After serving nearly a year as interim CEO for the Prince George’s County Public Schools system, Monica Goldson will hold the post on a permanent basis, effective July 1.
Goldson, who has spent her entire 28-year career with PGCPS, started as a mathematics teacher at Suitland High School. In addition to serving as deputy superintendent of teaching and learning and chief operating Officer, Goldson is the founding principal of Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School.
Goldson, a PGCPS parent and graduate of Potomac High School, is the just the second woman to lead the school system and the first from the county. As lead officer of Maryland’s second-largest school system, she will have oversights of PGCPS’ 208 schools and centers, more than 130,000 students and nearly 19,000 employees.
“I am proud to announce, without reservation, Dr. Monica Goldson as the permanent CEO of Prince George’s County Public Schools,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela D Alsobrooks. “The reputation and institutional knowledge Dr. Goldson brings is invaluable. She brings a complete and comprehensive understanding of our school system.”
As interim CEO, Goldson successfully advocated for increased school funding, student supports and public-private partnerships to enhance school construction capacity. Her strategic priorities have included driving more resources to low-performing schools, expanding access to prekindergarten and improving the availability of mental health services to students and families.
“Our work to date is only the beginning,” Goldson said. “While the road ahead will not be without challenges, I remain confident that with open communication and collaboration, we will maintain a culture of transparency, accountability and academic excellence. PGCPS has been my home for 28 years and I simply cannot see myself doing this work anywhere else. It is my privilege to work every day towards building a system that fulfills its promise of academic excellence for all students.”
A three-time graduate of historically Black colleges and universities, Goldson holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Florida A&M University, a master’s degree in elementary and secondary school administration from Bowie State University and a doctorate in educational administration and policy from Howard University.
During a fellowship luncheon and fireside chat at the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) convention in Cincinnati, Lester Booker, Jr., the project manager for communications operations at General Motors explained to publishers and others why it’s important for the automaker and other Fortune 500 companies to invest in historically black colleges and universities (HBCUS).
“There are so many great men and women that are being developed and minds that are being cared for, cultivated inside of the schools and they don’t necessarily have the recruitment bandwidth and their career centers don’t have the relationships established to actually open up access to larger Fortune 500 companies,” Booker said.
“So, I think it is imperative that if we want to grab diverse talent, specifically in the African American community,” he said during the conversation with NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., on Thursday, June 27 at the Cincinnati Westin Hotel.
Chavis and Booker touted the fourth year of the popular Discover the Unexpected Journalism Fellowship program (DTU) that was developed by Chevrolet in 2016 as an HBCU fellowship program.
“It’s purpose was to create and share optimistic stories while reinforcing the brand’s continued commitment to the African American community,” Booker said.
The unmistakable truth to mastering technology is the reality that 80% of careers require some level to tech knowledge.The ability to read and comprehend what is being read and
following directions is important. Comprehension is Key.
William Jackson, graduate of South Carolina State University Teacher and Organizer of Kids Camp Jacksonville, Fl 2019
The unmistakable truth to mastering technology is the reality that 80% of careers require some level to tech knowledge.The ability to read and comprehend what is being read and following directions is important. Comprehension is Key.
Achieving success in today’s digital careers will require youth, teens and young adults to respect the value of learning and gain knowledge and experiences to grow into leaders.
That creativity, innovation, dreams, inspiration, motivation and collaboration does matter with others so youth, teens and young adults along with learning need to learn to get along and work collaboratively.
The access to platforms, tools, Apps, widgets, plugins and other digital programs is not the only thing needed to be successful, it takes networking, education, collaboration and hard work.
Globally kids access to conferences are growing nationally and internationally. Blogging, micro-blogging are needed that encourage youth, teens and young adults to embrace not just the tech, but embrace the humanity behind the tech.
child working on STEAM project at Kids Camp Jax
The integration of STEAM, STREAM and CSTREAM are components that are access points to career choices that have not even been developed yet. In cities across this nation and even globally, there is the expansion of environmentally friendly and carbon-less infusion of fossil fuels that are pollutants to our environment.
Educational models are changing in elementary and secondary education to integrate hands-on and project based learning. Teachers are facilitators and advisers, they are encouraging guided discovery, allowing youth, teens and young adults to be increasingly creative and allow innovative learning to run classrooms.
