CG Moving’s owner joins Stanford SLEI Cohort 7 as a Bay Area commercial and household goods mover.
I got home Monday afternoon after three days with my fellow members of Cohort 7 of the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative Scaling Program. I had arrived excited about being accepted, and a little anxious about the workload (reading and assignments running 4 to 6 hours per week). I came back with something harder to name: extreme gratitude and pride. When I think about that classroom and the people in it, I still get chills. Passion, courage, resilience. Our industries were as different as our backgrounds, and yet we were united in one thing: wanting to build something bigger, better, and lasting, for our businesses and our communities.
A Room Worth Walking Into
Being among 76 business owners with $249M in combined revenue from 19 states changed my perspective.
To have been in the same room as 76 business owners with combined revenues of $249 million, representing 19 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, was beyond anything I had imagined for myself. People came from as far as New Jersey, Arkansas, Florida, and Michigan, and as close as Oakland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Some have offices in Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and beyond. The cohort included PhDs, Yale-educated attorneys, scientists, builders, electrical engineers, chefs, chemical engineers, venture capitalists, philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, accountants, marketing experts, janitorial and maintenance service providers, barbers, real estate agents, marine technology experts, and more. And here I am: a licensed and insured commercial and household goods mover, from the South San Francisco zip code and the Town of Colma business region. Rubbing elbows with people who are respected in their communities, who want to grow, and who have proven that resilience and expertise are enough to earn a seat at the table.
Why It Took Me This Long to Apply?
A February 2019 GGBA meeting with Mark Madrid convinced the author to apply to the SLEI program.
I had wanted to apply since I first saw Cohort 1 or 2 on LBAN’s Facebook page. Running a commercial moving company, raising a family, staying active in my trade association (the California Moving & Storage Association), and working on a side project (Preciosa Diva) left me with real reservations. Then, in February 2019, I met Mark Madrid at the Golden Gate Business Association Power Lunch. His passion for the program, and his simple encouragement to try the application, changed my mind. I am glad it did.
The People Who Make LBAN Work
Shout outs to LBAN’s Elian Savodivker, Jennifer Garcia, mentor Ben Weeda, and Mark Madrid.
As I begin this seven-week program, a few shout outs are in order.
To Elian Savodivker, LBAN’s Director of Engagement: you are a gentle and loud giant, and you live up to your title. You made every one of us feel engaged, valued, and lucky to be there. Your passion for the Latino community and your commitment to helping us grow our businesses are palpable and real.
To Jennifer Garcia, Director of Programs and Communications: thank you for the work that goes into the mentor-mentee matches. After just one hour on the phone with Ben Weeda, I already know I have a lot to learn and that he will help me see our path to growth much more clearly.
And to Mark Madrid: your heart and passion for this program are contagious. I want to go to my community and tell everyone about SLEI and LBAN. You are a genuine inspiration, and I feel honored to have met you and to be part of this growing network of Latino leaders.
About LBAN and the Scaling Program
LBAN is a 501(c)(3) working with Stanford GSB to support Latino-owned business scaling and growth.
I am also dropping one of my favorite artists here. If you attended the Kick Off weekend, you will know exactly why.
The Latino Business Action Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, works alongside Stanford Graduate School of Business to collect data on Latino-owned businesses and support their growth. The Scaling Program is a six-week course giving business owners education, practical skills, access to mentors, and access to capital. Visit LBAN’s page to learn more or apply for a future cohort.
