Image: Patrice Cameau
Studies show that the number of women-owned businesses in the United States grew by 59% from 1997-2013. When those numbers are broken down to closely examine women of color, African American women are reportedly starting businesses at a rate six times the national average. While the rise of female entrepreneurship is a positive sign that more women are stepping out and creating their own career opportunities, they are still not exempt from the challenges of accessing capital and overall support.
That’s why Washington, D.C based publicist and communications consultant Patrice Cameau created the #COOKIE2Thrive campaign geared towards helping female professionals succeed as business leaders. Stemming from her blog C.O.O.K.I.E (Creating Opportunities. Overflowing Knowledge. Innately Empowered), Cameau uses her platform to promote female entrepreneurship and empowerment.
[Related: Entrepreneurs Summit: 5 Helpful Resources for Women Entrepreneurs]
“C.O.O.K.I.E. is a platform that is 100 percent committed to helping current and aspiring women business owners thrive,” Cameau told BlackEnterprise.com. “Our network of support is unlike any other because it’s affordable and very intimate. Our audience members never have to break the bank to attend our events and they always feel welcomed and inspired when they come out. Business owners thrive when they have access to people and tools that can help them grow. My goal in creating C.O.O.K.I.E. was to give women, like me, that access.”
Offering co-working and event space for female entrepreneurs and their ventures, as well as affordable, often times free, events throughout the year and tools and resources for female CEOs to learn key business practices, Cameau and her team of young power women have created a non-intimidating support system for female business leaders to thrive.
With her current #COOKIE2Thrive Indiegogo campaign, Cameau has set a goal to raise $8,000 to help C.O.O.K.I.E expand its reach and provide more resources, empowering events, and online content that will serves as a go-to professional network for female entrepreneurs across the nation.
Click here to show your support for C.O.O.K.I.E’s Indiegogo campaign and visit cookieconference.com to find out more about their upcoming events.