Elite college strategy for
high‑achieving Black families in a
post–affirmative action era.
We work with 7th–9th grade students from Black and African families to turn strong academics into a strategic, protective path to college—without six‑figure consulting fees or corporate gimmicks.
The rules changed when race‑conscious admissions ended. Most advice didn’t. We exist to bridge that gap for Black families who refuse to leave this to chance.
Strategic College Planning Starts Earlier Than You Think
We help high-achieving students of color turn strong academics into leadership, clarity, and real college options—starting before the pressure hits.
Your child is brilliant. But brilliance isn’t strategy.
The 8th-to-9th-grade transition is where high-potential Black students either become leaders who stand out — or high-achievers who blend in.
Professional Black families already invest heavily in schools and enrichment. What’s missing is a guide who understands both elite admissions and what it means to be Black in those spaces right now—and can translate that into a calm, coherent plan for your child.
THE SYSTEM WASN’T BUILT FOR YOU TO WIN
-
Private schools. Ivy Leagues. Corporate pipelines.
Every rung of the “elite” ladder was engineered to gatekeep — then renamed “meritocracy.” And yet, you’ve climbed it.
You’ve sat in rooms where your credentials were questioned but your competence carried the day. You’ve built wealth, credibility, and a name. Now your child is next — and the rules have changed.
-
We build strategy, language, and options so your child is not overqualified, under‑placed, and exhausted by a process they never got to understand.
Here are the facts:
Affirmative action is gone.
Test-optional doesn’t mean fair.
“Good schools” don’t equal good strategy.
-
While your child is doing everything “right” on paper, other families are quietly stacking the deck with coached projects, curated experiences, and strategy most schools never talk about.
We think Black families deserve that same level of clarity—without the hype or the six‑figure price tag.
THE NEW GAME: ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP
-
They’re looking for students who solve problems, lead teams, and execute real-world impact.
-
but they can see how your child has led, built, and solved problems in the real world.
That’s why our work focuses on Entrepreneurial Leadership: evidence of impact that admissions officers have to notice.
Students who don’t just join clubs — they create initiatives.
Who don’t just volunteer — they design systems.
Who don’t just follow direction — they set vision.
-
Our 8th–9th Grade Roadmap turns interests into initiatives, academics into action, and effort into evidence.
Because strategy isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing the right things early.
I’VE LIVED THIS SYSTEM. I ENGINEERED A WAY THROUGH IT.
My father — a Howard and Wharton alum, the first Black board member of Valley Bank, and a Wall Street executive — taught me what it means to “play the game” at level. He showed me that access has rules, but mastery has language.
With admission to five Top‑20 universities, I graduated from Princeton not because I gamed the system, but because my family treated this like a long‑term strategy problem—not a senior‑year scramble. We were intentional about rigor, leadership, and narrative from 8th grade on.
Black Founder’s Formula exists to give Black families a structured version of that playbook—so your child’s outcome isn’t dependent on insider parents or luck.
“I came across Nicole through an online group and was really inspired by what she shared about her high school and college journey. Her story and background and values deeply aligned to what I want for my own children, and I felt a strong connection and reached out to learn more. After meeting the whole team, I knew this was the kind of support and guidance I had been looking for.”
— Black Founder’s Formula, Parent, Virginia
WHY Professional BLACK EXECUTIVES TRUST us
They don’t need more tutors. They need translation. They know their child’s potential isn’t the issue — access is. They’re tired of “programs” that look good on paper but produce no leverage.
They want a mentor who understands both the mechanics of elite systems and the emotional reality of being Black within them.
This isn’t enrichment. It’s protection — of legacy, opportunity, and mental peace.
As one parent said after enrolling:
“I wanted to start earlier with someone who could see the full picture. Lionheart was the only program that combined academic, emotional, and strategic preparation. It brought clarity, reduced my stress, and helped my son see where he’s going.”
-
No junior coaches you never meet; you work directly with senior strategists.
No opaque retainers; clear scope, timeline, and fee from day one.
No ghostwriting or shortcuts that put your child or your reputation at risk—just rigorous, ethical strategy tailored for Black families.
