100 Collegiate Women and SIFE hosts Empowered Women Project

Tamra Lewis -TRB & Associates

The members of the 100 Collegiate Women of America teamed up the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team at Prairie View A&M University for an Empowered Women's Business Seminar on March 27.

The purpose of the seminar, which was funded in part from the Walmart* Women's Economic Empowerment Partnership Grant, was to introduce and show women how to Start and Run Your Own Business. The Frederick Douglass Leadership Institute was also one of the sponsors for the program.

The seminar featured business woman and entrepreneur Tamra Lewis, owner of TRB & Associates of Houston, Texas.

Ariadne Pollitt - SIFE

Program Leader, Ariadne Pollitt, a member of SIFE and the 100 Collegiate Women, welcomed the audience, informed them of the program and the importance of them getting involved and introduced the speaker. She also named several members of SIFE who had started their own business to include Brittani Phillips, who had authored a book and had created a Cookie Company, Jasmine Wiggins, co-founder of the Collegiate Mom Pageant Organization and Celestial Hall, owner of Claritoli Fashion Designs. Incidentally, Ariadne also runs an original purse and handbag making business.

Under the banner of "Captain of My Ship" and "We wear the Hats", Lewis emphasized the importance of knowing who you are and what you want. Part of the program focused on goal setting, identifying strengths and weaknesses, leadership and picking the right people to work with. "Just because they are your friends, it does not mean they can be good business partners," Lewis cautioned the ladies. Highlighting her business venture, Lewis told the audience that "it's not going to be easy but you have to persevere and be committed to your passion. No one can do it like you, you go for it unceasingly." Incidentally, Lewis was a national speaker for the National Kidney Foundation having receive a kidney transplant, which has given her a new life to run her business.

The second part of the program presented by Frederick V. Roberts, one of the Advisors for SIFE and the Collegiate 100 Women focused on the how to start the business program. Roberts distributed, what he called a simple "How To Model for Women Entrepreneurs" to ladies. He discussed the need for creating and developing the idea for the business or the product, protecting the idea with Trade or Service Mark, developing a business plan, registering a DBA (Doing Business As assumed name), requesting EIN Number to establish a bank account, seeking capital, filing taxes and keeping great records. Roberts also told the audience about the importance of providing excellent services or products if you wanted to stay in business.

The audience also received handouts and resources on the top businesses in America, which included the Best Businesses for Women, Business Start-ups by Women, Minority Business Success, Women in CEO Leadership in established businesses to emulate and organizations such as the American Business Women's Association, that could help them in their business ventures. Mrs. Rebecca Faison donated information was from the Small Business Development Center at Prairie View A&M University for the participants.

This was one of the many planned events to enhance Empowered Women - The Business Connection and to expose the students to the myriad of resources available to them.

The SIFE Team president is Alexus Hall, a junior Electrical Engineering Technology from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Dr. Rick Baldwin, Management Professor is the SIFE Sponsor/Advisor. The Project Advisor is Frederick V. Roberts, former Assistant Director of Career Services.

For more information on the programs contact sife-pvamu@yahoo.com or the100collegiatewomen@yahoo.com.