African American women are redefining entrepreneurship with vision, courage, and a commitment to economic empowerment. Their rise has been remarkable, even as they continue to navigate systemic inequities that limit access to capital, mentorship, and business networks. In response to these realities, the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, in partnership with the Wells Fargo Foundation, created Milestone Circles, a transformative initiative designed to elevate women entrepreneurs with resources, community, and strategic support.
Milestone Circles is a twelve-week, peer-driven experience built to help women set clear business goals, strengthen leadership, expand professional networks, and build confidence. Participants connect with fellow founders who are growing at similar stages, allowing them to strategize together and learn in a supportive, collaborative environment.
Since launching in 2021, the program has supported more than four thousand women, with an ambitious goal of reaching six thousand by the end of 2025. The program’s influence on African American women has been especially powerful. An estimated eighty-six percent of participants identify as Black, African American, or Afro-Caribbean, aligning with a moment of tremendous growth. Between 2019 and 2023, Black women owned businesses grew at a rate exceeding thirty-two percent, compared to twelve percent for all women-owned firms during the same period. Yet, while growth is strong, disparities remain. Less than zero-point-two percent of venture capital funding reaches women of color, and more than sixty percent of Black women entrepreneurs self-fund their ventures, often at personal financial risk. Milestone Circles addresses these gaps by offering structured guidance, mentorship, and community that fuels both personal and professional momentum.
The program’s impact is evident through founder stories. Saundra Gilliard, creator of Femininely Free!, leaned into the program’s support after launching her business shortly before the pandemic. “I was trying to make a business out of a hobby that I had for about twenty years,” she explained, noting how Milestone Circles helped her refine her goals and find support among peers who understood her journey. Cynthia Hurley, founder of Make Cent$ With Your Money, shared a similar perspective. “Milestone Circles helps women entrepreneurs like myself to know that, listen, you are not by yourself,” she said. Their experiences underscore a truth the program champions: business success grows stronger when rooted in community and shared wisdom.
Milestone Circles is one pillar within a broader framework created by the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and Wells Fargo to support entrepreneurs who face barriers to economic mobility. Through programs such as the Open for Business Fund and Capital Pathways Workbook, and through partnerships with Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions, the organizations are actively shaping a more equitable business ecosystem. For many African American women who operate in underserved communities, this ecosystem offers more than funding and education. It offers validation, visibility, and access to power-building networks that historically operated beyond reach.
The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center remains committed to widening access and opportunity for founders everywhere. Nicola Corzine, Founding CEO of the Center, has emphasized the lasting effect of Milestone Circles, noting that peer-led learning builds confidence, strengthens social capital, and supports continued growth long after the program ends. Each cohort serves as proof that collaborative empowerment expands possibility.
Milestone Circles uplifts women who are leading with purpose, creativity, and determination. For African American women entrepreneurs, it represents a vital avenue of support and a spotlight on brilliance that has long deserved greater recognition. Through shared knowledge, actionable guidance, and community, participants are turning vision into sustainable impact. Their success reinforces a powerful message. When women champion one another, they do more than build businesses. They build legacy, community, and lasting change.
References
Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. Milestone Circles Toolkit. Retrieved from https://thecenter.nasdaq.org
PR Newswire. Wells Fargo Extends Support of Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center’s Milestone Circles Program. Retrieved from https://www.prnewswire.com
Milestone Circles on LinkedIn. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com
Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. About the Center. Retrieved from https://www.nasdaq.com
Financial Joy School. Making Milestones with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center. Retrieved from https://financialjoyschool.com Fox 59 Business News.
Wells Fargo Extends Support of Milestone Circles Program. Retrieved from https://fox59.com
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