She Did That.’s Inaugural Founder Forum Created A Space For Honest Conversations And Meaningful Connections

On a gorgeous autumn day in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, the She Did That. Founder Forum filled the room with Black women ready to build together. The intimate gathering — created in service of Black women entrepreneurs — welcomed a room full of warm energy, fashion, and women who came ready to connect, learn, and be inspired. Every story had a seat at the table, from starting out to starting over. Some commuted across the five boroughs, while others flew in from out of town.

Joy filled the space as guests mingled, browsed the marketplace, and caught up over breakfast served by Brooklyn Tea. As the room settled, they leaned in while each panel took the stage to share their journeys and insights, from building a business to changing ownership, and starting over. Practical advice on protecting your brand, staying grounded, and putting AI to work for business growth rounded out the day. 

Hosted by Yunice Emir, founder of The Conn3ct Group and Head of Corporate Communications at Moët Hennessy USA, the Founder Forum delivered community, candid conversation, and gems to carry each guest forward.

She Did That. founder Renae Bluitt is the visionary behind the inaugural forum. “Our intention with the Founder Forum was for women to feel cared for from the moment they walked through the doors of Shell’s Loft until the end of the day,” she said. 

Bluitt’s signature style and attention to detail touched every part of the October 5th gathering. “The intimacy of the room was intentional, and so was every detail,” she said. “We partnered with Brooklyn Tea to start the morning with a complimentary breakfast, and brought in Black women-owned restaurants to nourish us throughout the afternoon. Every conversation was carefully curated, even down to where it fell within the flow of the programming. And we partnered with Elegant Chauffeurs, a Black woman-owned ground transportation company, to make sure our speakers arrived in style and were taken care of before they even reached the venue. We wanted the entire day to feel warm, intimate, elevated, and deeply considered. It wasn’t just about what women learned in the room, but how they felt while they were there.” 

Bluitt assembled each speaker panel with women who have lived it, who shared their stories and offered tangible takeaways. Jeneé Naylor, founder of luxury eyewear brand 12PM Studios, joined the conversation about life after the 9-to-5. Attorney Casey Handy-Smith of C. Handy Law spoke about protecting brands and ideas, and Kayalin Akens-Irby, founder of the women’s health and wellness clinic Sela Health, explored building a business without burning out. Together, the speakers created an open, vulnerable space, and the audience matched their energy.

“As a Black woman who became an entrepreneur over 30 years ago, I can attest to the power and need for community,” said Lisa Price, founder and president of Carol’s Daughter. “I had no one. No blueprint. No guide other than gut. No community. Remember, no internet in 1993 and no social media until 2006 or 2007? Community is critical to sanity and survival and She Did That.’s Founder Forum brought the community together in a beautiful way.” 

During a conversation on acquisitions, exits, and ownership, Price talked about selling, then buying back her beloved brand from L’Oreal. She shared the stage with Necole Kane, founder of My Happy Flo and the woman behind xoNecole. “In the spaces created by She Did That., the founder is the celebrity,” Kane said. “Renae curates such a beautiful room with so many gorgeous faces, and so much support. I needed this experience even more than I realized.”

Media icon Bevy Smith, media personality, entrepreneur, and host of In Bed with Bevy, was also in the room to speak on a panel about career reinvention. As a trusted voice who built her own lane in media with every chapter of her career, she reminded the room that reinvention has no expiration date.