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Talia Johnson- Huff™

Economic Development Strategist | Business Expert | Mentor
Author & Construction Professional

Your business isn’t struggling… your pricing is.
Everybody wants to call it “easy” until it’s time to put a number on it.

Now all of a sudden, you’re second guessing, comparing, discounting… and shrinking your own value.

Pricing is not a trend.

It’s not a guessing game.

And it’s definitely not something you base off what “feels fair.”

It’s strategy.
It’s market awareness.
It’s knowing the difference between being skilled… and being certified, licensed, and liable.

Stop pricing like a handyman when you’re a licensed professional.

Because when you underprice:
• You attract the wrong clients
• You drain your business
• You stay busy… but broke
And that’s not the goal.

You don’t need more customers.
You need better pricing.

Price like you plan to stay in business.

#TheMWBECoach #BlackInBusiness #BusinessTips #EntrepreneurLife #Contractors WomenInConstruction PricingStrategy

Your business isn’t struggling… your pricing is.
Everybody wants to call it “easy” until it’s time to put a number on it.

Now all of a sudden, you’re second guessing, comparing, discounting… and shrinking your own value.

Pricing is not a trend.

It’s not a guessing game.

And it’s definitely not something you base off what “feels fair.”

It’s strategy.
It’s market awareness.
It’s knowing the difference between being skilled… and being certified, licensed, and liable.

Stop pricing like a handyman when you’re a licensed professional.

Because when you underprice:
• You attract the wrong clients
• You drain your business
• You stay busy… but broke
And that’s not the goal.

You don’t need more customers.
You need better pricing.

Price like you plan to stay in business.

#TheMWBECoach #BlackInBusiness #BusinessTips #EntrepreneurLife #Contractors WomenInConstruction PricingStrategy

What would your life and business look like if you actually moved in purpose?
Not later. Not eventually.

Now.

Decisions. Alignment. Action.

Because the version of you you keep talking about?
Requires a different level of movement.

So what are you going to do, right now?

#TheMWBECoach #LevelUp #PurposeDriven #RealTalk #BusinessMindset WomenInBusiness ExecutionSeason

What would your life and business look like if you actually moved in purpose?
Not later. Not eventually.

Now.

Decisions. Alignment. Action.

Because the version of you you keep talking about?
Requires a different level of movement.

So what are you going to do, right now?

#TheMWBECoach #LevelUp #PurposeDriven #RealTalk #BusinessMindset WomenInBusiness ExecutionSeason

Not every day is about progress…
some days are about making the right call.

Field conditions changed, so we adjusted.

That’s the difference between just building… and directing how things get built.
#construction #womeninconstruction #infrastructure #development

Not every day is about progress…
some days are about making the right call.

Field conditions changed, so we adjusted.

That’s the difference between just building… and directing how things get built.
#construction #womeninconstruction #infrastructure #development

During a panel led by @senatoraprilbaskin, she asked me a question that really got to the core of what we’re seeing…

I sit in a unique seat; and I see both sides.

1. I’m a New York State Certified Minority Woman Owned Business and have been for over 15 years.

2. I’m the Director of Projects and Property at the ECIDA.

On this panel, we talked about reporting and why it matters more than people think.

Here’s the truth:
When reporting only happens once a year… it’s already too late.
By then, businesses have already been left out and the damage is done.

We need real-time accountability.

CTA
Small, diverse businesses;
Show up. Be seen. Advocate for yourself.

That’s how you build relationships and actually get the work.

#TheMWBECoach #MWBE #BuffaloNY #BusinessRealTalk Entrepreneurship

During a panel led by @senatoraprilbaskin, she asked me a question that really got to the core of what we’re seeing…

I sit in a unique seat; and I see both sides.

1. I’m a New York State Certified Minority Woman Owned Business and have been for over 15 years.

2. I’m the Director of Projects and Property at the ECIDA.

On this panel, we talked about reporting and why it matters more than people think.

Here’s the truth:
When reporting only happens once a year… it’s already too late.
By then, businesses have already been left out and the damage is done.

We need real-time accountability.

CTA
Small, diverse businesses;
Show up. Be seen. Advocate for yourself.

That’s how you build relationships and actually get the work.

#TheMWBECoach #MWBE #BuffaloNY #BusinessRealTalk Entrepreneurship

This is more than healing, it’s strategy.

What we carry; stress, pressure, unspoken truth
doesn’t just sit with us… it shows up in how we lead, decide, and build.

And if we’re honest, some of it is creating a gap
between where we are and where we’re trying to go.

In this space, we focus on:
• Clarity through accountability
• Honest conversations that lead to real solutions
• Strategic alignment, personally and professionally

Because strong businesses require aligned leaders.
Come ready to reset and build differently.

🔗 taliahuff.com/heal

📍Virtual Experience
#HealBeforeYouBuild #LeadershipDevelopment #TheMWBECoach #BuildWithIntention #WomenInBusiness

This is more than healing, it’s strategy.

What we carry; stress, pressure, unspoken truth
doesn’t just sit with us… it shows up in how we lead, decide, and build.

And if we’re honest, some of it is creating a gap
between where we are and where we’re trying to go.

In this space, we focus on:
• Clarity through accountability
• Honest conversations that lead to real solutions
• Strategic alignment, personally and professionally

Because strong businesses require aligned leaders.
Come ready to reset and build differently.

🔗 taliahuff.com/heal

📍Virtual Experience
#HealBeforeYouBuild #LeadershipDevelopment #TheMWBECoach #BuildWithIntention #WomenInBusiness

We love the polished version…

the makeup, the wins, the “I did it” moments.

