All people deserve to have relationships, networks, and workplace environments where they feel comfortable being themselves. For Black women in particular, the importance of identifying spaces where we can show up and add value without dimming or contorting ourselves is vital. As we’re rarely granted the grace to be our full, glorious selves without consequence, BlackFemaleProject curates the spaces we need, and we invite other women to join us in finding refuge.

I believe in BlackFemaleProject because I have a Black daughter, and Black women are held to a completely different standard as soon as they walk into the room.

I believe in the mission because I am a Black professional woman with my own unique experience. I know we need more spaces in this world that do just this. I believe in the mission because of the Black women that I know who have called in what they need in terms of either support or awareness.

There seems to always be an abundance of messages coming at us in terms of how we should show up in the world. In this context, where there are perceived rewards for adhering to social expectations and norms, it takes intentional effort to operate from our own centers.

My industry is philanthropy, and my expertise is youth development and cultural arts. I’m a program director at East Bay Community Foundation, where I lead our strategy around racial justice and equity, centering cultural arts. 

Vaneese Johnson, The Boldness Coach™, is a certified executive coach, brand strategist, and award-winning small business consultant with more than 25 years of experience.

Olivia Christian has been working as a brand strategist for more than 15 years. Her clients include global brands like Google, Visa, and Amazon as well as nonprofit organizations providing life-advancing support to women, children, and vulnerable communities throughout the US.

Psychologist, advocate, and educator, Dr.Wendi Williams, applies her work at the intersection of education and psychology to her scholarship and leadership praxis.

C-suite advisor, keynote speaker, executive coach, and executive presence authority who helps leaders have their best year ever. She has worked with leaders in 27 industries across five continents.

I had plenty of obstacles to work with and against to overcome. But they were different. They were obstacles, I think, of my own choosing and that makes all the difference in the world.

I had plenty of obstacles to work with and against to overcome. But they were different. They were obstacles, I think, of my own choosing and that makes all the difference in the world.

“You will have opportunities for your ideals to be realized, so stay the course and stick with it, even though it’s really challenging sometimes.”