Latest / Black Business Live Podcast / The Importance of Community, Entrepreneurship & Collaboration | Darlisa Diltz

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The Importance of Community, Entrepreneurship & Collaboration | Darlisa Diltz · Black Business Live Podcast

• 0:03
  Tolu: Hello, everyone, and welcome back to the Black Business Live Podcast, where legacy, community, innovation, and excellence is amplified. We are here today because we are at the onset of a very special event happening around the world, and that's the Global Entrepreneurship Week. And we have a very special guest today, and it's the one and only queen of North Texas, miss Darlisa Diltz. She is a chief entrepreneurship strategist for Foundations EDC. She's also the lead organizer for Global Entrepreneurship Week North Texas amidst many other things she's doing.
• 0:42
  We get to meet her, we get to talk about all her initiatives, and we get to talk about the passion for entrepreneurship, not just here in North Texas, but all around the world and all the great things she's been doing. So join me as we welcome Darlisa. Hi, Darlisa.
• 0:58
  Darlissa: Hello, hello. Thank you so much for having me. This is amazing.
• 1:02
  Tolu: It is. We're so excited to have you because, you know, you and I have talked about, you know, entrepreneurship for so long and, you know, I think, I believe we met without even meeting each other, like, four years ago. Probably. Sounds about right. And and and since then, you know, you've been one consistent face of entrepreneurship locally.
• 1:26
  So it's it's a great great pleasure to have you here.
• 1:28
  Darlissa: It is an honor to be here. Honor to be here. So thank you.
• 1:32
  Tolu: Thank you. And speaking of which, we've got obviously Global Entrepreneurship Week happening, and times is already going on, right? There's events today, there was a couple of events earlier in the week as well, and obviously, it's officially kicking off on Sunday. So tell us, what has it been like just getting on with it?
• 1:51
  Darlissa: Oh, okay. So getting on with Global Adhibition Week, or this year's campaign?
• 1:58
  Tolu: I suppose the whole thing, because you you went away, didn't you? You had the there was a GN network events and then what's been what has this year been like for you? So this year has been phenomenal.
• 2:10
  Darlissa: So just kind of a little bit of history. So Global Entrepreneurship, we started in this market in 2018. It started in Fort Worth and I was a volunteer still, early in, got into it, you know, just because I wanted to be a part of the entrepreneur scene, it was hosted by the UNT Health Science Center and again, I was a volunteer for it, we started out with, I don't even remember the numbers, maybe 30 events, maybe seven. It was very low, right, just to kind of get it out the gate. So over years it grew.
• 2:44
  GEN, which is the Global Entrepreneurship Network, they are the ones who host it all over the world and so simultaneously the week before Thanksgiving, many of us in The US, get together, we celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week, but this happens in all parts of the country and so in 2021, a decision was made at UNT Health Science Center, new initiatives came about and they were like, well, we're gonna do away with Global Entrepreneurship Week because it's a lot, right? It is a lot and it is volunteer driven. And I was like, but no, we're not because I've been a volunteer since it started. And so I know how people feel that are like myself that look forward to a week to celebrate, to be amplified, to connect. And I was like, give me the opportunity and I'll take it on.
• 3:39
  And they were like, no, it's a whole bunch. You can't do it. It's a large undertaking. I was like, Give it to me, I'll do it. So we did a whole big community forum and put it out there and surprisingly enough, people rose to the occasion and they were like, If you're doing it, I'm doing it.
• 3:59
  And I've had a solid team of volunteers that show up year after year to help make this thing happen every single year and this year, very, very blessed to say. So it started, so when I took it over, my plea was it changes from just Fort Worth and it goes to North Texas, so we're going to spread it so that everyone can have access to it and all people, it doesn't matter what stage of business they're in, what part of entrepreneurship, what role they play, they can have access. And so it was all of North Texas, so four counties, Tarrant County, Denton County, Collin County, and Dallas County, right? So that was our four. Very blessed to say we are six county deep.
• 4:45
  This year, people come, they're like, we want to be a part of it, how do we support it, how can we make it happen? And our largest year under my leadership was we did a 178 events. Oh my god. Across the Metroplex. This year our numbers are coming in a little lower, however, the content and the structure because I was like, don't wanna get into this rat race of a competition.
• 5:14
  Right? Because that's not what it's about. So if you look on like Gen Global, there's a leader board. Right? What communities are hosting the most events?
• 5:22
  And anytime stuff like that starts to happen, I'm like, nope. Because the message is starting to change, right? Yeah. Like we have to be true but we have some amazing events and in the so you mentioned the big conference which happened, it took place in Indiana this year where people from all over the world, they get together, it's a conference, it's a week long event and I was very very humbled and honored to see like my pictures in their 2025 impact report. So it's like a book about this thick and I was fortunate to take my staff with me this year
• 6:00
  and she was like, did you see the book? Did you see
• 6:01
  the book? And I'm like, I don't want that book. Because you know, was like, I don't want the book. And
• 6:05
  she was like, you got it out. And she was like, you're in the book. And I'm like,
• 6:11
  I'm in the book. And when I say instantly, tears. Oh. Oh, yeah. Tears just began to flow and I was like, I'm in that book.
• 6:19
  Right? Because we literally put North Texas on a map. Yeah. Like a global map. So we have partners from all over the world now.
• 6:27
  This year, we expanded our reach so that more people can have access to that opportunity. So we actually started our events November 1. We kicked off our events November 1 and we'll honor them all the way through the twenty third. The official week, like you mentioned, the kickoff party is on Sunday. Kickoff party is on Sunday and the official week is November 17 through the twenty third.
• 6:53
  But we've had some amazing amazing events already and the theme for this year that came down from Jen Global is Together We Build. Mhmm. And so I kinda took that on the chin and we've had international panel discussions, we had an amazing group from Indiana came down, They were a part of our Startup Economic Summit. Yeah. We've had some additional podcast release.
