly outlining the benefit

Start Creating

Implementation is the key to crafting successful email marketing campaigns. Email marketing is both an art and a science. Testing different tactics and measuring outcomes is the fastest way to understand how an audience behaves and determine how the audience is most likely to respond. Getting started is easy. Select a small sample size of your audience and conduct a simple A/B test. Be sure to pay close attention to the CTA, incentive, urgency, and value proposition.

Happy creating!

This article 4 Common Mistakes Businesses Make In Email Marketing was originally published on HerAgenda.com

If you take a look at your social media feed, you’ll soon realize that the digital world is saturated with AI-generated content, bots, and algorithmic feeds. But the thing that still matters most is something only humans can genuinely build: trust. For entrepreneurs and small business owners, brand trust has become the most scalable long-term asset. It’s what allows a business to grow beyond one-off transactions into durable relationships, and it becomes especially powerful when so much of the content around your audience feels generic, automated, or interchangeable.

What Brand Trust Really Means

At its core, brand trust is your audience’s confidence that you will do what you say you will do, over and over again. As Qualtrics explains in this research on brand trust, it “grows as a brand consistently lives its values and meets the expectations it has established in the minds of its customers.” A recent Clutch brand authenticity survey found that 97 percent of consumers say authenticity influences their decisions, 85 percent say they bought from a brand because it felt authentic, and 70 percent are willing to pay more for brands they perceive as real. Those are bottom-line numbers, not soft metrics.

That’s exactly what makes it such a powerful, scalable asset for companies: every honest interaction, fulfilled promise, and aligned decision feeds into a growing reservoir of trust that competitors can’t easily copy. 

Why AI Makes Trust Even More Important

Marketers already use artificial intelligence in everyday marketing. Brands use it to generate copy, respond to customer messages, and personalize recommendations. Used well, AI can absolutely enhance the customer experience. 

But there’s a growing paradox. 

As AI gets better at sounding human, consumers are becoming more skeptical of content that feels too perfect, too polished, or too generic. A recent Forbes analysis of consumer research shows that AI‑like content makes consumers trust brands less and see them as less authentic, relatable, and trustworthy. AI can support your systems, but only the humans in your business can earn your customers’ trust.

4 Ways To Scale Brand Trust

Publishing more posts, emails, or ads does not automatically build trust. Consistently delivering on your promises does, and that equity compounds over time. Research published in Electronic Commerce Research and Applications shows that when customers trust a brand, they are more likely to stay loyal, continue purchasing, and engage in positive word‑of‑mouth over the long term, the kind of behavior that expands revenue potential far beyond any single transaction.

1. Practice Transparent Communication: Research from the Kearney Consumer Institute on “Building trust in an age of skepticism” shows that in a low‑trust environment, brands earn consumer confidence by being clear and consistent about what customers can expect. Kearney highlights that brands that “avoid potential trustbusters like shrinkflation, price increases, formula changes, and shifting return policies—even when tinkering with the experience would improve the brand’s margins.” 
   
2. Deliver Consistently On Your Promises: As the Yale School of Management explains in its piece on navigating brand trust in modern marketing, trust grows when a brand’s actions reliably match what it says it stands for. They note that brands must not only offer a quality product, but also provide quality service by “attending to consumers’ needs, delivering on promises, and demonstrating ample knowledge and expertise in the category.” In a crowded, skeptical market, consistently doing what you say you will do becomes a core way to earn and sustain brand trust over time.
   
3. Be Open About How You Use AI: As the World Economic Forum notes in its discussion of consumer trust and AI, companies are expected to demonstrate that their systems are ethical, explainable, and used with care, and those that proactively do so are more likely to be trusted and recommended by consumers. In their report, they claim that “those who openly communicate in this way about how their technology works are more likely to be trusted by consumers to use AI to its full potential.” 
   
4. Leverage Social Proof As A Trust Signal: According to an article by Wharton Executive Education, social proof is one of the most important trust signals for modern businesses. Customers increasingly rely on reviews, ratings, and visible demand, like a busy store or long line, to decide which brands to trust. When people can see that others have chosen and endorsed a business, it reassures them that the company is legitimate and likely to deliver a good experience.
   
   
   

This article Why Brand Trust Is The Most Scalable Asset In A World Of Artificial Content was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Keanna Sanders has always had a passion for childcare. Inspired by her grandmother, Keanna has begun to build an empire that caters to working mothers, giving them the support that they need. A pillar of the Maryland community, Keanna’s Sanbridge Early Learning Centers offer unorthodox hours, with one center being open 24 hours, while her other locations are open until midnight. The mother of two is dedicated to breaking barriers within childcare and has recently opened complementary slots at her center for toddlers aged three to four. The spots are for income-based families and are available from now through June 30, 2026, with enrollment resuming in September 2026. This opportunity will allow working mothers to have reliable, quality care while they strive towards bettering their careers or pursuing higher education. Keanna spoke with Her Agenda on her passion for childcare, plans to expand, and Sanbridge’s impact on the community.

Her Agenda: What led you to start the Sanbridge Early Learning Center? 

Keanna Sanders: I was led to start the Sanbridge Early Center because I was brought up in child care. My grandmother was an in-home provider, and I was always around children. She inspired me to start a childcare facility. I have been working with children since I was in high school, and then also during my college breaks as well. So, just the love of being around children and helping children inspired me to start my childcare facility. 

Her Agenda: What continues to drive your passion for childcare?

Keanna Sanders:  What drives me is being able to see the children learning daily and being able to help families in the community. My centers do a lot of community engagement festivals and activities. I love being able to offer the services that children need and see their growth in cognitive development and social-emotional development as well. I also love being able to be a pillar of the community. Helping families have the assistance they need with children, and if the children have any type of issues, such as behavior issues or speech impediments, and being able to offer different services that refer children who are struggling with any type of educational delays. That actually inspires me and helps me as well.

Her Agenda: What services does Sanbridge offer to children?

Keanna Sanders: One of my centers is open 24 hours. The other centers are open from 6 a.m. to midnight. We’re able to offer non-traditional childcare services, meaning that families that don’t work a traditional 9 to 5 schedule will be able to have childcare services after doing extended hours. We also offer educational services where the children can learn the curriculum that we teach, which is Frog Street Curriculum, and be able to help our pre-K program and three and four-year-olds get readily available for elementary school throughout Maryland State Department of Education grant.

Her Agenda: You’ve opened up complimentary slots at Sanbridge for this year. What made you make that decision, and how will this help support working mothers?

Keanna Sanders: We opened up complimentary slots because, as I stated, we get the pre-K expansion grant and also the Blueprint grant, which is a grant from the Maryland State Department of Education. and it allows three and four-year-olds to come to my facility tuition-free. The money is paid through the state of Maryland, and it allows for three and four-year-olds to be readily available for tuition for elementary school. We hire public school teachers to actually come into the facility and teach children based on the curriculum that we use, which is Frog Street, or a curriculum that would match the public school systems.

Her Agenda: When did you see a need to create the Sanbridge Early Learning Center in your community?

Keanna Sanders: Well, we had a lot of single parents actually just growing up, the need has always been there, even for me, working in the child care industry for over 20 years, and also being under my grandmother. She was a family provider. She was always watching a lot of children over in the evenings, after five o’clock, which inspired me to open up a non-traditional childcare facility. So many moms work second jobs, or work late, and it’s a lot of single-family households. Being able to have a provider like me to provide those services has always been a blessing. Some people don’t have the resources they need; they might not have a grandmother or a family member to watch their children, so with me being able to offer those services, it has definitely been a help in the community. It has helped single moms economically because they’re able to pick up extra shifts or they’re able to work additional hours and bring more money into their household to be able to take care of their families.

Her Agenda: What are the eligibility guidelines for these families to qualify for the slots?

Keanna Sanders:  Well, for the size, I do know the child has to be three years old, before September 1st of 2022, in order to be eligible. You have to meet a certain income requirement. You have to have a copy of your child’s birth certificate, and you have to submit pay stubs stating that you meet the income requirement. Now, if you have a child or a family that’s going through some type of economic challenges and is homeless, you automatically qualify to be able to receive deferred services. If you might be unemployed at the time, you automatically receive the services as well.

Her Agenda: How important would you say expanding child care through June 2026 is? 

Keanna Sanders: It’s very important, especially with the things that we are facing today. You have a lot of single moms who need it. We also went through the furlough situation with the government, and people needed the services then. I would say that it’s definitely needed in order for our children to be able to receive the education that they need and be ready to go into elementary school. Starting at that early age is definitely needed in a community because we’re able to give them the resources that they need. It’s similar to the Head Start programs that get children ready to go into elementary school. I do know that this is something that the community has been grateful for and has really thanked my center for. It’s great seeing a difference in the children’s learning curve and where they once were to where they are now. From an educational perspective, it’s needed. Then, from a parenting perspective, for people who have busy work schedules or just need to extend their hours, it has been a help.

Her Agenda: What testimonials have you been given from either a single mother or a student who has come to your center?

Keanna Sanders: Well, we’ve gotten wonderful testimonies. We’ve had children whose parents say that they didn’t know their ABCs or couldn’t pronounce words. Parents had seen a difference and came to the center and thanked us for our services. Children can recognize their colors and are able to have the social skills, which are very important with other children. I always believe that when you put children in an environment that is similar to their own, they excel a lot faster and better because they’re around their peers. They’re able to communicate with other children. They’re able to learn through play and can adjust to the environment. It’s not just three and four-year-olds; we even start with our infants, being able to put our infants on the floor and engage them in tummy time. Learning activities and being able to have those developmental skills is also good at birth because by the time they’re toddlers, they’re able to be mobile. They’re able to play with their peers and their friends and just learn different things in different environments. It’s always good to have them around their little peers. 

Her Agenda: How would you say Sanbridge has impacted your community?

Keanna Sanders: I would say we’ve impacted our community because we’ve been able to partner with several other vendors to be able to provide additional resources. Resources such as being able to help families that might be in need of food through social services, and being able to connect them to get public assistance. We’ve been able to help families with different services when it comes to their children. If their children, as I mentioned before, have any type of behavioral or educational delays We’ve been able to link them to infants and toddlers or link them to speech therapists. We’ve also been able to, at the time, help families that were furloughed and be able to put them on payment plans or connect them with any type of assistance.  I would say we’ve made a very positive impact on the community. Anything that my families might have needed, they’ve always been able to come to my district director or come to the directors themselves. I’ve been able to make certain phone calls or just connect them with different partnerships, depending on what those needs are.

Her Agenda: How far do you plan to expand Sanbridge and what are some of your goals to accomplish, you hope to accomplish for the future of the company?

Keanna Sanders: I plan to expand Sandbridge worldwide and then also create a franchise that I’m working on that hopefully I’ll have completed in the next few years. I’d love to see Sanbridges everywhere in different states. I like to promote within, so I like to be able to take my directors to executive positions, and then if they are ever willing and wanting to open their own center, I’m an advocate for that. I would love for them to have their own Sanbridge and be able to teach them how to open their center and run their own center. My vision is for Sanbridge to be the leading child care provider in the nation and to be able to offer those franchise opportunities to minorities, especially women who look like me, single moms. I mean, really, to anybody, but I’m definitely an advocate of opportunities for minorities and women entrepreneurs. If I’m able to provide them with any type of leadership roles and ownership, that would be the vision for my company, and being able to expand.

Her Agenda: Other than childcare, do you have any other ventures you’re interested in?

Keanna Sanders: Well, I have a substance abuse facility in Baltimore City. I’ve been running that business since 2021. I also have a nonprofit organization called Baltimore’s Dynamic Women. We help empower women to be entrepreneurs or be able to get an executive position, whatever it is that your heart desires, as far as growth. What we do is extend those types of services. Then we also mentor young teenagers or young women who are inspired to have their own.

