It is pure joy to survey the landscape and the strides we have made as black women; can we do more for ourselves? Absolutely!

As I evolve, I see the need to move beyond my current situation, and I invite you to see beyond yours as well. As women, we must push beyond what is now and reach toward what must be. We have allowed ourselves to be held back too long by the thought “what they have done to us,” and it is time for serious emancipation from that narrative to one that asks, what can I do for myself?

One of the ways I believe we can begin to answer that question is by taking bigger risks and BETTING ON OURSELVES to achieve the success in life and business that we desire.

Let’s talk about What happens when black women take risks:

The best way to learn is by example, would you agree? I think you do, so let’s look at 5 black women who took calculated risks and use them to inspire us towards evolving in this area.

1. Madam C.J. Walker was the first self-made female millionaire in America. She was a black woman who established a hair care business and took risks to make it a success. She created a successful line of products for African-American women and opened beauty schools to teach them how to care for their hair. Her success allowed her to become one of the wealthiest business owners of her time.
2. Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty but was determined to make something of her life. She took risks in her career, launching her own talk show, which became a huge hit. She also started her own production company, which produced movies, television programs, and other projects. Her success has made her one of the most influential businesswomen in the world.
3. Mae Jemison was the first African-American woman to travel in space. She was part of the crew of the Endeavour shuttle mission in 1992. As an engineer, she took risks to pursue her dream of going into space. Her success inspired other women and minorities to pursue their own dreams.
4. Fannie Lou Hamer was an activist who fought for civil rights. She was a leader in the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and took risks to challenge the state’s segregationist laws. Her success led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which guaranteed voting rights to all citizens.
5. Janice Bryant Howroyd is the founder and CEO of the Act One Group, the first African-American-owned billion-dollar business. She took risks to establish her business, which provides human resources, staffing, and training services. Her success has inspired other African-American business owners to take risks to pursue their own dreams.

Listen, what is stopping you? How different are you from these women? All it takes is for you to decide, BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE, plan & prepare, make the commitment then execute. Remember that life is a process, and these women did not achieve overnight success, but their success was achieved with perseverance, consistency, and an unshakeable belief in themselves. You can do the same. I encourage you to. Let’s go!

Enjoy the rest of women’s month, lean into your greatness, and be that.

We are cheering you on from the sidelines.

You may want to check out this upcoming opportunity.