OUTCOME 02
Community Connection & Diversity
B Corp began with a vision of an inclusive economy, but hasn’t historically included a representative number of businesses run by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color entrepreneurs who also identify as women. Level was designed to help expand access to B Corp Certification for entrepreneurs and businesses facing higher barriers to entering the community.
By the numbers*
*based on a representative sample of survey responses and interviews
MW Enterprises
“B Corp Certification is a reflection of the work we’ve been doing for years.”
MW Enterprises LLC: a vertically integrated, full-service, forward-thinking real estate developer with a reputation for transforming properties into successful, profitable assets.
LOCATED: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
LEVEL COHORT: 2023
CERTIFIED B CORP SINCE: 2024
B IMPACT SCORE: 179.4
Melissa Wyatt founded MW Enterprises (MWE) in 2011 with a clear mission: to provide quality, sustainable housing in historic and inner-city communities. Her vision for building a social impact business was deeply influenced by her own upbringing in the inner city of Los Angeles.
“Even though I grew up in the inner city, I had an amazing childhood,” Mel reflects. “There were dilapidated buildings and empty lots. I faced some challenges, but I wouldn’t change anything. What I’ve gone through has made me who I am.”
That perspective drives MWE’s commitment to investing in historic communities of color, where homes and properties are often in need of repair and revitalization. In every neighborhood where the company works, Mel and her team see not just challenges, but opportunities for transformational change. Their work combines community impact with sustainable practices—integrating alternative building materials, solar energy, and even 3D printing into development.
As a mission-driven entrepreneur, Mel long dreamed of pursuing B Corp Certification. But like many small business leaders, she faced barriers. “The cost was a barrier, and the time it takes to certify was an even bigger one,” she explains. She made multiple attempts to gather the materials and requirements, even enlisting a colleague to help. “When I was trying to put the materials together and looked at all the requirements, I would get frustrated,” she admits.
Things shifted once Mel connected with Level and began working with a consultant. “We had all the material we needed to be a B Corp, we just didn’t know what to do with it,” she says. The structured guidance helped her and her team transform years of effort into a clear path forward.
During her time in the Level program, Alesha Hartley recommended Mel for the 2024–25 BMO Fellowship through the Watson Institute, a program supporting sustainability-focused entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, and a powerful peer network.
Looking back, Mel describes the experience with gratitude: “It was amazing to have the guidance, professionals, and consultants who helped us get through it. And this has been beautiful.”
“Listen & Level Up” Video Series Wins 2024 Telly Award
In 2024, B Lab U.S. & Canada’s Listen & Level Up video series earned international recognition with a Telly Award in the category of Series – Interview and Talk Show: Online Video Series. Produced in collaboration with Magnet Media, Inc., the series spotlights the stories of women entrepreneurs in the Level program and honors their creativity and commitment. “This recognition is not just a win for B Lab U.S. & Canada,” the team shared. “It’s a celebration of the courage, care, and vulnerability of every woman who has bravely shared her story through this series.”
Created under the leadership of Lauren Everett, Content Strategy & Storytelling Manager, with the support of Alesha Hartley, Associate Director of Growth and Impact Partnerships, the series goes beyond traditional interviews. It is a dedicated space for stories rooted in lived experience, cultural relevance, and resilience, demonstrating how business can be a force for good when equity and justice are placed at the center.
The Listen & Level Up project also highlights how the B Corp community is strengthened and enriched by the increased diversity that the Level program brings. By supporting businesses led by women and underserved, historically marginalized founders in achieving certification, Level expands the range of perspectives, industries, and lived experiences represented in the movement, helping the B Corp community become more inclusive, innovative, and impactful.
“Together, we’ve built more than a series. We’ve helped shape a space where stories rooted in lived experience, cultural relevance, and resilience drive business as a force for good,” said Hartley.
For the women featured, the series serves as both a spotlight and a platform—one that affirms their leadership while drawing attention to the systemic challenges they work to overcome. For B Lab U.S. & Canada and its partners, the Telly Award is a milestone on a longer journey toward greater justice, equity, and representation in business.
DIVE DEEPER
IMPACT OUTCOME 03
Improved Sense of Inclusion & Belonging for Participants
GET THE REPORT
2025 Level Impact Report
Level
Businesses led by entrepreneurs who have faced racial or ethnic discrimination who also identify as women work alongside B Corp Certification consulting firms through the B Corp Certification process. Level provides participating businesses with resources needed to: measure and improve their impact, tell their story, adopt legal stakeholder governance, and certify as a B Corp. And we all co-create and learn along the way.
© Copyright 2025 B Lab United States & Canada. All rights reserved. PRIVACY & COOKIE POLICY.