In this episode…
A disproportionate number of women and minority-owned businesses fail in America. So, as business closures rise, minority-owned business closures rise higher. Now, more than ever, the U.S. government and corporations are offering opportunities to small and minority owned businesses, but these programs aren’t translating.
The process by which we address diversity, inclusivity, and access to opportunity for businesses in America does not account for gaps in culture, communication, and education. To overcome these unique challenges, businesses must learn to shift strategies, articulate their identity, and lead with transparency.
Actively uncover the opportunities amidst the challenges.
- Clearly communicate who you are to engage with others who align with you.
- Continuously expand and verbally emphasize your capabilities, but openly recognize your limitations.
- Be careful to be consistent over time to open up new connections and future collaborations.
- Intensely research your audience to thoroughly develop your strategy, & connect with partners and clients through your data-driven marketing.
- Partner with organizations that complement your capabilities, share your values, and to which you can add value.
- Gain more than certifications to set you apart; grow and share your authentic identity, valuable experience, and unique expertise.
Jean’s Story
Jean Kistensen is an entrepreneur, speaker, author, government contracting expert, and the president and CEO of Jean Kristensen associates, where she empowers a diverse range of suppliers to thrive by connecting them to education, opportunities, and partnerships with government agencies and large corporations.
Over the last three decades, Jean’s invaluable advice and support has helped countless leaders in various sectors gain access to previously unattainable resources and scale their organizations. She continues to break barriers for herself and others through the development of highly effective programs which give businesses the tools to partner with others, meet their WMBE requirements, and gain capital as well as contracts.
This episode is produced by…
This episode is produced by Advantages, an award-winning branding and marketing agency that turns buyers into believers. They have worked with companies as far reaching as the new terminal one at JFK airport, as well-known as Jay Z, and as fun as NFL football teams, along with some of the world’s most impactful nonprofits and aspirational mid-sized businesses.
Advantages uncovers the meaning within brands and infuses it into experiences—purposeful branding, engaging events, and strategic marketing.
Explore how this agency can help infuse purpose into your brand so that you connect with the audiences that matter most to you.
For more than three decades, Don Scales has run professional services firms and understands firsthand how to make them succeed. In his current role of global CEO of Investis Digital, he is executing on his vision to lead a company unlike anything else in the digital communications space. He’s put together a team with deep expertise in corporate communications and investor relations and united them with innovative performance marketing experts and world-class technology solutions to help companies connect with audiences across all digital touchpoints.