This article Keanna Sanders Turns Her Lifelong Dream Into Sanbridge Early Learning Center, A Childcare Empire For Working Moms was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Imani Robinson is showing what it means to have faith in yourself. As an actress, producer, and director, Imani is creating her own lane. Through Imani’s production company, Faith & Purpose Productions, her show “3 Blind Mice” is an indie project she’s been working on for over nine years, and it’s just now getting the recognition it deserves, with the trailer bringing in over 500K views alone. She’s been in the industry since the age of nine, and one character trait that’s been instilled in her is kindness. Even as Hollywood continues to shift, Imani is taking that kindness with her and is showing there’s power in creating, producing, and owning your own work.

Her Agenda: What did that waiting period teach you about trusting your work even though the response wasn’t immediate? 

Imani Robinson: It really taught me the importance of having faith in yourself, having faith in your team, and believing in your vision, and just being triumphant in knowing that you have a great product and a great vision. Even though things take longer for it to go to the next level, [I’m] still pushing forward. 

It definitely has been really challenging, just waiting, having pitch meetings, waiting to hear back from film festivals, experiencing the no’s because you usually get a lot of no’s, but you just need that one yes. As of late, the yes have been coming again, and so it really makes the wait worth it, and [I’m] just proud of myself for not giving up.

Her Agenda: I love that because your production company is actually called Faith and Purpose Productions. But how does that faith actually show up in your decision making, like behind the scenes when it comes to who you have on your team, and beyond that, [the] storytelling aspect of it?

Imani Robinson: So touching briefly on my name [and] production company name. I was actually named after two of the principals of Kwanzaa. Imani means faith, and Nia means purpose, and that’s how I came up with my production company name. 

In terms of just having faith in the vision of my team, I learned I’m an artist first. So it took a while to really learn how to become a businesswoman and understand that. I knew that I had to have the right people behind the scenes, working on it with me. And you can’t pay people to care, [or] believe in your vision and want to work on it.

Even when there’s silence, and you don’t feel like you have lots of momentum at the time, but people who want to stick beside you because they know that it’s going to come in the long run. So, making sure that the people around me understand that faith is important and that we have a bigger purpose here. And just seeing how big 3 Blind Mice has been blown up, I know that at this point, it’s a lot bigger than me. It’s for the culture. And I have a really big vision for it. And I’m just really excited about what’s going on.

Her Agenda: Once the trailer took off and started going viral, and you’ve been gaining this momentum, how are you balancing listening to audience demands and what they want, but still protecting your original vision for your work?

Iman Robinson: Oh, absolutely. So the trailer going viral was heaven-sent. It was at the perfect time because I was kind of feeling down about the lack of momentum with 3 Blind Mice. So when it went viral on TikTok, it was so affirming. 

And I actually really appreciate people’s feedback on it because, as I said, it’s bigger than me. It’s for us as a collective, and I want to change the trajectory of Black television. I love the 90s so much, and I take a lot of inspiration from the energy of the 90s and 3 Blind Mice, and how positive, refreshing, and diverse Black characters were back then.

I always say that you don’t need sex, drugs, violence, or trauma to tell a great Black story. And I really do care about what the viewers say [and] what they want to see. I know people are tired of seeing cliches and stereotypical characters. And so I do take heed to what they say. But honestly, what they’re saying kind of aligns with my overall vision for the show already. So I have a lot of positive feedback and so I feel really confident that I’m going in the right direction and that people will still want to stick along and be a loyal audience.

Her Agenda: You wear a lot of hats. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re the writer, producer, and the lead actress. I’m curious which role kind of stretched you more out of your comfort zone, and what has that taught you about yourself in that role?

Imani Robinson: I would say the producer role stretched me the most. I’m definitely a sensitive person, and I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I realized very quickly that with business, you just have to make decisions based on facts, not emotions. And so that was definitely a learning curve. But it was also really beautiful because I found my confidence with producing.

It was a lot of work hiring all these different departments and different actors and being in all these different meetings regarding the script, production, [and] post-production. It was a lot to navigate, but it was also just very empowering because I didn’t think I was able to do something like that. I never envisioned myself really being a writer or a producer because my first love is acting, but I was getting really frustrated with waiting for people to cast me in something.

Her Agenda: Baltimore, that’s where you’re from. And it’s kind of always been the center of your work. So now that you’ve found a home with Brick TV for 3 Blind Mice, now you’re going to have this bigger audience and more eyes. How do you think that the scale is going to change the responsibility or even the opportunity of telling your city story and having your city influence shown in your work? 

Imani Robinson: I love Baltimore so much. It’s so important that Baltimore is its own character in 3 Blind Mice, and to show why it’s a big city, and to show the beautiful community and the artistry that comes from the city. And it’s really important that the people of Baltimore feel proud of how the city is represented in 3 Blind Mice.

So often, Baltimore gets a bad rap, and it’s known for the negatives that we see in the media. And so I feel like I have a big responsibility to show the positive aspect of it, but also keep it real and grounded. We have our pilot on Brick TV currently, but we still are searching for a rest of the series, which will be eight more episodes. So we’re still searching for a home for a distribution at this time. 

Her Agenda: For young creatives that are watching you in real time, what’s something that you want them to understand about success that people don’t necessarily talk about enough within the industry?

Imani Robinson: I think the main thing is to understand that it doesn’t happen overnight. I’m coming up on my 10th year of actually working on 3 Blind Mice and trying to get it on its feet. I don’t want anyone to feel discouraged when they don’t feel like things are happening fast enough, or they don’t feel like there’s actually momentum. There’s always ebbs and flows. As long as you do a bit of dazzling on, but say towards your goals, then you’re making progress. If someone says no, say yes to yourself and create your own lane.

This article Imani Robinson On Faith, ‘3 Blind Mice,’ And Redefining Black Stories was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Popular makeup brand Live Tinted gets a sizeable valuation in its latest round of funding, led by Curate Capital, L’Oreal’s BOLD venture arm for female-led consumer brands, reported by WWD. The undisclosed valuation is reported to be over double the company’s initial round of funding in 2023, signaling optimism and investment in the future strategic moves of the Los Angeles-based makeup brand.

“When I first invested in 2021, I was immediately drawn to her [Deepica Mutyala’s] vision, conviction, and the purpose behind Live Tinted,” reported Carrie Colbert, founding and general partner of Curate Capital, to Women’s Wear Daily. “Watching the brand grow and deeply resonate with such a broad and passionate community has been incredibly rewarding.”

A Makeup Brand Founded For All Skin Tones And Complexions

Live Tinted, founded by former Birchbox brand development manager and viral influencer Deepica Mutyala, has created a loyal following of users of their vegan and cruelty-free makeup products. The makeup brand sold more than one million products in 2025, including its bestsellers HUEGUARD 3-in-1 Mineral Sunscreen, Hyperpigmentation Serum Stick, and its very first product, the ever-popular HUESTICK All-over Color Corrector. What truly makes the #TintFam makeup community so loyal to its award-winning products is Live Tinted’s mission to inclusivity, reflected in its beauty products. With offerings like shade match to help customers find products that accurately reflect their hue and over 20 shades available for some of their most popular products, Live Tinted strives to create makeup and skincare that live out its mission. This is one of the founding principles of the makeup brand, something founder Deepica Mutyala, a South Asian Texas native, has kept at the center of her company from the start.

“From day one, we have built beauty products that work across all skin tones, with complexion and sun protection at the core, without compromise,” said Deepica Mutyala, reported by Cosmetics Business.

Live Tinted Secures Funding From Major Cosmetic Brands

Colorism as a South Asian woman inspired founder Deepica Mutyala, and became the heart of her pitch to investors for the first round of funding for her company Live Tinted back in 2023. After going viral in 2015 for a makeup hack she posted online (which also inspired her makeup brand’s first product), Deepica Mutyala decided to build her own makeup company, and Live Tinted was formed in 2018. Huestick, Live Tinted’s first product in 2019, put the makeup brand on the market, and four years later, the company saw a valuation of $10 million dollars in its series A investing round according to WWD. Now, with L’Oreal’s female venture capital firm Curate Capital leading the latest successful venture round, the brand will continue to thrive, with investments made from major companies including BOLD (Business Opportunities for L’Oreal Development), Birchbox co-founder Hayley Barna, and continuing investor Unilever Ventures.

This article Makeup Brand Live Tinted Receives Substantial Series B Funding Backed By L’Oreal’s Venture Capital Firm was originally published on HerAgenda.com

As if the rise of AI wasn’t enough, the plot thickens. There are layers to AI, and the expansions can affect the need for human input in the workplace and everyday life. Customer service jobs like waitressing, customer service representatives, virtual support, and even cars are being replaced by Agentic AI.

However, Agentic AI can be convenient in regard to making life easier, as it is designed to take action and reach goals. In this climate of technology, it’s important to get acclimated with AI so as not to get left behind or without a job. Contrarily, AI is taking over, and with the swift advancements in technology, it could result in the loss of many jobs and several malfunctions.

Agentic AI Offers Convenience In Daily Life

Pros

With the click of a button, you can order food and have it delivered from a Waymo vehicle. Pudu Bellabot serves food at restaurants, which eliminates the need for a waitress; not to mention the convenient Point of Sale (POS) systems that allow you to pay at the table on the device.  

Cons

Contrarily, AI is essentially taking money from what could have been a delivery driver and a waitress. By creating convenience and quicker methods to provide customer service, it eliminates the need for a working person; this also takes away the human aspect of encounters, because the robot will ask: “Hey, how’s your day going?”

Agentic AI Can Make Daily Workflow Lighter

Pros

According to IBM, agentic AI can manage business processes autonomously and handle complex tasks like reordering supplies and optimizing supply chain operations. It can automate internal workflows to make it easier on human employees without the need for their physical intervention.

Cons

Introducing AI in business eliminates the need to hire additional people to do several tasks.

Although AI is capable of handling a heavy workload, it is still a machine, and machines malfunction. This leaves the doors open to potential data leaks, oversights, errors, fraud, and more. The human aspect of common sense, intuition, brainstorming, ethical and moral judgment is obsolete when a robot is left to decide the best decision.

Agentic AI Will Continue To Expand

Pros

Expansions mean progression and more opportunity to capitalize on not only technology but also executing tasks and goals, which is its main purpose. Its ability to work fast and effectively will greatly benefit businesses. 

According to MoveWorks, by 2028, 33% of enterprise software applications will incorporate Agentic AI to manage complex tasks and workflows. Organizations that embrace this shift today will gain a massive competitive advantage—automating decision-making, streamlining operations, and unlocking new levels of productivity.

Cons

Unfortunately, the very things that make AI great are what make it a great risk. Incorporating Agentic AI to manage tasks will change the trajectory of the workforce, as it will impact future generations, as the need for a human manager won’t be necessary.

Ultimately, no matter how much Agentic AI is integrated, the need for human life in the workforce will remain. If it is looked at as assistance as opposed to a means of replacement, the two could co-exist productively.

Though there are pros and cons to every situation, it is imperative to do research on things that aren’t familiar or new. As technology advances daily, it’s inevitable that we stay abreast of updates. Agentic AI is designed to benefit businesses, yet it eliminates human workers. However, many Gen Z and millennials are ahead of the curve in entrepreneurship as their preferred route of employment.

This article How To Navigate The Rise Of Agentic AI In Your Daily Workflow was originally published on HerAgenda.com

As we begin the new year, it’s a good time to align our refreshed energy towards funding our goals. According to AIPRM’s statistics compilation, women are just a quarter (26%) of STEM employees in the United States of America, and as of 2024, there were only 12 female-led STEM companies on the Fortune 500 list.  