But this right here?

This is real.
Sitting in a hoodie, tired, reflecting on all the seasons I begged God to pull me out of… not realizing He was building me in them.

The isolation.
The pressure.
The environments that didn’t feel like me.

I wanted out immediately.

But what I got was endurance.
And now I understand…

Every situation taught me something:
How to pivot.
How to stay calm in chaos.
How to keep going when nobody claps.
How to build something from nothing; even in a basement.

When I wrote Black in Business, I wasn’t just teaching… I was telling the truth.
And not everybody liked it. But I stood on it anyway.

Because those seasons made me who I am.

Now I get to be the person I once needed.
To push. To elevate. To educate.

So if your life doesn’t look “put together” right now…
good.

You’re not behind.
You’re being built.

Photo Credit: @cguashphotography

We love the polished version…

the makeup, the wins, the “I did it” moments.

But this right here?

This is real.
Sitting in a hoodie, tired, reflecting on all the seasons I begged God to pull me out of… not realizing He was building me in them.

The isolation.
The pressure.
The environments that didn’t feel like me.

I wanted out immediately.

But what I got was endurance.
And now I understand…

Every situation taught me something:
How to pivot.
How to stay calm in chaos.
How to keep going when nobody claps.
How to build something from nothing; even in a basement.

When I wrote Black in Business, I wasn’t just teaching… I was telling the truth.
And not everybody liked it. But I stood on it anyway.

Because those seasons made me who I am.

Now I get to be the person I once needed.
To push. To elevate. To educate.

So if your life doesn’t look “put together” right now…
good.

You’re not behind.
You’re being built.

Photo Credit: @cguashphotography

I learned how to drive on a 1999 Saturn… stick shift at that.

No lessons. No handbook. Just me, my brother, the clutch, and a whole lot of stalling out 😭

But one thing I learned QUICK…
You don’t always have to go back to 1.

When you slow down, you don’t restart the whole process.
You adjust. You shift. You keep moving.

And that’s how life and business really work.

Just because things didn’t go how you planned…
Just because you had to slow down…
Just because it got uncomfortable…

Does NOT mean start all the way over.

Sometimes you just need to:
✔️ Take caution
✔️ Look both ways
✔️ Shift gears
…but stay in motion.

New beginnings don’t always mean starting from scratch.
Sometimes it just means learning how to move differently.
And baby… once you catch your rhythm?

You won’t stall like that again 💯

#StayInMotion #BusinessMindset #TheMWBECoach #KeepBuilding #NewBeginnings

I learned how to drive on a 1999 Saturn… stick shift at that.

No lessons. No handbook. Just me, my brother, the clutch, and a whole lot of stalling out 😭

But one thing I learned QUICK…
You don’t always have to go back to 1.

When you slow down, you don’t restart the whole process.
You adjust. You shift. You keep moving.

And that’s how life and business really work.

Just because things didn’t go how you planned…
Just because you had to slow down…
Just because it got uncomfortable…

Does NOT mean start all the way over.

Sometimes you just need to:
✔️ Take caution
✔️ Look both ways
✔️ Shift gears
…but stay in motion.

New beginnings don’t always mean starting from scratch.
Sometimes it just means learning how to move differently.
And baby… once you catch your rhythm?

You won’t stall like that again 💯

#StayInMotion #BusinessMindset #TheMWBECoach #KeepBuilding #NewBeginnings

I was the little Black girl who never quite fit in…
Too much for some.
Not enough for others.
But somehow…
people always trusted me with their deepest secrets.

Their pain. Their truth. Their broken pieces.

And even when I wasn’t treated right…
even when I was misunderstood… overlooked… whispered about…
I still chose to love right.

Because I learned early…
my character is not a reaction to people—
it’s a reflection of God in me.

And baby… that’s where my strength comes from.

So no, I’m not obsessed with fitting in.

I’m not chasing approval.

The only thing I’m obsessed with…
is building.

Building people. Building purpose. Building what God gave me.

Because I know who I am now.
And I’m okay with her. 💫

#BlackWomanMagic #HealingOutLoud #FaithWalk #PurposeDriven #Realtalk

I was the little Black girl who never quite fit in…
Too much for some.
Not enough for others.
But somehow…
people always trusted me with their deepest secrets.

Their pain. Their truth. Their broken pieces.

And even when I wasn’t treated right…
even when I was misunderstood… overlooked… whispered about…
I still chose to love right.

Because I learned early…
my character is not a reaction to people—
it’s a reflection of God in me.

And baby… that’s where my strength comes from.

So no, I’m not obsessed with fitting in.

I’m not chasing approval.

The only thing I’m obsessed with…
is building.

Building people. Building purpose. Building what God gave me.

Because I know who I am now.
And I’m okay with her. 💫

#BlackWomanMagic #HealingOutLoud #FaithWalk #PurposeDriven #Realtalk

Atlanta owed me NOTHING… and still gave me everything 🔥
I stood in a room full of powerful women and told the truth:
You can’t say you want to build…
but still judge the women who don’t “look” like what you expect.

I’ve been counted out, overlooked, and misunderstood—
not because I didn’t know my craft…
but because I didn’t fit the image.

And instead of shrinking, I went back to the drawing board.
I strategized.
I pivoted.
I got sharper.

Because my purpose didn’t change…
just my approach.

And one thing we HAVE to fix?

We can’t keep working against each other and expect to grow.

