Gratitude & Grace.
Those are my words for 2026 because, babyyyy... they have carried me through.
If I’m honest, I wasn’t planning to attend my graduation. But God had other plans—and my amazing cohort made sure I showed up.
Last month, I had the incredible honor of graduating as one of 306 Black women in Cohort 9 of the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business program.
To say this experience challenged me would be an understatement.
During our 10-week cohort, I was stretched in ways I never expected. Life felt overwhelming at times. I was tired. I was weary. There were days when I lacked motivation and seriously considered walking away.
But I didn’t.
I pressed through.
This journey reminded me of my Black girl brilliance. It reminded me that resilience is woven into my DNA and that I stand on the shoulders of ancestors who endured far greater challenges so that I could stand in rooms like this one.
I’m eternally grateful for my Growth Group sister tribe, who became my anchors, my encouragement, and a much-needed lifeline along the journey. 💚
This graduation isn’t simply about completing a program. It’s about choosing perseverance over quitting. It’s about trusting God when the path isn’t clear. And it’s about allowing yourself to be stretched, because growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone.
So, to the woman who is weary right now:
Keep going.
The hard season won’t last forever. The discomfort you’re experiencing may very well be preparing you for the next level God is calling you to.
Sometimes, the victory isn’t that the journey was easy.
The victory is that you didn’t quit.
Today, I celebrate this milestone with a heart full of gratitude—for God, my village, my cohort, my Growth Group sisters, and every lesson that came with this journey.
Congratulations to every woman in Cohort 9. It was an honor to learn, grow, and persevere alongside you.
Here’s to carrying Gratitude & Grace through 2026 and beyond.
Always,
Gratitude & Grace. 💚✨
Dr. Bernada Nicole
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