Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with TaChelle Lawson, Founder of FIG Strategy & Consulting, located in Las Vegas, NV, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
FIG Strategy & Consulting is a certified minority and woman-owned small business based in Las Vegas, NV. We are on a mission to change the way others think about diversity. We do this through DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) training, executive coaching, incorporating DEI into brand strategy, culture transformation, thought leadership and strategic sourcing (matching minority suppliers to buyers), and strategic storytelling.
We're trainers. We're educators. Most of all, we're business strategists. We'll help companies align their DEI initiatives with their business goals and brand strategies to strengthen their brand and increase financial performance and internal employee engagement. Our clients are in the restaurant, hospitality, transportation, and entertainment industries.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a Las Vegas native -- I grew up in one of the poorer sections of North Las Vegas. If someone who wasn't Black or Hispanic came into our neighborhood, it was typically the police or someone looking for drugs. As a young girl, it became clear that there was a difference between "us" and "them."
It also made me question if it was normal if this was what it was like in other neighborhoods that weren't Black or poor. I wasn't sure, but I knew I didn't like it and that I would get out. So at 12 years old, I pledged to myself that I would do something about it when I grew up, not only for myself but for other Black and Brown women I grew up with who didn't have a voice to make themselves heard.
As an adult, it both infuriates and disappoints me to read statistics about the state of women in the workforce. Women are still behind, and Black women are even further behind. It's like looking at numbers from the sixties! It just doesn't make any sense. As president of FIG Strategy & Consulting, my personal mission is to do something about that, to make a difference in people's lives. That is what motivates me.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I'm a D&I Certified by Cornell University and Diverse Business Certified by the Tuck Business School at Dartmouth. I am a Board Member on the UNLV Leadership Advisory Board, a member of the Clark County Business Development Advisory Council, an Advisory Board member for the Bar & Restaurant Expo, member of the National Diversity Council. Yet, my greatest accomplishment is mentoring young women entering the business world.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The final decision - good or bad, is yours. And every decision affects someone.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Learn grace; you'll need to give it to yourself regularly.
- Build a tribe. Being an entrepreneur is lonely; having people that understand you is essential to keeping yourself balanced and getting the support you need.
- Make time for yourself. Not everything needs to be done right away. It's ok to take a spa day or leave early and enjoy a mental health day. In fact, it's essential to be an effective leader.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.figfirm.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tachellylawson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/figfirm/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chachelly
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tachelle-l-b9a0b26/
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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