• 7:25
  We've had some workshops and things that have taken place. We had a graduation pitch competition on Wednesday, we did a some like a symposium of entrepreneurship, where they are now and where they're going type of an event and that was a partnership with Woodforest National Bank and True Fund. So, we've been rocking and rolling. It's like, but this is like my playoffs.
• 7:52
  Tolu: Yeah.
• 7:52
  Darlissa: Right? So, all comes together during Goal Entrepreneurship Week.
• 7:56
  Tolu: Learn it, just the quality, as you said, the quality of the events happening, because I've been tracking all of that, like, and just like, you know, it's all about entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship being for everybody, right? It's for everyone, wherever what stage you're at, whatever you're doing, you know, in this age of made in America, whatever that means, you know, it's like, yeah, it's for us. We're embrace it and walking it and and this be that. Right? And together.
• 8:21
  Darlissa: Together. Right.
• 8:22
  Tolu: We're building together.
• 8:23
  Darlissa: We we have to start doing it together. Together. Because there's so much division already Mhmm. Everywhere and it's like this is that one week out of the year. No, there's multiple, shouldn't say that.
• 8:37
  Bonds on the things. And that's why for me, I'm very, very true to that mission. If it starts to go haywire or pull away from that, it's like, nope. Let's pull it back in because that's what our global entrepreneurship in North Texas stands for. We are gonna do it together, we're gonna amplify, we're gonna celebrate the work that the entrepreneurs are here doing and those that support entrepreneurs.
• 9:01
  Yes. Once it starts to become, you know, influencer y and, you know, the About Me show and things like that, it's like, I'm out, I don't want any parts of that. And so, God continues to remind me, you know, like, stay the course, do what I'm telling you, and I'm like, yeah, I don't wanna do it. But, it all comes together and at the end, it's like, wow. And then, I'm like, I'm never doing this again.
• 9:26
  And then people are like, when are we starting off for GW again? What are we doing? I got my tickets. I'm hosting my event. I'm like, okay.
• 9:34
  Okay. We're doing it again. So, yeah. It's good, yeah. It's like a toxic cycle, I love it, a lovely toxic cycle.
• 9:42
  Belva: Yes, well now you've thrown us into the cycle and we are so grateful as well to be part of the global entrepreneurship week and on Saturday the twenty second, we will be showing up in the community as Yes. Black Business Live Podcast hosting the Black Business Bazaar.
• 10:02
  Tolu: Yeah.
• 10:03
  Belva: And in the community, it is free to the community to come out, we have vendors, we have some showcases, we have some raffles, we have some giveaways, we have some amazing products and services that are all part folks that are part of the Black Business Network, so come out and support us and we're so thankful that we're supporting global entrepreneurship this week, I mean week and year after year we look to do it bigger and bigger and bring more exposure to folks that are in our community and spotlighting what you do. Similar to that, right, so you, let's talk a little bit more about the Queen of North Texas shop. So many initiatives, so many projects, so you have your for profit work, you have your non profit work, you are part of the South Dallas Fair Park Innovation Center, tell us a little bit more about what goes on there and how do you have your, how is your movement kind of planned out and do they all support one another or are these separate initiatives that folks can get involved in?
• 11:06
  Darlissa: So great question and thank you for that. So I operate kind of in a trifecta if you will. And yes, they all play together. So Foundation's an entrepreneur development company, that's the education side of things. That's what gave me my hat in the work that I do because knowledge is power, right?
• 11:27
  And a lot of people want to be a part of the entrepreneurial journey, but there is a learning curve and if I'm being honest, entrepreneurship is not for everyone, but if you're willing to put in that work and you're willing to understand what entrepreneurship really is, then yes, it is for you. Right? Right. So what we do with Foundations Entrepreneur Development Company, we work with the corporate sector. So the cities, the nonprofit organizations, municipalities, organizations that want to build out an entrepreneurial infrastructure or a mainframe, whether that's curriculum development, commercial space design, whether that is any type of activations or implementations, we help them to design, think that process.
• 12:10
  So that is a for profit company and it's kind of like a pay to play type of a scenario where contractual and I call it consulting advocacy work that we do. Do a lot in policy and things of that nature. So then you have the South Dallas Fair Park Innovation Center and because of the work that I do with foundations, I was connected to that project and that is an initiative that was invested in by Vista Bank and they wanted to do something in the South Dallas community. So the infrastructure that's down on MLK right across from the State Fair and Fair Park is a three way partnership. So you have Vista Bank that represents financial literacy, you have the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce that represents community and connections, and then you have the South Dallas Fair Park Innovation Center is the entrepreneur education arm.
• 13:10
  So the Innovation Center is a flexible workspace and our focus there is foundational infrastructure, so mail service, registered agent, membership and community building. All of our programs, all of our workshops are curated through our members. We wrote a program for that location called the Path to Yes program and one of my things that I said to the Vista Bank C suite, their leadership, if you're looking for a checkbox, I'm out because we don't need that. But if you want to make an impact, okay, let's do it. So the Path to Yes program is a four tiered program from innovation or ideation all the way through funding, and the entrepreneur takes an assessment to decide which track they're going to be placed in and they can move up in that process.
• 14:04
  There's so many great resources out here, right? Classes, workshops, you name it. However, people are program hopping, right? What are you doing with the knowledge that you're getting and how are you growing your business? So with the Path to Yes program, even if you start in track one, you have the opportunity to go all the way to track four.
• 14:25
  By the time you get to track four, the earnest is now on our lending institutions. We have vetted them. They've gone through the process. Their books, their paperwork, everything is in order. We need to get them funded, right?
