Business is no joke: finances, marketing, content creation. It’s a lot! And a pandemic, overall, does not help.
On top of the typical demands of a business, women of color encounter additional obstacles to success. Zippia reported the average wage for a white entrepreneur is $63,918. For a Black entrepreneur, it is $55,879 and for a Hispanic business owner, it is $59,645. A businessman’s average income is $90,239. For businesswomen, its $81,888.
A poll conducted by Lake Research Partners for Small Business Majority found evidence of continued disparities created by the pandemic. Entrepreneurs of color were less likely to remain open and more likely to let employees go. There has also been disparity in aid given with PPE loans mainly going to white male business owners.
Saying all this to say, the entrepreneurship struggle is real, especially if you are a minority business owner. HerSuiteSpot is a business training and coaching company that is looking to attack these stats by creating a professional community for women of color where they feel safe, seen and supported. Their goal is to inspire confidence in longtime and budding entrepreneurs by surrounding them with the network and resources they need to be successful.
The company was founded by Valley Stream resident Marsha Guerrier. She wears many hats as a longtime business analyst, entrepreneur, author and coach who strives to uplift women in professional settings. Guerrier has appeared on ABC, “The Tamron Hall Show” and other high profile media outlets promoting her brand and its goal of increasing capital for minority businesswomen.
You can become a SuiteMate for free, giving you access to engaging virtual events, a learning lab with workbooks and more. If you decide to join HerSuiteSpot’s suite masters group, you will be matched with six to eight women who will guide you based on where you are in your entrepreneurial journey. Coaches vary from fellow entrepreneurs and business analysts to authors and speakers who have worked for Forbes, Bloomberg and more.
For young girls, HerSuiteSpot also offers the HerRise STEM squad. This program offers a summer career employment curriculum and monthly spring and fall activities that are designed to strengthen girl’s confidence in the STEM field with an emphasis on leadership roles. Scholars earn a wage for attending and learn financial literacy.
HerSuiteSpot also hosts their annual HerRise Conference, which features a plethora of expert speakers engaging in panels and fireside chats.
You can check out the HerSuiteSpot website here. For more Black businesses, go to our directory.
