Think you have all millennials pegged? Then you haven’t met Walker’s Legacy CEO, Natalie Madeira Cofield. The award-winning executive and highly sought after public speaker serves as a spokesperson for diversity and enterprising women around the world. Cofield has positioned herself as an expert on millennial diversity, corporate diversity, entrepreneurship and economic development. Global technology companies, government organizations, and universities such as Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, and Howard University School of Business have all sought out her expertise.
In addition to heading Google’s partner firm, Walker’s Legacy, Cofield was named being named one of 2015’s 100 Most Influential African Americans in the America by The Root 100. She also operates Austin, Texas-based social impact and inclusion incubator Urban Co-Lab and the Walker’s Legacy Foundation. The trailblazing serial entrepreneur took time out of her busy schedule to talk to rolling out about her beginnings, the inspiration behind Walker’s Legacy and how her latest brainchild, PROSPECTUS can help female women entrepreneurs.
How did you determine your career path?
I started off working three jobs in high school and by the time I turned 16, I was attending college. After graduating with honors from Howard University as part of Bill Gates Millennium Scholars Program, I was well on my way to starting my first company by age 26 and becoming a three-time CEO by my 30th birthday.
Since its inception in 2009, Walker’s Legacy has encouraged women to engage and inspire through mentoring and networking with other women business professionals and entrepreneurs. What three female role models influenced you when founding Walker’s Legacy?
Walker’s Legacy was created in honor of Madam C.J. Walker’s legacy. She served as a source of inspiration for me as I created my first company. As the first self-made millionaire woman of color, her ability to persevere despite all odds serves as both an inspiration and motivation to find entrepreneurial, professional, and personal success.
Additional role models and modern day influences for the organization include Maggie Walker, the first woman to serve as president and charter of a bank in the United States and founder ad CEO of St. Luke Penny Savings Bank; media mogul Cathy Hughes, founder of Radio One and TV One;and Janice Howroyd, founder and CEO of the Act-1 Group, the largest privately-held, woman, and minority-owned workforce management company in the U.S.
Additionally, the growing number of 20,000 women who have engaged with our organization motivate Walker’s Legacy to continue our work as our work is directly targeted to achieving economic equity through entrepreneurship.
Happy birthday Madam C.J. Walker: Her legacy continues to inspire women
Describe how Walker’s Legacy helps women of color reach their goals and positions them for success.
Minority women are the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurs, yet recent studies have shown that businesses owned by women of color are less likely to be selected for funding from angel investors and other financial institutions. In addition to access to prize funding, PROSPECTUS provides support in access to business education and professional networks.
Walker’s Legacy is missioned to engage, equip, and inspire women of color in business and entrepreneurship. We do this by leveraging our unique platform to engage with women in our network in the following ways: educational original content — such as our original articles on business topics for women of color and educational research conducted on niche communities of multicultural women entrepreneurs; localized and online networks established to connect women nationwide and offer an educational exchange of information; and our engaging, signature programs that offer inspiration and maximize learning opportunities for enterprising women who attend and enjoy these events.
What are some of your do’s and don’ts for women to flourish in business?
Do: Determine what your risk tolerance is for success.
Do: Be passionate about your purpose, professionally and personally.
Do: Find a mentor to help guide you.
Don’t: Lose sight of your goals/The why for what you do.
Don’t: Underestimate your intelligence or abilities.
Don’t: Be afraid to ask questions or seek knowledge on things you don’t know.
Where did the inspiration for the PROSPECTUS Business Accelerator Program come from and how does it benefit women of color seeking to start or establish a business? What can an applicant expect to learn from participating in PROSPECTUS, over the course of the nine-week program?
The PROSPECTUS Online Business Accelerator is an effort designed by Walker’s Legacy that meets our central goal of providing the greatest number of opportunities and resources for women-of-color entrepreneurs to succeed.
The nine-week program tackles the unique challenges multicultural women face when starting, growing, and sustaining their entrepreneurial ventures.The program utilizes a structured online learning and cohort model and pitch opportunities for participating business owners to earn funding for their business from investors and industry experts nationwide. The program is in partnership with Wells Fargo and will include a final grand prize award of $5,000, as well as other in-kind prizes. Additional program partners include Google and Kiva Zip, among others.
How can women of color get involved with Walker’s Legacy on the local level in Detroit?
We’re very excited about our presence in Detroit! With the great assistance of our Detroit Local Chair and partnerships with organizations such as the Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce, we are able to promote and engage with our network there through in-person programs. For ways to become involved, interested women can sign up for our mailing list for updates and upcoming events here or reach out to us at [email protected]. We look forward to our next series of programming in Detroit during Women’s History Month for our annual Power 50 Brunch honoring 50 influential Detroit women in business and beyond.
To learn more about Natalie Cofield or Walker’s Legacy and the Prospectus Online Business Accelerator Program, visit www.nataliecofield.com and www.walkerslegacy.com
