HIGH Summit: Women Paving The Path To Success

“I really want everyone here to leave with a new contact; A new connection because community is everything, especially during this time.”

This statement by Dreena Whitfield highlights the vital role of interpersonal connections, which provide not only support and opportunities but also an essential sense of belonging during trying circumstances for diverse stakeholders, including women, people of color, and business owners. After this introduction by Dreena herself and WhitPR, the How I Got Here Summit began. Inspired by the How I Got Here podcast, a show about real interactions with Black women founders, executives, and leaders, and their success, the summit was a meet-up with various female icons in various fields to help fellow women achieve business goals.

Host: Felicia Walker (@thisthatbeauty) 

Founder/CEO of WhitPR and host of How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield: Dreena Whitfield – Brown (@dreenawhitpr & @whitpr)

Amber Dawkins, VP, Product Management, Mastercard (@mastercard)

Nagela Duperval, Owner, Ou La Restaurant (@oulacarteret)

Sandy Castor, Department Head, Department of Economic Development, Middlesex County

Djenaba Johnson-Jones, Founder, The Hudson Kitchen (@thehudsonkitchen)

Keyaira Boone, Editorial Lead, Media Consultant and Creator (@pennedbykeyaira)

Dr. Charis Chambers, Certified OB-GYN, Creator of The Period Doctor  (@theperioddoctor)

Christina Henderson, (@lovebrownsugar)

Mimi Brown, Emmy-Nominated Anchor & Host of Front Page News, The Breakfast Club (@mimibrowntv)

Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, Founder and CEO, The Village Retail (@drkeyhallmon)

The first segment featured Nagela Duperval and Amber Dawkins to discuss money and how to rise from debt to growth. Nagela Duperval was able to flip her failing restaurant, Ou La, into a successful one through successful partnerships. She told us her entire story of bad credit and fraudulent investors, and how small business loans are difficult without any help. “What they don’t tell you is, as a small business, it’s actually harder for us to get funding… They don’t tell you, you need collateral.” Amber Dawkins from Mastercard explained how Mastercard is now evolving away from credit scores alone for loans, when those things retain permanent damage from economic crises, and interest in sales and investments is more accurate to show the current business acumen.

The next segment was with Sandy Castor, Department Head of Economic Development of Middlesex County, and Djenaba Johnson-Jones about the resources that the government can provide for you. In a quote from Sandy, “The counties and municipalities, we’re the best kept secret”. Everyone already pays taxes to the state for support of women and minority-run businesses, as well as SMBs in general, so you should take advantage of the resources. Additionally, they discussed the importance of electing women to all levels of government and appointing them to boards.

The third segment was the only one that had three speakers: Keyaira Boone, Dr. Charis Chambers, and Christina Henderson. Their discussion revolved around branding yourself in the modern world of social media through storytelling and authenticity. There was a lot of useful advice in this discussion for people who don’t know how to successfully use social media. When using social media, focus on authentic storytelling and credibility rather than the follower count. The quality of engagement matters more than the quantity. A hundred faceless likes are not as valuable to a businesswoman as twenty comments personally complimenting her work in detail. Another point mentioned is to stay focused on one area to strengthen your expertise. Dr. Chambers focused specifically on pediatric gynecology, and due to the lack of competition in that niche field, was able to become a top expert. A third point is that every interview or story you tell can only help increase your name recognition. Local small-time websites and influencers might not seem important, but they are the people reaching the local customers SMBs need.

The final segment was between Mimi Brown and Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon to discuss help and support systems. The core message of the discussion is that business owners like to be known as self-made and independent, but that is an illusion, and no one can truly be successful without help.

“To own the title of self-made is erasing every single person that have assisted you on your journey. And that is not our intent. To say that, ‘No, I am not a self-made woman or man, I am village-made.’” Help is not a weakness, but a tool you should use.

The How I Got Here Summit was a wonderful gathering that highlighted the importance of community and connections for women and minority business owners. Attendees were treated to a delightful lunch, complemented by lovely swag bags from Anne Klein. The event provided a supportive space for learning and sharing, with opportunities for friendly mingling and even a group invite to the Ou La bar afterward. This nurturing environment reinforced the summit’s message that success is sweeter when shared with friends and allies.