Black Insurance Industry Collective’s Post

In our final spotlight in celebration of this year’s Black History Month, we’re highlighting a leader who has spent his career in the food and service industry: Charmers Redd. When asked what Charmers loves about the food & beverage business, the answer was simple: the people. He believes we are in the people business, serving food — not the other way around. Keeping that in mind, it’s extremely important to form genuine connections and foster environments where people feel valued and understood.    For anyone looking to enter the F&B industry, Charmers’ advice is this: “Prioritize empathy and understanding. Recognize that every interaction is an opportunity to make a positive impact on someone's day. Treat each person with respect, kindness, and attentiveness. Also, never underestimate the power of relationships. Networking within the industry can open doors to new opportunities and provide invaluable support and guidance along your journey. Remember, in our industry, people are at the forefront of everything we do. By putting people first and fostering meaningful connections, you'll not only succeed in your career but also contribute to the heart and soul of our business.” 

1993: First Black US Deputy Secretary of State. 1987: First Black CEO of a Fortune 500 company. 1978: First Black president of the Nation’s largest university system (State University of New York – SUNY). 1969: First Black president of a major – majority white – university (Michigan State University). 1958: First Black person to receive a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago. 1948: First Black person to receive an M.A. from the Johns Hopkins School of Strategic and International Studies (SAIS). All remarkable breakthroughs. All by one man. Clifton R. Wharton Jr. (September 13, 1926 – November 16, 2024) We lost a titan this week. Our Quiet Pioneer. He was a powerhouse intellect and unflappable in the face of adversity. There’s so much we need to learn from his legacy. His story must be told. As I said in my column today honoring Dr. Wharton’s legacy, “an effective merit-based talent system does not mean the absence of diversity. It actually means the opposite. When DEI is done well, it surfaces the Clifton Wharton Jr’s of world, even when they don’t have the same level of exposure that he had.” Please pass along and keep Dr. Wharton’s legacy alive.

"Remember, Black History is not a month. Black History spans several lifetimes of generations." -Mynesha Spencer As February comes to a close, our CEO implores all to practice economic inclusion throughout the remainder of the year. This can be achieved by employing any one or a combination of the below recommendations: 1. Take time to build strong relationships with Black-business owners and leaders. 2. Implement a strategic diverse supplier procurement program and require all departments within your workplace to yield to it. 3. Hire a supplier diversity expert for expert and technical instruction. 4. Acknowledge the disparities in supplier procurement that exist within your organization and commit to doing better by holding the organization accountable. Research Black businesses that offer services or goods you want or need to purchase before spending elsewhere. 5. Write, share, or post reviews of Black-owned business experiences. 6. Support business colleges, particularly at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) through donations, volunteerism, and stewardship of Black entrepreneurship. 7. Provide opportunities for accessibility to professional, political, and other influential networks. 8. Refer a friend, colleague, or business partner to utilize the goods and/or services provided by Black-business owners who have satisfied your needs or exceeded your expectations. 9. Endorse a Black business and/or business owner on LinkedIn by way of a formal endorsement. 10. Offer Black CEOs and Black Executive Directors networks of support by sharing contacts and support for social capital. ALT TEXT: A color image of a professional headshot of a woman in collar shirt with logo upon left chest. Her arms crossed.

On Tuesday the power-house that is Flavilla Fongang launched what is shaping up to be a project profoundly useful for the Black community and professionals at large. I've seen first hand the work and time she has personally invested here, so it's only right I share this with my Network. In Flavilla's own words... "BLACK RISE is here to bridge the opportunity gap for black talent in business. Black talent in business faces significant barriers to growth due to the absence of a robust ecosystem that facilitates connections, the sharing of knowledge and opportunities. This economic loss is estimated at $1.6 trillion in the US and 300 billion in the UK each year. So we built an AI powered business platform to help them reach their full potential by harnessing the power of the Black talent network." The total addressable market is $25 billion based of 650k B2B users and 71 million Black professionals outside of Africa." To follow the journey, give BLACK RISE and Flavilla Fongang a follow! 😉

