Lauren Maillian is a change agent committed to diversity, innovation and inclusion. She is the CEO of digitalundivided, the social startup that leverages data and advocacy to catalyze economic growth and success for Black and Latinx women entrepreneurs. She is also the Founder and CEO of LMB Group, a strategic marketing and brand advisory company driving consumer connection and innovation. A pioneer in the tech space, Lauren was the first Black woman to start an early-stage venture capital fund, as a founding partner and managing director at Gen Y Capital Partners. She serves as an advisor to Pipeline Angels and she is the founder of Straight Up and Successful, a personal and professional development community. She wrote the best-selling memoir, The Path Redefined: Getting To the Top On Your Own Terms.
It is an honor to be recognized for our work and asked to share the journey. It is even more humbling to have the opportunity to share it with a new audience. Below are a few places that have so graciously featured Lauren, her experiences, thought leadership and work.
At Worth’s recent Women & Worth Summit, digitalundivided CEO Lauren Maillian spoke to entrepreneurs and fellows in digitalundivided’s Do You Fellowship Mandy Bowman, Beverly Malbranche and Lisette Scott about their experiences in areas such as funding, mentorship and building confidence as a founder.
Hearst Magazines’ Cosmopolitan and nonprofit group Digitalundivided are today launching The New C-Suite, an annual program that recognizes women of color entrepreneurs. EleVen founder and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion—and October Cosmo cover star—Venus Williams was among the judges who helped whittle down the list of 12 women (at 10 companies) from hundreds of submissions.
As we recap the past year, we are seeing an undeniable surge in the creation of new businesses led by Black and Latinx women. This reflects the broader trend that pandemic-fueled entrepreneurship—and possibly even survivalist entrepreneurship—is on the rise.
It takes a lot of effort to start a company from scratch. From coming up with an idea that is commercially viable to sourcing a team to marketing the product to consumers, a high degree of acumen and drive is required. The real test of endurance, however, is finding the money to get it all going.
When Lauren Maillian co-founded her first company, Sugarleaf Vineyards, she became the youngest winery owner in America, even before she was of legal drinking age.
“My personal mission is to break cycles to allow people to be seen, valued, appreciated and respected for who they are and not what someone might think they should be, or stereotypes associated with some kind of further disenfranchisement of our people,”
