Black business summit aims to connect, inspire and engage: ‘Corporate cookout with cousins’
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Black business summit aims to connect, inspire and engage: ‘Corporate cookout with cousins’
The Blk Biz Summit aims to support, celebrate and connect existing and potential business owners. The event offered networking, headshots, interviews, and breakout sessions. Organizer Chisa Pennix-Brown wanted everyone to focus on making connections and not sit through back-to-back sessions. She said connecting in person is key to getting people to see you and know about your business. “You have to be in the streets and I mean the entrepreneurial streets,” she said.
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — As August marks National Black Business Month, the fourth annual Blk Biz Summit aims to support, celebrate and connect existing and potential business owners.
“It’s been referred to as a corporate cookout with cousins. And so, we like that term,” said organizer Chisa Pennix-Brown. “We plan a year out. We want to make sure we get the right people in the room. A lot of people hold events, but is there someone you want to see?”
For Latasha Best Gaddy, it’s the energy and networking that keep her coming back to the event. She is a sponsor, panelist, and participant.
It’s not just an event for Black businesses. It’s an event for people who support Black businesses. – Jonathan Collins, attender and community partner
“This is definitely one of the things I add to my calendar every year,” said Gaddy. “My company is Infinity Bridges. We focus on business advising, training, and entrepreneurship ecosystem building.”
Gaddy is among 80 people who registered for the event, which began in 2021. The event offered networking, headshots, interviews, and breakout sessions. Business and commercial capital consultant Corey Barbour presented to the crowd on how to secure business and commercial capital.
“I’m doing a session today on money matters,” said Barbour. “We really need to drill down on the emotion of money, the purpose of money and how to strategize and use it to empower our communities.”
Jonathan Collins told ABC11 that he helped launch the summit with Pennix-Brown. He attended this year as a community partner.
“It’s not just an event for Black businesses. It’s an event for people who support Black businesses,” said Collins.
According to Pennix-Brown, this year’s summit was smaller than in past years because she wanted everyone to focus on making connections and not sitting through back-to-back sessions. She said connecting in person is key.
“You have to be in the streets and I mean the entrepreneurial streets in order for people to see you and know about your business,” she said.