Create + Cultivate

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80 Powerhouse Quotes From Black Women and WOC Create & Cultivate 100 Honorees

It’s no secret that women are driving the economy in America. In 2019, American women started an average of 1,817 new businesses every day. A whopping 42% (nearly 13 million) of all American businesses are women-owned. They employ 9.4 million workers and generate $1.9 trillion in annual revenue.

And Black women-owned businesses are leading the way.

According to the American Express 2019 State of Women-Owned Businesses report there are 2,681,200 Black women-owned businesses in the U.S.—that’s 21% of all women-owned businesses—making it the largest segment of women-owned businesses after non-minority women. In fact, Black women-owned businesses represented the highest rate of growth of any group in the number of firms between 2014 and 2019 and between 2018 and 2019.

Our team has had the honor of working with so many intelligent, talented and strong women of color and Black women founders, entrepreneurs, creatives, musicians, artists, chefs, and small business owners, spotlighting their incredible work at our events, on our platform, and in our annual Create & Cultivate 100 list. And, we look forward to continually growing and expanding upon this as a key part of our community.   

Now approaching its fourth year, this list honors 100 inspirational women who are disrupting industries and smashing glass ceilings across 10 different categories from fashion, food, entertainment, entrepreneurship, health & wellness, content creation, beauty, fashion, music, small business, and more. We come together as a team to ensure the list is diverse and inclusive with a mix of household names you know and love as well as up-and-comers you need to read about.  

But this list is about so much more than just a number. It’s about the ripple effect it inspires. 

When you honor 100 women who are 100% in it, you encourage 100 more to create a future we all want to be part of. After all, if you can’t see it, you can’t be it. 

Your recommendations this past week alone have been amazing in bringing even more Black women-owned businesses to our attention, and we want to thank you for that. Please, keep them coming—we’re listening and compiling, and will be integrating many of them into all we do long-term.

Read on to hear from 80 Black women and women of color who have been honored in our Create & Cultivate 100 list each year.


Create & Cultivate 100, 2017

Sanaa Lathan, Actress & Philanthropist

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Jackie Aina, Beauty Influencer

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Lindsey Day, Co-Founder and EIC, CRWN Magazine

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Andrea Brooks, Creator, Andrea's Choice

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Nikisha Brunson, Co-founder, Urban Bush Babes, and Founder, Folie Apothecary

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Raye Boyce, Beauty Vlogger

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Cleo Wade, Poet, Artist, Speaker

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Nicole Byer, Comedienne

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Franchesca Ramsey, Comedian, Actress, Activist, and YouTube Personality

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Kai Kan, Chef

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Siham and Iman Hashi, Faarrow

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Kitty Ca$h, DJ

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Create & Cultivate 2018


Kristen Noel Crawley, Founder, KNC Beauty

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Megan Lytle, Beauty & Hair Vlogger

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Myleik Teele, Creator, CURLBOX

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Pat McGrath, Make-Up Artist

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Erica Chidi, Founder, Loom

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Morgan DeBaun, CEO, Blavity Inc.

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Yvonne Orji, Actress

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Tiffany Haddish, Actress, Comedian

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Kimberly Bryant, Founder, Black Girls Code

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Aisha Bowe, Co-Founder & CEO, STEMboard

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Arlan Hamilton, Founder, Managing Partner, Backstage Capital

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Mandela Schumacher-Hodge Dixon, Founder & CEO, Founder Gym

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Anita Bias, and Paris and Amber Strother, We Are King

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Lion Babe, Musician

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Kelsey Lu, Musician

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Monique Coleman, Actress, Founder, GimmeMo’

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Shaun Robinson, S.H.A.U.N. Foundation for Girls

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Nia Batts, Co-Founder & CEO, Detroit Blows

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Mari Copeny, Youth Ambassador

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Grace Mahary, Founder, Project Tsehigh

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Denise Vasi, Actress & Founder, Maed

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Destiny Green, Creator, Mom Crush Monday

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Jenna Wortham, Writer

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Karen Okonkwo, Co-Founder, TONL

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Massy Arias, Fitness Coach

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Lauren Ash, Founder & Executive Director, Black Girl in Om

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Angela Manuel-Davis, Co-Founder, AARMY

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Emma Grede, Co-Founder and CEO, Good American

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Paola Mathe, Founder, Fanm Djanm

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Create & Cultivate 100 2019


Felicia Leatherwood, Celebrity Natural Hairstylist 

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Frédérique Harrel, Fashion Blogger, and Founder, RadSwan

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Courtney Adeleye, Founder, Foolproof Body, and Generational Advantage Fund

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Candace Reels, Founder, The Female Collective 

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Alex Elle, Poet, Author, Host of Hey, Girl Podcast

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Laci Jordan, Artist 

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Shantell Martin, Producer & Artist 



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Kenesha Sneed, Art/Creative Director 

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Nancy Twine, Founder, and CEO, Briogeo 


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Gabi Gregg, Founder, Playful Promises Lingerie, and Swimsuits for All

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Shiona Turini, Stylist, Costume Designer, and Consultant

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Sophia Roe, Chef

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Ayesha Curry, Chef & Author 

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Koya Webb, Founder, Get Loved Up 

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Melissa Alcantara, All Natural Athlete

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Ally Love, CEO and Founder, Love squad, Peloton Instructor, Brooklyn Nets Host, and Model 

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Kiana Lede, Singer, Actor, Mental Health Advocate 


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Chloe x Halle, Singer-Songwriter 

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BOSCO, Singer

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Sarah Kunst, Managing Director, Cleo Capital 

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Lisa Mae Brunso, Founder and Chief Visionary, Wonder Women Tech 

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Krystle Rowry, Web Designer, Digital Strategist, Kriss Dit It

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Kaya Thomas, Computer Scientist, App Developer, Writer, and Founder, We Read Too App 

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Janice Bryant Howroyd, Founder and CEO, ActOne Group

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Create & Cultivate 100 2020


Shani Darden, Founder, Shani Darden Skin Care

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TyLynn Nguyen, Lingerie Designer, Model, Content Creator 

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Daisha Graf, Actress, Dancer, Model, Singer, Influencer, Fitness Coach, and Co-Founder, D(n)A arts 

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Tonya Rapley, Millennial Money Expert 

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Kiitan Akinniranye, Content Strategy, and Lifestyle blogger 

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Lindsay Peoples Wagner, Editor in Chief, Teen Vogue

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Lalah Delia, Author and Founder, Vibrate Higher Daily

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Noelle Scaggs, Co-Lead Singer, Fitz and the Tantrums 

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Melissa Bennet, Co-Founder, Technology, Heatwaves

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Trinity Mouzon Wofford, Co-founder, Golde

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Tia Mowry, Actress, Content Creator, Author, Entrepreneur, Founder, Anser

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Tyra Banks, Model, Entrepreneur, TV Executive, and Business CEO 

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Nyma Tang, Content Creator 

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Nyesha Arrington, President, Arrington LLC  

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Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones, Content Creators, Podcast Hosts, and Authors, Co-Founders, Food Heaven

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