National Black MBA Association’s Post

Growing up, black youth often face many challenges that can make achieving their dreams seem impossible. Imagine being full of potential but constantly running into obstacles just because of who you are. Take Jordan, for example. He's a smart, passionate teenager who loves technology, but he struggles to find mentors and opportunities in his community. The world around him doesn’t always recognize his talent, making it hard for him to keep believing in his dreams. Jordan’s story is one many black youth can relate to – feeling overlooked and unsupported. But there’s a way forward. The Excellence Conference is here to make a difference ✨. It’s a powerful event that helps black youth like Jordan find the support, inspiration, and opportunities they need. At the conference, they meet mentors, gain new skills, and join a community that celebrates their potential 🌟. For Jordan, attending the Excellence Conference changed everything. He met people who believed in him, learned a lot, and found new hope. Now, Jordan isn’t just dreaming – he’s achieving 🚀. Every young person deserves a chance to succeed. The Excellence Conference helps make that possible. Let’s support and uplift our youth by sharing this opportunity ❤️. Learn more at Excellence Conference. #ExcellenceConference #EmpowerBlackYouth #BreakBarriersBuildFutures #excellenceproject #careerdevelopment #careergoals #career #careeradvice #careercoach #careergrowth #careerchange #careertips #careersuccess #careercoaching #careerpath #careers #success #motivation #education #professionaldevelopment #careerguidance

If you got a business idea

Come meet us this week! #nationalblackmba #NBMBAA #TheBlackMBA #FWD23 #Forward2023 #BlackMBAFWD23 #conference #businessconference #mbagraduate

Tying your personal worth to how much you can do at once is toxic. Throughout my first 3 years of undergrad I viewed my self-worth as the sum of how much I can get done. This mindset prevented me from scaling things back when I got overwhelmed and eventually I fell into a deep depression. I say all that to say that if you think that admitting you're overwhelmed is a form of failure, then you’re wrong! You're more than the sum of your achievements, and it's okay to cut back when you've taken on too much. Most of the projects below were achieved in the midst of my depression so I encourge you all to check in on the high achievers. 1st Slide: Invited to speak on how universities can increase equity on their campuses at the HEEN Conference in Nashville, TN (Febrauary 2023) 2nd Slide: UIC Black Student-Led Intiative to create Black safe spaces at an institution that has seen a steady decline in enrollment and graduation rates of Black students despite being praised as one of the most diverse universities in the nation (February 2023) 3rd Slide: Assistant Dean of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Theta Chapter’s newest superstars: S.S. FATES (April 2023) 4th Slide: Black Leadership Symposium hosted by UIC’s Black Cultural Center (April 2023) 5th Slide: Presenting my research on “How Auto-Oriented Spaces Hinder Pedestrian Safety in Chicago” at the IPCE’s Urban Public Policy Fellowship Symposium (April 2023) With love, Elvis

Check out this upcoming event that I will be attending. Will I see you there? National Black MBA Association #indyblackmba #affirmativeaction #leadership #IncubatorofBlackExcellence

Elevating Black Excellence at Rice Business Karim Fotso: Professional Class of 2024 What does Black excellence mean to you personally? Black excellence, to me, is a multifaceted concept deeply rooted in my African upbringing. It embodies the will and desire to succeed against all odds, fostering an environment where love, support, and authenticity thrive. It’s the resilience to always give our best to break through barriers and change a system that has led to so many wasted talents. It’s also about not forgetting where we come from by giving back to the people and communities that have shaped us. Fostering unity across races and cultures, leaving no one behind in our collective pursuit of greatness. How have your unique experiences shaped your pursuit of excellence? Leaving home at a young age to come to America showed me the importance of having a strong support system to face unknown and challenging environments. It made me realize the tremendous role that family and friends play in my success. Being a former professional athlete ingrained in me discipline, resilience, and a mindset of continual improvement. It taught me the importance of never taking success for granted, and always striving to learn and enhance oneself. As a family man, I've embraced a profound sense of purpose, driven to lead by example. These elements collectively led me to pursue an MBA at Rice, to obtain the tools to make a bigger impact in the world. In what ways do you see yourself contributing to a more diverse and inclusive future? I am committed to genuinely sharing my skills and resources and acting as a catalyst for positive change in my community and beyond. I will promote Diversity conferences such as NBMBAA, for their valuable professional and personal development opportunities. Finally, I intend to connect individuals with new prospects and foster supportive environments to unlock their potential.  #FirstRiceBlackBusinessWeek

