We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lashonda Geffrard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lashonda , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I found my purpose while navigating my life journey. When I founded Black Pet Business Network, it was during a time where the world stood still. It was during the hight of Covid, literally during lock down. We were forced to temporarily closed the doors to my primary business The Paw Shop. I literally sat on edge of my bed thinking to myself “What do I do next, How can I take advantage of this terrible situation.” My first thought was that I wanted to emerge from lockdown with a complete rebrand of my grooming salon however, ended up emerging with something much more than that! As I searched the internet looking for new ideas and reconnecting with indusrty, I became increasingly excited about finding more ways to better my business based off what everyone else was doing.
My excitement then led me to think I needed to find professional help to me reach these new goals I began to imagine for myself. I found a few online groups that had the same mindset however, being a women of color with my own set of experiences and challenges, I couldn’t always relate and I was tired to being the only person of color in these conversations. It was like being in a crowed room with still nobody to talk to or relate with… It was a very isolated feeling. So, I decided to create my own group. The Black Pet Business Network (BPBN) was born! It started as a social learning platform, where our mission was to empower and learn from each other through our own personal stories, successes and failures in business.
Since then we’ve grown and evolved as an organization entirely. As of today we are a 501(c)3 nonprofit. dedicated to empowering Black professionals and entrepreneurs in the pet and animal industry in the focus of career advancement and business development. Through our programs and resource our goal has been to cultivate new opportunities for growth and collaboration to the historically underrepresented people of color in the industry. Since, we’ve been achieving our goals through strategic partnerships and initiatives that address systemic barriers, promote diversity and inclusion.
It’s been an incredible journey thus far. I’d never image me finding my purpose nestled inside of that specific experience.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
What I’ve been doing is advocating for people of color in the pet space. What’s makes my work so special are all the tangible opportunities BPBN creates. We curate Pitch Competitions, workshops, funding opproetunies, city to city in person and virtual networking events, you name it… BPBN is dedicated to doing it.
What I’d like people to know is that there are thousands of people in our community who need support. The pet industry is booming true, but, lags behind in ensuring an equitable workforce for those from marginalized communities. BPBN is seeking support from leading organizations even outside industries to help us tackle this issue.
Join our mailing list and follow us on social media to keep up with what’s happening next in our organization.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My three personal qualities have been Ambition, Communication and Vision.
When you’re early in your journey to create change… whatever that change maybe, never stop believing in yourself, your life’s purpose or the mission to achieve change.
Invest in your own personal development, Create a clear and concise strategies for how you’re going to achieve your goals and stick with it. Don’t get distracted by anybody else’s wins or losses. Keep your eyes on the prize.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
BPBN is thrives of collaboration. Our vision for BPBN is big, BPBN seeks collaborations with those who share our goal of enhancing diversity in the pet industry:
Pet Industry Corporations, retailers, educational institutions, Service providers and those willing to be mentors.
To collaborate, contact us through our website or social media channels.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blackpetbusinesnetwork.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackpetbusinessnetwork?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/262862478990014/?ref=profile_plus_visit_group
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/blackpetbusinessnetwork
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoULWLo6X1qGl3rnz0PX2Aw
