News to Know!: Her program has helped to scale over 400 mid-sized Black and Brown businesses to grow
August 8, 2025 • 24 mins
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Tiffany Bussey.
Director of the Morehouse Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (MIEC). Here are some key highlights and themes from the conversation:
🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways 1. Empowering Black and Brown Entrepreneurs
- MIEC focuses on helping scalable, mid-sized Black and Brown businesses grow.
- Over 400 businesses have been supported, resulting in:
- 850+ new jobs
- $34M+ in new capital
- $82M+ in new revenue
2. The “Three C’s” of the Small Business Executive Program
- Capital: Access to funding.
- Connections: Building meaningful relationships with decision-makers.
- Contracts: Securing business opportunities with large firms.
3. Breaking Stereotypes
- Dr. Bussey emphasizes the need to challenge the narrative that Black communities lack skilled labor or entrepreneurial drive.
- Entrepreneurship is described as being “in our DNA,” rooted in resilience and survival.
4. Strategic Partnerships
- MIEC collaborates with major corporations (e.g., JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo) to fund training programs.
- Partnerships with organizations like Goodwill provide free job training and even stipends for participants.
5. Sustainability as a Business Opportunity
- Dr. Bussey highlights the massive potential in sustainability sectors:
- EV Infrastructure: $163B industry
- Green Building: $324B
- Agriculture: $20B
- Renewable Energy: $952B
- Encourages entrepreneurs to think beyond traditional business models and tap into these emerging markets.
6. Access to Opportunity
- Beyond capital, access to opportunity is a major barrier.
- MIEC connects small businesses with large “primes” (e.g., general contractors) to help them enter supply chains.
7. Mindset Shift
- Dr. Bussey discusses the psychological and historical barriers that prevent some from pursuing entrepreneurship.
- Emphasizes the importance of resilience, preparedness, and community support.
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
I am Rushan McDonald, a host of weekly Money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show
provides are for everyone. It's time to stop reading other
people's success stories and start living your own. If you
want to be a guest on my show, please visit
our website, Moneymakingconversations dot com and click the be a
Guest button. Chris submit and information will come directly to me.
(00:24):
Now let's get this show started. Please welcome the Money
Making Conversation Masterclass doctor Tiffany Bussy. Are you doing, doctor Bussy?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
I am doing wonderful or Shan, And first of all,
thank you so much for having me. It is indeed
a pleasure to be here. And congratulations on your show.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Thank you, thank you. I really appreciate that. Now I
gave out a big title, the Director of the more House,
which is Morehouse College HBCU, one of the big more
prominent HBCUs in the country. Director of the Morehouse Innovation
and Entrepreneurship c What is that? Wow?
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Yes, it is about full. But we are really really
proud of the work we've been doing here and we
call it our loving name for it is the MIECs,
which is really really just focused on helping businesses, black
and brown businesses scale. We believe that our entrepreneurship and
small businesses but one of the pathways in closing the
(01:18):
racial income inequality gamp in this country. So that's the
work we've been busy doing for the past twenty years,
whether it is working with our students right here on
campus or working with businesses in the community. We see
this work as an important piece in really driving wealth
within our community.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Well, you know, some doctor bussy the stereotypes to drive
this country and drive the world really because when they
start talking about black businesses, you know what the stereotized
do you have to deal with and trying to understand
and navigate the world of entrepreneurship people with people who
are people of color who are interested in trying to
be small business owners.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
And so we hear that every day. Right The group
of businesses that we work with, and we've learned this
as we've are really what we call scalable mid size
companies And some may wonder do they really exist, and
I would say yes. We've touched over four hundred of
these businesses over the past twenty years and have helped
(02:21):
them to create over eight hundred and fifty new jobs.
Now that's significant, and the work we do is to
really help these larger what I would call large primes
that say they can't find these businesses to be a
part of their supply chain or their supply and diversity programs.
And we help these programs to really grow and scale
and to make them accessible to these larger companies. I
(02:44):
think you would agree that we've been doing a fantastic
job because these companies, as they have gone through all
programs and as we've touched them, have really gained over
thirty four million in access to new capital, which has
been one of the biggest barriers we hear about quite
a bit, and have really helped them to generate over
eighty two million in new revenues.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
You know, the thing about it is that, you know,
we thought all these numbers, we thought about all the
success stories, but it also comes back to the opportunity
to get the shot at the big prize. Now, this center,
how does one you know, how does it? How do
you use your the purpose of the center to impact
(03:27):
a person like me. Say I'm coming through the door,
I'm contacting you, I'm why am I contacting you and
what will you be able to allow assist me in
my career goals as a small business owner.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Sure, and thank you for really asking that question because
one of and it's in the design of our programs.