Additionally, it’s been found that women researchers receive less grant money on average than men, with women’s average grant award being $342,000, while men’s average grant award is $659,000.

In lieu of this, several organizations have sprung up to address this gap and further inclusion. To help women move forward in their STEM careers, here are some grants and innovation funds to explore:

The AAUW Community Action Grants

These grants seek to overcome barriers to girls’ participation in STEM by funding innovative, community-based programs that create pathways for K-12 girls to develop STEM confidence, skills, and identity, and encourage them to pursue STEM higher education and careers.

It offers up to $75,000 to support nonprofits and educational institutions helping girls with the preparation needed to thrive in technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 

They support programs that provide hands-on learning, mentorship from women in STEM, family involvement, and confidence-building experiences. Additionally, they are interested in helping girls from historically underrepresented communities.

Becoming a grantee means joining a community that offers pathways for collaboration, visibility, and growth, and joining a network that fosters shared learning, elevates voices shaping the future of STEM, and builds capacity for long-term impact.

They are looking for organizations with these requirements:

• U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit (or fiscal sponsor) or K–12 institution, with projects implemented in the U.S.
• A demonstrated ability to design and deliver effective K–12 programs for girls
• Using participant feedback to continuously refine and improve programming
• The leadership and programs reflect and actively engage the communities served.
• Maintaining transparent systems to track, manage, and report grant funds responsibly.

They run an application each year, and the deadline is October 31. To learn more about the AAUW grant, from the selection criteria to the application process, visit their website. 

The L’Oréal USA For Women in Science Program

The program awards five postdoctoral scientists annually with grants for their contributions in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields and commitment to serving as role models for younger generations. It operates out of this belief: the world needs science, and science needs women because women in science have the power to change the world. 

It is the U.S. component of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Fellowships program. So far, it has awarded 110 postdoctoral women scientists over $5 million in grants. Each year, the program attracts talented applicants from diverse STEM fields, representing some of the nation’s leading academic institutions and laboratories, towards the shortlisting of five postdoctoral scientists to receive grants, mentoring, and networking. 

The current cohort represented a range of research areas, including physiology, sensory biology, microbiology, biomedical engineering, and developmental biology. 

To apply, candidates must have completed their PhD and have started in their postdoctoral research position by January 31, 2026, and must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The deadline for the next cohort is February 13, 2026. To learn more about this program, explore their website.

The Science & Technology Pioneer Award by the Cartier Women’s Initiative

This award is dedicated to recognizing women impact entrepreneurs at the forefront of scientific and technological innovation. Open to women entrepreneurs from any country and sector, this award highlights disruptive solutions built around unique, protected, or hard-to-reproduce technological or scientific advances that require heavy R&D, a long commercialization cycle, high capital intensity, technology risk, and complexity.  

The award is in three tiers: $100,000 for the first-place awardee, $60,000 for the second-place awardee, and $30,000 for the third-place awardee.  It also includes a fellowship program with a combination of 1:1 training and collective workshops.

Lastly, the program aims to bridge connections between the grant awardees and our current community through mentorship from jury members during the fellowship, access to a lifelong community of 500+ active community members, and ongoing support for the development of the fellows’ impact businesses.

They’re in search of businesses with the following features:

• Deep-tech solution built on unique, hard-to-replicate scientific or engineering advances with strong industry and societal impact.
• Business intentionally designed to solve social or environmental problems, with impact embedded, measurable, and scalable.
• Clear competitive advantage addressing a large unmet market need with evidence of validation and potential market leadership.
• Profitable, well-structured business model with a clear growth plan, risk awareness, and systems to monitor execution.

Applications for the 2027 edition will be open from April 16 to June 16, 2026, and you can find more information about the grant process here.

Johnson & Johnson Innovation JLABS

Although it is not a traditional grant, JLABS provides laboratory space, equipment, and up to $50,000 in services for healthcare startups. It also gives the awardees access to their global incubator network, which includes expertise, community, industry connections, and entrepreneurial programs.

No matter what stage you’re at, they can provide access to all the elements you need with the goal of helping you develop your life science or health technology startup, positioning your company for potential success. 

The grant includes the following benefits:

• JLABS sites are strategically located in life science and healthcare hubs worldwide, so you can connect, collaborate, and scale.
• Access to leading experts, research institutions, collaborations, and partnerships—wherever you reside.

They accept applications on a rolling basis. You can submit your idea to help solve a healthcare challenge for a chance to receive these awards. To get more information, peruse their website here.

Susan G. Komen-Lobular Breast Cancer Alliance Metastatic Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Research Grant

In Honor Of Julia K. Levine 

Komen awards grants to support cutting-edge breast cancer research that will provide the greatest benefit to patients. They are focused on conquering metastatic and aggressive breast cancers, advancing personalized breast care, and eliminating breast cancer disparities and inequities.

This grant provides funding to support innovative research focused on metastatic invasive lobular carcinoma (mILC) that will hopefully unlock new knowledge about metastatic lobular breast cancer, advance patient care, and improve patient outcomes.

They are looking for independent investigators working at non-profit institutions and organizations, and the award amount is $400,000, including combined direct and indirect costs, $200,000 per year for up to 2 years.

The application timeline runs from April 15 to June 16. To get more information, please explore their website.

The Generation Google Scholarship 

The Generation Google Scholarship, for women in computer science, helps students pursuing computer science degrees excel in technology and become leaders in the field. 

Selected students will receive $2,500 USD for the 2025-2026 academic year. The scholarship is awarded based on the strength of each candidate’s demonstrated leadership, academic performance, and financial need.

This scholarship is also available individually in Europe and Ireland. Please see IIE’s website for complete information on the scholarship, including eligibility criteria.

This article Top Grants And Innovation Funds For Women In STEM And Tech was originally published on HerAgenda.com

While women in venture capital may be as rare as unicorn startups, they’re equally magical in their impact. According to recent data, women-founded teams only represent 2.3% of all venture capital invested globally. However, as more women-led funds and entrepreneurs break through the barriers, the women who have successfully navigated the venture capitalism landscape are raking in millions. By defying expectations and challenging the status quo, these pioneers are not just changing the numbers; they’re reshaping the entire business model of innovation and investment.

1. Melanie Perkins

Melanie Perkins is the co-founder and CEO of the graphic design platform Canva, known for making graphic design free and accessible to everyone. When she pitched her idea for Canva, she faced rejection after rejection, with over 100 venture capitalists turning her down. Despite this, Melanie remained undeterred and sought creative ways to connect with influential investors. She even learned to kitesurf to meet specifically with Bill Tai, an early investor. Today, Canva is valued at an impressive $40 billion, and Melanie Perkins has accumulated a net worth of $7.6 billion. Her story shows that with a bit of creativity and a lot of grit, you can turn even the toughest challenges into incredible success.

2. Theresia Gouw

Theresia Gouw is a pure venture capitalist, which is how she earned the Forbes title of the first and only female billionaire VC. Theresia has consistently focused on investment-driven businesses, founding several influential firms including Acrew Capital, Aspect Ventures, All Raise, and Diversify Capital Fund. Each of these ventures reflects her commitment to fostering innovation and supporting diverse entrepreneurs. A significant portion of her wealth originates from her savvy early investment in Meta, formerly known as Facebook, which underscored her ability to identify promising opportunities long before they reached their full potential.

3. Anu Duggal

In 2014, Anu Duggal founded the Female Founders Fund in response to the significant challenges women faced in securing funding for entrepreneurial ventures. Her initiative focuses on investing in companies founded by women, whether it’s established celebrities or determined college students, to enhance opportunities and support their entrepreneurial journeys. This fund has been important in establishing many industry-defining companies, such as Maven Clinic, Zola, Tala, Rent The Runway, and Billie, among others. By backing these businesses, the Female Founders Fund has been key in changing industries and showcasing just how powerful and promising women-led companies can be in the world of entrepreneurship.

4. Anne Wojcicki

Anne Wojcicki is the co-founder and CEO of the personal genetics company 23andMe, known for personalized direct-to-consumer DNA testing for ancestry and genetic traits. The company initially attracted a number of high-profile early investors, including New Enterprise Associates, the biopharmaceutical giant Genentech, and the Internet search powerhouse Google. Encouraged by such support, the venture soon achieved unicorn status. However, financial difficulties followed this initial success, and the company shockingly declared bankruptcy, threatening its future and the security of its users’ data, which in this case, was literally their DNA. Understanding the importance of safeguarding this data, Anne took proactive measures by establishing a nonprofit organization with the purpose of bidding for and buying the company back. This move was pivotal in regaining control and ensuring that the data remained protected, demonstrating her commitment to responsible business practices and user privacy.

5. Lucy Guo

Lucy Guo, as the founder of multiple successful ventures, has cemented her position as a prominent figure in the venture capitalist world. Her first company, ScaleAI, focuses on aiding in the management of artificial intelligence, reflecting her foresight in this critical field. Additionally, she established Backend Capital, a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting innovative startups and fostering entrepreneurship. Not stopping there, she launched Passes, a unique platform where celebrities can sell merchandise and engage with their fans more intimately. Her business acumen and pioneering efforts have led her to an impressive net worth of $1.4 billion, making her the youngest woman billionaire until 2026.

This article Top 5 Women Founders Navigating The 2026 Venture Capital Landscape was originally published on HerAgenda.com

A Micro-SaaS business is a small software-as-a-service business that focuses on solving one specific problem for a niche audience. This is the perfect outfit to transition to from running a side hustle. By transforming your side-hustle into a narrow business, you can deliver a lean, targeted solution that can scale efficiently without high overhead costs. 

1. Validate Your Idea

The first step is to ensure that your side hustle has potential as a Micro-SaaS business. This means validating that there’s a genuine demand for your product or service. You can do this by:

• Survey Your Target Market: Research your industry’s trends using tools like Google Trends. Carry out online surveys, interviews, and media polls to gather feedback. Do you have potential repeat customers? You need to have a steady and growing customer base. 
• Talk to potential customers: This is the best way to get honest feedback. Reach out to customers in your target industry, explain your idea, and ask them if it’s something they’d pay for.
• Create a description site: Before you build anything, create a simple site that explains what your micro-SaaS does. Add a sign-up form for people to join for more information, and even request early access. If people are signing up, you might be onto something.
• Analyze Competitors: Study existing businesses offering similar solutions to identify your unique value proposition.

Having checklists in place can help you make an informed decision by assessing the risks to determine whether it’s time to make the pivot. 

2. Assess Your Finances

One of the most significant barriers to going full-time is financial stability. You need to ensure that the business is sustainable. Take time to review your numbers and conduct a financial health check, which is a comprehensive assessment of your business’s finances.

• Is your revenue consistent enough?: Can this new model generate a steady income for at least six to twelve months? Will it generate enough to cover your business expenses? Consider whether this new business model can grow — and how that growth could be supported full-time.

• An Emergency Fund: Save at least 6 to 12 months’ worth of business expenses to give yourself a safety net during the early stages.
• Track Your Finances: Use budgeting tools and apps to keep track of income, expenses, and cash flow. This precise monitoring will help you understand and tailor your business’s financial goals. 
• Tax Implications:  A new business model might come with new tax responsibilities. You need to research your business’s tax responsibilities in whatever location you reside.
• Seek Financing: Building a bigger business than before might need additional requirements, such as hiring employees, investing in software, or buying inventory for your business. You can seek financing. Financing gives you the cash flow to invest in solutions that will increase your revenue long-term. Some ways to do this include: investment from friends and family, applying for a Small Business Administration loan, starting an online crowdfunding campaign, or applying for a government grant. 

