Entrepreneurs inspire at fall Women of Color Leadership Series roundtable -

A group of five women standing together in front of stairs inside a building.

Left to right: Jasmine Clopton, Tianna Thompson, Junita Flowers, De'Vonna Pittman, and Tameka Jones.

On October 24, Katie Leadership Impact (KLI) presented Idea to Impact: Empowering Community Through Entrepreneurship at . In a roundtable discussion moderated by Jasmine Clopton, Ms. Black Minnesota USA 2024, the event brought together four dynamic Minnesotan entrepreneurs to share their stories of how they turned their ideas into reality. The panelists included:

Junita Flowers (Junita’s Jar)
Tameka Jones (Lip Esteem)
De’Vonna Pittman (Nature’s Syrup)
Tianna Thompson (The Human of Color Haircare)

Throughout an inspiring and uplifting conversation, the panelists discussed their successes and challenges, and highlighted the value of being a part of a community of Black women entrepreneurs who are making change through their products and practices. To these entrepreneurs, community, dedication, and perseverance are instrumental in success. The panel discussion ranged from the role of community in entrepreneurship to the obstacles of starting a business.

“Black women are the fastest growing demographic of launching businesses, but we’re also exiting at three years, not because we’ve sold it but because we couldn’t fund it,” said Flowers. “So, when you think about the odds, it [running a small business] does require community.”

Two women sit at a table with microphones.

Junita Flowers (left) and Jasmine Clopton (right).

A group of panelists sitting together on a stage at a table with black tablecloth and microphones.

Jasmine Clopton moderated the evening's inspiring panel discussion.

A woman in the center of the image is talking with the other women at the table are listening.

De'Vonna Pittman of Nature's Syrup (center) was one of the panelists to share insightful wisdom and stories based on her experiences as an entrepreneur.

A woman stands at a table offering haircare while a potential customer browses.

During the post-event reception in The O'Shaughnessy lobby, audience members were invited to browse and purchase products from the panelists' businesses.

Two women standing together and smiling at the camera. The woman on the left is wearing a crown and sash.

Jasmine Clopton (left) and Anupama Pasricha, PhD, dean of the School of Business (right).

Throughout an inspiring and uplifting conversation, the panelists discussed their successes and challenges, and highlighted the value of being a part of a community of Black women entrepreneurs who are making change through their products and practices. To these entrepreneurs, community, dedication, and perseverance are instrumental in success. The panel discussion ranged from the role of community in entrepreneurship to the obstacles of starting a business.

“Black women are the fastest growing demographic of launching businesses, but we’re also exiting at three years, not because we’ve sold it but because we couldn’t fund it,” said Flowers. “So, when you think about the odds, it [running a small business] does require community.”

The wisdom that each entrepreneur shared, alongside their deep commitment to excellence no matter the obstacle, resonated with attendees and spoke to ��ɫӰ��’s mission to educate women to lead and influence.

“As a business administration student, it’s inspiring and empowering to hear from women who have the courage and ingenuity to turn their ideas into businesses that positively impact their community,” said Amal Abdi ’24, who introduced the panelists at the beginning of the event.

Made possible through generous support from the Manitou Fund, the KLI event was hosted by the School of Business and was the latest in the Women of Color Leadership Series, which aims to highlight the importance of women of color in leadership roles across various industries and provide a platform for meaningful discussion.

Following the panelist discussion and a Q&A session, a reception was held in the lobby of The O’Shaughnessy where audience members could purchase products from the panelists’ businesses.

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