glass ceiling, sticky floor, work inequality, advancement — Photo by Mizuno K: https://www.pexels.com/photo/frustrated-businesswoman-sitting-at-an-office-desk-12911178/

by Selena Hill

May 18, 2026

Experts Say The ‘Sticky Floor’ Phenomenon Is Trapping Women In Low-Wage Jobs

For decades, conversations about workplace inequality have centered around the “glass ceiling.”

For decades, conversations about workplace inequality have centered around the “glass ceiling,” the invisible barrier preventing women from rising into executive leadership roles. However, some experts say another issue may be impacting far more women across the country: the “sticky floor.”

The Economic Metrics of Inequality

According to a new report published by Fast Company, the “sticky floor” describes the systemic forces that keep women concentrated in low-paying, low-mobility jobs with little opportunity for advancement. The report argues that while highly educated women have made gains in corporate leadership and boardrooms, millions of working-class women without college degrees — especially Black and Hispanic women — remain locked in underpaid industries such as healthcare support, hospitality, retail, administrative work, and caregiving.

A Structural Trap

“The sticky floor is a structural trap,” writes Laetitia Vitaud in the article, pointing to the ways sexism, caregiving responsibilities, and age discrimination compound over time for women workers. Unlike the glass ceiling, the sticky floor highlights the obstacles women face at the bottom and middle levels of the workforce. Researchers say these barriers often begin early in women’s careers and intensify with age. The report also noted that women between 45 and 65 are especially vulnerable as they juggle caregiving responsibilities for aging parents, spouses, grandchildren, and adult children while also facing financial instability and retirement gaps.

The Corporate Reality

The conversation comes amid broader concerns about gender equity in corporate America. A recent Reuters analysis found that women still hold only about 11% of CEO positions among Fortune 500 companies despite years of diversity initiatives. Meanwhile, studies continue to show that women of color face steeper barriers to advancement. Advocates say the issue underscores the need for stronger workplace protections, affordable childcare, equitable pay structures, and greater investment in industries dominated by women workers.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Women Uniting for Equal Pay

Robert F. Smith, internships, entry-level jobs, AI — (Photo: Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

by Kenneth Meeks

May 18, 2026

Robert F. Smith Talks ‘XCEL Summit For Men’ And The Unique Role Black People Play In Our Own Future

For Robert Smith, it's teaching our children the basics

Robert F. Smith, founder, chairman, and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, says each Black American has a role in the success of other Black people around the world. To Smith, a 2025 BLACK ENTERPRISE XCEL Award Honoree, who paid off school loans for the entire Morehouse graduating class of 2019, there is no greater role than giving Black children a solid foundation to build economic wealth and prosperity.

In his acceptance speech, Smith told the attendees at the 2025 XCEL Summit for Men that a major part of the foundation involves trusting one another. Without that trust, the Black community will not survive; but with it, the Black community will thrive. And while there will always be challenges, Smith knows from experience that anyone with grit, determination, and a desire to work together can overcome them.

mental health, Hatherleigh Behavioral Health, Mental Illness Awareness Week, World Mental Health Day — (Photo: SDI Productions/Getty Images)

by Selena Hill

May 17, 2026

Chasing Counsel Launches ‘Counsel-a-thon’ To Expand Affordable Mental Health Support

The Chicago-based platform aims to raise funds and awareness for accessible counseling services

A new mental health and relationship wellness platform is looking to make counseling more accessible to underserved communities through an upcoming fundraising initiative focused on healing, support, and emotional wellness.

Chasing Counsel, an emerging platform centered on group counseling and personal development, announced the launch of its first-ever “Counsel-a-thon” on June 30. The virtual event aims to raise awareness and financial support for individuals and families seeking affordable counseling services. Founded by LaToya Blackshear, the Chicago-based initiative was created to bridge gaps in access to mental health care by connecting people with licensed therapists, certified coaches, and faith-based leaders through group counseling and guided support sessions.

