A Virtual Summit For Black Women Entrepreneurs
Boss Women Media, a platform that empowers and connects Black women entrepreneurs, hosted its fifth annual Black Girl Magic Summit from September 24 to September 26, 2023. The summit was a virtual event that brought together over 15,000 Black women from across the world for three days of inspiration, education, and networking. The summit featured keynote speakers, panel discussions, workshops, and pitch competitions, covering topics such as branding, marketing, finance, wellness, and social impact.
The founder and CEO of Boss Women Media, Marty McDonald, said that the summit was created to celebrate and support Black women who are pursuing their dreams and making a difference in their communities. “I believe if we can create resources for Black women to gain access to capital, we can change families, communities and generations to come,” McDonald said. “I am on a mission at Boss Women Media to change the narrative around Black women and sit in spaces that allow others to not just survive but thrive.”
A Partnership With Capital One To Award $100K In Grants
One of the highlights of the summit was the Black Girl Magic Pitch Competition, which was sponsored by Capital One Business for the third consecutive year. The pitch competition awarded grants totaling $100,000 to the top three finalists out of a pool of more than 10,000 submissions from Black, women-owned businesses. The grants were intended to help the winners grow their businesses and have a positive impact on society.
The first place and a $50,000 grant went to Amber Williams of Le Rouge Cuisine, a catering company that offers professional, customizable, and unique Creole dining experiences. Williams said that she plans to use the grant to expand her business and provide healthy meals to food disparaged communities. The second place and a $30,000 grant went to Blair Gyamfi and Morgan Taylor of Moms Actually, a talk show that holds candid and vulnerable discussions about womanhood and motherhood.
Gyamfi and Taylor said that they want to use the grant to create more content and reach more audiences. The third place and a $20,000 grant went to Fathiyyah Doster of Juice Defined, a juice bar that promotes wellness and detoxification. Doster said that she hopes to use the grant to open a second location and hire more staff.
Zainep Mahmoud, Vice President, Small Business Card at Capital One, said that the pitch competition winners were building inspirational businesses that were positioned for growth. “Providing $100,000 in grants in partnership with Boss Women Media will not only help the winners grow their companies, but also continue to help communities thrive,” Mahmoud said.
A Celebration Of Black Girl Magic And Sisterhood
The summit also featured several influential and successful Black women who shared their stories, insights, and advice with the attendees. Some of the speakers included actress and producer Gabrielle Union, singer and songwriter Kelly Rowland, author and activist Luvvie Ajayi Jones, and founder and CEO of The Lip Bar Melissa Butler. The speakers touched on various themes such as overcoming challenges, finding purpose, building confidence, and creating impact.
The summit also provided opportunities for the attendees to connect with each other, network with potential partners and mentors, and access resources and tools to grow their businesses. The summit had a virtual marketplace where attendees could shop from Black-owned businesses, a virtual lounge where attendees could chat and mingle, and a virtual library where attendees could access books and podcasts recommended by the speakers.
The summit ended with a virtual concert featuring performances by singers and rappers such as Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Saweetie, and Chloe Bailey. The concert was a celebration of Black girl magic and sisterhood, and a reminder of the power and potential of Black women entrepreneurs.
