The Women of Color initiative, was started by WBCS in 2012 with the formation of the Women of Color Outreach Committee made up of both Women Business Enterprise (WBE) and Corporate members. This initiative was established in response to the growing number of women-owned businesses being started by women of color. It specifically addresses the discrepancy in the revenue gap between businesses owned by women of color and non-minority women. We host intentional events geared toward women of color including happy hours, panel discussions, and business mixers. In 2020, we started a Mentor Program to help women business owners through the certification process. The three-month Women of Color Mentor Program, matches potential WBCS members and new members with a current member who can help them through the certification process or teach them how to get plugged into the network.
Applications for our complimentary Women of Color Certification Mentor Program are now open! The program connects each mentee with a seasoned mentor, with whom they meet with monthly at their discretion for three months, to navigate the certification process. The next cohort takes place mid-July through mid-October. It kicks off with an in-person Meet Your Mentor Mixer in Irving, TX open to all cohort mentees and mentors and wraps up with an in-person Women of Color Business Mixer open to the full WBCS network in Irving, TX in October.
Mentee Expectations
- Be WBE certification-eligible (Learn about the criteria and process here.)
- Attend the Meet Your Mentor Mixer in July and Women of Color Business Mixer in October
- Attend 1 additional WBCS event during mentorship
- Connect with your mentor as needed during mentorship (ideally once per month)
Applications for the 2023 Summer Cohort have closed