A trailblazer in her own right, Khadijah Robinson's entrepreneurial journey is inspiring and transformative. A proud Spelman College alumna, she has used her experiences to forge a future that builds the height of her community and changes the entire ecosystem for Black founders.
After graduating from Spelman College in 2011, as an English major and political science minor, Robinson earned an MSc in international public policy from the University College London in 2013 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2015. Robinson returned to Atlanta in 2022 and utilized her knowledge and experience to help amplify entrepreneurship and develop more inclusive ecosystems for Black entrepreneurs. As the program manager for Center for Black Entrepreneurship Launch Incubator for Traction (CBE LIFT), she leads initiatives catering to Black and Brown founders in the tech sector who have made waves in Atlanta's startup environment.
The CBE LIFT Incubator, launched through a partnership with Invest Atlanta, TiE Atlanta and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, supports and scales startup growth among underrepresented founders in the Atlanta region. Robinson leads the program to great success. The first cohort included 14 companies, and six were selected to pitch at Demo Day, where investors and potential partners took notice. The first, second and third-place winners received grant funding of $20,000, $10,000 and $5,000, respectively — a huge benefit to help them grow and succeed.
Black founders face steep barriers in the startup ecosystem, from capital to mentorship," Robinson says. "CBE LIFT's goal is to fund and create a network and community which supports these founders, so they have everything they need to succeed."
Apply for the second cohort of the CBE LIFT.
Robinson's contributions go beyond entrepreneurship. She fosters connectivity and community-building through initiatives to build a network of founders so that members of the CBE LIFT program can be a part of a community that recognizes their contributions and supports their journey. This is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is not a solitary path but a collective effort toward community development.
Robinson is very committed to community involvement. She serves on the board of Students Without Mothers, a nonprofit that offers support, financial assistance, counseling and life-skills coaching to Atlanta college-bound students who have lost their mothers.
"I believe we need community in various ways - building businesses and creating wealth together, just having fun and laughing together, or supporting our most vulnerable and ensuring that we are there for one another. I hope my legacy is creating and building more and better communities, so we are a better and happier people."
Spelman College has shaped Robinson's journey, she says. "Coming to Spelman was one of the best decisions of my life. The community and environment it creates are something you cannot find elsewhere. Beyond the education, it is one of few institutions designed for Black women, built with you in mind and there to support and uplift you. The network I established at Spelman has had a consistent presence in my life across the globe."
Her love for Spelman goes beyond her hope for future students. Robinson said, "I would love for our class to make a $1M gift for our 15-year reunion in 2026. One of my life goals is to create an endowment so talented Spelmanites can attend Spelman for free and remove the financial barriers to attending or graduating from Spelman.”
While Robinson continues advocating for Black entrepreneurs and the community, her influence goes beyond business. She's preparing the groundwork for a legacy that will inspire future generations — at Spelman and beyond the gates.