Jill Johnson and Helping Black-Owned Businesses

Sep 28, 2021

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It’s no secret that the world of business is skewed to serve a certain group of people.

If you aren’t a cis white male with an Ivy League degree and an impressive resume, your chances of ‘making it’ in this industry are slim.

And if you’re a Black entrepreneur?

Those chances are close to nonexistent.

Systematic barriers of entry have kept Black entrepreneurs out of the conversation for decades. And while everyone knew of the problem, very few were actively making an effort to help solve it pre-2020.

Well, today’s guest, Jill Johnson, has been tirelessly working towards breaking down their barriers for decades.

Jill is the co-founder and CEO of the Institute for Entrepreneurship Leadership. When she started this business in 2002 with her father, her goal was simple - to help the economic development of minorities through entrepreneurship.

Jill’s parents ran a newspaper publishing business which meant she had several opportunities growing up to interact with small entrepreneurs and see exactly why they struggled to make payroll.

Then, when she got her first job at Goldman Sachs, she was able to come in close contact with people who created tremendous wealth.

That’s when she realized that they were not people who looked like her or anyone in her community.

So, she started her business because she saw that certain groups of people have to face barriers that just shouldn’t exist. She understood that there was infrastructure needed not only to help these groups financially but also to offer them hands-on support so they could succeed as entrepreneurs.

In today’s episode, Jill discusses the various ways she helps Black and minority entrepreneurs, what she feels the biggest barrier to entry really is for POC business owners, and the concept of wealth in the Black community.

Here’s a peek at what else you can expect:

How everyone can help minority businesses
The difference between a business owner and an entrepreneur
Why not everyone should start a business (and how it’s totally okay and fulfilling to be an employee!)
How she acknowledges her own privilege and uses it to help other entrepreneurs
The problem with angel investors and diversity

And more!

We could’ve spoken to Jill for hours. Our conversation with her was deep, rich, and entertaining. We’re thankful people like Jill exist and we want more of our And She Spoke community to help out! Check out the link in our Resources to learn more about what Jill does and how you can help.

Resources:

This week’s Joy:

Outside of her family and kids, Jill has been finding great joy in walking. To her, there’s nothing better than some good weather, nice music, and a long walk for her to collect her thoughts and recharge.

This week’s Hustle:

Jill’s hustle is a tool we also recommend to everyone we meet - Calendly! Not only is it super easy to navigate, but it also has dramatically reduced the time it takes for us to book meetings. Jill says she can’t run her business(es) without it and we agree!

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