We know that basically we have heard about the lack
of capital or access to capital. What we don't talk
about quite as much is access to opportunities as you
have nicely placed it. So in designing our programs, we
are at attached to what we call opportunity partners, those
(04:02):
large primes. And by the way, we work mostly with
companies that we call B to B. They're really generating
services to serve other businesses. That's the business model that
we work with. So what does that look like. We
work with these large companies such as your large general
contractors that have huge construction jobs or work and we
(04:26):
design our programs so that when the companies come in
and work with us, they're not only getting access to capital,
but also access to contracts the other see that is
often not talked about. So it's the intentionality of really
creating those opportunities on working side by side with these
large firms to ensure that these small businesses such as
(04:50):
yourself as you through our programs. This is not just
technical assistant for technical assistance sake. I like to say,
this is not about bucks and seats. This is about
how do you impact and create opportunities to have these
companies meet and engage with these large primes that have
the opportunities to learn how to navigate that landscape and
(05:11):
to make the contracts available for them as they go
through our programs. We also like to say that we
create a community. This is not a one off for us.
So these four hundred businesses that I told you that
we touch, we are in constant communication with them, sharing
opportunities and making sure that they leave with not only
the information, but also how to implement and to be
(05:34):
ready to deploy for those contracts and to engage with
new revenue. At the end of the day, it's revenue
that drives and scale businesses.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
You know what frustrates to me the most, and now
what you just say, it is that the reputation that
the black community have of not having skilled labor their
jobs out there, that we are not educated or qualifying for.
How are you assisting us and tearing down that wall
or that stereotype that we are not ready and if
(06:05):
its opportunities presents itself to us, we're not qualified.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yeah, and so one of the things that, again is
the intentionality and understanding where these opportunities are. I had
the opportunity to visit with the good Will industries here
in Georgia. Goodwill. Yes, good Will, the same one that
you know of that provides you know, perhaps use goods
and things like that. Availability. Well, they also do training,
(06:33):
job readiness training. But the reason I.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Was there doctor busty, holdo, holdly, you just slid through
that real quick. Now. I've been passing good Wills all
my life, all right, I've lived in Houston. Good Will,
you go there, you get closed that you can't afford.
You go there and probably get an old chair or
old furniture piece and you bring it home, and hey,
you live with it. That's what you got, that's what
(06:58):
you can afford. Now you're telling me that Goodwill has
job training is not tied to the in store sales.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
That that's correct. One of the other things that they do,
and I'm out here too, they didn't pay me to
sell someone they have of Goodwill. But one of the
other things that they do very well is job training.
I like I said, I was so impressed. I visited
one of their newest training job training facility here in Atlanta, Georgia.
We talked about knowing opportunities and being ready for opportunities,
(07:31):
and the way you do that is by being ahead
of the opportunities. And that's exactly what we're looking at.
What does that look like for black and brown businesses
to be a part of this ten trillion dollar global
market in sustainability. Now those are some big fancy words,
but all it means is that we know that global
(07:54):
warming is a thing and it does exist, and that
in order to address that, there is a huge industry
that is being developed and that is about to be
launched and is already launched because the rest of the
world is ahead of us on this in terms of
what that means and how do we create businesses and
jobs in that particular sector to be an active part
(08:19):
and to be at the table and not after the fact.
And so as we have been talking with Goodwill, who
is now doing this training for those that would like
to think of new careers and new opportunities, we are
engaged in helping businesses understand what that market looks like
and also giving them access to these employed individuals. We
(08:44):
often hear and we have already talked about this access
to financial capital, which is usually one of the barriers.
The other piece that we often don't talk about, and
businesses will tell you that is a real thing for them,
is the access to human capital. How do they find
the world? How do they find skilled workers to meet
the demand that they have? And so not only are
(09:06):
we getting ready to prepare these businesses to be a
part of this whole sustainability market, but engaging them and
connecting them with goodwill? Who is training the employees that
become part of that work and employable. I'm going to
pause it because I know I said a lot.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Well, don't pause too long, But I do have a
question because of the fact that whenever you hear courses
and all that money, how can I afford this are there?
You know? Did the word free mean that it's going
to be something that I can take somewhere with a certificate?
How do I enable this relationship to benefit me and
(09:46):
get me out of the indulgence of the lifestyle finances
I'm living there right now? How does that work?
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Well? Rashan, and I don't know if I'm here to
bring good news all around. But and I don't like
to use the word three because there's always a cost
associated to everything.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
But on the point they told you can't use free,
because I'm on the website. I see free now see
see don't tell you, doctor Bussy. I just couldn't believe
you when you say.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Good Will didn't did more than close.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
I actually, while are we talking, I typed in Goodwill
training program bad No good Will's door popped up. It
was about certificates and the word free was right there.
