Best-selling author, attorney, and founder of Hello Seven, Rachel Rodgers, is inviting the public to help fund her latest project — The Rachel Rodgers Show: Entrepreneurship, Uncensored. The new travel-meets-business TV series will spotlight people turning their ideas into successful businesses. “In it, we talk money. We talk mindset. We talk strategy, food, art, culture, our challenges, and community. Because that’s what entrepreneurship really looks like,” Rodgers says on her Kickstarter page. The Rachel Rodgers Show: Entrepreneurship, Uncensored The Rachel Rodgers Show strips away the glossy myths of entrepreneurship to reveal
Sequoia Capital’s chief operating officer, Sumaiya Balbale, stepped down from her role after partner Shaun Maguire made comments she considered Islamophobic, the Financial Times reports. In July, Maguire posted comments on X about New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, stating he “comes from a culture that lies about everything. It’s literally a virtue to lie if it advances his Islamist agenda.” Maguire later said that his critique was targeted only at Islamism (the political ideology) rather than the whole Muslim population. Sumaiya Balbale leaves Sequoia Capital Balbale, who is a
Afua Kyei, Chief Financial Officer at the Bank of England, has been named as the most influential Black person in the UK. The annual list, conducted by Powerlist, highlights the most powerful people of African, African-Caribbean, and African-American heritage. As CFO, Kyei leads financial governance of the £1 trillion balance sheet, funding reforms, and upgrades to critical national infrastructure payments, while championing diversity and climate disclosure. “It is an incredible honour to be named Number One on the Powerlist in its 20th year,” she said in a press release. “For
Trying to get your foot in the door in the corporate world as a Black woman isn’t easy. This becomes way more difficult when you’re also disabled. In 2023, the employment rate for people with disabilities in the US reached just 22.5%, and the numbers are even lower in tech. A global AWS community survey found that only 11% of respondents identified as having a disability or neurodiversity. Additionally, the unemployment rate for disabled people is reportedly twice as high as that of the general population, even though companies that are inclusive
A hair-braiding robot designed to cut styling time in half has won the President’s Innovation Challenge, a startup competition organized by Harvard Innovation Labs competition. Created by Harvard Business School alumni Yinka Ogunbiyi and David Afolabi, the Halo Braid robot aims to make the centuries-old art of braiding faster, more efficient, and more affordable for both stylists and clients. The 2025 President’s Innovation Challenge Hosted at Harvard, the the President’s Innovation Challenge invites students and alumni from its 13 schools to showcase groundbreaking ideas with the potential to transform industries.
Fawn and Keith Weaver, the founders of the Uncle Nearest whiskey brand, are opposing efforts to add more of their businesses that are already placed under judicial control. Nearest Green Distillery and the flagship Uncle Nearest whiskey brand have been under a receiver’s management since September, after lender Farm Credit Mid-America claimed the Weavers defaulted on more than $108 million in loans. The weavers opposing efforts Receiver Phillip Young asked US District Judge Charles Atchley Jr. to decide if other Weaver-affiliated businesses should be included in the receivership, including a
Women make up 47% of STEM graduates in Africa, according to a recent McKinsey study —a higher share than in Europe (42%), Asia (41%), and South America (41%). Additionally, in sub-Saharan Africa, as much as 30% of roles in STEM sectors are held by women. However, less than 20% of top tech roles are held by women in Africa. “Our research found that less than 20 percent of publicly listed companies in Africa with C-suite tech roles had a woman in that role,” the study’s authors wrote. “Furthermore, just 3%
Social media star Tareasa “Reesa Teesa” Johsnon, who went viral after posting her Who TF Did I Marry? series on TikTok, has signed a book deal. Storehouse Voices, an imprint within the Crown Publishing Group, acquired the book, which is titled What (TF) Do I Do Now? Not Just a Memoir, It’s a Survival Guide. Johnson is represented by CAA, which negotiated the deal. Johnson’s rise to fame came after posting a video revealing shocking revelations about her ex-husband, Legion, who is dubbed for his deceitful nature. The series unfolds
The reality for Black female founders in the UK is far from easy. 0.02% of venture capital in the UK went to Black female founders between 2009 and 2019. Over a third (37%) of Black female business owners reported making no profit in 2019 compared to 16% of White male business owners. The statistics are alarming, but Black female business owners continue to show up despite existing in a space that was not created for them. It’s for this reason that the VAMP launched the Vamp Power Brunch. VAMP was
Coaching and digital education company Career Love LLC is launching a free Career Love Community, a digital space helping Black women who have been laid off from their jobs. Founded by career coach and DEI Mercedes Swan, the initiative aims to provide a space where Black women can access resources, network, and support after experiencing job loss. “Black women are tired of surviving systems and spaces that weren’t built for us,” Swan said in a press release. “We deserve more, and I am excited to build a safe community where
