Leah Williams Page — digitalundivided

What brought you to digitalundivided?

I came to digitalundivided because of its impact on the future of business leaders. We are witnessing the rise of a new generation of leaders within the country, mirroring the changing landscape of the United States itself. Our world has shifted. Diverse communities are driving innovation and consuming innovative products and services domestically and globally. Today, launching and scaling a business can happen in a matter of days or weeks, rather than months or years.

Who are the next generation of business leaders?

The New C- Suite, spearheaded by Brown and Black women, is unparalleled in history and has a global influence. A few years ago, McKinsey and Co. projected that, “in a ‘full potential’ scenario in which women play an identical role in labor markets to that of men, as much as $28 trillion, or 26 percent, could be added to global annual GDP by 2025.”

For this growth to materialize, there must be substantial investment in these startups that can scale rapidly. Reports, such as digitalundivided’s Project Diane, underscore the urgency of this need, revealing that less than 1% of funding is directed towards Latina and Black women entrepreneurs. Shockingly, less than 2% of the budget is allocated to women entrepreneurs, despite women owning 39% of companies.

How is digitalundivided impacting investor pathways?

We are disrupting the investor pathways with diversity. In this next chapter of digitalundivided, we will work to rapidly expand our ecosystem of entrepreneurs whom the data shows have been left out of diverse investors while positioning the organization as the go-to link to ecosystems of, accelerators, investors, partners and sponsors. Our work in the next chapter will be anchored in research, data, and innovation as it has been for over a decade.

This work is mission-critical for all communities. digitalundivided launched over 10 years ago anchored in research and data and that work continues today through Project Diane and other leading studies. The programming evolved to impact the results of that data. That foundation of research, data, and programming laid by leaders who preceded me is solid. Now, I am eager to propel this company to new heights in its journey to shape the future of entrepreneurship.

How has your career positioned you to lead the next era of digitalundivided?

With two decades at the executive level, I've led in government, business, nonprofits, and diverse companies. From $200 million+ enterprises to nimble startups, my roles include CEO, Chief Legal Officer, Co-Founder, and more.

I’m all about centering on collaboration between corporations, government, and communities. I believe their synergy yields the most impactful solutions. This principle guides my approach to business development and entrepreneurship.

What is something you are proud of and want to share with the entrepreneurial ecosystem?

I am most proud of my job title Mom. My two daughters and close-knit family keep me inspired, joyful, and dedicated every day. Oh, my family has many entrepreneurs, so I am literally living in discussion of what impacts entrepreneurs.

What motivates you daily?

I am motivated by the possibility of life. I wake every day and think “what would I do if I knew I could not fail?

about digitalundivided

For over a decade, digitalundivided has increased visibility and access for Latina and Black women founders. We began with groundbreaking research and have since expanded to founder-centric training programs, strategic partnerships and a vibrant founder community.

digitalundivided not only champions an equitable entrepreneurial landscape, we provide women of color at various stages of running a business with the space to improvise and innovate. When you empower women of color, you transform entrepreneurship.