Name: Robert Lewis Business Name: Black Cooperative Investment Fund Current Title: President/Board Chair Location: Los Angeles, CA Educational Background: Howard University, Washington, DCÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Master of Social Work, May 1996 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â […]
There is a very specific kind of frustration that shows up in business when you are not new, not careless, and not doing nothing wrong, yet the results no longer match the effort. This episode is about that season. The one where the strategies you trusted start feeling unpredictable. The routines you mastered feel heavier […]
You can build something beautiful, grow it, scale it, and still protect the people and culture that made the community what it is. You’ve probably seen the opposite happen, a neighborhood gets “improved” and suddenly the folks who stuck it out through the hard years cannot afford to stay, local businesses get priced out, and […]
December is here. This is the time of year when a lot of people are talking about what’s next. Before you rush into planning mode, this episode is your opportunity to pause and get honest about what needs to be left behind. As a Black entrepreneur, you know that business comes with more than strategy […]
Many Black entrepreneurs know what it feels like to consistently show up online, grow a following, build connection, and still feel like the space you are building on does not fully belong to you. The rules change, your reach shifts, and suddenly everything you worked for feels like it is sitting in someone else’s hands. […]
Let’s be real. A lot of us have been out here trying to follow someone else’s version of success. Copying the routines. Following the “rules.” Pushing ourselves to work in ways that don’t even feel natural. But if your business still feels off, it might not be about doing more. It might be about working […]
We talk about freedom a lot, especially around Juneteenth. But what does it actually look like in your business? Is it more time with your kids? Being able to say no to the wrong clients? Finally unplugging for a weekend without everything falling apart? In this week’s solo episode, Monique is breaking down what entrepreneurial […]
Diverse teams are powerful, but they don’t run on autopilot. As a Black entrepreneur, you’re building something bigger than yourself, whether it’s a small business, a growing startup, or an industry-disrupting venture. But success isn’t just about numbers; it’s about people. And in today’s business world, knowing how to lead people who don’t think or […]
In this episode, we tackle one of the most transformative topics of our time: how digital currency and blockchain technology are reshaping financial freedom, especially for Black entrepreneurs. With systemic barriers often limiting access to traditional financial systems, the rise of decentralized technologies offers a new path forward. We understand how critical it is for […]
DIFFICULTY ACCESSING EXPERTISE AND BUSINESS SERVICES Only 58% of Black owners sought professional services, for reasons including expense, inaccessibility, and mistrust, compared with 70 percent of white owners LACK OF ACCESS TO NETWORKS THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT AND PROMOTE The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) found in 2016 that Black-owned businesses saw less utilization relative […]
