Small Business Matters Networking Reception

Time:
September 30, 2021 - 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Room:
Networking Lounge

Small Business Matters | Thursday, Sept. 30

Successful black owned businesses are one of the most important catalysts of African American independence, and they’ve never faced a more critical period of challenge and transformation. Day 3 is all about helping new and veteran entrepreneurs find opportunities and leverage their strengths for long-term success. Find out how to tap into recovery assistance and new sources of capital. And learn from master entrepreneurs what strategies produce healthy returns for new and growing ventures.

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Sponsored By

 

Break out Room #1: 
Sponsor: UPS
Proudly Unstoppable Entrepreneurs
Are you a new or growing entrepreneur of a product company? Meet a panel of inspiring entrepreneurs.  Hear the unique journeys of these successful entrepreneurs and how they built their brands from the ground up.  They’ll talk about the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make and steps to take to avoid them as you develop your business.

Opening Remarks:
Ayana Green, VP, Small and Medium Business Strategy and Revenue Channels, UPS 

Moderator:
Stephen Hewitt, Sr. Manager, Diverse Customer Segment, UPS

Break out Room #2: 
Sponsor: Courvoisier
Title: Marketing Your Business in the New Normal with Courvoisier® Cognac
Even with the world slowly opening back up, many small businesses are still struggling to successfully rebuild. This panel discussion, led by Courvoisier Curators and moderated by National Urban League, will provide marketing strategies and social media guidance to help Black small business owners and entrepreneurs re-engage with their community and their customers post-COVID-19. As part of the session, Courvoisier will host a live pitch competition for pre-selected small business finalists. Attendees will be able to watch the pitch competition live and learn the ins-and-outs of successfully presenting a business plan to an esteemed judging panel made up of industry leaders.

Moderator:
Klassi R. Duncan , Vice President, Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Urban League of Louisiana

Panelists:
Kwabena “K” Botchy, Courvoisier Cognac Brand Curator-Atlanta
Brooke Mackie, Courvoisier Cognac Brand Curator - Chicago, Founder, The Mackie Firm
Chris Roy, Courvoisier Cognac Brand Curator- Los Angeles; Founder, The Lifestyle Entertainment Group

Judges:
Jon Potter, Managing Director, Maison Courvoisier and The House of Suntory
Marc Parham, Director of Entrepreneurship, Urban League of Greater Atlanta
Sheila A. Mixon, Senior Vice President, Business Development & Entrepreneurship, Urban League Greater Southwestern Ohio

Break out Room #3
Sponsor: Regions Bank
Title: Digital Fraud & Financial Fragility
Digital Fraud & Financial Fragility Cybercrime happens everywhere and continues to grow each day. According to the FBI, internet crime complaints were up 69.4% nationwide in 2020. Victims lost nearly $1.8 billion to Business Email Compromise scams and $54 million to phishing scams. Keeping your business safe is as important as any service you provide, or any plans for growth you may have. And it’s achievable if you build a culture of cyber readiness and prioritize creating and maintaining a strong digital platform. Small businesses, especially those in underserved communities, are often financially fragile – with limited resources and little to no financial safety net. That’s why financial and business planning are so critical to both protect these small businesses and provide a pathway for access to capital. Empower yourself with the knowledge and tools protect and grow your business. Get real-world advice and actionable tips from bankers and technology experts.

Moderator:
Leroy Abrahams, Executive Vice President, Head of Community Affairs, Regions Bank

Panelists:
Andy Hernandez, Chief Digital Officer, Regions Bank
Jeff Taylor, Treasury Management Fraud and Payments Strategy Partner, Regions Bank
Nikki Stephenson, Credit Products Commercial Banking Group Manager, Regions Bank
Caroline Taylor, Head of Small Business Administration, Regions Bank

Break out Room#4
Sponsor: Goldman Sachs
Title: Business Strategy and Financials in Uncertain Times

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses presents “Business Strategy and Financials in Uncertain Times”. In this interactive session, you will learn how to assess the financial health of your business, evaluate the impact of an uncertain environment, and analyze different funding options, revenue streams to grow your business. You will leave with a framework on how to use financial metrics to lead your business to new opportunities.

Moderator:
Shaniece Bennett MBA, CPA, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Faculty

Panelists:
Jessica Taylor, National Director,10,000 Small Businesses at Goldman Sachs
Sonia Moin, Senior Director, Urban Business Initiatives, ICIC

Speaker(s)