Strong women don’t compete.

We build. We collaborate. We correct.

Thank you Atlanta for the energy, the love, and the truth in that room 💛

If you’re ready for real conversations, real strategy, and real impact
book me at TaliaHuff.com

#TheMWBECoach #WomenInConstruction #WomenInBusiness #SpeakerLife #AtlantaEvents StrongWomenLiftEachOther

Atlanta owed me NOTHING… and still gave me everything 🔥
I stood in a room full of powerful women and told the truth:
You can’t say you want to build…
but still judge the women who don’t “look” like what you expect.

I’ve been counted out, overlooked, and misunderstood—
not because I didn’t know my craft…
but because I didn’t fit the image.

And instead of shrinking, I went back to the drawing board.
I strategized.
I pivoted.
I got sharper.

Because my purpose didn’t change…
just my approach.

And one thing we HAVE to fix?

We can’t keep working against each other and expect to grow.

Strong women don’t compete.

We build. We collaborate. We correct.

Thank you Atlanta for the energy, the love, and the truth in that room 💛

If you’re ready for real conversations, real strategy, and real impact
book me at TaliaHuff.com

#TheMWBECoach #WomenInConstruction #WomenInBusiness #SpeakerLife #AtlantaEvents StrongWomenLiftEachOther

Be honest… did I eat or should I stay in construction?? 😭😂
80s babies STAND UP 🎤❤️

Tell me your an 80s baby without telling me your an 80s baby🤭🤣

@iamreginabelle I’m 40 and my mama played this song so much that it lives rent free in my head and those who know me know, THIS IS MY KARAOKE GO TO. You are my hero🔥

One of the most powerful voices, singing one of the most powerful songs of all time, PERIOD🥰😘
#KaraokeVibes #SingingReels #RnBClassics #ReginaBelle
#BlackGirlJoy

Be honest… did I eat or should I stay in construction?? 😭😂
80s babies STAND UP 🎤❤️

Tell me your an 80s baby without telling me your an 80s baby🤭🤣

@iamreginabelle I’m 40 and my mama played this song so much that it lives rent free in my head and those who know me know, THIS IS MY KARAOKE GO TO. You are my hero🔥

One of the most powerful voices, singing one of the most powerful songs of all time, PERIOD🥰😘
#KaraokeVibes #SingingReels #RnBClassics #ReginaBelle
#BlackGirlJoy

Grateful for moments like these 🤍

Had the opportunity to sit down with @drantchtv Ed Drantch and Katie Morse at @wkbw to talk about the Buffalo Niagara MWBE & SDVOB Capacity Building Program—an initiative that grew from the @mwbebuffalo Buffalo Niagara MWBE Conference and is powered by The RARE Place.

WKBW has truly been an advocate, and I don’t take that lightly. The opportunity to share this work with a broader audience means everything.

Right now, 13 businesses are actively building together—gaining access to real information, real education, and real contract opportunities over the course of 9 months. And what starts with 13… reaches over 250 businesses annually.

We also got into @blueprinttheculturemedia—how we’re creating space for marginalized voices while connecting our communities to resources that actually move the needle.

Because this isn’t just business…
This is about legacy, generational wealth, and mentally healthier entrepreneurs.

To learn more:
🔗 TheMWBEConference.com

None of this happens alone—
Thank you to @mandt_bank for investing in this vision
💕 @_cherylpatterson
for being our PR & marketing engine

We’re always looking for collaborators because over here…
#CollaborationOverCompetition

Let’s Build ❤️🔥

…and at the end, Ed asked me to walk him through my story 👀
Stay tuned for that response.

I love Y’ALL 💕

Photo Credit: @cguashphotography

Grateful for moments like these 🤍

Had the opportunity to sit down with @drantchtv Ed Drantch and Katie Morse at @wkbw to talk about the Buffalo Niagara MWBE & SDVOB Capacity Building Program—an initiative that grew from the @mwbebuffalo Buffalo Niagara MWBE Conference and is powered by The RARE Place.

WKBW has truly been an advocate, and I don’t take that lightly. The opportunity to share this work with a broader audience means everything.

Right now, 13 businesses are actively building together—gaining access to real information, real education, and real contract opportunities over the course of 9 months. And what starts with 13… reaches over 250 businesses annually.

We also got into @blueprinttheculturemedia—how we’re creating space for marginalized voices while connecting our communities to resources that actually move the needle.

Because this isn’t just business…
This is about legacy, generational wealth, and mentally healthier entrepreneurs.

To learn more:
🔗 TheMWBEConference.com

None of this happens alone—
Thank you to @mandt_bank for investing in this vision
💕 @_cherylpatterson
for being our PR & marketing engine

We’re always looking for collaborators because over here…
#CollaborationOverCompetition

Let’s Build ❤️🔥

…and at the end, Ed asked me to walk him through my story 👀
Stay tuned for that response.

I love Y’ALL 💕

Photo Credit: @cguashphotography

Upstate NY Rochester MWBE Conference 2026

From being on Daytime Buffalo @news4buffalo to talk about the conference to pulling up in Rochester… to walking into a room full of builders, leaders, and future contract winners.

What a Monday 🤭

As the Marketing & Speaker Chair of the Upstate New York Rochester Regional Conference, I came to work — and more importantly, I came to learn too.

Hearing the Mayor speak, seeing leaders like April Baskins in position, and being surrounded by MWBE businesses serious about growth… that part mattered.

But what stood out the most?
My cohort.

Watching them show up, take notes, ask questions, and really lean into the process that was powerful.

