BLACK WOMEN TRANSITIONING FROM EMPLOYEES TO ENTREPRENEURS ...

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BLACK WOMEN TRANSITIONING FROM EMPLOYEES TO ENTREPRENEURS: A NARRATIVE RESEARCH STUDY by

Felicia Carr Thomas A Doctoral Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education Graduate School Education College of Professional Studies Northeastern University Boston, Massachusetts November 22, 2021

2 Copyright@2021 by Felicia Thomas. All rights reserved.

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Acknowledgments

I have to thank God, my Heavenly Father, because without Him, I am nothing, and completing this dissertation would not have become a reality. My faith in God is bigger than my fears, because I know I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me (Holy Bible, New King James Version, 1982, Philippians 4:13). I am here to serve God with all of my heart.

I want to thank my number one supporter and the love of my life, my husband, Jarvis Thomas. He is always there to give me words of encouragement, a shoulder to cry on, and a joke to make me laugh. No matter what ideas or goals I have, he always lets me know that I can accomplish them. To my intelligent and beautiful daughter, Brianna Thomas, thank you for pushing me to keep working on my doctoral dissertation. You mean the world to me. I have a sincere appreciation for my family and friends. You all would pray for me, call and check on my progression, and listen to me discuss the ups and downs of my experiences as I went through the process of obtaining my doctoral degree.

Finally, I would like to thank my dissertation committee members, Dr. Gail MatthewsDeNatale, Dr. Michael Dean, and Dr. Mwelwa Mulenga. Each of you provided thoughtful insight to help me shape my dissertation into a significant research study noble of scholarly work.

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Dedication

I dedicate this dissertation in loving memory of my grandmother, Mrs. Florence R. Carr. She was the first Black woman entrepreneur that I knew, as she was a self-employed domestic worker who cleaned White people's homes from before the Civil Rights Era until she was in her 80s. She did this to support herself and raise her children after the death of her husband. She taught me valuable lessons about being a Black woman trying to succeed in a world that does not see you as an equal. She instilled in me never to quit and work for what I want. God always watches over you and will always provide for you.

Finally, this is for every Black woman and anyone else who wants to own a business or accomplish a goal. As you face adversities, do not waver, because you have what it takes, although others do not support you. Believe in yourself and trust that God will help you do the rest even when you think you cannot go further.

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Abstract This study investigated Black women's lived experiences as they transitioned from employees to entrepreneurs to comprehend why they decided to leave paid jobs to pursue unchartered territories of opening their businesses. There were semi-structured interviews administered with three Black women entrepreneurs from the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The interview transcripts were examined using the theoretical framework of Schlossberg's Transition Theory. The themes that materialized from this research study were unappreciated/not valued, struggles, emotions, and race and gender. The findings revealed that Black women encounter challenges that people of other races and genders may not experience at the same level. The Black women discussed how they overcame the barriers to have successful businesses. The implications demonstrate positive changes that can assist government officials, higher education institutions, and organizations in better understanding Black women's plight. Such awareness of their struggles may reduce barriers to entry into entrepreneurship and assist them in maintaining longevity in their businesses. Ultimately, this can help Black women, their communities, and the economy.

Keywords: Black women, entrepreneurs, challenges

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