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Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs. Yet we still do not have the resources in place to support our trajectory.
Black women are starting business ventures at an increasingly high rate year over year and our hunger for professional success is not slowing down anytime soon. Equipping ourselves with other women of color in our corner who will teach us the tricks of the game, champion our efforts, and pave the way ahead is how we will breakdown barriers and powerfully move ahead. We do this, together.
When starting out as an entrepreneur, oftentimes there is a lack of visible Black women Founders from whom you can look up to and seek guidance. While there is no lack of “girl boss, boss babes, She-E-O groups of women entrepreneurs”, the sad truth is that many of those groups are exclusive or do not reflect the experiences of Founders of color.
The number of firms owned by Black women grew by a stunning 164%, yet startup founders of color get less than 1% of all VC funding every year. And the fail rate for startups stands at 40%. On average, Black women in the U.S. are paid 39% less than white men and 21% less than white women.
The way I believe we start to close the gaps is through mentorship.
We are our ancestors wildest dreams.
Historically research has shown that women have a tougher time finding mentors. A recent study showed that college professors are more likely to mentor white men — shocker! This fact is even more dismal for women of color and Black women in particular.
As young adults we aren’t always taught the importance and the value of mentorship let alone how to actually find and secure access to Mentors. On top of this, the opportunities to find and work with trailblazing women leaders who look like us, and share our culture and experiences are far and few between.
As Black women entrepreneurs, the struggle to reach out and ask for help is real.
The strong Black woman persona has been ingrained in us for many generations. We’re taught not to show our vulnerability because this somehow means we’re weak. We tell ourselves that we’re ok and we really don’t need help. To push and work harder. This is a perpetuated belief system particularly for Black working class communities, especially if you come from immigrant parents where survival is the norm.
There is a better way.
The Mentors Circle provides a place where Black women can connect with a network of like minded, driven ambitious entrepreneurs and find and work with seasoned Black women mentors easily and confidently.
Women of color share that they prefer to be mentored by women who look like them and are in roles they aspire to be.
My Mentors Circle was formed to meet the needs of new and aspiring Black women entrepreneurs. Having access to leaders who look like us, believe in our success and can help pave the way forward will help ensure the rise of more diverse women leaders. Whether through our online community or private one-to-one mentorship, My Mentors Circle provides the space and opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs to grow and learn from each other.
Whether you are just starting out or have been in business for a couple years, we meet you where you’re at.
What’s Inside My Mentors Circle?
In our work and in our living, we must recognize that difference is a reason for celebration and growth, rather than a reason for destruction, - Audre Lorde
As a member of My Mentors Circle, you will:
Be part of My Mentors Circle online entrepreneurial community
Grow your network to smart, driven, like-minded women who look like you
Participate in group mentoring. Get your burning business questions answered.
Learn from other entrepreneurs, share ideas, resources and get accountability to fuel your business
Get access to exclusive free events and exclusive business Masterclasses led by experts on financial empowerment, pricing, building your client base, building a website, advice on forming an LLC and so much more!
Access a curated list of free business resources, book recommendations, articles, and videos to supplement your entrepreneurial journey.
Work with your very own private mentor who looks like you, believes in your success, has been where you want to go in your business and can show you the way. (Available for those who want to upgrade their membership!**)
Meet Your Mentors
From setting your rates, landing that speaking gig, your dream client to boosting your personal brand or building your empire, our lineup of mentors can save you some time and show you the way.
our strength is in our diversity.
We are a group of high quality, badass professional women that are hand-selected and vetted using a number of qualifying criteria including: high emotional intelligence, demonstration of leadership in her community, positive attitude, influence, industry experience, recognition in her field, and a strong commitment to supporting and empowering other women of color.
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ARIANE HUNTER
CEO & MENTOR
Ariane is a Speaker, Author and Founder of My Mentors Circle. She brings over a decade in career & business leadership and is passionate in helping Black women Founders amplify their voice and impact in the market. Ariane’s areas of Specialties include: Career coaching, Women in Tech, Starting Out in Business, Building a Brand, Thought Leadership, Marketing & Operations Strategy, Imposter Syndrome & Leadership Development for Entrepreneurs.