3. Learn How To Build A Business

To successfully pivot from a side-hustle to a legitimate business, you need to understand what business truly is and build a good foundation

• Write a good business plan: Your business plan doesn’t have to be long, but it should outline your mission, goals, competitive analysis, marketing approach, and financial forecasts. Build a framework that helps to define what success looks like while ensuring systems can support future growth and expansion. 
• Choose the right business structure: You may currently operate as a sole proprietor, but transitioning often means considering a more formal business structure. While many side hustlers opt to form an LLC, it’s important to choose a structure that aligns with your long-term goals and legal requirements.
• Prepare your documentation: Depending on your industry, scaling legally and safely may require securing the right licenses, permits, insurance, contracts, or compliance documentation.
• Develop a Niche: Micro-SaaS is built on a small niche. A niche software business that serves a very specific audience or solves a hyper-focused problem. What’s the one problem you think you can solve?

4. Sales and Marketing

It’s essential to establish your brand and build an audience, as visibility is really important. A strong brand presence can give your startup a significant boost:

• Develop a Brand Identity: What does your brand stand for? What problem do you solve, and how do you do it differently? Having a consistent brand message builds credibility and trust. Define your brand’s mission, values, and unique voice. Design a memorable logo and visual identity that reflects your business’s personality.
• Leverage Social Media: Start creating content and engaging with potential customers on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. Pick two or three channels that best reach your target audience. Focus your energy where your customers spend time.
• Build an Email List: Offer valuable content, such as guides, newsletters, or discounts, to attract subscribers who are genuinely interested in your product.
• Partnerships: Find complementary products or services in your niche and explore partnership opportunities.
• Cold Outreach: Don’t underestimate the power of a good old-fashioned email campaign. Reach out to potential customers directly and offer them a free trial or demo.

5. Have The Right Mindset

Pivoting to a new business model isn’t just a professional shift; it’s a personal one. Your mindset can be just as important as your business plan.

• Am I ready for the uncertainty?: Entrepreneurship comes with highs and lows. Be honest with yourself about your ability to navigate this.
• Set Achievable Goals: This transition requires a clear roadmap and a feasible timeline. Break down your goals into actionable steps and set short-term milestones. 

This article 5 Steps To Pivot Your Side Hustle Into A Micro-SaaS Business was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Michele Ghee’s tech and content agency, Expectant Media, has now been acquired by PlayersTV, making her president, effective immediately. Having been on the PlayersTV board for two years, Michele has been making major moves in the industry.

With over three decades in the entertainment industry, Michele’s expertise in marketing strategies is believed to push the culture forward in a progressive direction.

Hard Work Beats Talent If Talent Doesn’t Work Hard

According to Her Agenda, Michele got the prime chance to hone in on her dreams of breaking into the industry via a program launched by the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) that offered support, mentorship, and placement. From there, she thrived in roles where she could tap into intrapreneurship, even before going into business for herself.

 It all came full circle, allowing her to bridge that early hustle and grit with her corporate experience— working for or with powerhouses including CNN, The History Channel, Ebony and Jet, and BET—into succeeding in her current role as CEO of Expectant Media, a boutique Ad Tech and content agency.  

The Time For Elevation Is Now

According to Deadline, Deron Guidrey, co-CEO and co-founder of PlayersTV, said: “Michele has been a trusted member of our board for the past two years. We saw immense value in Michele and what she’s built across media, content, and activation to support our growing flywheel. She is a proven leader in advancing equity across content and distribution, and we look forward to the high-caliber impact she will have on our organization and with our growing stable of premium partners.”

Furthermore, Michele’s tenacity catapulted opportunities to launch entrepreneurial endeavors, such as BETHer on BET, revive brands such as Ebony and Jet, and advance multicultural efforts for CNN and The Grio.

Black Excellence Still Reigns Supreme

Her Agenda says her commitment to service and leadership flows into her work at Expectant Media, a firm that she co-founded with two other amazing power women. The company leverages proprietary technology and authentic storytelling to amplify Black-owned media, producers, and the communities they serve around the world. It has established partnerships with initiatives and programs launched by Black women, including the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration, the Boss Network, and HBCU Honors, to name a few. 

Despite being a successful businesswoman, Michele is also a loving mother and wife. She is leading by example, showing that you, in fact, can have it all: family and a thriving career all at once.

Ultimately, Michele’s belief in what PlayersTV has to offer, which she says is “fundamentally different,” is tailored for athletes and their fans. Her keen sense of “know-how” and will to do good business is why she’s acquired such success thus far. The content is authentic, athlete spotlighted, and relatable. 

What To Expect Going Forward

With Michele appointed as president and her extensive background and knowledge, PlayersTV has enlisted a veteran. The content will speak for itself. Highlighting athletes, allowing them to have a voice, capturing real moments in real time, all while allowing the fans to be a part of the experience. It is clear through her work that Michele loves her job and is passionate about relaying content that has meaning behind it.

Stay tuned for innovative, creative, and expert-level content. Michele is said to reinvent and refocus her commitment to the job she loves. She even advocates for the clients she serves. Who can argue with that? Check out PlayersTV and possibly become a shareholder alongside Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, and over 70+ pro athletes.

This article Expectant Media’s Founder Michele Ghee Is Now Appointed As President After Being Bought By PlayersTV was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Burnout doesn’t have to be the price of ambition—it’s just a sign the strategy and mindset need adjusting.

By now, you’ve seen the stats on the downsides of chasing big goals at full speed. Big dreamers know the signs well: exhaustion, overwhelm, diminished creativity. It’s not pretty—but it’s also not inevitable. When protecting your energy is part of the plan from the start, burnout doesn’t get to be a milestone on the way to success.

With big goals for the new year in sight, leaders and founders from the Dreamers & Doers community are raising the bar without running themselves into the ground. They share their boldest aspirations for 2026—and the intentional, mental-health-first strategies helping them pursue those goals with clarity, momentum, and staying power.

Kalia Carter

Founder of BodyCon the Brand, a clothing brand exclusively for fuller bust women.

This year, I am focused on learning to grow through community accountability instead of isolated self-optimization. The longer I’m in business, the more I realize that the “self-made” individual is a myth. Creating small mentorship circles and attending networking events will lead to the kind of friendship and community that drives long-term growth.

Ciara Siegel

Brand and Marketing Strategist & Founder of CJC, bringing the strategy behind billion-dollar brands to small businesses.

For 2026, my growth plan is simple: don’t try to be everywhere. Instead, I want to go deeper in the places where I already love showing up, including the entrepreneurial communities that already include thousands of women I’m well-positioned to support.

Naga Das

Founder of Alternative Coaching Methods, redefining health and wealth through plant medicine.

I’m most looking forward to writing a book and scaling my impact beyond the one-on-one work I’ve been doing for years. The counterintuitive part is that I’m planning to work less, not more. I’ve learned that my best ideas come when I’m traveling or in a ten-day silent meditation, so I’m treating rest and expansion as non-negotiable parts of the creative process rather than rewards I earn after everything else is done.

Angela Chee

Keynote Speaker, Communication Coach, Author of The Power Of The Only & Founder of Angela Chee/Zen Media Inc.

In 2026, I’m most looking forward to deepening my intentional connection to my work and others while growing my business. Strategies like slowing down while working smart, more nervous-system resets, real conversations and handwritten notes, and reconnecting with ancient Chinese wisdom and healing foods will support a more grounded and sustainable way to grow without burnout.

Melinda Wang

Multi-hyphenate corporate lawyer, contemporary art curator, educator, entrepreneur & investor of MW Projects LLC.

Making more room for serendipity is my biggest growth opportunity, whether it’s an experience that sparks a new creative project, a chance meeting that turns into a meaningful collaboration, or a new pattern emerging across the different disciplines I work in. To cultivate this intentionally, I’m adding weekly unstructured hours to my calendar for intellectual wandering, exploration of New York City’s hidden gems, and following threads of curiosity wherever they may lead.

Nicole Leon

Founder of L Leon Virtual Assistance LLC, providing high-level virtual and executive support that anticipates needs before they’re spoken, stands steady through high-stress seasons, and delivers unmatched assistance with genuine care. 

In 2026, I’m stepping into the most powerful version of my personal brand yet by expanding my mentorship work and building a movement for women who are done shrinking. The untraditional part? I’m growing by getting louder and lighter, which means asking for more, saying no faster, and only building what feels like a full-body yes. This next chapter is strategic, spacious, and wildly magnetic.

Nathalie Molina Niño

President of Known, a pioneering private equity and financial services platform committed to innovation and long-term sustainability.

Known is poised for a number of large pivots and changes in 2026, and I’ve found that my personal decision to spend more time with my family in South America has turned into a competitive advantage, opening up opportunities and bringing potential regional partnerships our way. Moving my home base might not seem like the most strategic move, but it turns out that when I lead with decisions that are good for my health, the business follows my lead.

Jess Milanes

Founder of Smart Podcast Solutions, a boutique content-ops engine transforming founder podcasts into demand-driving assets.

Throughout 2025, I used ChatGPT to map my energy levels and emotions surrounding my business. Heading into the new year, I know that my burnout cycles run about 56 days. I’ve built seasons into my calendar accordingly and plan to onboard during peak seasons and rest during the cocoon seasons.

Peri Finkelstein

Founder & CEO of Team Peri Foundation, amplifying marginalized voices, challenging societal norms, combating ableism through our Step Out of Line podcast, speaking engagements, and online community.

This year is going to be a lot about writing. I’m finally diving into my memoir while developing my Substack into something deeper and more consistent.  Instead of forcing long writing sessions, I’m committing to 15 minutes a day. Some days, those 15 minutes will turn into an hour; other days, they’ll be all I can manage, and that’s enough. I’m also using a color-coded reminder system to keep myself on track without feeling overwhelmed.

Kristina Libby

Founder of LvL Studio, creating groundbreaking new storytelling work.

This year, I’m planning to scale my creative business to a new level of success while only working on projects that light me up. If I don’t feel excited, I’m not taking it on. Instead, I am choosing to believe that by leaving work on the table, I will be creating space for better opportunities that are aligned.

Goldie Chan 

Founder of Warm Robots, an award-winning social strategy agency, and global keynote speaker with nearly half a million followers across platforms.

In the year ahead, I’m looking toward connecting further with my community and speaking on more stages. One path to getting there is hyper-focusing on communities that I’m part of: the AAPI community, the author community, and the creative community.

Kate Haranis

Founder & Principal Reputation Consultant of Haranis & Company, helping leaders and brands own their reputation and rise above the noise with communications that actually resonate.

In 2026, I’m putting a twist on the old conventional wisdom of working smarter instead of harder: Scope smaller, be smarter. Instead of chasing big retainers or maxing out our offerings and invoices, I’m leaning into modular, time-bound engagements that protect my clients and me from burnout. This approach helps clients move faster with clarity—and helps me deliver big results without ever running on fumes.

Katharine Campbell Hirst 

Leadership Coach of KCH Coaching and Advisory, supporting change-makers to unlock their gifts, vision, and creative power as they become mapmakers of this new era.

I’m writing a book this year designed to encourage all of us to see ourselves as visionary leaders. Rather than writing it in isolation, I’m relying on a creative process built on connection, curiosity, and collective intelligence. I’m building it in public, shaping the manuscript through real-time conversations, and sharing the ideas as they evolve.

Trish Boes

CEO & Co-Founder of UnlimitMe Technologies, LLC, creating spaces where young people discover their purpose, build authentic connections, and grow into resilient, impactful leaders.

