By Jen Juneau and Zoey Lyttle, People Leslie Uggams is embracing her legend status. People reports about the 81-year-old actress having a bit of a career renaissance at this point in her life. “[It’s] because I’m fabulous,” the Emmy and Tony winner quips, adding, “It’s great material that I’ve been able to do, and we have Fallout, which is another one that I’m doing.” Uggams also says she “couldn’t wait to get back” to the Deadpool universe alongside costar Ryan Reynolds and franchise newcomer Hugh Jackman. “I missed Ryan, and then we have Hugh Jackman in it as well, and…
Author: Black Community
By Rachel Rodgers “What’s my next move?” At the beginning of 2020, that’s the question that kept me awake at night. As the pandemic began, everything felt shaky and precarious. Especially for business owners like me. During the first lockdown, dozens of clients emailed to say, “Rachel, I love working with you and your team, but…”“I’m worried about the economy.” “I have to trim my budget.” “I need to cancel my services.”Overnight, my client roster dwindled as one person canceled, then another. Revenue took a nosedive. My stomach lurched every time a new message came into my inbox. Another cancellation.…
It’s not just about what you know, but who you know. Even with the most advanced skills, you may need a connection in the industry to help you navigate your career path. One of the best things you can do, no matter what industry you want to get into, is to form your professional network. So, whether you’re looking for a mentor, a job, a referral or just someone who understands your industry, here are some tips to help you form your network:Use Your Online PresenceUtilizing social media platforms, especially LinkedIn, is one of the best ways to make professional…
Whether you’re looking for your first job or making a career switch well into your working life, job interviews are crucial and inevitable. They are the best way to showcase your talents, abilities and work ethic to interested employers, but sometimes the nerves of such an important meeting can cause interviewees to forget their most important assets.Before you go into your next interview, remind yourself of who you are, what you can bring and these tips for nailing your next job interview:Be ConfidentIt’s important to remain professional and formal during an interview, but you also want to be confident in…
Headed by one of the oldest Black-owned construction companies in the United States, the architecture, engineering and construction fields are introducing an initiative that is putting diversity as a priority.National architecture, engineering and construction leaders are launching AEC Unites to inspire, promote and spur equity and inclusion in the AEC industry for Black talent and Black-owned businesses. Historically, Blacks have been severely underrepresented in AEC, which employs over 13 million workers—9% of the U.S. workforce. In 2022, Black workers held only 7% of all AEC jobs even though they represented 13% of all workers. By contrast, white workers comprise 77% of the workforce yet hold…
By Natalie Rodgers Even in a world where advancements in diversity are improving, we still have a long way to go before equity can be achieved. Luckily, companies and celebrities are coming together to push diverse entrepreneurs in the right direction.In 2020, singer and activist Pharrell Williams founded Black Ambition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. As part of this initiative, the group created the Demo Day competition, where innovators can pitch their innovations in the hopes of receiving one of the grand prizes. In 2023, the organization gave one of its largest donations yet, dispersing $3.2…
By Sydney Severn The New York Police Department (NYPD) joined the right side of history on September 25th when hiring Dr. Lynn O’Connor as their first Black woman surgeon, making her the seventh woman out of 35 surgeons in the department. Dr. O’Connor said to Good Morning America, “Perseverance pays off.” After being sworn in, Dr. O’Connor said, “You can’t be what you don’t see, so even after 178 years we’re finally seeing it…it’s a tremendous honor.” Even her daughter, Danielle Harris, spoke to reporters, saying, “It’s a representation that we definitely need, especially with there being so many disparities…
There’s nothing more energetic and exciting than more than 600 women business owners from across the nation coming together to connect, celebrate, learn, be inspired and access resources—all to power their dreams. Austin, Texas, was the host city for this incredible event that included the National Association of Women Business Owner’s (NAWBO) National Women’s Business Conference and NextGen Forum for young, start-up and early-stage female entrepreneurs. The conference kicked off in a sold-out exhibit hall that featured shopping, business resources and fun activities. Serial entrepreneur and author Mei Xu took the stage for a fireside chat with Bank of America’s…
By Natalie Rodgers, Pursuing an MBA is a fantastic opportunity to expand your expertise and create more opportunities for employment in your field. However, with so many different programs and schools to choose from, it can be hard to even know which programs to apply for and what differentiates a great MBA program from a poor one. Before you begin this big step in your educational journey, here are some questions to ask when it comes to searching for your MBA program: What Does My Schedule Look Like? Many people who pursue MBA programs are already employed, taking part in…
A strong supplier diversity system can greatly benefit large scale corporations and the small businesses they work with, but how do you know if your partnership will lead to success? Or alternatively, how do you know if the company you want to supply for really cares about inclusion? Here’s how to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your supplier diversity partnership. Communication is Present on Both SidesAs with a relationship of any kind, communication is critical. For a supplier diversity program to thrive, you not only need to keep clear and constant communication, but also invest time in nurturing…
