Renewed, Refreshed and Reset: 2021 NBMBAA Conference

Happy Monday. This was a weekend of reflection. I truly had the time to soak up all the information presented last week. I had the privilege and the pleasure of volunteering with the National Black MBA Association for their 43rd Annual Conference. The theme was Refresh Renew and Reset, and it lived up to everything that I could possibly imagine. I used to volunteer when I was a student, working towards my MBA here in Chicago. To have the conference return to its home. Returned to its roots. Returned to where it all started was just very very nostalgic. They were celebrating so many historic moments.  Anniversaries and corporate opportunities that formed throughout  the years being celebrated. It really created magical fantastic experiences that will spark energy for all who attended. Sometimes we grow out of those things that made us happy while we were going through. Sometimes we let go of extracurricular activities in favor of employment efforts. It's good to go back and revisit the things that we used to do. The things that used to give us energy. The things that used to make us strong. And the things that we felt as a sense of community. One of the things that I truly loved about the conference experience is getting together with other professionals. People who have a like mindset. People who were on top of their business. Folks weren't necessarily there to just party. They were working professionals there for career growth, advice and advancement. The conference provided a socially distanced safe space to escape the pandemic and invest in yourself. To get things going in their life. It was about networking. It was about learning new things. It was about growth and expansion. And it really set the tone for the whole week. You had volunteers, like myself, who were inspired by speakers that we had to ourselves. We were inspired by speakers like Michael Vick, and Ledisi, as they gave the crowd comments on things that we could be doing right now to help change our world. Change our environment. Change the corporate structures that we now belong to. We also had corporate receptions where there were a plethora of empowerment messages. We also had plenty of music throughout the week, including DJ D-Nice who had a very special set during the 3M Welcome Reception (from Club Quarantine? The guy with the hat? Volunteers got all the questions that night) Let's not forget the main event- the career fair. There were entrepreneurial events but the focus is always on the career fair. This year, it's separated into two parts: the physical career fair on Thursday and Friday and the virtual career fairs coming up on Tuesday and Wednesday. This is an extra treat for those who were in attendance, and for those who attended digitally. During this pandemic, the conference was canceled last year but they came back strong. They came back resilient. They came back with purpose, making sure that their membership was taken care of on both a physical, personal, spiritual and business level. The NBMBAA ensured that the conference was everything you could possibly imagine and then some. Everyone walked away with connections, knowledge and economic opportunities. Some of the closing activities included competitions, award ceremonies and programs encouraging business growth, expansion, entrepreneurship and community support. The NBMBAA is going to be a strong organization for years to come. As I look at the turning over of leadership to our youth. I'm very confident that the future is in great hands. Everyone was there from young students who are high schoolers to college students to MBA students, to those of us who are experienced in our careers. There were many generations. We heard from those who actually founded the organization as well as those who are newly crowned into it. I encourage you and implore you to reach back into your past and grab those good moments. Invest in your future. Make sure that you are doing everything that you need to do to make sure that you are up to date. Ensure that you are networked, plugged in and ready to go. Make sure you take advantage of every opportunity that is provided to you. Don't be afraid to show up and show out for any reason.  You don't want to miss the opportunity in, especially when it comes right to you. There's so much in store in life for you. The NBMBAA Conference was absolutely uplifting, motivational, and inspirational. Be inspired to always grasp for the mark of the high calling. You can always lead yourself to the purple life, to the best life possible. Share your thoughts and your comments below. Thank you for reading this article and supporting this blog space. Stay safe, masked and healthy. Take Care and God Bless!!!