Baltimore area entrepreneur Ashley Grimes has started a new business inspiring Christian women to succeed.
Grimes’ Christian Women of Color in Business, LLC is a networking organization for Christian women entrepreneurs. The group hosts networking mixers, luncheons, brunches and workshops.
“It is a gathering place where you are able to collaborate with like-minded people, be empowered, to grow personally, professionally and spiritually while building your business,” Grimes said.
The endeavor marks the second major networking group for women Grimes has founded this year. In February, Grimes and Morgan State University student Destiny Jones, founded The Millennial Entrepreneur Network, LLC, which the duo said would accelerate the advancement of female entrepreneurs with an objective to providing members with essential tools and connections needed to succeed in the competitive world of business.
“I was inspired to form Christian Women of Color in Business, LLC, because, as women of God, we are called to business differently,” Grimes said. “And, I wanted to create a safe space for Christian women in business to be able to connect with like-minded individuals.”
Grimes, 27, says that she also believes that women are stronger together, and she wants to show that Christian women could be examples for others.
After her recent graduation from Morgan State University, Grimes says she began contemplating her purpose, including thinking about her passionate love of God, helping others and her knack for business.
“The goal or vision, of Christian Women of Color in Business is a dedication to helping women walk into their purpose,” she said. “We do this through helping our members grow personally, professionally and spiritually. Our tagline is, ‘We inspire. We empower. We uplift.”
The organization hosts networking workshops on the third Thursday of every month in different cities, kicking off in New York on July 20, 2017.
At the networking events Grimes plans to discuss topics that she says are related to entrepreneurs at any stage in business.
“I may also bring in speakers to give a more well-rounded perspective and also as a way to embrace the experience,” she said. “The speakers and I will share our failures and successes and how we got started and what we have done to sustain [our businesses],” Grimes said.
Further, she continued, attendees will be able to participate in an open dialogue through a question and answer session.
“We will have meet and greets after the event is over and build their network up through mixing and mingling with other entrepreneurs,” Grimes said.