From ideation to acquisition, entrepreneurship is difficult at any stage. For Black women in particular the journey has become increasingly difficult between budget cuts across industries and lack of enthusiasm for brands catering to people of color. Media consultant, producer, and orchestrator of the movement, She Did That., Renae Bluitt has taken it upon herself to not only aid Black women in their journey but meet them where they’re at. Monday, October 5th marked the inaugural She Did That. Founder Forum at Shell’s Loft in Brooklyn, New York. Under the theme “built by us, better together”, attendees were introduced to an immersive experience from beginning to end.
Every detail, from speakers to topics discussed, down to the energy in the room– everything was handcrafted by Bluitt’s vision. The intimate setting was intentional to allow there to be room for vulnerability and authenticity that so many Black women often don’t get in their day-to-day lives when navigating conversations about careers and entrepreneurship. Bluitt chose many women whom she’d already worked with that she believed would be generous with their wisdom and insight into their experiences both in corporate and in building the companies we see today.
Led by dynamic host for the occasion, Yunice Emir, attendees were taken on a journey of sisterhood camaraderie through affirming each other and a safe space for Black women entrepreneurs to truly let their guard down around each other. Emir’s infamous call-response of “she did that” when Bluitt was mentioned or another speaker mentioned a special moment made the event all the more affirming.
Speakers included Necole Kane of MyHappyFlo, Lisa Price of Carol’s Daughter, Ingrid Best of Best Wines, Ria Graham of Kokomo, Felisha Noel of Fe Noel, Brianna Arps of Moodeaux, Jeneé Naylor of 12PM Studios, Kayalin Akens-Irby of Sela Health, Jenesis Laforcarde of The Jenesis House, and media personality Bevy Smith— all of whom are not only Black female entrepreneurs but range across different types of businesses such as wellness, fashion, and lifestyle.
“I want the women who attend [the event] to walk away with the understanding that starting a business is one thing, but there’s so much more to consider when you look at how do you build it, how do you protect it, how do you scale it, and eventually, which is one of the conversations we’ll get into is what does it look like when you want to exit or explore an acquisition. So, I want them to walk away with hope because this is a time where so many women are feeling a little bit defeated and underappreciated and underresourced. I want them to leave this event feeling hopeful and even more inspired and connected to other women in our community who are all lifting as we rise,” Bluitt told EBONY when asked about what she wanted attendees to take away from the experience. “I didn’t want to create another event leaving women inspired but not knowing what to do next. Black women have never had a shortage of ideas. What we need is more spaces for ideas, where we can build relationships where we can help those ideas grow.”
Many women who attended the event were already familiar with Bluitt’s work in championing Black female entrepreneurs, while others were simply introduced to it on social media and got curious. “On the [Bossing Without the Burnout: A New Way to Build] panel, strategy and being very clear about business goals and how to scale because I was able to see how people worked smarter, not harder. It was helpful to see the grit beyond the glam. It was really healthy for me to see them not demonize corporate, but how to use it to your advantage,” said attendee Chelsi Glascoe, founder of Every Day Now, when speaking about her takeaways from the event. Similarly, other attendees felt the sentiment of feeling inspired yet related to throughout the discussions.
“Being one of the youngest women in the room was honestly such a gift. One of my biggest takeaways was realizing that there really is no one path to success. Hearing these women’s stories reminded me how important it is to listen to that voice inside of you– the one that tells you when something isn’t right anymore, when you’ve reached your ceiling somewhere, or when it might be time to walk away and try something different,” said marketing and experiential consultant Malaika Cesar-Nemorin.
In contrast to most of the day’s discussions, there was also an interactive workshop led by AI consultant and specialist Keisha Mabry Haymore. On the heels of thousands of Black women being laid off, she told EBONY about her belief in educating the group on AI and the importance it holds in what she believes is a step forward rather than a detriment.
“I think it’s so important! As a Black woman myself for me AI is a “yes and”, like yes Black women are getting laid off and AI sometimes is the reason and sometimes it’s being used as the excuse. I also feel that AI can be a leverager for Black women to create opportunities for themselves and so as an AI educator it’s important for me to educate people that look like me and allow them to understand these resources to the point where they can use them for themselves or at least be knowledgeable to have it as a resource if it were needed,” said Haymore.
Beyond business insight, attendees were also able to leave with a handful of new connections and be introduced to local Black-owned businesses during their experience. The businesses featured at the event included Coco Bred, Jam+Rico, Crabby Shack, Maya Winston, Brooklyn Tea, and DeAndra Craigman Studios – all of which are Black-owned businesses. Founder and CEO of Jam+Rico, Lisette Scott, not only expressed her gratitude for being tapped for the event, but what keeps her coming back to work with Bluitt time and time again.
“Renae has definitely included me in many circles and spaces whenever she’s having an event and now over the years, I’d say I’ve known her maybe half the life span of my business and she’s always welcoming and inviting and makes sure to include us in her promotions and any event that she puts on so whenever I do an event with Renae it’s like a family reunion. People who have purchased my jewelry from the beginning of my business to now they always are like ‘I remember you from this’ and it always feels good to be in a space where you’re celebrated and recognized and acknowledged and to be with people that feel like family so I’m always grateful and happy to be here,” Scott shared in conversation with EBONY.
To learn more about She Did That., you can watch the documentary available online and on select streaming platforms, or you can follow the movement and stay up to date on events through social media here.