Today we’d like to introduce you to Fontonette Smith
Hi Fontonette, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Elevating Women started as a simple idea — a safe space created to connect, uplift, and support women navigating their personal and professional journeys. What began as a small empowerment group quickly grew into a community focused on sharing resources, building relationships, and encouraging women in business, beauty, fashion, and wellness.
The story truly began in August 2016, when I noticed more women stepping out and launching their own businesses. They would post on social media asking for advice, guidance, or help — but the responses were often few or nonexistent. After watching this pattern for a while, I decided to create a post of my own:
“I want to start a women empowerment group. A group of professional women in the fashion, beauty, and wellness industry. I would like to network and share resources — inspire each other to create and accomplish goals… I can go on and on…”
The response was phenomenal. So many women reacted with interest, but only one person took immediate action — Tracee Seals, someone I had connected with on Facebook.
Together, we hosted our very first event, the Elevating Women Networking Mixer, in September 2016. It was a success and served as the launchpad for everything that would come next. Following that event, Tracee was officially selected to serve as the Vice President of Elevating Women Empowerment Group. She quickly proved that she not only shared the vision but was just as passionate about the mission. What started as a social media connection turned into a business relationship, a friendship, and a sisterly bond.
Let’s just say… we are the foundation of Elevating Women Empowerment Group.
As the organization grew, so did the leadership team. In December 2017, Danica Frazier joined as our Secretary, bringing structure and organization to our efforts. That same month, Echo Brisco stepped in as our Community Service Coordinator, helping us expand our outreach and bring meaningful service-driven events to life.
In October 2018, we launched Empowering Boss Life Magazine, an extension of our mission to highlight and support women entrepreneurs. The magazine was created to showcase their stories, provide valuable business insight, and offer practical tools that women could use in their professional journeys.
By 2019, we proudly celebrated three years of growth and impact. Elevating Women had evolved into more than just a group — it became a platform for connection, leadership, and visibility for women pursuing their goals.
Like many organizations, we experienced a shift during the pandemic, and our public presence hasn’t been as active as it once was. However, this was never a pause in purpose. Behind the scenes, I’ve been working intentionally to restructure and strengthen our foundation — improving how we operate, defining our next steps, and preparing to re-emerge stronger and more focused than ever.
Of course, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. Funding has always been one of the biggest hurdles. There are always great ideas and plans in motion, but limited resources slow things down. Still, I keep a list of events and initiatives we aim to host — because I believe in the vision. And despite the obstacles, the feedback from women who say they’re inspired by what we do reminds me that our work matters.
Today, Elevating Women is preparing to take things even further by pursuing 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, which will allow us to deepen our impact and serve more women in meaningful ways. We continue to offer networking opportunities, mentoring, educational workshops, and partnerships that center the voices, ideas, and dreams of women from all walks of life.
It’s been a journey of turning passion into purpose — and we’re just getting started. We will continue to uphold our mission because when women come together, there’s nothing we can’t accomplish.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all — the road has definitely had its challenges. Like any organization built from the ground up, one of our biggest struggles has always been funding. We’ve had so many ideas, events, and programs we wanted to launch to support women, but the reality is, without financial backing, things move slower than we’d like.
Another challenge has been keeping women consistently engaged. In the beginning, many were excited about the idea of being part of a women’s empowerment group — the responses to our posts were amazing — but when it came time to show up and take action, only a few remained committed. That’s something we learned early on: passion is there, but life happens, and consistency is hard for people.
Despite the challenges, we kept going. For me, the true reward comes when women reach out and say they were inspired by something we posted or how they admire the things our organization is doing. That’s the fuel that keeps us moving, even when the road gets tough.
The journey has taught us patience, persistence, and the importance of showing up — even if it’s just two of us in the room. Because impact isn’t about numbers — it’s about the lives we touch. And that’s what keeps Elevating Women standing strong.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Elevating Women stands as a strong support system, dedicated to empowering women from diverse backgrounds and professions. Our goal is to create a welcoming space where female entrepreneurs and business professionals come together, share experiences, offer support, and inspire one another.
What truly sets Elevating Women apart is our commitment to helping women build real, meaningful business relationships. We’re intentional about creating spaces where women not only meet but also collaborate in ways that help them grow. Our work includes connecting with community outreach programs and hosting engaging events, all designed to shine a light on women and the incredible work they’re doing in business.
At the core of our mission is building a solid network of women who support, encourage, and work together as they chase their goals. We provide access to resources — from networking events that create real connections, to workshops that sharpen important business skills, and mentoring programs that offer guidance and support along the way.
What we’re most proud of is the impact — seeing women grow their confidence, gain new opportunities, and push their businesses forward because of the connections made through our organization. Elevating Women is here to be a resource, a place to build, and a community that helps women grow both personally and professionally.
We’re all about creating positive change — in business and beyond.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5-10 years, I see the women empowerment and entrepreneurial space continuing to grow — but with a bigger focus on collaboration over competition. More women are starting businesses, building personal brands, and creating platforms, and I believe we’ll see a major shift toward women forming strategic partnerships and collective networks that open more doors.
There’s also a growing demand for access to real resources — not just motivation, but actual tools, funding opportunities, mentorship, and education that help women scale their businesses. I see more organizations like Elevating Women bridging that gap — offering not only inspiration but hands-on support that helps women build sustainable brands.
Digital spaces will continue to expand, creating more virtual communities, events, and learning opportunities. But at the same time, I think we’ll see a push back toward in-person connections because people are craving real relationships and face-to-face networking again.
Another major trend I see is more women of color leading the way — creating their own tables instead of waiting for a seat. There’s power in ownership, and the next decade will highlight more women becoming leaders, investors, and decision-makers.
Overall, I see this industry becoming even more resourceful, inclusive, and impactful — focused on long-term success and creating real change for women in business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.women2elevate.club
- Instagram: https://Www.instagram.com/elevatingwomen
- Facebook: https://Www.facebook.com/elevatingwomen
Image Credits
Arion Smith @shotbyarionsmith
