and informally coaches women of color on running sustainable businesses. “I enjoy sharing my experiences with others and hope that by sharing my challenges with emerging entrepreneurs, they can avoid some of the issues I have faced. I hope this additional insight helps fuel their growth and saves them precious resources- time and money. It's not a selfless activity. I love learning more about what motivates people to do what they do, and l learn a lot about business owners' thought processes and means of evaluating opportunities. The people that I advise bring as much to the table, if not more, than I do. Their questions keep me on my toes and push me to think more critically about my approach and decisions. Often, those I mentor introduce me to other interesting entrepreneurs and new ways of thinking, as well as innovative, helpful technological platforms. They ALWAYS inspire me with their determination, enthusiasm, and optimism.” Viewing Oakland as her home community and wishing to give back, Dorian often donates a portion of her sales revenue to
nonprofit causes. She also launched a program, Uplift, that helps fill empty storefronts in Oakland with pop-up shops featuring Black artists and vendors. She is also a frequent lecturer and panelist at universities, design schools, and business conferences, where she speaks about her entrepreneurial philosophy and art. Dorian is the co-founder and a board member of the Yale Alumni Arts League, which seeks to involve Yale alumni in supporting the arts, and has served on the board of directors for the Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) in San Francisco. In 2022, Dorian’s jewelry was selected to exhibit in the summer-long exhibition Imagine: Celebrating Black Female Creativity at the Featherstone Gallery in Oak Bluffs, MA, curated by Dr. Adrienne Childs. Celebrities have discovered and worn Dorian Webb's jewelry, including Vanessa Williams, Halle Berry, Rihanna, and Jennifer Aniston. Maya Angelou and Michelle Obama followed in later years.
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