• 14:38
  But there's work that's done in each track, so you can't advance to the next track until you've completed the work. To date, we've graduated two cohorts and we're 97% completion. There's no grant attached to it, there's no funding until you go through the end, but there's perks, right? Resources, connections. So then the third tier is Global Entrepreneurship Week, which is community, right?
• 15:05
  So you have the corporate structure, you have the physical structure and then there's community. Community or Global Entrepreneurship Week is what connects the entrepreneurs to all of that work, right? So Darlisa is the kind of person, I'm going make you put your money where your mouth is, right? If you want it, you got to know it's there for you.
• 15:26
  But
• 15:27
  no one is handing it out to you. We're going give you access, we're going give you the opportunity, but you got to show up. And so that's what Global Entrepreneurship Week is, it is the entrepreneur's time to showcase. It is their moment to say, here's my product, here's my service, I'm hosting an event, I want you to come. And we get behind them and we use our network, hey, here's what they're doing, we need you in this place, in this place, in this place.
• 15:54
  And so last year, we had attendance over, and these are butts in seats, right? Like not just registrations, 3,700 attendees to the events that took place. We've had partnerships ensue, we've had businesses that have grown, we've had so many amazing opportunities and these are global ones. Right? Right.
• 16:18
  Global connections because it's not that they're just here in North Texas, if you have a virtual event, people are logging in and they're seeing what you're doing. All you have to do is show up. Yeah. Show up. And so that's kind of my trifecta, it all comes together to support the entrepreneur ecosystem.
• 16:40
  Tolu: Yeah, that's amazing. And it's interesting you said that because, you know, there's there's three different needs there. There is education, there's community, as you said, and then there's visibility. And these are all needs that the community has, right? And one thing I love about some of the programming is that predominantly, particularly at the South Dallas Fair Park Center, many of these businesses are black owned, you know, and historically underrepresented.
• 17:09
  But, you know, sometimes I mean, I do support with the PathCS programme as well, and the other day I was in the offices and I could hear some of the testimonials and stuff, and it is so heartwarming to see how much development is happening in the community and directly with people who are actually, you know, growing and making impacts in community as well. Yes. Yeah. So that brings me to the next question, because you've been doing this for some time now, a good a good number of years. Looking back at the last five years, how has your has your perception changed when from, like, let's go back a few years back when you got onto the bandwagon of Global Entrepreneurship Week?
• 17:53
  Because I know you do other things. You're involved in the million cups. You're, you know, you're that Texas woman, you know, we can list everything out. Your your CV is like huge, but has your perception changed on the work that needs to be done and the impact that has been achieved since a few years back, say five years back, and how has it changed?
• 18:18
  Darlissa: Great question. So I would say it has enhanced. So the perception has always kind of been the same for me, right? People need to get their stuff together, right? It's not a cakewalk and this is coming from someone I didn't see entrepreneurship growing up, I didn't know anything about it, so I didn't have the visual of seeing entrepreneurship at Clay, like, I've always been bootstrapped.
• 18:44
  But I think when the pandemic happened, that threw so many things off course mentally for people, but at the same time, it kinda set a new track of course. The reason I say that is because we have a lot of businesses that started out of the pandemic, and they started because there was this promise of money. They started because there was promise of freedom, and there was this this new conversation of legacy building and creating generational wealth. And it's like, but if you don't know how to create wealth right now, how are you gonna create it, you know, if you're not willing to put in that work? Right?
• 19:32
  And so I think the perception and the work has become disattached. Right? It's it's a mismatch because people want access to entrepreneurship and they like the theory and the story of entrepreneurship, but when it comes to the work of entrepreneurship, that's the part that they don't want. They feel like someone should write them a check or if I'm really good at a presentation, then I can pitch my way through business but that's not entrepreneurship, right? And so the new messaging, we have to put the earnest back on us as the service providers and the entrepreneur supporters because we have to tell people the truth.
• 20:20
  We have to be honest with people aside from their feelings, right? We can love on them. Yeah. We can hug them and you know, but at the end of the day, we have to be real about it and then there's a difference between being real and this whole thing of transparency. Meaning, I'm broke, I'm following my passion, people need to pay me what I'm worth.
• 20:43
  But do you know what you're worth? Right. What are you selling? Yeah. Right?
• 20:47
  Help me understand it so that I can pay you what you're worth, but if you can't even tell me what you're selling me, how can I pay you what you're worth? Right? Yeah. And it's like, so there's a lot of things that have shifted from a mindset perspective. I think people know that they have access to entrepreneurship now, which is great because before, maybe not so much.
• 21:10
  Tolu: Mhmm.
• 21:11
  Darlissa: But now it's like, I can be an entrepreneur. You can't tell me that I can't. Okay. I won't.
• 21:19
  Well, you can't say that your business failed because you don't have access to resources or there's no one out here to help you or support you because in our market and I'm speaking specific to the Dallas Fort Worth community Yes. The resources are immeasurable, like immeasurable, there's so many, so many great, great programs, so many great organizations, but everyone wants to bypass that and go right to the lenders. Instead of funding,
• 21:48
  right to
• 21:49
  the money.
• 21:49
  Tolu: That's it, they just want to get the funding.
• 21:50
  Darlissa: They just want get the funding. Well, it's like, reality check, if you are looking for someone to cut you a check, go to work.
• 22:00
  Tolu: Absolutely. No, that deep stuff right there and so, you know, so real, so practical, I mean, you know, we support a couple of lenders as well in the Masterclass programs and it's all that, it's like, well, how do you look attracted lender? To You've got to have a business that's running and functioning and healthy enough to want to gain access to capital, so there's just so much to unpack there. Think, Belva, you had a question on it?
