2020-2021 Woman Entrepreneur Fellowship

Woman Entrepreneur Fellowship 2020-2021 WE Fellowship Pitch Competition

by Stephanie Rogers

WE Fellowship Committee - Taylor Morgan (Vice Chair), Nicole Fuller, Kate Mick (Co-chair), Jessica Derenbecker (Co-chair), Caroline Robichaux, Kristyn Harris, Ashley Robinson (Vice Chair) Missing - Michelle Van Vleet. The committee was very excited to be able to have the finalists pitch in person with a limited audience and adhere to the CDC guidelines. Pitching in person gives the finalists a more similar experience to other events they may have in their future. We also had over 100 attendees online to hear the pitches and learn about the companies. Photo by Nicole Fuller

On October 20, the Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO) hosted its annual pitch competition to determine the winner of the Woman Entrepreneurship (WE) Fellowship. To be considered for the Fellowship, women must have at least a 50% stake in an enterprise that has been in operation between one to five years with profits under $750,000. Winners receive a $5,000 grant from Fidelity Bank’s P.O.W.E.R. (Potential of Women Entrepreneurs Realized) program, along with access to work and meeting space, nonprofit board training, mentoring, and marketing assistance from JLNO’s membership.

As usual, an impressive array of finalists competed for the WE Fellowship. Prior to the pitch competition, JLNO’s WE Fellowship Committee conducted an initial review of applicants and chose five finalists. A growth consulting firm offered mentorship and training to help each woman to develop a 10-minute pitch for her enterprise to present before the JLNO’s panel of judges. This year’s judges included: • Keisha Garrett, Principal Consultant at Gen-X Consulting Group, a firm focused on business development, strategic sourcing, and vendor compliance management and Executive Director of the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce

Atianna Cordova (winner), Kristin Moore (President), Elizabeth "Liz" Broekman (emcee), Rachel Stickney (Community Director), Kate Mick (WE Fellowship Co-Chair), Jessica Derenbecker (WE Fellowship CoChair). Presenting the check to the winner after announcing judges' decision; Liz represents Fidelity who sponsored the $5,000 grant. Photo by Nicole Fuller

• Cecile Hardy Tanguis, Founder of NOLA Couture, a high-end custom fashion design brand • Jay Taffet, Founder of Gracen Jules, a venture development firm focused on start-up guidance, growth consulting, and capital raise support, as well as Airfoil Angels, a Gulf South angel investor network

Ultimately, the judges awarded the WE Fellowship to Atianna Cordova of WATER BLOCK Kids, an urban design studio that works to advance racial and environmental justice in our built environment through design, community engagement and planning. Cordova is a native of New Orleans; she received her Bachelor of Architecture from Louisiana State University, her Master of Science in Disaster Resilience Leadership from Tulane University, and a Certificate in Community Development Finance from the University of New Orleans. As an undergraduate, she was recognized as LSU School of Architecture’s first McNair Research Scholar; she also received a UC Berkeley Undergraduate Prize for Architectural Design Excellence Travel Fellow.

“Through these programs,” Cordova says, “I examined the relationship between architecture and homelessness in New Orleans and Haiti following Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 earthquake, respectively. By examining the culturally-led recovery efforts in both places, I was able to highlight how design practice that centers the needs and desires of people creates opportunities to advance social and environmental justice.”

Cordova’s educational experiences led her to conclude that, “the decisions made in our built environment impact every part of our lives including food, health, education, transportation and housing.” However, every community does not have an equal voice in those decisions. “Design and environmental leadership does not reflect the diversity in our communities,” Cordova asserts. In the US, only 0.4% of licensed architects are Black women, and there are similar disparities in urban planning and landscape architecture. This lack of diversity led Atianna to create WATER BLOCK in 2018.

