50 Billion Dollar Boss: African American Women Sharing Stories of Success in Entrepreneurship and Leadership - Hardcover

Porter, Kathey; Hoffman, Andrea

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1137475013 ISBN 13: 9781137475015

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015

Synopsis

For too long there have been few 'blueprints' for young women entrepreneurs - particularly African-American women entrepreneurs--to follow. While women are starting businesses in unprecedented numbers, many African-Americans are first-generation entrepreneurs, and there have been few role models for them to emulate and learn from. The impact of African-American women in business is undeniable. According to the 2014 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report commissioned by American Express OPEN, while firms owned by women of color are smaller than non-minority women-owned businesses, their growth in numbers and economic clout is generally far outpacing that of other women-owned entities. Businesses owned by African-American women led that growth, up 296% from 1997 to 2014, generating nearly $50 billion in revenue. It is, in a sense, a second Black Renaissance, creating what we like to call the '50 Billion Dollar Boss.'

African-American women continue to excel and shape society across industries. This book highlights several African American women entrepreneurs and leaders, recognizes them for their business acumen, examines how they creatively solved business challenges and identified opportunities to grow and sustain their businesses.

About this title

About the Author:

Kathey Porter is a Supplier Diversity Director and consultant for government, higher education and corporate entities. An expert on small business development, supplier diversity and entrepreneurship, she has been an adjunct business instructor for over ten years at several colleges and universities including Virginia Tech - Pamplin College of Business, Savannah State University, Savannah College of Art & Design, Strayer University, Columbia College and University of Phoenix. She has owned and operated several small businesses and recently founded BusinessFAB Enterprises (Fearless, Awesome, Boss), a multiplatform initiative that connects women entrepreneurs to opportunities.

Andrea Hoffman is founder and CEO of Culture Shift Labs (CultureShiftLabs.com), an advisory firm that tailors B2B and B2C engagement strategies and engineers connections between corporations and the "diverse elite". A top-tier strategist, dealmaker and business development veteran for over 25 years, her client base has included BMW, Credit Suisse, Carnegie Hall, Hachette Fillapacchi, Hermes, Jaguar, Microsoft, Sony Electronics, Time Life, Scholastic, JPMorgan Chase and Mercedes Benz USA. Since its inception in 2006, her consultancy has contributed groundbreaking content and paved the way for countless connections and growth opportunities among the "diverse elite"; a $840 billion market.
To help companies identify and engage with highly sought after African-American C-suite executives, influencers and innovators in the new economy, Culture Shift Labs provides proprietary access, collaborative technology, seasoned intelligence and untapped business opportunities for companies seeking to increase a greater share of this market. Andrea is the co-author of Black is the New Green and the author of RE-FRAGGLE: How & Why Diverse Teams Achieve Breakthrough Innovation (Summer, 2016).

Review:

"If you are looking for inspiration and a plan for success in your small business, you need to read 50 Billion Dollar Boss. This book is enlightening, with actionable tips that will take your business to the next level." - Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady, CEO of Quintessence Media, author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months

"As the Co-Founder of Essence, a magazine that for over 45 years has been there to herald the intelligence, beauty, resourcefulness, courage, and huge spending power of African American women, I have witnessed the odds they have had to overcome to be recognized for their economic power potential and capability. Bravo to the authors and contributors to this long overdue, significant book acknowledging the tenacity, brilliance, and extraordinary role African American women have played and their continuing influence on the American economy." - Ed Lewis, Co-Founder of Essence and Latina Magazines

"Wonderfully highlights the impact of African American women-owned businesses in America with collective insight from successful African American women-owned firms, including a well-rounded historical expose ." - Karima Mariama-Arthur, Esq., Founder and CEO of WordSmithRapport, Contributor to Black Enterprise, SUCCESS and Entrepreneur magazines, International and TedX Speaker

"This book is not just aspirational, but INspirational. These stories of African American female entrepreneurs are REAL, tangible, and successful. The stories are blueprints for success, told in a way that will be a resource to all entrepreneurs. It's that keep-it-movin', believe-in-yourself mantra that black women have sworn by for centuries. Well-done, ladies." - Nicole Cober, Esq., Principal Managing Partner, Cober, Johnson & Romney PLLC | Contributor, Fox 5 Morning News, NewsChannel 8, Black Enterprise and American Express OPEN Forum | SCORE Mentor and Emerging Leaders Instructor

'As the CEO of Ogilvy Africa and a 20 year veteran of integrated marketing and communications, I have had to be extremely resilient. 50 Billion Dollar Boss is a testament to how many fellow leaders have become successful and how they have managed to overcome obstacles to achieve success beyond measure. This is not just a book for the American market. This should be read by every woman around the world who has ever had someone tell her 'no, not you." -Nadja Bellan-White, CEO of Ogilvy & Mather-Africa

“Three facts: Black women entrepreneurs are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the country right now. Black women entrepreneurs face unique barriers to business ownership and lack access to capital and resources, which are essential to sustainable, successful businesses; even though they are starting businesses at record rates, too few of the businesses are growing or employing. Black women entrepreneurs are missing from the public narrative and the current conversation about entrepreneurship. One theory of change: The recognition of black women entrepreneurs and the storytelling of their journeys to entrepreneurship will have far-reaching impact. Like a new generation of black women will have role models and start to believe that they too can start their own businesses, or investors will realize they should be seeking out more black women-owned businesses for investment because of their great ROI, or new policies will be implemented or doors will open to support black women and their business pursuits. That’s what I hope for, and what this book does. Kudos to Kathey and Andrea for creating this amazing compilation – for shining a spotlight on black women, as the founders, innovators, CEOs, tech mavens, craft masters, and boss ladies that they are.” - Amanda Brown, Executive Director of the National Women’s Business Council

About this edition

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1137475013
• ISBN 13: 9781137475015
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 202