Applications are now open for the fifth cohort of Babson College’s Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (BWEL) program. Designed by and for Black women entrepreneurial leaders and allies, the virtual program provides an experience and the resources needed to propel participants’ businesses and professional growth forward.
Babson College started this program to help close the racial gap between minority and non-minority women in business. In 2019, minority-owned businesses averaged $65,800 in revenue, compared to non-minority women-owned businesses, which averaged $218,800. This disparity hurt the U.S. economy, preventing four million new jobs and $981 billion in revenue from being added.
To help close this gap, the BWEL program will offer participants practical insights and tools to navigate procurement and other unique growth opportunities through eight weeks of live virtual business classes and a two-day in-person closing program in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
They will hear from seasoned procurement professionals, gain guidance from faculty and top industry leaders with expertise in growth and scaling, and access the program’s global alumane network.
Who Should Apply
Black women entrepreneurs interested in scaling their businesses are eligible to apply. The program considers applicants to be a good fit if they are:
- Founders or co-founders of a business
- Currently reside in the United States
- Have been in business for at least two years and generate a minimum of $150,000 annually
Program Cost
The Black Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership program is free for all participants through sponsored sponsorships which offset the $10,000 tuition. Included in the scholarship are the hotel and airfare accommodations for the two-day, in-person closing session.
Learn more about the program. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.