Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Malcom Glenn, Founder of MG Equity Consulting, located in Washington, DC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We help organizations embed equity in everything they do, inside and out—that means assisting institutions in thinking not just about internal-facing questions of equity (things like hiring, recruiting, and retaining employees from historically excluded backgrounds and building an inclusive culture) but also about their external-facing questions of equity and inclusion: how principles of equity are integrated into an organization's products, services, policies, and any other external materials.
Our customers are organizations of all kinds and sizes—from Fortune 500 companies to think tanks to startups to nonprofits. Any organization that does work that affects the lives of others has a responsibility to make its internal and external work as equitable as possible. It's my goal to help as many organizations do that as thoughtfully as possible.
Tell us about yourself
I love that I get to help institutions realize their potential as organizations, creating the best environment for their employees and the communities they serve. I want more people at organizations to make decisions with equity at the forefront. I'm driven by the notion of finding scalable solutions and bringing them to as many environments as possible.
I started my business after many years of working at big companies, pushing for change as an internal stakeholder. But my work was siloed, only shifting perspectives within one industry. To maximize my impact, I've worked to build something that can help as many institutions as possible. The opportunity to constantly maximize impact motivates me daily to continue to grow and build on this work.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I'm proud of the diversity I've been able to cultivate across my clients. The perspectives, considerations, and motivations differ for large companies vs. startups vs. nonprofits vs. think tanks. So I work to understand how to integrate equitable solutions into whatever your work is, taking into account different resources, different levels of comfort, various business models, and different experience levels.
Equity is most effective if it's sustainable. I'm proud of how I've worked to customize solutions to meet the diverse needs of every organization I work with.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The hardest part of being a business owner is being responsible for everything! I've spent most of my career working within large teams, so not having the same community working alongside me has been an adjustment. Being a business owner means being more deliberate about everything, including finding community.
Fortunately, having honest, transparent, and welcoming clients has eased the transition from being an in-house employee to running and owning my own business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- You don't have to go at it alone. Reach out to any and everyone who might be able to help you.
- Don't pigeonhole yourself. Follow your expertise wherever it leads you, even if that means pivoting and changing course.
- Appreciate the learning as it's happening. You'll pick up a fantastic set of skills, but amid the day-to-day, you may just be focused on keeping the business afloat. Take stock of everything you're learning and how those skills will be valuable in shaping your career.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.mgequityconsulting.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/malcomglenn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malcomglenn/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/malcomglenn
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malcomglenn/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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