Episode 8: What It Takes to Support a Black Woman Leader w/ Kimberly Bryant

One of the hardest people to be in the world is a brilliant Black woman because Black women leaders are rarely given the mentorship, guidance, and grace needed to be truly successful. In this episode, Kathryn and Kimberly Bryant, founder of Black Girls Code, discuss the power of supporting Black women leaders. This episode explores the strategies, practices, and nuances that go into fostering a thriving leadership ecosystem for Black women.

“We as Black women and Black-women-run entities are undervalued, underfunded, and undersupported.”
Despite doing the work and often doing it even better than others, Black women face a dearth of support in entrepreneurship. They have more barriers to raising capital and creating a strong network. Their businesses often receive less funding and publicity than similar businesses owned by white founders.

“We need to be very active about aligning Black women to be successful.”
One concrete way to support Black women leaders is not just to open a door but walk with them- hand in hand- across the threshold. One way to do this is to facilitate warm introductions, sharing why you’ve decided to invest.

“And all along the path, there were other women, mostly Black women, that kind of pushed me along and held me up every step of the way.”
Creating a network of support is important for business success. Often the highest level of support comes from those who are most proximate to the problem(s) you are trying to solve.

Guest
Kimberly Bryant: https://premierespeakers.com/kimberly-bryant/bio