The True Power Behind Our Woman and Minority Owned Business

In a world where businesses proudly display "woman-owned" or "minority-owned" certifications like badges of honor, I've come to realize that these labels, while important, only tell part of our story. Yes, I am a proud woman of color who founded and runs this business, but our impact extends far beyond these designations.

It's about the culture we've cultivated, the opportunities we've created, and most importantly, the talented women we've brought together who make our success possible.

More Than a Checkbox

When I started this journey, I knew the statistics all too well. Women-owned businesses receive just a fraction of funding compared to their male counterparts. Minority-owned businesses face even steeper hurdles. These disparities are real, and the certifications that highlight our status can open doors and create opportunities.

But I never wanted my business to be defined solely by who I am. I wanted it to be defined by what we do and how we do it.

The "woman-owned" and "minority-owned" labels have their place. They help clients who prioritize diversity in their supply chains find us. They may give us access to certain contracts and opportunities. But these designations are merely the beginning of our story, not the whole narrative.

Building a Different Kind of Workplace

My vision was always to create a company that reflected my values and addressed the inequities I had experienced firsthand throughout my career as a journalist. From day one in the newsroom, I was judged first by my looks, not my reporting skills or storytelling abilities. I still remember the sting of being told explicitly that I wouldn't be hired in certain cities because they "didn't have enough people who looked like me" in their demographics.

When I finally landed at a news station, I was assigned to weekend shifts. I loved the freedom to pursue meaningful stories, only to watch them get handed off to male colleagues every Monday morning. I'd spend my weekend building sources, researching angles, and breaking ground on stories that mattered—then watch as my male colleague got the story, the air time, and the recognition.

These experiences didn't just frustrate me—they fundamentally shaped how I wanted to lead. They taught me exactly what I didn't want my company to become. They showed me, in painful clarity, exactly what needed to change.

So when it came time to build my team, my choices weren't just business decisions—they were deeply personal commitments. I didn't just want diverse faces in our company photos; I wanted to create genuine opportunities for women who face the same barriers I encountered—particularly women of color, who often battle both gender and racial bias simultaneously. I wanted to build the kind of workplace I wished I'd found when I was starting out—one where talent matters more than appearance, and where your background is seen as an asset, not a limitation.

Recognizing Overlooked Talent

Our hiring approach isn't about meeting quotas or checking diversity boxes. It's about recognizing excellence where others fail to look.

I know firsthand that there are countless brilliant, capable women of color in our industry whose talents go unnoticed or undervalued. They have the skills, the experience, and the drive to excel, but they're often not given the chance because they don't fit someone's preconceived notion of what success looks like in our field.

Sometimes they're judged on their appearance, their accent, or their cultural background. Sometimes they're overlooked because they don't self-promote in the ways that are typically rewarded. Sometimes they're simply never considered because of unconscious biases that permeate hiring practices.

By specifically seeking out and creating opportunities for women of color, we're not lowering our standards—we're correcting a systemic imbalance. We're acknowledging and tapping into a pool of extraordinary talent that our competitors often miss.

Transforming Our Industry One Hire at a Time

Today, I look at our team with immense pride. Our all-female team represents a mosaic of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We have women who were the first in their families to attend college, women who switched careers mid-life, women who are mothers balancing professional ambitions with family responsibilities, and women who bring international perspectives to our work.

What unites us isn't just our gender—it's our shared commitment to excellence and our understanding of what it means to have to work twice as hard for half the recognition.

When we enter client meetings, we're often still the only women in the room. Sometimes, I can see the momentary surprise—or even skepticism—on people's faces. But those expressions quickly change once we demonstrate our expertise and the unique insights our diverse perspectives bring to the table.

Each of these moments is a small victory in transforming perceptions about who belongs in our industry and who can excel in it.

The Multiplier Effect

What I've found most rewarding is the multiplier effect of our approach. By creating opportunities for women of color, we're not just changing individual lives—we're creating ripples that extend far beyond our company.

The women on our team become visible examples of success for others who share their backgrounds. They help clients see the value of diverse thinking. And perhaps most importantly, they go home to families and communities where their success challenges stereotypes and expands possibilities for the next generation.

We're also changing how our clients think about talent. More than once, I've had a client who initially expressed doubt about working with our team later reach out for advice on how they could diversify their own hiring practices after seeing the caliber of our work.

Challenges and Reality Checks

This isn't to say our journey has been without challenges. As a woman and minority-owned business, we sometimes face assumptions that we're less capable or that our success is due to preferential treatment rather than merit. We occasionally encounter clients who are surprised by our rates, as if our backgrounds should somehow make our expertise less valuable.

We've had to be more strategic in our networking, more persistent in our business development, and more deliberate in how we position ourselves. We've had to find the balance between being proud of who we are and not wanting to be defined solely by our demographics.

And yes, there are times when being a woman and minority-owned business opens doors but we still have to walk through those doors and prove ourselves. The opportunity might come from a diversity initiative, but our continued success comes from delivering exceptional results.

Looking Forward

As we continue to grow, I remain committed to our mission of recognizing and elevating overlooked talent. I'm proud of what we've built, not just a successful business, but a community where women of color can thrive professionally without having to check their identities at the door.

Our approach isn't just about social justice, though that matters deeply to me. It's also about competitive advantage. By tapping into talent pools that others overlook, by bringing diverse perspectives to our work, and by creating a workplace where people can bring their whole selves to the table, we deliver more innovative and effective solutions for our clients.

The labels "woman-owned" and "minority-owned" will always be part of our identity, but they're just the starting point. What matters more is how we operate, who we elevate, and the change we create in our industry.

To other business owners: I challenge you to look beyond traditional talent pools and recognize excellence wherever it exists. To my fellow women of color: know that your skills and perspectives are valuable, and there are spaces where you can thrive without compromise.

And to my incredible team: thank you for bringing your brilliance, your resilience, and your authentic selves to our shared mission every day. Our success is your success, and I couldn't be prouder of what we're building together.