On Thursday, Feb. 27, the Black Business Students Association hosted the Minding Our Black Business (M.O.B.B.) entrepreneurship expo to showcase “Black excellence, innovation, and entrepreneurship.” The expo featured a five-person panel that shared their journeys and experiences as entrepreneurs while answering hard-hitting questions. 

The panel consisted of Lena Jackson, a certified professional resume builder and career coach with extensive career development experience. As well as Nicole Parks, the founder and CEO of Live Print Beauty Bar LLC, who blends her passion for beauty with her background in business. Evelyn McGregor, the Vice President of Live Print Beauty Bar, was on the panel as well, she holds a master’s in occupational therapy, while using her experience in organizing and customer service skills to help further the business. Derek Grant, the owner and creative director of the Needle and Thread Company, a vintage upcycling brand and a mobile boutique also sat on the panel, along with Tim Lewis, a senior NC State student and owner of Holy Grail Meech, another business that specializes in vintage clothing.

The questions ranged from overcoming challenges to transitioning to being a full-time entrepreneur, imposter syndrome and sacrifices that were made. 

When asked what their biggest obstacle was in the beginning, Jackson said “ being in her own head” and “working through and getting the confidence to be a business owner” was a big challenge for her. 

For Parks, it was “finding people outside of friends and family to use their services” since she started her business during the pandemic. She said she “stepped out of faith” knowing that “the masks would come off eventually.”

Lewis said that “finding inventory” was his biggest challenge because he didn’t “know how to get his hands on vintage clothing during the pandemic.” He said that he would go to pop-up shops to “buy stuff at market value” but questioned how he was going to sell the items to other people.

The panel was then asked about their biggest challenge as a Black business owner. Grant explained that, “It’s hard to find funding. It’s hard to find the money.” He also gave advice to those interested in starting a business, saying  “study everything around you” adding that, “it starts with your family and friends,” because they are going to be the ones who “buy your first piece.” 

Jackson echoed the same sentiment of funding being a challenge but also added, “being a business owner of color, being a woman as well, sometimes people can gatekeep information,” she said the things people gatekeep can often be “the exact information that you need to take your business to where it needs to go.” Due to facing this experience herself, she said “if I know something that’s going to help, I want to share that information,” adding that she doesn’t want anyone to “go through those same sorts of experiences.”

For McGregor, she said that her biggest challenge was being asked “Are you still here?” She elaborated that her business was put in “a location that wasn’t necessarily successful” at the Crabtree Valley Mall. While she was still able to flourish in that area, she said that customers would often say, “We didn’t think you would still be here,” she said, “That’s one of the biggest things I face is, I guess it’s adversity, but we overcome that adversity.”

The next question was about transitioning from working a full-time job to a role as a business owner, a move that is not easy. McGregor said, “A lot of times with business, you have to jump.”

She ‘jumped’ when she was laid off from her job, choosing to see it as an opportunity. She said that “fear will keep you bound” and “you have to have faith,” explaining that it wasn’t fulfilling for her to keep working at a desk job.

Jackson resonated with Evelyn’s belief of taking chances. She quit her job and hasn’t regretted it since, saying “just because you can’t see the outcome of something, that doesn’t mean that a positive outcome is not there.”

She encouraged anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur or business owner to just do it, saying “you never know what the outcome could be.”

Grant suggested having some sort of plan but added that it is “not always about money to get started.” He went on to say that “social media is free,” encouraging people to take advantage of this tool and of the ability to post every day. He also said to “believe in yourself” and have a plan “That aligns with your vision and your direction.”

There was also discussion on imposter syndrome and how easy it is to feel that you do not belong in certain spaces. 

Grant shared three essential pieces of advice for dealing with this. The first piece of advice was that, “you have to be authentic to yourself.” The second was to “align yourself with people that see the same thing you see in yourself,” he added that this will start with your family and friends. The final piece was to “take them small wins and really appreciate it.”

Lewis said that it “comes down to the self belief” and surrounding yourself with people that want to be in it. He shared that he still sometimes asks himself, “Is it really worth it?” but each time the pros outweigh the cons. He ended by saying,“Stay true to yourself and work towards your goals.”

McGregor advised that “you can’t let people tell you that you’re not worthy, because you know. You do belong here.”

Parks stressed the importance of having “cheerleaders in your corner” as well, which she said could be family, friends, clients, or “anybody you’ve done something for.” She encouraged leaning on other people around you“ to help you not be discouraged.”

The final question was about the sacrifices they had made as entrepreneurs.

Jackson explained that she had to sacrifice “Time spent with loved ones, with my children,” she even missed the “birth of children in the family” and weddings. She said that while she couldn’t get that time back, she didn’t regret it, adding, “if I didn’t go through those things, I wouldn’t be where I am now.” Entrepreneurs often have to make hard choices which may or may not pay off, but for Lena, she feels it was all worth it.

McGregor said that she sacrificed time with her children as well, sharing how she had to miss basketball games and track meets. She said she missed “those moments that I don’t want to miss, but it’s worth it, because I’m leaving a legacy for my children’s children, and so that’s what I’m thinking about.” She said that while she sometimes thinks about going back, she can’t because she knows too much now and has to keep pushing.

The panel aimed to give attendees confidence, inspiration and aspiration to chase their business dreams and inform them on the business world through a Black lens.