Because this isn’t just about being in the room… it’s about being ready when the opportunity hits.

And that’s what I teach.

Readiness over recognition. EVERYTIME ✅

And a special congratulations to Art Springs of Spring Mills Contracting on being named MBE of the Year and Shannon Howard of Heartfelt Construction for taking WBE of the Year for Western New York — well deserved and earned. 👏🏾

So when I stepped out in front of that conference sign…

It wasn’t just a look.
It was a reminder.

We’re building something real.

And the ones doing the work?

They don’t get overlooked for long 😘

Beauty. Building. Business. 💚

#TheMWBECoach #BlackInBusiness #MWBE #WomenInConstruction #BeautyBuildingBusiness ReadinessStandard ConferenceSeason BuiltDifferent UpstateNY

Upstate NY Rochester MWBE Conference 2026

From being on Daytime Buffalo @news4buffalo to talk about the conference to pulling up in Rochester… to walking into a room full of builders, leaders, and future contract winners.

What a Monday 🤭

As the Marketing & Speaker Chair of the Upstate New York Rochester Regional Conference, I came to work — and more importantly, I came to learn too.

Hearing the Mayor speak, seeing leaders like April Baskins in position, and being surrounded by MWBE businesses serious about growth… that part mattered.

But what stood out the most?
My cohort.

Watching them show up, take notes, ask questions, and really lean into the process that was powerful.

Because this isn’t just about being in the room… it’s about being ready when the opportunity hits.

And that’s what I teach.

Readiness over recognition. EVERYTIME ✅

And a special congratulations to Art Springs of Spring Mills Contracting on being named MBE of the Year and Shannon Howard of Heartfelt Construction for taking WBE of the Year for Western New York — well deserved and earned. 👏🏾

So when I stepped out in front of that conference sign…

It wasn’t just a look.
It was a reminder.

We’re building something real.

And the ones doing the work?

They don’t get overlooked for long 😘

Beauty. Building. Business. 💚

#TheMWBECoach #BlackInBusiness #MWBE #WomenInConstruction #BeautyBuildingBusiness ReadinessStandard ConferenceSeason BuiltDifferent UpstateNY

Who am I speaking to?

Maybe it’s just me speaking to myself, I don’t mind!

The song says “Sometimes you have to encourage YOURSELF” LISTEN!

Before you ever picked up the proper terminology, before you thought about a business, before you could ever fathom the impact you would have in this world, YOU HAD A PURPOSE!

Which means, Your purpose was most definitely in play, before them people had an opinion.

I came to simply say, STAY FOCUSED!

Get out of your own feelings. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Know that you are about the business of the most high and that everything you need will be dispatched to you.

#thatsthepost #sᴛᴀʏᴛʜᴇᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ #entrepreneur #purposedrivenlife #themwbecoach

Who am I speaking to?

Maybe it’s just me speaking to myself, I don’t mind!

The song says “Sometimes you have to encourage YOURSELF” LISTEN!

Before you ever picked up the proper terminology, before you thought about a business, before you could ever fathom the impact you would have in this world, YOU HAD A PURPOSE!

Which means, Your purpose was most definitely in play, before them people had an opinion.

I came to simply say, STAY FOCUSED!

Get out of your own feelings. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Know that you are about the business of the most high and that everything you need will be dispatched to you.

#thatsthepost #sᴛᴀʏᴛʜᴇᴄᴏᴜʀsᴇ #entrepreneur #purposedrivenlife #themwbecoach

How many of us started as a “hustle”… but never turned it into a real business?

I was 12 years old doing what should’ve been considered child labor 😂 — braiding hair, taking clients, making money… but not understanding structure.

And that’s the difference.

There’s a difference between:
👉🏽 something that makes money
and
👉🏽 something that’s built to last
Too many of us are:
talented
gifted
booked
…but not structured.

And without structure?
You stay busy… not paid.

That’s the conversation I had in Atlanta with a room full of powerful women.

Because this isn’t about motivation.
👉🏽 It’s about readiness.
👉🏽 It’s about capacity.
👉🏽 It’s about building something that actually works.

If you’re ready to move from hobby → business → income → legacy

I’m your person.

📩 Now booking speaking engagements, trainings & masterclasses

🌐 www.TaliaHuff.com

#BlackInBusiness #MWBE #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Speaker BusinessCoach ConstructionLife BuildInPublic WomenInConstruction

How many of us started as a “hustle”… but never turned it into a real business?

I was 12 years old doing what should’ve been considered child labor 😂 — braiding hair, taking clients, making money… but not understanding structure.

And that’s the difference.

There’s a difference between:
👉🏽 something that makes money
and
👉🏽 something that’s built to last
Too many of us are:
talented
gifted
booked
…but not structured.

And without structure?
You stay busy… not paid.

That’s the conversation I had in Atlanta with a room full of powerful women.

Because this isn’t about motivation.
👉🏽 It’s about readiness.
👉🏽 It’s about capacity.
👉🏽 It’s about building something that actually works.

If you’re ready to move from hobby → business → income → legacy

I’m your person.

📩 Now booking speaking engagements, trainings & masterclasses

🌐 www.TaliaHuff.com

#BlackInBusiness #MWBE #WomenInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Speaker BusinessCoach ConstructionLife BuildInPublic WomenInConstruction

Walking into @44thand3rdbookseller felt like walking into history.
From shelves filled with Black and Brown authors… to a space where students from Spelman, Clark Atlanta, and Morehouse gather to read, connect, and build community; this was bigger than a visit.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Alison Mills-Newman, from her early days as one of the first Black child actresses to becoming the award-winning author of Francisco.

