Feeding America’s Post

As highlighted in our recent feature by Picasso Headline in The Sunday Times, the journey of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) is critical yet complex. I am Nadia Rawjee, and part of my experience at Uzenzele Holdings involves guiding large corporations through the intricacies of supporting start-ups and small businesses. Despite a robust investment of R26 billion in enterprise and supplier development in 2022, challenges persist in fully leveraging these initiatives. From budget constraints to internal conflicts, the obstacles are significant but not insurmountable. The alignment of BEE strategies with comprehensive support mechanisms is essential for promoting a sustainable business environment. Our insights, as shared in The Sunday Times, shed light on effective strategies for enhancing the impact of BEE initiatives. These strategies not only meet legislative mandates but also support small businesses in becoming competitive and sustainable players in the industry. Join us in this crucial discussion and discover how, together, we can bridge gaps and cultivate a thriving economic landscape for all. #BBBEE #ESD #SouthAfrica #Economy #Empowerment Link to Full Issue: https://lnkd.in/d67STwwR

How can different types of communities move closer to delivering a better quality of life for all residents? This is the type of question the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility seeks to answer. Last year, the Institute collaborated on 18 insight pieces providing in-depth research on Black economic development. For an inside look at our work to build a more inclusive economy, read our 2023 ESG Report ➡️ https://mck.co/4erXe0W #SustainableInclusiveGrowth

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: Join CEEM Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement for Economic Empowerment Opportunities "Intentionally or not, most people do business with those who look like them. Is that racist? Maybe, maybe not. I do know that Black Americans spend money and do business with each other at a lower rate than other races do." These thought-provoking words from financial expert Lee Jenkins highlight a critical issue facing our community. In a world where diversity, equity, and inclusion are often overlooked in investment circles, CEEM stands as a beacon of hope. We believe in the power of unity and self-reliance to drive economic growth and prosperity. Our movement is built on the principle that together, we can achieve more. By joining CEEM, you become part of a community dedicated to creating opportunities and leveling the playing field. Together, we can break down barriers, empower each other, and build a future where everyone has the chance to thrive. Join us today and be a part of something bigger. Let's harness the strength in numbers and create positive change for ourselves and future generations. #millionairemindset #thinkandgrowrich #buildingblackwealth #blackwealthmatters #financialliteracy #financialfreedom #financialeducation #financialstewardship #groupeconomics #generationalwealth #blackeconomics #blackentrepreneurs #blackbusiness #blackwealth #blackwealthmatters #blackwallstreet #blackwealthrenaissance  #racism #strengthinnumbers #ProfessionalDevelopment #CommunityEmpowerment #SocialImpact https://lnkd.in/gemznYGz

The co-president of #SXSW Hugh Forrest gave a shout-out about my upcoming talk at SXSW on "The Tech Industry and Cold War Two: Risks, Threats and Opportunities." Here is the description for my upcoming talk about #technology, #geopolitics, and the #economy - "The United States and its allies are in the middle of a Second Cold War with China and Russia, including their allies and proxies. This has significant implications for the global economy, technology businesses, and startups. This presentation will address the biggest risks, threats, and opportunities for the tech industry due to rising geopolitical tensions, with a focus on recent and future tech implications. Topics of this talk will include a discussion of recent and future trade restrictions, supply chain impacts, macroeconomic dislocations, tech investing and fundraising restrictions, financial market impacts, reshoring, government funding, and more." Let me know if you will be at SXSW! #China #Russia #ColdWarTwo

Occurring in Austin from March 8-15, the 2024 SXSW Conference consists of hundreds of panels and presentations covering all the topics relevant to the global community of digital creatives. Read these daily LinkedIn posts to better understand the breadth and depth of content options at this year's event. Today's edition of this series reveals five sessions from the 2024 SXSW Conference that highlight the many opportunities for advancement if we apply our creativity in a thoughtful and forward-focused manner. 1) Advancing Social Justice and Economic Opportunity: Heading into the 2024 campaign, hear from the leaders of the country’s most significant organizations empowering communities of color to discuss the ways they are coordinating to ensure that economic and social justice are front-and-center during the presidential election. Join the Global Black Economic Forum, National Urban League, and National Coalition of Black Civic Participation for this important conversation. https://lnkd.in/gEAnfTw9 2) Cannabis Around The World: Where Are The Big Opportunities?: While the U.S. cannabis industry lags, this panel of industry experts will examine the many opportunities posed around the world as other countries embrace a more aggressive path towards legalization. https://lnkd.in/gsTBF-st 3) Climate Chaos: Risk or Opportunity: Attend this solo presentation to learn how private companies can be proactive in this new world. Bruno Garfinkel, Chairman of Porto, a Brazilian insurance company with over 12MM customers, will share examples of cutting edge practices in assuming risk through new technologies, bold rescue and protection solutions, innovative recycling programs and regenerative leadership. https://lnkd.in/g_8PmeXb 4) The Entrepreneur’s Crystal Ball: 7 Advances, Infinite Opportunities: From groundbreaking green technologies to the transformative possibilities of Web 3, this session is a creative gateway to the promising and emerging sectors beyond AI, each teeming with entrepreneurial opportunities. https://lnkd.in/gKa8M45k 5) The Tech Industry and Cold War Two: Risks, Threats and Opportunities: This solo presentation from best-selling futurist Jason Schenker will address the biggest risks, threats, and opportunities for the tech industry due to rising geopolitical tensions in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. https://lnkd.in/gGjFRikW Find even more new opportunities by clicking on the link below to browse the entire SXSW 2024 online schedule. https://schedule.sxsw.com/ #sxsw, #sxsw2024, #opportunity, #opportunities, #opportunitiesforgrowth, Jason Schenker, Melanie Campbell, MARC MORIAL, Alphonso David, Bruno Garfinkel, Chris Day, Nancy Whiteman, Cynthia Salarizadeh, Will Yakowicz, Nancy Giordano, Janay Brower, Trey Holder, Elizabeth Strickler, #creativity, #innovation, #Austin, #MarchMagic, Tracy Mann

