In addition to the food discussion and demo, the ladies dived right into an enlightening business conversation as well, where they offered up some great business tips for budding entrepreneurs. When Claiborne was asked how she went from ‘point A’ of starting her business to now owning a flourishing business, she answered, “Before doing Sweet Potato Soul full time, I was a private chef in New York. That gave me the flexibility to work on Sweet Potato Soul on the side. I started Sweet Potato Soul in 2010, but I didn’t make any money until the very beginning of 2016. It took me six years to make a penny. I could’ve put on ads, but I didn’t. So, [it took me] six years of literally making zero dollars from this blog, but at the same time, I was still committed to it, I loved it, and it filled me up even though I didn’t have as big an audience that I have right now. And I think that having something that you’re so committed to that you’re going to do it anyway, is really what can take you over the hump.”
Pinky Cole had a very strategic response when asked who in the world she would like to prepare a special meal for and why: “I would make a vegan Philly cheesesteak, and I would make it for Jeff Bezos. I’m trying to pick his brain so I can see what he did so I can do it better.”
When a question was posed from the audience regarding what Black women entrepreneurs should take advantage of while in Atlanta, Quad Webb leaped into the conversation and emphatically said, “I would definitely say grants and I would also say take advantage of networking. People don’t know how important that is. Your net worth is only as great as your network. So, you have to get out here and you can’t be quiet, you have to let people know what you’re doing. It doesn’t matter if you tell a million people what you’re doing over and over again, you might tell that one right person and you’re off to the stars.”
Seagram’s Escapes launched the virtual conversation to elevate Black women business owners and provide resources and tools to propel them forward in their business. The series of virtual tours provide a space for honest conversations where a variety of trailblazers share their stories candidly with others in similar spaces to inspire, encourage and share the knowledge needed to accelerate their entrepreneurial tracks.
There is one remaining stop on the virtual tour:
- Saturday, June 26, 7 p.m. EDT – Star Studio: Comedians Edition
For more information on the remaining tour stop, visit https://www.seagramsescapes.com/cocktails-conversations/
