Our History

Envision Lead Grow (ELG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at The Mustard Seed Place, in the Olde Towne District in Portsmouth, VA. Our mission is to provide economic empowerment services for individuals through programs that increase equity, ownership, entrepreneurship, scholarship and investment.

Premised on evidence-based models and theories, ELG provides an intervention that inspires impressionable youth to focus on becoming successful entrepreneurs. As young children grow as entrepreneurs, economic opportunities grow within their families and communities. Baron and Henry’s (2010) deliberate practice model proves that participation in deliberate practice increases domain expertise and enhances cognitive skills. ELG’s deliberate practice model teaches self-efficacy, self-control, conscientiousness, delayed gratification, and personal leadership. ELG’s curriculum is derived from ELG’s founder, Dr. Reddix’s “8 Seeds to Success in Business”, the blueprint she used to grow her business into an award winning, healthcare management and IT consulting firm dedicated to improving the lives of our nation’s most vulnerable populations in under a decade. The Envision Lead Grow program contributes to a significant, longitudinal study approved through the Oklahoma State University Institutional Review Board.

2016

  • ELG successfully piloted its curriculum, “The 8 Seeds to Success in Business,” at the Entrepreneurship and Business Academy at Kempsville High School.

2017

  • The national Envision Lead Grow 7-City Bus Tour launched, promoting the program in seven cities: Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Memphis, TN; Norfolk, VA; Philadelphia, PA; Richmond, VA; Greensboro, NC

2018

  • ELG holds its first 3-day Entrepreneurial Institute in Chevy Chase, MD for the top 20% of girls in the program.
  • Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia hosts the 2018 Entrepreneurial Summer Immersion Camp with over 200 girls.

2019

  • ELG reaches over 600 girls served across 31 states.
  • Launched the first Boss Up Conference teaching high school girls all about entrepreneurship and how to turn your passions into profitable ventures.

2020

  • ELG hosts its first Virtual Entrepreneurial Summer Immersion Camp, July of 2020.
  • Accomplished the goal of reaching 1,000 girls from coast-to-coast virtually through our Virtual Immersion and Boss Up Empowerment Conference.

2021

  • Accomplished the goal of reaching 2,803 girls within 32 states since inception.
  • Held the first Entrepreneurial Summer Immersion Camp since the pandemic in Chesapeake, VA.
  • On July 30th, Envision Lead Grow hosted its first annual Graduation Celebration for Nina Shavon Collymore, 2017 cohort girl boss from Memphis, Tennessee at the Signet Center in Chesapeake, Virginia. One hundred and two (102) guests registered to attend to welcome Nina to Norfolk State University’s Spartan Family.

2022

  • ELG hosts its first minicamps post-pandemic spending one week at Norfolk State University & one week at Elder’s House in Chesapeake, VA. Across 48 states, ELG has served over 2,900 girls since inception.

2023

  • ELG hosts a one-week minicamp on the campus of Old Dominion University.
  • Began to strengthen partnerships within Hampton Roads and prepared to return back to where it all started.

2024

  • ELG implemented a campaign titled “No Place Like Home.” The “No Place Like Home” campaign is a strategic initiative to focus all our capital and human resources on the Hampton Roads region. This shift represents a deliberate move away from spreading our efforts across the 48 states where we previously served ELG Girl Bosses, allowing us to concentrate on making a deeper impact within our home community.
  • The Mustard Seed Place, a haven for women that fosters a collaborative atmosphere where women can connect and cultivate their businesses, opens its doors. ELG moves its headquarters from Norfolk to Portsmouth.
  • Founded by six Fast Track ELG girls, the ELG Sweet Boutique is a unique establishment that goes beyond being an ice cream parlor and dessert shop. The ELG Sweet Boutique opens its doors in March.
  • ELG hosts 200 girls on the campus of Old Dominion University at the Entrepreneurial Summer Immersion Camp.

2025

  • 400 Girl Bosses from Hampton Roads middle and high schools attended Summer Immersion Camp, a five-day sleepaway camp at Old Dominion University, experiencing college life and building lifelong networks.
  • Launched with 10 mother/daughter duos, our Family Business Program featured 48 hours of entrepreneurship and mental health workshops to strengthen family bonds and business skills.
  • Partnered with Norfolk and Portsmouth Public Schools to reach 100 families, empowering parents to support their daughters’ success.
  • The Blossom Network Summit launched at The Mustard Seed Place for 76 college women from Tidewater Community College, Norfolk State University, and Old Dominion University.
  • The Mustard Seed Place, ELG’s new headquarters in Portsmouth, VA—a 33,000 sq ft hub at 340 High Street empowering women and girls through co-working spaces, professional development, and community collaboration—celebrated one year. The MOMENTUM 2025 celebration (April 4-6, 2025) marked this milestone.
  • ELG Sweet Boutique, a dessert shop founded by six teenage Girl Bosses celebrated one year in business, earned a 4.9-star Google rating, and was named “Top Business to Watch in 2025.”
  • Our Class of 2025 graduated fifth class with 95% college attendance, 78% first-generation college students, and first alumna accepted to an Ivy League graduate program.
  • Hosted a Financial Literacy Retreat that empowered 100 women to model fiscal confidence and make informed financial decisions for themselves and their families.
  • 2017

  • 2018

  • 2019

  • 2020

Thank you for giving us our steam to start.