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ASHLEY SUTTON
MENTOR
With over 11 years of experience, Ashley began redefining “the hustle”, from Texas to New York City, as she went on to work at some of the world’s top Fortune 500 companies, self-publishing her first book Overtime Is SO Over, to developing her own greeting card company Hustle & Hope. As a lover of stationery, and a marketing professional, her goal was to channel her career experiences into a product with purpose. Area of Specialties: Pitching/Speaking, Brand Strategy, Breaking into a new industry
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TERESE BROWN
MENTOR
Jamaican-born, New York-bred designer, Terese creator of Terese Sydonna fashion line, brings over ten years in the high-end fashion industry. With self-starter experience designing collections for big box retailers, she has advised and guided the building of fashion brands from start-up design to growth stages. Terese is especially passionate and dedicated to helping women entrepreneurs lead with authenticity. Area of Specialties: Fashion E-commerce, Design Development, Entrepreneurship
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KARA STEVENS
MENTOR
Founder of The Frugal Feminista, a thriving personal finance company committed to helping people heal their relationship with money. Kara has been featured on Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo Finance, ESSENCE, Women’s Day Magazine, The Washington Post, and other nationally recognized media outlets. Areas of expertise: Money Management, Financial Empowerment and Income v. Wealth strategies
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WAMITE MUTHARA
MENTOR
Wamite Muthara is a digital transformation consultant and Founder of TheCareerSafari.com. Blending both her global and domestic experience in business model transformation, she started four new organizations and had been on the forefront of launching six start-ups across Africa, the Caribbean & Latin America. Helps businesses scale through technology. Area of specialties are: Technology, innovation, Digital community building, strategy/planning, international development.
Choose your plan now.
Choose from below options to start your new life.
Join us monthly for live group mentoring (value $7500), Masterclasses with business Mentors (value $6000) , handy resources and learning tools (value $1500), a community of likeminded entrepreneurs (priceless) and more!
Enrollment closed — join the waitlist!
Set your six month goals with us!
Sign up for 6- Month Access to the Circle includes one 30-minute Private Mentoring Call with Ariane! (value $950)
— Most popular option!
Enrollment closed — join the waitlist!
Rather work 1-on-1 with your own private mentor?
If you prefer a more personalized experience, this is the plan for you. You get:
6-months free membership to the Circle. PLUS
6, 1-on-1 sessions with a personally matched private business mentor
Who Am I?
Hi -- I’m Ariane Hunter and I am the Founder of The Mentors Circle.
For so many years of building my career, I was tired of not seeing women who looked like me in the spaces I was in or shared in my experiences.
So I decided to do something about it.
The Mentors Circle was formed to provide Black women and women of color access to quality mentorship. I believe that having access to leaders who look like us, believe in our success and can help pave the way forward will give rise to more women leaders of color.
Working with a Mentor was a game changer for my business, my spirit, my mind and my confidence. Under the guidance of my Mentor, I learned how to step into my leadership as a Founder, grow my business and become the business woman I always wanted to be. I have my Mentor and community of fellow entrepreneurs to thank for that. We truly can’t do this alone. Entrepreneurship is a team sport.
Today, I am a certified coach with hundreds of hours dedicated to one-on-one coaching and mentoring, group discussions, delivering training and workshops to audiences of 100s of people just like you. In doing this groundwork, I know uniquely both the challenges and unique opportunities that can be leveraged by new and aspiring Black women entrepreneurs. I do this work because I want to see us win.
What People Are Saying
“As someone brand new to entrepreneurship, I feel exceptionally lucky to have found Ariane Hunter and My Mentors Circle when I did. I was an ER physician starting my own health equity consulting firm and I knew very few people to rely on for advice and support. Ariane reached out to me via LinkedIn and the rest is history. I truly look forward to my monthly phone calls with Ariane where I can ask questions freely and she always has a wealth of advice and encouragement to share. Over the months, I’ve developed a deeper and deeper appreciation for The Mentors Circle, especially as a Black woman entrepreneur, and I look forward to continuing to grow and build my business with The Mentors Circle’s support.”
