“ I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there, I was promoted to the washtub. From there, I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there, I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations. ”
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
ContextWalker's own summary of her path from field labour to building a business empire.
Their StoryBorn Sarah Breedlove to formerly enslaved parents in Louisiana in 1867, she built a line of hair care products for Black women into a business empire, becoming widely regarded as the first self-made female millionaire in America. She employed thousands of Black women as sales agents.Biographies by her great-great-granddaughter A'Lelia Bundles are the fullest primary-adjacent sources.See Their Full Story
“ I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that's how you grow. When there's that moment of 'Wow, I'm not really sure I can do this,' and you push through those moments, that's when you have a breakthrough. ”
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
ContextWalker on taking initiative rather than waiting to be given a chance.
Their StoryBorn Sarah Breedlove to formerly enslaved parents in Louisiana in 1867, she built a line of hair care products for Black women into a business empire, becoming widely regarded as the first self-made female millionaire in America. She employed thousands of Black women as sales agents.Biographies by her great-great-granddaughter A'Lelia Bundles are the fullest primary-adjacent sources.See Their Full Story
“ There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for if I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard. ”
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
ContextWalker, widely regarded as the first self-made female millionaire in America, on why she rejected the idea of an easy route to success.
Their StoryBorn Sarah Breedlove to formerly enslaved parents in Louisiana in 1867, she built a line of hair care products for Black women into a business empire, becoming widely regarded as the first self-made female millionaire in America. She employed thousands of Black women as sales agents.Biographies by her great-great-granddaughter A'Lelia Bundles are the fullest primary-adjacent sources.See Their Full Story
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
ContextWalker on her early life in poverty, which she never hid as her business grew.
Their StoryBorn Sarah Breedlove to formerly enslaved parents in Louisiana in 1867, she built a line of hair care products for Black women into a business empire, becoming widely regarded as the first self-made female millionaire in America. She employed thousands of Black women as sales agents.Biographies by her great-great-granddaughter A'Lelia Bundles are the fullest primary-adjacent sources.See Their Full Story
“ Bringing our true self is possible only when there is no fear of retribution or ridicule, and in fact appreciation and celebration of what makes each of us unique. ”
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
ContextOften described as the first self-made female millionaire in the US.
Their StoryBorn Sarah Breedlove to formerly enslaved parents in Louisiana in 1867, she built a line of hair care products for Black women into a business empire, becoming widely regarded as the first self-made female millionaire in America. She employed thousands of Black women as sales agents.Biographies by her great-great-granddaughter A'Lelia Bundles are the fullest primary-adjacent sources.See Their Full Story
“ I believe that when women lead HR, we bring a unique capacity to nurture talent while ruthlessly pursuing organisational goals, showing that empathy is a competitive superpower, not a soft skill. ”
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
ContextWalker on decisiveness as a precondition for faith or guidance to help you at all.
Their StoryBorn Sarah Breedlove to formerly enslaved parents in Louisiana in 1867, she built a line of hair care products for Black women into a business empire, becoming widely regarded as the first self-made female millionaire in America. She employed thousands of Black women as sales agents.Biographies by her great-great-granddaughter A'Lelia Bundles are the fullest primary-adjacent sources.See Their Full Story
“ A name is how someone was introduced to the world, it usually carries meaning, often cultural or familial, and getting it wrong is a small persistent signal that you have not thought it worth the effort to get right. ”
ContextCompston, a product coach, former Thoughtworks employee, and the founder of QuoteThem™, on why getting someone's name right is never a minor detail.
Widely credited to this person; primary source not yet confirmed.
ContextWalker, who employed thousands of Black women as sales agents, on the wider purpose of her business.
Their StoryBorn Sarah Breedlove to formerly enslaved parents in Louisiana in 1867, she built a line of hair care products for Black women into a business empire, becoming widely regarded as the first self-made female millionaire in America. She employed thousands of Black women as sales agents.Biographies by her great-great-granddaughter A'Lelia Bundles are the fullest primary-adjacent sources.See Their Full Story
