Champions of Change Blog

Abandoning Mediocrity and Seizing Opportunity

Posted by Ted Gonder on March 15, 2012 at 12:26 PM EDT

I’m honored to have Moneythink recognized as one of the five Champions of Change in the White House Campus Challenge. It’s surreal: three years ago, when Moneythink was just an idea, we dreamed of taking our passion—financial education through peer mentorship—to a national stage. We didn’t realize just how much more relevant our mission would become in those short three years.

Financial illiteracy, economic immobility, and educational inequality are problems that continue to worsen in America’s urban centers as the global financial crisis unravels further. But as with any challenge, the outcome is in the response: we as individuals can choose to join the doomsayers, passive bystanders, and despondent fatalists in the comfort of collective complaining, or we can choose to abandon mediocrity, see the silver lining, and act upon the opportunity to build a better future.

Until my mid-teens, I drifted through life passive, purposeless, and unhappy. My parents had worked hard to seize opportunities in their lives, saving enough money to provide me with extracurricular opportunities and eventually hire me a tutor. This tutor, a college student from Ghana and the first of many mentors who would enter my life, inspired and worked with me to raise my grades, set goals, and pursue higher education. Over the course of the following two years, mentors and friends (or ‘friendtors’ as we like to call each other) helped me transform my life from a mediocre and aimless teenage existence into an overnight success story: I graduated in the top 5% of my class (after thinking I’d never get an ‘A’), launched climate change advocacy groups at 30+ high schools in California (after never starting an organization before in my life), and was admitted to the University of Chicago on a full-tuition merit scholarship (after thinking I’d never go to college).

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Learn more about Economy, Education, Poverty, Service, Urban Policy
Supplier Diversity: Building Capacity and Making a Difference

Posted by Carol Attak on March 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM EDT

It is a privilege to be recognized as a White House Champion of Change. Giving back to the community in which I work and live has been incredibly rewarding; to be recognized for doing something that I love makes this award even better.

I am honored to be invited to participate with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce’s founders, Justin Nelson and Chance Mitchell, as a “Champion of Change” on the topic of mentoring. Part of my role as Accenture’s Supplier Diversity Program Manager is to help manage our Diverse Supplier Development Program (DSDP), a formal mentoring program which matches selected minority-owned, women-owned, LGBT-owned, small and other diverse businesses with Accenture executives to mentor and assist in developing and growing the capacity of their businesses. The program also offers training symposia, knowledge exchange and networking opportunities for participants. Accenture is now conducting the third class of this 18-month program and, once complete, we will have mentored over 50 diverse business entities.

Reflecting on my career…I expected to have a certain role for 2 – 3 years and then move on, but have now worked in supplier diversity for almost the entire 11 years I’ve been with Accenture. I’ve stayed not only because Accenture is a dynamic company in an ever changing industry but also because we have grown our Supplier Diversity Program and there are still so many exciting things on the horizon for us to achieve.

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Learn more about Civil Rights, Economy, Education, Health Care, Service, Women
Mentoring the Startup Entrepreneur: An Ancient Human Dance

Posted by Michael Burcham on March 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM EDT

What an incredible honor to be named a White House Champion of Change. In thinking about entrepreneurship and the importance of mentors to the process of creating and launching a company, I wanted to share a few thoughts that have profoundly affected my own journey as an entrepreneur and a mentor.

I’m a product of Mississippi. I was born in the rural, northeastern part of the state known as Booneville. Our family farm was about 15 miles outside the city limits. Gravel roads, soybean fields, small farmhouses, and a sizzling summer sun are some of the images that come to mind. I grew up on the same soil as my great grandfather,my grandfather, and my father. Our hardships were the salt of a true, all-American childhood, and I value that legacy.