• 22:27
  Belva: I did, I wanted to kind of follow-up about what you spoke on earlier, Touch, you said that, you know, you're a first generation college student and you didn't grow up seeing many entrepreneurs in your family, right? So, but somewhere along the lines, God planted the seed in you and gave you this beautiful purpose to create a landscape and a platform for thousands of people to be able to come and learn how to be an entrepreneur, not only, well first of all determine if they're even, do they have the spirit, right? Because entrepreneurship is really spiritual. It is. You have to know that you know that you know and you have to have a real strong belief system to know that today is zero.
• 23:16
  But if I continue to put my efforts in, it's going to pay off, it will show up over time. And you have to get up every day believing that, otherwise you'll quit because, you know, time after time, there's no guarantee that the money's gonna show up magically just because, right? So where was the moment for you? What thing or something perhaps happened or a moment that you decided, you know what, there's an opportunity here and I'm going to create this platform for people to be able to become entrepreneurs with their lives?
• 23:49
  Darlissa: I don't know. I think I was hit over No, just playing. So I started my journey in healthcare. That's where I thought my path would be. You know, educated, I learn for fun, and I'm like, I'm gonna climb that corporate ladder, like, I'm gonna excel in this professional career.
• 24:08
  And so I worked for a healthcare company in St. Louis, Missouri, and I was working there, working there, and I just kept getting blackballed, the blackballed, and I was one of the favorites for senior leadership. When I say I was the only hourly employee with a p card, I was traveling, they were sending me on trips, I had my own credit card. Middle management hated me. Okay?
• 24:33
  I had a cubicle. Right? A small one at that. Right. But weeks at a time, I'm away because senior leadership was sending me to these different places to do trainings and I was having these issues with middle management and I never applied for the next position, but I kept getting moved to all these different positions that were like higher and higher and higher just because they weren't working out, right?
• 25:02
  Through that process I was working with all calibers of stuff. I started as a part time customer service person and I made it all the way to data integrity and revenue management, okay? Project management through the company. Never applied for any of these jobs. And so the last one was really, really tough.
• 25:25
  The management there kind of took it to a new level. It was the first time that I had to file a grievance and I had to just go through this grunt work and I'm like, why? Why? I just wanna do good work. And I started I had started getting involved in, like, community engagement and stuff like that, like, understanding those different worlds.
• 25:52
  And I learned about the SBDC, Small Business Development Center. I was like, that's interesting, right? And so I had a friend that had a friend and they were based in Chicago and they had just gotten a position as executive director. And they were like Darlisa, he needs help. I need you to help him with his strategic plan.
• 26:14
  I'm like, easy, right? Because that stuff is fun to me. So I help him and at the end, he's like, so how much do we owe you? And I was like, you don't owe me anything. It's, you know, she asked, no problem.
• 26:27
  And he was like, no, seriously. How much do we owe you? Because the amount of information that you've given, we've paid consultants like a lot of money for this. And I was like, no, seriously, you don't owe me anything. Well, he got my address and he sent me a check and the check was like a quarter of what my salary was, and I was like, I can't take this money, you know, I'm a married woman, my husband's gonna think I'm turning tricks, like, what are we doing, right?
• 26:59
  And he was like, we're taking the money back, that's yours. And then he started sending people to me for help. Oh, wow. And then they were paying me. And I was like, okay, y'all.
• 27:10
  Tolu: So you were thrust into entrepreneurship?
• 27:11
  Darlissa: Literally. Like, all bound
• 27:14
  Tolu: to it. Yes.
• 27:15
  Darlissa: And so, was like And again, I love to learn, so I studied and studied and said, I'm like, what is this entrepreneurship thing? In my mind, entrepreneurship was glass buildings, white executives, suits. That wasn't me. I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri.
• 27:32
  That's that's not what I saw. Right? Through my studying, was like, there's people can have access to this. Right? And it was only $25.02 5, to establish an LLC in St.
• 27:48
  Louis. And I was like, are you kidding me? So, leave it to Darlisa, I'm finding libraries, YMCA, the rec centers, and I'm teaching these classes, right, and they would be full, right? And I was just like, and all you have to do is this and you want to do this, I started teaching classes like pre Vistaprint, do you remember Vistaprint? I do remember.
• 28:09
  You know, I'm teaching people how to do letterheads so that they're doing professional letters and all this kind of stuff and so from that, someone from the SBDC was coming to these sessions and they were like, who are you? Where do you come from? What are you doing? And that's kind of what ushered me into real entrepreneurship and they were like, you need to start a business, you need to be doing this as a consultant. Again, never saw myself as an entrepreneur and I'm like, no, this is for somebody else.
• 28:43
  You know, I have a job, I got benefits, I got I'm good, I got the family, I need the stability. And the corporate world started to kick up, like, it just became so bad. And to get to the my moment, because I still wasn't gonna do it, know, I'm like, I'm good with my job and everything. And things got really, really complicated with my job and I was going into my, the final position of my healthcare stint and I remember walking in and I would get there early, right, because I had started to work, I would get to work at like 05:30 so that I could work and then I would see people afterwards, right? In time so I can get my kids and stuff from school.
• 29:29
  And I remember walking into the office and I was turning on the lights and when I turned on the lights, audibly, God said to me, the next time you walk into something new, it's gonna be your own. It's like What? Like, who's up in here, right? And sure enough, the next exit that I made, I walked into my own consultancy and I worked with the women's business centers, the entrepreneur, I was teaching, it was called WIBO, workshop and business opportunities. I remember them.
• 30:05
  I was facilitating their programs and classes and it was just like they just kept showing up, they kept coming and I took a contract with the SBDC and I was over a territory there. Wow. And the favor found me there, I traveled and I just kind of became this voice of urban entrepreneurship, right? Because I never have a problem asking the hard questions. Right?
• 30:32
  Like, how do we get to a resolve? And I traveled and I met people and I attended conferences and I was speaking, I mean, of, you know, mass
• 30:43
  people and I'm like, oh, this is my life.