https://lnkd.in/eUQVJ3K5 Some time ago, John and I invited the writer and Manhattan Institute fellow Jason Riley onto the show. The topic under discussion was ostensibly Jason’s excellent biography of the great Thomas Sowell. But this conversation was recorded in the summer of 2021. The riots following George Floyd’s death were a recent memory, and the woke wave that elevated the likes of Ibram Kendi, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Robin DiAngelo to the apex of the culture was still on the rise. In this clip, you can feel the sense of urgency. John, Jason, and I were all, in our own ways, flapping our arms, warning against the intellectually bankrupt movement that was then overtaking public life, and we were frustrated by how few allies we seemed to have in our corner and how few liberals were willing to call out the insanity overtaking their end of the political spectrum. Times have changed, albeit too slowly. The tide is rolling back. There are now more vocal left-of-center figures, like Tyler Austin Harper and Jay Caspian Kang, who evince the proper skepticism toward identity politics and DEI excesses. We don’t agree on everything—we may even disagree on most things—but they are smart, sane, and skeptical critics of their own “side” of the debate. That Jay writes for the New Yorker and Tyler writes for the New York Times and the Atlantic can only be considered a good thing—cracks in the doctrinaire identitarian edifice are showing, even in those liberal redoubts. And yet, while we may be past “peak woke,” more work remains to be done. It is a travesty that the brilliant, iconoclastic Thomas Sowell remains relatively obscure outside of conservative circles. As Jason says in this clip, it’s possible that Sowell’s early exit from the academy allowed him the freedom to think, write, and speak as he sees fit, without the social pressure to conform to institutional biases. There is a price to that freedom—an unfair price but a real one. With no formal mentees and no legacy within the academy, Sowell has not accrued the kind of influence he merits. It’s easy to imagine an alternate history in which Sowell remained in the academy, taught and mentored graduate students, built up institutional authority, and changed the character of mainstream social thought in the US. That didn’t happen, but it’s not too late to incorporate his work and insights into canon of twentieth and twenty-first century intellectual history. If we had done so earlier, both for his work and others like him, perhaps we would have experienced a woke ripple rather than a wave.

At the Black Policy Institute, our commitment to dismantling financial disparities extends beyond rhetoric; it's a call to action that defines our very existence. We were honoured to be invited to share our thoughts on the panel at the Black Labour Virtual Membership Engagement Event, a platform where the power of collective action was evident. This scheduled Interactive Membership Engagement Zoom meeting, titled " Black Labour, Protecting Our Resilience," took place on Monday, 11 March 2024, at 07:00 PM London GMT. The urgency of our mission was underscored by the unprecedented transfer of wealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, where a staggering £900 billion flowed into the coffers of the top 1% (https://lnkd.in/dVeRrX5) , accentuating the pressing need for decisive action. As a non-partisan think tank, we, alongside esteemed panel speakers Brian Channer, Cllr Victoria Bamisile, and Cllr John Kabuye, delved into impactful policies such as the Economic Inclusion Initiative and Educational Equity Reform to bridge the wealth gap. Our mission extends beyond this virtual event; it's about actively engaging with our community, understanding their needs, and fostering continuous growth through training and development. The #FinancialEquity, #PolicyImpact, and #CommunityEmpowerment embody our vision of a fair and inclusive society, urging us all to unite under the banner of #UnityForChange. Together, we can translate the conversation from that evening into concrete actions that reshape policies and guide our community towards a future marked by equity and prosperity. Remember, at the Black Policy Institute, we are here to speak for ourselves and promote the resilience of the Black Labour community. Thanks to Sunny Lambe. Author. FCIM. FIIM. FRSA. MBA. for the invite to speak.

Most Americans do not know their own history, and therefore do not understand the root cause of the systemic trauma we all inherited. None of us created the society we inherited from a 20th century of racialized segregationist laws, economic systems, public policies and private sector practices. But we all inherited a responsibility for the society we pass to future generations. So we must fully understand the racial dynamics in society today through an informed lens of historical context. This is the work we do at https://lnkd.in/guwB439h Subscribe to our monthly CGC Journal and join our community of co-learners. Let's learn together, establish a common ground of knowledge and understanding, and then work together to build the equitable Inclusive America we envision. https://lnkd.in/gwUzjh8e

How can different types of communities move closer to delivering a better quality of life for all residents? This is the type of question my colleagues at McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility seek to answer. Last year, the Institute collaborated on 18 insight pieces providing in-depth research on Black economic development. For an inside look at our work to build a more inclusive economy, read our 2023 ESG Report ➡️ mckinsey.com/esgreport #SustainableInclusiveGrowth

Wait. Pause. Wa?!? America is racist?!? Yes, we were and, sadly, are still - as were (and are) a number of other countries. Success is acknowledging and owning our past so we can go about creating a better, more equitable and inclusive future. “Acknowledging and owning” isn’t a sigh of weakness. No, far from it. Owning our past demonstrates strength. Isn’t that what we teach our children? America has accomplished so much and contributed a great deal of good, in spite of our darkness. Imagine the good we’ll do, the better world we’ll create and the bright light we’ll shine when we live up to our ideals of “… a more perfect union.” Imagine if the roles were changed. If instead of being White-centric, the U.S. were Brown-and-Black centric. Imagine how White folk would react😱 Come on America, let’s do this and become the best version of ourselves🇺🇸