2022 IMBW Agenda
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2022 IMBW Agenda:
*click on the name of the event to register
Tuesday, June 14
Black Rising Star and Black Innovator Awards 5:00 – 7:00 PM EDT
- Black Rising Star Award – The Black Rising Star Award will recognize and showcase Black professionals in Indiana who excel in their respective fields and position themselves as future corporate, non-profit, and government leaders. This award recognizes Central Indiana’s next Black leaders and role models who have demonstrated advancement and a commitment to outstanding work.
- Black Innovator Award – The Black Innovator Award celebrates Black professionals and entrepreneurs disrupting the status quo in various industries. They have built successful companies that work in emerging industries or non-profits. These Black Innovators are driving change and growth in their organizations.
Wednesday, June 15th
Excellence in Education Awards 5:00 – 7:00 PM EDT
- The Black Excellence in Education awards honor outstanding public and private school professionals and thank them for their dedication and commitment to academic excellence for all students. This award pays tribute to those educators who go the extra mile each day to serve their students and their communities and inspire others to do the same.
Thursday, June 16th
- InnoPower has partnered with the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper and WISH-TV to broadcast the 4th annual InnoPower Minority Business Conference powered by JPMorgan Chase (IMBW). The live broadcast will be the first time a Black-led business conference is aired live on a major TV Network and Newspaper platform in the Midwest.
- Click here to watch the conference via WISH-TV
Day 1 Welcome
Powerful Voices: Defining Equity
How do we define equity? And why is pursuing equity so important today. Karrah Herring, Indiana’s first Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer, explains how we can achieve some degree of shared understanding and what is being done to accomplish equity in the Hoosier state.
Powerful Voices: Leadership and Legacies
Carolene Mays has a successful and diverse career background in corporate and small business, elected office, government agency leadership, utility regulation, television and cyber security policy. Through her organizations, Black Leadership and Legacies (BLL) and Inspiring Leadership, Mays is developing Black emerging and aspiring professionals for leadership roles, and for opportunities to make a positive difference in their organizations, the community, and beyond.
Panel Discussion: Black Talent Development Begins in K-12: A Conversation with School Leaders
In March 2020, educators, administrators, and policymakers were forced to find new ways to keep learners safe and healthy while trying to minimize learning losses. Remote learning especially made hands-on classes in science and technology a difficult problem to solve.
Panel Discussion: Talent Development: Exposure Matters.
Panelists, Marie Macintosh, Jen Pittman, Mambu Sherman, and Julie Dunlap. Moderator Stephanie Bothun.
"Exposure Matters - Review of EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana Initiatives
Current Economic Inclusion initiatives invites the MVP (Most Vulnerable Populations) into a pre-existing competitiveness framework for which historically they were not sufficiently prepared. In contrast, the EmployIndy and Ascend Indiana initiative cultivates, trains, and equips MVP talent to engage, compete, and contribute to the community's overall economic Competitiveness."
Panel Discussion: Post-Secondary Black Talent Development: A Conversation with Higher Ed Leaders
Over the past two years, we have seen a greater acknowledgment of the existence of systemic racism and a call for its dismantling. This support from college leaders has been especially critical. These institutions foster future generations of leaders and have been instrumental in lifting students and their families out of poverty. As such, college leaders should take bold steps now into the future to create campus climates that address the needs of Black lives and better prepare communities of color to thrive.
Fireside Chat: Growing as a Black Professional in Indy
Corporate America's current efforts to increase diversity are inadequate, according to a 2019 study by Coqual (formerly the Center for Talent Innovation) in New York City. Many college-educated Black Americans are entering corporate America with dreams, ready to do great things, but they're confronted with an unwelcoming culture.
Fireside Chat: NFL and DEI
Sports has often served as model for inclusion for the rest of society. Since the first Diversity and Inclusion Coaching Mobility Report in 2013, it has been noted that the NFL has led the sports industry by intentionally hiring a diverse and inclusive workforce, as well as increasing opportunity for minority coaches. The NFL recently required its 32 teams to employ a "female or a member of an ethnic or racial minority" as an offensive assistant, as part of the NFL new diversity efforts.
Panel Discussion: HBCU Pipeline
"At many big companies, recruitment efforts have been limited to the same few blue blood schools and Ivy Leagues or candidates from their social circle, which continue to keep companies predominantly male and white.
