Black Women Entrepreneur
Black entrepreneurs are striving towards excellence by breaking various barriers and inspiring millions of individuals. They are transforming the industries with their ideas, innovations, commitment, resilience, etc. Black women are now looking forward towards uplifting themselves and their communities and are inspiring all the women around the globe. In this article, we have listed the 10 most inspiring Black women entrepreneurs of 2025, who have built their legacies after triumphing over all their hurdles.
The Top 10 Most Inspiring Black Women
- Deryl McKissack
- Karen Washington
- Maria Toler
- Sheila Johnson
- Kim Prince
- Issa Rae
- Janice Bryant Howroyd
- Cathy Hughes
- Lisa Price
- Jessica Matthews
Deryl McKissack
Deryl McKissack is a famous name when people talk about Black women entrepreneurs. She was born in 1961 in the United States and is the founder and chairperson of McKissack & McKissack. McKissack & McKissack is the oldest design and construction firm in the United States that is founded and operated by an African-American individual. It has completed projects worth over $15 billion and has contributed towards building the Museum of African-American History and Culture and the popular Lincoln and Jefferson memorials. Deryl’s great-great-grandfather was an inspiration who was a master builder but was a slave. She created this empire under her father’s guidance. She had a lot of hurdles when she started her firm. She faced gender and racial discrimination in the male-dominated industry. She has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Due to her efforts, she has become a multi-millionaire.
Karen Washington
Karen Washington has made a lot of contributions towards food justice. She was born in 1954 and has advocated for healthy and relevant food accessible to all. She is the co-founder of Black Farmers Fund and works towards providing food justice and urban farming. She has faced racial discrimination and had various food policy barriers. Karen has an MS degree in occupational biomechanics and ergonomics.
Maria Toler
The next popular Black woman entrepreneur on our list is Maria Toler. Maria was born in 1977 in the United States. She is the founder and managing partner of SteelSky Ventures, a venture capital fund that is working towards women’s healthcare. She faced a lot of discrimination, such as racial as well as gender discrimination, in a male-dominated venture capital industry.
Sheila Johnson
Sheila Johnson is another popular Black woman entrepreneur who has influenced the lives of many. She was born on January 25, 1949, and is the founder and CEO of Salamander Connection and co-founder of BET. She had a strong desire towards reaching and empowering Black voices in the media, due to which she founded BET. She faced various gender barriers in the hospitality and television industries. She went to the University of Illinois and has an estimated net worth of around $800 million.
Kim Prince
Kim Price, the owner and chef of Hotville Chicken, was born in the 1970s. She is a culinary legacy and has been credited for popularizing the Nashville hot chicken, which was her family’s culinary legacy. She has faced various challenges as a Black woman chef in the hotel industry.
Issa Rae
Issa Rae, born on January 12, 1985, is another known name when it comes to Black women entrepreneurs. She is an actor, producer, and entrepreneur. She owns the Hill of Coffee + Kitchen and Lost Rooftop Lounge, which is a cultural landmark in LA. She believes in celebrating Black culture through the efforts of individuals. She studied at Stanford University and has a bachelor’s degree in African and African-American studies. She has a net worth of around $8 million.
Janice Bryant Howroyd
Janice Bryant Howroyd is the founder of the ACT-1 Group, which is the largest minority woman-owned work solution company. She was born on September 1, 1952. She started her business with just $1,500 and has now created an empire that is transforming the lives of millions of women. She had struggled with gender and racial discrimination in the staffing industry. Currently, Janice has a net worth of $630 million.
Cathy Hughes
Cathy Hughes, the founder of Urban One, was born on April 22, 1947. She founded the largest African-American broadcasting company in the world. Her company empowers the voices of Black individuals by narrating their stories. She faced many struggles as a single mother and was always racially profiled. Currently, Katie has a net worth of $460 million.
Lisa Price
Lisa Price was born on May 18, 1962, and is the popular face behind Carol’s Daughter. She founded this natural beauty brand in her kitchen. Her inspiration was to create a beauty brand that would focus on natural ingredients. She faced racial discrimination and funding challenges in the beauty industry. She has a net worth of around $10 million.
Jessica Matthews
The final Black woman entrepreneur to be added to our list is Jessica Matthews. Born on February 13, 1988, she is the founder of Uncharted Power. Her company is one of the most popular companies in the renewable energy and infrastructure industry. She has faced discrimination based on gender and race. Jessica has an MBA from Harvard Business School. She has invented Soccket, a soccer ball that has the ability to generate electricity. It was inspired by her passion for eliminating energy poverty in her home country of Nigeria.
