Babson Black Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
Babson College’s Frank & Eileen™ Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (F&E CWEL) is pleased to offer the Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (BWEL) program, an action tank designed by and for Black women entrepreneurial leaders and allies to provide an experience and the resources to propel their businesses and professional growth forward.
The program will provide participants with practical insights and tools to navigate procurement and other untapped opportunities for growth.
- 6 weeks of live online business curriculum with weekly content sessions followed by a 2.5-day in-person program closing in Boston, MA.
- A cohort of Black women entrepreneurs and allies whose businesses have a minimum of $150k in revenue and are committed to scaling their ventures
- Guidance from accomplished faculty and top industry leaders, with expertise in growth and scaling, on key areas designed specifically to equip and inspire Black Women business leaders and allies to leap to the next level
- Leading-edge content on procurement, financing, and optimizing your business
- Insight from seasoned procurement professionals
- Legal advice from lawyers
- Access to BWEL’s Global Alumnae Network
BWEL is an industry-agnostic program designed for Black women entrepreneurs and allies who are committed to scaling their ventures. We consider you a good fit for the program if you:
- Are a founder or co-founder
- Currently reside in the United States
- Are 21 years of age or older
- Have been in business for at least 2 years and are generating a minimum of $150k in annual revenue
- Are interested in learning more about the various ways to find business growth including procurement, financing, and optimizing your business
- Are looking to develop a robust peer community and network of advisors
- Are able to attend all virtual sessions and an in-person 2.5-day closing event in Boston, MA. Please view our Program Schedule
- Sisterhood: Experience the extraordinary power of the community by connecting with other black women entrepreneurs and allies
- Babson’s World-Renowned Pedagogy: Expand your revenue opportunity by following a successful entrepreneurial framework
- Global Network
- Expert Mentoring and Coaching: Accelerate your entrepreneurial growth by learning from top industry experts and maximize your personal effectiveness by collaborating with Business Success Coaches
- BWEL’s Resource Guide
- Blended Learning
The tuition for the BWEL program is valued at $10,000 per participant; however, we have secured sponsors to offset this cost. We will offer accepted participants a full scholarship that includes:
- Full tuition for the BWEL program
- Hotel accommodations during our 2.5-day residency in Boston, MA from October 17–19.
All participants will be responsible for:
- Covering the cost of their airfare to and from the 2.5-day residency in Boston, MA from October 17–19.
Why We Started This Program
The disparity between minority and non-minority women is increasing. In 2019, minority-owned businesses averaged $65,800 in revenue, compared to non-minority Women-owned businesses which averaged $218,800. The disparity has an enormous effect on the U.S. economy. Four million new jobs and $981 billion in revenue would be added if the average revenue of minority women-owned firms matched that of white women-owned businesses.
Black women-owned businesses made up the highest rate of growth after non-minority women. However, the number of new job creation and revenue was the lowest amount of all women-owned businesses. In 2019, the average revenue for Black women-owned businesses was $24,000.
With increasing awareness of the unique challenges Black women face with being an entrepreneur, BWEL was created with the goal of providing entrepreneurial leadership education, coaching, a global network, a resource business guide, and a peer community.
I am so grateful for the Babson BWEL program. Throughout the program, I was assisted with fine-tuning my capability statement and having access to Babson’s best-in-class professors, staff, and coaches. Through the practical and real-time lessons learned in the program, I secured five additional food service contracts. I am beyond grateful that Babson allowed me to accelerate my business with a group of outstanding black women entrepreneurs I now call my sisters.”