As strategies unravel and survival mode sets in, the true crisis isn't just financial — it's emotional. And it's a threat to the leadership structures for small businesses if left unmanaged.

Black women are leaving the workforce at historic rates, with more than 300,000 exiting in 2025 alone; at the same time, they’re flooding into entrepreneurship at rates that, in recent years, have far outpaced any other demographic. It’s a wake-up call for corporate America, which is losing some of its most valuable talent — and a chance for economic transformation, if these new businesses get the support they need.