So I'm verified that doctor Bussy is about to tell
you guys the truth on money making conversations Mass class,
Doctor Bussy, the.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Floor is yours, and I have a double coopod if
you will. And not only is the training for and
we talked about at the employee level. Right, So I'm
an individual out of a job, looking for a job,
looking for reskills. Yes, I could go to Goodwill and
it's at no cost for me. Not only is it
(10:55):
at no cost, good Will in many instances will actually
pay you and give you a stipend for participating in
that causs and the time that you're involved with that
retraining Number one, there are many other opportunities, and like
I said, I get no compensation from Goodwills to talk
about their program, but I know it benefits our community
(11:17):
and that's why I am sharing that. The second piece, however,
that I can absolutely say with all certainty, if you
are a business, which is the work that we're in
in training businesses and helping business and soon to stand
up a certificate in sustainability for these businesses that want
to be part of this sustainability sector. Our training is
(11:39):
also of no cost to those companies. We are fortunate
and what does that look like? We are fortunate to
have the support of some wonderful philanthropical organizations such as
JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo that pays and provide the
resources for us to develop these treating programs that I've
(12:01):
talked about, all the programs that I've mentioned in terms
of our small Business Executive program that have touched over
four hundred companies. We have a particular program called the
Assen National Program, wonderful program sponsored by JP Morgan Chase
that was the initial founder for this. It is a
network that brings in these small businesses and we really
(12:23):
focus on how do we scale them so that they
may provide those jobs for those people that are being
trained at Goodwill. You see how that works and how
that connects and in building that ecosystem. That's what we're about,
really creating opportunities for new jobs, to create pathways in
closing this racial inequality gap that we have in this
(12:44):
country that.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
We always talk about, but we don't ever have a
plan or see the options. Are you telling me right now?
Goodwill is offering a plan and options And.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Let's not forget more house because we're on the other
side also, so Goodwill does the training of the employees.
We do the training of the companies that can hire
those employees and become part of the supply chain for
the larger such as the electrical companies and the other
huge companies hopefully like Tesla that are building these wonderful
(13:15):
electrical vehicles, so that we can create that infrastructure to
provide and support those electrical vehicles. That's one example.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more
Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to Money Making Conversations
Masterclass hosted by me Rashaan McDonald. Money Making Conversation Masterclass
continues online at Moneymaking Conversations dot com and follow money
Making Conversations Masterclass on Facebook, X and Instagram. I'm speaking
(13:49):
to the director of the Mohouse Innovation Entrepreneurship Center, doctor
Tiffany Bussy doctifty Bussy Electric vehicles andate the industry. That's
the voice of one of my employees. He's thinking about
getting an electric vehicle. Black people will not buy an
electric vehicle, but that industry is booming because you got
(14:14):
to have someplace to plug that car up. Talk about
the EV industry and talk to my listeners. They might
not be the one, but they might know somebody who
needs to really clearly understand this pathway to success can't
be through EV.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
That and I'm happy to talk about EV, which is
about one hundred and sixty three billion dollar industry. It
has its what I would call it's downside, because there's
this what they call anxiety about electrical vehicles. And you're right,
perhaps the lowest segments of those acquiring vehicles is perhaps
in our community, which is why we must intentionally build
(14:52):
out the infrastructure to address that issue. I know I
don't have one because I'm going how far can I
drive before I see the next charging station, right, we
got to have more of those. But I really want
to quickly share that the sustainability industry is only about
one segment with ev there's the Green Bill, which is
about how do we build our homes? How do we
(15:13):
make them more efficient? And that's a three hundred and
twenty four billion dollar industry. So anyone out there that's
in construction, that's listening to your podcast and your many
millions of followers, if you're in constructions and you're not
thinking about how do you build sustainable, don't leave that
behind because you are going to be left behind. We
(15:34):
are thinking about how do we do all these things
in a more sustainable fashion. If you're in agriculture, a
twenty billion dollar industry, we are thinking about how do
we grow our products more sustainable and what does that
look like? Renewable energy again huge nine hundred and fifty
two billion dollar industry. We are talking about a lot
of money and a lot of opportunities, which is where
(15:57):
we started this conversation in terms of how do we
as we think about business opportunity. Let's not think about
that starting another nightclub. We don't need that. What we
need are business within this sector of sustainability in these
eras that I've just mentioned, that's what we're talking about
when we're talking about building successful companies. We got to
(16:18):
think outside the box and our traditional ways of how
we look at businesses.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
We know some I don't even think it's outside the box.
It's just opening your eyes. And that's what we tend
to do. We tend to only see what we feel
we are have access to. And that's what this interview
is about. Is that what you're doing at more House
and what Goodwill is doing is providing access an opportunity.