“Many people are silently struggling with relationships, grief, trauma, stress, and emotional challenges, but often lack affordable access to support,” Blackshear said in a press release. “Chasing Counsel was created to help bridge that gap and provide people with guidance, healing, and community in a more accessible way.”

According to the organization, the Counsel-a-thon will feature live discussions and sessions led by professionals and community leaders, covering topics such as mental health, grief, family healing, emotional wellness, personal growth, faith, and relationships. The platform will also connect people with licensed therapists, life coaches, and faith-centered providers under one umbrella. Organizers say proceeds from donations and sponsorships will help subsidize counseling sessions for people who may otherwise be unable to afford support services.

The initiative arrives as conversations surrounding mental health equity continue to grow nationwide, particularly within Black communities where barriers to affordable therapy, cultural stigma, and limited provider access have historically impacted care.

Breast Cancer, diagnosed, diagnosis, before, expecting, after, living with breast cancer, women, breast cancer awareness week, Breast Cancer Awareness — (Image: iStock)

by Sidnee Michelle

May 17, 2026

Cancer Survivor Launches Shared Workspace To Empower Black Entrepreneurs In South Florida

According to the South Florida Times, the founder recently started a shared business workspace company.

A South Florida entrepreneur and cancer survivor is transforming personal challenges into a mission to support Black entrepreneurship through community-focused business spaces. According to the South Florida Times, Joy St. Clair recently started a shared business workspace company.

‘Co-Space’ connects Black entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creatives with affordable office space, networking opportunities, and collaborative resources. It was created to tackle the lack of accessible professional environments and economic support often found in mostly Black communities. The entrepreneur, who overcame a cancer diagnosis several years ago, said this experience changed their view on legacy, economic empowerment, and the need to create sustainable spaces for other Black business owners.

“Starting a business during an economic downturn can be scary. People are looking to cut costs, and Co-Space is the answer,” she said.

The company’s launch comes as more Black entrepreneurs across the country look for alternatives to traditional office models amid rising commercial rent costs and limited access to startup funding.

Shared workspaces, also called coworking hubs, have become valuable for minority-owned startups seeking to lower overhead costs while building professional networks.

“The Black community can be together, come in and sit with their laptops and work around other nice people. They love working around people and feel safe,” said Joy St. Clair.

Kindred Futures reports that Black-owned businesses still face significant challenges in accessing funding and commercial real estate. Organizations like Black Connect have expanded across the country in recent years to help bridge networking and resource gaps for Black founders and small business owners.

The new South Florida venture also plans to host educational workshops, mentorship events, and wellness programs aimed at encouraging long-term economic growth within the Black community. The founder emphasized the importance of creating intentional spaces for collaboration and visibility, especially as many Black entrepreneurs work to recover from financial setbacks linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing economic uncertainty.

double dutch, STEM, Tahira Reid Smith — photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Kyle T. Voigt., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

May 17, 2026

Tahira Reid Smith Has Modernized Double Dutch With ‘Jump Dreams’

The invention, named Jump Dreams, was presented during Double Dutch Day at Awbury Park in Philadelphia.

Who is Dr. Tahira Reid Smith?

Tahira Reid Smith, a professor at Penn State University, recently introduced an automated Double Dutch machine. This machine is a childhood idea dating back to when Reid Smith was an 8-year-old growing up in The Bronx. It has grown into an innovative invention that combines culture, fitness, and engineering, and allows users to practice the classic jump rope activity without needing human turners.

How Jump Dreams Works:

The invention, named Jump Dreams, was presented during Double Dutch Day at Awbury Park in Philadelphia. The app-controlled system features synchronized mechanical arms that rotate the ropes while users jump in time. Reid Smith said she created the machine to celebrate the cultural importance of Double Dutch and to make the activity more accessible for both beginners and experienced athletes.

The Innovation Timeline:

According to AfroTech, Reid Smith first came up with the idea while in elementary school. A drawing of her Double Dutch machine won a school competition. Later, while studying mechanical engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she revisited the concept during a design course taught by Professor Burt Swersey, who became a co-inventor of the device.

