On Dec. 9, BLACK ENTERPRISE hosted its inaugural SistersInc Summit, which highlighted some of the business industry’s most innovative woman changemakers. Featured guests included BE’s very own deputy chief Alisa Gumbs, makeup guru Danessa Myricks, and more experts. Together, these women tackled all of the need-to-know aspects of entrepreneurship.
President and CEO of Black Enterprise Earl G. Graves, Jr. delivered the opening remarks before kicking off the event with the SistersInc Holiday Market in partnership with Sistahs in Business Expo, where attendees gathered to uplift each other’s brands and explore different vendors including Cadash and Co. and Krafted by Keyona.
To get the panels started, Myricks and Gumbs joined in conversation to discuss what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur. “All of us are inspired by the opportunity to create our own destinies,” said Myricks, who founded her eponymously named makeup company in 2016. “Your commitment is the most important thing throughout the journey. Even when things are really hard, the one thing you really don’t want to give up on is you. Every part of your life’s journey is part of your entrepreneurial journey.”
The following panel included the CEO of Digitalundivided, Leah Williams, and co-founder of Brooklyn Tea, Jamila Wright, as they spoke with BE’s senior digital editor, Sidnee Michelle, about acquiring the funds to jumpstart a business. Later, Sherrill Mosee, inventor of MinkeeBlue, also hosted a workshop centered on bringing business ideas to life. Titled “Transforming Your Product Idea To Reality,” Mosee expertly guided budding entrepreneurs on how to build a business from its inception to its execution.
CEO of the Folklore Group Amira Rasool, Head of Community Partnerships, Impact and Experience at Amazon Nancy
Dalton, and founder of Sistahs in Business Expo Aisha Issah Taylor also took to the stage, where they discussed moving products to shelves across the country and capitalizing on the power of retail.Devising a business strategy is no simple feat, and building a company from the ground up requires just as much effort. To ensure financial success and accumulate million-dollar revenue, some expert advice is needed. BE’s social media editor, Tierra Smith, sat down with the founder of the BOW Collective, Nicole Cober, to gain some professional insight and discover how Cober generated millions of dollars through her groundbreaking company.
Lastly, BE’s staff writer, Jeroslyn Johnson, spoke with Nancey Harris, COO of Vontélle Eyewear, and Kalyn Johnson Chandler, founder of Effie’s Paper. Together, the three women discussed taking advantage of resources and the benefits and costs of having an accelerator. The first-of-its-kind event finished off with some closing remarks from Gumbs, who emphasized the continued relevance and importance of Black women in the entrepreneurial world.