Founder Forum provides a space for honest conversations about entrepreneurship, corporate careers, and reinvention.
Experts share insights on protecting intellectual property, leveraging AI, and sustainably growing a business.
Experienced founders discuss the realities of acquisitions, exits, and reclaiming ownership of their companies.
Source: shedidthat Founder ForumThis Oct. 5th, the first-ever She Did That. Founder Forum: Built by Us. Better Together. will arrive in Brooklyn, New York, for a day of honest conversation and shared wisdom built for women redefining what ownership, ambition, and success look like in a world in constant motion. Powered by She Did That. — the premiere platform for Black women entrepreneurs — and curated with founder Renae Bluitt’s signature care and vision, the daylong affair will bring together accomplished founders and industry leaders to weigh in on everything from protecting your brand and leveraging AI, to navigating acquisition and career reinvention.
“We’re living through a moment where so many women are rethinking what work, ownership and success can look like for them,” said Bluitt, the creative powerhouse behind the She Did That. ecosystem of experiences designed to amplify Black women in business including the She Did That. Holiday Bazaar. “Some are choosing entrepreneurship. Others are being pushed into a new chapter by changes they never saw coming. I created the Founder Forum because I wanted us to have a space to talk honestly about all of it, while sharing the resources, relationships, and knowledge that can help us move forward. There is so much power in what happens when we build together.”
No matter where you are in your journey — building a business, navigating a corporate career, side hustling, or starting over, this experience will speak to all of it. The Founder Forum is a space to connect, exchange ideas, and find inspiration — a place to be part of the conversation and walk away with resources and relationships that carry beyond the event itself. Guests will also get the chance to discover, shop, and support Black women directly at the She Did That. Founder Forum Marketplace.
Yunice Emir will host, a fitting embodiment of women building in both corporate leadership and entrepreneurship as the founder of The Conn3ct Group and Head of Corporate Communications at Moët Hennessy USA. Expect candid conversation, practical wisdom, and real connection featuring an exciting lineup of special guests with plenty of insight to share. Here’s a preview of what’s to come.By Choice or By Change: What Comes After the 9–5?The Founder Forum will open with a conversation exploring career shifts and reinvention. Bevy Smith, Jeneé Naylor, and Brianna Arps know this subject well, as they’ve each followed a unique path to entrepreneurship. Bevy, host of In Bed with Bevy, left a successful career in fashion advertising to put her stamp on media and entertainment. Jeneé channeled her fashion influence to create 12PM Studios and a thriving lifestyle brand. And Brianna traded corporate beauty for MOODEAUX, her own fine fragrance label.
Source: Courtesy of She Did That.
Protecting Your Brand, Ideas & Intellectual PropertyNext, Felisha “Fe” Noel and Casey Handy-Smith will discuss how to protect what you create. They bring real-world expertise to the conversation, sharing actionable advice for women turning ideas into businesses. Felisha, founder and head designer of Fe Noel, will bring her perspective as a creative, having seen her work imitated by both fast-fashion retailers and fellow designers. Casey, an intellectual property attorney and founder of C. Handy Law, will offer her legal perspective on helping entrepreneurs know their rights and secure their creative legacies.
Source: Courtesy of She Did That.
Bossing Without the Burnout: A New Way to BuildFrom there, a conversation moderated by Allison McGevna of HelloBeautiful on building sustainably without sacrificing yourself in the process. Kayalin Akens-Irby, founder of Sela Health, a women’s health and wellness clinic in Harlem, will join Jenesis LaForcarde, founder of The Jenesis House, a luxe wellness retreat in Sedona, Arizona, and Ria Graham of Kokomo, a modern Caribbean restaurant in Brooklyn, to talk about growing a business while protecting your peace.AI for Real Business GrowthKeisha Mabry Haymore will lead an interactive workshop exploring how entrepreneurs can use artificial intelligence to their advantage. As a trusted voice in the field, the certified AI educator and tech leader will lend her expert insight on the rapidly shifting landscape and how AI can work for growing brands. This hands-on session is designed to give founders practical steps to take back to their businesses.
Source: Courtesy of She Did That.
The Other Side of the Game: Acquisitions, Exits, and OwnershipClosing out the Founder Forum is an honest conversation about selling a business, the realities of changing ownership, and what it means to walk away. Lisa Price, founder and president of Carol’s Daughter, navigated investment and acquisition before buying back her company from L’Oreal. Necole Kane, the woman behind xoNecole and founder of My Happy Flo, built, sold, and reinvented her way across multiple chapters — all on her own terms. Together, they’ll discuss the real story behind the deal and what comes after.
Source: Courtesy of She Did That.
Ready to claim your spot at the She Did That. Founder Forum? Here’s how.More than anything, this day is about what’s possible when women build in community. The first-ever She Did That. Founder Forum will offer a rare space where ambition, honesty, and community meet — a day curated for Black women entrepreneurs, professionals, and those figuring out what’s next. Join the conversation and come ready for thoughtful dialogue, genuine connection, and practical takeaways. Save your seat — get your ticket here.
She Did That. will be covering admission for 10 women, who have faced financial hardship, to attend the Founder Forum. DM the @shedidthat.co Instagram page to share your story for an opportunity to be in the room.
