A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Educational Conversations with Scholars in Mind. "Our mission is to empower and uplift scholars pursuing higher education at HBCUs, ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities needed for a successful future. Through mentorship, scholarship programs, and community engagement, we strive to create a pathway to excellence, fostering academic achievement, leadership development, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Together, we are building a brighter future for young scholars, strengthening the legacy of HBCUs, and fueling positive change in our communities."
A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
From Transformation to Empowerment: Black Women Entrepreneurs Finding Their Voice
Change isn't just necessary—it's where true transformation happens. Dr. Monique Robinson takes us on a powerful journey exploring how embracing change becomes the catalyst for discovering our deepest purpose, especially for Black women entrepreneurs and educators. Through personal stories, including how she launched a nonprofit and television show during the height of COVID, she demonstrates how closed doors often lead to greater opportunities.
Purpose stands at the center of this conversation. Not simply as a career goal, but as the "heartbeat of your life's mission." When you discover what truly excites you—what makes you passionate even during difficult moments—you've found your superpower. This authentic purpose fuels resilience and propels you forward against all odds.
For Black women entrepreneurs specifically, Dr. Robinson highlights how our unique identities shape our missions and become our greatest strengths. Our lived experiences, creativity, and resilience aren't just survival tools—they're competitive advantages in business. The presentation moves beyond individual success to emphasize the power of community, challenging women to support one another through resource sharing and genuine collaboration. "Let's change the narrative," she urges, envisioning a network where women consistently lift each other up.
Through educational empowerment, mentorship, and community building, we can each create lasting legacies that extend far beyond business success. As Dr. Robinson reminds us: "We are powerful, we are purpose-driven, and we will continue to rise together." Ready to discover how your challenges might be hidden blessings? Connect with this message and share it with fellow entrepreneurs who need this reminder today.
Greetings, good afternoon.
Speaker 1:My name is Dr Monique Robinson and I will be presenting to you information that is definitely necessary for you to grow as a womanpreneur, a fempreneur even if we have a couple of males watching today as an entrepreneur as a whole. I will be up front with you. I will be in and out of the camera today because I want you to take the words that are coming to you and concentrate and focus while we do this lesson today. Now, I must say, before we get started, please grab yourself a tool that you can take notes, be engaged, listen and also enjoy. My name is Dr Monique Robinson. I will be presenting some very necessary information. So today's topic is embracing change and understanding purpose A journey of empowerment and purpose as black women, entrepreneurs and educators. As mentioned, I am Dr Monique Robinson. I will be coming in and out of the screen as we go over this powerful lesson today to empower you as you go out to be successful women business owners. That's me, those who didn't get here early enough to see my face. That is myself, dr Monique Robinson. I am the founder and CEO of A Better Chance for you Futures Incorporated, where we help young people get to college, preferably debt-free, but we do the best that we can. We have served scholars literally from Buffalo to Seattle, so we will get more details to you about that as we go on with today's lesson to you about that, as we go on with today's lesson. Welcome and affirmation Today is all about embracing our power, our purpose and our potential. I want to remind each and every one of you that is listening today that you are capable of achieving extraordinary things, no matter what obstacles that you have to face. Today's affirmation as a group and I want you to repeat after me I am worthy, I am capable. I embrace change with courage and move forward with purpose. Now I hope that you are taking notes because this is some really important information that we will go over today.
Speaker 1:Embracing transformation change is a blessing. Change can be uncomfortable, of course we all know that, but it is fertile ground where growth happens. Through change, we find new strengths, new wisdom and new opportunities. Let that just resonate for a minute. And as we think about that, I'm going to tell you about my journey. Change is necessary for growth, of course, but sometimes those changes are really uncomfortable and it puts you in a situation where you're vulnerable and you also have to re-examine and reflect on yourself. Now.
Speaker 1:Often, when we get things that we don't want or we get news that is really sad for us to face, you know, whether it's that job that we have and our services are no longer needed, that's a change. And sometimes that change is definitely a blessing. We don't see it at first, of course. I mean nobody wants to see a blessing in losing a job. But sometimes that door closed I won't say sometimes, about 98% of the time when that door closes, better opportunities come. So personal growth through change is definitely necessary and it is something that actually happens. Now I gave you my personal story. I want you to share yours In your head, of course, because we can't really have a physical dialogue, but since we're teaching a lesson, I want you to take that note and write down a personal story where it was an uncomfortable change, but it was a blessing at the end of it.
Speaker 1:Now, thinking back on that, did that change lead to something beautiful? Of course it did. I can just give you a brief summary of my change that developed into a blessing In the middle of COVID yes, in the middle of COVID, I know, in the middle of a change that impacted the whole wide world. I birthed a nonprofit, a television show. I didn't understand at first, and I even wrote a couple of books too.
Speaker 1:So change is necessary for greater things to happen. Why? Purpose is your superpower. Purpose is the guiding light. Your purpose is not just a career goal. It is the heartbeat of your life's mission goal. It is the heartbeat of your life's mission purpose. It was, is what fuels resilience and keeps us going, even in the toughest days. Now let's think about that. Even in the toughest days, we still have to keep going and keep that fight.
Speaker 1:Now my purpose if you haven't found out, my purpose is definitely education. I have a strong passion to help minority scholars get to our nation's historically Black colleges and universities debt-free, as close as we can. But we also like to educate because we want it to be a fair playing field when people are deciding to go to school at, you know, to seek higher education. Now my purpose I get so excited. I mean I've even had some of my dear friends tell me you get so excited when you talk about the schools. When you talk about the schools, if your purpose does not fuel you as making you passionate about it, then that might not be your will Like I. You know my purpose. I get excited when my scholars write to me hey, dr Mo, I'm graduating. Hey, dr Mo, I got an acceptance letter. Hey, dr Mo, you know what do you think about this internship, or even the best ones? Lately I've had scholars reach out to me saying they want to pair with alum so that they can have a network to grow from for the rest of their life. So let's get back to it for the rest of their life.
