Business

Black Entrepreneurs Share Experience, Advice at Jack London Square Summit

Published

7 years ago

September 19, 2019

Goal-setting has always been a part of Dwayne V. Davis’ life.

The businessman and youth mentor is launching a new company that he says will help people reach their highest potential. Using the theme “See it. Believe it. Achieve it,” Life’s Unlimited Possibilities pledges to show people how to live a limitless life.

“By identifying where you are and where you want to go, my company can assist any individual with a dream,” said Davis. “With the right coaching and guidance, anything is possible. Businesses can thrive in this economy. There is so much territory to be claimed.”

Davis recently hosted a panel discussion at Scott’s Restaurant in Oakland’s Jack London Square featuring expertise, resources and insights with four panelists representing event planning, branding, marketing and coaching.

Deanna Roberts of DR Roberts Events Management shared how her first projects were weddings and eventually expanded to First Fridays networking and social gatherings.

After working for the Warriors and Raiders, she now has multiple Fortune 500 commercial clients and international projects. “When you have a reputation for taking great care of your clients, your business can expand even through word of mouth,” said Roberts. “Also, stay in tune with your industry trends and changes.”

Marketing Kings owner Tyranny Allen spoke of touring with Digital Underground for two years. The writer-producer said he made $60,000 at the time but came home with $2,000. “That was a real game-changer and I began to build my own businesses,” said Allen. With a branding agency, four barbershops, a boutique and several ventures on the horizon, Allen is now an Oakland-based serial entrepreneur.

“You have to be willing to brand yourself, be committed, open doors for the next generation, and leave your legacy,” he said.

For Jacques Pryor of KBLX, working hard has always been his focus. From the days of KBLX Brunch to owning the Kimball’s East night club, Pryor was known as booking more artists in Bay Area venues than anyone else at the time. Many never knew that Pryor was the very first African American to promote concerts at the Oakland Coliseum. Pryor is currently using his business savvy to invest in technology.

“You have to always work hard, stay focused and always know your ROI (return on investment).”

Guest speaker Justin Pitts became a millionaire at 23 making $6.5 million and lost it three months later. The business coach and author of “The Summit,” says his success now at 32 gives him an edge in life.

“You learn and grow from your mistakes, but don’t let that stop you,” he said. Through Justin Pitts Training and Consulting, Pitts now has 5,000 consulting clients and 67 trainers. “It’s not how you begin, but how you finish,” said Pitts.

Carla Thomas

Posts by Carla Thomas

Related Topics:Dwayne V. Davis Jack London Square Justin Pitts Scott’s Restaurant

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Advice

Financial Wellness and Mental Health: Managing Money Stress in College 

While everyone’s financial situation is unique, several common sources of stress have the potential to strain your financial health. These include financial and economic uncertainty, existing debts, unexpected expenses, and mental or physical health changes. Financial stress may differ from situation to situation, but understanding the factors contributing to yours may help you begin to craft a plan for your unique circumstances.

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3 weeks ago

March 17, 2026

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Sponsored by JPMorganChase

As a college student, managing financial responsibilities can be stressful.

If you’ve found yourself staying up late thinking about your finances or just feeling anxious overall about your financial future, you’re not alone. In one survey, 78% of college students who reported financial stress had negative impacts on their mental health, and 59% considered dropping out. While finances can impact overall stress, taking steps to manage your finances can support your mental, emotional and physical well-being.

When it comes to money, the sources of stress may look different for each student, but identifying the underlying causes and setting goals accordingly may help you feel more confident about your financial future.

Consider these strategies to help improve your financial wellness and reduce stress.

Understand what causes financial stress

2. Determine your financial priorities

Start by reflecting on your financial priorities. For students this often includes paying for school or paying off student loans, studying abroad, saving for spring break, building an emergency fund, paying down credit card debt or buying a car. Name the milestones that are most important to you, and plan accordingly.

3. Create a plan and stick to it

While setting actionable goals starts you on the journey to better financial health, it’s essential to craft a plan to follow through. Identifying and committing to a savings plan may give you a greater sense of control over your finances, which may help reduce your stress. Creating and sticking to a budget allows you to better track where your money is going so you may spend less and save more.

4. Pay down debt

Many students have some form of debt and want to make progress toward reducing their debt obligations. One option is the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off your debt with the highest interest rate first, then moving on to the debt with the next-highest interest rate. Another is the debt snowball method, which builds momentum by paying off your smallest debt balance, and then working your way up to the largest amounts.

5. Build your financial resilience

Some financial stress may be inevitable, but building financial resilience may allow you to overcome obstacles more easily. The more you learn about managing your money, for instance, the more prepared you’ll feel if the unexpected happens. Growing your emergency savings also may increase resilience since you’ll be more financially prepared to cover unexpected expenses or pay your living expenses.

6. Seek help and support

Many colleges have resources to help students experiencing financial stress, like financial literacy courses or funds that provide some assistance for students in need. Talk to your admissions counselor or advisor about your concerns, and they can direct you to sources of support. Your school’s counseling center can also be a great resource for mental health assistance if you’re struggling with financial stress.

The bottom line

Financial stress can affect college students’ health and wellbeing, but it doesn’t have to derail your dreams. Setting smart financial goals and developing simple plans to achieve them may help ease your stress. Revisit and adjust your plan as needed to ensure it continues to work for you, and seek additional support on campus as needed to help keep you on track.

 JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC