Women of Color Business Growth

• AT&T is a leader in the effort to grow women of color businesses. Businesses owned by women of color (African-American, Asian, Latina and other ethnicities) are one of the fastest growing segments of all small businesses. According to the Center for Women Business Research (CFWBR), these businesses started at three times the rate of all other groups, yet lag behind other firms in terms of success and growth indicators.
• These are the findings of CFWBR's multi-year study released in 2008 called "Research to Roadmap: Accelerating the Growth of Businesses Owned By Women of Color". AT&T, a sponsor of this study, is working to increase contracts for women of color businesses because they are an economic force that will improve the corporate supply chains of tomorrow.
• In 2008, AT&T hosted approximately 150 participants in our Accelerating the Growth of Businesses Owned by Women of Color Forums produced in Sacramento and Los Angeles. The forums served as an avenue to further disseminate the studies findings and recommendations to women businesses, community leaders, advocacy organizations and corporations.
• Three panelists, who are also women of color suppliers to AT&T, shared insights on how their successful companies overcame challenges identified in the study. The companies were: Latina-owned Argent Associates, CEO Betty Manetta; Asian-owned Universal Network Development Corporation, CEO Cindy Kazee; African-American owned Agile One, Vice President Tamara Rashid (CEO Janet Bryant Howroyd). During the forums, audiences participated in group discussions and assessed the implications for action.
• In 2009, AT&T expanded this important initiative and launched its own 'Women of Color Businesses Growth Initiative'. The program was launched during the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC's) national conference held in San Francisco in June where program participants attended workshops and met corporate and small business leaders.
• The program closely coached and mentored a pilot group of minority-women owned firms to 'the next level' and improve their competitiveness for corporate contracts.
• The mentoring program trained women of color businesses on six critical competencies such as gaining quality certifications, improving access to capital, capitalizing on ‘green’ initiatives, utilizing business technology solutions and understanding global supply chains.

Mentoring Program Press Release

WE Magazine, July/August 2009