“Working with Ariane gave me the confidence to go after my dreams. During our work together, I felt supported and seen. I was given guidance that impacted my life in a positive way. I really enjoyed our sessions!” - Deborah P
“Ariane was my mentor. Working with Ariane was very therapeutic with a business nuance. I was able to share my business desires, work through my fears, and learn to really cope with the pressures of trying to do it all. I wanted so much out of myself. I seldom thought about the toll it was taking on my mind and body. Ariane helped me realize that as a business owner I must still be kind to myself so I can show and serve in a big way.” - Melicia. D
“Joining My Mentors Circle helped me realize that even with 7 years of professional experience and a degree there is so much to learn still. Seek out resources through your network, books, websites, podcasts. Be a sponge and stay on top of trends.” - Laura. C
“I knew in my first conversation with Ariane that she knows what it takes motivate someone to go after their dreams. We worked together on lessons like how to be productive when you’re in your feelings to taking the time to reward your successes and being your own cheerleader. I am so glad that I made the decision to work with Ariane because I found so much value in the experience. I got exactly what I wanted from my sessions with her, which was to have clear vision for my career path. Thanks Ariane!” - Chearine. P”
I do this work for one simple reason: I want to see us win.
We are at a pivotal moment where we are redefining our values and work ambitions. Corporate workplaces are failing us and I am giving Black women the tools we need to break free and build wealth and freedom on our own terms. Are you with me?
FAQs
How far along in my business do I have to be in my business to benefit from having a mentor?
Whether you are just starting out or have been in business for a few years already, you belong here. My Mentors Circle is a place where you’ll get guidance at any stage of your business. In MMC there is nothing to prove or live up to when it comes to your business. We believe in the philosophy of starting where you are. If you are open to learning from others and suspending any assumptions or ego of what you think you know, you’ll get along fine in the circle.
How do I get matched to a mentor?
We take a thoughtful, personalized approach to matching our Mentees to Mentors. All mentors have been vetted and person whose work I can personally vouch for. When recruiting our Mentors we look for demonstrated leadership in their field and ability to coach and guide towards outcomes. First we start with an application to assess your business and goals. From there we assign the best Mentor based on their experience and ability to help you. We also look at personality fit between mentor-mentee, a commitment to showing up, overall mission and overall direction for business. We take the mentor-mentee relationship seriously and in rare instances there may be a waitlist to work with our Mentors. That is because we want to ensure that you are partnered with the right Mentor.
What types of entrepreneurs are in my mentors circle?
You will be surrounded by a group of like minded entrepreneurs from different backgrounds and all walks of life at varying stages of business. From consultants, coaches, strategists, makers, creators you can expect to see and hear from diverse voices. But one thing you’ll have in common with other mentees is a fierce commitment to fulfilling your dreams and running your own business.
Shouldn’t mentorship be free? Why should I pay to work with a mentor?
We believe that when you pay for something you are likely to get more value out of the experience. Typically how we experience mentoring is through one-off conversations with someone from your network or in a group format where there is little to no structure or accountability. These interactions don’t yield as powerful results. When you invest in creating a container where there is structure, personal accountability, and consistency with a dedicated professional who is equally invested in your success, the results are immeasurable. While there are plenty of free mentoring programs out there, My Mentors Circle takes mentoring to the next level by going beyond volunteer-based mentoring models that fall short for entrepreneurs who want more.
How does the refund policy work?
Requests for refunds must be made in writing via e-mail to arianehunter.coach@gmail.com. All refund requests received within one week (seven days) of initial registration will receive a 100% refund. Requests after that will be denied. We do not honor refund requests for paid in full clients after the allotted 7 days of initial registration. Refunds will be processed within 30 days of receipt of the written notice.
What payment plans can you offer me?
We’re more than happy to work with you on a payment schedule. Typically we can arrange your payments in 2-3 evenly split payments made payable in full before your mentoring engagement concludes.
I’m not in a position to invest in this program financially. Do you give scholarships?
Yes! We aim to make mentorship accessible to all. Each year we aim to award at least 3 scholarship seats for My Mentors Circle to those with demonstrated need and high potential. Scholarships are awarded for 1:1 Mentorship only. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship we encourage you to select that option in your application.