Basically, my message to America on Good Morning America was that we — Black and Brown women founders — have the talent, skills, drive, and vision to lead the world for this generation and the next. But what most of us don’t have is the resources (i.e. capital) to get our businesses off the ground or the influential networks to position what we have to offer in the global marketplace. Without that capital and access to networks, our ideas and our futures can’t jump from our vision boards to a life-sustaining business and that’s just how the world works. I challenged the GMA audience that for the average consumer, supporting Black businesses means “buying Black” but it doesn’t stop there! We have to address lack of capital and access to networks before we can expect to see real economic development for the communities that need it the most.
But that’s why I do what I do! Black Girl Ventures is all about helping our women founders get in the doors that have been closed to us for SO long. However, there’s still a lot of work to be done so that all of us can get through those doors — ESPECIALLY after the COVID-19 pandemic has placed even more obstacles and barriers in front of us. As I told GMA, sixty percent of Black businesses have had to close their doors over the last year which is why I emphasized that, now more than ever, supporting Black businesses goes beyond just buying our products and services. We’ve got to invest in ourselves, encourage innovation, and put our own money where our hearts are.
Yes, GMA was an amazing platform to tell America about our platform — the Black Girl Ventures pitch competition — to build women entrepreneurs like me and those who’ll come after me. I really appreciate how GMA spotlighted the work and achievements that Black Girl Ventures has helped bring about and I definitely look forward to future appearances. But not just during February — for Black and Brown women founders, we grow from that support ALL the time because bills are due and dreams are waiting to become a reality every month, 24/7, all the time. – Shelly Bell, CEO of Black Girl Ventures.
When the team Nike sent me the images of the billboard I cried a cry for all the years I’ve spent going hard non-stop. I cried for all the years I’ve spent building BGV. I cried for all of the times people didn’t believe in what I was about to do. I cried for all of the sacrifice. I cried for all of the women founders who are pushing their mind, bodies, and souls to the limit for what they believe in. I released at least 5 years of pressure to go harder, run faster, be quicker, be smarter, and be better!! While this is only the beginning of the seeds planted beginning to grow, I had to stop and take a minute (more like hours, overnight, and the next morning) to cry. On this journey to change the world, you will change. Just make sure you’re changing into the person you want to be and making moves you love.
This Nike engagement is unprecedented. My team at BGV and I plan to find and support as many Black/Brown women founders/athletes/families/generations as time will possibly allow. I am more empowered now than ever. I built to this far empowered by how I made that teepee work when everyone thought I was crazy. My vision is bigger than the eye can see.
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A friend of mine sent me a text message to let me know about her upcoming launch party for her new product. I know firsthand the challenges she faced to launch the product. She literally stayed up all night for several days of several months designing and shifting her product to perfection. She has attended multiple accelerators and has had a few conversations with investors. She has put her blood, sweat, and tears into her idea.
When I read her message, my initial feeling was “yes girl you did that! You got here!” My next feeling was pride. This made me pause. I always feel weird about telling someone I’m proud of them. I’ve heard others kinda hesitate to say it to me as well or have an explanation like “not saying that like I’m higher or trying to minimize but yes! I’m proud of you.” I went to The Google to read up on different takes on this. I found an article where a woman spoke about losing weight to a friend. Her friend replied, “I’m proud of you.” The woman took that as “ooh she must really want me to lose weight if she’s proud that I did.”
There was another article about “I’m proud of you” being related to someone being impressed with you. This also kinda feels like someone saying “‘I’m surprised you made it.” There were a few about parenting. What this all comes down to is power dynamics. Does your pride minimize someone else? I don’t think so. You’re allowed to be proud of yourself and of other people you know. Saying “I’m proud of you” is saying “I see what you wanted, I see how you went for it, and I take pride in you achieving what you wanted to achieve.” This is one of those places where we should choose to think the highest and most positive truth. If you said “i’m proud of you” with hopes of minimizing me and I took the truth to be that you’re exalting me, whether you meant that or not believing you’re exalting me is a pretty awesome truth to choose to believe! You’re allowed to only think/feel the highest truths available. #thinkingallowed#iamshellybell
