Creating Equitable Workplaces - Level D&I Solutions

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in organizational development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chelsea Akers, Co-Founder and President of Level D&I Solutions, located in Columbus, OH, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Level D&I Solutions is a social enterprise providing diversity and inclusion services. Our services include diversity-focused hiring and staffing, consulting, and training. Our customers are mid to large-sized businesses that are actively growing and hiring and who have active diversity and inclusion initiatives and supplier diversity goals. Our ideal customers are organizations who are intentional about building an inclusive culture for all of their employees.

Tell us about yourself

Right out of college, I went directly into IT staffing for an organization that had no racial diversity and segmented gender roles in the business (men in sales, women in support roles). I never felt appreciated or that I had a real opportunity to improve or succeed in this environment, and after connecting with hundreds of other women with similar experiences, plus other underrepresented and underserved individuals, I decided that if I was going to spend more than half of my life working, I was going to do something that aimed to make the world a better place.

I co-founded this business with a former colleague - we were both working for the same IT staffing company while also running a large advocacy group for women in technology. We quickly realized there was a large portion of the population that was not being served by traditional staffing companies or general hiring practices at corporations - i.e., individuals with diverse backgrounds were being excluded by the existing systems in place. My now co-founder and I realized there was a huge opportunity for us to help individuals who have historically been overlooked and underserved in the workplace simply by approaching staffing with a diversity-specific lens and providing a one-stop-shop for all our clients’ diversity and inclusion needs.

Knowing that we are actively working to improve the workplace experience for everyone, and especially for people who haven’t always had access to the same opportunities or resources as others, keeps me focused on the work every day.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Building a profitable business that is financially able to support employees has been a huge accomplishment for me.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Being a business owner is a lot different than being an employee and working for someone else. It requires a shift in responsibilities but also in mindset. When you’re a business owner, you have to be willing to do every single part of the job (legal, finance, HR, sales, marketing, product development, etc.), and you have to understand that - at least in the beginning - the business won’t move without you. It’s 100% on you to create and sustain your business. You have to be willing to work long hours, learn a lot of new skills, and step outside of your comfort zone often.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Do market research - is there a need for your service or product? What competitors exist in the market currently? How will you differentiate yourself from your competitors?
2. Do everything you can to grow sustainably and organically. When you take out loans or take funding from other organizations, you have to give up some control over your business. If you are able to moonlight your idea or start it as a side hustle and spend some time proving the business model and building up your reputation and capital, growing is a lot less stressful!
3. Make sure you are aligned with your partner (if you have one) and that you have a solid support system in place. Starting a business is a big undertaking, and having the understanding and support of the people closest to you will make a huge difference.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.leveldi.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseakers/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelseaakers/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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