Supporting Black women in business

Sonia Brown MBE is the Founder and Director of the National Black Women’s Network [NBWM] which is dedicated to increasing the representation, progression and inclusion of women of colour in all sectors of business, professions and government.

Sonia is an award-winning business communicator, uber networker, coach, trainer and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion leader. In addition to founding the NBWN in 1999, she has pioneered initiatives such as Let’s Talk Business, Inspirational Women’s Super-Summit, Connected Women Business Panels, iCAN (a Community Ambassador Programme) and EVOLVE – a comprehensive six-step business growth and membership programme tailored for solo and micro entrepreneurs. She currently lends her expertise to support business owners and leaders through The Alpha Group, an executive peer-to-peer advisory board. She spoke to workingmums.co.uk about its work and how it has evolved since its inception in 1999.

Workingmums.co.uk: The NBWN has been going for several decades now. Have the original goals changed over the years?

Sonia Brown:  Over the two decades, the National Black Women’s Network (NBWN) has evolved while staying true to its core mission of empowering and advocating for Black women in business, politics and the workplace.

Internal challenges have meant a redefinition in the services and support it can offer going forward. While our fundamental goal of achieving equality and opportunity remains unchanged, we have adapted our approach to address emerging challenges and opportunities facing Black women today.

However, the network has lost some of its shine due to my Guilianne Barre syndrome diagnosis which has been a challenge since 2019 and has had a massive impact in terms of consistency, collaborations and conviction. This demonstrated that if you don’t have a strong team or plan it’s inevitable that your business will take a severe knock.

wms: What have been your biggest achievements?

SB: Among our proudest achievements is fostering a strong community of support and empowerment for Black women across various sectors. We have successfully campaigned for policy changes that advance gender and racial equality across all parties; facilitated networking opportunities that enhance career development; and provided crucial resources to empower entrepreneurial endeavours among Black women.

We are proud of our Black & Female Business Forum (launched by the former Mayor) at City Hall and iCAN (Community Ambassador Programme); of our Connected Woman Forum with retail banks and of our EVOLVE Business Support Programme, to name a few.

wms: Have the challenges Black women face changed over the years or are they still the same, for instance, access to funding?

SB: While progress has been made in many areas, challenges such as access to funding, career advancement opportunities, and combating systemic bias and discrimination still persist. The landscape has evolved with new hurdles emerging, underscoring the ongoing need for targeted support and advocacy due to Brexit and post-pandemic challenges.

wms: What can the new government do to make a difference?

SB: The new government can play a pivotal role by enacting policies that promote diversity, equity and inclusion across ALL sectors. This includes enhancing access to funding and resources specifically tailored to support Black women entrepreneurs and addressing barriers to career progression through targeted initiatives and inclusive economic policies.

wms: How big an issue is an adequate care infrastructure?

SB: An adequate care infrastructure is a critical issue that disproportionately affects Black women, who often bear the responsibilities of caregiving both at home and in their professional lives. Investing in affordable and accessible childcare, eldercare and healthcare services is essential to support the economic empowerment and well-being of Black women and their families.

It is important to remember for some of those Black women working from home (hybrid) there has been a new kind of discrimination – a lack of access to valuable meetings, lost promotional opportunities, isolation and loneliness based on the fact that they had become ‘invisible’.

wms: How has the turbulence of the last years – COVID-19, AI, Brexit etc – affected the kind of support women need?

SB: The recent challenges have underscored the need for adaptable and responsive support systems, especially around mental health, hybrid working and even the menopause. COVID-19 has left many business people frustrated in terms of accessing supply chains to take advantage of different opportunities and more importantly, cash. For start-ups, micro and small business owners must access and receive high quality not ‘candy floss’ support and development because the landscape is changing so rapidly. It’s vital to keep up.

Many micro and small business owners will get left behind if they don’t get an understanding of and the advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is an intergenerational issue, but Baby Boomers and GenX better get on the AI train.

Sadly, for many, the impact of Brexit has highlighted even more disparities and created new barriers for women, necessitating innovative solutions and comprehensive support mechanisms that address evolving economic, technological and social landscapes.

We cannot take our eyes off the ball. According to the 2020 Carnegie UK Trust report, Race Inequality in the Workforce, Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority people have disproportionately lost their jobs, are more likely to be unemployed or in precarious work and are likely to have lower earnings than their White counterparts.

This means they need access to coaching support and professional development support and need to embrace networking opportunities to get back into the flow and more motivated.

wms: What’s next for the network?

SB: Looking ahead, the NBWN remains committed to expanding its reach and impact. We aim to strengthen partnerships, amplify our advocacy efforts and continue empowering Black women through tailored programmes and initiatives.

We will focus on the EVOLVE Business Support Programme as our flagship business programme. But we will be working with other partners like Black Women in the Boardroom to celebrate their campaigns and awareness days, such as Gynaecologic Cancer Awareness Month; World Afro Day; International Equal Pay Day; World Gratitude Day; and Black History Month, to name a few.

Watch this space as we are always looking for volunteers and partners. In closing, embracing innovation and leveraging digital platforms will further enhance our ability to meet the evolving needs of our community and drive positive change in business, politics and the workplace.

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