Honoring History ❤️ From Black History Month to Women’s History Month

From Black History Month to Women’s History Month: Women Are Building Leadership That Lasts

As Black History Month comes to a close and Women’s History Month begins, we are reminded that leadership is not built in silos or celebrated in a single moment. It is built over time, through legacy, access, education, and agency.

At She Speaks CEO, this transition from February to March reflects exactly who we are. An organization founded by a woman of color, rooted in lived experience across cultures and communities, and committed to advancing leadership for all women who are shaping the future of business, innovation, and influence.

What began as a mission to bridge gaps for women of color in leadership has grown into a national women in leadership organization focused on equipping women with the tools, access, and confidence to lead boldly at every level.

The Data That Deserves To Be Celebrated

The rise of women in leadership is not aspirational. It's measurable.

African-American women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States, with approximately 2.7 million Black women-owned businesses nationwide. In recent years, the number of businesses owned by Black women has more than doubled, reflecting resilience, innovation, and determination in the face of systemic barriers.

Between 2014 and 2019, African-American women accounted for 42 percent of net new women-owned businesses, far exceeding their share of the population. Today, Black women-owned businesses collectively generate nearly $100 billion in annual revenue, underscoring the economic power of this growth. At She Speaks CEO, we believe that's worth celebrating whether it's Black History Month or not. Collectively, it's HERSstory.

Education tells an equally compelling story.

Black women earn the majority of college degrees awarded to Black students at every level, including bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Among young adults ages 25 to 34, approximately 38 percent of Black women hold a bachelor’s degree, reflecting significant gains in higher education attainment and professional preparedness.

Research also shows that a majority of Black women view entrepreneurship as a key pathway to wealth creation, leadership autonomy, and long-term impact.

In short, women, particularly women of color, are no longer waiting to be invited into leadership. They are creating their own pathways.

Leadership Requires More Than Ambition

While ambition is powerful, it is not enough on its own. Sustainable leadership requires access to professional development, executive-level strategy, proximity to other decision-makers, and environments that encourage women to sharpen their voice and expand their influence.

This is why She Speaks CEO exists.

Our mission is centered on building leadership agency — the ability for women to confidently own their leadership identity, navigate executive spaces with authority, and make intentional decisions about their growth and visibility. This is what we subscribe to across our ecosystem.

Real Women. Real Investment. Real Leadership.

Take for example Dr. Janet Tonkins. As one of our newest members, Dr. Janet Tonkins, exemplifies what modern leadership looks like. As an accomplished executive and thought leader, Dr. Tonkins joined She Speaks CEO as a platinum member, not because she lacked experience, or needed validation, but because she understands the value of investing in spaces that elevate leadership, expand perspective, and align with purpose.

Her story reflects a broader truth. Today’s leaders are intentional about where they invest their time, energy, and professional capital. They seek communities that challenge them, support them, and help them lead at the next level.

Women’s History Month in Action: Powerhouse Women Unite at SXSW

At She Speaks CEO, Women’s History Month is not just something we acknowledge. It's something we activate.

This March, She Speaks CEO will create a curated space for powerhouse women to meet and gather at our Powerhouse Women Unite, a Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day activation taking place in Austin, Texas, where we'll activate a meaningful room of female leaders and rising stars for the second year in a row during SXSW Week.

Powerhouse Women Unite is an intentional gathering designed for women founders, executives, creatives, and leaders who understand that visibility, connection, and strategic positioning matter — especially at events like South by Southwest, where innovation and culture intersect.

This activation reflects what She Speaks CEO stands for:

• Creating spaces where women’s leadership is visible and valued

• Connecting women across industries and career stages

• Amplifying voices that are shaping what leadership looks like next

SXSW is a global activation. The She Speaks CEO Powerhouse Women Unite mixer ensures women have a space within its landscape, a space where they feel powerful, connected, and positioned.

Why This Matters for All Women

The future of leadership is here. It's inclusive, collaborative, and multidimensional.

She Speaks CEO continues to design curated events, conferences, and gatherings specific to this future of leadership. Because when women, including women of color, gain access, assembly, and agency, leadership becomes more representative. When leadership becomes more representative, organizations perform better. People perform better. The world performs better and progress accelerates for everyone.

This ethos is at the core of the She Speaks CEO National Women in Leadership Conference, taking place May 15–17th, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Our flagship experience is designed for women who are serious about stepping into executive leadership and investing in the time, tools, and strategy to get there.

Attendees will gain:

• Practical leadership strategies grounded in real-world application

• Insight into innovation, AI, and future-ready leadership skills

• Access to a powerful national network of women leaders and decision-makers

• The confidence to lead with clarity, authority, and purpose

PARTNER. ATTEND. SUPPORT.

More than a conference. This is commitment to the leadership journey.

As Black History Month closes and Women’s History Month begins, our mission continues forward. Stronger, broader, and more intentional than ever.

We invite you to be part of it. Register to be part of the experience today.

From SXSW to Denver and beyond, She Speaks CEO is building leadership that lasts.