From Founder to CEO: My Experience in the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Black in Business Program

Before I even get into my experience… let’s talk about the reality.

Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States.
We own over 2 million businesses, generating close to $100 billion in revenue.
And yet, despite that growth, Black women founders receive less than 1% of venture capital funding.

At the same time, 61% of Black women view entrepreneurship as a key pathway to building wealth. ( Learn more HERE )

So what does that mean?

It means we are building, often without the same access, resources, or funding, yet still showing up as one of the most powerful forces in business today. That’s why opportunities like this matter.

So let's talk opportunities....

So, as a female founder, I was selected as 1 of 315 women nationwide, out of thousands of applicants, to be a part of Cohort 9 of the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business Program.

This sounds amazing, right? Well, what is it?  Well, according to the website

Black in Business is a free business education program dedicated to equipping sole proprietors with the tools necessary to turn their business potential into business growth. The program helps sole proprietors learn how to price their product or service, hire their first employee, understand their finances, and so much more. Applications are now open for the fall 2026 cohort. And I don’t take that lightly.

Black in Business isnt just another program. This was a room. A space. An energy shift.

For three days, I was surrounded by powerful Black women who are not just talking about ideas, they are executing. Women who are building real businesses, creating real impact, and walking in purpose. Builders. Visionaries. Game changers. True Go Gettas.

So as a founder, I’ve built a business. I’ve created a platform, and I’ve made things happen. But this experience pushed me to ask myself:

Am I operating like a founder… or am I truly leading like a CEO?

Because there’s a difference. Over the course of three days, we got real about our businesses.

We:

• Took a deeper look at who we are in business
• Broke down and refined our business models
• Got clear on our numbers and financial realities
• Identified real opportunities for growth and scale

This wasn’t surface-level learning. This was the start of the strategy, structure, and accountability. This is the kind of work that stretches you… but also sharpens you.

Those three days were just the foundation. Now we move into 12 weeks of continued growth, with access to:

• Mentors
• Business advisors
• Growth groups

This next phase is about execution. It's about building systems, creating sustainability, and scaling with intention. And I’m ready for that.

The Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women initiative is a $10 billion commitment to address systemic barriers and create economic opportunity for Black women.

And that matters.

Because when you invest in Black women, you invest in:

• Families
• Communities
• Generational wealth
• Economic growth

This is about access. This is about equity. This is about ownership. And I’m proud to be part of a movement that is intentionally creating change.

You can learn more about the initiative:
https://www.goldmansachs.com/community-impact/one-million-black-women

If you’ve been building something… thinking about starting… or trying to figure out your next move…This is your sign. You too can be in the number.

Applications for the next cohort are open now!
https://onegs.iad1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3f1W7HKMy5LSwEC?org=BiBC9

Don’t wait until you feel ready. Apply anyway.