Category: Diversity & Inclusion

Meet Noella Kabula. Let’s see what Noella has to say about what it means to be black in business:

“I consider being black in business a journey. Where it has its ups and downs because it can be challenging and difficult to fit in as a minority. At the same time that challenge is necessary because it allows me to step out of my comfort zone and succeed.”

📸: @matt_chia_

See Post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLpPljRH5_d/

Meet Morgan Conrard. Here are Morgan’s thoughts on what it means to be black in business:

“I’d say creative. You gotta be able to maneuver your way through things. And sometimes that, that means you have to do unorthodox things to get you to where your goals and objectives are. I’ve been blessed for that to be an opportunity and it’s opened a lot of doors for me to pave my way to my goals.”

📸: @matt_chia_

See Post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLfCNtdHfMH/

Meet Deb Destahun. Here are her thoughts on what it means to be black in business:

“Unveiled. You have more self-awareness of how people view you and how the skills you maintain and the way you act will be viewed by others. Some people are going to dismiss your qualifications and think you got something just because you are diverse. Using diversity as a scapegoat is a defense mechanism, a veil. It is not my job to correct their rationalization, but at the same time, you can’t help wanting to protect yourself from it.”

📸: @matt_chia_

See Post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLZxNs2nk21/

Meet Neah Howlett. Let’s take a look at what she has to say about what it means to be black in business:

“Perseverance. Being Black in business you don’t have a ton of support and you also don’t have a lot of role models to look up to. So it’s kind of like you’re doing it on your own. It’s all worth it in the end though because you know that you will be a role model for another Black student who’s coming into the business world and they need somebody to look up to. And they can say, ‘Hey, if they can do it, I can do it.’”

📸: @matt_chia_

See Post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLUqpUln03f/

What does it meant to be black in business? Let’s see what Kethia Mulongo has to say:

“Opportunity. Seeing the difference in the room, the lack of black people in the business world. Where I don’t see a lot of people who look like me, who don’t have the same identity. Opening a room or creating a positive thing where you see a lot of black people in the business world. I could use that as an opportunity to create a business for me and for people like me.”

📸: @matt_chia_

See Post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLKVN6JnRzG/

Meet Jacob Lewis Howard. Here is what being black in business means to him:

“Adaptable. To be Black in Business you have to choose and wear so many different hats depending on the situation. You can’t take yourself so seriously that you’re seen as aggressive and overly dominant, trying to take over. You can’t be so whimsical and carefree that you’re viewed as lazy. It’s about striking the middle balance, depending on the situation. It’s about being adaptable. To be able to show yourself through your adaptations. Being able to grow a community around you and to adapt to that community.”

📸: @matt_chia_

See Post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CLFNmBvnaAx/

Meet Sire Abram. Let’s see what he has to say about what it means to be Black in business:

“I would say true-passion. I would say that because being Black in business comes with a lot of adversity and you have to truly be passionate about it to succeed.”

📸: @matt_chia_

See Post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CK630iIniNs/ 

Meet Baaba Saisie, the first of many Tippie students that will be sharing their unfiltered thoughts on what it means to be Black in business. Here is what she has to say:

“Inspiring. Being Black in business is inspiring because it encourages people to pursue success in places that seem unattainable.

Courage. It takes courage to be in a field of unfamiliar faces. At times, I feel discouraged by the lack of people I can relate to. It also takes courage to be in a competitive field where my color may be put into account concerning my skills. Despite the challenges, I know that with courage, I can achieve anything despite my skin color.”

📸: @matt_chia_

See Post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CK1t9UdHu_b/

Please join the Black in Business Series on February 11th  from 2:00-3:00pm CST to hear from Siddig Siddig, Venture Capital Investor at Mubadala.

Siddig Siddig is a Tippie Alum and will speak about his experiences as a person of color navigating his way in the venture capital field. Some of these experiences are transferable to any industry and can help you in your journey in corporate America.

RSVP is required to receive the Zoom link to attend this event. Please fill out the link below to before February 10th.

BIB Talk: Journey to Venture Capital & Investment Banking: https://forms.gle/bK5Qfkc9CAnBb9Vn8

If you have any questions, feel free to contact rawan-taha@uiowa.edu.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Tevin Robbins in advance at 319-335-1037 or tevin-robbins@uiowa.edu.

In honor of the unique contributions of Black people in the field of business, during the month of February the Tippie College of Business is sharing stories from currents student and alumni.

This project is done in collaboration with the  Black in Business Series Planning Team (Tippie DEI Ambassadors).

Learn more at https://bit.ly/3teFNcA

This spring, the Tippie UPO & the Tippie DEI committee are partnering to host a monthly event featuring a different Tippie community member who will tell their story of Who I Am. Storytellers will be faculty, staff, students, and alums.

Join our monthly zoom call on the first Monday of the month to hear from someone different, ask them questions, and learn together!

The first storyteller is Jeffrey Ding.  Jeffrey graduated from the University of Iowa in 2016 after pursuing Economics in Tippie, political science, and Chinese.  He also completed the International Business Certificate.  Jeffrey pursued his graduate studies at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

When: Monday, February 1st from 12-12:30pm

RSVP here.

Please join the Black in Business Series on October 29 from 2:00-3:00pm CST to hear from Lee Henderson, partner at Big Four accounting firm Ernst & Young. Lee will speak about his experiences as a person of color navigating his way to becoming a partner at a major accounting firm.

These skills of advancement are transferable to any industry and can help you in your journey in corporate America. This is also a great opportunity to pick his brain on what makes the entrepreneurs that he works with successful.

RSVP is required to receive the Zoom link to attend this event. Please fill out the link below to before October 29th.

BIB Talk: Accounting and Entrepreneurship Featuring Lee Henderson: https://forms.gle/TRNx5A8z28t9Wzqx7

If you have any questions, feel free to contact caymen-woods@uiowa.edu

Has this semester been stressful, hectic, and difficult? Do you wish you had better distressing techniques? During a tough academic, social, and emotional semester, our bodies need some relaxation and mediation. Yoga is a healthy technique that teaches you how to relax your mind, body, and soul. Yoga can help you recenter your energy, rejuvenate your mind, relieve anxiety, improve sleep quality, and provide a better quality of life. All it takes is 45 minutes out of your day to feel brand new.

Join the Black in Business team for “Stretch and Destress: Black in Business”, a virtual yoga event on October 21st 12:00pm – 12:45pm. Come learn how to connect your mind, body, and soul with some virtual yoga.

RSVP to attend this event. Please RSVP by October 20th. Please fill out the link below to RSVP for this event.

Stretch and Destress: Black in Business RSVP Link:  https://forms.gle/HKtmemMTsJBVyx8F7

For any question or concerns feel free to contact myran-brewer@uiowa.edu.