(16:43):
What we have to do is not be nay sayers
and seek and jump upon or jump up to the
opportunity that's being presented yourself. And that's why I keep
going back when I'm talking to you about there's so
many people standing at the door not going in. Why
is that.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
We do the other side of the work we do
is really about the research about why this is right?
And I think that number one, as a people, historically,
we have good reasons for that right. We have not
been treated fairly historically. We know that if we were
not entrepreneurial in our very nature, Entrepreneurship is in our DNA.
(17:27):
We wouldn't be here as a people number one because
we survive, right, and that's being entrepreneurial. So I really
push against when people say that you've got to be
born and this cannot be taught. We as a people
have all the characteristics I would say of being those
calculated risk takers. Now we also are I would say,
(17:52):
not as open to failure because of so many things
that whatever we do, we have to perform at nealy
deep level for folks to accept us, because there are
always that level of doubt, there's always that we cannot
do it. And so one of the things, especially as
I work with my students who are black men at Morehouse,
(18:15):
is truly to break down some of those historical traits
that we understand that our psychological barriers. Right. I could
recall when my son was leaving for college and he,
you know, you would think because I teach this, I
would certainly encourage it. But one of the things I
thought about, if he comes back to me after four
years of going to college and perhaps in debt and
(18:37):
tell me Mom, I'm going to open that business, I
don't know how I would react. I would go get
that job first, pay off that debt and then maybe
come back and talk to me about a business. Right, So,
we as a community are not as privileged as perhaps
our conterparts from you know, our Caucasian of parts, able
(19:01):
to take those calculated risks that I'm talking about that
you need to do and to accept the failure. The
fact is that eighty six percent of our small businesses
are going to fail within the first three years. That's
a given, and that is part of the process. So
we have to have some things on the table and
be willing to accept that failure as part of the process.
(19:22):
We're not quite there yet. We have loans we got
to pay back once we get out of college. We
have families we have to take care of, and so
those opportunities and those are real things that we must consider.
So I would say that, yes, entrepreneurship, but we cannot
all be on entrepreneurs and let's not romanticize entrepreneurship. It's
(19:44):
perhaps one of the hardest things you would ever do.
And you probably can speak to that.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
That's Rob Lanford. It's not a forty hour week job.
Everybody is no guarantee you vacation. If you're sick, get
up and go to work because sick days don't happen
when you run in your own business. And guess what,
you can't beat the You can't let the customers beat
you to your business. That's the bottom line. So that
means that you have to be there, set up and
ready to go, whether you're running a business or providing product,
(20:11):
you have to understand that as a small business owner,
it's the most rewarding for the most fatiguing thing that
you can do. But when you do it right, ownership
and that's what we need, ownership. And I want to
make that transition statement to the Small Business Executive Program
and the three seeds of the Small Business Executive Program.
I wanted to ask you about doctor Bussey because of
(20:33):
the fact that you're throwing theres so much knowledge you
know about the program that's available at ball House, telling
us what good will doing not only providing free opportunities
for job training, but also providing paying you for some
opportunities over there. Now, we talked about pushing past stereotypes,
walking through that glass door. We are always heard about
(20:56):
the glass ceiling, but for minority it's just walking through
that door. What is the three SE's of the small
business executive program.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Capital, connections, and contracts. I ensured capital dominates the conversation,
right every time, access to capital access pack and brown
businesses don't have access to capital. I like to say,
equally as important, again, are those contracts. If you have
capital and you don't have revenue, and you can't sell
(21:27):
like you said to your customers, and you don't have customers,
your business probably will not succeed. In order to get
those contracts, you might be equally as qualified. What you
need is the connections. You need to be in the room.
You need to be in front of the folks that
have the decision power in making those contracts available. And
(21:47):
so we like to say our three seeds capital, connections,
and contracts.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Now, let me ask you this talkt about will connections
care the same value as relationships?
Speaker 1 (21:58):
It is exactly the same thing, Okay, cool? Well, relationships
you might say. I might say I know no Rashan,
but does Rashan know me? So that's the difference, right,
So that network has to be a two way thing.
You need to know about me and my capabilities, and
I need to know about you and what you offer.
(22:19):
Many times, what we hear from the large primes that
have all these contracts. Is that we think that a
one size fits all and we think that by saying
I do information technology and you need to do business
with me. Well, that's not the way it works. You
need to find out what the problem that that potential
customer has and be able to offer a solution. People
(22:41):
don't buy products and services for the heck of products
and services. They buy solutions. So when we start understanding,
and that's the way we teach and the way that
we do our technical assistance is really about falling in
love with that problem that you think you're solving. Because
if you approach a customer or a potential customer and see,
(23:01):
this is how I can help you and help you
solve your problem, more than likely you will get that business.
