Jill Johnson and Helping Black-Owned Businesses

<p>It’s no secret that the world of business is skewed to serve a certain group of people.</p><p><br></p><p>If you aren’t a cis white male with an Ivy League degree and an impressive resume, your chances of ‘making it’ in this industry are slim.</p><p><br></p><p><strong><em>And if you’re a Black entrepreneur?<br></em></strong><br></p><p><br></p><p>Those chances are close to nonexistent.</p><p><br></p><p>Systematic barriers of entry have kept Black entrepreneurs out of the conversation for decades. And while <em>everyone </em>knew of the problem, very few were actively making an effort to help solve it pre-2020.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Well, today’s guest, Jill Johnson, has been tirelessly working towards breaking down their barriers for </strong><strong><em>decades</em></strong><strong>. <br></strong><br></p><p><br></p><p>Jill is the co-founder and CEO of the Institute for Entrepreneurship Leadership. When she started this business in 2002 with her father, her goal was simple - <strong><em>to help the economic development of minorities through entrepreneurship</em></strong>.</p><p><br></p><p>Jill’s parents ran a newspaper publishing business which meant she had several opportunities growing up to interact with small entrepreneurs and see exactly why they struggled to make payroll.</p><p><br></p><p>Then, when she got her first job at Goldman Sachs, she was able to come in close contact with people who created <em>tremendous</em> wealth.</p><p><br></p><p>That’s when she realized that they were not people who looked like her or anyone in her community.</p><p><br></p><p>So, she started her business because she saw that certain groups of people have to face barriers that just shouldn’t exist. She understood that there was infrastructure needed not only to help these groups financially but also to offer them hands-on support so they could succeed as entrepreneurs.</p><p><br></p><p>In today’s episode, Jill discusses the various ways she helps Black and minority entrepreneurs, what she feels the biggest barrier