Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Even.
Hi Angel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Led by TRUTH started out of frustration. It’s not just one thing that I can pinpoint in my life, but a general sense of being devalued, taken for granted, and never elevated. From experiencing colorism & racism as a child to being overlooked for promotions as an adult. At the time I had my “light bulb” moment of launching a non-profit, I had over 12 years’ experience working for large complex Healthcare systems, while spending my last 7.5 years in healthcare leveraging my skills as a Consultant and Executive Coach to assist organizations in the development, implementation, and sustainment of strategic initiatives. I was always good enough to provide coaching and consulting at an executive level, but not good enough to be recognized for my talents even though organizations were more than willing to take all my skills, my energy, and my time until I was left on empty. From dealing with microaggressions, being talked at, and the continual process of regurgitating my resume just to satisfy others’ perception on my abilities & experience, I was ready for a change. I had no mentors or senior leaders that looked like me. I could not see a win or an upward advancement within the organizations that I worked for. With that, my frustration grew into action. I started to really reflect on “where I see myself?” and “what do I love” about being a consultant & coach. The fact was, I loved consulting and the piece about being a consult that I loved expanded beyond the financial ROIs that organizations & leaders saw on the initiatives I had the pleasure of working on. It was the change in culture and teams’ behaviors that energized me. I loved growing people and developing change agents across the departments & sites I worked with. So, I took what I loved and applied it to my desire of creating a safe space for individuals of color to thrive, be inspired, feel supported, and to grow into the leaders that they are capable of being without the cavoite of having to justify their worth. That’s when I realized I was following my own path, my own truth, and that’s when Led by TRUTH was born.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road to entrepreneurship is not always a smooth path and this sentiment rang true for me. Led by TRUTH launched with our consulting services in June 2021, and it took us until the end of September 2021 for us to see our first client. It was a frustrating period and I remember going through so many emotions. From second guessing what I was doing to debating if there was space for me in the ecosystem. There is a ramp up phase when you first launch, which requires you to identify strategies and tactics to drive interest and clients your way. This was my biggest challenge. Being a newer nonprofit and having to once again, “prove myself”. The other struggle that I’ve experience and still experiencing is the political and relationship nature of the nonprofit world. Most people think that you will automatically have access to all this funding as a nonprofit. The truth is that’s not the case. Most funders will not fund a newer nonprofit for 1-2 years after they launch. Also, most of the funding has “a name” already attached to it, meaning most nonprofits who regularly receive funding will be the top of the list for funders and are usually notified a head of time of upcoming funding opportunities. This leaves newer organizations, like Led by TRUTH, to bootstrap (self-fund) their operations and establish other revenue streams. That’s why I knew that having a consulting arm that is fee based is needed to ensure our Mentorship Program can be fully funded. The other barrier is that the same disparities I faced in a corporate setting carried over. I’ve had conversations with investors hijacked by white, male founders. My experience has been diminished by being asked “what experience do you have to be able to launch a nonprofit?” and told “oh, so entrepreneurs can start with you, but really receive support from [insert well known organization]”. The biggest reason why I don’t feel defeated is that I remind myself that I have a choice, as a CEO. A choice with who to collaborate and associate with. This choice fiercely aligns with my mission, to create change agents in the community by building Black, Indigenous, and People of Color entrepreneurs’ capabilities. This means ensuring there is representation, a safe space for growth, and resources that bring value to those who Led by TRUTH supports. My choice is to surround myself with those with the same fierce belief that is demonstrated through action and not words.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
With 7% of all employer firms being BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) owned in the Twin Cities, when BIPOC population represent 22% of the metro, the need to address the lack of representation is high. Led by TRUTH, a nonprofit dedicated to improving access to professional opportunities for BIPOC entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities. We realize the systemic barriers in place to BIPOC business ownership and work tirelessly to spread awareness of these issues. Through our consulting services and mentorship program, we focus on supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs from idea/concept state to early stage.
Our consultation services focus on assisting our clients in the following areas: business plan development, strategic planning & implementation, development of a staffing plan (recruitment & retention) and provide executive coaching on other key aspects of the client’s business. To create change and address the racial disparities amongst business owners of color, we must provide support & education to build their understanding around their business, financials, community and how to mitigate risks. With a mindset of “putting ourselves out of business”, our coaching sessions are intentionally building our client’s capabilities to assess & monitor their business on an ongoing basis by establishing KPIs (key performance indicators), identify multiple revenue sources, build a structure to set strategies and tactics on a yearly basis, and build their confidence within their place in the ecosystem.
Through our mentorship program, we provide entrepreneurs of color at an early stage with their own community of support. We surround them, with not just melanin, but with champions who want them to succeed. We connect BIPOC entrepreneurs with local business owners of color as mentors, Advisors of color with expertise in finance, accounting, marketing, funding strategies, and support them with a dedicated coach to guide them along the way. During the 1st phase of mentees building their foundation, they are provided access to an inclusive community of support as they develop their business plan & pursue their passions. That support does not end there. We provide 12 months of additional consulting support as they continue to evolve their capabilities and grow their business. Our mentorship program is free & is 100% championed and supported by individuals of color. This is intentional. Our Mentees can now see & experience what’s it’s like to have a mentor that looked like them and understand their lived experience Since our launch, we have demonstrated that Led by TRUTH is a safe place for individuals of color to receive support and be heard, to have their business believed in and not be judged, and to have a coach supporting them along the way.
What does success mean to you?
Success is when you push yourself beyond your comfort level and are able to reach a goal that you can measure, celebrate, and improve on. I never think about the term “success” as an end. We should always strive to set, measure, and reach our goals with the intention of learning along the way and focusing on continuously improving our results.
There are several ways that I measure success with Led by TRUTH. From being able to assist BIPOC entrepreneurs through completing their key deliverables (business plan, strategic roadmap, staffing plan, program development, etc.) to changing the mindset of the entrepreneurs I support. The “soft” measures of success are so much more impactful to me. Seeing business owners begin to view themselves as a CEO and their business through a strategic lens is what makes a business plan come together. It’s building individuals confidence, as well as providing the support that they need to feel safe to be vulnerable, ask questions, and let their curiosity take them to an innovative way of thinking about their business. That’s when I know I’ve been successful with the entrepreneurs I work with.
There is also a bigger question of does success turn into legacy. I envision Led by TRUTH to expand our mentorship program to other cities in the US, with a goal of implementing the program in Atlanta by 2025 (putting my manifestation out in the atmosphere) and expanding to another city by 2030. My hope, or in other words, legacy, for Led by TRUTH is to be an organization that is defined by our mission and not by a person. It would and will continue with me at the helm or without me with the sole purpose of creating a community within a community of BIPOC champions of support, creating space where diversity is celebrate & amplified, and inspiring BIPOC individuals to carve out their own path as they follow their dreams. By strengthening the entrepreneur ecosystem, especially supporting BIPOC business owners, we will be a part of a solution to decrease the economic gap in business ownership. The legacy is with the impact we make and inspiration for others to take the lead.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.ledbytruth.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/led.by.truth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Led-by-TRUTH-103410631756583