These companies are missing the untapped talent pool of HBCU, which produces 22% of black college graduates with bachelor’s degrees in the U.S.A. A Gallup Poll that surveyed over 60,000 college graduates from a range of all colleges ranked HBCU graduates as having the highest rate of financial, career, and emotional well-being of college graduates."
Fireside Chat: Black Talent Attraction in Indianapolis
The market for talent is becoming increasingly competitive. The pandemic and the subsequent work and life disruptions took a heavy toll on the workforce. As a result of the anxiety created by the Covid-19 Pandemic and its variants, we are witnessing “The Great Resignation” dismantle the workplace as we knew it.The current demand for talent has created an opportunity to rethink how talent is identified, developed, recruited, attracted, and retained. How do we make sure we have a plan to recruit and retain Black talent here in Indy?
Panel Discussion: The Reset? Has the ‘Racial Reckoning’ Changed the Trajectory for Black Businesses and Professionals?
We've seen a paradigm shift in the last two years in the ways in which business is conducted and the places where we conduct business. As the office environment has changed, so have the faces that have historically comprised senior leadership/decision makers within businesses (e.g. banks, government, mortgage companies, HR, etc.). This shift has presented both a challenge and an opportunity for Black businesses. We've also seen a shift toward authenticity in a refreshing way and rate. A discussion on this shift and what it has meant or how it has impacted the panel members. It intersects with an opportunity for the emergence of more Black wealth and opportunities for the disenfranchised
Panel Discussion: Attracting and Retaining Black Talent in Indy:
Black individuals make up 13 percent of the U.S. population but account for only 8 percent of employees in professional roles. Black professionals hold only 3.2 percent of all executive or senior leadership roles and less than 1 percent of all Fortune 500 CEO positions. Black professionals may be represented in corporate offices, but they're not being welcomed and included, the study found. As a result, companies are at risk of losing them, along with their significant talents and valuable perspective that companies need to help innovate and serve an increasingly diverse customer base.
Fireside Chat: Just a Kid from the Eastside
"While some progress has been made in recent years, the percentage of Blacks in leadership roles in medical device companies is just 3.2%, according to AdvaMed. Everett Cunningham, who is Black and CEO of GE Healthcare’s $7 billion U.S. and Canada businesses, said he doesn’t want to dismiss or minimize the progress being made in the industry. However, he emphasized, “it’s 2021, and the fact that we only have 3% of Black leaders in place in Medtech shows we have a long ways to go” to address the diversity challenge.
Super Bowl Champion Roland Williams has built his Black-owned medical equipment supply company to be one of the nation's largest."
Friday, June 17th
- InnoPower has partnered with the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper and WISH-TV to broadcast the 4th annual InnoPower Minority Business Conference powered by JPMorgan Chase (IMBW). The live broadcast will be the first time a Black-led business conference is aired live on a major TV Network and Newspaper platform in the Midwest.
- Click here to watch the conference via WISH-TV
Day 2 Welcome
Fireside Chat: The Current Climate for Black Business in Indiana and Future Opportunities
Inclusive economies are better economies. considering that Indiana’s 113,456 minority owned small businesses hire more employees than the state average and 22% of all small businesses across Indiana are run by people of color, increasing the pool of vibrant Black owned businesses only makes the Hoosier state better.
Fireside Chat: Supplier Diversity - my 15-year Journey
Carolyn Mosby served as the CEO of the Mid States Supplier Development Council for the last 11 years. She recently announced her retirement. Carolyn will discuss One of the defining characteristics for corporate America in 2020 was a surge in expressions of support for Black Americans. Businesses raced to announce a slew of programs and initiatives to address inequality. In many cases, these came in the form of promises to support Black-owned businesses by stepping up their supplier diversity programs.
Fireside Chat: Building Vibrant neighborhood Businesses
Emerging Black Businesses cannot succeed in a vacuum; instead, they Require a network of support, including connections to other businesses, Access to appropriate financial services, Equitable laws and policies that encourage small business growth, and a broader community and culture that champions entrepreneurship and rewards innovation. LISC has been a leader in Indy to provide supports for Black small businesses.
Fireside Chat: Creative Capital for Black and Social Entrepreneurs
According to a 2012 study from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Blacks give 25 percent more of their incomes away to philanthropic initiatives than whites do. But Black-led organizations remain underfunded compared to organizations led by their whitecounterparts, according to a report published this year by Echoing Green and Bridgespan. It found that the revenues of Black-led organizations are, on average, 24 percent smaller than those of their white-led counterparts. And organizations led by Black women consistently receive less funding than those led by Black men or white women, the study found.
