Name: Yes, you can be an entrepreneur too
Uploaded: 2024-08-19T15:07:30Z
Duration: 11 min 7 s
Description: Who gets to be an entrepreneur? Saamra Mekuria-Grillo says the image we most commonly see — a guy in a hoodie — is a limiting representation of entrepreneurial success. She highlights the importance of young Black people seeing entrepreneurship as a possibility for themselves and explains the key to making the field more inclusive.

Saamra Mekuria-Grillo: Yes, you can be an entrepreneur too

Yes, you can be an entrepreneur too

Who gets to be an entrepreneur? Saamra Mekuria-Grillo says the image we most commonly see — a guy in a hoodie — is a limiting representation of entrepreneurial success. She highlights the importance of young Black people seeing entrepreneurship as a possibility for themselves and explains the key to making the field more inclusive.

The myth of the hoodie-wearing tech founder blocks many from seeing themselves as entrepreneurs. Just one out of 63 self-made billionaires in the U.S. is Black, highlighting exclusion from generational wealth. By showing young Black people diverse paths, relatable role models, and the power of their own networks, communities can unlock untapped potential. Expanding access to entrepreneurship is vital for closing the racial wealth gap and preparing for a changing job landscape.