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Meet three dynamic women who built their businesses despite the odds.

IMPRINT

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发布日期: 2023年3月30日

"Stronger together" means offering support, encouragement, and even just a laugh when others need it most. No group of small business owners better exemplifies this spirit than the three women you’re about to meet.

We were equal parts thrilled and honored to sit down recently with System Innovation owner Dr. Tracee Gilbert, Paragon Cyber Solutions founder Courtney H. Jackson, and LaunchTech President and CEO Venus Quates — three standout founders who’ve shattered norms in building their thriving small businesses.

Their passion was infectious as they described their entrepreneurial journeys, their role models, what they wish they’d known in the beginning, how they’re giving back to their communities, and the paths they’re creating for future generations. And the fact that they’re longtime friends who’ve supported each other throughout their careers? That only makes the conversation more scintillating.

Shared skillsets, interests, and senses of humor helped forge their bond — as did an unfortunate reality: a lack of representation. It’s no secret that women are underrepresented in the #technology space, holding only 28% of computing and mathematical roles in 2023, according to Zippia.

For Black women, that number drops to an abysmal 3%.

“I wanted to create a table where anybody could sit down. As long as they were qualified, it didn't matter what they looked like,” Venus says. “I wanted to actually be an example, so other brown girls, and girls that look like me, could have an opportunity. They could see somebody like them was in technology, and you could still be cool and be a nerd. There's a preconceived notion that you can't be cool, too.”