Black Entrepreneurship and the Pandemic

Only 4% of Black-owned businesses in the U.S. survive past the startup stage, even though 20% of Black Americans start businesses, according to a 2020 report by McKinsey and Company, a management consulting company. As the pandemic forced many businesses to close their doors, up to 41% of Black-owned businesses closed between February and April 2020, according to the McKinsey report. Brittany Willis knows a thing or two about starting a business. She even wrote the digital course on it, ("So, You Want to Open a Franchise?") We are joined by Brittany, an accomplished Fortune 500 leader with more than a decade of experience in corporate America, for this great ask me anything session with PowerToFly's Jamaica-based Thaida Masters.

Brittany Willis

Sanmaya Mohanty

Brittany Willis, MBA is an accomplished Fortune 500 leader with more than a decade of experience in corporate America. In addition to her corporate career, Brittany is the Founder of Eight28 Enterprises, LLC. As a part of Eight28 Enterprises, Brittany is a franchise owner for PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans. She opened the North Dallas location in February 2021. Most recently, Brittany launched Protégé To Pro, a digital destination created to arm entrepreneurs and career professionals with Fortune 500 knowledge. The first online course offering on Protégé To Pro entitled "So, You Want to Open a Franchise?", helps aspiring professionals evaluate if owning a franchise is right for them. Brittany has a B.A. from Vanderbilt University, where she graduated with Honors, and has an M.B.A. from the prestigious Sam Walton Graduate School of Business at University of Arkansas. Brittany has successfully lead corporate retail accounts valued at more than $300 million. Brittany is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She currently resides in North Dallas with her beloved husband and their fur-baby.

Thaida Masters

Sanmaya Mohanty

Thaida is an experienced HR Professional who is passionate about helping others to take a step closer to their career goals. She is a Budding Entrepreneur - founder of SweetAD'signz and Luxury Intimates & Cosmetics. She is also a Self-Published Author, where she writes/creates low content books such as children's activity books, journals for all ages, coloring books for all ages, puzzle books for all ages and more. Thaida can be found spending time with her family or working on a design/book and is also known as a nature lover.