During my fellowship with the National Urban League's business development and entrepreneurship team, I made substantial contributions toward advancing the organization’s mission of economic empowerment for historically underrepresented communities. I played a crucial role in finalizing the "Small Business Summit," held at their national conference in New Orleans, which successfully convened around 150 small business owners from diverse and historically marginalized backgrounds. This summit was instrumental in offering these entrepreneurs essential resources, networking opportunities, and business insights.

Additionally, I collaborated with the organization’s marketing and social media division, where I conducted thorough audits of social media channels to assess and enhance their effectiveness. Working with cross-functional teams, I helped integrate innovative social media strategies into broader marketing efforts, thus amplifying the League's outreach and engagement. These efforts were aligned with the League’s mission to foster economic growth and inclusivity, supporting their commitment to empowering underserved communities through targeted business development and entrepreneurial support.

During my fellowship, I leveraged a broad set of skills developed through my MBA program to achieve significant results. I spearheaded the post-conference survey initiative, meticulously collecting feedback from participants and conducting thorough data analysis. This process was crucial for identifying key trends and areas needing improvement, which I converted into actionable recommendations to enhance future conferences and conventions.

My proficiency in stakeholder management played a vital role in cultivating and sustaining relationships both within the organization and with external affiliates and sponsors. This effective networking was instrumental in fostering valuable collaborations and garnering support for our initiatives. Furthermore, my analytical skills were essential in interpreting complex data, which supported strategic decision-making and project development. By working closely with cross-functional teams, I utilized my teamwork abilities to integrate various perspectives, ensuring a unified approach to achieving the League’s mission of promoting economic empowerment and fostering growth in underserved communities.

One significant challenge I faced during my internship was securing buy-in from the League’s affiliates. Although I was quickly integrated into my specific team, establishing rapport and gaining the cooperation of the 92 affiliates, particularly the 13 with existing entrepreneurship center programs, proved to be difficult. These affiliates were crucial to advancing my projects, as their support and engagement were necessary for moving forward. I worked to familiarize them with my role and build the necessary relationships to encourage their responsiveness.This required consistent outreach and effective communication strategies to demonstrate the value of my work and its alignment with their goals. By engaging with the affiliates and providing clear, compelling reasons for their involvement, I eventually succeeded in fostering productive relationships and advancing our initiatives, thus contributing to the overall success of the program.

My fellowship experience profoundly reinforced that MBA skills are highly transferable across various industries and teams. I discovered that the analytical, managerial, and strategic skills I honed during my MBA are not only applicable but also invaluable at nonprofits, including initiatives centered on economic justice for Black and Brown communities. This realization has opened my eyes to the multitude of career opportunities where I can not only be challenged, but also work on projects that align with my values.

Additionally, I learned that career paths are not always linear. Embracing the unpredictable nature of my journey has been a liberating experience. I am excited to explore new territories, knowing that each step contributes to my growth and aligns with my values and aspirations. This experience has truly broadened my perspective and deepened my commitment to making a meaningful impact.