The building of kids conferences is not what it was a few years ago, it is growing into an opportunity to get kids exposed to not just the tech, but the humanity behind it. How tech can allow for the voices to be heard and a platform for social change.
Teaching the soft-skills of collaboration, respect for differences in color, culture, gender and generational experiences. Taking the learning from the classroom and applying it to real world experiences in STEAM and Web Development. Youth, teens and young adults should be empowered to mange growing tech.
IT fields are growing at such a rate that children, especially children of color, culture and ethnic backgrounds are changing their directions from sports and entertainment to new career options that provide increased educational and financial stability and growth.
Aida Correa – Organizer of Kids Camp Jax
Many kids conferences are stating why just depend on sports and entertainment to change lives when STEAM can produce generational increase through education, economic and environmental exposures.
Aida Correa – Organizer Kids conferences are helping youth, teens and young adults to create a web presence that is their digital resume, building Brands, creating Niches, helping create kids as Influencers and role models. Their voices are being heard on YouTube, Facebook Live and through Instagram videos. The concerns of younger generations is being broadcast and podcast.
Youth, teens and young adults from Central America, Africa, the United States and Canada are learning from educators, business owners and entrepreneurs.
future Girl Boss and Digital InnovatorKids Camp Jacksonville 2019
It can be seen now that 7 year olds are “digital influencers;” the term digital influencer, thought leader, digital innovator, smart creative and others carry respect. The changing of the narrative of who youth, teens and young adults are and their thinking is changing because they – youth, teens and young adults are sharing their own stories on digital platforms that connect like-minded people.
Kids conferences, workshops, meetups, etc, are allowing youth to even start to solve problems that are not even problems yet and help kids in Africa change the economic paradigm and foundation for education.
Central America and Africa are the new bases for entrepreneurs and solo-preneurs. Kids across the world will have to compete against African and Central American kids for digital jobs that are remote and high tech. These youth, teens and young adults are smart, creative and innovative.
The growth in online educational institutions coupled with online careers means more and more kids can gain knowledge and skills digitally and continue to grow faster than their parents. Education is key and empowering youth, teens and young adults to be the problem solvers the world needs.
The change is here, it is not coming, being done now with conferences providing such unique experiences that kids have their own panels for discussions that are seen in PodCasts. Parents would be wise to listen to their kids about their dreams, aspirations and passions because those maybe the conduits of coming businesses that will change the world as we know it for generations to come.
In an interview with CNBC, America’s first black billionaire and the founder of BET, Robert L. Johnson weighed in on what he sees as problems with the Democratic Party.
“The party in my opinion, for me personally, has moved too far to the left,” he said an interview on the network. “And for that reason, I don’t have a particular candidate (I’m supporting) in the party at this time. I think at the end of the day, if a Democrat is going to beat Trump, then that person, he or she, will have to move to the center and you can’t wait too long to do that.”
In the interview, Bob Johnson described himself as a “long-time centrist and Democrat,” who supported Hilary Clinton in 2016. He also urged people after Trump’s election to give the new president “a shot” and “the benefit of the doubt.”
Johnson also said that the economy was currently “doing great” and that he gives President Trump “a lot of credit for moving the economy in a positive direction that’s benefiting a large amount of Americans.”
Currently, Johnson is the founder and chairman of The RLJ Cos., a portfolio of companies with holdings in several industries, including the RLJ McLarty Landers Holdings L.L.C., the highest-earning black-owned auto company with revenues of $1.8 billion and ranked No.1 on the 2019 BE Auto 40 list of the nation’s largest black-owned businesses, Black Enterprise‘s annual “BE100s” list.
In 2000, he sold Black Entertainment Television, a company he launched in 1979, for $3 billion to media giant Viacom, which made him the nation’s first black billionaire. Under Johnson’s ownership, BET became the first black-owned company on the New York Stock Exchange.
Since selling BET, he has invested in other business ventures. He showed his proficiency as a serial entrepreneur when he paid $300 million in 2003 to acquire the National Basketball Association’s Charlotte Bobcats expansion team. The transaction was huge as it made Johnson the first black majority owner of a major professional sports team.
Johnson’s deal shattered ownership barriers when it came to a black businessman operating in that realm, though at the time, the NBA had a player base that was roughly 80% black. He sold most of his shares of the team to Michael Jordan in 2010.