• 30:46
  Right? Like, oh. But I was still in St. Louis. Right.
• 30:49
  And I had young children, we were married, you know, and I was like, I'm ready for something, I don't want my kids to grow up here. And so I got an opportunity to do the National Community Development Certification and I would come to Texas to study it and then take the test and be certified here. And I was like, wow, have you heard of Texas? Right? Because, again, didn't see didn't They're like, I wanna live there.
• 31:22
  And I remember telling my husband every year for when the new year comes, we ask each other, well, what are you looking forward to for your birthday this year? Things like that. And it was 2016 and when we did our toast, we go to church and we come home and then we'll do a family toast. And they were like, well, what are you looking forward to for your birthday this year? What do you want?
• 31:41
  I was like, I wanna be in Texas. And my birthday is July 11 and we moved into our house at that time, 07/09/2016. Wow. So
• 31:52
  Tolu: Wow. And here you are, nine years later in Texas, doing your thing. Wow. It's such a such a moving story and you know one thing that that just that was consistent in your story? It's hard work, and and that's the truth.
• 32:08
  That is just the blatant truth. You know, I'm in the innovation space, and there's something I talk about a lot about innovation theater, you know, like, people have post its notes everywhere, and they're doing workshops, and doing the big speaks, and it's like, yeah, yeah, that that that's just the beginning of innovation. Innovation comes when you start to deliver the results. Right? But that's the one thing that you have said consistently, it's the hard work, it's the studying, it's the it's the groundwork, it's the it's the the grit to be able to go out there and try this and try that.
• 32:39
  And and I just love that about your story because you're like, yeah, urban entrepreneurship is the real deal. It's not the fancy stuff. It's not like all the nice bougie looking, you know, smart casual tennis shoes type look. That's not it. It's the real deal.
• 32:53
  Right?
• 32:54
  Darlissa: Real deal. Real deal.
• 32:56
  Tolu: And absolutely love it. So now, let's let's go into, let's talk about manufacturing, because this season, we're we're really focused on black excellence in manufacturing, and obviously, we know that the Made in America initiative is is ongoing, and, you know, we wanna we wanna reflect on what it means for a black a black business owner to get into this space. We know lots of people are in the services industry, health care industry, sports and, you know, or whatnot, but as the queen of North Texas, tell us, what is that burden that you feel for us in in in the manufacturing space? What what what keeps you up at night?
• 33:38
  Darlissa: Well, I think in addition to just manufacturing the burden of being a Black Business owner. Uh-huh. Right? Like, let's start there. Yeah.
• 33:49
  Right? Mhmm. As much as we feel like we have arrived, we are four hundred years to the arrears, right? Yes. And that's a pill that many of us don't want to swallow, okay?
• 34:06
  So when you add the specific industries to it, it's like the more we advance in one, the further we get pulled back in another. Right? Because when you think about from a revenue standpoint, when we start talking about being able to create legacy and generational wealth, right, there are industries that are specific to ways to enhance that. And so as we start advancing, something happens to pull us back and I go back to the pandemic. Mhmm.
• 34:40
  Right? If you think about if you think about it just for a second, and no, I'm not a conspiracy theorist or anything like that, but it is what it is. Yeah. When the pandemic happened prior to, you had so many side hustle businesses that were doing fine. Yeah.
• 34:54
  Kendall's, aestheticians, people making clothes, you know, hair, all of these things that were helping us to work alongside, right? We had our nine to fives and we were good with our nine to fives and we were running businesses on the side. But all of a sudden, here comes this carrot of tell us what you're doing. We wanna help you with your business. Oh, we have funds for you.
• 35:21
  Oh, do you have people working for you? Put them on the list and we can get you more money if you tell us Yeah. Then the hammer came, okay, well, if you're making anything over $600, we need to know that and you're gonna tell us everything that you're doing in our business and it was that pullback again, right? So people are like, well, I don't want all my information, the big brother's watching and blah blah blah. So now I became sanctioned, right?
• 35:46
  Yeah. So then let's talk about the lending process.
• 35:49
  Tolu: Oh, yeah.
• 35:49
  Darlissa: Right? Yeah. Credit scores, people were like, I'm gonna follow my passion and I'm gonna go for it. Put all of their savings into this dream and this message of hope and entrepreneurship, but then when you go to a lender they're like, well how are you going to pay us back? Because you've put it all into the business.
• 36:10
  But you have no job. You have no job, So we don't we can't leverage it. Right?
• 36:14
  Tolu: Yeah.
• 36:14
  Darlissa: And so from a manufacturing standpoint, the creativity, the the knowledge, the mass production that it takes to procure something like that, if you think about it, we're at a deficit Don't have that. Again. Right? Because the people, the organizations, the opportunities kinda got shifted to the people that could. They really didn't need it, but that's who got it.
• 36:42
  That's who received it. And so here we are again, we're like, well, trust us. We can we can make it happen. And we've put all of our eggs in this basket because we were following that carrot. Right?
• 36:54
  Mhmm. Okay. Fine. So we kinda got through the pandemic. People have realized that, oh, I probably shouldn't have quit that job.
• 37:04
  Mhmm. Right? So when you get into, like, the twenty twenty threes Mhmm. Of life, the light bulbs are coming on and people are realizing we gotta go back to work and what do they introduce? AI.
• 37:15
  Tolu: AI. It's like, my god.
• 37:17
  Darlissa: Right? Yeah. So AI, so we mass exited and now This bot took a new job. They're finding replacements. Uh-huh.
• 37:26
  Right? And it's a sad reality to think about, but we get really codependent on what they're giving us instead of realizing Yeah. We can go out there and get it ourselves. We have to create. And create it.
