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Day 1 Recap:
BE is officially in the QC! And on day one of the Entrepreneurs Summit presented by Nationwide, we proudly welcomed 1,200 entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals to the event in downtown Charlotte.
In the first hour of the summit, we kicked off the afternoon with the ultimate speed networking session with Social Entrepreneur, Founder of Smart Hustle Magazine, and host for the Summit Ramon Ray. Hundreds of entrepreneurs and small business owners filled the Charlotte Convention Center for an hour of intentional networking. Within moments of being in the room, attendees were on their feet introducing themselves and sharing what they do for a living. And shortly after, they broke out into small groups where they offered one another business advice and shared marketing strategies in an effort to give as they connected. Countless connections in the spirit of this year’s theme: build, connect elevate.
Check out the Day 1 Photo Gallery!:
Later in the evening, attendees were welcomed to the city by Kevin S. Dick, economic development director at City of Charlotte, who spearheaded the steering committee for the event. After his warm welcome, he introduced Derek T. Dingle, SVP and chief content officer at Black Enterprise; Charlotte Mayor Vi Alexander Lyles; and Columbia, South Carolina Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin for a fireside chat on doing business in the Carolinas. During their time on stage, the leaders discussed matters from government contracting to smart cities. And they both spoke candidly about the initiatives in their cities and opportunities for minority-owned businesses in their respective cities.
Charlotte Mayor Vi Alexander Lyles; Columbia South Carolina Mayor Stephen K. Benjamin; and Derek T. Dingle, SVP & Chief Content Officer at Black Enterprise (Image: File)
And when it comes to engaging minority businesses in Charlotte, Mayor Lyles says, “In our community, I’ve found that minority businesses have several alliances that they have formed. And they insert themselves in the process.” That allows her to go the private sector to advocate for them. What’s key for Mayor Benjamin as he secures more opportunities for small business is access and transparency. “We try to make sure that we reach throughout our economic spectrum,” says Benjamin. And that is why he says that he has been intentional about forming partnerships for the betterment of all parties involved when doing business.
Throughout the conversation, entrepreneurs sat on the edge of their seats listening and taking notes.
As the night proceeded with priceless information, Lu Yarborough III, vice president of Diverse & Cause Marketing at Nationwide, shared remarks with attendees on behalf of the host sponsor.
And the moment everyone was waiting for in anticipation finally arrived! President & CEO of BLACK ENTERPRISE, Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. took the stage to greet the crowd with enthusiasm and introduce and welcome Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, for a thought-provoking conversation on his journey as an entrepreneur and businessman. Cuban shared how his grit and determination as a 12-year-old salesman who sold garbage bags door to door helped shaped him into the entrepreneur that he is today and shared why being able to make a sell is the foundation of good business. “Selling is always about helping and listening to people and understanding what their needs are,” says Cuban. Graves also added, “Scale comes through sales.”
President & CEO of BLACK ENTERPRISE, Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. and Mark Cuban, Owner of the Dallas Mavericks. (Image: File)
The fireside chat was nothing short of dynamic as Cuban spoke about everything from having a unique advantage as an entrepreneur to politics and diversity in the workplace where he gave special recognition to Cynthia Marshall, CEO of the Dallas Mavericks, who is the first black woman to head an NBA franchise.
After sharing countless tips and answering questions from the audience Cuban’s time wrapped up with a standing ovation.
And that’s not all, the excitement continued as conference goers gathered for the opening reception presented by Nationwide where they enjoyed Southern cuisine and a karaoke competition where a lucky entrepreneur won an Apple Watch.
The food was flowing and the live entertainment of the competition had people smiling ear-to-ear. It’s fair to say that day one was a success and we’re looking forward to the rest of the Summit and all that our speakers and sponsors have to offer.
For the latest updates on the summit and live coverage, click here to tune into three days of content you can’t get anywhere else! Be sure to download the event app, Bizzabo, in the Apple Store or on Google Play. And be sure to join our online community of entrepreneurs and small business owners.
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