Forbes Builds New Platform To Help Black Entrepreneurs, Business Leaders Thrive!!!

Time For A Change!!!

First Name Tom, Last Name Foolery… And I’m Everybody’s Uncle!    

Especially this company… Forbes.

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, corporate America made sweeping pledges to financially support the social justice movement that his death ignited and to bring racial diversity to their companies. Since then, the number of Black CEOs leading Fortune 500 firms doubled, from four to eight, to reach a new high water mark.

Meanwhile, seemingly in tandem, Black entrepreneurs have also made strides. Companies with majority Black ownership increased 14 percent, from 124,004 in 2017 to 140,918 in 2020, according to the Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey data analyzed by the Pew Research Center.

While the needle is apparently moving in the right direction, there’s still much work to be done in Black business leadership and ownership. For example, while the number of Black-owned ventures has increased, they still represent just 3 percent of all U.S. firms and only 1 percent of gross revenue.

It’s against that backdrop that Forbes, an international voice for entrepreneurial capitalism known for its lists of billionaires, recently launched ForbesBLK, a community of Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders.

ForbesBLK features networking and mentorship opportunities, invitations to member-only events, and access to thought leadership content via the Forbes YouTube platform, among its benefits.

Since its launch, the community has grown to more than 8,000 members, ForbesBLK community manager Ayisha Mendez told BET.com.

“ForbesBLK is really a representation of a substantial commitment that Forbes is making to elevate and uplift the voices of Black entrepreneurs and community creators because we're all here to drive systemic change in business, culture and society,” Mendez said.

“But we can't do it alone. We know that it takes the collaborative work that we're all doing together, and through this community, I think we're going to be able to do that.”

Climb on The Family Tree below & share your thoughts about My Nieces & Nephews Forbes’ helping situation.

By: Nigel Roberts

Image(s): Getty

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