For 2026, I’m focusing on what I call “Being Goals.” These personal and business objectives prioritize inner growth alongside external achievements. As a founder navigating the ups, downs, and uncertainties of building a company, I’ve learned that focusing solely on external milestones can lead to burnout. “Being Goals” are about cultivating balance, peace, and resilience, while continuing to grow and improve each day, proving that inner work is just as critical as outward success.

Anouck Gotlib

CEO of Belgian Boys, creating whole ingredient breakfast options that allow families to prep less, smile more, and indulge better.

This year, I’m planning to scale joy. Yes, the company is growing fast—but the real growth I’m chasing is the kind that can be felt: more delight on busy mornings, more connection around the kitchen table, and more magic in the mundane.

Catherine Valega

Wealth and Tax Advisor to High Earners & Owner of Green Bee Advisory, helping driven leaders grow their wealth with intention. 

Personally, I’m hoping to grow into a few crafty hobbies that are transportable, allowing my mind to relax and flow into creative mode more often. Hopefully, that will serve as another way to fuel growth at my day job, where my priority is to help my beloved clients optimize their wealth trajectory while minimizing taxes in our constantly changing economic landscape.

Kellie Chen

Co-Founder of 8Rue Branding, building thriving beauty & wellness brands with the perfect mix of Sephora polish and founder hustle.

In 2026, I am focused on bigger stages and bigger founders, but with an intentionally slower approach. I am creating more white space in my schedule so I can think, see patterns, and create iconic brand work. The more I step back from the grind, the more powerful the work becomes.

Teresa Comí i Sansa

Founder of Hey Ease, designing intentional systems and automations that help founders and teams free up time, turn complexity into clarity, and build the structure to grow with ease.

For 2026, I’m choosing to go deeper into what already feels right. I want to pursue work that feels natural, energizing, and aligned; to continue focusing on the type of clients I know my work truly serves; and to build my business in a way that genuinely fits my life, values, and boundaries. Instead of adding new offers, audiences, or platforms, I’m deepening what’s already working. I’m saying no to more, so I can say yes to better.

Jessica Etting

CEO & Co-Founder of Jam Family Calendar, an AI-powered Chief of Staff for families that streamlines scheduling and logistics for busy parents to give them back time and energy.

In 2026, I’m aiming to reach even more busy parents who need help managing the invisible weight of daily life—but not with a “growth at all costs” mentality, which is the fast track to burnout and often failure. Instead, we pursue growth through quality products and human connections with our customers, prioritizing community and sharing. This fuels us creatively and professionally, but ultimately leads to a more sustainable and successful growth trajectory for Jam as well. 

Caitlin Ner

Director of Operations at PsyMed Ventures, a VC fund investing in the future of mental health, brain health, and human augmentation.

In 2026, I want to grow my social accounts to educate people more about frontier treatments for mental illnesses and brain illnesses. Instead of treating content like a daily grind, I’m going to run it like a clinic: once a week, I’ll batch-create and schedule posts. My goal is to take the frontier topics I am seeing in the startup and venture industry and make them accessible to millions of people around the world—without burning myself out in the process.

Julie Zhu

Marketing Strategist of Julie Zhu LLC, an award-winning marketing strategist based in NYC.

To grow in 2026, I’m looking forward to simplifying my business offerings and continuing to explore projects like teaching and consulting, focusing on work that feels energizing.

Daria Leshchenko

CEO & Managing Partner of SupportYourApp, a Support-as-a-Service company that has been providing secure technical, customer support, and CX services to growing companies around the globe.

In 2026, I’m most excited about growth through focus rather than scale—both professionally and personally. Instead of moving faster, I’m prioritizing depth: fewer meetings, earlier delegation, and systems that truly work. I’ll treat recovery with the same discipline as performance because calm, well-rested leaders scale better than exhausted ones.

‍All individuals featured in this article are members of Dreamers & Doers, a highly curated community and PR Hype Machine​​ amplifying extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders through authentic connections, credibility-boosting visibility, and opportunities that accelerate big dreams. (Learn more about membership here.)

This article Women To Watch In 2026: Growing Impact While Grounding In Wellbeing was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Growth doesn’t have to come at the expense of clarity or well-being. When ambition is paired with thoughtful strategy, scaling becomes less about pushing harder and more about building smarter—setting goals that stretch, prioritizing what truly matters, and designing operating plans that can actually carry the weight of success.

Today’s most effective leaders are redefining what healthy growth looks like. Rather than chasing momentum at all costs, they’re investing in systems that support their teams, creating space for innovation, and staying nimble as their industries evolve. The result is progress that feels energizing instead of exhausting.

Leaders from the Dreamers & Doers community are embracing this more intentional approach to scale. Ahead, they share the growth priorities they’re focused on this year—and the strategic shifts helping them expand with confidence, adaptability, and long-term impact.

Lakeya Cherry

CEO & Founder of Lakeya Cherry LLC, a dynamic executive coaching and consulting business that empowers leaders and organizations to maximize their potential. 

I’m expanding and refining my core message as an entrepreneur through more speaking opportunities this year. Instead of grinding toward that goal in isolation, I’m choosing a more untraditional path, allowing my community to hold me, challenge me, and keep me aligned to the pace and purpose I want to lead with.

Deirdre Purdy

Co-Founder of Purdy Marketing Co., a modern marketing firm helping tech-enabled brands turn complex ideas into clear, compelling campaigns.

We’re deepening our niche in health-tech marketing in 2026—focusing on supporting speciality medical-device startups—and looking to align ourselves with spaces where we can show up as a trusted resource when health-tech founders need it the most. By staying connected to these niche networks, I’m confident we can grow our pipeline organically without running ourselves into the ground.

Fatima Teos 

Founder of Vita Nova Media, a boutique brand and content studio, and Co-Founder of NJK Partners, a private equity platform focused on acquiring and scaling Main Street businesses. 

My biggest opportunity this year is expanding two ventures that prioritize aligned partnerships, intentional profitability, and meaningful, community-centered outcomes. I am committed to building legacy-driven companies that scale sustainably instead of urgently and proving that women can build ambitious companies without sacrificing family or wellbeing. 

Amanda Hofman

Chief Swag Officer & Founder of Go To Market, the anti-boring branded merch & swag experts.

I’m excited to bring new team members on board so we can serve more clients and keep our pace comfortably human. I’m aiming for growth that feels like a good long walk, not a sprint—steady, breathable, and good for everyone on the team. That means protecting our calendars, leaving space between meetings, and making sure no one carries more weight than they should.

Yewande Faloyin

CEO & Founder of OTITỌ Leadership & People Development, partnering with scale-ups and hedge funds to build strategic leaders, high-performing teams, and a culture that drives measurable results.

I’m most excited about co-creating a Women’s Leadership Retreat in Switzerland this year that brings together strategy, coaching, mentorship, and creativity. Untraditionally, I’m building it through integration rather than separation. Leaders often feel they need to compartmentalize their gifts to suit the audience or environment, but the integrated approach I’ve honed over seven years energizes me and delivers powerful results.

Vishakha Raghuram

Founder of FYI: Forever YoungIsh, a digital community empowering women to choose themselves through mind, body, soul, and everything in between. 

In 2026, I’m evolving Forever Youngish from a digital diary into a full wellness brand and long-term creative venture. Instead of succumbing to the hustle culture, I’m taking an untraditional growth approach, creating only when I am feeling inspired, prioritizing authenticity over aesthetics, and letting my lived experiences guide the message and direction.

Routh Chadwick 

Founder & Head Coach of Joie de Vivre Coaching, helping achievers shift out of hustle and burnout into work-life harmony and sustainable success.

In 2026, I’m expanding my message to reach more people and help spark the kind of societal shifts we’re collectively craving. Increased visibility requires energy, and I’m mindful of how easily that can tip into overextension if I’m not careful. Thankfully, over the years, I’ve gotten much better at staying attuned to my energy fluctuations, working when I feel in a flow state and giving myself full permission to ease off the gas when my body or intuition says “not now.” 

Demi Oloyede

Founder & CEO of Limpiar Inc, building the smart operating system for commercial properties.

In 2026, I’m scaling Limpiar into a national leader in automated property maintenance while expanding partnerships across commercial real estate and sustainability organizations. My untraditional approach is building from a place of energetic alignment rather than constant urgency, protecting my clarity, delegating boldly, and designing systems that let the business run without me micromanaging. The more I regulate my pace, the faster the company grows.

Kim Surko

Founder & Executive Coach of Surko Coaching, specializing in helping women, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC leaders step into their power and partnering with executives and teams to strengthen culture, improve alignment, and cultivate modern, human-centered leadership.

I’m evolving past individual “hand-raisers” in 2026 to focus on executive team partnerships, building deep trust to dismantle organizational silos and drive success. The truly hard, counterintuitive strategy for this shift is recognizing that I have to say no to certain one-on-one clients. That decision is painful, but it is also the only way I can prioritize scalable impact without burning out.

Katrina Purcell

Founder of Katrina Purcell LLC, a growth operations consultancy empowering tech startups to optimize their operations and achieve ambitious growth goals.

My growth opportunity for the new year is to triple the number of minority-led organizations my consultancy serves. I’ll achieve this aggressive goal without burnout by embracing operational laziness, which means formalizing all internal SOPs to ensure the company’s infrastructure scales faster than the client list. With this disciplined commitment to process, I’ll ensure I can remain focused on high-value strategic input, reserving my energy for the ambitious problems that only I can solve.

Julie Nguyen

Co-Founder of SYS Social, a modern relationship ecosystem helping exceptional people find and sustain extraordinary love and connection. 

In 2026, I’m launching a women’s coaching program that brings true sisterhood back into the center of the dating journey, helping women feel empowered rather than exhausted by the process. I’m helping women trade perfectionism for radical self-acceptance, building rituals that create clarity and a way of living that makes them magnetic in love without burnout.

Allison Ullo

CEO & Founder of Leaves of Leisure Tea, a luxury low- and zero-caffeine tea brand inspired by nostalgic leisure activities. 

Instead of chasing constant content or high-pressure scaling tactics this year, Leaves of Leisure is evolving into a truly relationship-driven brand built through real human connectionMy growth plan is intentionally slower, softer, and more sustainable than anything I’ve done before: fewer but more meaningful collaborations, small but consistent outreach, and carving out protected time for creativity rather than living in reaction mode. 

Lauryn Warnick

Founder & CEO of Villain Branding, a brand strategy firm that treats brands like a financial tool, not a cosmetic exercise. 

I’m planning to grow by making the company painfully simple. Complexity is sneaky; it creeps in under the banner of “professionalism.” Suddenly, your whole week is maintenance. Every time I strip out a step, a meeting, a process, or an offer that doesn’t pull real weight, I regain hours of brain space I didn’t realize I was leaking. 

Kellie Okonek

Founder & CEO of Iron Lady Consulting, helping companies and leaders move from functioning to flourishing. 

In 2026, I’m kicking off my Alaska Immersion for team transformation. Counterintuitively, I believe in putting vitality—individual and collective thriving—at the root of business. I always ask myself and the teams on my retreats: Are we embedding old structures that stifle genius or creating a culture that allows big ideas to become reality?

Emma Tessler

Founder & CEO of Ninety Five Media, a woman-owned and operated digital marketing agency specializing in creating high-converting content. 

Our clients can look forward to an even better white-glove experience in 2026, refining every touchpoint so they feel supported and genuinely delighted throughout their journey with us. Counterintuitively, we’ll be focusing on sharpening what already works instead of adding more, elevating our standard of excellence with intention. The result is a richer, more luxurious client experience that fuels growth without burning out.

Patty Williams Downs 

CEO & Founder of BreakingBounds®, a consulting firm delivering high-impact solutions for business transformation.

In 2026, I’m elevating the social good sector through a business education experience for nonprofits. I like to grow in a way that is intentionally untraditional; leading with belief, partnership, and purpose, proving that sustainable empires are built through alignment, not exhaustion.

