THE NEW C-SUITE

Our second annual class of female entrepreneurs of color has come for-and earned-the corner office. Want to do the same? Right this way.

- ANNABEL IWEGBUE

News flash that’s less of a news flash and more of an are-you-freaking-kidding-me-still: In 2021, women of color held just 4 percent of C-level roles at U.S. companies. That number looks even worse when you narrow it down to C-level women of color founders, who—in addition to breaking down representational barriers in the country’s highest executive positions—*also* take on all the entrepreneurial grunt work while **also** setting new standards of excellence. And then there’s the fact that fewer than 1 percent of all venture capital dollars are going to these founders! It’s maddening. Which is why Cosmopolitan and digitalun divided (a nonprofit that focuses on catalyzing economic growth for Latina and Black female entrepreneurs) are beyond excited to do something positive: to celebrate the New C-Suite Class of 2022, 10 women who are redefining their industries while redirecting workplace culture. Prepare to be very, very inspired.

MY MOTTO "GOOD, BETTER, BEST. NEVER LET IT REST UNTIL YOUR GOOD IS YOUR BETTER AND YOUR BETTER IS YOUR BEST."

Shanté Elliott 

Founder of Tassel Turn

Her Business Tassel Turn is an education platform that connects unhoused and foster care youth with learning counselors and colleges.

Her Bragging Rights The platform will host 1,500 students by this summer, and alums now include graduates from schools like the University of Michigan, North Carolina State University, and Columbia College Chicago.