Brandon Schwartz

Former banking executive Jacqueline “JaQ” Alexander (Campbell) is expanding the landscape of opportunity for Black women in finance with the launch of the Wealth Management Accelerator (WMA) — a program designed to reskill and reposition mid-career professionals affected by the recent wave of layoffs. As over 110,000 advisors near retirement and $124 trillion in wealth is set to transfer across generations, Campbell’s vision ensures that Black women are not left on the sidelines of the next economic era. The Wealth Management Accelerator program provides Series 65 licensing preparation, executive development, and mentorship equipping participants to lead with confidence in an industry that has historically lacked representation. This training is about reclaiming authority in spaces that shape wealth, influence, and legacy. At The Onyx Table, we honor leaders like JaQ who are building infrastructure for long-term inclusion and empowerment — ensuring that our voices are not only present but pivotal. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gsqRMj5p #BlackExcellence #TheOnyxTable #LeadershipInAction #WealthManagement #CareerAcceleration #RepresentationMatters #ExecutiveLeadership

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Venture needs new voices. These investors are bringing them. They’re backing bold ideas. Building breakout funds. Creating real access. Black investors are still underrepresented, but these 10 are changing that—fast: ✅ Brentt Baltimore – Principal at Greycroft; investor in AI + ML startups like Groundlight and Sailplan; co-leads BLCK VC LA ✅ Brian Brackeen – GP at Lightship; backing underrepresented founders across AI, health-tech, and CPG ✅ Lisa Coca – Partner at Toyota Ventures; leading climate-focused investments for carbon neutrality ✅ Erica Duignan Minnihan – Founder of Reign Ventures; 15+ years backing women & minority-led startups ✅ Tessa Flippin – Founder of Capitalize VC; investing in pre-seed diverse founders at the intersection of commerce and fintech ✅ Dan Gebremedhin MD, MBA – Partner at Flare Capital Partners; former Harvard physician now investing in healthcare tech ✅ Frederik Groce – Deal Lead at Wellington; co-founder of BLCK VC, the largest Black VC network in the U.S. ✅ Uriridiakoghene (Ulili) Onovakpuri – Managing Partner at Kapor Capital; co-leads $126M fund backing transformative, inclusive startups ✅ Sydney Sykes – Partner at Lightspeed; consumer investor and co-founder of BLCK VC ✅ Samer Yousif – Senior Associate at Insight Partners; co-leads 20/20 Vision Fund backing diverse emerging managers This isn’t just about representation. It’s about returns. 🔗 Full article here: https://lnkd.in/gtJdtx-E #VC #innovation #capital #startups #finance

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This Black History Month, we’re highlighting initiatives that strengthen Black entrepreneurship in New York City. Black New Yorkers represent 22% of the city’s population — yet just 3.5% of NYC businesses are Black-owned. BE NYC (Black Entrepreneurs NYC) works to close that gap through startup support, legal services, and business resources. Explore the program and upcoming opportunities: https://lnkd.in/evfpFsR4

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Doji, a fashion-tech startup co-founded by Dorian Dargan and Jim Winkens, has raised $14 million in seed funding, led by Thrive Capital with participation from Seven Seven Six Ventures, to scale its AI-powered avatar app that lets users virtually try on clothes in a fun, social, and personalized way. Read more in my latest article for AFROTECH https://lnkd.in/grDRaDgk

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Many Black women entrepreneurs wonder how much to invest in marketing and advertising. A recent survey revealed that 58.3% spend between $100 and $1,000 monthly, while 41.7% spend less than $100. When calculating marketing expenses, consider the value of time spent on content creation, strategy, market research, and competitive analysis. Recognizing the worth of these efforts can provide a clearer picture of marketing investments. #marketingbudget #blackwomeninbusiness #entrepreneurship #marketingstrategy #smallbusiness #businesstips

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Earlier today on a panel, I was asked a deeply reflective question that continues to echo in many rooms. Why do women receive mentorship more often than sponsorship, when sponsorship is what truly accelerates careers? Here is the truth. Mentorship guides you. Sponsorship backs you in rooms you are not in. And while many women have access to mentors, fewer have access to people willing to stake their reputation on them. I have benefited from both. But one experience fundamentally reshaped how I think about growth, access, and intentionality. Years ago, while growing my footprint in tech, I knew I needed more than surface understanding. I needed insight from someone who had built, scaled, and operated at a high level. So I made a deliberate decision. I paid for mentorship and requested to be matched with a female tech leader through a structured program. What started as learning sessions quickly became transformational. She did not just answer questions. She stretched my thinking. She expanded my field of vision. In one of our sessions, she made a statement that I had not fathomed. “I think you are ready to be a COO in tech.” I pushed back. I had the cross-functional experience, had delivered strategic initiatives, and built capability across products and software development. But I did not see myself as fully ready for the role or ready to move. She saw it differently. Beyond mentoring me, she began to sponsor me. She spoke about me in rooms I was not in. When COO opportunities came to her, she put my name forward. Even when I hesitated, she challenged me to test myself. To go through at least one interview process, not necessarily to get the role, but to validate my readiness. That one interview led to a VP offer in a pan-African technology company with hubs in India and other locations. I chose not to take the offer. But the experience was catalytic. It expanded my perspective, sharpened my confidence, and laid the foundation for my subsequent contribution to building another rapidly scaling technology business. Here is what I have learned: Sometimes mentors and sponsors find you Othertimes, you must be intentional about finding them. Sometimes, that means paying for mentorship or coaching. Not as a transaction, but as an investment in clarity, capability, and access. And when the alignment is right, mentorship can evolve into sponsorship. Because when someone truly sees your potential, they do not just advise you. They advocate for you. For many women, the gap is not talent. It is access. So we must do two things: 💜Seek out environments, relationships, and platforms that stretch and position us. 💜And as leaders, go beyond mentoring to actively sponsoring others. Because mentorship builds competence, but sponsorship changes trajectory. Thank you, A.U., for showing me what was possible🌹 #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #Sponsorship #Mentorship #CareerGrowth #TheAlternativeBank #NonInterestBanking #GivetoGain #IWDWebinar

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Representation matters in every space - including the marketplace. Supporting Black founders and products creates a ripple effect of empowerment and possibility. Read more → https://lnkd.in/egikTFZG

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