As opposed to you going and say this is what
I sell and this is the price, and you don't
make that value proposition very clear to that potential customer,
you probably won't get that new customer.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Wow, I tell you her name is doctor Tiffany Bussy.
She's the director of the Morehouse Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center.
I don't know what you expected when you came on
my show or got invited to come on the show,
Doctor Bussy. But the information you've given me is it's
going to change people's lives. It's going to give them
an opportunity to see life a little bit different and
(23:40):
also value information. You're fantastic. I'm just say that honestly,
you're fantastic. And the fact that I allowed to interview
you on my show, Money Making Conversations Masterclass let me
know I've got this platform, this podcast headed in the
right direction. This has been Money Making Conversations Masterclass with
me Rashaun McDonald. Thanks to our guess and our audience.
(24:02):
Visit Moneymakingconversations dot com to listen or register to be
a guest on my show. Keep leading with your gifts,
keep winning,
Hi.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
I am Rushan McDonald, a host of weekly Money Making
Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show
provides are for everyone. It's time to stop reading other
people's success stories and start living your own. If you
want to be a guest on my show, please visit
our website, Moneymakingconversations dot com and click the be a
Guest button. Chris submit and information will come directly to me.
(00:24):
Now let's get this show started. Please welcome the Money
Making Conversation Masterclass doctor Tiffany Bussy. Are you doing, doctor Bussy?
Speaker 1 (00:31):
I am doing wonderful or Shan, And first of all,
thank you so much for having me. It is indeed
a pleasure to be here. And congratulations on your show.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Thank you, thank you. I really appreciate that. Now I
gave out a big title, the Director of the more House,
which is Morehouse College HBCU, one of the big more
prominent HBCUs in the country. Director of the Morehouse Innovation
and Entrepreneurship c What is that? Wow?
Speaker 1 (00:56):
Yes, it is about full. But we are really really
proud of the work we've been doing here and we
call it our loving name for it is the MIECs,
which is really really just focused on helping businesses, black
and brown businesses scale. We believe that our entrepreneurship and
small businesses but one of the pathways in closing the
(01:18):
racial income inequality gamp in this country. So that's the
work we've been busy doing for the past twenty years,
whether it is working with our students right here on
campus or working with businesses in the community. We see
this work as an important piece in really driving wealth
within our community.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Well, you know, some doctor bussy the stereotypes to drive
this country and drive the world really because when they
start talking about black businesses, you know what the stereotized
do you have to deal with and trying to understand
and navigate the world of entrepreneurship people with people who
are people of color who are interested in trying to
be small business owners.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
And so we hear that every day. Right The group
of businesses that we work with, and we've learned this
as we've are really what we call scalable mid size
companies And some may wonder do they really exist, and
I would say yes. We've touched over four hundred of
these businesses over the past twenty years and have helped
(02:21):
them to create over eight hundred and fifty new jobs.
Now that's significant, and the work we do is to
really help these larger what I would call large primes
that say they can't find these businesses to be a
part of their supply chain or their supply and diversity programs.
And we help these programs to really grow and scale
and to make them accessible to these larger companies. I
(02:44):
think you would agree that we've been doing a fantastic
job because these companies, as they have gone through all
programs and as we've touched them, have really gained over
thirty four million in access to new capital, which has
been one of the biggest barriers we hear about quite
a bit, and have really helped them to generate over
eighty two million in new revenues.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
You know, the thing about it is that, you know,
we thought all these numbers, we thought about all the
success stories, but it also comes back to the opportunity
to get the shot at the big prize. Now, this center,
how does one you know, how does it? How do
you use your the purpose of the center to impact
(03:27):
a person like me. Say I'm coming through the door,
I'm contacting you, I'm why am I contacting you and
what will you be able to allow assist me in
my career goals as a small business owner.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Sure, and thank you for really asking that question because
one of and it's in the design of our programs.
We know that basically we have heard about the lack
of capital or access to capital. What we don't talk
about quite as much is access to opportunities as you
have nicely placed it. So in designing our programs, we
are at attached to what we call opportunity partners, those
(04:02):
large primes. And by the way, we work mostly with
companies that we call B to B. They're really generating
services to serve other businesses. That's the business model that
we work with. So what does that look like. We
work with these large companies such as your large general
contractors that have huge construction jobs or work and we
(04:26):
design our programs so that when the companies come in
and work with us, they're not only getting access to capital,
but also access to contracts the other see that is
often not talked about. So it's the intentionality of really
creating those opportunities on working side by side with these
large firms to ensure that these small businesses such as
(04:50):
yourself as you through our programs. This is not just
technical assistant for technical assistance sake. I like to say,
this is not about bucks and seats. This is about
how do you impact and create opportunities to have these
companies meet and engage with these large primes that have
the opportunities to learn how to navigate that landscape and
(05:11):
to make the contracts available for them as they go
through our programs. We also like to say that we
create a community. This is not a one off for us.
