Through W.E. Build, I’ve discovered the power of community, vision, and scale. Just as Tulsa is growing as a hub for beauty and innovation, my work with Black to the Lab is expanding to show girls how cosmetic chemistry can be a tool for self-discovery, not just consumption.
When I entered the W.E. Build program, I thought I was stepping into a business accelerator. What I’ve realized is that W.E. Build is much bigger than that—it’s a space where founders are nurtured, challenged, and equipped to scale not only our companies but also our impact.
That lesson mirrors my own journey with Black to the Lab, a STEM education brand I founded to introduce young girls to science through the lens of cosmetic chemistry. What started as a single activity kit has grown into a movement—curriculums, workshops, and learning activations that allow girls to see themselves beyond being just consumers of beauty products. Through hands-on formulation, they begin to imagine themselves as chemists, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
The parallels are striking. Just as W.E. Build is pushing me to think beyond being “just a founder” to truly becoming a CEO, Black to the Lab is pushing girls to think beyond being “just consumers” to becoming creators and leaders. Both are about reimagining roles, reclaiming narratives, and scaling impact.
Being here in Tulsa makes this even more powerful. The city’s history of Black Wall Street, combined with its emerging role in beauty, contract manufacturing, and tech innovation, creates the perfect backdrop for my work. Tulsa is not only honoring its past but actively building a new future where founders like me can thrive in industries that once felt out of reach.
This season has also opened doors for me to connect my work to broader conversations in beauty and science. I had the opportunity to present at the Toxic Beauty Summit, where we tackled tough conversations about health, wellness, and representation in beauty. I also attended the Myavana Beauty Tech Summit, where I witnessed firsthand how technology is reshaping how we understand and care for our hair. Both experiences affirmed the urgency of the work I’m doing through Black to the Lab—because the future of beauty isn’t just about products, it’s about science, technology, and empowerment.
As I continue through W.E. Build, I see how these threads tie together. The accelerator is preparing me with the tools, mentors, and network to scale my business, while Tulsa itself is showing me that this growth is part of a much bigger ecosystem. Together, they remind me that what we build here is more than companies—it’s opportunities, representation, and legacies for generations to come.
Celebrate innovation, resilience, and entrepreneurship at the W.E. Build Demo Day on November 6, 2025, at 5:30 PM at Tulsa’s Historic Big 10 Ballroom (1624 E. Apache, Tulsa, OK 74106). Experience the inspiring pitches from our third cohort of W.E. Builders, meet the founders, and see how W.E. Build empowers women to launch and scale thriving businesses.
W.E. Build, powered by the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Initiative, provides women entrepreneurs with essential tools, mentorship, and funding to succeed—including a $25,000 non-dilutive business award, three months of training, and access to vital legal, financial, and wellness resources.
We can’t wait to see you there!