Kendra is a truly exceptional Entreprenista who firmly believes that two brains are always better than one and more can be accomplished together than alone. As a serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and podcast host of Business and The Beat, Kendra has focused her career on providing community and education for Black founders building lifestyle, beauty, and wellness businesses. As a pioneer in the digital media space, Kendra has been named one of Essence Magazines' “17 Inspiring Black Executives Redefining the Face of Beauty” and is one of only 100 Black women to raise over 1 million dollars in venture funding.
Today, we have the honor of sitting down with Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, founder and CEO of BrainTrust, an all-encompassing ecosystem of mentorship, education, and community that also provides social media, influencer marketing, and brand development for Black Beauty and Wellness Founders. She shares with us the game-changing advice she received from Ralph Lauren’s Chief of Staff and her own advice for creating successful business partnerships. Kendra also shares advice for founders that are currently raising capital, the litmus test she uses when she starts a new business, and so much more!
“Success doesn't mean that you have a billion-dollar company that you exit. There’s success in everything that we do every single day. And so we can't get caught up in what success looks like for another company” - Kendra Bracken-Ferguson
If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, join the Entreprenista League today at entreprenista.com/join. We can’t wait to welcome you, support you, and be part of your business journey!
This week's takeaways from Entreprenista:
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If you’re looking to take your business to the next level:
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Hosts
Stephanie Cartin is a serial entrepreneur, investor, podcast host, community builder, and a champion for women founders. She created the Entreprenista League, a community for women founders, to provide resources and support necessary at all business stages. She’s also the Co-founder of Socialfly, one of the first social media marketing agencies, as well as Entreprenista Media and Pearl Influential Capital which was recently acquired by Cherub. Stephanie has shared her journey managing her health challenges with Multiple Sclerosis, Infertility, and a complicated pregnancy and is an advocate for women going through similar challenges. Her story and businesses have been featured on the Today Show, Bloomberg and Forbes. Consider Stephanie your biggest business cheerleader.
Courtney Spritzer is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, podcast host, and advocate for women founders. As Co-Founder and CEO of Socialfly, a social-first digital agency launched in 2012 and acquired in 2024, she has helped shape the industry with innovative strategies. She co-founded the Entreprenista League, a community for women founders, offering essential resources and support for all stages of business growth. Courtney’s entrepreneurial journey and business insights have been highlighted in top publications like Entrepreneur.com, Bloomberg, and Forbes.
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Highlights
- Kendra’s journey to becoming an entrepreneur 2:55
- Kendra’s biggest struggles in the early days of building her agency 8:20
- Kendra’s take on co-founder disagreements and deciding when to raise capital 11:31
- Working with a business coach 16:43
- Kendra breaks down her catalog of business ventures 20:25
- How Kendra keeps track of her business ideas 28:11
- Kendra’s craziest moments along her Entreprenista journey 29:52
- Kendra shares what to remember when selling your business 33:04
- Kendra’s vision for the future 38:16
- Kendra’s advice for founders looking for funding or trying to raise capital 40:55
- Kendra shares her fund’s criteria for investing in companies 43:55
- Collaboration over competition as an Entreprenista 47:13