21 Black women thriving after workplace exclusion
Many Black women face job market instability, leading to unemployment or career displacement. Twenty-one women have turned these setbacks into entrepreneurial ventures and successful careers.
The current job market has presented significant challenges for Black women, with approximately 600,000 experiencing unemployment, leaving the labor force, or being pushed out since early 2025. These women, who have pursued education, exceeded performance expectations, and ascended into leadership roles, have often faced layoffs, underpayment, or marginalization. Instead of succumbing to these setbacks, 21 women have leveraged these experiences to build new careers and businesses.
Yanna Williams, founder of The Group Chat, closed her previous company due to shifting economic conditions and sponsor priorities but relaunched it to support Black women founders. Dawn Kelly, CEO of The Nourish Spot, established a wellness bar with her daughter after her long-term position was eliminated. Mia Aime, CEO of Aime PR, launched her own communications firm after her team's focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion was deprioritized.
Alex Harris transitioned from law to a product manager role at Google, finding a new path with the help of therapy and a network of Black women peers after experiencing marginalization. Denise W. Barreto founded Built For Us All to advance reparative infrastructure, drawing on her professional background. LaTresha Howland shifted from advertising to the technology sector and co-founded Breadless, a healthy fast-casual company.
Manaze Baptiste, founder of Sovrant, established her own firm after facing isolation and a layoff for raising concerns about equity and safety. Nicole Doswell-Busano founded The Riviere Agency and Models of Color Matter after an unexpected termination from a modeling position. These women demonstrate resilience and ingenuity by transforming adversity into personal and professional success.