Lis Best

Founder of Girls Club Collective, the intentionally intimate leadership lab for feminist change agents.

In 2026, I’m launching the qb. hive, an invitation-only network for sustainability and impact leaders. I’ve been ideating with the qb. co-founders, Sam Hartsock and Noemi Jimenez, about this idea since 2023, and we’ve been building it without burnout by spending the past six months interviewing folks we respect and trust, piloting in-person roundtables with our friends and clients, and listening to what our dream members really want. I am feeling so energized about this new avenue for collaboration, signal sharing, and amplification of the real-life humans who are building a better future.

Jia Rizvi

Documentary Filmmaker at Amina Fire Productions, an independent film company dedicated to creating powerful, socially conscious documentaries that illuminate the complexities and inequities of the American justice system. 

In 2026, I’m releasing my feature documentary, Sixteen Years. This means growing its audience in a way that sparks real conversation about wrongful convictions. Instead of relying solely on traditional distribution and press cycles, I’m taking a more untraditional, community-driven approach by hosting educational screenings at colleges and universities, as well as partnering with nonprofit organizations. 

Clara Ma 

Founder & CEO of Ask a Chief of Staff, a boutique executive search and career development platform dedicated to placing and empowering the next generation of strategic operators.

In the new year, I’m most excited about expanding Ask a Chief of Staff’s offerings for operators themselves, particularly doubling down on in-person experiences and regional gatherings that deepen connection for people in a role that can feel isolating. The twist is that we’re not doing this by working more hours, but by building smarter: investing in strategic brand partnerships and empowering our existing community members to co-host and lead. 

Joan Gallares

Founder & CEO of The Lifescribing Co, offering writing retreats, workshops, and guided programs that help people turn their memories into legacy stories to be shared across generations.

In 2026, I’m expanding my writing retreats and legacy-story workshops to reach more women and families globally. My growth strategy is deliberately spacious, with generous white space between retreats for deep creative work and rest. I’m building impact and income while keeping my nervous system, family life, and joy at the center of every decision.

Seisei Tatebe-Goddu 

CEO of Tandem Consulting Group, helping mission-driven organizations navigate growth, develop leaders, and strengthen teams using neuroscience-backed facilitation, coaching, and workshop design. 

In 2026, my team and I are building scalable learning experiences based on the hundreds of clients and thousands of coaching and training hours we’ve put in, so we can reach more people without cloning ourselves. I believe that the best way to stay fresh is to be grounded in creative play instead of perpetual optimization, so to combat burnout, I’m writing a children’s book that taps into my Japanese heritage and my experience with my rescue dog. 

Kylee McGrane-Zarnoch

Founder & Executive Director of A Moment of Magic, a nonprofit organization that harnesses the power of play to spark joy, foster connection, reduce isolation, and support the mental health and emotional healing of medically vulnerable children and their families.

In 2026, I’m focused on taking some big, intentional swings that allow us to expand our impact. My priorities are to create hospital partnerships in new areas, increase our brand visibility, and find ways to foster our community. It’s counterintuitive, but I’m actually slowing down enough to choose the right swings instead of operating in constant urgency. I’m creating space to think strategically, protect my creativity, and make decisions that are bold, but aligned.

Viviane Tschanz 

Founder of Apollo Consulting, providing project-based and fractional support to banking and fintech leaders across operational scaling, risk management, and banking-fintech partnerships.

My biggest growth play for 2026 is going straight to where the innovation is happening: connecting with the women who are scaling fast, launching bold products, and reimagining banking infrastructure. These connections don’t drain me; they light me up. I believe when you follow curiosity and surround yourself with the right people, the revenue takes care of itself.

Ashley Reed

CEO & Executive and Transformational Coach of Ashley Reed Collective, helping high-achieving leaders reprogram their inner operating systems so they can break unconscious patterns, access deeper clarity, and create results from a place of ease rather than force. 

In 2026, I’m excited to continue to deepen my one-on-one coaching experience while expanding my audience through speaking, teaching, and developing self-guided programs. I scale through intention, prioritizing daily practices like meditation, movement, and strong boundaries. With this approach, growth unfolds from clarity and flow rather than depletion.

Julia Pimsleur

CEO & Founder of Million Dollar Women, a social venture that has been helping women entrepreneurs scale up and sell more since 2015. 

In 2026, we are excited about training thousands of women business owners in how to sell with confidence. To prevent burnout, we are revamping our online program so I can teach the live version just six times per year and let the online course do the heavy lifting.

Sarah Baldwin 

CEO of Sarah Baldwin Coaching, specializing in multiple somatic modalities and therapeutic interventions. 

I have a concrete goal for 2026: to increase the listenership of my podcast—You Make Sense—by at least four times so it can reach even more people in need of support. I also plan to finish my book, which follows a similar framework and shares the podcast’s intention. But I also want to model what it looks like to have a nourished, balanced life. That means allowing my nervous system to build capacity to hold the life I am meant to live rather than pushing faster than is necessary and trusting the process. 

Stacie Sussman

CRO of RevUp Advisory, a growth consultancy specializing in empowering revenue leaders, particularly CMOs seeking stronger business acumen and a more strategic seat at the table.

I’m done staying quiet while brilliant CMOs can’t connect their lead numbers to actual revenue. I’m building a practice that upgrades marketing teams with real attribution infrastructure so they can finally match their sales counterparts. The twist? I use AI as a second brain to scale my expertise, making each client engagement feel like getting back on familiar skis instead of reinventing the wheel.

Sydney Sherman Arenas

Founder of The Hive, Etho, Summit Chasers, a serial founder and CEO scaling service, design, and hospitality brands across borders.

In 2026, I’m focused on offboarding roles, finding aligned partners, and reducing the fragmentation in my day so I can work with more intention and clarity. Instead of pushing harder, I’m working with coaches to help me understand why I’ve carried so much by myself for so long. By addressing the root patterns, I’m building a more focused, sustainable, and successful way of working.

Jessica Gold

CEO & Co-Founder of science-backed relationship consultancy Bliss Science and Digital Wisdom, which creates custom AI solutions for wellness brands and event spaces. 

I am looking forward to getting traction and raising our next round for Digital Wisdom while continuing to serve a select few Relationship Chemistry clients. Most days, my co-founder and I reserve an hour for lunch, time in the hot tub, and Zouk dance to help us switch on the “play” part of the nervous system. This combo never fails to refresh and inspire us.

Simone Steele

Founder & CEO of wellness and beauty clinic Queen Aesthetics and mineral sunscreen brand Simply Shady.

In the new year, I am growing our health and beauty product line and deepening our wellness partnerships across schools, workplaces, and community organizations. To do this, I’ll be building more ease into my operations by delegating early, embracing slow scaling, and protecting creative time instead of letting urgency drive every decision. 

Lisa Friscia

President & Founder of Franca Consulting, LLC, a boutique leadership and organizational development firm that helps mission-driven companies align their people strategy with their business strategy. 

In 2026, I’m creating accessible, high-impact people-and-culture resources for smaller mission-driven orgs and startups. Rather than rushing to perfect these things alone, I’m building through community testing and co-creation, which has been both grounding and energizing. A collaborative pace is exactly what keeps me from burning out.

Sudha Nandagopal

Principal & Chief Visionary Officer at Bend the Horizon, a strategy, social impact, and storytelling advisory studio that works with visionary leaders, funders, and climate justice advocates to turn bold ideas into real-world momentum.

I’m leaning into my own thought leadership and building the courage to share my most audacious insights in 2026. My counterintuitive approach to building without burnout is creating a community of co-conspirators with whom I can partner on advisory engagements, working with people I love who share my values, focusing on my unique genius as an energy-generating activity, and centering joyful troublemaking, creativity, and celebration in everything I do.

Erin Cunningham

CEO of RecycleBalls, a nonprofit building a world where the power of sports is used to make our communities and planet healthier.

We’ve already recycled 18 million balls! While making this impact, I learned firsthand that what gets you to one level won’t carry you to the next. In 2026, I’m rebuilding our international collection system to allow for bigger scale, but instead of simply pushing through, I’m allowing a strategic plateau to build the new infrastructure that can hold our next level of growth.

Liz Morrison 

Story Coach & Narrative Navigator of Liz Morrison Strategic Storytelling, guiding purpose-driven professionals and innovative teams through crossroad moments.

I’m excited to expand how I help people navigate life and career transitions in 2026, moving beyond traditional coaching to include movement, art-making, tarot, and play. My burnout prevention is trading Zoom fatigue for more in-person Narrative Navigation circles where we gather, create together, and learn from each other’s experiences. In the age of AI, I truly believe that authentic human storytelling is how we build the connection, confidence, and impact that actually matters.

Domonique Worship 

CEO & Founder of The Institute of Exceptional Alignment, a high-touch leadership development experience reimagining success for high-achieving women and the organizations that invest in them.

This year, I’m launching The Institute of Exceptional Alignment, a transformative leadership experience for high-achieving women who are ready to lead powerfully without sacrificing their well-being. The counterintuitive part is that I’m building it slowly and intentionally, resisting the hustle culture playbook that says you have to sacrifice yourself to scale. Leading women toward alignment means living it myself first.

Catalina Parker

Co-Founder & CEO of Relatable Nonprofit, helping nonprofit leaders build profitable, sustainable consulting businesses aligned with their values.

The new year is about scaling our business without buying into the idea that bigger always means better. In December 2025, we made a counterintuitive decision to downsize our team after realizing we needed far less than we’d been told to grow—and that trying to do everything was the real source of burnout. By focusing on fewer priorities and letting go of the pressure to build a “big” empire, we’re growing in a way that actually feels grounded and sustainable for the long haul.

Kelley Troia

Founder of Clandestine Events + Experiences, designing and executing critical gatherings for leaders who need it handled.

Rather than scaling volume or visibility, the growth opportunity I’m most excited about in 2026 is building my company into a trusted operating layer for high-stakes executive hospitality. The counterintuitive part is growing by narrowing: fewer clients, clearer stakes, and repeatable judgment, which removes decision fatigue and actually prevents burnout instead of creating it.

Lauren Bercuson 

Trademark Attorney of Storylock Legal, a modern trademark and IP law firm focused on helping founders build, protect, and scale brand assets.

In 2026, I’m focused on expanding Storylock Legal’s premium offering to help founders strategically grow and protect multi-mark trademark portfolios. Instead of chasing constant output, I’m creating space for deep, strategic work by simplifying my calendar, outsourcing more, and embracing slower, stronger growth. 

Ada Chen

Founder & CEO of Erleia, an AAPI-woman founded earth-friendly skincare brand.

Erleia experienced a lot of growth last year, and I’m looking forward to continuing to grow our distribution and reach in 2026. One way we’re planning on growing without burning out is by using automation to scale our marketing campaigns.

Kelly Hubbell

Founder & CEO of Sage Haus, helping busy households reclaim time by building their village.

Our families have been asking for additional services, and I’m excited about launching them in 2026. We’re doing it by building a strong network of team members, contractors, and experts so I don’t have to wear all the hats. I’m discovering that deliberately not doing everything myself actually accelerates growth while protecting our culture.

Kimberly Tara

CPA, CTC & Founder of The Tara CPA Firm, LLC, the premier tax strategy firm for women entrepreneurs seeking a high-touch, year-round partnership.

This year, I’m most excited to support my team of female CPAs in thriving in their careers without sacrificing their own well-being. After all, it’s not just about preventing my burnout! When my team grows well, our impact, our mission, and our sustainability grow with it. 

