Why I believe sisterhood is important in business

Recently, I was invited by the Women in Business Association to share personal insights in the celebration of their 10th anniversary. I am grateful for this opportunity to share my voice as a Black woman in business. It inspired me to expand on my thoughts - in hopes that they inspire other young women to pursue their dreams, and validates for young Black women that they are not alone in navigating rooms that were not built for us to succeed in.

As a Black woman, I have had to create space and room for myself to pursue my goals, over and over again.

And today, I see incredible young women still having to do the same. I see young women doubting their leadership and shying away from opportunities they deserve, because society conditions a man’s success as inevitable, but a woman's success as a surprise, even if she works twice as hard. Many Black women I know who are pursuing entrepreneurship are working around the clock to prove they deserve to be there. By keeping opportunities just always out of reach, we as a society continue to exhaust the precious energy and gifts that Black women hold. To me, this is an injustice.

I want to instill in women that courage is necessary for shaping our own paths. Courage means envisioning and trusting in our own voices. Our voices can be a beacon in the chaos, lighting the way for others and inspiring a movement. We can create our own movements. As Angela Davis said, “Movements are most powerful when they begin to affect the vision and perspective of those who do not necessarily associate themselves with those movements.” 

I also believe if the table wasn’t built for you, leave and create your own table. If the courage to do this feels hard to find, we need to hold one another up and support our sisters in finding their light. As a Black woman speaking to her sisters, I want to be a sister warrior, someone who will go into battle with you, and for your rights. If you feel like you are being limited by how others choose to view you, know that what they think of really isn’t any of your business; that is for them to work out. Do you need to exhaust precious energy there?

Our own paths are something that entrepreneurship can be a segway to.

I didn’t always know this, but I learned it young, working for my dad’s small business, cleaning offices, and later ended up taking it over from him. I remember how people would look at us as we cleaned and passed by without saying hello. This experience instilled in me that I was a promising entrepreneur, but that I also demanded more. More respect, more opportunity, and the ability to influence a world where my children would never be looked down upon, but admired for their contributions and presence. As Black women we deserve respect and to move with ease and freedom.

I see the changes I want to make in society, and entrepreneurship has instilled in me that I can build a strategy my way, shaped by me, for me, and ultimately serving the people I care about most. What works for one does not mean it will work for all. And I hope that women know that just because their brand or business may not look or feel mainstream, it does not mean that it is of lesser value. This your uniqueness. This is you, standing out.

With entrepreneurship can still come sacrifice. To dismantle the tables that weren’t built for me, I ultimately sacrificed time with my children. Women are not immune to making sacrifices as we build a better world. Now, as a family business that is built in honour of my children, A Team Coaching is helping transform systems, cultures, and mindsets through inclusive change. Our vision is powered by women of colour, because we are resilient - not by choice, and fearless - because women have faced everything. With care, Angela