And the moment her book was pulled from the shelf…
That was culture. That was legacy in real time.
Atlanta, thank you for the love.

📍 March 28 — Alison Mills-Newman LIVE at 44th & 3rd Bookstore

Get your copy signed and be in the room.

This is Blueprint The Culture™ on the scene; documenting legacy, creativity, and Black excellence across cities.

Special thanks to Patterson Communications for making this experience possible.

Walking into @44thand3rdbookseller felt like walking into history.
From shelves filled with Black and Brown authors… to a space where students from Spelman, Clark Atlanta, and Morehouse gather to read, connect, and build community; this was bigger than a visit.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Alison Mills-Newman, from her early days as one of the first Black child actresses to becoming the award-winning author of Francisco.

And the moment her book was pulled from the shelf…
That was culture. That was legacy in real time.
Atlanta, thank you for the love.

📍 March 28 — Alison Mills-Newman LIVE at 44th & 3rd Bookstore

Get your copy signed and be in the room.

This is Blueprint The Culture™ on the scene; documenting legacy, creativity, and Black excellence across cities.

Special thanks to Patterson Communications for making this experience possible.

Everyone loves a blueprint… until the building changes.

A blueprint is a guide, not a guarantee

Renovations happen. Markets shift. People grow.

What worked for someone else might not work for you anymore.

Sometimes the real work is stepping outside the box, gathering your own data, testing your own ideas, and building something that fits the space you’re actually in.

Don’t be afraid to create your OWN plans.

Because the most powerful builders aren’t just following blueprints…

they’re designing new ones.

Photo Credit: @cguashphotography

#BlueprintThinking #BuildYourOwnPath #Leadership #EntrepreneurMindset ThinkOutsideTheBox BusinessStrategy #Themwbecoach

Everyone loves a blueprint… until the building changes.

A blueprint is a guide, not a guarantee

Renovations happen. Markets shift. People grow.

What worked for someone else might not work for you anymore.

Sometimes the real work is stepping outside the box, gathering your own data, testing your own ideas, and building something that fits the space you’re actually in.

Don’t be afraid to create your OWN plans.

Because the most powerful builders aren’t just following blueprints…

they’re designing new ones.

Photo Credit: @cguashphotography

#BlueprintThinking #BuildYourOwnPath #Leadership #EntrepreneurMindset ThinkOutsideTheBox BusinessStrategy #Themwbecoach

Some of y’all are not okay in business… and you’re pretending 🥴

I’m not judging, I’m being HONEST!!! Sometimes, I’m not OKAY ✅

I get it.

Because for a lot of us, nobody taught us what it really takes to be in the black; to actually make money, manage it, and sustain it.

So we stay quiet about the hard parts.

The late payments.
The gaps between contracts.
The money mistakes.

But the truth is… transparency can save somebody.

It can stop someone from quitting.

From crashing out.

From thinking they’re the only one going through it.

Black in Business™️ isn’t just about being Black in business.

It’s about telling the truth about what it really takes to stay there.

The ugly. The pressure. The rebuilding. The growth.

I give grace to those who aren’t there yet…
but I won’t shrink my truth for anybody.

Because somebody needs it.

#BlackInBusiness #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessTruths #MWBE WomenInBusiness RealTalk BuildInPublic BusinessGrowth Leadership #themwbecoach

Some of y’all are not okay in business… and you’re pretending 🥴

I’m not judging, I’m being HONEST!!! Sometimes, I’m not OKAY ✅

I get it.

Because for a lot of us, nobody taught us what it really takes to be in the black; to actually make money, manage it, and sustain it.

So we stay quiet about the hard parts.

The late payments.
The gaps between contracts.
The money mistakes.

But the truth is… transparency can save somebody.

It can stop someone from quitting.

From crashing out.

From thinking they’re the only one going through it.

Black in Business™️ isn’t just about being Black in business.

It’s about telling the truth about what it really takes to stay there.

The ugly. The pressure. The rebuilding. The growth.

I give grace to those who aren’t there yet…
but I won’t shrink my truth for anybody.

Because somebody needs it.

#BlackInBusiness #EntrepreneurLife #BusinessTruths #MWBE WomenInBusiness RealTalk BuildInPublic BusinessGrowth Leadership #themwbecoach

Last year changed me.

There were moments I had to be quiet when everything in me wanted to speak. Situations where people I loved and respected chose not to take accountability… and instead threw dirt on my name.

And I had to sit with that.

Not because I didn’t have the truth.
But because sometimes the assignment is silence and discipline, not reaction.

What I learned is this:

God has a way of revealing things in His own timing. And when He does… He shows out in ways you could never orchestrate yourself.

So instead of reacting, I focused on my four building blocks:
• Pay attention to the trends in your life
• Be grateful for every lesson
• Build and inspire anyway
• Stay humble and remember it’s bigger than you

Some battles aren’t meant for you to fight publicly.

Some stories unfold exactly the way they need to.

And when it’s truly bigger than you…
it can’t touch you.

#GrowthSeason #PurposeOverPride #LeadershipJourney #TheReadinessStandard

Last year changed me.

There were moments I had to be quiet when everything in me wanted to speak. Situations where people I loved and respected chose not to take accountability… and instead threw dirt on my name.

And I had to sit with that.

Not because I didn’t have the truth.
But because sometimes the assignment is silence and discipline, not reaction.