Reid Smith received patents for versions of her invention in 1999 and 2003, as noted by the Smithsonian Institution and the Lemelson Center. Her work has also been showcased in exhibitions that highlight Black inventors and innovators in STEM.

“Jump Dreams was designed to improve coordination, movement, and engagement while honoring the cultural roots of Double Dutch,” the company’s website reads.

Future Availability:

Currently, the machine is still in the prototype stage and is not available for commercial use. However, Reid Smith is conducting public demonstrations to gather feedback before launching future versions, in hopes that the technology will eventually be placed in schools, youth centers, and recreational facilities across the country.

STEM Representation:

Beyond recreation, the invention brings attention to broader discussions about representation in STEM fields. According to the National Science Foundation, Black women continue to be underrepresented in engineering careers, even with increasing efforts to diversify the industry. Reid Smith’s journey from a childhood dreamer to a patent-holding inventor illustrates the growing visibility of Black innovators shaping modern technology.

RELATED CONTENT: 40+ Double Dutch Club: Empowering Women

Chick-Fil-A, monkeys — Photo by Michael Siluk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

by Sidnee Michelle

May 17, 2026

Detroit Native Marcel Smith Opens Chick-Fil-A Near His Childhood Neighborhood

The restaurant officially opened on April 2 and is expected to provide about 120 jobs in the Downriver community

Detroit native Marcel Smith is bringing a local vision of leadership and community investment to Michigan’s fast-food scene. He has become the owner-operator of a new Chick-fil-A location in Lincoln Park.

The restaurant officially opened on April 2 and is expected to provide about 120 jobs in the Downriver community, according to the company announcement. This new location adds to over 20 Chick-fil-A restaurants already operating in metro Detroit, as the company continues to grow in Michigan.

“Opening a restaurant so close to where I grew up is a full-circle moment for me. As the local Owner-Operator of Chick-fil-A Lincoln Park, my goal is for guests and team members to feel known and cared for, and for this restaurant to serve as a positive anchor for my family and the community,” he said in a press release.

For Smith, this opening is more than just launching a franchise. The former basketball player and Detroit Public Schools graduate sees it as a “full-circle moment” related to giving back to the communities that shaped him. Smith earned a degree in international business from Houston Christian University. He has also gained experience in youth coaching, financial advising, and Chick-fil-A’s leadership development program.

The company stated that Smith trained in restaurants throughout the country before taking on ownership. This training prepares operators to manage daily business operations and engage with the local community. His Lincoln Park restaurant offers dine-in, carryout, drive-thru, and delivery services.

Smith’s journey also reflects Chick-fil-A’s broader growth strategy in Michigan. This expansion is expected to create thousands of new jobs across the state.

Chick-fil-A’s expansion in Michigan has increasingly focused on local leadership and community-oriented ownership models. New restaurants in cities like Auburn Hills, Flint, and Detroit have similarly prioritized hiring local workers, food donation efforts, and mentorship opportunities.

Smith mentioned that his long-term goal goes beyond just serving customers. He wants the restaurant to be a resource for mentorship, job opportunities, and leadership development for young people in the Detroit area.

Shaquille ONEAL, Reebok, Angel Reese — Photo credit: courtesy of from Zach Rosenfield (RMG-PR)

by Edwian Stokes

May 16, 2026

Reebok Brand Is Benefiting From The Shaquille O’Neal Effect

The NBA great was named president of Reebok Basketball in 2023

Reebok, one of the nation’s most recognizable sneaker brands, is experiencing a cultural resurgence thanks to NBA veteran Shaquille O’Neal, according to Yahoo Finance. O’Neal is the company’s first-ever president of Reebok Basketball. In addition to his role, O’Neal is the second-largest individual shareholder in Reebok’s parent company, Authentic Brands Group.

Authentic Brands Group finalized its $2.5 billion acquisition of Reebok from Adidas in March 2022. Reebok is one of many long-standing American brands in its portfolio, such as Brooks Brothers, Champion, GUESS, Juicy Couture, and Quick Silver.