Speaker 1:So let's get back to it the unique power of being a black woman entrepreneur. I know I keep saying women, probably because I'm, you know, a black woman, but this message can go to both men, women. So now, first, you must embrace the power of your identity. Your strength, your creativity, your resilience are not just survival tools. They are your superpowers. They go into what makes you who you are. Acknowledge the challenges, but focus on how those challenges have shaped you into powerful leaders, how your identity as a Black woman entrepreneur shape your mission, your voice and your vision.
Speaker 1:Education as a tool for empowerment, education as liberation. As an entrepreneur, you have the opportunity to create lasting change, not only in your own life, but in the lives of others. Education is not just about books. It's about instilling confidence, expanding horizons and empowering people to create their own future. Now, you know, we have to reflect on this a moment. I want you to think of how you can impact the lives of anybody, not just young people. Now, when we think of impacting lives, several people would assume that it always has to be book by book learning. What new skill can you teach a young person? Because they're going to be who's left when we're gone, overcoming adversity together, the power of a community. Now, together, we rise, building each other up.
Speaker 1:Women, this is a challenge to you. Now, see, I have to come back to where you all can see me here. Women, we must learn to work together. Let me say that again. We must learn to work together with one another, support one another. It doesn't cost anything to share information, because when you share information, that's also free advertisement. I know I probably shouldn't say it like that, but it's also letting someone know that, hey, I support you.
Speaker 1:Usually, you know social media, people share things and they share events. That is the easiest way that we can show that we are supporting one another. Another way is you know if we can't make it to an event, show your support in some way, shape or fashion. So I am challenging everyone let's change the narrative. Today we will create a network of women who lift each other up and support one another, building a strong future, as I mentioned in the previous slide or the previous part of the presentation. However, you want to review that when we empower our youth, we give them the tools to build a better future for themselves and their communities.
Speaker 1:Now, how one small act of mentorship or guidance makes a difference in someone's life. Let me answer that for you. Now. I have several scholars that I have sent to various institutions of higher learning. I have one particular scholar that will write me and tell me thank you, and she will also let me know what tasks she has accomplished. She also keep me abreast to her internships, and that's just simply because I always tell her thank you. I always when she shows up to the meetings that we had when she was in the program. I always encouraged her.
Speaker 1:It's important to connect and always stay connected to those who have helped you, because you don't know how much they can help you in the future. How much they can help you in the future Embracing your legacy. Everyone in this room has the power to create a lasting legacy, not just in business, but how we inspire and uplift others. Think about what legacy you want to leave behind. What will they be remembered for, or how we can change that is. What will you be remembered for in your impact in the businesses and various things that you plan to do, and various things that you plan to do Now. I know that I gave you a whole lot of nuggets in a short period of time. However, thanks for your time and your insights. Please remember that we are powerful, we are purpose-driven and we will continue to rise together. Continue this conversation, perhaps with loved ones or business partners, connect with one another and share resources and opportunities, because you promise that, as women, we are going to change the narrative. That's what we promise A couple of slides back.
Speaker 1:Okay, so we have some important information coming up. We do have a new book. Actually, we have two new books. We have one children's book that will be coming out shortly. It's called Shine Bright Little Star. It is a youth affirmation book. This book is actually to empower our young people, because they face things that you know. Sometimes, as adults, we don't always understand what they face and this lets them know that they are powerful. So this book will be available, probably in about a week or so, but keep watching and you will see several things from that. Also, we have a Voices of Education, volume 1, where we have several different educators in various aspects of the field of education who are coming together to share their part in their versions and their experiences as educators.
Speaker 1:We have several upcoming events. Um, as you look, we do have our af-American History Fair. If you are in the San Antonio area, this is not your traditional speech contest. The scholars will become the characters, almost like a living wax museum, and we are actually looking for some community volunteers that may be health related, that want to come out and give some in-kind services. They may want to check blood pressures, a1cs, et cetera. Now we have our Tucks and Tool, which is our annual gala and ball, where this is kind of like a party with a purpose. If you are interested in attending, we do have a room block here in San Antonio and we would love for you to participate. And then we also have our weekly show that is on the Daily Gospel Network, and what we do there is we highlight several young people across the nation in their wonderful success stories and things that they have going on as they are in their journey to change the world. Now, this is a program that we offer at A Better Chance for you Futures Incorporated. We allow from September to July. We mentor and we discuss with scholars college opportunities. We also provide them with services, classes, financial literacy, anything that is school related, and guess what the parents can attend too.
Speaker 1:Now, discover your Future. You know I was going to put this in here, of course at an HBCU. Now how do you go about that, you ask. I give you the answer Apply to an HBCU using Get Educated, the common black college app. You will use one application $20, and it will get you about 68, 69 applications pushed through the system. Again, I am Dr Monique Robinson from A Better Chance for you Futures Incorporated. If you scan that QR code that is up there, you scan that QR code let me make it bigger. There you go. You scan the QR code, then you will have all the information in all the ways of contacting me. If you wish to donate to our mission, we have several opportunities and ways that you can do that. We have Varo, cash App, zelle and PayPal or Giveify also if that is your option. Again, my name is Dr Monique Robinson from A Better Chance for you Futures Incorporated. Thank you and we appreciate you, and I hope our nuggets to success help you in some way and have a wonderful day.
