A self-taught African-American businesswoman in Chicago is using her platform to inspire other Black women to step into the realm of entrepreneurship, Chicago Tonight reported.
Tranette Williams—the woman who founded The Ultimate Couple’s Massage—launched Chicago Black Women’s Business Week to cultivate a community of women of color who are looking to launch and expand their business ventures, the news outlet said.
Williams, who hails from Chicago’s West Side, began her entrepreneurial journey years ago. When she first decided to launch her business she relied on podcasts, books, and other information on the web to learn about the different aspects of running a business. She spent years working as a clinical massage therapist and decided that she wanted to launch a company that merged her skills with something that she felt couples needed. Her company instructs couples on how to give each other massages and she plans to expand her brand by featuring tutorials on the web. On the internet, she learned the ins and outs of marketing and how to manage finances to successfully run her company.
Through Chicago Black Women’s Business Week, she’s paying it forward and sharing the fundamentals of entrepreneurship through hosting panels, seminars, and workshops. The event also features a pop-up shop that includes products from Black women vendors. Williams says through the week-long event she aims to increase the representation of Black women among entrepreneurs in the city.
“I just want us to get a really deep, strong community of Black women and business owners in Chicago and pool our resources, our time, our knowledge and help each other build our businesses or create projects – whatever it is you’re working on. It’s good to be part of a community,” she said, according to the news outlet. She also added that she saw a need for safe spaces for Black women to have their voices heard.
It seems like major cities throughout the country are beginning to see the value that women and entrepreneurs of color can bring to the table. The city of New York recently announced that in 2017 it invested $1 billion in businesses owned by women and diverse entrepreneurs.
SOURCE: Chicago Tonight
SEE ALSO:
New York City Allocates $1 Billion For Women And Minority-Owned Businesses
Entrepreneur Launches Chicago Black Women’s Business Week was originally published on newsone.com
