Leading Women Defined: Phenomenal Women at the Helm

Female entrepreneurs share their struggles and triumphs.

Independent Women - Angela Simmons, Lisa Price and Kaye Savage were among the group of groundbreaking female entrepreneurs who attended the “Owned and Operated: Phenomenal Women at the Helm” session on March 19 during  BET Networks’ Leading Women Defined summit.—Britt Middleton(All photos By:  Phelan Marc / BET)

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Independent Women - Angela Simmons, Lisa Price and Kaye Savage were among the group of groundbreaking female entrepreneurs who attended the “Owned and Operated: Phenomenal Women at the Helm” session on March 19 during  BET Networks’ Leading Women Defined summit.—Britt Middleton(All photos By:  Phelan Marc / BET)

Aiming High\r\r - Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Obama, opened up the session by urging aspiring female business leaders to rise above challenging circumstances. But once people make it to the top, “they have a responsibility not just to succeed, but to reach back, and hold out a helping hand to those coming up after them,” she said.

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Aiming High\r\r - Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to President Obama, opened up the session by urging aspiring female business leaders to rise above challenging circumstances. But once people make it to the top, “they have a responsibility not just to succeed, but to reach back, and hold out a helping hand to those coming up after them,” she said.

Inspiring Story\r\r - Jarrett also discussed the pressures of balancing career and family life, a struggle many women can empathize with. She shared an endearing anecdote of when First Lady Michelle Obama was forced to bring daughter Sasha to a job interview because the babysitter was a no-show. The story emphasized Jarrett’s points that working with what you’ve got is the true key to success. 

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Inspiring Story\r\r - Jarrett also discussed the pressures of balancing career and family life, a struggle many women can empathize with. She shared an endearing anecdote of when First Lady Michelle Obama was forced to bring daughter Sasha to a job interview because the babysitter was a no-show. The story emphasized Jarrett’s points that working with what you’ve got is the true key to success. 

Blazing a Trail - (From left to right) Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter Inc., Amsale Aberra, co-CEO and creative director of Amsale Design Group, and Kay Savage, founder and CEO of Excel Academy Public Charter School were panelists at the session. In addition, Angela Simmons, co-founder of PASTRY (not pictured) and Angela Benton (not pictured), founder and CEO of Black Web Media rounded out the all-star panel.

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Blazing a Trail - (From left to right) Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter Inc., Amsale Aberra, co-CEO and creative director of Amsale Design Group, and Kay Savage, founder and CEO of Excel Academy Public Charter School were panelists at the session. In addition, Angela Simmons, co-founder of PASTRY (not pictured) and Angela Benton (not pictured), founder and CEO of Black Web Media rounded out the all-star panel.

Natural Wonders\r\r - Price (center) transformed her hobby of mixing fragrances and creams in her Brooklyn, NY, kitchen into a multi-million dollar brand in Carol’s Daughter Inc. Her natural-based products enjoy a loyal celebrity following — Jada Pinkett-Smith, Erykah Badu, Rose Perez and Halle Berry have sung its praises. Benton (on left) created the blog Black Web 2.0 to connect and inform African-American digital professionals, and Aberra’s wedding gowns and evening wear are fixtures in fashion magazines; her star clients include Halle Berry, Lucy Liu, Vanessa Williams and many others.

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Natural Wonders\r\r - Price (center) transformed her hobby of mixing fragrances and creams in her Brooklyn, NY, kitchen into a multi-million dollar brand in Carol’s Daughter Inc. Her natural-based products enjoy a loyal celebrity following — Jada Pinkett-Smith, Erykah Badu, Rose Perez and Halle Berry have sung its praises. Benton (on left) created the blog Black Web 2.0 to connect and inform African-American digital professionals, and Aberra’s wedding gowns and evening wear are fixtures in fashion magazines; her star clients include Halle Berry, Lucy Liu, Vanessa Williams and many others.

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Present-Day Leaders\r\r\r - Kay Savage (shown with Angela Simmons) began her career as a certified special education teacher working with low-income students. Later, she transitioned into the public service arena, concentrating on local and federal government programs targeting urban economically stressed areas. Most recently, she served as program manager for the District of Columbia Family Education Network, a parent training initiative of Fight for Children.

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Present-Day Leaders\r\r\r - Kay Savage (shown with Angela Simmons) began her career as a certified special education teacher working with low-income students. Later, she transitioned into the public service arena, concentrating on local and federal government programs targeting urban economically stressed areas. Most recently, she served as program manager for the District of Columbia Family Education Network, a parent training initiative of Fight for Children.

Power Players - Panelists exchange stories of their barrier-breaking  journeys, experiences and lessons learned as founders and CEOs.

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Power Players - Panelists exchange stories of their barrier-breaking  journeys, experiences and lessons learned as founders and CEOs.

Closing Remarks\r\r\r - Debra Lee, BET Networks' chairman and chief executive, thanks guests for attending the session.

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Closing Remarks\r\r\r - Debra Lee, BET Networks' chairman and chief executive, thanks guests for attending the session.

Star Power - Angela Simmons, who co-founded her clothing, shoe and accessory line with sister Vanessa in 2007, poses with a guest. The Simmons sisters manage to keep success in the family: her uncle is business mogul Russell Simmons and her father is hip hop pioneer Rev. Run.

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Star Power - Angela Simmons, who co-founded her clothing, shoe and accessory line with sister Vanessa in 2007, poses with a guest. The Simmons sisters manage to keep success in the family: her uncle is business mogul Russell Simmons and her father is hip hop pioneer Rev. Run.