What powerful insights to read from our own Tony Caldwell Jr., CPA. The vulnerability is inspiring and helps us learn! "Also, recognizing the existing disadvantages that impact Black professionals means acknowledging we don’t start our careers in the same place as our colleagues. We’ve got to address this imbalance to be equitable and eliminate barriers. When people at senior levels reach down to pull us up, we’ll have higher quality relationships which will improve our work quality and lead to more belonging." https://lnkd.in/gvy-H55K

I just finished In The Black, penned by one of our giants in the commercial real estate industry, T. Dallas Smith. A few thoughts that his story sparked for me… 1) Focus = Power. In the busyness of life, if we can do the work to hone in on a singular purpose, and apply our authentic selves to it, we have the ability to move mountains. T. Dallas Smith & Company didn’t become the largest black-owned tenant rep firm because they tried to do it all. They found their focus, and they went all in on it. 2) Servant leadership is the best kind of leadership. Every day we should strive to better serve those we love, those we work with, and those who need our product or service. We should sow seeds of service at every opportunity, with no worry about the harvest. God will take care of that part. 3) Patience x Persistence is KEY. We often create hard timelines for when we want to see our vivid dreams turn into tangible realities. When things don’t work out exactly according to plan, which they often don’t, we feel the weight of all kinds of negative human emotions. This has led countless dreams to be placed in the junk drawer or thrown out all together. Applying more patience around the things we don’t control, while maintaining a persistent pursuit of our goals is how the intangible becomes tangible. And it usually comes together even better than we envisioned! Big gratitude to T. Dallas Smith for sharing his insightful story and for clearing the way for more black representation in the CRE space. Let’s keep building and creating black history!!!

Black History Month is almost over...so have you thought about what you're going to do to maintain the momentum? Or is it just a topic to be left on the back burner for another 12 months? Check out the link in the comments to read my Q&A with Flexa and see some of my thoughts on how companies can continue to empower their Black talent throughout the year and throughout their careers! #BlackHistoryMonth #Flexa #KeepTheMomentum

Today, to honor Black History Month, we are highlighting Maya Omodia, Assistant Manager at Heritage Senior Residences in Texas. Get to know Maya! Can you share a pivotal personal moment as an Assistant Manager and its impact on your journey? “A pivotal moment for me as an Assistant Manager was successfully navigating a challenging situation with specific residents, addressing their unique needs. I implemented an innovative solution to ensure the comfort and happiness of all residents while achieving significant cost savings for multiple properties. This experience has shaped my approach to problem-solving and reinforced the importance of finding innovative solutions in property management." What advice would you give to someone aspiring to excel as an Assistant Manager, and what lessons have you learned that you'd like to pass on? "To excel as an Assistant Manager, focus on effective communication, problem-solving, and attention to detail. Stay informed about real estate laws, build strong relationships with tenants and owners, and be proactive in property maintenance. Continuous learning and adapting to industry changes are crucial. An important lesson I've learned is to always prioritize integrity. Doing what's right is key to building trust and success in property management." Could you share a cherished memory that has influenced who you are today? "A cherished memory that profoundly influenced me is my great Aunt Majorie. She instilled morals, ethics, and ideals that I strive to live by each day. Her guidance has shaped my character, emphasizing the importance of integrity and moral values. The lessons learned from her continue to influence my personal and professional life."

It's National Black Business Month. As a privileged Black business owner, I feel a duty to shed light on this: Black-owned businesses are 9 times more likely to operate without employees than the national average. I knew Black business stats, but thank you Samantha Katz for educating me further on the landscape. Put in that broader perspective, the Black business figures are more alarming and disappointing. Is a business sustainable with no employees? Why don't Black businesses have employees? Can you help Black businesses be successful? If you're interested in learning about my Black-owned business—which I'm extremely fortunate to run with my team—follow the link below. We make sending local eGift cards simple, conveniently enabling gifts that are more thoughtful and impactful: https://2ly.link/1zCVq

To wrap up Black History Month, we'd like to highlight the contribution of Black business owners as a whole and, specifically, trucking company owners to our society. Swipe for a few interesting stats. To learn more interesting Black trucking history, check out our blog: https://lnkd.in/gUapCXZX