We recently connected with Dawanna Jones and have shared our conversation below.
Dawanna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
In January of 2017, I woke up one Saturday morning and God had placed on my spirit to do something to bring encouragement to Black women in my community. I knew that there were a lot of Black women who were doing great things in the community or their respective fields, but their good deeds were not being noticed. I also feel like Black women have a heavy weight on their shoulders that is unmatched. They have to be so much to so many, often at the same time, and it is overwhelming. I had a spark in me from God that said I needed to do something to recognize, support, and encourage Black women in my community. I had learned coding, in college but it had been years since I had used it. With God’s guidance, I worked all day Saturday to create a WordPress website called, Black Business Women of Southeast Texas. I used that site to put out weekly blog posts recognizing Black women in the community. By March, I created Black Business Men of Southeast Texas and used that site to put out blog posts recognizing Black men in the community.
At the end of the year, I decided to recognize a man and woman of the year. The two people that I selected did not know each other at the time, but when I met with them individually they both expressed a desire to see what I was doing grow and be more than just a blog. They agreed to work with me and that is how Black Business Professionals of Southeast Texas was formed. The mission was and still is, to provide networking opportunities so that Black professionals and business owners can connect with each other, to provide resources for business owners and those who want to be business owners, and recognize and support Black business owners and professionals in the entire Southeast Texas community.
Dawanna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I love helping others and making a difference in the lives of others. Black Business Professionals of Southeast Texas was not created to make money or be “seen”. I simply wanted to do what I felt God called me to do, make a difference. He placed the seed in me to start the blog recognizing men and women in my community and that developed into helping people start and grow their business as well as network to get to know other like-minded individuals in the community. Everyone involved with Black Business Professionals of Southeast Texas has a heart to give back to the community and make a difference in the lives of others. We aim to help each other reach goals by providing information and support.
I think one of the things that sets us apart is that we don’t do anything to be seen, to be popular, or put money in our pockets. Everything that is done is done to make a difference in the lives of others, to improve our community, and be an inspiration to the younger generation. What started as a seed that God planted in my heart, has turned into something that matters to a lot of people. I have sat with people who shared how much receiving an award meant to them. I’ve sat with people who said that they were in slump and knowing that someone thought enough to nominate them for an award made all the difference. For some, the award was the determining factor in them deciding to keep their business open. There has been people that came to one of our networking mixers and were able to connect with others to reach their business goals. I love helping others, I love business, and I am proud that I am able to put the two together and make a difference in my community.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Pivoting is a part of business. Life is unpredictable and nothing stays the same for long. Successful entrepreneurs know that you must be able to adapt to changes in trends and economic conditions. One of the most recent and impactful times for businesses was during the height of the Covid19 pandemic. Black Business Professionals of Southeast Texas had been hosting monthly networking mixers that allowed business owners and professionals to meet in a comfortable social setting. At the start of the pandemic businesses were ordered to close and people were not allowed to gather. As conditions improved, people were still hesitant to gather from the fear of catching the highly contagious virus. We had to pivot if we wanted to remain an active organization. As most people did, we shifted to online meetings. Instead of letting the pandemic defeat us, we found another way to do business. Zoom meetings became the way for us to continue to connect with the community. Business owners and those wanting to start a business should be aware that it is not a matter of if, but when. Situations will arise that may threaten the success of your business. If it is something that you really want to do, giving up shouldn’t be an option. You must find a way to pivot and keep going.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Besides the fact that I personally love to read and learn new things, as a business owner or professional one should constantly research and learn new advancements in their industry. Finding new resources to increase the efficiency and productivity of your business and professional life should be a part of your routine. SOAR! by T.D. Jakes is one of my favorites that I refer to often. I love the way he motivates readers to get over their fear, trust God to reveal the unique gifts, and put a plan into action. EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey is another good one. This book helps you to understand how the leaders in an organization affect the overall success. He explains how your management, leadership and entrepreneurship skills go hand in hand for the success of any business. I also enjoy going to conferences and learning from others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bbpsetx.com, www.dawannajones.com
- Instagram: @BBPSETX, @DDAWANNAJ
- Facebook: @BBPSETX