A few weeks ago, I attended the Black Enterprise Magazine Entrepreneurs Conference in Chicago. What a great event! With all the conferences that I attend annually, this is truly one that I get so much out of. Being able to meet, network and get sound advice from fellow entrepreneurs of color like Daymond Johnson of Shark Tank, model/actress/business woman Beverly Johnson, and Dawn Fitch of Pooka Pure & Simple is invaluable.
From the opening address with BE President & CEO Butch Graves to the private reception for the Automotive Dealer of the Year (my final event), I was continually meeting new folks. I’m a firm believer that you meet people at exactly the right time, so I was feverishly exchanging business cards and scribbling notes.
One of the highlights of my trip was meeting 2 Chicago area recipients of the Buick Achievers Scholarship. They were honored by Buick during a FAB lunch at Mercat a la Planxa restaurant. These young ladies blew everyone away with their stories. When one tearfully recounted how she had gotten the news of her $25k per year scholarship, the entire place cried with her. I look forward to seeing BIG things from this duo.
I also got to catch up with old friends like Sonia Alleyne of Black Enterprise Magazine, whom I hadn’t seen in about a year. And its ALWAYS a pleasure to be in the company of Eric Peterson, US Vice President of Diversity for General Motors and Vivian Piccard, President of the General Motors Foundation. I even got to spend a few minutes with fellow bloggers and MY GIRLS Patrice Yursik of Afrobella and Luvvie Ajayi of Awesomely Luvvie.
To get just a hint of what I experience annually at BEEC, watch this short video of Daymond Johnson telling us how to “date” investors.
Disclosure: I was a guest of General Motors for this trip. They covered my travel, accomodations and meals. All opinions are my own.
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Very impressive, this seemed to be a great deal. Glad you were able to give us a taste of it.