The Black Student Association (BSA) recently hosted Belmont’s Black History Month culminating event featuring successful entrepreneurs from all over Nashville. The event was developed and led by BSA, specifically under the leadership of Kayla Young, president, and Aminah VanArsdale, social events chair.
Page Turner (Egap Real Estate and Flip or Flop Nashville host), Harold Lercius (Lercius Fitness Studio), Mignon Francois (The Cupcake Collection), Emmanuel Reed (’12 and co-owner of Slim & Husky’s ) and Dr. Lakisha Simmons (Homework Suite – Student Planner App) engaged with the students about entrepreneurship. The panelists also shared advice for Belmont’s budding entrepreneurs, encouraging them to get a mentor, start journaling and create repeatable processes.
A student in the audience asked the panelists how they balance their business and home life. “You only have one body, and you must take care of it on a daily basis so exercise is essential to a balanced life” Lercius responded. Turner added, “Journaling and making sure I laugh each night helps me to relax and regroup.”
A future financial planner asked how to get clients for her new business. “Know your target audience and build trust with your tribe by offering them free advice and helpful resources, then through word of mouth, clients will come to you because you’ll have the reputation as the expert,” said Simmons. Francois added, “creating a positive customer experience will have them coming back again and again; our goal is to sprinkle each customers day with a bit of joy.” Reed explained that, at his company, “we want each customer to experience pizza, art and music. It’s a complete experience that customers keep coming back for.”
