It started with a simple truth: Being the 'only one' or the 'first' is a weight that's too heavy to carry alone. Years ago, I looked around the corporate retail landscape and saw what so many of us lived every day – women of color at the director level and above, each blazing trails in isolation. We were making history, but at what cost? That's when the vision came to me: what if we could transform these solo journeys into a shared path? On a hopeful evening during market week, six of us gathered around a table. Six women, six stories, six perspectives – but one shared experience. That dinner planted a seed. Then 2020 arrived, shaking our world to its core. As we witnessed historic changes, one reality remained stubbornly constant: the challenges faced by women of color in retail leadership. The isolation. The invisible barriers. The untapped potential. The seed that was planted years ago began to sprout with renewed urgency. I reached out to visionary colleagues who shared this dream of transformation. We weren't just looking to climb corporate ladders – we were determined to rebuild them, making them stronger and more accessible for everyone. Our mission was twofold: empower women of color stuck in mid-level positions and partner with retail corporations to create lasting, meaningful change. In September 2020, we launched our first virtual "We Should Know Each Other" networking event. The response was overwhelming – we weren't just filling a gap; we were answering a call that had gone unheard for too long. The momentum continued to build as we introduced our "My Leadership Journey" lunch and learn series and our groundbreaking "Straight No Chaser" career development program. As our community grew, we recognized another critical need: supporting early career professionals. Too many talented women of color were being overlooked at their first opportunity for advancement – that crucial first rung on the leadership ladder. We expanded our mission to bridge this gap, ensuring these rising stars receive the mentorship, visibility, and opportunities they deserve before they can fall through the cracks. By intervening early, we're not just fixing the broken rung – we're strengthening the entire ladder. Today, we stand ready to elevate our cohorts to unprecedented heights of career success while guiding brands toward authentic social responsibility. Because when we lift each other up, we don't just rise – we soar. This isn't just our story. It's a movement. And it's only the beginning.