We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Deron Gadsden a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Deron, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
The simple answer, and honestly the truth is I just did it. When I had the original idea to start a business, I just knew I wanted it to be something that could help black people. I spent some time going back through my old business school notes, honestly not sure what I was looking for, but I ended up reviewing notes for my Strategic Management course. The course was all about setting up an organizational strategy to achieve a mission in a competitive market. Reviewing the coursework, lead me down a path of research. I watched a lot of films on black history, I reviewed the work of a lot of the organizations currently doing work in the Black Community, some of which I am a part of myself. That’s where BE Impactful began to take shape. I realized that “we” didn’t need another advocacy organization or hashtag. What history taught me was that when we were all in one community and rarely, if at all, separated by socioeconomic standards we were at our best. I truly believe that the prosperous Black Communities of the past (Greenwood -Tulsa, OK, Jackson Ward – Richmond, VA, Farish Street – Jackson, MS, West 9th St. – Little Rock, Ark., Sweet Auburn District – Atlanta, GA, Hayti – Durham, NC, Bronzeville District – Chicago) could be relived with a modern twist if we came together as people. That became the BE Impactful vision and focus, elevating the black experience through connection, through Community. Once I knew what I wanted to do, it was just figuring out how. I just talked to my friends and family about the idea to see how different people felt about the vision and what they would like to see “if” it were real. Eventually, I decided that creating safe spaces for our Community to learn, grow and network was the way to create a meaningful impact. From there, it was really just as simple as jumping off the porch. I picked an event and then I just got to work planning, and being fortunate enough to have people around me that want to see me succeed.
Deron, 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?
BE Impactful, is a community-based organization dedicated to positively impacting the culture through social and educational engagement. The purpose of BE Impactful is simple, it’s to live life together BUT to do so in an intentional way that as we live and grow, we positively impact the culture along the way. Our intentional format looks like social and educational programs such as our inaugural Black Literature Matters event and The Self Care Social. Two events we’ve had this year to elevate Black creatives and entrepreneurs in those spaces while also providing the Community access to these individuals as resources.
Our organization’s motto is “Leave a piece of you in everything you touch” represented by our logo of a fingerprint inside an old-school wax stamp. Our goal and hope for everyone who attends an event are that they leave with more than they came with. Not only is this about the knowledge they can receive from the creative resources we bring together but also a sense of Community, bonding, network, and inspiration from everyone who is in the room.
When people ask what we provide I give them two tangible and one intangible. We sell apparel, this is to further instill the sense of Community and spread the BE Impactful message. We curate Community events where we can come together in a safe space. Finally, and most importantly the intangible is the BE Impactful experience. It’s hard to explain, but when our Community is together it feels different. I always leave with a sense of being, and I always meet at least one person who wants in.
Any advice for managing a team?
My biggest piece of advice for someone managing a team is to be authentic. I have found both as a mentor in Corporate America as well as I grow in the community service space people can smell a fraud a mile away. Being your true self makes those around you more likely to trust you and your leadership. I make it a priority to be transparent with my team. I let them know where I am working to be better not only so that they can hold me accountable as a leader and so they feel comfortable to be transparent with me as well.
The second thing that I learned is that work of any kind, volunteer or paid, is a relationship just like any other. In relationships, people need to be cared for, affirmed, and recognized. I make an effort to celebrate their wins, even if they did not see them as a win. I’m also fortunate enough to have a team of entrepreneurs focusing on other endeavors before BE Impactful existed. As a leader and someone who preaches Community, I must support their endeavors and get our Community to support them as well.
Last, and this is me being my authentic self, and may not resonate with everyone’s style. But I do not use the word management, I use the word lead. Don’t manage your people, lead your people. Allow them to be free, and express themselves in their work and you’ll see the best versions of them.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Honestly, 6 months into our first year we are still building our reputation. But our reputation is essentially what we call #TheCommunityWay. There are no gimmicks to what we do, it is just ingrained into who we are. That’s what makes BE Impactful unique, the sense of Community and the vibes that we curate WHILE doing something necessary and important for our people. The Community Way is what resonates with others, and makes them want to be part of the movement. Ultimately, that’s the mission the bigger our community gets, the greater our impact. It’s something you have to see for yourself to understand. The BE Impactful experience is our reputation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beimpactful.net/
- Instagram: @_BEImpactful
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BEImpactful/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-impactful-llc/