Autumn’s Story

Autumn is an entrepreneur, multi-faceted leader and speaker. Born and raised in metro Detroit, Autumn provides thought-provoking perspectives based in diverse experiences and skills.

As a high school student, Autumn was average at best. 

Temporarily homeless due to a house fire at just 14 years old, she grappled with the thought that she would become a statistic. It wasn’t until her greatness was ignited through her school’s pom team. As the first black captain in the team’s history on an all-white team, she learned and perfected the craft of true leadership from within, rebuilt the program’s brand and reputation and earned the only individual association-wide award in the state. Even though this is a small footnote in Autumn’s accomplishments. this pivotal moment in Autumn’s life sparked the drive and tenacity that makes her the leader she is today.

Autumn then journeyed to Hampton University, Virginia’s premier historically black university – where the Cum Laude graduate was known as a scholar and soft-spoken leader amongst classmates. 

Things changed when she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she quickly was acknowledged as a future trailblazer of tomorrow and won numerous awards and acknowledgements including the designation of a Leadership Fellow. Her passion coupled with her undeniable leadership skills lead her to be elected as the International Second Vice President of Alpha Kappa Alpha for the 2014-16 biennium. As the highest-ranking undergraduate leader in the now 300,000 strong sisterhood, Autumn was the third in command in the organization as well as a board member of the multi-million-dollar non-profit organization, Educational Advancement Foundation. Autumn was known for initiating key program and brand benchmarks including the first undergraduate Instagram account that has grown an 11,000-account following.

After graduating with both a Bachelor and Master of Business Administration, Autumn started her career at Accenture Detroit. She quickly rose to the top of her starting class becoming a consultant in two years, but realized her purpose existed beyond corporate America. 

In 2017, she conceived Detroit Dough, the first edible cookie dough company and manufacturer in Detroit. The idea quickly materialized into a lucrative start-up, selling more than 70,000 cups of cookie dough in less than two years. Autumn boldly pivoted to full-time entrepreneurship in March 2019 and has ushered her business into new heights. Autumn raised over $400,000 for the business and has created major partnerships with Little Caesars Arena, University of Michigan, Quicken Loans and the Bedrock, Lululemon and more. 

Detroit Dough recently opened its first concept store in metro Detroit. Within two weeks, the store generated more than $20,000 in revenue.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Autumn was forced to stop all operations for Detroit Dough. She noticed that small business owners were looking for resources to start and grow their businesses. In early April, Autumn started Proxie, a brand to bridge the gap between resources and small business owners with a focus on black women entrepreneurs. Autumn has been able to amass a 1500+ community of black women entrepreneurs and has helped hundreds of women raise funds, scale their businesses, and develop partnerships before hitting 12 months.

Proxie has become one of Detroits Leading online Small Business Communities and have partnered with national brands like Flodesk, HoneyBook, and Honigman Law.

Her philanthropic heart and background are prevalent in her business through Detroit Dough’s “Dough that Makes a Difference” pledge. For every dollar made and for every cup sold, Autumn’s business donates 5% of all revenue back to NW Goldberg, Detroit, a struggling neighborhood just seven minutes away from Downtown Detroit. Since the inception of the Detroit Dough, the business has pledged and donated over $13,000 in funding which has erected a neighborhood garden feeding over 40 families every summer, the first-of-its-kind art park and Holland Maze literacy park. Additionally, Autumn continues to be a leader in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. serving as the Pi Tau Omega (Southfield), Chapter “Building Your Economic Legacy” Chairman and the sororities Great Lakes representative to the International Membership Committee.

Autumn is a foodie, reality TV lover and data nerd. In her spare time, she loves coaching her local high school pom team and being a mentor to young girls. Autumn’s goals for the next five years are to grow her community, Proxie, into an international resource hub for Black women entrepreneurs and become a national advocate for Black women-owned and led companies.