Great networking and educative event organised by the SBA. I enjoyed the insightful discussions from the remarkable hosts (VC, DVC, Dean at Leicester and Ade Oyedijo), scholars, speakers, moderators and audience. Upon reflecting on my 8-page-long note, here are my highlights: -         As global scholars, we should endeavour to engage in impactful research-informed teaching to enhance our students’ experience and scholarship. -         Build impactful collaboration in your knowledge creation and distribution i.e. develop co-knowledge, co-production, co-win approaches to your delivery. Have you considered what is your research into, research through and research for? -         Create a balance between academia (cutting-edge research) and solving real world problems. Beyond your research, what learning have you developed e.g. writing, analytical, problem solving, developing tangible implications/recommendations etc to resolve real-world problems for organisations? -         Be value adding and develop bankable skills e.g. integrity, adaptability, leadership, resilience etc -         Have credible mentors and sponsors - it helps! -         Have a checklist to appraise your personal, university and societal impacts. Be able to tell a good story around what you do to help! -         Be a global ambassador of yourself, the community/field you represent and your institutions. Thanks for inviting me – very insightful 🙂

Excited to share some powerful takeaways from the 2023 National Black MBA Conference in Philadelphia! 1️⃣Be a problem owner, rather than a problem solver. Embrace challenges and drive change. 2️⃣Not all networks are created equal; quality over quantity matters. Invest wisely in your connections. 3️⃣Your network reflects what you put in. Nurture relationships to reap the rewards. 4️⃣Master the numbers and narratives. Understand the mechanics and be able to tell the story behind it. 5️⃣Vulnerability is strength. As a Black man, it is okay to show your scars, as it can inspire others. 6️⃣Intelligence varies. Strive to learn from others. 7️⃣If opportunities do not knock, build a door. Forge your own path to success. 8️⃣Trust is gained in drips, but lost in gallons. 9️⃣Listen to learn, not defend. Open-mindedness fosters growth. 1️⃣0️⃣Do not allow external negativity affect your inner drive. Remain focused and resilient. Embrace these insights and continue to elevate yourselves and communities. #NBMBAA #Forward2023 #MorganStateUniversity

The National Black MBA Association conference was a success! Prudential Financial had a “Future” wall, where we asked attendees to write their 5-year goal. The responses were amazing and so different! Yet almost all of them were about creating greatness in the world. Thank you to the best team for ROCKing at our booth! Didn’t get to stop by? Message me to learn more about our opportunities! #AtPrudentialYouCan

Following my enriching experience at the National Black MBA Association conference, I had the privilege of connecting with a multitude of individuals and gaining valuable insights. This occasion significantly expanded my professional network and fostered new, meaningful friendships. Notably, I had the pleasure of meeting someone who had journeyed all the way from Canada, a heartening testament to the conference's global reach. I would like to offer a piece of advice to those contemplating attendance at this conference in the forthcoming year: while the prospect of engaging with potential employers is undoubtedly enticing, I strongly recommend diversifying your conference experience by participating in some of the enlightening lectures and sessions offered. This balanced approach ensures that you reap the full spectrum of benefits the conference has to offer. Overemphasizing employer interactions might cause you to miss out on the wealth of knowledge and insights shared during these sessions. Incorporating these educational components into your agenda can yield profound dividends, equipping you with fresh perspectives and wisdom that can significantly impact your professional journey. Trust me; you'll express gratitude for this well-rounded approach later on.