About Tameka Montgomery: Parent, Entrepreneur, Small Business Advocate
Growing up I was not that entrepreneurial kid who set up lemonade stands and looked for ways to earn money. In fact, I had no interest in business, instead I wanted to do work that would impact people and save the world. I guess some would say I was not a "born" entrepreneur.
My first exposure to business came through my mother when I was a teenager. She started a side hustle selling home knick-knacks at a local supper club. I'd help her out from time to time, but it wasn't something I was eager to do. Later, my mother went on to start a kitchen and bath design business. Her company never grew beyond herself and never achieved the American dream of becoming a profitable and thriving small business from which to build intergenerational wealth.
My first exposure to business came through my mother when I was a teenager. She started a side hustle selling home knick-knacks at a local supper club. I'd help her out from time to time, but it wasn't something I was eager to do. Later, my mother went on to start a kitchen and bath design business. Her company never grew beyond herself and never achieved the American dream of becoming a profitable and thriving small business from which to build intergenerational wealth.
My first exposure to business came through my mother when I was a teenager. She started a side hustle selling home knick-knacks at a local supper club. I'd help her out from time to time, but it wasn't something I was eager to do. Later, my mother went on to start a kitchen and bath design business. Her company never grew beyond herself and never achieved the American dream of becoming a profitable and thriving small business from which to build intergenerational wealth.
Fast forward 12 years later after a short two-year stint with the federal government, I was approached to launch a business incubator. Confident in my ability to figure things out I accepted the challenge and launched one of Denver's first business incubators. Over the next 20 years, I developed and ran small business training and technical assistance programs including the award winning, Denver Metro Small Business Development Center.
In 2013 I was appointed by President Barack Obama to be the Associate Administrator for the US Small Business Administration overseeing the Office of Entrepreneurial Development. I was now charged with overseeing and developing small business training and technical assistance programs for the nation's 28 million small businesses.
Fast forward 12 years later after a short two-year stint with the federal government, I was approached to launch a business incubator. Confident in my ability to figure things out I accepted the challenge and launched one of Denver's first business incubators. Over the next 20 years, I developed and ran small business training and technical assistance programs including the award winning, Denver Metro Small Business Development Center.
In 2013 I was appointed by President Barack Obama to be the Associate Administrator for the US Small Business Administration overseeing the Office of Entrepreneurial Development. I was now charged with overseeing and developing small business training and technical assistance programs for the nation's 28 million small businesses.
Supporting entrepreneurs for so long, I observed that what set successful entrepreneurs apart from those who couldn't seem to get going was less about skills and more about mindset. I also recognized that the individuals I enjoyed on my staff were individuals who could think and act entrepreneurially. Seeing the value of an entrepreneurial mindset for those who are employed as well as those who want to build a business, I decided to parent in such a way that I cultivated entrepreneurial thinking and behaving early on.
I launched the podcast, Raising Entrepreneurs so that I could learn strategies and tactics from other parents and I began to use those tactics in my parenting approach with my three sons. Because I understand the important role that parents play, I used the podcast to also equip other parents with insights and strategies that they could use as well.
To further increase exposure and ignite an entrepreneurial spirit within other kids, I created the Montgomery County Children's Business Fair. It gives kids an opportunity to experience what it's like creating and then selling a product or services. The life skills that the kids develop are invaluable and will help them along any and all paths.
I launched the podcast, Raising Entrepreneurs so that I could learn strategies and tactics from other parents and I began to use those tactics in my parenting approach with my three sons. Because I understand the important role that parents play, I used the podcast to also equip other parents with insights and strategies that they could use as well.
To further increase exposure and ignite an entrepreneurial spirit within other kids, I created the Montgomery County Children's Business Fair. It gives kids an opportunity to experience what it's like creating and then selling a product or services. The life skills that the kids develop are invaluable and will help them along any and all paths.
Today, I spend most of my time running my small business, Core Strategy Partners which is a human experience research and strategy firm. I'm able to merge my love of business with my desire to make a positive impact on the world by helping organizations uncover data-driven insights and strategies that improve experiences, programs, and services for the social good.
I'm also able to continue pouring into my community through my non-profit Raising Entrepreneurs which I use to expose young people to entrepreneurship.
I'm also able to continue pouring into my community through my non-profit Raising Entrepreneurs which I use to expose young people to entrepreneurship.
About Me
I'm on a mission to equip families with the knowledge and resources to raise kids who are self-reliant, financially independent, and entrepreneurial. While every kid may not choose to be an entrepreneur, every kid needs to learn to think like an entrepreneur.
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Copyright by Tameka Montgomery. All rights reserved. Designed and Developed by Ogrelogic
Copyright by Tameka Montgomery. All rights reserved. Designed and Developed by Ogrelogic