On this past weekend’s episode of ‘Minding Your Business,’ Jill Johnson, co-founder and CEO of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, discusses her organization’s mission of ensuring that people of color have an equal opportunity for business capital and success.
“Our mission is about eradicating barriers,” Johnson told host Bob Considine. “These are barriers that are systemic in nature that have really prevented people of color, especially from Black and Hispanic communities, from being able to even have a path to success.”
IFEL is marking its 20th year in existence this year. Johnson said that while some improvements have been made in the awareness of increasing access to capital for entrepreneurs of color, more needs to be done.
“I’m not talking about anyone being guaranteed success,” Johnson explained. “It’s tough being a business owner. But the challenge is that when you look at what it takes to be successful for many Black and Brown business owners, they don’t have access to the various components that are needed to be for success even to be possible – let alone probable.”
Johnson also highlighted the annual Women of Color Connecting Virtual Summit, that is occurring on March 8-10.
NJBIA’s “Minding Your Business” is a weekly TV show that airs on News 12+ at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday, and on 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
To see all past episodes of NJBIA’s “Minding Your Business,” click here.
