Big Mama Said: “When a Woman Knows Who She Is, c”

By Terry Allen:

Big Mama used to say, “When a woman knows who she is, she don’t just raise her children—she raises the bar for the whole block.” That wasn’t just kitchen table talk—that was strategy. My grandmother, Lucille “Big Mama” Allen, raised her children , her children’s children and more with grit, prayer, and a plate of something hot when the world got cold. She believed deeply that women were the backbone of the nation—and that if you want to change the world, start by making sure the women in your house, your church, and your neighborhood know their worth. She said Women are superb, just as our publisher, Cheryl Smith Knows.

Inspired by that same fire, fourteen years ago I created Sister CEO Boot Camp, legally known as the Emerging Women CEO Business Camp (EWBC). It wasn’t just a boot
camp—it was a movement. I saw too many women stuck in systems that never saw their brilliance. So, we flipped the script. We took 86 women AND showcased their superb POWER. We paired them with seasoned CEOs, trained them in real business strategy, and poured into their minds the belief that they were more than their circumstances.

And let me tell you something: those women didn’t just show up. They showed out. In our very first year, they collectively launched businesses that brought in over $2
million in revenue. Correct, you read that right. $2 million—not from handouts, but from hard work and hustle, supported by a “Superb Sisterhood” and strategy.
We didn’t just teach them how to write a business plan—we taught them how to own their plan. We didn’t just build entrepreneurs— we built legacy makers, job creators, and community changers.

Furst Lady Debra Peek Haynes

That first group left a ripple that’s still moving through our cities and our culture today.

Sister CEO was about more than economics—it was about equity. It was a place where public relations met public purpose. A space where DEI wasn’t a buzzword—it was baked into the blueprint. And it all started with one truth Big Mama drilled into us: When a woman knows who she is, she changes a nation.

Here’s to every woman who’s ever doubted her superb power—believe me, it’s in you. And when you walk in it our community shifts. Please write to me at Terryalllenpr@gmail.com and let me know how your legacy is in you knowing you are superb!

Terry Allen is an NABJ award-winning Journalist, DEI expert, PR professional, and founder of the charity – Vice President at FocusPR, Founder of City Men Cook, and Dallas Chapter President of NBPRS.org