Panel Discussion: Central Indiana Comprehensive Economic Development Plan (CEDS)
"The Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) contributes to effective economic development in America’s communities and regions through a locally based, regionally driven economic development planning process. Economic development planning – as implemented through the CEDS – is not only a cornerstone of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) programs, but successfully serves to engage community leaders, leverage the involvement of the private sector, and establish a strategic blueprint for regional collaboration
The current 2022 CEDS plan just got completed and we are here to discuss how and if the plan supports an environment that fosters startup, growth, and sustainability of Black Businesses"
Fireside Chat: Supplier Diversity and the City of Indianapolis
David Fredricks was recently announced as the Director of the Office of Minority and Women Business Development. Ms. Camile Blunt was his predecessor. They will both discuss the city of Indianapolis current goals for diversifying its contract awards. The overall objective is to spend 15 percent of contract money on businesses owned by minorities, 8 percent on those owned by women, 3 percent on those owned by veterans, and 1 percent on disabled people.
Panel Discussion: Goldman Sachs 10,000 Business Black Business Support
"The InnoPower partnership with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) initiative builds the capacity of existing Black business owners in Indiana. These entrepreneurs will learn how to find new opportunities, develop new strategies, cut risk, find financing to grow, and build leadership skills to drive the growth.
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses provides business education, support services, and pathways to capital for growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Participants gain the practical skills to take their business to the next level through financial statements, negotiations, and marketing. Participating entrepreneurs will develop an actionable growth plan for their business with the help of advisors and a network of like-minded entrepreneurs."
Fireside Chat: Building a resilient Black Owned Business - The Engaging Solutions Story
"In response to recent challenges, businesses have responded in different ways. For example, a McKinsey study reported that more than 40% of minority-owned small businesses had added new services to support their communities and employees, compared with 27% of all respondents. With 22% of all small businesses across Indiana run by people of color, these businesses have been a cornerstone of their communities during these uncertain times. Tammy Butler is the Managing Principal at Engaging Solutions. The company has been around for 16 years and has grown 140% over 5 years. They operate in 8 states, their program compliance has been monitored for $500Million+."
Panel Discussion: Beyond the Final Whistle: Athletes Building Black Wealth
"Some of the world’s most prominent athletes have climbed their way to the top, not just with their stellar abilities on the court but also using their prowess in the business world. The secret to athletes keeping their legacies is making money moves outside of their sports careers. Nowadays, athletes having a business reputation is just as important as having a championship title to their name. Smart investments, sponsorships, and partnerships go a long way in securing the bag long after their playing days.
Our panel has played professional sports at the highest level and now works with wealthy athletes, business owners, and professionals."
Fireside Chat: Building the Athlete Enterprise
"Many athletes are establishing themselves as entrepreneurs by developing their business acumen and building their enterprise. The 21st Century Athlete is his or her own Enterprise.
RISE exists to establish the athlete as an entrepreneur, by both developing their business acumen and building their enterprise. RISE Support Visionary Athletes In Creating Their Legacy Beyond The Sport. Rise is a family office with a purpose-built to serve current and retired professional athletes in creating and maintaining a lasting impression."
Panel Discussion: Legal protection - why Black Businesses Need It
"Black Businesses need the full spectrum of legal counsel necessary to develop and grow…from the general corporate and business legal services required to keep operations running smoothly” to more complex legal matters, including employment and general commercial contracting. After two years of navigating the Covid-19 pandemic, many Black-owned companies opted out of legal services to save a dime in the beginning. Still, it hurt them down the road, as their organizational documents were not together,” or they found themselves wound up in contracts that were not beneficial to their company."
Fireside Chat: The Transition: From Super Bowl to Entrepreneurial Excellence
"While some progress has been made in recent years, the percentage of Blacks in leadership roles in medical device companies is just 3.2%, according to AdvaMed. Everett Cunningham, who is Black and CEO of GE Healthcare’s $7 billion U.S. and Canada businesses, said he doesn’t want to dismiss or minimize the progress being made in the industry. However, he emphasized, “it’s 2021, and the fact that we only have 3% of Black leaders in place in Medtech shows we have a long ways to go” to address the diversity challenge.
Super Bowl Champion Roland Williams has built his Black-owned medical equipment supply company to be one of the nation's largest."
