Blog

I serve on the board of Roca, an organization that uses a unique approach to reduce crime in Baltimore and throughout the nation. Black Americans will experience 10 times the number of gun homicides than their white counterparts. I am proud to support Roca and share this story from CBS Sunday Morning that provides great insight into Roca’s ‘Relentless Outreach’ work with the young people in Baltimore that are at the highest risk. I encourage you to watch and learn the stories of these inspiring young men and the phenomenal work that Roca does for the community. https://rocainc.org/who-we-work-with/locations/roca-baltimore-location/

“As we begin the dawning of renewed recognition and appreciation for the contributions of African Americans, I hasten to remind all people of goodwill of their responsibility to never accept or acquiesce to hatred and evil. All it takes for evil to take root and prosper is for women and men of goodwill to remain docile and quiet in the face of injustice. We should, therefore, gird ourselves up to resist, to challenge, to fight, and ultimately to defeat any attempt to terrorize, discriminate, or disenfranchise any member of the family of humanity. Our resolve must be beyond question and reproach.” – Robert L. Wallace

Last Friday, I, along with leaders, icons, and dignitaries from around the nation gathered at The New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore to say our final goodbyes to our fraternity brother and friend, the honorable Elijah Eugene Cummings, U.S. Representative of Maryland. A lot of things have been on my mind over this past week; I’ve been thinking about the importance of leadership, having lost congressman Cummings. More specifically, I’ve been thinking about the void of leadership in the government and in the Congress, and in society. There is a need for people who can lead to step up and be leaders and not be afraid and not be consumed...

I always feel an extreme sense of fulfillment and pride in the work that I’ve been able to do in the city of Baltimore through the Greater Baltimore Committee and more recently, Baltimore Women’s Advisory Board. Last week, I participated in a panel curated for female entrepreneurs within the city of Baltimore. During this discussion, myself along with other top executives in the city discussed our perspectives, experiences and best practices in cultivating a diverse and inclusive company culture. In this day and age, this topic is extremely important and relevant for entrepreneurs and executives across all industries. Having the...

In advance of my upcoming participation on the “Art of the M&A Deal” panel during U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. 2019 National Conference, I’ve revisited one of my most relevant books, Strategic Partnerships: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Joint Ventures and Alliances. Over the past two years alone, more than an estimated 20,000 corporate alliances have been formed worldwide. Such strategic alliances can provide business owners with long-term security, new revenue channels, and, often, the anchor needed to maintain stability in otherwise turbulent waters. A successful joint venture can open the door to a world of future partnership...

What goes through your mind when you see a sign for ‘Free Wifi’ in an airport, train or your favorite local café? Is it something along the lines of “Yes Please! ‘Terms & Conditions’? No thanks *Clicks Connect*”? It’s okay; for better or for worse, this seems to be the world in which we now live. Consider this: with the click of a button, we can instantly connect to another human being on the other side of the globe! It’s only natural that we get excited any time we find easy {free} access to this digital life line. No matter which way you slice it, innovation has made modern digital technology an indispensable tool; but like any tool,...

On December 5, over 300 attendees joined WTCI and our co-host Venable for the Maryland Global Gala. We would like to thank our showcase sponsors that are doing good all over the world - Jhpiego and BD Diagnostics, and all other sponsors that made this event possible. We would also like to thank everyone who attended the event, with special thanks to our members, premier partners, and cultural ambassadors. Proceeds from this event help to support WTCI's professional development programs. See some of our favorite moments from Maryland Global Gala below! Attendees had the chance to:

The T3 Principle Wisdom for Today Every business will require a certain degree of sacrifice in order to succeed in the long-term. Every one of us has been endowed in varying degrees with three valuable assets: time (24 hours a day, 365 days a year), talent (e.g., math, science, music, marketing, writing, speaking), and treasure (various material assets, money, real estate, or other possessions). The combination of these three assets (T3) allows entrepreneurs to leverage growth and creativity. It's important to note that if you're short on treasure, you'll need to depend more upon time and talent in the beginning of your venture.  The...

The You Don’t Have Because You Don’t Ask Principle Wisdom for Today Many times entrepreneurs will go through the process of researching a customer's needs, developing solutions to those needs, documenting and presenting findings to the customer, and then will walk away from the table without asking for the business. This principle makes it clear that whatever outcome you desire, first be diligent about mastering the technical requirements, then ask for what you want in order to get it. This principle applies when an entrepreneur is in need of help. When you find yourself in need of help, you must first admit it and then seek out people who...