Last year, Johnson said he was racially profiled at a 5-star luxury hotel in West Palm Beach.
This post was written by Samara Lyn, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — Tennessee State University is the latest HBCU recipient of financial support from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and it Educational Advancement Foundation. The service organization continued its commitment of creating a $100,000 endowment at each of the nation’s four-year historically black universities and colleges with a donation to TSU President Glenda Glover.
President Glenda Glover admires a commemorative bench dedicated in her honor by the AKA Sorority, Inc. Submitted Photo
An initial gift of $25,000 was presented to President Glover during a bench dedication in her honor by the sorority. She was joined by Horace Chace, vice president of Business and Finance; Terry Clayton, member of the TSU Foundation Board; and Iris Ramey, associate vice president for Corporate Partnership and Strategic Initiatives.
“One meaningful part of the AKA Leadership Seminar being in Nashville is the $100,000 commitment for an endowment from Alpha Kappa Alpha to Tennessee State University,” Glover said. “It begins with this initial donation of $25,000 to assist with student scholarships. I’m extremely appreciative to the sorority for this gift.”
The gift coincides with AKA’s HBCU Endowment initiative, which looks to award $10 million to these institutions by 2022.
“We are trying to assist students and help retain them to continue with their education,” Chase said. “This funding from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is definitely going to be a big plus in helping to accomplish that goal.”
The Executive Director of the TSU Foundation, Betsy Jackson-Mosley, added, “The TSU Foundation is very grateful for the support received from the AKA Foundation for student scholarships. “Scholarships are very important to attract the best and brightest and to help students stay in school.”
The financial support and bench dedication were two of several service projects taking place during the AKA’s 2019 Leadership Seminar in Nashville, TN June 27-30.
In a litany at the dedication, led by Dr. Norma S. White, 25th international president of AKA, the group acknowledged the significant contributions of Dr. Glover in leadership, education, community service and philanthropy.
“As we dedicated this commemorative bench in honor of the 30th International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Dr. Glenda Glover, we take pride in her leadership and the many contributions that she has made to the sorority, Tennessee State University and other noteworthy organizations,” the group said. “May this bench be a permanent reminder of the significant accomplishments of Dr. Glover.”
Glover, a native of Memphis and the eighth and first female president of TSU, became the 30th international president of AKA in July 2018. Immediately upon taking the helm, she sent a clear message that education would remain a priority for the organization, especially supporting the nation’s HBCUs. She launched HBCU for Life: A Call to Action and signature program College Admissions Process, also known as #CAP, to promote and market HBCUs.
Saying that she leads by example, Glover donated $50,000 to the sorority’s Educational Advancement Foundation to further emphasize her commitment. She made that same commitment to TSU when she became president of her alma mater in 2013.
Rickey Smiley will replace legendary Tom Joyner, host of the Tom Joyner Morning Show, as Joyner announced his plans to retire at the end of the year, according to Radio Facts. In a statement, Smiley said that he will bring ”a new and expanded audience” to the show, keeping ”the party with a purpose going” while finding ”a purpose to the party,” he told Joyner.
“It’s an honor to continue the legacy of my boss and frat brother Tom Joyner,” Smiley said, making the announcement public and sharing the same excitement Joyner had and giving Smiley his best wishes. He continued, ”Not only has he been a friend to my family and me over the years, but we consider him family. Tom’s mentorship has instilled in me valuable wisdom that I will carry with me through this new morning show.” Joyner hosted his popular morning show for over the course of 25 years.
”Twenty-five years ago, there was no template for a syndicated Urban radio show and we worked hard to prove that we could successfully produce and market a national platform that would entertain, inform and empower African-American listeners,” Joyner said in a statement. ”We broke some ground, raised the bar for what audiences expected from Black radio all while partying with a purpose.”
Bennett College has named Suzanne Walsh, an executive with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as its next president. Just last Friday, college officials at the historically black, all-women’s school announced that Phyllis Worthy Dawkins would be departing as president immediately. No reason was given for her abrupt departure. Gwendolyn O’Neal, a Bennet alumna and college administrator was appointed interim president.
Suzanne Walsh has been named president of Bennett College. CREDIT BENNETT COLLEGE
Bennett officials say Walsh will begin work as the school’s president on August 1. O’Neal will continue as interim president until that time and then stay on as the college’s chief operating officer.
