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
Nikisha Brunson, Co-founder, Urban Bush Babes, and Founder, Folie Apothecary
Franchesca Ramsey, Comedian, Actress, Activist, and YouTube Personality
Arlan Hamilton, Founder, Managing Partner, Backstage Capital
Mandela Schumacher-Hodge Dixon, Founder & CEO, Founder Gym
Lauren Ash, Founder & Executive Director, Black Girl in Om
Frédérique Harrel, Fashion Blogger, and Founder, RadSwan
Read the interview.
Follow her on Instagram.
Courtney Adeleye, Founder, Foolproof Body, and Generational Advantage Fund
Read the interview.
Follow her on Instagram.
Nancy Twine, Founder, and CEO, Briogeo
Gabi Gregg, Founder, Playful Promises Lingerie, and Swimsuits for All
Shiona Turini, Stylist, Costume Designer, and Consultant
Ally Love, CEO and Founder, Love squad, Peloton Instructor, Brooklyn Nets Host, and Model
Read the interview.
Follow her on Instagram.
Lisa Mae Brunso, Founder and Chief Visionary, Wonder Women Tech
Krystle Rowry, Web Designer, Digital Strategist, Kriss Dit It
Kaya Thomas, Computer Scientist, App Developer, Writer, and Founder, We Read Too App
TyLynn Nguyen, Lingerie Designer, Model, Content Creator
Daisha Graf, Actress, Dancer, Model, Singer, Influencer, Fitness Coach, and Co-Founder, D(n)A arts
Kiitan Akinniranye, Content Strategy, and Lifestyle blogger
Read the interview.
Follow her on Instagram.