We recently connected with Ashleigh Pandora Montford and have shared our conversation below.

Ashleigh Pandora, appreciate you joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Black Woman Made, Corporation, is that not a powerful name in itself when you think about it?

Late 2021 I was literally laying in my bed, scrolling on social media and listening to a podcast – then I began to question the people that happened to appear on my timeline I followed. I asked myself that as an already established business owner, how I had no one to really talk business with in my close circle, and I even inquired within down to how there was a lack of support for women of color in business compared to our counterparts.

For Black women to be the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States, we are the least funded, have minimal exposure and are at the bottom of the totem pole of support. This goes back historically to the expectation that Black women should just make it happen and no questions asked. Let’s seriously get out of that mindset. The literal sleepless nights that we endure, sweat and tears, in addition to jumping over systemically placed hurdles and doing backflips just to stay afloat – is very real.

So the idea to create a community came to me. I switched screens and went to my phone’s notepad and just began to literally brain dump. I wrote out how I aspired for the company to function, as well as the ideology behind creating effective change in the world (yes, the world) and altering the trajectory of the ideology and realness of the Black woman.

In this community, it would not silence Black women from speaking their truths and ambitions, as well as asking for help and community. Typically, the Black woman is silenced in her pain and some times looked down upon when she speaks her truth, especially when it’s involving how she’s been wronged. In this community, we will listen, encourage and build her up to become the woman she desires.

The entire intention behind Black Woman Made, Corporation is to create a safe, lucrative space for Black women to thrive and to highlight the successes of Black women in their accomplishments, past and present.

In the formation of this holding company and soon-to-be global community, there’s no doubt that this will work. From my research, there’s never been a Black woman owned mixed holding company specifically designed for the fruition of Black women owned businesses and education.

Of course there are countless authors creating conversations and dialogue about the Black woman, systemic racism and education, and other organizations that highlight the accomplishments of Black women. However, there’s not one consistent space that is geared towards professionally and personally empowering the Black woman in her entrepreneurial aspirations and becoming a place of refuge.

Being the CEO of such a company takes physically demanding work, but also internal development, and working along side my COO, Quanesha Anderson, makes this journey worth it.

We are on the path to greatness.

Ashleigh Pandora, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Who is Ashleigh Pandora Montford?

First and foremost, I am a proud 2017 graduate of the first public HBCU in the state of Georgia, Savannah State University (founded in 1890) where I received a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, and am currently a Master of Public Administration student at Strayer University.

I enjoy reading books about personal growth and development, as well as anthologies on cultivating healthy relationships and how literature has shaped individual’s lives. Glory Edim is one of the authors I respect highly.

Starting a mixed-holding company is not a simple project to execute, and involves various intricate details that are vital to building the foundation. I knew that I wanted to have a mixed holding company, because of the problems in which I am going to solve.

The action item I am most proud of is actually getting started. Not only did I make up my mind that I was going to start a holding company, but I went through with it.

For those that become a part of the holding company as a business owner, there will be many incentives for them that will assist in the betterment of their business. Not only do we provide personal development and business coaching, but we also offer relationship management and resources, a business cohort program, freelance writing, along with teaching and mentoring.

We are set a part from others – first by our name, Black Woman Made, Corporation. We are taking a stand and letting people know who and what we stand for from jump and not backing down or altering because it may make someone squirm in their seat. Additionally, we are looking to hold companies that are traditionally looked over and actually putting effort and energy into educating those in our communities.

The thing to know about Black Woman Made, Corporation is that we are “The It. The Powerhouse.” With that line, we are here to teach Black women about their inner strength and how it translates into other sectors of their world and how they can truly become a powerhouse and force to be reckoned with.

Have you ever had to pivot?

This is so interesting, because I literally had to alter the trajectory of my entire life about two weeks ago. Honestly, it was God.

Not only did I pivot my personal life and the influences I had pouring into me, but I decided to make a change in my spiritual realm and professional atmosphere. I simply made a decision that the way I was headed wasn’t for me.

I limited the negative music I was listening to and started listening to more meaningful songs, as well as started listening to podcasts that I can relate to on more than a surface level. The Know For Sure Podcast with B. Simone and Megan Brooks is an instrumental tool to me and my growth, and I thank them for their transparency. In addition to that, I started praying more, excused negative people from around me, as well as limited my coffee intake and replaced it with hot tea.

The ways in which I have hardcore turned my life around in less than a month has been completely amazing and I am truly in awe of myself.

Meeting people who align with my purpose, and where we can pour into each other has been phenomenal as well.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Business funding is such a tricky apparatus and it can literally make or break a business, so strategic planning and execution is something that you should stand ten toes down about.

Not only have we received grants that I’ve applied to for the company, but we also have a crowdfunding campaign that we are about to kick off.

Funding a holding company is a little different than other businesses, like marketing firms. With the marketing firm example, you can start selling services immediately, but with a holding company – it takes a bit more of a well thought-out blueprint. We are still in the funding stage and are inching towards greatness with funding and services.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.blackwomanmadecorp.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackwomanmadecorp/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackWomanMadeCorporation/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/black-woman-made-corporation/?viewAsMember=true
• Other: https://ifundwomen.com/projects/black-woman-made-corporation

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Litus Marshall