“Bennett College sought a new president to embrace and champion innovative ideas that ensure our long term viability,” said Gladys A. Robinson, chair of the Bennett College Board of Trustees. “Suzanne Walsh has the experience, passion, fundraising expertise and personal qualities that will ensure she is embraced by our students, faculty, staff, alumnae and community.”
Bennett officials say Walsh, who earned her bachelor’s degree in social work from Cornell University and a law degree from Case Western University, has significant experience working with organizations in transition and helping educational institutions find new ways to be innovative.
Bennett has struggled with convincing its accrediting agency, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SACS, that it is financially viable long term. The school successfully raised nearly $10 million in February to convince SACS officials otherwise.
The school spent two years on SACS’ probation list because of financial concerns and in December its accreditation was not renewed. Bennett officials have filed a lawsuit and remains accredited as that legal process plays out.
Walsh says she looks forward to leading the school as officials work to revamp the college financially and academically.
“Bennett College has a compelling mission to produce accomplished young women who are ready to lead,” said Walsh. “In an ever-changing world that I believe is thirsting for their leadership, that mission feels more relevant than ever, and what excites me is the opportunity to help translate it for a new era. I look forward to working closely with our board, faculty, students, alumnae and supporters to find new and powerful ways of delivering on Bennett’s promise, which is the promise of a great education.”
Bennett is one of only two historically black colleges for women in the country. The other is Spellman College in Atlanta.
Morgan State University (MSU) President David Wilson has announced the appointment of Donna J. Howard, CFRE, as the university’s new vice president for Institutional Advancement and executive director for the Morgan State University Foundation, Inc. The announcement comes after a nearly yearlong national search, led by a selection committee in collaboration with an executive search firm. With the appointment, Howard will oversee operations for the University’s Division of Institutional Advancement, which includes the Offices of Alumni Relations, Development, and Public Relations and Strategic Communications, in addition to the MSU Foundation.
“I commend the selection committee for its diligent and exhaustive work to find just the right candidate to fill this vital position at the University,” said Dr. Wilson. “And as is sometimes the case when it comes to an undertaking of this kind, you may not have to look very far. Donna Howard made the most of her opportunity as the interim vice president, leaving an impression that was hard to ignore. She brings a wealth of fundraising knowledge and more than two decades of results-driven experience to this role. As we move forward in meeting the future financial goals for our University, I eagerly anticipate what we can accomplish together under her leadership.”
Howard was instrumental in enabling Morgan to complete its Anniversary Campaign, the largest such effort in the University’s 150-year history. The campaign, which attracted more than 13,000 donors, successfully raised $254 million in public and private funds. Also, during her seven-year tenure as director of Development at the university, Morgan saw its alumni participation-in-giving rate elevate to an impressive 17 percent, higher than at many private HBCUs and public regional institutions nationwide.
In her new capacity as Morgan’s vice president for Institutional Advancement, in addition to leading a combined staff of nearly 40 people, Howard will be responsible for overseeing the university’s fundraising, marketing and communications, which includes managing campaigns, special events, the annual fund, major and planned gifts, corporate and foundation relations, constituent relations, prospect management, gift processing and acknowledgement, strategic communications and publications. She will serve as a member of the university’s leadership team and will work closely with the president, the Board of Regents, the Foundation Board, other senior administrators, faculty and staff to achieve Morgan State University’s strategic goals.
“I’m inspired by Morgan’s history and mission and extremely excited to have been selected to lead the university’s fundraising and external communications priorities,” said Howard. “The university has a special place in my heart, primarily because of the wonderful alumni and friends I’ve had the privilege to meet along the way. I look forward to continuing to work with Morgan’s visionary leadership with a clear commitment to advancing philanthropy and growth.”
President Wilson appointed Howard as the interim vice president for Institutional Advancement in January 2019, after the retirement of Cheryl Y. Hitchcock, who resigned from Morgan after nearly 19 years of service. Before assuming the interim role, Howard served as the assistant vice president for Development under Hitchcock, raising support for scholarships and student success initiatives, teaching and learning programs and activities, and community outreach.
