Black women's labor force exit sparks entrepreneurship surge

This Is Not About Sympathy. It Is About Systems. I lost my job. Not because of poor performance, but because of a vague “negative perception.” When jobs are lost, some see it as capitalism at work, companies making “business decisions.” But when Black women are consistently undervalued, overextended, and dismissed based on “perception” instead of performance, that is not just capitalism. That is injustice. When Black women or anyone leave a job, we do not leave empty-handed. We carry our education, experience, and connections with us. Those become the foundation for what we build next. This is why I urge people to upskill and reskill in an AI-driven world. Do not wait for an organization to validate your worth. Invest in yourself so that if the day comes when you are released, you will not stop. You will pivot. Companies may see an exit. What is actually happening is the unleashing of power, innovation, and resilience that will not be confined. #powershiftbusinesssolutions #Resilience #Entrepreneurship

Thank you, Katica Roy, for elevating this important conversation, and to Shanel Evans and Essence for laying out the systemic realities that Black women continue to navigate in both corporate and entrepreneurial spaces. The facts are undeniable: we are being pushed out of (or leaving) corporate environments at alarming rates and simultaneously turning toward entrepreneurship in historic numbers. At the same time, I think it’s crucial that we interrogate what this means for Black women beyond the external systems. Both corporate and entrepreneurial landscapes are structured by inequities, and neither, on their own, can guarantee freedom or fulfillment. What my PhD work points to is the internal dimension. The cognitive, emotional, embodied, and spiritual labour of Black women as they navigate these choices. Entrepreneurship, while powerful, should not be positioned only as a reactive solution to exclusion. The deeper question is: what does it mean for Black women to claim autonomy, to make entrepreneurship (or anything else) a chosen path rather than the only path? Liberation is not just about leaving one system for another. It is a praxis. A continuous practice of sovereignty, play, and joy that allows Black women to move beyond survival, into self-defined thriving. Entrepreneurship can certainly be one expression of that, but so can any number of other choices once sovereignty is restored. This moment is not just about economic disruption. It is about Black women’s radical reorientation toward self. This is the more important play here. It is the pathway that can not just transform economies, but can transform the way we understand self, systems, and sovereignty.

💯 This is exactly right. Black women shouldn't have to choose entrepreneurship as a survival strategy—but when they do, we must ensure they have the support to thrive. Their leadership is imperative to building healthier, more equitable communities. #BlackWomenLeaders #EconomicJustice #PublicHealth

I agree with this article. When I visited Ghana, I saw firsthand that nearly half of women own businesses—whether selling food, cloth, or goods in the market. But entrepreneurship can’t just be about survival. For Black women, business ownership must be about scaling and building generational wealth. We already have the skills and drive. What we need are systems, policies, and access to capital that remove barriers and open doors. Black women entrepreneurs deserve the chance not just to hustle—but to thrive.

This part: “…these exits are fueling a surge in Black women’s entrepreneurship. It’s a powerful act of resilience and reinvention—an effort to transform systemic inequities into opportunity, leadership, and legacy. But let’s be clear: entrepreneurship should be a choice, not a last resort when traditional employment closes its doors. If these ventures are to redefine wealth and stability, they must be met with access to capital, contracts, and visibility.” 💯💯💯

Did you know that corporate America and government institutions just accidentally created their biggest competition? I saw Katica Roy post an Essence article that breaks down how Black women are leading an entrepreneurship boom after record job loss in 2025. But the comments??? The comments are the texture of this story. "Offered an extended contract instead of permanent after stellar performance. My supervisor still wants me to 'prove myself.'" "Same work, lower pay than my white male counterpart." "Sometimes our mere presence irritates our counterparts." "I cannot wait to see the outcome of what they thought would break us." 255 comments. I read comment after comment of women describing the exact same pattern. Exceptional performance met with extended "evaluation periods." Strategic minds being asked to justify their existence every quarter. Senior professionals having their competence questioned by people who couldn't execute half of what they deliver daily. And yet and still responding with innovation and resilience. It's confirming what I've been seeing in my own primary research on the experience of all women deciding to escape corporate. What we're witnessing isn't just a workforce shift. It's the largest transfer of institutional knowledge and strategic expertise from established institutions into entrepreneurship in modern history. Think about it. These women didn't leave because they couldn't handle the work. They've been managing complex stakeholder relationships for years. Building revenue strategies. Optimizing operations. Leading cross-functional teams. Turning around underperforming divisions. They were pushed out and decided not to go back because they got tired of applying Fortune 500-level thinking to build someone else's wealth while being treated like they should feel grateful for the opportunity. So now they're taking those skills and building their own companies. And here's what makes this moment unprecedented: they're not starting from scratch. They're starting with decades of experience, professional networks, and a deep understanding of how businesses actually scale. If you're reading this from your corporate desk, wondering if entrepreneurship is possible for you - look around. Are you satisfied with what you see? If someone who got laid off can leverage their skills to build a business, imagine what you could do with the security of a steady paycheck while you test and validate your ideas. If you're an investor watching this unfold, pay attention. You're seeing the emergence of the most resilient, strategically-minded demographic of founders in history. Mark my words. Women who've been underestimated their entire careers are now applying that same tenacity to building businesses that will redefine industries. The question isn't whether this movement will succeed. The question is whether you'll be part of it or watching from the sidelines. #promotedtofounder

