Mariyah Saifuddin, CEO of Innovative Solution Partners, laid out her vision Tuesday, June 13, as incoming president of the National Association of Women Business Owners Greater Detroit chapter with three words:
Cultivate.
Educate.
Advocate.
Saifuddin explained what those words mean to her — and to the organization she leads — as she took the reins of the Greater Detroit chapter from outgoing President Nicole Lewis.
Saifuddin will lead the women business owners organization for two years. As incoming president, she presented the goals and vision of the national NAWBO after having attended the national organization’s Advocacy Days in Washington, D.C., in early June.
“Cultivate is really the power of networking and building meaningful connections,” Saifuddin told the 50+ members and guests who attended the annual meeting and president’s reception, held this year at Wayne State University’s Industry Innovation Center in Detroit. “We all know that success is rarely achieved in isolation.”
Education, Saifuddin continued, is the key to unlocking full potential. Standing still is not an option for any female business owner.
“Only 4 percent of women business entrepreneurs make it to the $1 million revenue mark,” she pointed out, adding that the number is even smaller for minority business owners.
Advocacy, the last of Saifuddin’s three visionary words, is the heart of NAWBO’s mission, she said. It’s important that members advocate for themselves so their voices will be heard. “Our stories matter … each of our stories is different and valued,” Saifuddin said.
With her parents and children in the audience, Saifuddin said she was encouraged to lead since she was young. She recalled a pink T-shirt she had when she was a small girl that said “Anything a boy can do, a girl can do better.”
Geneva Jones Williams, Ph.D., of Dr. Geneva Speaks LLC, was the introductory speaker, addressing the NAWBO Greater Detroit members before the new board was introduced by past president Priscilla Archangel, Ph.D.
NAWBO’s Greater Detroit chapter has many events throughout the year, including its annual golf outing, 2023 PARtners Golf Tournament At TPC Michigan, which takes place Aug. 28 in Dearborn.
Detroit’s chapter, with more than 120 members, is one of the largest of the nation’s 50 NAWBO chapters.
