11 Instagram Accounts Every Black Woman In Business Should Follow
So, there's no doubt we love us some Instagram. (Well, most of us. As a journalist, I have a love-hate relationship with the platform, but I won't digress.) Research even shows that 40% of Black adults have accounts. Go figure.
It's easy to get lost in the fashion, travel, political, and gossip posts, but IG is also a great space for business inspiration, information, and tips. Whether you're a freelancer, full-time entrepreneur, or a side-hustle diva, here are the top Instagram accounts for entrepreneurs. (But wait, sis. Before you scroll, are you following xoNecole? Just checking.):
ForbesWomen
Millions are familiar with Forbes, but what this account offers is a dedicated space that highlights stories about women doing big things in business and all other aspects that affect that journey (ie. politics, philanthropy, and law). You'll get updates on the who, what, when, and where of innovation, high achievement, and high earners.
Create & Cultivate
It's the awesome graphics, the realness, and the relatability for me. This account is for anyone who counts themselves as an ambitious woman who wants to learn from and network with, well, other ambitious women. Create & Cultivate also partners with major brands to bring you virtual events and other resources to ensure you're at your best in whatever you choose do.
Girlboss
Get the tea on topics like building a vision for your business, surviving office politics, or email etiquette basics via this account. There are a diversity of voices, industries, and perspectives that will add a refreshing dose of content to your everyday scrolling sessions.
Black Women Talk Tech
I can't rave about this platform enough. Who doesn't want to learn from tech geniuses, startup bosses, and female executives who leverage innovation on the regular? You can get into the latest trends, learn more about funding, and enjoy elevated conversations about what it means to thrive as a female founder with this one.
Black Enterprise
This is an OG publication that has been around since grandma and 'em was making boss moves, but don't get it twisted. This is still the only long-standing publication that specifically and unapologetically dedicates itself to the advancement of Black professionals and entrepreneurs and shines light on the multi-trillion-dollar impact of Black consumers and entrepreneurs. Debate me not. Just go ahead and click follow to get to know what it means to not only launch a business as a Black woman but continue getting to those coins for years to come.
Her Agenda
Run by a boss millennial (Hey, Rhonesha Byng! Heey!), for other boss millennials, this is the perfect pick-me-up of career and business advancement tips you need on the daily. Via their IG, they also provide resources on funding, grants, freelance and job opportunities, and events.
WEEN
This women-led nonprofit is all for entrepreneurial and career-driven women to network and build. The great thing about this account is there's a major focus on accountability and support for taking ideas into action, and you gotta love an resource that gives you that slight kick in the butt to get off the procrastination train and on to fulfillment of whatever it is you want to do to create your best life.
We Are Women Owned
On top of the resources and encouragement for women entrepreneurs, you can also find other women-owned businesses to support, business mentors, and a community of women in entrepreneurship. Their virtual events tap into subjects that are actually relevant to what women entrepreneurs go through and applicable solutions you can take to the bank.
IFundWomen
It's great to have a business idea and finance it on your own, but it's even better when you can find funding to help grow your vision. This is the account that goes beyond how-tos and inspiration and gets into actual sources of funding. There's very little fluff here, which is a good thing when we're talking about finding the money to do something great as an entrepreneur.
EveryStylishGirl Biz
From tips for your next job interview, to job postings, to amazingly inspiring events featuring top entrepreneurs, this account does not disappoint. You'll also get the goods on thriving through career transitions, turning that new business idea into reality, and other ways you can step your professional game up.
Female Founders Fund
Again, what's a great idea or business without those coins to boost your success? This account has interviews with top female founders who have been there and done that, raising millions in venture capital funds (and becoming funders themselves). It also gives you an insider view into how the whole funding ecosystem works for business owners.
Featured image via Getty Images
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Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
Russell and Nina Westbrook Dish On The Key Ways To Avoid Resentment In Relationships
Russell and Nina Westbrook are one of those low-key, unproblematic couples we don’t talk about enough. They met in college and got married in 2015. They also have a beautiful family with three kids. While Russell is an NBA star, Nina is a licensed family and marriage therapist and a mental health advocate.
She recently launched the podcast The Relationship Chronicles with Nina Westbrook, and in the latest episode, she had none other than her husband on as a guest. The college sweethearts dived into important topics from marriage to children and how they navigate it all.
One of the topics they touched on was dealing with resentment in your relationship. The former MVP highlighted the sacrifices his wife has had to make in order for him to pursue a career in the NBA, and that’s why it’s also important for him to support his wife whenever he can.
“For me is respecting and understanding what your partner do and the time it takes,” Russell said. “Not kind of downplaying what they do, understanding the time and energy and effort they're doing to make sure whether it’s their job or making sure home is taken care of, and understanding that, I think that is the challenge of not being resentful.”
Nina agreed and also shared her thoughts on resentment. According to her, one of the best things couples should do is have their own identity and passions outside of the relationship in an effort to be fulfilled.
“I also think that when you’re in a relationship, that’s why it’s so important that each individual kinda pursue their own passions and follow their own dreams as I feel like it only becomes or leads to resentment when one person is not feeling fulfilled in what they're doing in their lives,” she explained.
“And so, they will start to look at the other partner who’s happy or excelling or promoting or moving along in their journey, then they’re left feeling stuck like they sacrificed themselves, their happiness, their career, their future and have not pursued it in the name of the relationship or their partner. So, it’s so much easier to avoid those feelings of resentment when you’re each equally pursuing your passions.”
The couple has many passions that they work on together and separately. Outside of basketball and his family, Russell has become known for his eclectic style and started the fashion brand Honor The Gift. Nina has her podcast, and she also started the mental health website Bene. Together, they run the Why Not? Foundation, which works with kids in underserved communities.
“I’m a firm believer that one person can’t be everything to you, so you have to sort of seek out those different friendships or groups or hobbies or activities that help to fulfill you,” Nina concluded.
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Feature image by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for Religion of Sports