What I learned is this:

God has a way of revealing things in His own timing. And when He does… He shows out in ways you could never orchestrate yourself.

So instead of reacting, I focused on my four building blocks:
• Pay attention to the trends in your life
• Be grateful for every lesson
• Build and inspire anyway
• Stay humble and remember it’s bigger than you

Some battles aren’t meant for you to fight publicly.

Some stories unfold exactly the way they need to.

And when it’s truly bigger than you…
it can’t touch you.

#GrowthSeason #PurposeOverPride #LeadershipJourney #TheReadinessStandard

Please understand that when you are living and serving on a high level, there will be those who want to stop your flow.

There will be those who are “bothered” by your glow.

But when you know that you know that you know what you know and you are the one making the investment in your people, putting in the real work and giving what was supposed to be gave, PAY THEM NO MIND.

I’ve been doing this work for over 20 years. Giving, teaching, living and elevating others is in my DNA, I come from a lineage of builders. No one GAVE me a platform, I created it.

Please BE YOU ON PURPOSE!

I love y’all

Please understand that when you are living and serving on a high level, there will be those who want to stop your flow.

There will be those who are “bothered” by your glow.

But when you know that you know that you know what you know and you are the one making the investment in your people, putting in the real work and giving what was supposed to be gave, PAY THEM NO MIND.

I’ve been doing this work for over 20 years. Giving, teaching, living and elevating others is in my DNA, I come from a lineage of builders. No one GAVE me a platform, I created it.

Please BE YOU ON PURPOSE!

I love y’all

What is Black Business Access?

For me, it starts with what we saw growing up.
Corner stores. Penny candy spots. Barbershops. Beauty salons.
We saw ownership, but we didn’t always see access.

We weren’t given the same entry points into capital, contracts, infrastructure, or information. Systems were built long before we were invited in, and in many cases, long before we were allowed in.

At Sankofa, we’re talking legacy, not just survival.
Not just hustle.
But ownership that scales. Ownership that transfers. Ownership that builds community.
Because our children shouldn’t just see businesses on the corner.
They should see developers. Contractors. Bankers. Investors. Owners of infrastructure.
🗓 February 28
📍 Buffalo Performing Arts
⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM

Let’s talk about access — and how we create it.
#Sankofa #BlackInBusiness #BlackBusinessAccess #LegacyBuilding #buffalobusiness

What is Black Business Access?

For me, it starts with what we saw growing up.
Corner stores. Penny candy spots. Barbershops. Beauty salons.
We saw ownership, but we didn’t always see access.

We weren’t given the same entry points into capital, contracts, infrastructure, or information. Systems were built long before we were invited in, and in many cases, long before we were allowed in.

At Sankofa, we’re talking legacy, not just survival.
Not just hustle.
But ownership that scales. Ownership that transfers. Ownership that builds community.
Because our children shouldn’t just see businesses on the corner.
They should see developers. Contractors. Bankers. Investors. Owners of infrastructure.
🗓 February 28
📍 Buffalo Performing Arts
⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM

Let’s talk about access — and how we create it.
#Sankofa #BlackInBusiness #BlackBusinessAccess #LegacyBuilding #buffalobusiness

This weekend at the NYSABPRHAL Caucus, during the Accountability in Public-Private Sector Partnerships workshop, hosted by the amazing Senator April Baskins, I was asked how marginalized businesses know if they’re truly ready for major public projects.

My answer was simple:
Before you sit in front of a contractor or procurement officer — know your business.

Know your numbers.
Know your capacity.
Know whether you can sustain 30, 60, even 90 days of overhead.

No one should have to tell you your capacity.

Opportunity isn’t the issue.
Readiness is.

Tonight we kick off our 9-month Buffalo Niagara MWBE & SDVOB Capacity Building Program @oakkhaus, designed to move businesses from awareness to readiness, culminating at this year’s Buffalo MWBE Conference @mwbebuffalo
Grateful to @mandt_bank for supporting this work.

@senatoraprilbaskin thank you for the important work that you are doing to continue ensuring that marginalized businesses are, TRULY, included. 💕

We’re building capacity. For real.

🔗 www.themwbeconference.com

#MWBE #CapacityBuilding #PublicPrivatePartnerships #BuffaloBusiness #SupplierDiversity GovernmentContracting

This weekend at the NYSABPRHAL Caucus, during the Accountability in Public-Private Sector Partnerships workshop, hosted by the amazing Senator April Baskins, I was asked how marginalized businesses know if they’re truly ready for major public projects.

My answer was simple:
Before you sit in front of a contractor or procurement officer — know your business.

Know your numbers.
Know your capacity.
Know whether you can sustain 30, 60, even 90 days of overhead.

No one should have to tell you your capacity.

Opportunity isn’t the issue.
Readiness is.

Tonight we kick off our 9-month Buffalo Niagara MWBE & SDVOB Capacity Building Program @oakkhaus, designed to move businesses from awareness to readiness, culminating at this year’s Buffalo MWBE Conference @mwbebuffalo
Grateful to @mandt_bank for supporting this work.

@senatoraprilbaskin thank you for the important work that you are doing to continue ensuring that marginalized businesses are, TRULY, included. 💕

We’re building capacity. For real.

🔗 www.themwbeconference.com

#MWBE #CapacityBuilding #PublicPrivatePartnerships #BuffaloBusiness #SupplierDiversity GovernmentContracting

Sometimes what’s happening in your life isn’t personal; it’s purposeful.

Purpose requires separation.

