2022 Women of Color Incubator Pitch Competition
On Wednesday, November 2, we hosted the Women of Color (WOC) Incubator Pitch Competition alongside the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), where 21 Howard University female students across disciplines had the opportunity to compete for capital to support their businesses. The winners of the competition received prizes ranging from 1k-5k.
In addition, The Center for Women, Gender and Global Leadership (CWGGL) -Howard University, ActOne Group, GSK, Marriott International, Verizon, and Walmart Inc. co-sponsored the program.
Kicking off the competition, Lindsey All, the Senior Director of Executive Programs at WBENC, provided welcome remarks, followed by Audrey Awasom, Manager of Programs at WBENC. Awasom, who also served as the host for the evening, provided an overview of the WOC Incubator program and its mission to empower the next generation of female entrepreneurs through funding and support.
Following their remarks, the judges - a strong group of women professionals established in their respective fields - including Erika Alexander, Chief Global Officer of Global Operations at Marriott Int.; Denise Naguib, Vice President of Sustainability and Supplier Diversity at Marriott International, Inc; Dr. Anjerrika Bean, Assistant Director of the Center for Women, Gender & Global Leadership at Howard University; and Mia Thornton, Founder, CEO of Mainsail Technologies and 2021 WOC Incubator Pitch Winner- shared encouraging words to the participants. They maintained this sentiment even when asking questions about participants' business plans and finances.
Following remarks - and with only a three-minute slot each- students walked onto center stage and began pitching in front of a packed room of other students, faculty, and community members. With the prohibition of audio-visual support, students powered through their pitch, amplifying their why using their voice, stage presence, props, samples, or product demonstrations.
In the end, after careful consideration and difficult deliberation, the judges selected the following winners:
- First Place | Destiny Wesley | Measure Me App
- Second Place | Endora Guillaume | Endora's Organics
- Third Place | Shiyaun Hunter | Serene Thingz
We are grateful to have been a part of this momentous occasion and to host such a reputable organization and inspiring student entrepreneurs. CWGGL aims to promote women's leadership and excellence, and this pitch competition is just one of the many ways we continue to support and uplift the next generation of leaders.
Thank you to the WBNEC Incubator Program participants for their hard work, commitment, and dedication. We hope the feedback from the judges and the other community of innovators will leave a lasting impression on all of you as future HU Women in Business and Leadership.