Before coming to Morgan in December 2011, Howard built her higher education experience at the New England Conservatory of Music, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland School of Social Work, where she served as the director of annual giving and alumni relations, director of annual giving and director of development, respectively. Outside of her work in higher education, she served in fundraising and public relations roles at the United Negro College Fund, the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council in Boston. She is also a former member of the Maryland Board of Directors for the House of Ruth.
Howard received her B.A. in Non-profit Marketing, magna cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Her appointment as Morgan’s vice president for Institutional Advancement is effective July 1, 2019, and she will report directly to the president.
The Division of Institutional Advancement is committed to informing, engaging, partnering with and securing financial support from a diverse spectrum of audiences through strategically aligned communications, engagement initiatives and philanthropic opportunities. It is charged with the task of building lifelong relationships that engage the time, loyalty and intellectual and financial resources of individuals and institutions in support of Morgan’s mission, goals and aspirations.
About Morgan Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution offering more than 125 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.
It was just four years ago that I started my social media management business on a whim. I had no idea if it would work, but as a mother of a child with epilepsy, I needed to do something where I could work from home. I remember telling my friend, ‘If I could make $5K a month in revenue that would be amazing.’ I surpassed that number by the end of my first year in business and looked around for my next goal to achieve. For some, entrepreneurial success can be scary. It is at this point that you must figure out what your next move is.
For instance, now I am closing in on the second goal I set and in reviewing my accomplishments, I now must figure out how to take things to the next level. Part of that assessment is figuring out how to get out of my own way.
For many business owners, success comes as a surprise. You’ve put your head down, rolled your sleeves up, done the work to get there, and you get lost in the work. You’ve reached a goal, and then the next goal and the next and you find yourself standing on this plateau going “OK, now how do I take this further up the mountain?”
THE FIRST HURDLE IS YOU
Growing your business means adding more people; trusting more people with your dream and vision. To some extent, you must let go and open yourself up to others. Until now, all of it depended on you and your work ethic, something that you and you alone control.
Inviting people to help you grow is not always easy. The fear of failure can lie heavily upon you. It is this fear that either drives you or holds you back. The need to be perfect because now you have an audience keeps many entrepreneurs from being the true success they want to be.
You must believe in the journey you are on and be willing to bring people along for the ride. When you believe wholeheartedly in what you are doing, others will want to join in and help you achieve it. Success doesn’t happen on a straight and narrow path. It has hills and valleys and sometimes mountains to walk and climb over. Taking others with you on that path is part of attaining success.
Remember these key points when assessing your success and your future:
Failure is a learning opportunity
Trust in your vision for your company
Understand that no one is perfect
TRUST IN WHAT YOU ARE DOING
When I started my social media management company, my one goal—besides making money—was to create a service that my clients value. I genuinely believe in giving excellent service, and that customer service is what would make me successful. Today, as I look back on how things began, I realized that by providing a valuable service to my clients and being consistent and accessible I have built relationships that have allowed me to keep them as customers and as friends for all these years. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but with planning and hard work, it can be yours!
This post was written by Wendy Pace, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
Now that the Sixers have assembled their new starting five, general manager Elton Brand is turning his focus to the bench.
Brand and the Sixers have agreed to a one-year, veteran minimum contract with Kyle O’Quinn, from Norfolk State University a team source confirmed. Kyle Neubeck of Philly Voice first reported the deal.
The 6-foot-10, 250 pound O’Quinn has seven years of NBA experience and spent last season with the Pacers, averaging 3.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. He’s a sturdy, dependable option at backup center and a good team defender.
Backing up Joel Embiid was a major issue for the Sixers in 2018-19. The team largely addressed that Sunday with the signing of Al Horford, who will presumably play both as a power forward and at the five when Embiid sits. The 29-year-old Quinn presents another solid option.
With a deal in place with O’Quinn, you’d expect the Sixers to now prioritize perimeter players — capable outside shooters, in particular — as they continue to fill out their roster.
UnitedHealth Group is making a five-year, $8.25 million investment to help train data science and analytics experts at Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Spelman College.
WHY IT MATTERS The money will help those colleges, part of the Atlanta University Center Consortium. The new AUCC Data Science Initiative will offer technical classes for students seeking to specialize in analytics for healthcare and beyond.
UnitedHealth notes that job openings for data experts in the U.S. will exceed more than 2.7 million by next year.
The hope is that the AUCC initiative will be able to emphasize the value of data science across academic disciplines, officials say, teaching more than 9,000 students new techniques for analytics and research, especially for healthcare and disparities that exist in minority communities.