Here are a couple of reasons why the work we do supporting Black entrepreneurs at the Progress Center for Black Women is so important, necessary and essential to the growth of our economy, empowering Black families and setting up the future generation for success: Systemic barriers like lack of access to capital, fewer resources, and industries with lower profit margins make it harder for Black women to grow and thrive in business. At the same time, Black women are leaving and/or currently being pushed out of the workforce in record numbers — turning to entrepreneurship as a way to create independence, stability, and generational wealth. By providing community, resources, and support, we’re helping Black women entrepreneurs not only start, but sustain and scale their businesses — building pathways for continued impact, visibility, and economic transformation. 🚀 The facts: 🌟 17% of Black women are starting/running businesses (more than white women + men) 🌟 Only 3% sustain mature businesses 🌟 61% self-fund startups while facing higher loan rejection rates 🌟 Many start in industries with low margins + tough competition Because when Black women entrepreneurs thrive, families are strengthened, communities grow, and the entire economy rises. 💜 Check out these articles from Essence and Harvard Business Review for more information: https://lnkd.in/gYxuDkPN and https://lnkd.in/g3pKsCsT

The workplace has always failed Black women. Over a year ago Brennan Nevada Inc. wrote about this persistent issue for Built In. I spoke with several successful Black women about how they have thrived in the face of adversity at work, and how they took back control of their professional lives. The one thing each of these women have in common? They all are founders, which should tell you something. For the 300k plus Black women who are incredibly overqualified and out of their jobs due to systemic racism, hopefully this advice can help you in your own career journey. I’ve been in your shoes before many times. It’s time 🕰️ to take back your power. Stop giving all your talents to a toxic employer who not only is a nightmare but isn’t paying you what you’re worth. I believe that entrepreneurship is the only path forward for Black talent to go to the next level. Invest in yourself, your skills, dreams, and just watch it all takeoff 🚀 🔗 to article 🗞️ 📰 👇🏾 #Blacktalent #workplace #DEI #racism #unemployed #work #jobloss #entrepreneur #thoughtleader https://lnkd.in/e_5YPq2n

Navigating Barriers as a Black Woman Entrepreneur I recently had an encounter with a white male at an institution. I won’t call it out—yet—in hopes that this was an individual’s behaviour and not an institutional problem. But here’s the reality many Black entrepreneurs, especially women, face: We are often not taken seriously. Our ideas are dismissed. Opportunities are quietly blocked, as if they belong to others by default. And it doesn’t just come down to gender or race—it’s about gatekeeping potential. Yet here’s what I know: 🌱 As an entrepreneur, you must push forward. Some people will be afraid of your energy, your vision, your brilliance. That’s not your problem—keep going. 🌱 Don’t let discouragement take root. You are enough, even with mistakes. Mistakes are not failures—they are part of growth. 🌱 Anyone who truly supports you will walk with you through the shortcomings, not dismiss you for them. After all, we all make mistakes. Mistakes have no race, no gender, no ethnicity. We are One. And to my fellow Black women: You belong just as much as anyone else. 💪🏾 Never forget it. #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BlackExcellence #Oneness

Research from Faculty Research Fellow ALICIA SHEARES digs into the stories of Black women tech entrepreneurs, finding distinct barriers they must overcome to find funding success. From deflecting comments about their appearance to discerning the true motives behind a dinner meeting to being overlooked as a company's CEO, many of these obstacles don't affect Black men or white women in the same ways. https://buff.ly/12WpuNW