‍All individuals featured in this article are members of Dreamers & Doers, a highly curated community and PR Hype Machine​​ amplifying extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders through authentic connections, credibility-boosting visibility, and opportunities that accelerate big dreams. (Learn more about membership here.)

This article Women To Watch In 2026: The Leaders Building For Sustainable Scale was originally published on HerAgenda.com

The creator economy has established itself for about a decade now, with influencers and content creators designing unique career paths for themselves. This has evolved to a marketplace where products are promoted by these internet personalities with substantial followings. 

They build trusted brands and communities that share in that trust, and unlike traditional DTC brands, they capitalize on this authenticity and trust to build something sustainable. 

However, as platforms became saturated with multiple influencers promoting the same products, creators began to ask questions like: why promote someone else’s brand when they could build their own? These businesses often cater to niche markets. 

This shift is reshaping the entire e-commerce landscape, as modern consumers are more likely to trust recommendations from real people. Creators can now sell directly to their followers with the trust they’ve built.

How To Transition From Content Creation To Commerce

This transition is incredibly beneficial because of the good fit, which includes:

Community: leveraging the direct communication channels with their audience through email lists and private communities, this direct relationship creates stronger connections and stable revenue opportunities. Creators bring a built-in customer base. The businesses can tap into their loyal audience from day one.

Trust: Audiences are increasingly skeptical of traditional advertising. But when a creator they trust promotes a product they’ve developed, it feels more personal and believable. Trust sells.

Control: Owning a brand gives creators more ownership over their revenue streams. No more pitching for deals or negotiating contracts with brands. It also allows them to diversify their income, an essential step for long-term sustainability.

Leveraging these benefits, you as a creator can build a sustainable business.

The Business Basics 

The first thing is understand the business basics. From liability to tax implications, you need to understand the business industry and how that impacts what you want to build. There are many online resources and courses to help you with this process. It’s essential you get it right.

Additionally, it’s important to find the balance between being creative and knowing the economics. Creativity is the source, but the business know-how moves the needle towards sustainability. 

Choosing A Business Niche

While there are a lot of different ways to make money online, not all are viable. To create a business as a creator, you have to assess your community and potential target audience in order to choose the right business ideas. 

Many successful creator-led brands are rooted in personal stories and their community’s needs. Whether it’s skincare born from a beauty creator’s own struggles with acne, or a cookware brand from a food lifestyle content creator. 

A good example of a creator-led brand includes Ali Abdaal, a productivity-centered YouTuber releasing a Book and App on Productivity. 

How To Monetize Strategically

As a creator, the platform you create content on might determine where and how you sell your products. For TikTok creators, the TikTok Shop is the best way to monetize their content. 

Creating A Tik-Tok Shop

TikTok isn’t just a marketing channel; it’s a full-scale launchpad. Viral content can translate to massive sales spikes, and TikTok Shop closes the loop between content and commerce. You can set up a TikTok shop in a few simple steps:

• Set Up A TikTok Seller Account
• The Logistics – Upload your documents and bank account details
• Choose The Products To Sell
• Present Your Products Through Content
• Manage Orders and Shipping

How Professional Women Benefit From Creator-Led Marketplaces

Creator-led marketplaces offer professional women a practical path to income, ownership, and flexibility. By monetizing existing expertise and trusted audiences, women can build businesses without large startup capital or traditional gatekeepers.

Platforms like TikTok Shop make it easier to test ideas, sell directly, and scale gradually. This model also supports flexibility, allowing creators to balance commerce with careers. Most importantly, owning a brand provides long-term control over revenue, reduces reliance on brand deals, and creates sustainable income through products, communities, and digital offerings.

This article How To Build A Creator-Led Marketplace On TikTok Shop To Move From Content To Commerce was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Mornings can be rough and draining, especially after the weekends. Your body has to get re-acclimated to your work schedule, and if you work from home, the challenge is a bit harder with the comfort level of working in pajamas and accessibility.

However, if you desire to create a more energized and productive morning routine that is sufficient and better prepares you for your day, Her Agenda has gathered a few tips that may help.

Give Yourself An Hour To Fully Wake And Start The Day

Many people set their alarms in the morning, giving themselves enough time to get ready, and maybe grab food on the way out the door. Meanwhile, your body hasn’t fully awakened, and it’s starting the day essentially in a rush. By giving yourself an hour to wake, lie in bed, and gradually begin to start your day, you’re allowing your body to start functioning properly. Just as a computer has to boot up and log on, so does your body; it is, after all, a machine.

Open The Windows

Opening windows can play a major part in how the day goes. Allowing the sun to enter your space gives you vitamin D, and the rays provide endorphins that ultimately bring a sense of happiness. Even on rainy days, opening the windows can make you feel less isolated and more in tune with the world. You are aware of what’s happening weather-wise, but also experiencing what the outsiders are as well.

According to Neat, in 2025, over 32.6 million Americans work remotely, representing 22% of the workforce. Additionally, remote workers report higher productivity and improved mental health.

Start A Gratitude Journal

Waking up with a grateful heart can make all the difference in your day. Many people don’t make it to see the next day, so practicing being appreciative for all that you have can start your day on a positive note. Journaling is also a therapeutic form of mental health; it allows you to get out your feelings, release things that are bothering you, and heal.

Designate A Workspace

Lying in bed while working seems appealing on the surface, but if you’re working from home, having an office or designated area to work ultimately can determine how productive you are. There are often many distractions in your bed/room, so finding a space that is quiet and allots or mimics an office setting can maximize your work day, and even make it go by quicker.

According to Gallup, 23% of Gen Z employees prefer to work fully remotely, the lowest of any generation. This compares to 35% of Millennials and 35% of Gen X who prefer fully remote work.

Write A To-Do List

Starting the day off knowing exactly what you need to accomplish and taking care of sets the tone for the day. Physically writing down a to-do list also makes it real. However, don’t over-compensate on a list, making it unrealistic to execute. Also, prioritize what is most important first, and let the list be your guide for the day. When it comes to working from home, being organized and sticking to a set schedule will benefit you most.

Ultimately, creating a morning routine that works will look different for everyone, but planning and being proactive make all the difference. Remote work is what you make it, but the mornings will depend on how you take care of yourself and check off the necessary things you have to get done for the day. Keep in mind that starting the day off on a high note begins with you.

This article How To Design A High-Performance Morning Routine For The Remote Era was originally published on HerAgenda.com

It is no secret that the job market is experiencing strain. Challenger, Gray, and Christmas reported that nearly 260,000 job cuts occurred in Q4 of 2025. To combat the slow-moving job market, some might consider earning extra income by turning hobbies and skills into cash. Finding an app that matches a specific skill set might not be as hard as you may think. The internet is full of opportunities, such as doing simple chores, creating content, and providing freelance services. If you look hard enough, you might even stumble upon a few out-of-the-box opportunities. Turning hobbies into supplemental income can be quick and easy. 

Complete Everyday Chores

If you are one of the talented few that finds pleasure in a service that is needed by all but enjoyed by few, Poplin might be the app for you. Poplin’s website states, “We leveraged technology to defeat the world’s most dreaded chore and create thousands of work-from-home jobs.” According to Poplin;s website, over 10 million dollars of venture capital has been raised. Poplin is changing the gig economy and the lives of independent workers.

Of course, if manual labor is not your forte, babysitting might be up your alley. UrbanSitter is a woman-founded platform that offers a diverse community of caregivers. This app will connect you with people who are looking for caregivers and, most importantly, paying for services from child care to pet sitting. This app will allow you to choose who you work for and when with flexibility and transparency.

Don’t worry, if people just are not your cup of tea, there is Rover. Offering the flexibility to set your fee and your schedule, Rover is an app great for an animal lover who wants to spend time with furry friends and earn a little extra money on the side. 

Content Creation For Your Favorite Brands

If using creativity sparks excitement and brings you pleasure, content creation could be a fun and profitable way to earn extra income. There is an increasing number of brands that are looking for user-generated content (UGC), and the number of apps popping up to support the demand is growing. For a quick and easy setup, one might consider Kale. A personal favorite of mine due to the flexibility and payout frequency. Apps like Kale make it possible to create content on your terms, for the brands that you love, and get paid.

Freelance And Serviced Based Gigs

Freelance work is a more traditional method of earning extra money. Working freelance allows you to leverage a wide variety of talents and skills. Websites like Fiverr and Freelancer allow you to browse available opportunities and place a bid for the work you find attractive. The flexibility of setting your price and vetting clients makes service-based income a no-brainer.  

Not Your Everyday Gig

Some people might find the thought of living in a stranger’s house odd and invasive. Those same people would be surprised to learn that house sitting is fun, exciting, and rewarding. Although most house sitting platforms exchange accommodations for the service of watching both the house and or caring for a pet. Many find providing this service is an opportunity to travel and to go to costly hotels. Websites such as House Sitters America make it easy for house sitters to secure assignments in the United States and abroad. House sitting allows a person to save money while traveling, and even saves money by not paying rent due to house sitting on a full-time basis. 

Have you heard the saying, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” The furniture resale market uses this saying to earn money using skill, creativity, and a lot of elbow grease. Furniture flipping has an entire community of people who buy used and discarded furniture with the intent to polish it up and resell it for high profit margins. Kenna, owner of a furniture flipping business, discusses how she graduated from flipping furniture part-time to replacing her income with flipping furniture full-time. 

Leveraging skills and talent can be a solution for supplementing income. Finding hobbies and gigs using apps and online platforms can offer immediate income that is flexible and on your terms.

This article Four Ways To Turn Your Hobby Into Extra Income was originally published on HerAgenda.com

The new year is here, and your dream job could be around the corner. Positioning yourself to land the job of your dreams doesn’t have to be a hard endeavor. Whether you’re looking to climb the ladder at the company you’re at, expand your business, or start in a completely new direction, all of these options are feasible in Q1.

The possibilities are endless if you create a tactical plan. Be intentional with what your dream job looks like. Writing down top priorities, choosing a career that aligns with your lifestyle, and approaching the job search with confidence and a well-researched approach will position you for a great start. If you’re still unsure of where to begin, here are some tips to help you get where you want to be.

Identify Your Niche And Stick To It

“A job search is like firing a bow and arrow,” said Krista Morris, Certified Advanced Resume Writer for Virtuoso Resumes & Recruiting. “We aren’t going to hit anything unless we aim. (And there is no trick shooting in a job search.) So, first comes identifying the bullseye. The alternative is throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping it sticks. We all know it won’t. It slides down and makes a mess. Plus, who can afford to waste good pasta in this economy?!”

Applying to multiple jobs that are simply available and aren’t aligned with your niche won’t benefit you or potential employers. Narrowing down target companies that are hiring for realistic positions that you’re interested in and feel confident in applying to will most likely result in calls for an interview.

Strategize And Implement

“The most effective strategies are targeted and intentional,” said Marshall Scabet, Founder of Precision Sales Recruiting, Former VP of Recruiting at Forrest Performance Group (FPG). 

“Submitting hundreds of applications rarely produces good results. Candidates who focus on specific companies, tailor their messaging, and approach the search with a plan tend to perform much better. Treating the job search like a professional process rather than a passive activity makes a significant difference.”

Before you start to apply to jobs, it’s important to understand what you’re looking for. Are you a morning or night worker? Will you be available for weekend and holiday work? Is the position conducive to your lifestyle? Is there a sufficient life/work balance? Landing the job of your dream starts with deciphering what that job looks like, if it will bring value to your life, and if hired, can you effectively do the job that is expected of you.

Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway

“Take more risks and be more selfish with your career,” said Logan Shacklett, Founder, Loch Legal Search. “Women are statistically more likely than men to make safe choices and prioritize being team players. Safety can provide comfort, but it can also blunt ambition. Prioritizing your own advancement does not make you greedy. It makes you strategic.”