• 37:42
  Mhmm. But we don't want that because we want that caring. But we don't realize there's a whole form that you can create, you can grow up. That you can it Mhmm. And you don't need that one carrot.
• 37:56
  But that's how they mentally Program. Program us. Mhmm. Right? And it's a sad reality and so you either succumb or you overcome.
• 38:09
  Right? And that's kind of the the reason why for me, as as difficult and as challenging as these things are, why a global entrepreneurship week is important. Right? And there's you would not believe how much pushback I get and how much people are like, well, how does that benefit me? Saying like, making it seem like it's benefiting me, it's like when you see on The Global Entrepreneur, you don't see my company.
• 38:39
  No. No. You don't see me out here touting foundations because we're do what we're going to do regardless.
• 38:44
  Tolu: Right.
• 38:45
  Darlissa: Yes. Like, it is truly for the people that understand it, that want it, and know how to make it work for themselves. Absolutely. Because that's what we need. We have to start sticking together because there's always going to be a system or something.
• 39:03
  Once we start advancing, they're pull it back.
• 39:09
  Tolu: Well, if you depend on those who control the levers, then you'll be you'll be subject to the levers, but if we start to pull our own levers or create our own levers, then then we we start to create the movement. And you you made such a great point there, particularly with Global Entrepreneurship Week because there are entrepreneurship ecosystems all around the world creating, regenerating, turning things around. I mean, if you go to Asia, if you go to Delhi, if you go to South Africa, if you're in, you know, if you're in Mexico, there's all these hubs all around the world where there is a lot of differentiation happening, and it's important for everyone to, particularly in the black community, to realize that the the limit is is is exponential. Mhmm. And, you know, holding on to that carrot is only gonna limit you.
• 40:00
  When you start seeing your peers doing something different and creating and reinventing, then you start to you start to, you know, your your eyes set up up open. You know, I'm just gonna I'll I'll I'll say this quickly, I remember, I mean, I'm talking about twenty years ago when the when the, you know, new media, it was called then, so what we call digital now, And one of the things I studied in school was was this whole new media concept and the digital divide, and we're talking about how people were changing, the course of the the what we have now. Fast forward twenty years from from then, we're talking about AI, but the concepts and the logic for AI started back then. So imagine if someone was plugged into that already. By now, you're an AI millionaire.
• 40:46
  Yep. Right? But it takes you to understand and have the foresight to to be able to create something that'll be of value in twenty years. So my point is, this Global Entrepreneurship Week, my call to action to black business owners is that this is a time for you to tap into the resources that's happening all around the world, so you can start to create those foundational elements that will shape the next twenty years of the world, right? Because that is what's really going to make a difference.
• 41:13
  Darlissa: Absolutely. 100%.
• 41:15
  Belva: Absolutely. And so, one of the reasons why we've even created the Black Business Live Podcast is for these types of conversations, right? And not just talking about it, but let's put strategies in place, let's talk about what really is, what black businesses are facing right now today across the world, right? You say that, your quote is, the only place where you see success before work is in the dictionary. We have gotten to the place where complacency is easy and the soft life, right?
• 41:53
  And you don't have to work for it, you can be an immediate Instagram sensation or YouTube sensation, you can start a podcast and be an influencer. Nothing wrong with those avenues, however, it's very small of the number of people who actually succeed doing that. And so, black people also have been instilled about work, work, work, work, work for the sake of working, right? Ten hours a day, twelve hours a day, fourteen hours a day and you're still not done. But get up tomorrow and work and and work and sooner or later, your effort, the energy that you put in, you are taught and you are the illusion is that at the end of the time, you will retire with this big check and you'll have a life that you can live all of your own and your kids are grown and everybody's out and you just have a dog and you can live your best life.
• 42:46
  That is not the that was the American dream that was painted to us, that picture. But we realized it's a it's a nightmare. It really is a nightmare and the reality is is that it's gonna take nothing but nothing more than consistency and discipline. The work is the work, right? So in your case, most people use use, I'm sure you see this, where people are thinking, I'll just work and work and work, but how do you share with them that there needs to be a switch in their mind from working for someone else to build someone else's empire to being strategic and figuring out what works for you, what you're passionate about and how can that be monetized.
• 43:33
  How would you, what words would you give of advice?
• 43:36
  Darlissa: So, again, another great question and so I'm kind of gonna go against the grain, but I'm gonna use what she says. So doing what works best for them and following their passion. So I am a firm believer that a nine to five and the W2 is ultra sexy, okay? Like it is a thing because entrepreneurship is not for everyone. Yep.
• 44:03
  However, what we need to understand is while you are doing that, we need to adopt that eighty twenty rule maybe, right? Or if it's something that you're passionate about, help an organization do it, but be entrepreneurial, right? So establish what you want to achieve out of that, right? So if it's the salary, you need to go in and you need to say, here's what I'm bringing to the table, here's the salary, here's my work life balance is important to me. But at the same time, if you want to do it on your own, learn it.
• 44:41
  Right? Learn it to the point where you're not depending on someone else to pay you to have this passion. Get out there and do the work and your revenue is how you will get paid. Right. Right?
• 44:55
  It's not, oh, I want to create beautiful cakes but I need a grant in order to get started. No, if you want to create beautiful cakes, start baking. Make the cakes. Right? Bake the cakes so that people can experience these cakes, but not, Oh, well, I have to wait on you guys to put me to check because I can't do it.
• 45:17
  Okay, then that means you need to clock in, right? And do it. So, figuring out where your balance is, right, and what success looks like for you because there are a lot of people that can work a nine to five and run a successful business. They have a family, but they have established that this is what they want. There are some people that entrepreneurship is what they do, but they get up and they grind and they put the pedal to the metal and they make it happen.
• 45:50
  There are some people that just don't do anything. Mhmm. Right? And they are waiting behind the opportunity or the and you know, sadly, those are the people that feel like the system has failed them or you know, there's no one out here to help them. The help starts right here.
