If you want to strengthen your creative skills, we have the right book for you. In “Re-Creating the Word: The Power and Joy of Collaborative Creativity” by Lisa A. Kramer ..read more

Y2K arrived 24 years behind schedule – and all it took was a problematic update from one of the biggest cybersecurity firms in the world. How did CloudStrike’s lapse in ..read more

Are you thinking about becoming a woman-owned business? We spoke to founders and CEOs of certified women-owned businesses to find out why they got certified and what it did for them. Certification is complicated, but it can lead to big benefits – especially if your customers are large corporations or the federal government. The entrepreneurs we interviewed reported their certifications leading to:  visibility advantages  faster payment terms  million-dollar contracts  business-reviving grants  connections to a strong community  partnerships and collabo ..read more

Hello Alice, the fintech platform connecting 1.5 million small businesses to capital, connections and opportunities, announced the expansion of its small business accelerators and additional Boost Camp programs for 2024. In partnership with top enterprise partners and the Global Entrepreneurship Network, the Boost Camps offer a combination of skill-building programs and grant opportunities to small business owners across the U.S. Current Boost Camp partners include Progressive Insurance, Antares Capital, Wells Fargo and FedEx. The Boost Camps started as part of grant programs in 2023. They ha ..read more

Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced that it will cohost a ChallengeHER event in Colorado Springs on Aug. 22, alongside Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and American Express (AMEX). ChallengeHER offers education about government contracting and is free for all registrants. “ChallengeHER has helped tens of thousands of women-owned small businesses gain access to federal contracts and grow their revenue ..read more

Entrepreneurship can feel incredibly lonely, especially if you’re working solo. Where would we be without our communities? They provide connection, inspiration and simple camaraderie – that’s why we bring you regular events and networking opportunities. If you’re building your own community or want to thrive in an existing one, how can you make the most of it? Our most recent event, “Building Your Community: Insights from Leading Women Founders,” brought together three incredible women who successfully created and sustained their own entrepreneurial communities. Featuring Natalie Benamou, fo ..read more

Take a break from the summer heat to find the next grant for your business! We chose these opportunities with you in mind. Read on for details about these grants and hopefully find the next funding source to meet your entrepreneurial goals.  Cadence Cash Thrive Grant: $5,000  Cadence Cash administers the quarterly Thrive Grant to support small businesses that contribute positively to their communities. In addition to a grant of $5,000, the grant gives businesses access to resources, guidance, and community connections. Businesses must have a demonstrated impact on their community li ..read more

50/50 Women on Boards (50/50WOB) announced its highly anticipated 2024 list of 50 Women to Watch for Boards. This prestigious cohort showcases exceptionally qualified women leaders from diverse sectors across North America, primed for roles on public company boards. 50/50WOB is the leading global nonprofit education and advocacy campaign driving the movement toward gender balance and diversity on corporate boards. In its second year, applications more than doubled from last year, showcasing unprecedented interest. This list provides organizations and recruiters with access to valida ..read more

Ferrero North America, in partnership with the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., announced its 2024 Famous Amos Ingredients for Success Entrepreneurs Initiative. The annual national program is in its fourth year. The program provides a capital award, resources and mentorship services to Black early-stage entrepreneurs. The program invites eligible start-up businesses to apply for the opportunity to receive a $50,000 award. Apply at FamousAmosIngredientsForSuccess.com through August 4, 2024. Eligible businesses must be at minimum 90 percent Black-owned, in business for five y ..read more

I’ve become a recent fan of playing the New York Times’ daily puzzles online, and one of my favorites is Connections. Sixteen words are provided, and the goal is to form four groups of four words that are in some way connected. You have to figure out what the connection is, and you get four mistakes, after which the game ends and the correct answers pop up. For example, on the day that I’m writing this, four connected words are bar, dinner, liberty, and tinker. They’re all “words before ‘bell.'” When I first started playing, I would find two or three words that appeared to be obviously connec ..read more