The power of social media plays a huge role in the creation of this recent episode of Blk + In Grad School. Allanté sits down with Asheli Atkins, a 4th year Ph.D. student whose experiences as an MBA student shifted her path from wanting to be an entrepreneur to wanting to study, and teach entrepreneurs.

Atkins believes, “Students need to be aware of what is in front of them to learn how to navigate the barriers of being a Black entrepreneur and running a Black-owned business.”

A business consultant who started her own event planning business at the age of 19, Atkins learned very early that there are barriers against black business owners that do not exist for others.

Now, as a 4th year Ph.D. student studying sociology, Atkins has big plans to take her knowledge and give it back to the community through teaching and her consultant company.

She discusses strategies to survive, the pros and cons of emphasizing and deemphasizing as a Black-owned business and gives a quick history lesson on how the Jim Crow era affects black business owners.

This week's Lessons From the Trap comes “Number 23,” a song by Esta and Rihanna J.
 
Calling all Entrepreneurs, this one is for you!