This is My Story
I am a wife, daughter and mother. I am the founder of the podcast, “Raising Entrepreneurs: A Parent’s Guide to Fostering an Entrepreneurial Mindset”.
My career in small business development formally began in 2001 when I launched of one of Denver’s first inner-city business incubators. In my teenage years, my mother started businesses as a way to bring in extra income. Helping her was my initial exposure to business ownership. I’ve only recently come to realize that helping my mom and watching her struggle in business, sparked a drive within me to help others accelerate their learning curve and achieve the success they truly desire.
Over the years of developing small business development policies, programs and initiatives, I have seen the impact these efforts have on the lives of those who want to build businesses. One thing I’ve observed is that those who are able to achieve success as they’ve defined it, are those who push through their fears & doubts; they see problems as business opportunities and are resourceful enough to figure out how to get it done; they have a clear vision for their future and are willing to do what’s required to make it happen; and they persist.
Now that I’m a parent, I’m clear about the type of people I want to launch out into the world. I want to make sure my boys are fully equipped with an entrepreneurial mindset to take on life proactively.
This is why I’ve started this podcast. I am on a journey to equip myself and other parents with the knowledge to raise kids who are self-reliant, resourceful and go getters.
And here are a few other things I’ve done…
In 2013 President Obama appointed me to lead the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development, where I was responsible for a budget of more than $160 million to deliver training and technical assistance programming to the nation’s 28 million small businesses.
In 2015, Washington Post online named me one of the 19 most influential people in D.C. who can affect your small business. Prior to the presidential appointment, I led the award winning and nationally recognized Denver Metro Small Business Development Center. Under my leadership, it was named the #1 SBDC in the nation out of 900 other SBDCs throughout the U.S.
I am a proud graduate of Spelman College. I have a master’s degree from Columbia University. In 2012, Johnson & Wales University awarded me an honorary doctorate in entrepreneurship