• 46:09
  I mean That's right. You have to start with yourself and like the Nike slogan, like, you just have to do it first and then if you're consistent, so that's that word, consistency. Right. It will begin to pick up, it's like the ball rolling effect, once you start rolling the ball, it'll get bigger and bigger and bigger, but I think defining what success is super important too because if success is mental feasibility and mental ease, okay, what gives you that? If it is money, okay, what gives you that?
• 46:47
  But success looks different for everyone so I think defining what success is and how to achieve that is the ultimate goal. So if that means you have to work a job until you don't have to, fine. But entrepreneurship is working a job. Harder than Harder than Yeah. Absolutely,
• 47:12
  Tolu: and you said that, sometimes people are always like, oh, I'm my own boss, and so my life is different. But I remember our first speaker for this season, Carla Trotman, talked about that and she was talking about how she worked, she was in a corporate role, and in fact, the only way she was able to take over her father's business is because she had good credit. She had good credit, she had experience in corporate, she had the profile of the executive that could take on, you know, a a family owned business. But she didn't cut her teeth just doing entrepreneurship, she had her own side gig, and she did that for many years, and she went to work for her father, and then when it was time, she said she was ready to rise up to the challenge, and it took eleven years before she eventually did, and it took her threatening her father to basically say, look, I can go work for someone else and I'll be get I'll get paid more and I'll I'll be better off, so you tell me, you know. But she didn't throw away the corporate side is what I'm trying to say.
• 48:14
  Like, she leveraged that, she used that to build, and and that's something that many, I find sometimes entrepreneurs don't realize, that the corporate side could help you help you. Could help you in so many ways. And also, these corporates were once start ups too. Mhmm. Right?
• 48:31
  So the discipline, the work ethic, all that, the people you meet, the variety of expertise, all contribute to your entrepreneurial journey. So it's it's good that you mentioned that as well, like, you know, it may take time, you may come of age at some point and become an entrepreneur, or you may just stay in that corporate role too.
• 48:50
  Darlissa: Because there's this this this pressure to be like a sole entrepreneur or to no, like who's putting that pressure on us? Right? Like why do we feel like in order to be seen as a successful entrepreneur you have to not have a J O B. Mhmm. You just have to determine what that J O B, what that role is in your life and you know, it's better together, right?
• 49:17
  Because if you're passionate about something, find a job that feeds that. Establish that relationship with that leadership team. And I'm, you know, as an entrepreneur, like, I'm not saying, like, stop entrepreneurship, go get a job, but I'm saying, you have to do what's best for you. Because at the end of day, if you can't pay your bills and you can't live, if you can't flourish, you're really not doing anybody any good. You're not building any legacy, you're not creating generational wealth because you're not creating a living, right?
• 49:48
  So how are creating wealth? You can't even, you know, so just understanding what and when it's time, it will manifest, right? And you want it to be where you're comfortable, you want because you don't want that stress of how can I do it, how am I going to afford it, because you're get that anyway, right, because entrepreneurship is Ups and downs? Ups and downs anyway. So, you know, I'm I'm a strong supporter of working and even if it's not the the traditional nine to five, we live in a gig world, right?
• 50:22
  You can pick up a contract and that'd be your main thing but you still sell candles or you still do hair or whatever the case, so just being intentional on what works best for you and your family dynamic, and the goal that you're trying to achieve. Yeah, makes sense.
• 50:45
  Tolu: Wow, we have expanded so much and it's not even finished yet, You know, I can we can take it in this direction and that direction, but I think what you're saying is that, you know, you gotta you gotta be you gotta sort yourself out first. You've gotta be right. You've gotta be good. If you because entrepreneurship is not for the faint hearted. So you've gotta be squared up to some extent at least before you can take that plunge.
• 51:08
  And even if you're already in that plunge, you gotta stabilize very quickly because that's when you can really see clearly to do much more than you're doing. So this has been amazing. I know we time is far spent and we wanna we wanna round up, just asking you the question around, so what's next? I mean, we're talking about this huge gigantic world of entrepreneurship. You know, you're traveling the world, you've just been to Korea, you've to Tokyo.
• 51:36
  What's next for Darlisa? That's a
• 51:38
  Darlissa: good question. So Korea was my first ever international trip and I'm looking forward to increasing that to more countries because I wanna see and I wanna explore and I wanna understand outside of just my capacity. So for me, more travel, not just business, but exploratory and research, right? Finding and understanding how to connect with what other communities are doing, right? So I would say what's next for me is more international travel.
• 52:15
  I am always looking forward to growing my partnerships with my organizations and the community, so establishing more viable relationships. And then just each so a couple years ago, you know how before we would be like, I'm gonna have my plan and I'm gonna set my strategy loosely, right? But I decided it's like, Lord, Your will, right? I kind of put my request out there and my canvas is open, right, of how it becomes filled. And in 2023, I never forget, I I desperately said a prayer and I'm like, Lord, I need something different, like I'm ready to get back out there, I'm ready to start speaking again, I'm ready to you know, because I got immersed into trying to be this this master entrepreneur that's helping entrepreneur that's saving the world and I'm like, right?
• 53:10
  And 2025 when I say I was out of town every month. I get on four stages and platforms and he just opens the doors and so I'm grateful for ladies like yourself that extend the invitation to invite me to the platform to speak or to talk, but that's what I'm looking forward to. I want to travel more internationally, I want to become more knowledgeable on what that looks like for myself and my family and hopefully, create legacy Mhmm. For my family in other parts of the world.
• 53:53
  Tolu: Well, there you go. There you go. So to our listeners, right? Because we have listeners from all around the world, know, we're a small podcast, but we are going places. There you go.