Clarity requires conviction.

And growth requires you to know that you know that you know.

You don’t get to pick and choose who comes along.
You don’t get to wait until everyone understands.
I used to be timid. Afraid of hurting feelings. Afraid of being misunderstood.

But builders don’t stop building because the noise makes someone uncomfortable.

Builders don’t stop because the tools don’t look familiar to others.

If you’re called to build, you build.

Even when it’s loud.
Even when it’s lonely.
Even when it costs you comfort.
Get out of your feelings.
Stand up.
Do the work.

You have a purpose.

#TheMWBECoach

Sometimes what’s happening in your life isn’t personal; it’s purposeful.

Purpose requires separation.

Clarity requires conviction.

And growth requires you to know that you know that you know.

You don’t get to pick and choose who comes along.
You don’t get to wait until everyone understands.
I used to be timid. Afraid of hurting feelings. Afraid of being misunderstood.

But builders don’t stop building because the noise makes someone uncomfortable.

Builders don’t stop because the tools don’t look familiar to others.

If you’re called to build, you build.

Even when it’s loud.
Even when it’s lonely.
Even when it costs you comfort.
Get out of your feelings.
Stand up.
Do the work.

You have a purpose.

#TheMWBECoach

Networking is Strategic and there is no one size fits All.

Here are just a few of the tips I’ve learned, after networking with no results, FOR YEARS!

Burn out, no reward all fluff, WE ARE NOT DOING THAT IN 2026.

Check this out✅

Networking is Strategic and there is no one size fits All.

Here are just a few of the tips I’ve learned, after networking with no results, FOR YEARS!

Burn out, no reward all fluff, WE ARE NOT DOING THAT IN 2026.

Check this out✅

Some gifts don’t need permission.
Presence carries weight.

Some gifts don’t need permission.
Presence carries weight.

Putting money in the bank is cool…
but let’s be clear, that’s just storage‼️

Money sitting there not working for you isn’t strategy.
It’s comfort.

We have to get creative and safe.
Learn our numbers.
Learn what actually works for US; not what Instagram said, not what sounds good in theory.

You can’t be strategic if you’re scared to open your accounts.
You can’t build capacity while pretending debt doesn’t exist.

And friend… debt does not disappear because you ignore it.
It just gets louder.

Power is knowing:
• what you owe
• what you make
• what you keep
• what you can move
• and what needs to change

That’s not scary; that’s grown business energy.
Money isn’t the problem.
Avoidance is.

Stack smart.
Move with intention.
Build something that actually lasts.

#MWBE #blackinbusiness #entrepreneurship

Putting money in the bank is cool…
but let’s be clear, that’s just storage‼️

Money sitting there not working for you isn’t strategy.
It’s comfort.

We have to get creative and safe.
Learn our numbers.
Learn what actually works for US; not what Instagram said, not what sounds good in theory.

You can’t be strategic if you’re scared to open your accounts.
You can’t build capacity while pretending debt doesn’t exist.

And friend… debt does not disappear because you ignore it.
It just gets louder.

Power is knowing:
• what you owe
• what you make
• what you keep
• what you can move
• and what needs to change

That’s not scary; that’s grown business energy.
Money isn’t the problem.
Avoidance is.

Stack smart.
Move with intention.
Build something that actually lasts.

#MWBE #blackinbusiness #entrepreneurship

Government contracting isn’t just about winning work.

It’s about managing responsibility.

From maintenance budgets
to track repairs
to engineering and contractor oversight;
this is what infrastructure leadership looks like in real time.

MWBE participation matters,
but capacity is what earns trust.

Government contracting isn’t just about winning work.

It’s about managing responsibility.

From maintenance budgets
to track repairs
to engineering and contractor oversight;
this is what infrastructure leadership looks like in real time.

MWBE participation matters,
but capacity is what earns trust.

Sometimes the most powerful conversations happen when the mic gets flipped.

This snippet is from a Blueprint The Culture™ TAKEOVER with Ed Drantch, where we talked honestly about Illuminate 2026, the last-minute pivot we had to make, imposter syndrome, and what it really looks like to build while helping others at the same time.

No scripts.
No performance.

Just real dialogue about leadership, entrepreneurship, and showing up when conditions aren’t perfect.

These are the kinds of conversations that matter; the ones that make room for truth, reflection, and growth.

More to come. 🎙️

Sometimes the most powerful conversations happen when the mic gets flipped.

This snippet is from a Blueprint The Culture™ TAKEOVER with Ed Drantch, where we talked honestly about Illuminate 2026, the last-minute pivot we had to make, imposter syndrome, and what it really looks like to build while helping others at the same time.

No scripts.
No performance.

Just real dialogue about leadership, entrepreneurship, and showing up when conditions aren’t perfect.

These are the kinds of conversations that matter; the ones that make room for truth, reflection, and growth.

More to come. 🎙️

On New Year’s Day, I sat down with my friend Brandye Merriweather, President of Buffalo Urban Development Corp, for a candid conversation reflecting on the realities of 2025.

No script. No rehearsal. Just honesty, professionalism, and truth.

Brandye shared what leadership can look like in real time walking in shoes that come with responsibility, visibility, and pressure, especially as a Black woman in leadership.
She reflected on the blueprint laid before her through her family’s many endeavors such as @thebuffalocriterion, which celebrated 100 Years in 2025 (The oldest Black Owned Business in Erie County), the weight of expectation, and the grace required to lead with integrity.

There were many moments of laughter 😆 but this episode hit deep.

