Rolonda Hernandez, Founder of Advance Wake and the Strategic AF Experience, is on a mission to make entrepreneurship sustainable for underestimated founders. Based in Wake County, NC, Rolonda blends corporate-level operational strategy with community-centered solutions, offering both high-level clarity and culturally aligned support for entrepreneurs who are often left behind.
After years of streamlining operations for large enterprises and government teams, Rolonda saw a gap: Black women and underestimated small business owners needed access to the same systems and support—but designed with real-world, community-rooted strategy. Out of this realization, the Strategic AF Experience was born, offering masterclasses, mentorship, and her signature program: Strategic AF Experience™: Shift. Analyze. Execute. to help entrepreneurs build structure, automate tasks, and organize chaos.
Her second venture, Advance Wake (www.advancewake.com), takes it further by providing an AI-powered digital business partner for Wake County entrepreneurs. The platform delivers real-time startup guidance, operational checklists, and municipal resources 24/7, bridging the gap where traditional programs fall short.
When asked what advice she has for Black women entrepreneurs, Rolonda is clear: “Clarity is a strategy. Define, design, declare. Stop defaulting to survival mode and start moving with intention.”
Her legacy is rooted in building systems that don’t just demand resilience but create sustainability and ease for Black women and underestimated founders worldwide.
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Nicole Murphy, Founder + CEO of Barter Black®, is reimagining what collaboration looks like for Black entrepreneurs. Based in Upper Marlboro, MD, Murphy created Barter Black® during the pandemic after witnessing how many Black-owned businesses struggled, not from lack of talent, but lack of access.
Barter Black® is the only bartering platform designed specifically for Black entrepreneurs, allowing members to trade products and services using Barter Bucks instead of cash. From legal support and marketing to graphic design and wellness services, members earn and spend Barter Bucks in a thriving ecosystem that protects cash flow while expanding opportunity.
But Murphy makes it clear: this isn’t just a marketplace. With a design patent on its first platform iteration, Barter Black® is building a new Black Wall Street powered by community and technology. Members gain access not just to barter, but also to grants, networking, business support, and wellness resources.
Murphy’s journey hasn’t been linear. She has paused, pivoted, and rebuilt Barter Black® with a trade credit system that finally feels right. Now, she’s preparing to launch the Barter Black® mobile app on February 5, 2026, and has opened a Crowdbartering campaign inviting creatives and professionals to contribute their skills to help scale the vision.
Her advice to fellow Black women entrepreneurs is simple yet powerful: “If your goal is to build a business that outlives you, then you have to start acting like it. Every day or every week, figure out what can operate without you.”
With Barter Black®, Murphy is doing exactly that; laying the foundation for a future where Black businesses don’t just survive, they build lasting wealth. To learn more and explore how you can barter with other Black entrepreneurs, visit barterblack.io.
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Founded in 2024 by former nurse Jacqueline Greer, A Hot Mess Candle Co. is a home fragrance brand rooted in culture, nostalgia, and unapologetic creativity. Greer has turned her creative outlet during burnout season into a full-fledged sensory movement designed to honor Black stories and spark conversations, one fragrant experience at a time.
Based in Frisco, Texas, the brand offers handcrafted candles, nostalgic wax melts, and culturally inspired resin art holders through its signature collections: No Mess, A Hot Mess, and Hot Luxe. Every product is intentionally crafted to blend scent with storytelling, from candles that smell like grandma’s house to resin art shaped like Africa, to products inspired by iconic Black films and music.
A Hot Mess Candle Co. is fortifying its legacy. Through its “Bless the Mess” initiative, the company is committed to reinvesting in the communities that shaped it—because at A Hot Mess Candle Co. Every design choice is made with cultural meaning and personal connection in mind. They’re about how it feels, what it represents, and who it’s for.
One standout moment? Being named a Top 10 finalist in the Famous Amos Ingredients for Success grant, out of over 4,000 applicants. For Greer, that recognition was a powerful reminder that her vision mattered. Looking ahead, the brand is expanding into incense, room sprays, and car fresheners, building a lifestyle experience that travels with you.
Greer’s advice for other Black women entrepreneurs: “You don’t have to follow the rules to succeed—you just have to be consistent, creative, and committed to your vision. Trust the process, but bet on you. Every time.”
Visit ahotmesscandle.com to explore a fragrance experience that centers us—because scent, like culture, should be felt, seen, and celebrated.
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What if caregivers were cared for, too? That question sits at the heart of Somalia Swing’s work, the Louisiana-based Director of Operations behind Compassionate Care U. With firsthand experience in the field, she saw the pattern too clearly: caregivers entering roles unprepared, undervalued, and expected to give their all without receiving enough in return.
So she responded with structure and soul. Through Compassionate Care U, she’s created a space where caregivers build confidence, gain real support, and feel seen in the process.
Compassionate Care U offers Direct Support Worker (DSW) certification, continuing education units, agency licensing, and a caregiver wellness membership. It’s a service-based company grounded in lived experience and designed for long-term impact. The 15-module training system, paired with a matching manual and workbook, equips caregivers to walk into their first day with clarity, not confusion.
Operating in Louisiana, Texas, and Massachusetts, CCU is focused on practical solutions that reduce turnover and elevate the standard of care. They’re also gearing up for the “Pour Into You” Caregiver Appreciation Event this September in Louisiana, a celebration to uplift and restore the people doing the often unseen labor of care.
Founder’s Advice “Move like it’s already working. Don’t wait for validation. If the vision was given to you, it’s because you’re equipped to carry it. Start building it now—and refine it as you go.”
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These three Black Woman Owned furniture and interior design companies brought their imaginations to life and are now bringing new energy into your homes! Meet, Almond Wind, O & Company Interiors, and Savannah Space in the listicle below. While Almond Wind and O & Company Interiors are based in the US, Savannah Space is based in Kenya and ships internationally. Be sure to browse through all their collections and shop Black Woman Owned when ready!
Almond Wind – Almond Wind was created to fill the void of diversity in the furniture space. They’re all about creating cozy, chic spaces that make you feel like you’re living in a Pinterest board—minus the pressure to keep everything perfectly staged.
O & Company Interiors – O & Company Interiors is committed to offering a unique blend of high-quality, soulfully resonant decor solutions. Their goal is to empower individuals to create sanctuaries that speak to their true essence.
Savannah Space – Savannah Space celebrates the vibrancy and beauty of Kenya by curating and creating high-quality and unique pieces for the home. They work with multiple artisans around the country to bring fun and eclectic furniture and home decor to clients.
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