Besa Gordon, host of Back2Besa and community advocate and weekly guest on Seattle's Good Day Seattle, recently sat down with Erin Mayovsky to discuss the Black Business Leadership Conference held at the University of Washington last month. The conference, a celebration of National Black Business Month, was a vibrant hub of energy and inspiration for aspiring and established Black entrepreneurs.  

Gordon, known for her passion for community engagement and empowerment, shared her enthusiasm for the event, emphasizing the importance of fostering a supportive environment for Black-owned businesses. She highlighted the conference's theme, "Ignite and Inspire," which underscored the power of collaboration and networking within the Black business community.  

Reflecting on the conference's impact, Gordon shared, "If you had a business, and you were just kind of like hemming and hawing about it, and you weren't really sure about what the next level was, trust me, you found like three more levels by the time you left there."  

The conference, now in its third year, was founded by Lewis Rudd, the co-founder and CEO of Ezell's Famous Chicken. Rudd's vision for the event was to create a space where Black entrepreneurs could connect, learn, and access resources to help their businesses thrive. Rudd captured the essence of the conference, stating, "I look around this room and I see a powerful collective of innovators, dreamers, who are not just building businesses, but are building the future."  

Gordon and Mayovsky discussed the diverse range of attendees, from budding entrepreneurs seeking guidance to seasoned business owners looking to expand their networks. The presence of Mayor Bruce Harrell and other city officials highlighted the city's commitment to supporting Black businesses. Mayor Harrell emphasized the importance of access to resources, stating, "There's a lot of capital out there. The key is, how do you get it?"  

The conference offered a variety of resources, including workshops, panel discussions, and one-on-one mentoring sessions. Attendees gained valuable insights into topics such as accessing capital, marketing strategies, and navigating the unique challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs. you can learn more about RUDD'S R.U.B.B. (Raising Up Black Businesses) by visiting www.ruddsrubb.org

See the full segment this Saturday at 10:30 pm on FOX 13 Seattle and catch the replay Sunday on FOX 13 +

If you don’t have FOX 13 Seattle where you live, you can still watch Back2Besa for free anywhere in the nation by downloading the free FOX Local app. Learn how to download app here bit.ly/watchfoxlocal

On this day, Besa Gordon had photos taken by Jordan Somers and was styled by Akia Ronai (dress, necklace, bracelet, and shoes) on behalf of Converge Media.