From Service Trips to Nonprofit Success: Brittany Grey-Yadav's InfluenceHers Empowering Women of Color

Article

Brittany Grey-Yadav on InfluenceHers, Service Trips and Digital Literacy for Women of Color

Brittany Grey-Yadav founded InfluenceHers in 2017, a nonprofit that supports women, particularly women of color, through service trips to Africa, micro-grants for women-led businesses in the United States and digital skills programs in Kenya. She also runs the digital marketing agency Visible. On Your Brand Amplified, she tells Anika Jackson how InfluenceHers grew from a service initiative into a nonprofit and why she sees digital literacy as a route to economic opportunity. Her guiding principle: social impact has to start with what the community itself needs.

What does InfluenceHers do?

InfluenceHers gives women, especially women of color, ways to do service-driven work while growing personally. Its defining program is trips to Africa, where participants work with local communities on workshops covering entrepreneurship, health and reproductive rights.

Brittany is clear that this is not a "savior" mission. Effective social impact prioritizes the needs of the communities being served instead of pushing top-down solutions. InfluenceHers focuses on relationships and long-term support.

The organization started as a service initiative and became a formal nonprofit, which let Brittany and her team focus on fundraising and long-term sustainability. Its programs have expanded to the United States, where it offers micro-grants to help women entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses.

Why is digital literacy important for women's economic opportunity?

Because technology can help close gaps in education and economic resources that women face in many parts of the world. In Kenya, InfluenceHers launched digital skills programs to prepare women and local communities for the digital economy. Visible, Brittany's agency, is a key partner, connecting local needs with technology-based opportunities and practical training.

Brittany sees the benefit go beyond technical skill. As women gain digital competence, they gain the confidence to pursue their goals, advocate for themselves and create opportunities for others. The young women she works with in Kenya are learning to use digital tools to make their voices heard.

What does purposeful travel look like?

It means travel built on respect and exchange. InfluenceHers trips emphasize cultural immersion: travelers come home with new perspectives, and local communities benefit from the skills, resources and ideas shared.

Next, Brittany plans a year-long teen development program in Los Angeles, slated for 2026, focused on leadership, cultural learning and digital skills for young women who want to lead change in their communities.

Key takeaways

• Brittany Grey-Yadav founded InfluenceHers in 2017 to involve women of color in service work and personal growth.
• Effective social impact starts with the community's needs, not top-down solutions.
• Becoming a formal nonprofit made fundraising and long-term sustainability possible.
• Digital skills programs in Kenya, supported by Brittany's agency Visible, build both competence and confidence.
• Purposeful travel works when both travelers and host communities benefit.

To support this work, consider becoming a donor or partner through InfluenceHers and help scale programs that give women the education, resources and opportunities to lead.

Listen to Anika Jackson's full conversation with Brittany Grey-Yadav on Your Brand Amplified.