The Sister Accord® Foundation
Founder Sonia Jackson Myles and
Business Leader Jean Freeman and her
firm, Zambezi, team up to continue support of women-owned
businesses in the U.S.
CINCINNATI, May 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sister
Accord® Foundation, an organization founded by
Sonia Jackson Myles that is changing
the way girls and women treat, support, and interact with each
other, announced today that applications are now open for funding
through The Sister Accord® Accelerator, a program that
helps female entrepreneurs rapidly grow and scale their businesses
through a combination of grants, education, and mentorship. This
program is made possible with the support of Jean Freeman, CEO and Principal of advertising
agency Zambezi, which is giving $50,000 in funding. Jackson Myles will provide $10,000 to fund a sixth grant.
The Sister Accord® Accelerator is designed to fuel
the growth of existing women-owned businesses by providing monetary
support, business education, and mentorship – the tangible tools
needed to scale a business. Six women entrepreneurs will be given a
$10,000 grant, ongoing mentorship
from Jackson Myles and Freeman, and
additional guidance from a number of noted business leaders. Over
the course of five months, Accelerator participants will have
ongoing mentorship meetings and will also attend a number of
educational sessions focused on sales, marketing, operations, and
growth.
The program invites applicants who meet the following
criteria:
- Participants must have started an official registered business
in the U.S.
- Participants must attend all sessions that will be held over a
five-month period in order to receive the full $10,000 business grant.
- Company must have 51% ownership by a woman who is also the
strategic leader in the operations of the business.
To be considered, applications must be completed by
11:59 PM EST on May 31, 2024. Interested applicants can
apply at the following link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflmlCoMcAy9TWikRYQljGSjGfdG3uSHRk8cOoX9OhJojw7JQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
Prior to The Accord Group LLC, Jackson
Myles spent her 20+ year career managing over $20 billion for global companies: Procter
& Gamble, Ford Motor Company, and The
Gillette Company. Freeman is Principal and CEO at Zambezi, a
women-owned and creatively led advertising agency. Zambezi has been
recognized as a six-time Honoree of the Inc. 5000 List of
Fastest-Growing Privately Owned Companies and one of the "100 Fast
Growing Companies in LA" by the Los Angeles Business
Journal.
Participants from the first cohort reported the grants and
mentorship having many positive impacts on their businesses. Dr.
Susan Lovelle, Founder & CEO,
Balanced Performance, shared that the program delivered
"unprecedented clarity and strategic focus, was pivotal in shaping
my approach to growth, and the funding received through the
Accelerator enabled me to leverage new opportunities effectively
and maximize my business' potential."
"The Sister Accord® Accelerator is a masterclass that
you won't find anywhere else. The investment, empowerment, belief
system, expertise, and genuine dedication to small businesses like
mine has kept us in business after a five-year drought and has
caused our revenue and capacity to increase exponentially," said
Kimberly Huckleby, Owner &
President, Whistle Clean Service Inc.
"Studies continue to show that women are still not receiving the
funding they need for their businesses—less than 3% of venture
capital funds are given to women-owned businesses," said
Sonia Jackson Myles, Founder of The
Sister Accord® Foundation and The Sister
Accord® Accelerator. "I often see women business owners
turn their passions into a business and get stuck not knowing how
to scale. This program will help ensure that they have the
necessary tools and knowledge to help get them to where they want
to be in addition to receiving a financial grant. I am honored that
Jean has seen the potential in this program and agreed to partner
with me again to create the curriculum and help lead. The generous
support of Zambezi has made this second class possible."
"Our purpose with The Sister Accord® Accelerator is
to see more women entrepreneurs succeed in growing and scaling
their businesses," said Jean
Freeman, Principal and CEO at Zambezi. "Women-owned
businesses are a primary driver for the US economy, they are known
for their innovation and for promoting greater diversity within
their organizations, which will lead us to a more equitable
workforce, and beyond."
About The Sister Accord®
Foundation:
The Sister Accord® Foundation
(https://thesisteraccordfoundation.org/) is a 501c3 organization
focused on enabling girls and women to establish and nurture
positive, supportive, and loving relationships with each other. The
Sister Accord® LLC's 'Sisterhood & Brotherhood in The
Workplace' Platform has made a significant, positive difference in
corporate America and around the globe.
For questions, please contact: Amanda Cosindas, Director of
Communications, Zambezi, at amanda.cosindas@zmbz.com.
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SOURCE The Sister Accord Foundation