Millennial women have the opportunity to build careers, foster companies from the ground up, and create their own paths. In saying that, fear can affect many aspects of growth. It can be scary to land your dream job, as much as can be expected and required. However, challenges show you who you are. Go for the dream and let it bring out the best in you.

Do Your Homework To Make Your Resume Pop

“Make sure to avoid ‘soft descriptions’ like ‘Improved team efficiency’ (even if they do make sense to you),” said Nathan Putsey, Talent Acquisition Manager at JobLeads.  “Instead, add data to each bullet point, e.g., ‘Increased X by Y%.’ Use a clean layout that is easily scannable both by human eye and ATS systems. Also, include some case studies tailored to the position that show that you’ve done something like this before successfully.”

Be sure to use keywords that are outlined in the job description so that the employer understands that you are aware of the requirements. Pointing out key qualifications also helps you get ahead of the crowd.

This article How To Land The Job Of Your Dreams In Q1 was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Social media is an amazing tool that can be used to expediently grow a business. Unfortunately, there are a few reasons why neglecting to build your brand using additional channels can be harmful. Businesses that rely solely on social media often face challenges with leads, platform limitations, and audience control.

1. Lead Capture

Capturing leads is how a business follows up with potential customers who have engaged with the brand. Failing to build a sales funnel outside of social media can result in missed opportunities for collecting email addresses, redirecting customers to a point-of-sale, and capturing 360-degree analytic data.

Opportunities to collect email addresses for future marketing are not always available on social media. Without a method to build an email list, connecting with your customer base outside of social media can be difficult. This challenge can result in lower sales and slower brand growth.

Redirection to a point of sale can be challenging when relying solely on social media for building your brand and growing your customer base. Neglecting to lead customers to complete a purchase can directly impact the growth of the business. A drop in sales directly impacts the future of the brand. A complementary channel in addition to social media is a website. In this article by the news outlet Forbes, it is recommended that all businesses have a website.

Analytics and data are not always comprehensive in the dashboard provided by social media platforms. A 360 view and access to a complete data set of all analytics can be very helpful for building your brand and driving revenue.

2. Platform Restrictions and Limitations

Censorship is often overlooked when a brand chooses to rely on social media as a primary method of reaching its customers. Social media platforms have the ability to shadow-ban a brand’s posts and videos. Shadow-banned accounts can come at a huge loss, resulting in an unengaged audience and loss of revenue.

Age restrictions can be difficult to navigate and even eliminate an entire audience from a brand’s reach. Limiting the audience of a brand and the customers the brand can reach results in a smaller audience.

Policies and procedures are often another hurdle that brands have to navigate around. Not only is the brand at the mercy of the ever-changing policies and procedures, but the brand can also lose the ability to sell entirely due to regulations and conditions put on the platform. CNBC, a global news outlet, talks about how online marketplace Etsy has made changes to its policies that will directly impact sellers.

3. Ownership and Control

Ownership and control are valuable when building a brand. Without brand representation via other mediums outside of social media business can be limiting its ability to operate uninterrupted. Day-to-day activities can be stifled and often come to an abrupt stop when social media accounts are deleted, hacked, or suspended.

Suspended accounts are often a surprise, unexpected, and inconvenient. Relying solely on social media can leave marketing campaigns, customer communication, and daily operations vulnerable to the mercy of the social media platform.

Deleted accounts frequently result in time and effort lost. A secondary consequence is losing the ability to communicate with the audience that the brand worked so hard to build on social media.

Curating a brand, connecting with an audience, and building trust is something that takes time, energy, and strategy. In the blink of an eye, an undeserving party can take control of everything the brand has worked hard to build. A hacked social media account will not only result in a loss of brand trust. There is a high probability that the audience will become confused. Confusing the audience can result in loss of confidence, leading to a decrease in revenue.

While social media is typically part of any comprehensive brand strategy, it is important to remember that nurturing other methods of reaching a brand’s target audience should not be neglected. Leads, platform restrictions, and control are three strong reasons to build a brand Identity outside of social media.

This article 3 Major Reasons Why Neglecting A Brand Identity Can Be Bad For Business was originally published on HerAgenda.com

Building on the incredible momentum of our previous cycles, The Breakthrough Grant is back for Volume III! As Her Agenda celebrates another year of bridging the gap between ambition and achievement, we are doubling down on our commitment to fuel the next wave of visionary women founders.

The Breakthrough Grant was born out of a simple, powerful realization: so many brilliant women are on the verge of greatness, yet are held back simply by a lack of capital. We are once again awarding $5,000 in funding to an ambitious woman entrepreneur who is on the brink of getting to the next level of her business.

“I launched the Breakthrough Grant because I know what it feels like to be on the edge of something great but held back by a lack of resources,” says Rhonesha Byng, founder and CEO of Her Agenda.

Reflecting on the grant’s independent roots, she adds, “We originally wanted to launch this grant years ago in collaboration with a brand. As a small business, we’re not exactly sitting on extra funds that we can give out. But no brand signed on. True to form, we did not let that stop us. Instead, we turned to our community to pour into this grant that helps offer the support needed to keep going and create their next opportunity.”

A Movement Funded By Community

Volume III remains a testament to the power of our network. This grant is fully community-funded, powered by the generosity of our readers and our dedicated INSIDER members. Because we are self-funded, every application fee and donation goes directly toward the mission of sustaining and growing this pool of capital for women like you.

Lower Barriers, Greater Breakthroughs

We are maintaining the streamlined fee structure introduced in our last cycle. We want to ensure that the cost of applying never stands in the way of a breakthrough. If you are a HER AGENDA INSIDER, you receive 50% off the admin fee.

• General Entry Fee: $25
• INSIDER Discount (50% off): $12.50

Important Dates & Deadlines

We’ve heard your requests for more time to polish your pitches! Due to high demand, we have extended the application window to give you every opportunity to submit your best work.

• Applications Open: January 18, 2026
• Application Deadline: September 18, 2026
• Winner Announcement: November 2026

Who Can Apply

To be eligible for the Volume III award, applicants must:

• Be an entrepreneur with a currently operating business.
• Be an active subscriber to the Her Agenda newsletter (this is a mandatory requirement for consideration). Subscribe here to stay in the loop on exclusive insights and future opportunities.

Apply Or Donate Today

Whether you are ready to apply or ready to give back, there is a place for you in this cycle. If you aren’t an entrepreneur but want to help us be able to award this grant to multiple entrepreneurs, you can donate here to help us grow the fund. It’s our 18th year in business so we suggested amounts that pay homage to 18!

And if you are an entrepreneur looking for your next breakthrough, APPLY HERE.

This article Volume III: The Breakthrough Grant Returns With $5,000 For Women Entrepreneurs was originally published on HerAgenda.com

The Her Agenda Forecast

Today’s Data. Tomorrow’s Agenda.

The Black woman: Everyone’s trusted work friend. The most educated demographic. The “backbone of the economy.” All of these amazing attributes seemingly push Black women to the forefront of the workforce; however, they are suffering the most. According to Essence, 600,000 Black women in the workforce lost their jobs in 2025. To add insult to injury, reports indicate that the rate of unemployed Black women (7.3%) is nearly double that of the national average (4.4%). It causes one to wonder how Black women can genuinely be considered the “backbone of the economy” if they are not actively participating in it.

The truth is, Black women being sidelined in the workforce is one recession indicator no one saw coming.

When it comes to any American crisis, Black women are usually the first to feel the consequences. As TIME reported, the demographic was the first to experience job loss and trouble making ends meet during the Great Recession of the late 2000s. Soon after, the rest of the country began to have the same troubles.

Further examples were provided during the COVID-19 recession, with many systemic factors at play. During the pandemic, Black people were more likely to contract the virus. Additionally, they were more likely to die once contracting the virus. This was due to a lack of COVID testing in predominantly Black neighborhoods, poor or nonexistent healthcare, and medical bias. Even more so, those who worked in low-wage jobs such as fast food restaurants or custodial services were at even higher risk of catching the virus. And it’s no coincidence that Black women are highly represented in these lines of work.

Despite the health risks, Black women in the workforce were the first to get the boot and experience unemployment. 16.5% of Black women were unemployed in early 2020. Soon after, the rest of the country began to experience high rates of unemployment.

On top of those recessions, Black women experience “low wages, little security, and few benefits and are underrepresented in the highest paying careers. Even in good times, Black women have lower promotion rates, receive the least managerial support, and are typically paid less than white men with the same or even lower levels of education,” according to “The Double Tax” by Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman.

What’s most important to point out in all of this terrifying data is that, typically, once Black women began to economically suffer, soon after… so did the rest of the country.

How Is Less Black Women In The Workforce A 2026 Recession Indicator?

2025 was a year full of great moments. Beyoncé finally won Album of the Year, Kendrick swept the Grammys, “Sinners” grossed nearly $400 million, and A’ja Wilson won her fourth MVP award. Unfortunately, 2025 was also a year of great losses. After President Trump began his second term, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives took a big hit. Many corporations, institutions, and brands revised and revoked their initiatives, leaving minorities out in the cold.

With the DEI initiatives stripped away, discrimination became easier, and Black women again felt the pain. According to the 2026 State of the Dream data, over 270,000 federal jobs were eliminated in 2026. Black people, specifically women, are overrepresented in federal and government jobs, meaning the elimination of those jobs effectively wiped out Black middle-class families.

While national headlines report that unemployment is improving, as history has taught us, whatever Black women experience is a small indication of what is to come. Not to mention, Trump has been known to remove people in high positions and replace them with people who are a little more agreeable to him. TIME reports that the President suddenly fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner and nominated a replacement, so soon, labor statistics may become unreliable.

Another factor, that sometimes goes unconsidered, is that fewer Black women in the workforce doesn’t only indicate that they are being laid off or fired. It also indicates that they are not being hired. Anyone who spends any time on LinkedIn doesn’t need to read any statistics to know that Black women are suffering in the job market. Ignoring DEI doesn’t just affect those who already have jobs, but also those trying to find employment. Black women are the most educated demographic and the “backbone of the economy,” but there is no incentive to hire them anymore. Though there shouldn’t need to be an incentive other than the potential they bring to the position.

The National Women’s Law Center reported that Black women, on average, experience 14.5 weeks of unemployment before securing a job. Black men have to wait 12.1 weeks before being hired, while white men wait about 9.6 weeks and white women wait 8.6 weeks. As mentioned in The Washington Post, when Black women lost their jobs, the positions were not eliminated as one might think. Those jobs were then picked up by White and Latinx people.

The barriers facing Black women in the workforce don’t stop at unemployment rates. They range from algorithmic bias in hiring software to managerial harassment. However, these obstacles do not define the capacity for achievement; they simply change the strategy required to reach it. By understanding the current economic forecast and leveraging the right technical and community resources, we can navigate this shifting landscape with the same resilience that has always characterized our professional journeys. As we move forward, turn this individual resilience into a collective power move.

The Forecast Strategy

The essential resources and mobilization tools you need to stay ahead of the current workforce shift.

Pivot Strategy: If you have been impacted by federal cuts, utilize the National Urban League’s Jobs Network to find private-sector roles that value high-level administrative and policy experience.

Funding Your Own Agenda: For those moving into “necessity entrepreneurship,” check the current Her Agenda Breakthrough Grant, which specializes in helping Black women scale brands! The deadline to apply is January 18, 2026.

Skill Reshaping: Explore the WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) grants in your local state to receive free certifications in emerging tech and AI-integration to stay competitive in a shrinking corporate landscape.

This article Black Women In The Workforce Are The Economic Warning Sign We Cannot Ignore was originally published on HerAgenda.com