I think we over analyze the meaning of “ Innovation “. Innovation is simply thinking beyond the now. Innovation thrives from adversity and challenge, so, you will find most successful entrepreneurs are innovators. Through our work at the BBABC, we must find practical methods to help businesses create sustainable growth strategies. To be effective as a support organization, we also must have a sustainable growth strategy. The key to both situations is innovation. We’ve built proprietary tools to enable impact growth for both businesses and non-profits. Black Biz Global is a system we’ve built that merges B2C ecommerce functionality with B2G supply chain management.
I’ve never been interested in doing things the way everyone else does, and that forces me to be creative, and perhaps that makes me a disruptive thinker? What it has done, is allowed me to be adaptable and agile whenever needed.
We’ve been so beaten up spiritually by world events that we struggle to be empathetic, we struggle to understand one another, we struggle just to survive. Right now, we need a restoration of our internal energy banks. They are depleted. It is almost as if we need to innovate the way we see the world, the way we interact with each other, the way we learn from each other, and the way we learn about each others cultures. I believe my work gives me a unique opportunity to innovate cultural communication pathways through business. We’ve incorporated a blended digital-physical approach, and its working. UEL, our retail social enterprise, offers shoppers the experience of culture through the physical senses. The touch, feel, look, and smell of our products combined with the culturally in tuned staff offers
an immersive experience. This is so engaging and impactful, that we often get people emailing us afterwards raving about their in-store experience. Black Biz Global captures the global market and allows us to share our cultures around the world.
How can I share the cultures of the Caribbean with you? Maybe with a plate of rice & peas from Tommies Jerk, or an LP from Soul Essential Records. How can I share the cultures of the African continent with you? Perhaps with a bowl of Isombe from Taste of Rwanda, or a handcrafted basket from Woven Worldwide. And how can we show the beauty of fusion of cultures? With a Kente inspired street wear jogger from Naa Sheka Fashion. You see, we don’t all have to speak the same language to speak the same language. We have the opportunity right now to use business as a tool for cultural awareness and inclusivity, and that is exactly what we are doing. I know my mission and I stay true to the course.
I am now also supporting the strategic growth of other non-profit organizations through my business, Nerissa Allen Consulting. This work allows me to help not for profit organizations re-imagine how they can support their audience through hybrid business growth strategies and integrated technology. I am excited to watch their development and change the game in the non profit sector.
