Here in Colorado, Black-owned businesses are booming, but we still face a massive disparity gap: • According to the SBA, Black-owned businesses receive a fraction of the venture capital and small business loans that white- owned firms do. • State and municipal contracts rarely reflect the true diversity of the business community. • Minority- and women-owned business certifications don’t always lead to actual opportunities—just a LOT more paperwork. That’s why advocacy matters. I don’t just run a business—I fight for the future of small business in Colorado. I’ve testified at the State Capitol. I’ve led and spoken at economic forums. I’ve participated in chamber-led initiatives to promote procurement equity, and I’ve worked with non-profits to lift up underrepresented entrepreneurs. Because if we don’t show up to the decision-making table, we will continue to be left off the guest list. We urge policymakers, investors, and corporate leaders to: • See us: Value our expertise, professionalism, and impact. • Support us: Through capital access, mentorship, and connections. • Include us: In contracts, grants, and opportunities—not just as tokens but as trusted, capable partners. Why Small Businesses Matter—and Why I’m Proud to Lead One I never went to college imagining I would become a business owner. My academic path—rooted in international studies, politics, and law—was about advocacy, not enterprise. Back then, the image
of a CEO was shaped by magazines, television, and textbooks. The archetype was clear: white, male, wealthy, and powerful. I remember being spiritually moved when I read, “Why Should White Guys Have All the Fun,” by Reginald Lewis. But somehow, I was left still perplexed because his journey still was from the perspective of male corporate dominance. I didn’t see myself in that image—until I saw Suzanne de Passe profiled in Black Enterprise. A Black woman, a powerhouse, and a CEO—she shattered the mold and rewrote the story. I was obsessed. I knew I had to work for her, and I eventually did. I was one of her three assistants. It wasn’t glamorous—I took notes, ran errands, and sat in the shadows—but I was determined to learn what it meant to lead from the top. That was before social media, before LinkedIn, before we had hashtags like #BlackExcellence and #BlackWomenLead. My inspiration came from pages—Ebony, Jet, Black Enterprise—not screens. Those magazines were my internet, my LinkedIn, and my TED Talk rolled into one. I wasn’t looking for makeup tips or celebrity
Image: Prescott Solutions.
37 The Acumen
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