So these four hundred businesses that I told you that
we touch, we are in constant communication with them, sharing
opportunities and making sure that they leave with not only
the information, but also how to implement and to be
(05:34):
ready to deploy for those contracts and to engage with
new revenue. At the end of the day, it's revenue
that drives and scale businesses.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
You know what frustrates to me the most, and now
what you just say, it is that the reputation that
the black community have of not having skilled labor their
jobs out there, that we are not educated or qualifying for.
How are you assisting us and tearing down that wall
or that stereotype that we are not ready and if
(06:05):
its opportunities presents itself to us, we're not qualified.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
Yeah, and so one of the things that, again is
the intentionality and understanding where these opportunities are. I had
the opportunity to visit with the good Will industries here
in Georgia. Goodwill. Yes, good Will, the same one that
you know of that provides you know, perhaps use goods
and things like that. Availability. Well, they also do training,
(06:33):
job readiness training. But the reason I.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
Was there doctor busty, holdo, holdly, you just slid through
that real quick. Now. I've been passing good Wills all
my life, all right, I've lived in Houston. Good Will,
you go there, you get closed that you can't afford.
You go there and probably get an old chair or
old furniture piece and you bring it home, and hey,
you live with it. That's what you got, that's what
(06:58):
you can afford. Now you're telling me that Goodwill has
job training is not tied to the in store sales.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
That that's correct. One of the other things that they do,
and I'm out here too, they didn't pay me to
sell someone they have of Goodwill. But one of the
other things that they do very well is job training.
I like I said, I was so impressed. I visited
one of their newest training job training facility here in Atlanta, Georgia.
We talked about knowing opportunities and being ready for opportunities,
(07:31):
and the way you do that is by being ahead
of the opportunities. And that's exactly what we're looking at.
What does that look like for black and brown businesses
to be a part of this ten trillion dollar global
market in sustainability. Now those are some big fancy words,
but all it means is that we know that global
(07:54):
warming is a thing and it does exist, and that
in order to address that, there is a huge industry
that is being developed and that is about to be
launched and is already launched because the rest of the
world is ahead of us on this in terms of
what that means and how do we create businesses and
jobs in that particular sector to be an active part
(08:19):
and to be at the table and not after the fact.
And so as we have been talking with Goodwill, who
is now doing this training for those that would like
to think of new careers and new opportunities, we are
engaged in helping businesses understand what that market looks like
and also giving them access to these employed individuals. We
(08:44):
often hear and we have already talked about this access
to financial capital, which is usually one of the barriers.
The other piece that we often don't talk about, and
businesses will tell you that is a real thing for them,
is the access to human capital. How do they find
the world? How do they find skilled workers to meet
the demand that they have? And so not only are
(09:06):
we getting ready to prepare these businesses to be a
part of this whole sustainability market, but engaging them and
connecting them with goodwill? Who is training the employees that
become part of that work and employable. I'm going to
pause it because I know I said a lot.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Well, don't pause too long, But I do have a
question because of the fact that whenever you hear courses
and all that money, how can I afford this are there?
You know? Did the word free mean that it's going
to be something that I can take somewhere with a certificate?
How do I enable this relationship to benefit me and
(09:46):
get me out of the indulgence of the lifestyle finances
I'm living there right now? How does that work?
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Well? Rashan, and I don't know if I'm here to
bring good news all around. But and I don't like
to use the word three because there's always a cost
associated to everything.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
But on the point they told you can't use free,
because I'm on the website. I see free now see
see don't tell you, doctor Bussy. I just couldn't believe
you when you say.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
Good Will didn't did more than close.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
I actually, while are we talking, I typed in Goodwill
training program bad No good Will's door popped up. It
was about certificates and the word free was right there.
So I'm verified that doctor Bussy is about to tell
you guys the truth on money making conversations Mass class,
Doctor Bussy, the.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Floor is yours, and I have a double coopod if
you will. And not only is the training for and
we talked about at the employee level. Right, So I'm
an individual out of a job, looking for a job,
looking for reskills. Yes, I could go to Goodwill and
it's at no cost for me. Not only is it
(10:55):
at no cost, good Will in many instances will actually
pay you and give you a stipend for participating in
that causs and the time that you're involved with that
retraining Number one, there are many other opportunities, and like
I said, I get no compensation from Goodwills to talk
about their program, but I know it benefits our community
(11:17):
and that's why I am sharing that. The second piece, however,
that I can absolutely say with all certainty, if you
are a business, which is the work that we're in
in training businesses and helping business and soon to stand
up a certificate in sustainability for these businesses that want
to be part of this sustainability sector. Our training is
(11:39):
also of no cost to those companies. We are fortunate
and what does that look like? We are fortunate to
have the support of some wonderful philanthropical organizations such as
JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo that pays and provide the
resources for us to develop these treating programs that I've
(12:01):
talked about, all the programs that I've mentioned in terms
of our small Business Executive program that have touched over
four hundred companies. We have a particular program called the
Assen National Program, wonderful program sponsored by JP Morgan Chase
that was the initial founder for this. It is a
network that brings in these small businesses and we really
(12:23):
focus on how do we scale them so that they
may provide those jobs for those people that are being
trained at Goodwill. You see how that works and how
that connects and in building that ecosystem. That's what we're about,
really creating opportunities for new jobs, to create pathways in
closing this racial inequality gap that we have in this
(12:44):
country that.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
We always talk about, but we don't ever have a
plan or see the options. Are you telling me right now?
