A business may have a great product and loyal customers, but that doesn’t necessarily mean its owner has the financial resources or institutional connections needed to expand. While funding opportunities may exist, navigating the eligibility requirements, preparing applications, and understanding the process can present another set of challenges. Hoping to make an impact, Gabrieline Reece founded Women Who Influence to create spaces where women are not only celebrated but also supported.
In October, Women Who Influence hosted the Pink Apple Awards to bring together entrepreneurs, government leaders, community partners, and women making a difference to honor their work and build meaningful connections. “I started Women Who Influence because I kept seeing women doing important work without their stories being heard,” Reece explained to BrownStyle Magazine. “They were running businesses, supporting families, and contributing to their communities. I wanted to create a place where their work could be recognized and where people could get to know the women behind it.”
As the organization evolved, so did Reece’s vision. Recognition was important, but she began thinking about what could happen when visibility translated into meaningful connections and tangible opportunities.
Creating Opportunities For Growth
The 2026 Pink Apple Awards marked a particularly meaningful return for Women Who Influence following an 18-month restructuring period. Rather than simply resuming operations, Reece used the time to reassess the organization, strengthen its foundation, and become more intentional about how it could serve its community.
“Returning after our 18-month restructure and launching The Power Seat at Brooklyn Borough Hall made me proud,” she shared. “We had taken time to reassess our organization, strengthen our foundation, and get clearer about how we wanted to serve.”
That renewed focus reflected in the conversations surrounding small-business development. “Small businesses play an important role in shaping local communities. They create jobs, support neighborhood economies, establish relationships with other businesses, and provide services that residents depend on,” Reece explained. “Yet starting a business and sustaining one are two very different challenges.”
To better understand those challenges, Women Who Influence conducted outreach to 2,000 entrepreneurs, received 347 responses, and brought 50 business owners together for a listening session. According to the organization’s findings, 68% of respondents identified access to resources and opportunities as a barrier.
That feedback helped inform The Power Seat and reinforced the importance of listening directly to business owners.
Reece believes entrepreneurs need more than a list of available resources. They need guidance on how to access and use them.
A particularly important part of that conversation involved Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) certification. “Certification can open doors, but business owners also need help identifying contracts, understanding procurement requirements, and preparing competitive proposals,” Reece emphasized. “The goal is to provide support that reflects where each business is in its journey.”
The Power Of Coming Together
Creating opportunities for entrepreneurs requires collaboration. Women Who Influence brought together organizations and partners with different areas of expertise to help broaden the resources and connections available to attendees.
Economic development partners included the Office of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, NYC Economic Development Corporation, NYC Department of Small Business Services, and a host of others. PNC Bank sponsored the Leadership Networking Reception, providing additional time for introductions and conversations following the program.
The event’s additional partners included Emily Cave and Apple Awards, the official awards partner; Divine Cultura Bites, the hospitality partner; Jahzara Nicole Events, the event design partner; and United Way and 211, whose community support helped bring the day together.
For Reece, these relationships represent an important part of the organization’s purpose. “Working with partners allows us to offer a broader range of knowledge and support,” she said.
The Next Chapter: Turning Connections Into Action
While the Pink Apple Awards celebrated accomplishments, Reece hopes the real impact will be measured by what happens afterward. Her message to entrepreneurs was simple: follow up.
“If you met someone who could be helpful to your business, send the email. If you heard about a resource, check the requirements. If something was unclear, ask the question,” she noted, reminding business owners that networking is only the beginning. Meaningful relationships require communication, preparation, and follow-through.
Women Who Influence is also working towards several initiatives designed to continue those conversations. Among the plans is Good Company, a holiday networking event intended to welcome back business owners and partners from October 22 while creating opportunities for those who could not attend.
Heading into 2027, plans include the Women Who Influence Summit and the Business Growth & Leadership Accelerator, with practical business education and guidance informing the programming.
Additional recognition initiatives are also in development, including Impact Awards honoring small-business owners and Crystal Apple Awards celebrating leaders who have paved the way for others. Together, these initiatives reflect an ongoing commitment to recognizing accomplishments while helping women identify their next opportunities.
A Legacy That Extends Beyond One Day
For Reece, the ultimate measure of the 2026 Pink Apple Awards is the relationships, opportunities, and continued progress that emerge from bringing people together. She hopes the connections made during the event lead to new partnerships, that entrepreneurs pursue resources they may not have known were available, and that honorees continue to share their experiences with future generations of women.
“A useful introduction that becomes a partnership. A business owner who pursues a resource they learned about. An honoree whose work reaches a new audience,” she reflected.
When asked about the moment that resonated with her most at this year’s Pink Apple Awards, Reece pointed to presenting the awards to women who are creating jobs, mentoring others, supporting neighborhood initiatives, and providing services that make a difference in people’s everyday lives. “Being able to recognize that effort in other women was personal for me,” she said. “I wanted them to know that their contributions were worth taking the time to celebrate. Recognition can introduce her work to people who might otherwise never hear about it. Sometimes, the opportunity to be recognized while actively doing the work is just as important as the recognition itself.”
Through Women Who Influence, Gabrieline Reece is working to make sure women have more than a seat in the room. She’s helping create opportunities for them to connect, grow, and build something that lasts.
To learn more about Women Who Influence, upcoming programs, and opportunities to get involved, visit womenwhoinfluence.org or follow @WomenWhoInfluence on Instagram.
