Photo courtesy Vanessa McDowell-Atlas
After seven years as CEO of YWCA Madison and transforming the organization into an equitable community hub, Vanessa McDowell-Atlas was ready for a new challenge.
Earlier this year, she and her husband left her hometown of Madison for Charlotte, North Carolina, where she is now chief operating officer of Black Girl Ventures. The national organization supports underrepresented women founders to gain social and financial capital through a variety of programs and pitch competitions.
McDowell-Atlas shared her thoughts on her career journey, and what inspires her in her new role.
How did your work at YWCA Madison prepare you to be COO of Black Girl Ventures?
It showed me that I can do anything. I think it was transformational for myself and the community. It was
an opportunity for me to see what I could do as a leader. If you told me I would be leading during a pandemic, I probably would have said no, but when you’re in it, you’re just in it, and what’s in you comes out.
Why did this feel like the right next step for you?
I was really in a place in my life where I wanted to serve another Black woman leading an organization. Being a Black woman leading an organization for seven years at YWCA, I really found a need for having staff and support around me to support a vision.
Something I’ve learned about myself is that even though I deal with anxiety … I’m a lot stronger than I thought I was to make such a leap.
How would you describe yourself as a leader?
Being steadfast … leading with calmness in chaos.
What does your day-to-day look like at Black Girl Ventures?
We’re virtual, so my day-to-day is lots of meetings. It’s being in constant conversation with my CEO to continue to support her and my vision together. It’s supporting my team and checking on staff, making sure they’re OK as people.
I also lead the programs team, and I oversee the finance and marketing departments.
What are you most enjoying about the new role?
My favorite part is seeing the work in action. Recently I was able to go to our pitch competition in Chicago, and to see these women get the courage to talk in front of all these people and pitch their businesses, and then being able to be rewarded financially and socially with so many different connections. That is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
In 2016, you were named a BRAVA Woman To Watch. You said, “I believe I’m part of a bigger purpose to help heal a broken world.” How does that quote resonate with you now?
I still feel like that’s part of my purpose, to help mend things that need to be healed. Everything I have done I would say in my adult years has been dedicated to that — and that hasn’t changed.
Read more from our September/October 2024 cover story “Success Stories” here.
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