Healing. Reflection. Elevation. All in one.

Sometimes a real conversation with a friend is exactly what you need to get centered again. This one did that for me.

🎥 Watch the full episode + past conversations at
👉 TheMWBEConference.com/recap

To learn more about Brandye and the work of Buffalo Urban Development Corp:
👉 buffalourbandevelopment.com

🎙️ Tune in to Blueprint The Culture Radio every Thursday at 11:30 AM on WUFO Mix 1080 AM and Power 96.5 FM.

This is what leadership conversations are supposed to sound like.

Don’t let someone else’s narrative change who you KNOW Yourself to be. - Brandye Merriweather

On New Year’s Day, I sat down with my friend Brandye Merriweather, President of Buffalo Urban Development Corp, for a candid conversation reflecting on the realities of 2025.

No script. No rehearsal. Just honesty, professionalism, and truth.

Brandye shared what leadership can look like in real time walking in shoes that come with responsibility, visibility, and pressure, especially as a Black woman in leadership.
She reflected on the blueprint laid before her through her family’s many endeavors such as @thebuffalocriterion, which celebrated 100 Years in 2025 (The oldest Black Owned Business in Erie County), the weight of expectation, and the grace required to lead with integrity.

There were many moments of laughter 😆 but this episode hit deep.

Healing. Reflection. Elevation. All in one.

Sometimes a real conversation with a friend is exactly what you need to get centered again. This one did that for me.

🎥 Watch the full episode + past conversations at
👉 TheMWBEConference.com/recap

To learn more about Brandye and the work of Buffalo Urban Development Corp:
👉 buffalourbandevelopment.com

🎙️ Tune in to Blueprint The Culture Radio every Thursday at 11:30 AM on WUFO Mix 1080 AM and Power 96.5 FM.

This is what leadership conversations are supposed to sound like.

Don’t let someone else’s narrative change who you KNOW Yourself to be. - Brandye Merriweather

I was not at my best yesterday evening, but when I bumped into these ladies they gave me much needed energy, FASHION FOR DAYS and an no EXCUSE to NOT DANCE. I didn’t stay long because those snowy streets were calling and so much on my mind 📞

The time I didn’t know I needed to have and BTW, the band was a whole entire vibe @seanryanforbuffalo

I was not at my best yesterday evening, but when I bumped into these ladies they gave me much needed energy, FASHION FOR DAYS and an no EXCUSE to NOT DANCE. I didn’t stay long because those snowy streets were calling and so much on my mind 📞

The time I didn’t know I needed to have and BTW, the band was a whole entire vibe @seanryanforbuffalo

It took me 12 years to write Black in Business :the book and curriculum.
Not because I didn’t know what to say,
but because I was building the capacity to say it honestly.

Before conferences.
Before programs.
Before visibility.

It was never a trend; it was documentation.
A few days ago, we celebrated My Dad’s 60th birthday.

He didn’t hand me a blueprint; he unknowingly amplified what was inside of me. Made me build the capacity to find it.

I started in the basement. Literally.
Plans and specs were my teachers.
Long nights and responsibility were the curriculum.
That’s where I learned character over coins.

So when I talk about MWBEs, SDVOBs, access, and accountability; it’s not theory.

I lived it. Certified or not. Popular or not.

I’ve stood alongside Plumbing/HVAC Technicians in 2 to 3 feet of water. I’ve seen people willing to give their life savings to get the heat back on in their homes.

That changes the way you think about “Trendy Business”.

That’s where capacity is really built.

Not in motivation.
Not in inspiration.

But in repetition, responsibility, and pressure.
That’s where I learned “character over coins™️.

I failed forward.
Lost bonding.
Watched my account fall to -$45,000.
Carried payroll with no safety net.

That’s when I learned the truth:
Access without preparation is a setup.

That’s why Black In Business: The curriculum Exists, The RARE Place, Inc., Blueprint The Culture™️, The MWBE Conference and Now, ILLUMINATE exists.

That’s why capacity building isn’t motivational, it’s real!

Happy Birthday Dad 🎁 More to come…

It took me 12 years to write Black in Business :the book and curriculum.
Not because I didn’t know what to say,
but because I was building the capacity to say it honestly.

Before conferences.
Before programs.
Before visibility.

It was never a trend; it was documentation.
A few days ago, we celebrated My Dad’s 60th birthday.

He didn’t hand me a blueprint; he unknowingly amplified what was inside of me. Made me build the capacity to find it.

I started in the basement. Literally.
Plans and specs were my teachers.
Long nights and responsibility were the curriculum.
That’s where I learned character over coins.

So when I talk about MWBEs, SDVOBs, access, and accountability; it’s not theory.

I lived it. Certified or not. Popular or not.

I’ve stood alongside Plumbing/HVAC Technicians in 2 to 3 feet of water. I’ve seen people willing to give their life savings to get the heat back on in their homes.

That changes the way you think about “Trendy Business”.

That’s where capacity is really built.

Not in motivation.
Not in inspiration.

But in repetition, responsibility, and pressure.
That’s where I learned “character over coins™️.

I failed forward.
Lost bonding.
Watched my account fall to -$45,000.
Carried payroll with no safety net.

That’s when I learned the truth:
Access without preparation is a setup.

That’s why Black In Business: The curriculum Exists, The RARE Place, Inc., Blueprint The Culture™️, The MWBE Conference and Now, ILLUMINATE exists.

That’s why capacity building isn’t motivational, it’s real!

Happy Birthday Dad 🎁 More to come…

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