THOMASVILLE – In a celebration of Women’s History Month, the Southern Georgia Black Chambers organized a thought-provoking brunch panel on Saturday March 9, inviting women entrepreneurs to share their experiences, insights, and strategies for success.
The event, held at Receptions For You, was sponsored by two organizations, Hope Brown, Realtor and the Juneteenth of Thomasville-Thomas County Foundation. It featured prominent vendors, Thomas Educational Consulting & Training and Sista Girl Birth Initiative. The brunch buffet was catered by Duncan Smile Catering and Mo, LLC.
According to organizers, the purpose of the Women’s History Month Brunch was clear — to empower and uplift women in business. The diverse panel of speakers consisted of accomplished entrepreneurs from various industries, each bringing a unique perspective to the table. The panelists delved into topics ranging from networking and marketing to balancing personal and professional life, and the responsibility of building generational wealth. The brunch panelists included:
— Gwendolyn Mack, owner of Okaysions Floral Design.
— Pastor Kenya Carter James, owner of Courtney’s Couture Boutique.
— Maria Vasquez, owner of Creative Nutrition.
— Keemasheka Jones, owner of Essential Diagnostic Solutions.
“The Women’s History Month Brunch panel was not just a celebration but a platform for meaningful discussions, valuable insights, and a call to action for the community to support and uplift women business owners,” organizers said. “The event exemplified the spirit of unity, collaboration, and empowerment, showcasing the resilience and determination of women making strides in the business world.”
The event commenced with a lively discussion on the importance of networking and collaboration. The panelists emphasized the pivotal role connections play in the entrepreneurial journey. Attendees were encouraged to seek mentors, build relationships, and support each other’s ventures. The emphasis on collaborative efforts echoed the spirit of unity and empowerment.
“Never be the sharpest person at your table, and always be okay with meeting new people.” stated Pastor Kenya Carter James.
The panelists also stressed the need for consistency in branding and understanding one’s target audience. The speakers shared their experiences of navigating the competitive landscape, emphasizing the power of storytelling in establishing a brand identity.
Balancing the demands of business with personal life emerged as a recurrent theme. The speakers shared personal anecdotes, providing insights into how they navigate the complexities of being entrepreneurs, mothers, and community leaders. Setting boundaries, prioritizing tasks, and focusing on what truly matters were highlighted as strategies for achieving a harmonious work-life balance. The speakers spoke of faith, affirmations, and self-reflection as guiding principles in their entrepreneurial journeys.
Education and knowledge-sharing were deemed essential for empowering entrepreneurs by both panelists and attendees. The panelists discussed being committed to marketing and being visible in order to advertise their businesses.
“You have to be able to invest in your business as well. And a lot of people don’t want to pay for marketing or marketing materials. They don’t want to get their business cards and things like that, but you have to be able to invest in your business to get something out of it,” proclaimed Keemasheka Jones.
The importance of making informed decisions, understanding credit, and being open to conversations about money was emphasized as well by the panelists during the event.
“We need to work together. Talk more about credit. Talk more about financial literacy,” expressed Maria Vasquez
Mental health in entrepreneurship, a topic often overlooked, gained prominence as the speakers shared their strategies for maintaining mental well-being in the face of challenges, breaking stigmas, and obtaining support.
Gwendolyn Mack advised, “The main thing about working from home was I had to teach people how to treat me. Just because I’m home doesn’t mean you can stop at my house at eight o’clock. I had to set up how I wanted people to treat me. So mentally, it can be wearing because if you don’t set boundaries, like we’re saying, people will wear you down and wear you out.”
The final remarks of the event included a call to action from the Southern Georgia Black Chambers. The organization emphasized the importance of joining the chamber.
According to a statement from the chamber, the Southern Georgia Black Chambers, which is a regional partner within the Georgia Coalition of Black Chambers, plays a crucial role in advocating for black-owned businesses, connecting like-minded business owners, and securing resources for underrepresented small businesses in its region.
“This event and panel showcased the resilience, resourcefulness, and determination of women entrepreneurs anchored in their spiritual beliefs. The dedication of our chamber’s leading ladies Kimberly Grisson-Dixon, Dee Dunbar, and Ucher Dent made this vibrant event a tremendous success,” summarized Southern Georgia Black Chambers’ President and CEO, H. DeWayne Johnson.
The Southern Georgia Black Chambers covers 19 different counties, recently expanding to include Thomas County.
For more information about the organization, visit www.sgablackchambers.org.