This Women’s History Month, I am reflecting on the innate genius of Black women.
The integrity we carry. The discernment we practice. The wisdom we pass down in boardrooms, classrooms, text messages, and quiet conversations after meetings.
There is something ancestral about how Black women mentor one another. We do not gatekeep what we know. We share it. We sharpen one another. We see ourselves in each other and understand that leadership is not scarce.
As I think about my own journey as a woman and entrepreneur, I am deeply aware that my growth did not happen in isolation. It was shaped by Black women whose wisdom transformed me, elevated me, and accelerated my excellence.
Women like Roxanne Christian, whose grounded confidence and steadfast self-awareness taught me that wholeness is leadership. Watching her move through rooms with clarity has shown me that when you are secure in who you are, you create space for other Black women to stand fully in themselves.
Women like Heather Dowdy, whose conviction and integrity have reinforced that personal values are not negotiable, even in corporate spaces. She has modeled what it looks like to trust your God-given gifts and to lead from alignment, not assimilation.
Women like Stephanie Gardner, Ed.D., whose commitment to preparation and lifelong learning elevated my own standard. Her example reminds me that excellence is not accidental. When you show up deeply prepared and rooted in knowledge, no one can diminish you.
This is the lineage I carry.
Black women have mentored me into greater clarity, stronger conviction, and deeper excellence.
And it has never been about only one of us thriving. There has always been room for all of us to eat.
This month, I honor the women whose genius lives in me — and I remain committed to pouring that wisdom forward.
— Mariama Suwaneh, Founder & Chief Empowerment Officer, High Performing Black Girl
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