🎓 From Vision to Victory: My Journey with Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women in Business Program

This past season, something incredible happened:I was accepted into—and graduated from—the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business Program (Cohort 7).

Out of more than 1,000 applicants, I was chosen.Not just for what I’ve done—but for what I’m building.

The Moment I Said Yes

I found out about the program from my own therapist, who gently nudged me to apply. At the time, Millennial Eclectic Therapy® was a bold vision—a therapeutic framework I was developing to better serve the unique mental health needs of millennials. It lived in my notes app, my session reflections, and late-night brainstorms. But I knew it needed more.

What I didn’t realize then was how transformative this program would be—not just for my business, but for me.

Being Seen, Supported, and Sharpened

Professionally and personally, it was empowering to feel not only seen, but also validated. Others believed in my vision. They understood the why behind it. They honored the innovation of MET® as an emerging framework that meets millennials where we are—digitally saturated, collectively exhausted, but deeply self-aware.

Each week, I met with a small growth group of fellow entrepreneurs. We encouraged one another, offered honest feedback, exchanged strategy, and created a soft space to land. My weekly mentorship sessions with a business advisor gave me the structure and support to translate vision into execution.

And when we all returned to New York for graduation? That wasn’t just a celebration—it was a homecoming.

From Idea to Impact

Through this program, I didn’t just talk about MET®. I built it.

Over the course of the cohort, I developed three accredited courses for clinicians grounded in the Millennial Eclectic Therapy® model. These courses are helping therapists understand the generational context behind symptoms, the cultural weight millennials carry, and the healing tools needed to truly support our clients.

Now, I’m preparing to launch even more offerings—scaling MET® into educational spaces, pursuing NBCC approval, and partnering with institutions that believe in reshaping mental health care from the inside out.

What I Learned

Two lessons stand out:

1. You don’t need to be 100% sure of a decision—just 100% confident in the decision you make.Trusting myself was the biggest leap. And it paid off.

2. Stop giving out regretful yeses.Say yes with intention. Say no with clarity. Protect your purpose.

   
   

👑 A Word to Black Women in Business

Sometimes, the idea isn’t the problem—you’re just in the wrong room. But the right room will challenge you, support you, and help you rise.And when you walk into it? Walk in like you belong. Because you do.

This experience reminded me that I’m not just a therapist—I’m a founder. A strategist. A visionary. And I’m building something meant to last.

Thank you to Goldman Sachs, my cohort sisters, and my mentors for believing in what I’m building. Millennial Eclectic Therapy® is just getting started—and so am I.

In Gratitude,

Ashley Peterson, LPC

Founder and CEO :)