• 54:02
  Miss Darlisa is right here. She wants to come speak. She wants to she wants to go around the world. So if you're here in Botswana, in Lagos, Nigeria, Ghana, wherever you are, in India, in New Zealand, there's your lady.
• 54:16
  Darlissa: Yes. She's right Beth.
• 54:21
  Belva: Wonderful. The best way for people to reach out to you, contact you, how's the what's the best way our listeners can get in contact with you?
• 54:29
  Darlissa: So Google works well, right, like you probably pop my name in there and I'm literally gonna pop up, but, so the three organizations that were mentioned, foundations EDC, we're listed as Foundations EDC on every platform, South Dallas Fair Park Innovation Center, you can reach me there, or Global Entrepreneurship North Texas. So I can be found at any of those locations, I'm on all social platforms. I love to take a good selfie and a good picture, so if you see me out, find me, like, let's connect, let's give each other a hug, let's smile, and let's make it happen.
• 55:07
  Belva: Love that, thank you The so
• 55:08
  Tolu: queen of North Texas.
• 55:10
  Belva: Y'all, y'all, we should bow, we should really bow to that. No. Well, we always know that you like to give back to the community as well, I think we're going to ask the question and then we have something for you. So the question is, how can we sow into you and or your platform services network? What would help how can we give back to you?
• 55:35
  Darlissa: I would say, one, you've already done it by inviting me here, so I appreciate there. Continue to speak the truth and be positive, but if request one, it's the South Dallas Fair Park Innovation Center. It is a membership driven facility and we are helping people to come away from using their home address and getting registered agent and doing it professionally, right? So my request would be to find out information about the Innovation Center, become a member, there's a $0 membership as well, but to just kind of tap in there, but utilize our services if there's something we can do to help, let us know, but I would say, become a member, absolutely. So,
• 56:20
  Tolu: become a member to all our members, well we get to talk about that too Darlisa, see what we can do with our membership package and maybe link up, with the membership at the South Dallas Fairpack Innovation Center. That's right. But, yeah. No. We'll we'll we'll discuss that.
• 56:35
  And we'll say, well, All Things Black and Beautiful is gonna be resident of yours very soon, so that's one thing to know. And I just wanna say, I
• 56:42
  Darlissa: love I love Tolu. Love Tolu. Tolu is amazing. We've worked on a lot of projects together. She's a facilitator for our programs and I absolutely love Tolu, so
• 56:54
  Tolu: Maybe lost Darlisa too. Yeah. Well, speaking of which, we know we never we never have our guests come and leave empty handed. We always have a gift. So we're gonna be sharing a little gift from you.
• 57:05
  It's from a member of our community as well. But just a little thank you for for being here. So this is from the community, as I mentioned before, and it's from a brand called Double Deluxe, and they do amazing handles. So we thought in the spirit of the season, and also because you're gonna be working so hard, you need to just chill, relax during Thanksgiving, light a candle, and just have some me time. Yeah.
• 57:33
  Okay.
• 57:33
  Belva: And make a bus.
• 57:34
  Tolu: Thank a bus. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay.
• 57:41
  Darlissa: I love what they get. Okay. Let's see. Can I pull it out? Yeah.
• 57:45
  Sure. Bring it out. Oh.
• 57:49
  Tolu: There you go. What I think it's a that something, is it? Yeah. Coconut soy wax pool. So it's all natural stuff to help you.
• 57:59
  The business has got double deluxe and, yeah, and a little thank you card
• 58:03
  Darlissa: as well. So, you all. Thank you. So, so much to be here was to thank you enough. I really, really appreciate it.
• 58:11
  You guys are so awesome, thank you. Yeah.
• 58:14
  Tolu: We're definitely going to bring you back. We only did part one of that conversation. There's another part of that conversation which is about, okay, how do you get that wealth and invest to help you create the next future?
• 58:26
  Darlissa: And and since I'm here with you all, I need you all to tell my people, like, how can they connect and how can they help and support you all?
• 58:36
  Tolu: Oh, yes. Absolutely. Well, we we have the Black Business Network, so the Black Business Live Podcast is underpinned by the Black Business Network, which is like our membership community where, but with a subscription, you get access to resources, training, matchmaking, visibility on the podcast, and also access to relationships, exclusive relationships that will help to build your business. So, really, we are we are working in partnership with institutions like Foundations EDC. So when it comes to training and access and all that, we've got the Fairpack Innovation Centre, but this is more the community side of things where you're meeting the right people that will propel you to the next level, you're getting the matchmaking you need, you're getting the visibility that you need and the access that you need.
• 59:22
  And so the Black Business Network is is there and please feel free to join. And then Belva had mentioned earlier also about the Black Business Bazaar. This is the way we are rounding up our season this time and it's really getting all the black businesses out there to come and showcase your businesses, products, services, and just enjoy a day of innovation, culture and excellence. And even if you don't have a business, just come. Come and enjoy yourself.
• 59:52
  There's gonna be truck for truck, there's gonna be a raffle. In fact, we have, we have a raffle business owner who is based out of Kenya and The UK, auctioning some products from her students as well. There's tons gonna be there, so just come and enjoy. And Where is it? It is at the Honeys High Centered Co event center.
• 1:00:14
  It's not too far from here. It's actually Inwood Road in Dallas. Come. We'll put the links on the website as well, so on the screen, so you can come and enjoy. Yeah.
• 1:00:24
  Darlissa: Yeah. Thank you so much for coming. We appreciate it. Really, really appreciate it. Yeah.
• 1:00:29
  Thank you for having me.
• 1:00:30
  Tolu: Yeah. We're in community. Together, we build. Together, Together, we build.
• 1:00:34
  Darlissa: I love that. Alright. Alright.
• 1:00:36
  Tolu: Well, safe everyone. Thank you. Till next time. Bye. Bye.