Support your friends’ Pow(H)er experience and prizes to honor the community’s pioneers

Support Your Girlfriends concluded its seventh annual Pow(H)er Experience and Awards with a festive week to remember.

Powered by Tene Nicole Creative Agency this week promoted Support Your Girlfriends and its mission to empower and recognize diverse leaders across multiple industries. This year’s series brought together pioneers, advocates and innovators committed to equality and progress on a global scale.

The culture was highlighted again at the Pow(H)er Experience and Awards Ceremony, both of which took place in New York City starting November 19. The week kicked off with a private event at Tiffany & Co., where special speakers led the intimate occasion before the day’s inspiring programming.

The three-day event brought participants from all fields to workshops and panels around entrepreneurship, wellness and advocacy. Speakers from industries including media, business and technology anchored the conversations, with each providing insight into the Support Your Girlfriends community on thriving in an evolving workforce and society.

The experience concluded with the Pow(H)er Experience’s signature Awards event on November 20. During the ceremony, men and women who have used their platforms to advance their respective industries were recognized at the ceremony as the 2025 Pow(H)er Man of the Year, previously discussed on BLACK BUSINESS. Fellow nominees, such as human rights advocates Erica Ford and Angela Wright, included women who remained “unapologetically HER” in social justice, entrepreneurship and community sectors.

This year’s Pow(H)er experience felt particularly pivotal, with Nikkia McClain, founder and CEO of Tene Nicole, noting the disproportionate layoffs of Black women in the workforce. Recognizing the importance of staying empowered and connected, this annual Pow(H)er Experience served as a reminder of the impact women of color continue to feel.

“In light of the economic challenges women face, more than half a million women have lost their jobs since January of this year,” McClain said in a press release shared with ARE. “Despite these difficulties, Pow(H)er Experience and Awards remains unwavering in our commitment to women, especially women of color. We continue to make progress by providing free access to essential tools, resources and health services, including screenings and testing. We remain committed to serving our community with these free resources to ensure they have the support needed not only to survive but to thrive.”

As Support Your Girlfriends continues to enhance its program to serve its growing community of dynamic professional men and women, the annual experience encourages new leaders to thrive no matter the challenges. Support Your Girlfriends concludes its year of community-oriented programming with a Holiday Soiree to help fuel this season.

RELATED CONTENT: Nikkia McClain’s Pow(H)er Initiative Empowers Black Women to Unapologetically Be Themselves