Dear Black Female Entrepeneurs:
The last few days have been a roller coaster of emotions and if you don’t know what I’m talking about then this post is not for you.
I decided to sit down and write this open letter to the black female entrepreneurs and women of my community who are hurting, confused, angry, but in many ways not surprised.
I can’t tell you how many women have come to me (via email, text, DM, group chats) over the last couple of days expressing their disappointment in the state of the world we live in.
As an entrepreneur, particularly a female entrepreneur, who holds space for other female entrepreneurs we talk a lot about the fight for freedom.
Freedom from being an employee…
Freedom from living paycheck to paycheck…
Freedom from corporate institutions that see you as a commodity…
Freedom from being financially dependent on spouses and partners…
But what we rarely discuss in this community out loud are the private “inbox” conversations about the willingness to be free from the rejection and racially charged biases potential clients, customers, and students have when they land on our sales pages or “see” who we are after downloading our freebies — The freedom from feelings of inferiority that have been imposed on us, dictating how we see ourselves, how we navigate our work, and how we lead our businesses.
We often overlook how privilege, whether we inherently have it or not, impacts our lives, those we serve, the money we make, the businesses we build, and the way we show up in the world.
I remember early in my career, fresh out of school, I was filled with the same energy, passion, and ambition as my peers. But almost immediately, it became clear that the playing field was anything but equal.
The energy I spent to prove my worth was ten times what others seemed to give. I saw people get opportunities, respect, and trust simply because they inherited privilege—not because they worked for it and I was constantly reminded that I had to be 100x better, work 10x harder, and wait twice as long to earn a seat at tables where I still, even at my best, felt undervalued.
I also knew early on as an entrepreneur that I would have to give more, show up more, and tolerate more just for the opportunity to get seen and heard in a world where mediocrity is justified simply because of the social and racial status one inherits.
And just to be clear::
This is not hyperbole.
This is not about complaining.
This is not a woe-is-me moment.
This is not an overreaction to those who celebrate in the face of disappointment.
This is about acknowledging reality—a realization of what women like me have known all along but rarely if ever speak about in public.
When we talk about business success, marketing, strategy, and growth, we often leave out the truth about these underlying barriers that, even if they’re unseen, are deeply felt.
When potential clients continue to go with a familiar face—one that looks like them, someone who didn’t have half the vision or experience as you do, but who fits a certain image they are comfortable with—It can be devastating to a business if you don’t know how to rectify it.
That even at your best, there are many who will see your best as not good enough for them.
This is a real-life experience, a lived experience, and an experience that continues to show itself in the culture of the communities we live in. These experiences aren’t unique to me. They’re stories shared by so many women—particularly women of color.
And I am NOT OK with it.
I am NOT OK with not talking about it.
I am NOT OK with pushing it under the rug.
I am NOT OK with continuing to be silent about it.
I am NOT OK with being “politically correct” to protect other’s comfort.
Because, when we don’t hold conversations around these “secret” sentiments and how they may or may not impact the success of our businesses, it gives others permission to be OK with continuing to devalue us, the work we do and the freedom we fight for every single day.
And I am NOT OK with it.
So, today I am speaking to you NOT as “the millionaire mom” but as a woman, a black woman, fighting for the freedom to show up in a world that consistently and constantly reminds her that she is “less than” even when she’s the star in the room.
Today I am speaking to you NOT as “the content creator” but as a woman, a black woman, fighting for the freedom to show up in a world where being a woman of color is disqualifying even when you have shown time and time again that you are capable of delivering at the highest level.
Today I am speaking to you NOT as “the educator” but as a woman, a black woman, fighting for the freedom to show up in a world where being qualified and in many cases overly qualified is still not enough for people to trust you, pay you and take you seriously.
These obstacles are real, and they are rooted in the systemic biases that continue to shape our personal and professional lives.
And from here on out, I will not be shying away from talking about the things that as a black female entrepreneur, shape the way I show up for you and the community I wake up each morning fighting to enrich.
It’s time to stop glossing over the obvious, tiptoeing around uncomfortable truths, and fictionalizing the facts.
There are some “things” that marketing, strategy, and analytics can’t fix, and it’s time we have more open conversations about what those things are.
As your coach, I want to build a space where we talk openly about these obstacles and work through them together. So, when you’re doing everything “right” and still not seeing results, we can confront the real challenges you may be facing—not just the metrics on a screen, but the unspoken hurdles in the room.
I can’t change how I came into the world, but I can change how I show up in it! And I want to be very clear about my purpose and assignment here:
I’m here to support other women who are ready to be seen, to be heard, to be valued—not taken for granted or relied upon to be the “strong one” for everyone else when the one person and only person she needs to be strong for is herself.
I’m here for the women who want to build million-dollar businesses and multiple 6-figure brands that reflect their lived experiences and uplift others facing similar struggles.
I’m here to lift up women who want to learn how to navigate these struggles in an empathetic and safe space without feeling like they can’t speak up or be heard.
I’m here for the women who want not only financial freedom, but intellectual, spiritual, and the right to be happy type of freedom.
I’m here for the women who may not see race, socioeconomic status, or womanhood as a hurdle but want to support and be an ally to those who do.
I know my value.
I know my worth.
I know my level of excellence.
And I am here to help you realize yours too.
Let’s walk this path together, facing every challenge openly and honestly.
I want you to believe in yourself as much as I believe in you.
Here’s to your freedom,
xoxo
Andrea
P.S. This open letter may not resonate with everyone on this list, but for those of you who get it and/or are empathetic to the message, we’ve got work to do.
If you are ready to shed your inferiority complex, stand in your power, and take your business and life to the next level here are a few ways we can work together.
Get your content game up. If you have something to say, say it with style and substance. Our done-for-you Canva templates make it easier than ever to post on-brand content that gets in front of YOUR people. Check out Viral Content Monthly → here.
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