O’Neal was named president in 2023. Later that year, the company signed then-LSU women’s basketball star Angel Reese to Reebok’s first NIL deal. Reese’s signing led “a shift toward younger, culturally relevant athletes to compete with Nike and Jordan Brand.”

O’Neal told Yahoo Finance the resurgence of Reebok is “fun.”

“We do a wonderful job of content,” Shaq said. “We’re very careful of the players we select. One of our first selections was Angel Reese … Her shoe has just been sold out.”

O’Neal, who is no stranger to corporate pitching, expressed that he enjoys reintroducing the brand to a younger audience:

“I take it personal. I’ll go to a kid [and they’ll say] ‘oh, I never heard of Reebok. Well you know who Allen Iverson is? ‘oh the A.I.’s’ those are Reeboks, …try to reintroduce Reebok to the youth…”

Jamie Salter, the CEO of Authentic Brands, credits O’Neal’s sureness in revitalizing Reebok: “[Reebok] got out of sport, and Shaq’s like ‘Jamie, we’re going to get into this, and we’re going right back into sport.”

After an internal scan of the other companies in the Authentic Brands portfolio, Salter said, “60 percent of the business is classics, it’s fashion.”

O’Neal was unswayed, telling Salter, “You look after that piece of the puzzle, I’ll look after the sports side.”

Salters admits O’Neal’s assessment was correct.

“Sure enough, we’re back in basketball, we’re back in soccer, we’re back in football…so we’re getting back to the roots of where Reebok started,” Salter added.

According to Yahoo, O’Neal has been the public face of the “Return of the Classics” campaign, reproducing classic“silhouettes” like the Shaq Attack and Iverson’s signature shoe, the Question.

“We just do things that are very, very strategic,” O’Neal added. “We’ve doubled in business and we plan on continuing to grow.”

Black girls in media — Photo credit: Ciera Sharae photography

by Tierra Smith

May 16, 2026

Black Girls In Media Hosts ‘Lights, Camera, Influence’ Summit In Dallas

Consistency Helped Build Pour Minds Into A Media Powerhouse

Black Girls in Media is helping women turn social media influence into financial stability.

At the Lights, Camera, Influence Summit on May 3 in Dallas, hundreds of content creators, journalists, entrepreneurs, and students gathered to learn strategies for building a sustainable career in media and content creation.

The fourth annual summit featured two panel discussions: Influence That Pays, with Niyah Gonzalez, Amani Wortham, Chanell Sykes, Erica M., and Faithe Williams, and Power, Pay & Positioning, featuring Majesty Acheampong, Tashara Parker, Peakmill, and Asa Dugger. Hosted by Leah Henry, the experience also included a portrait studio by Orcinus Media, beauty lounge activation by Dhair Boutique, an open bar sponsored by Sir Davis, and Black-owned vendors, including mocktails by Sensori, beverages by Mo Matcha, and skincare & home fragrance by Ngozi Body.

The fireside chat featured BGIM Founder Tasha McCaskiel and Pour Minds co-host Lex P, who reflected on her journey from being a college radio host at Texas Southern University to building one of culture’s most recognizable podcasts alongside best friend and co-host Drea Nicole.

Pour Minds has built a loyal following through relatable girl chat about relationships, music, and navigating life in your 30s, as well as celebrity interviews and viral moments. According to Lex P, the formula behind the podcast’s growth is straightforward: consistency, authenticity, and teamwork.

“You have to train your audience,” said the Orange, Texas, native.

For the past seven years, the duo has consistently released episodes on YouTube every Friday, creating a routine their audience has come to expect.

However, despite talent and grit, revenue can fluctuate.

“There are months where you might make $80,000, and the next month you might wait on two dollars, and then the next six months you make $50,000,” Lex P said. “You have to manage that.”

Behind the scenes, Pour Minds operates with a growing team that includes producers, managers, and interns. Lex P explains that the team must be paid, even if it means going without.

