Courtesy of Clark Atlanta University
Clark Atlanta University’s (CAU) School of Business hosted John Hope Bryant for its first Entrepreneur Scholar-in-Residence, a fireside chat in partnership with PNC Bank. The event marked PNC’s launch of its National Center for Entrepreneurship. Bryant’s new post aims to help CAU serve as an incubator for developing the next generation of leaders at the Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Bryant is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, and the founder of Operation HOPE, the nation’s largest non-profit dedicated to financial literacy.
During his residency at CAU, Bryant will lead an ongoing speaker series on a range of topics, such as managing financial risk, negotiating deals, and the importance of FICO scores, among others. He is also a member of CAU’s Board of Trustees.
Bryant’s remarks included a historical review of The Freedman’s Bank and various HOPE programs, including Financial Literacy for All (FL4A) and One Million Black Businesses (1MBB). He asserts that Black entrepreneurs are key to transforming communities through ownership and improved financial wellness. The event was a celebration of the shared commitment to advancing Black entrepreneurship and brought together nearly 100 students, alumni, business experts, and community leaders. PNC has been a HOPE strategic partner for almost a decade.
“When you are sitting in history, it doesn’t feel like it. This is one of those moments. Today, the right partners are at the table,” Bryant said. “We are at an inflection point that I call the ‘Third Reconstruction,’ and I look forward to engaging both PNC and CAU’s extraordinary students in a conversation about how they can change the world through entrepreneurship. By better understanding capitalism and learning the language of money, they will be equipped to shape the future of America.”
“For three decades, John Hope Bryant has been on the frontlines with a message of ‘Silver Rights.’ He is an experienced and successful businessman who has demonstrated a strong commitment to helping others build generational wealth,” said Dr. Sylvanus Udoka, Interim Provost and SVP for Academic Affairs, CAU. “We are confident that Mr. Bryant’s leadership, in partnership with PNC, will resonate with CAU students and unleash the power of entrepreneurship.”
According to the US Small Business Administration, minority businesses account for over 50% of the 2 million new businesses started in the United States in the past ten years. Despite that growth, minority-business ownership represents only 18 percent of total U.S. businesses, and the businesses face huge disparities when it comes to access to capital, contracting opportunities, and other entrepreneurial development.