Goodwill is offering a plan and options And.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
Let's not forget more house because we're on the other
side also, so Goodwill does the training of the employees.
We do the training of the companies that can hire
those employees and become part of the supply chain for
the larger such as the electrical companies and the other
huge companies hopefully like Tesla that are building these wonderful
(13:15):
electrical vehicles, so that we can create that infrastructure to
provide and support those electrical vehicles. That's one example.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more
Money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to Money Making Conversations
Masterclass hosted by me Rashaan McDonald. Money Making Conversation Masterclass
continues online at Moneymaking Conversations dot com and follow money
Making Conversations Masterclass on Facebook, X and Instagram. I'm speaking
(13:49):
to the director of the Mohouse Innovation Entrepreneurship Center, doctor
Tiffany Bussy doctifty Bussy Electric vehicles andate the industry. That's
the voice of one of my employees. He's thinking about
getting an electric vehicle. Black people will not buy an
electric vehicle, but that industry is booming because you got
(14:14):
to have someplace to plug that car up. Talk about
the EV industry and talk to my listeners. They might
not be the one, but they might know somebody who
needs to really clearly understand this pathway to success can't
be through EV.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
That and I'm happy to talk about EV, which is
about one hundred and sixty three billion dollar industry. It
has its what I would call it's downside, because there's
this what they call anxiety about electrical vehicles. And you're right,
perhaps the lowest segments of those acquiring vehicles is perhaps
in our community, which is why we must intentionally build
(14:52):
out the infrastructure to address that issue. I know I
don't have one because I'm going how far can I
drive before I see the next charging station, right, we
got to have more of those. But I really want
to quickly share that the sustainability industry is only about
one segment with ev there's the Green Bill, which is
about how do we build our homes? How do we
(15:13):
make them more efficient? And that's a three hundred and
twenty four billion dollar industry. So anyone out there that's
in construction, that's listening to your podcast and your many
millions of followers, if you're in constructions and you're not
thinking about how do you build sustainable, don't leave that
behind because you are going to be left behind. We
(15:34):
are thinking about how do we do all these things
in a more sustainable fashion. If you're in agriculture, a
twenty billion dollar industry, we are thinking about how do
we grow our products more sustainable and what does that
look like? Renewable energy again huge nine hundred and fifty
two billion dollar industry. We are talking about a lot
of money and a lot of opportunities, which is where
(15:57):
we started this conversation in terms of how do we
as we think about business opportunity. Let's not think about
that starting another nightclub. We don't need that. What we
need are business within this sector of sustainability in these
eras that I've just mentioned, that's what we're talking about
when we're talking about building successful companies. We got to
(16:18):
think outside the box and our traditional ways of how
we look at businesses.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
We know some I don't even think it's outside the box.
It's just opening your eyes. And that's what we tend
to do. We tend to only see what we feel
we are have access to. And that's what this interview
is about. Is that what you're doing at more House
and what Goodwill is doing is providing access an opportunity.
(16:43):
What we have to do is not be nay sayers
and seek and jump upon or jump up to the
opportunity that's being presented yourself. And that's why I keep
going back when I'm talking to you about there's so
many people standing at the door not going in. Why
is that.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
We do the other side of the work we do
is really about the research about why this is right?
And I think that number one, as a people, historically,
we have good reasons for that right. We have not
been treated fairly historically. We know that if we were
not entrepreneurial in our very nature, Entrepreneurship is in our DNA.