“There is no such thing as a successful person who doesn’t have a team behind them,” said Lex P, who also co-hosts with Drea Nicole the Travel Queens series on BET HER.

Lex P also spoke candidly about being underestimated because of her outspoken personality, something she says many Black women experience regardless of their accomplishments.

“I am used to people underestimating me. I am a Black woman,” she said. “They still underestimate Beyoncé, child. We’re all proving the world wrong, and we’re gonna continue to do it.”

As the fastest-growing segment of entrepreneurs, Black women are increasingly building platforms, communities, and businesses independently. In an uncertain economy, creators like Lex P prove that social media influence can create a pathway to financial independence, ownership, and long-term sustainability.

“The same brands that laughed at us have come knocking. Don’t be afraid to walk away. They want us to feel grateful for crumbs — but we deserve the same rates as everyone else,” she said.

The Docket Diva, LaJanee Alford, Court reporting ,trial — Courtesy of LaJanee Alford

by Kandiss Edwards

May 16, 2026

The Docket Diva Is In The Courtroom Where It All Goes Down

The truth of federal indictments often gets lost between the trial of public perception and the actual rule of law.

High-profile legal matters are regularly being fought in the courtroom and the court of public opinion. Federal indictments and viral courtroom clips dominate the 24-hour news cycle. The truth often gets lost between the trial of public perception and the actual rule of law.

Enter LaJanee Alford, known as the “Docket Diva.” A veteran of traditional journalism schools. Her resume includes stints at Black media juggernauts The Shade Room and BET. The Docket Diva has carved out a unique niche: translating dense legal jargon for everyday people while maintaining a deep “cultural fluency” in hip-hop.

“I break down dense legal jargon for everyday people,” she said. “The distinction between me and others is that I don’t just regurgitate what I heard in the courtroom. I provide a legal analyst’s explanation of what it means and how it culturally impacts our communities.”

Identifying as a “journalist by nature,” Alford transitioned from entertainment news and social media strategy into legal reporting to find work that was both meaningful and challenging. Her approach is rooted in the rigors of traditional reporting, verified sources, and constant fact-checking. She employs all tools at her disposal to ensure her reporting is not sensationalized. The Docket Diva’s methods range from attending trials, pulling courtroom transcripts, lawsuit filings, and sources “that are right next to the defendant.”

While she embraces traditional journalism, her approach is adapted to engage a generation with short attention spans. Her work exists on multiple social media platforms, broken down to make it digestible. On X, she has multiple threads following court cases relevant to the Black community and hip-hop. As an independent journalist, she is making an impact.

“My Project 2025, Page 159 exclusive created a 5-day news cycle and was amplified by Charlamagne Tha God, Don Cheadle and more.”

The Docket Diva, LaJanee, Court reporting ,trial — Courtesy of

Alford argues that her perspective as a Black woman is essential when covering cases that disproportionately affect the Black community.

“I’m Black, so I’m fluid in hip-hop culture,” Alford said. “It ain’t something that I learned. I’m born into it.”

One of the greatest challenges in modern legal reporting, she notes, is the rampant spread of misinformation. She cites the Sean “Diddy” Combs case as a prime example of how the public often conflates moral outrage with legal charges. The rap mogul was sentenced to three years in prison, yet many felt the court was too lenient. The Docket Diva made her stance clear, though the mogul has done “evil things,” his charges and subsequent convictions did not support a longer sentence.

“With Diddy, people always refer to the [Cassie] video, but if he was charged with domestic violence, it wouldn’t even be a federal case.”

To give clarity, the Docket Diva stepped in for the community. She wants to provide accurate information that sheds light on the inner workings of the criminal justice system, specifically regarding Black people.

“I wanted to be precise. I wanted to be reliable. I wanted to be truthful,” she said of her pivot to legal reporting. “If I can’t verify, I don’t report on it. ”If I can’t explain it to myself, I don’t try to explain it to other people.”