WATER BLOCK Kids! is the company’s youth initiative, which Cordova launched this summer. It uses educational programs and products to teach elementary age kids about design, including architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning and real estate. These projects impact kids’ overall health and help them think critically about the conditions in their cities and neighborhoods. WATER BLOCK Kids! leads with the question: “How can kids design a better world?” Cordova believes that youth should understand what is happening in their communities and have the opportunity to create a future that they can thrive in. She plans on using the grant funding to invest in curriculum development, youth experience and marketing. The panel of judges will work with the JLNO to help Cordova craft a plan to leverage in-League mentors and resources.

WE Fellowship co-chairs Kate Mick and Jessica Derenbecker deserve special recognition for organizing a hybrid event to adapt to pandemic restrictions. They hosted approximately 25 people in person at Headquarters and over 100 participants online. Working with Community Council Director Rachel Stickney

M-Tisha Dillon Hall (finalist), Valerie Vides (finalist), Elizabeth "Liz" Broekman (emcee), Lauren Trostorff (finalist), Ashley Encalade (finalist) Waiting for the Pitch Competition to begin, finalists meeting each other in person for the first time and Liz Broekman with Fidelity and P.O.W.E.R. meeting the finalists. Photo by Nicole Fuller

and the JLNO President Kristin Moore, Mick and Derenbecker created a well-structured environment for emcee Elizabeth Broekman, Assistant Vice President of Fidelity Bank and Director of P.O.W.E.R. Broekman helped the event flow smoothly inperson and connected the judges to the finalists through the Q&A period; Kevin Wilkins with Trepwise continued support to the finalists virtually.

Overall, the pitch process was extremely successful and provided networking and marketing opportunities to all participants. JLNO looks forward to tracking the success of these women entrepreneurs throughout the year.

As Kate Mick, WE Fellowship co-chair, concludes, “I can’t say thank you enough to trepwise, Fidelity P.O.W.E.R., our judges, the Women’s Leadership Summit Committee, and our JLNO Leadership for their support and countless hours in preparation to make this year’s Pitch Competition possible and a success!” •

2020 FINALISTS

Kidz Kreationz LLC

Led by Tisha Dillon Hall, Kidz Kreationz will provide unique, meaningful, dynamic and constantly-evolving arts programming for all children to build a lifelong audience for the arts. Although it will incorporate all of the fine arts into its programs, the focus will be on visual arts. Kidz Kreations will be staffed by working artists, and all structures activities will be led by master artist-teachers. Magic Hands Solution Led by Ashley Escalade, Magic Hands was the 2020 Audience Winner for best small business. Magic Hands product “Da Solution” is a 100% allnatural waterless odor eliminator that removes the smell of seafood from your hands.

NOLA Wood Windows

Led by Valerie Vides, the mission of NOLA Wood Windows is to use traditional methods and materials to lovingly restore century-old windows, doors and shutters to shine like the day they were first installed. Its focus is to save as many original wood windows as possible through restoration work, teaching homeowners how to restore wood, and training apprentices in the craft to keep the history

of New Orleans intact through our unique homes.

Vibrant Market

Led by Lauren Trostorff, Vibrant Market is a Clean Beauty, Wellness and Lifestyle store + spa that puts holistic health and efficacy first in skincare, services, resources, supplements and makeup.

EOLOUISIANA.ORG

THE FASTEST GROWING CHAPTER IN THE GLOBAL EO NETWORK IN 2019

EO Louisiana is a chapter in the Global Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)

which is a peer-to-peer network of more than 14,000+ infl uential business owners with 195 chapters in 61 countries. Founded in 1987, EO is the catalyst that enables leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow, leading to greater success in business and beyond.

MISSION

To engage leading entrepreneurs to learn and grow.

VISION

To build the world’s most infl uential community of entrepreneurs.

CORE VALUES

· Trust and Respect · Thirst for Learning · Boldly Go! · Make a Mark · Cool

To learn more about EO Louisiana visit us at EOLouisiana.org

STRATEGIC ALLIANCE PARTNERS WHO SUPPORT EO MEMBERS