In addition, the initiative will enable the development of new certificate programs focused on data science and analytics.
UnitedHealth Group says the investment is aimed at continuing to develop a 21st century health workforce that can develop “personalized, culturally competent care, particularly in underserved communities.”
THE LARGER TREND “The colleges in the Atlanta University Center, for decades, have been in the vanguard of educating African Americans who succeed in STEM fields,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, president of Spelman College. “This gift by UnitedHealth Group is an investment in our commitment to continue that primacy in STEM by making the AUCC a center of excellence for the study of data science across a range of disciplines in medicine and the liberal arts.”
In our focus on workforce development this month, Healthcare IT News and Healthcare Finance are exploring the ways healthcare workforces are changing – and how they ought to be changing – in the era of accountable care, population health management, artificial intelligence, evolving technology and emerging data-driven care models.
ON THE RECORD “The Data Science Initiative has the potential to make the Atlanta University Center Consortium a national resource for experts in data analytics,” said Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine. “This program will not only produce talented data scientists who will be leaders in their fields, but increasing the number of degree offerings with data science competencies at HBCUs will assist in diversifying a career field that is currently made up of less than 7% of under-represented minorities.”
“Technology in general, and data science in particular, are critical to better meeting the needs of our customers,” said David S. Wichmann, CEO of UnitedHealth Group. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support this initiative because it aligns with our desire to ensure our workforce for the future is diverse and possesses the skills needed to propel our company for continued success.”
Sports Illustrated shares, “Five years after setting the Little League World Series ablaze, Mo’ne Davis is college-bound to play softball and chase her TV-host dreams.
On an unseasonably cool afternoon in mid-June, Mo’ne Davis strode into the student center on the harborside campus of Hampton University in south-east Virginia, nearly 300 miles from her home in Philadelphia. It had been a little less than five years since those weeks in August 2014 when Davis’s well-developed right arm grabbed the sporting world’s attention.
Pitching for the Taney Dragons in the Little League World Series, 13-year-old Mo’ne, only the fourth American girl to ever play in the tournament, threw two shutouts, paving the Dragons’ way to the semifinals. Her precocious, composed demeanor and dazzling performance landed her on the cover of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, on Jimmy Fallon’s couch, onstage at the ESPY Awards—all before she had started ninth grade.
Now, with all of high school complete and her first
day of college less than three months away, she headed for the second
floor of the student center, where a coach and two future teammates
awaited to present the new spikes and uniforms Davis will be wearing for
the next four years, at her new home, playing her new sport: softball.
The road that brought Davis to the Pirates’ incoming class was a winding one. Back in 2014 she said basketball was her best sport, and she wanted to play at UConn. But a junior-year ankle injury had back-burnered that plan. She played varsity baseball as a freshman at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, the private school she attended in the Philly suburbs, but then gave it up for softball because she “was just wasting [her] time on the bench not doing anything.” read more
Every year, HBCU Students, HBCU Grads, and Friends travel from college to college enjoying whats called “Homecoming”. If you didn’t attend one you wouldn’t understand. For updates email info@hbcubuzz.com
Do you envy other entrepreneurs who attract media attention for their companies? Do you see other business successes and silently wonder why they’re doing so well when your product is even better? It could be that it’s not a matter of product/market fit, but more a matter of founder/market fit. Entrepreneurs who succeed tend to possess specific skills others fail to hone.
5 SKILLS SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS POSSESS
THEY ARE SOCIALLY SAVVY
Failing to be socially savvy can have a direct impact on the success of your company. Knowing how to schmooze at a conference or how to interact with well-known members of the tech Twitterati can significantly improve your business’s exposure. Many startup companies have enjoyed increased success simply because their founders were wise in the ways of social connections. It’s not necessarily the business with the better product that wins; it’s the company with the socially-savvy founder that is more likely to earn attention.
THEY ARE GOOD LISTENERS
Entrepreneurs who are good listeners not only become better leaders, they also tend to outshine competitors. The more you develop your listening skills, the better prepared you are to notice tidbits others miss. Stop yourself from trying to think of your response while others are speaking and instead focus on listening intently to what others are saying.
