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Empowering Black Women in Leadership
At lollipop, our mission has always been to address the lack of representation and inequity faced by Black women in leadership roles. That focus remains at our core. But as the industry shifts, it’s clear that many more women — particularly at mid-career — are navigating similar challenges, often without the support they need. So we’ve expanded. Today, lollipop continues to centre Black women while opening its doors to support all mid-career women. We connect women with mentors and sponsors to provide access to guidance, networks and opportunities that drive real career progression. Our vision is to empower women, build confidence and accelerate careers through the power of mentorship.
Statistics:
- According to the All In survey 2023, 30% of Black people are likely to leave the industry due to lack of inclusion and/or discrimination.
- In London’s working population, Black representation in the industry stands at only 4%, with a mere 2% holding C-Suite positions.
- The recent McKinsey Women in the Workplace report highlights that Black women are more likely to be overlooked for promotions compared to their non-Black female colleagues. Additionally, they are the least likely to benefit from career development and training opportunities within organisations.
Supporting Talent:
Our core offering, fostering diversity and inclusion by connecting Black mid-level professionals with senior industry mentors, remains at the heart of our mission. We are building on our existing database of active mentors and mentees, extending companies the opportunity to utilise lollipop mentoring as a valuable resource to support women.
Retention, Retention, Retention:
As more diverse talent enters the industry, the need for meaningful support, guidance and progression has never been clearer. lollipop exists to help women navigate and thrive at pivotal moments in their careers — particularly at mid-career, where support can often fall away. While we continue to centre Black women, we also support a broader community of women across the industry, ensuring talent is not only represented but supported to grow and lead. Our network brings together mentors with a wide range of lived experiences, offering real insight, guidance and connection. Through our six-month mentoring programme, we help individuals build confidence, accelerate their careers and unlock new opportunities — while enabling organisations to invest in their people, strengthen inclusion and drive lasting impact.
How You Can Support Us:
- Become a lollipop mentor: Encourage your company to participate in our mentorship program by offering senior staff as mentors to our mid-level Black women mentees.
- Benefit from lollipop mentorship: Identify potential mentees within your organisation who could benefit from our mentorship program.
- Provide Space and Resources: Offer space for our events and access to resources that can help us produce valuable content for our community.
- Financial Support: We are not funded and rely on financial support to continue our mission. Invest in Lollipop and invest in your workforce.
- Platform and Visibility: Support us by providing platforms for our mentors and mentees to speak and participate in panel events, enhancing their visibility and professional growth.
