D.C.-based Walker’s Legacy celebrates a decade in business

D.C.-based Walker’s Legacy is celebrating 10 years in business this week.

Founded in 2009, the 20-person organization manages a digital platform featuring educational content and programming for women of color in business to promote career advancement. Walker’s Legacy was named after iconic businesswoman and philanthropist Madam C.J. Walker, and currently has chapters in 20 cities across the U.S.

Walker’s Legacy celebrates its 10-Year Anniversary today as the premier organization and digital platform for women of color in business! Named in honor of Madam C.J. Walker, Walker's Legacy held its first program on January 27, 2010. Read more: https://t.co/C1yPp0XDKH pic.twitter.com/qox5JgeFB8

— Walker's Legacy (@walkerslegacy) January 27, 2020

“Walker’s Legacy was birthed with a small gathering of women after I found myself in need of a female mentor during my first entrepreneurial venture,” said Walker’s Legacy Founder and CEO Natalie Madeira Cofield in a statement.

Walker’s Legacy has accomplished a lot since its founding. In 2016, the company launched its nonprofit arm, Walker’s Legacy Foundation, which hosts entrepreneurship training and business development programming. In 2018, the organization received the inaugural Women of Color in Business grant award of $400,000 from the Minority Business Development Agency, which was further extended last year for good performance.

Walker’s Legacy has partnered with companies like Google, Capital One, Coca-Cola and more to bring its programming to the corporate world. Last year, Cofield was also named one of the inaugural 100 Most Powerful Women in Business by Entrepreneur Magazine.

“It’s incredible what we have been able to accomplish over the last decade,” said Cofield in a press release. “Our vision for the next 10 years is to establish a chapter in all 50 states and expand globally.”

This year, Walker’s Legacy launched its City Directors initiative in 10 cities, which calls on women leaders to direct programming in major cities like Atlanta, New York and Miami. The organization is currently recruiting for its second cohort of City Directors to expand its reach to more cities. Walker’s Legacy also launched its PROSPECTUS Business Accelerator this year in five markets. The nine-week business training program features in-person lectures and programming for working women in D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Newark, New Jersey and Houston.

Walker’s Legacy will host its first national conference in October in D.C. The two-day summit is looking to attract women in business who want to advance their careers.