(17:27):
We wouldn't be here as a people number one because
we survive, right, and that's being entrepreneurial. So I really
push against when people say that you've got to be
born and this cannot be taught. We as a people
have all the characteristics I would say of being those
calculated risk takers. Now we also are I would say,
(17:52):
not as open to failure because of so many things
that whatever we do, we have to perform at nealy
deep level for folks to accept us, because there are
always that level of doubt, there's always that we cannot
do it. And so one of the things, especially as
I work with my students who are black men at Morehouse,
(18:15):
is truly to break down some of those historical traits
that we understand that our psychological barriers. Right. I could
recall when my son was leaving for college and he,
you know, you would think because I teach this, I
would certainly encourage it. But one of the things I
thought about, if he comes back to me after four
years of going to college and perhaps in debt and
(18:37):
tell me Mom, I'm going to open that business, I
don't know how I would react. I would go get
that job first, pay off that debt and then maybe
come back and talk to me about a business. Right, So,
we as a community are not as privileged as perhaps
our conterparts from you know, our Caucasian of parts, able
(19:01):
to take those calculated risks that I'm talking about that
you need to do and to accept the failure. The
fact is that eighty six percent of our small businesses
are going to fail within the first three years. That's
a given, and that is part of the process. So
we have to have some things on the table and
be willing to accept that failure as part of the process.
(19:22):
We're not quite there yet. We have loans we got
to pay back once we get out of college. We
have families we have to take care of, and so
those opportunities and those are real things that we must consider.
So I would say that, yes, entrepreneurship, but we cannot
all be on entrepreneurs and let's not romanticize entrepreneurship. It's
(19:44):
perhaps one of the hardest things you would ever do.
And you probably can speak to that.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
That's Rob Lanford. It's not a forty hour week job.
Everybody is no guarantee you vacation. If you're sick, get
up and go to work because sick days don't happen
when you run in your own business. And guess what,
you can't beat the You can't let the customers beat
you to your business. That's the bottom line. So that
means that you have to be there, set up and
ready to go, whether you're running a business or providing product,
(20:11):
you have to understand that as a small business owner,
it's the most rewarding for the most fatiguing thing that
you can do. But when you do it right, ownership
and that's what we need, ownership. And I want to
make that transition statement to the Small Business Executive Program
and the three seeds of the Small Business Executive Program.
I wanted to ask you about doctor Bussey because of
(20:33):
the fact that you're throwing theres so much knowledge you
know about the program that's available at ball House, telling
us what good will doing not only providing free opportunities
for job training, but also providing paying you for some
opportunities over there. Now, we talked about pushing past stereotypes,
walking through that glass door. We are always heard about
(20:56):
the glass ceiling, but for minority it's just walking through
that door. What is the three SE's of the small
business executive program.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Capital, connections, and contracts. I ensured capital dominates the conversation,
right every time, access to capital access pack and brown
businesses don't have access to capital. I like to say,
equally as important, again, are those contracts. If you have
capital and you don't have revenue, and you can't sell
(21:27):
like you said to your customers, and you don't have customers,
your business probably will not succeed. In order to get
those contracts, you might be equally as qualified. What you
need is the connections. You need to be in the room.
You need to be in front of the folks that
have the decision power in making those contracts available. And
(21:47):
so we like to say our three seeds capital, connections,
and contracts.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Now, let me ask you this talkt about will connections
care the same value as relationships?
Speaker 1 (21:58):
It is exactly the same thing, Okay, cool? Well, relationships
you might say. I might say I know no Rashan,
but does Rashan know me? So that's the difference, right,
So that network has to be a two way thing.
You need to know about me and my capabilities, and
I need to know about you and what you offer.
(22:19):
Many times, what we hear from the large primes that
have all these contracts. Is that we think that a
one size fits all and we think that by saying
I do information technology and you need to do business
with me. Well, that's not the way it works. You
need to find out what the problem that that potential
customer has and be able to offer a solution. People
(22:41):
don't buy products and services for the heck of products
and services. They buy solutions. So when we start understanding,
and that's the way we teach and the way that
we do our technical assistance is really about falling in
love with that problem that you think you're solving. Because
if you approach a customer or a potential customer and see,
(23:01):
this is how I can help you and help you
solve your problem, more than likely you will get that business.
As opposed to you going and say this is what
I sell and this is the price, and you don't
make that value proposition very clear to that potential customer,
you probably won't get that new customer.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Wow, I tell you her name is doctor Tiffany Bussy.
She's the director of the Morehouse Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center.
I don't know what you expected when you came on
my show or got invited to come on the show,
Doctor Bussy. But the information you've given me is it's
going to change people's lives. It's going to give them
an opportunity to see life a little bit different and
(23:40):
also value information. You're fantastic. I'm just say that honestly,
you're fantastic. And the fact that I allowed to interview
you on my show, Money Making Conversations Masterclass let me
know I've got this platform, this podcast headed in the
right direction. This has been Money Making Conversations Masterclass with
me Rashaun McDonald. Thanks to our guess and our audience.
(24:02):
Visit Moneymakingconversations dot com to listen or register to be
a guest on my show. Keep leading with your gifts,
keep winning,
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