THEY ARE GOOD COMMUNICATORS
Just as good listening skills are essential, so too are excellent communication skills. From the way you speak to team members to how you explain your company in front of a crowd, each aspect of your communication efforts needs to be finely tuned. Customers (and angel investors) respond better to entrepreneurs with excellent verbal skills. Making an effort to improve your communication skills continually is an endeavor you will never regret.
THEY ARE SELF-CONFIDENT
An entrepreneur without confidence is destined for mediocre success at best. It would be best if you believe in yourself as a business builder and as a leader. If you can’t confidently explain your business vision to others around you, don’t expect customers to come beating down your door.
THEY ARE RISK-TAKERS
Entrepreneurs who are risk-takers tend to achieve greater success than those who are timid and meek. Even if you tend to be more of an introvert, you can still improve your risk-taking skills. Try different marketing techniques, approach high-profile venture capitalists, or speak to journalists at tech conferences; anything you can do to get out of your usual comfort zone is fair game when becoming more of a risk taker.
Working on these skills can increase your odds of long-term success as an entrepreneur. Not only will you build a better business, but you will also create a better you in the process.
This post was written by Jeff Shuford, a writer at Black Enterprise, where it was originally published. It is published here with permission.
Officials at four colleges announced the abrupt departure of their presidents last week — Marist, Muhlenberg, Auburn and, in North Carolina, Bennett College. Officials at the historically black college for women in Greensboro are not saying why Phyllis Worthy Dawkins is leaving or why the departure was effective on the day it was announced.
Dawkins served as Bennett’s president for three years and led the school’s successful fundraising campaign only four months ago that netted more than $9.5 million. The goal was to raise $5 million, needed to restore Bennett’s accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Dawkins led that charge and spoke of the need to revamp the school. She appeared on numerous local and national news shows in her appeals for support, such as NPR’s 1A program.
“The success of HBCUs is dependent on the size of the endowment,” Dawkins said on 1A. “We need people to contribute to the endowment, and then we just have to continue to get out there and beat the walls and continue to raise funds.”
Phyllis Worthy Dawkins left as Bennett College’s president on the same day that her departure was announced.
School officials are not saying why Dawkins left, and why so abruptly. Usually outgoing college presidents remain in office for several months to pave the way for a smooth transition.
Last May, Central State University graduate Austin Oten released his new clothing brand, Wrath, which is a skate-punk clothing brand geared towards skaters of all color. The black university graduate is someone who has always been inspired by fashion. ”An idea came to me to start a clothing brand that would fuse skate and punk culture,” he told HBCU Buzz. He says that Wrath is also for those who enjoy quality fashion. ”I started this brand to be an inspiration to my son, and I have a passion for fashion,” he said.
HBCU Buzz recently got the opportunity to catch up with Oten discussing things like what’s his favorite moment so far in regards to being a relatively new and small black-owned business, real life heroes that he gains inspiration from, and his alma mater, Central State University.
Tommy: Your clothing brand is now in its first month of being open to the public, what’s your favorite moment so far in regards to this new venture?
Austin: ”My favorite moment since our launch has by far been bringing along my Wrath Ambassador team, meeting this great group of individuals over the past month has been awesome. These guys have inspired me to grind that much harder because those that put in the work with us will continue down greater paths with this company.”
Who are your inspirations?
Austin: ”One of my biggest inspirations to start my company was Jay-Z verse on ’What’s Free’ by Meek Mill. It made me want to be an owner. Nothing like having something to call your own.”
Tommy: Any comments on being a black-owned and startup business?
Austin: ”Yes, being a black owned business is a tough thing in today’s society because there’s a lot of negative stereotypes that come with being a black owner. I’m here to change that mold, I believe conducting yourself with a certain level of professionalism is the way.”
”We may not be a million dollar business yet but we will continue to display proper service as well as supply our customer base with quality clothing.”
Tommy: How has Central State University impacted your life for the better?
Austin: ”Man Central State was the best thing that happened in my young life. Taught me so many lessons inside and outside of the classroom. I learned how to carry myself no matter if I’m amongst friends or a room full of CEOs and that confidence is still here today.”
Tommy: Who is Wrath, or what is your target audience/customers?
”Wrath Brand is a skate-punk clothing brand geared towards skaters of all color and also those who enjoy quality fashion. I started this brand to be an inspiration to my son but also because I have a passion for fashion.”
