The CIAA Minority Business & Leadership Symposium provides comprehensive programming designed to stimulate economic and intellectual growth and development of minority business professionals.  This year, attendees will enjoy a Roundtable format wherein they will take part in roundtable discussions, expanding upon the outcomes of the 2019 Black Think Executive Roundtable at CIAA Business Symposium, hosted with NBMBAA. We will dive deeper into the unique challenges faced by the minority small business community, and be solutions driven. Attendees will also enjoy a keynote address that will inspire and motivate. 

The event will take place on Thursday, February 27, 2020 in the Charlotte Convention Center from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.    
Roundtable Overview:
 
Through discussion, participants will explore themes, trends and current practices related to the present realities of minority business owners in the current business climate and gaining access to business opportunities. 
 
The goals of this session are:
 

• Create a platform for mentorship and learning circle for business owners, corporate partners, educational institutions, government, and business support and developmental organizations to share insights and experiences. 
• Create a platform that allows for exploration and better understanding of root causes and broaden views of perspectives, and allow for transformational thinking and behaviors that will lead to heighten success.
• Create.a platform for collective and collaborate solutioning that will lower and remove barriers to inclusion and access to opportunities, and attendees can employ to influence and drive systematic change, drive accountability, change behaviors, as well as take personal accountability and responsibility.
• Provide insights that organizations can use to develop and shape programming that provides support and professional development to minority business owners. 

 
Table Moderators:
The purpose of the table moderator is to lead their tables through the series of discussions.  Moderators will ensure that all voices in the group are heard and perspectives captured.  Moderators will identify areas where greater understanding may be needed and if there are experts at the table that made provide insight as it relates to the topic / round of discussions.  Moderators will aid their table in going beyond the service and stretch thoughts by asking probing questions to deepen reflections and discussions.
 
Table moderators are strategically identified based on their background and areas of expertise, and strategically assigned to table topics. 
 
 
Table Assignments:
Attendees will strategically be assigned to tables in a way that will provide diverse thoughts and feedback based upon their industry, products/services provided, business life cycle, and number of years in business.  

Roundtable Discussions:
 
Round 1: Level Set: Present Realities (20 minutes Discussion, 15 minutes Report Out)
The goal of this round is to gain an understanding of the broad perspectives that participants bring in relationship to various areas of business and opportunities.  Groups should consider and capture the challenges / experiences at different life cycles of the business.
  
This is an opportunity for the group to have dialogue regarding present, personal experiences as it relates to topics and its impact on their business, inability to award business, extend capital, challenges in providing support services to businesses, etc. 
 
Round 2: Exploration of Root Cause (20 minutes Discussion, 15 minutes Report Out)
The goal of this round is to go below the surface to explore and discuss root causes of the challenges / barriers that are directly related to the challenges that were identified in round 1. Through this round, thoughts should be stretched in a way that will allow deeper exploration, understanding and articulation.  
 
The table moderator will guide their table discussions by employing the Five (5) Whys exercise. 
 
Root Cause Exploration Areas – Consider how / if the following areas contribute to root causes?

1. Policy / Legislation
2. Education (Institutions of Education)
3. Government
4. Public / Private Entities
5. Business Owner / Personal Contribution

 
 
Round 3: Solutioning
(20 minutes Discussion, 15 minutes Report Out)
 
The goal of this round is to collectively and collaboratively derive sets of solutions that address root cause identified in round 2.   The group should explore how the solutions can be addressed in the following areas:
 

1. Policy Legislation
2. Education (Institutions of Education)
3. Government
4. Public / Private Entities
5. Business Owner / Personal Action
6. Business Support Developmental Organizations

   

Event Partners