In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Renae Bluitt, a dynamic storyteller, brand consultant, a tireless advocate for Black women entrepreneurs, and the Founder of She Did That. Renae shares her journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship and her pioneering work in amplifying the voices of Black female founders. Tune in to hear Renae's insights on creating what doesn't exist, building supportive ecosystems, securing funding, and prioritizing mental wellness for Black entrepreneurs.
About Renae Bluitt Renae L. Bluitt is a New York City-based storyteller who serves as a champion and advocate for Black women entrepreneurs. With years of unique experience, Renae has gained valuable insight into Black women entrepreneurs' narratives — a passion she channeled into her first film as Creator and Executive Producer of the documentary, She Did That. The film, which streamed on Netflix and is currently available on Amazon Prime Video, offers an up-close and personal look at Black women in business, addressing topics like mental wellness and the funding gap for women of color. The popularity of the documentary inspired Renae's creation of the She Did That. podcast in 2021, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. In addition to telling entrepreneurial stories, Renae also produces the She Did That. Holiday Bazaar each year featuring over 50 Black women-owned brands. The New York City marketplace is entering its 7th year and has been named the must-attend shopping event of the season. Renae’s passion for creating ecosystems for Black founders does not stop here. As the Supervising Producer for seasons two and three of REVOLT TV and Target’s pitch competition show, Bet on Black, she is responsible for hand-selecting and preparing Black founders to compete for a cash prize and the coveted opportunity to present their brands to our community's most impactful entrepreneurs.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & How We Met 07:19 Renae's Background and Journey into Corporate 14:45 From Employee to Entrepreneur 18:58 Amplifying Black Women Through Blogging and Events 23:47 Fiming She Did That. and the Impactful Stories Along the Way 29:08 Connecting Audiences Through Podcasting 31:42 Being Okay With Changing Your Mind & Doing What You Love 43:50 How Building A Marketplace for Black Entrepreneurs Built a Community 48:57 The Funding Gap for Black Women 54:14 Effective Strategies for Securing Funding & Acquisitions 1:07:04 Cultivating Supportive Communities & Networks Despite Feeling Isolated 1:13:17 The Importance of Prioritizing Your Mental Health 1:20:40 Practical Steps to Bringing Your Ideas to Life
Where to Find Renae Online
Watch the She Did That. Film HERE
She Did That. Podcast Episode with Bea Dixon of Honey Pot
Get the Making the Brand Workbook HERE
Book a 1:1 officehrs session with Brittany of Not So CEO HERE
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