My commitment to service comes from my parents. My father is a minister. My mom is a nurse. At a very young age, I had the opportunity to see the “care” side of healthcare through my mom and the pastoral side of mentoring through my father. My parents love me unconditionally. When faced with life’s many challenges, when we know we are loved in this way I’ve come to believe that we, as individuals, can push ourselves far beyond what the average person would normally do. It’s an intangible quality, and I admit it can be difficult to teach, but when even a small piece of this becomes integrated into the mentoring process, that’s where the magic happens—that’s when lives are changed and companies are born.

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Learn more about Economy, Innovations, Startup America, Service
Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

Posted by Samira Cook-Gaines on March 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM EDT

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the Founding Director of the Washington, DC Women’s Business Center (DC WBC). On a daily basis, I assist women entrepreneurs that are truly tackling the challenges of starting and growing their small businesses. The DC WBC provides counseling, business training classes, financial assistance, networking and business opportunities to women entrepreneurs in the Washington, DC region. Being named a “Champion of Change” is humbling, yet it is also a confirmation that the time and effort put forth for small business is an investment that will impact the nation for years to come. In the brief history of the DC WBC there have been 20 new businesses developed and over 80 new jobs created.

Small business owners are unsung heroes with the courage to look economic adversity in the face and continue to innovate and expand. Due to their innate ability to multitask, I believe that women entrepreneurs, in particular, face added pressures. As it turns out, being hyper efficient can be a gift and a curse. In general, women are the caregivers in our world and are required to wear many hats. This ranges from caring for children, parents, spouses, friends, siblings, co-workers, neighbors, pets and even, at times, their neighbors’ pets! Therefore, the DC WBC strives to provide an environment where women entrepreneurs can have a place to rest those many hats and focus on their business. With this in mind, the DC WBC team provides “Hat Relief” through our Circle of Support.

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Learn more about Economy, Innovations, Startup America, Service, Women
Hats Off to You: Entrepreneurs Inspiring Change

Posted by Sherif Ebrahim on March 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM EDT

I am fortunate to have met many people with many talents in my life.

I am married to a caring, talented woman who brings her intellect and compassion to everything. We have two wonderful young boys who represent all things good. My parents instilled values and principles that have allowed me to appreciate all of the blessings that have been bestowed upon me. I work with many talented individuals in many facets every day. These people are entrepreneurs who are also clerks, janitors, professors, students, teachers, business and civic leaders, politicians, authors, physicians, attorneys, engineers, pharmacists, scientists, and many more, too numerous to mention. I learn many things from these brilliant people.

It is this good fortune that has led me to realize that many have not benefited from the riches of support I enjoy. With these benefits, comes duty to serve.

Some people don't see a world of opportunity that comes from difficulties. Where others may see a road block, I see an opportunity. Where some may see a difference, I see a perspective, an opportunity to learn. Where others may give up because of a lack of resources, I see motivation.

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Learn more about Economy, Innovations, Startup America, Service
Paying Forward the Goodwill of Others

Posted by Pablo Fuentes on March 7, 2012 at 1:00 PM EDT

I am a first-generation immigrant from Chile, and I am passionate about technology entrepreneurship. I founded Proven with my partners Sean Falconer and Joe Mellin while I was at the Stanford Graduate School of Business almost three years ago.

Proven helps local businesses hire and quickly figure out which applicants best fit their culture. Every local business has a personality, a flavor, and a need for employees with specific skills. We built an easy-to-use interface where business owners and managers can funnel all of their responses from popular job boards and quickly sort out the really promising candidates--a task that is typically unwieldy and time-consuming. We also help local employers showcase their company cultures with employment branding pages. Candidates also get a great opportunity to showcase and validate their skills and experience free of charge.

Proven is growing and we are excited to continue helping local businesses hire and Americans get jobs across the country. We are filling a big need in helping close the skills gap by improving the flow of information between employers and candidates. Our dream is to become the main resource for local employment in the U.S. and beyond. We take particular pride in helping people showcase their skills and giving them opportunities for social advancement.

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Learn more about Economy, Innovations, Startup America, Education, Service