Empowering women entrepreneurs is one of the advocacies of our CEO Vanessa Best. This is one of the reasons why she attended The Women’s Annual Mentoring & Civic Leadership Reception held at the Gracie Mansion, as hosted by the New York City Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)
Best is proud to be associated with an organization like the MBDA that not only champions the success of women, but is also dedicated to helping US minority-owned businesses flourish through greater access to capital and other resources such as contracts, networking events, and market opportunities. MBDA is the only federal agency tasked with promoting the growth and competitiveness of minority owned businesses. It operates under the U.S. Department of Commerce.
“It was a great event to connect with other women entrepreneurs and New York based agencies who want to engage women as vendors for procurement opportunities,” says Best, who was reminded of the achievements made by the late Madam CJ Walker.
“She was one the first American women to become a self-made millionaire,” says Best. “Over 100 years ago, she transformed her own experience with hair loss into an opportunity to invent a line of hair care products for African Americans! She and her husband traveled not only to promote her products, but also to give lectures and live demonstrations on using heated combs, which was one of the foundations of the blow dryers and hair irons that we’ve come to know now. She opened her own factory and beauty school, but simultaneously, she also knew the importance of philanthropy and education for the benefit of African Americans. I’ve always been in awe how Madam CJ Walker went from a washwoman who earned $1.50 per day to becoming one of the pioneers of women who are self-made millionaires.”
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