CCL OBJECTIVES

For Businesses:

  • Facilitate training and business advice for 25 aspiring and established business owners
  • Provide 6 learning sessions and 1 preparation session to assist business owners in developing a final business presentation
  • Facilitate learning sessions where participants are introduced to topics and practical information necessary for running the day-to-day operations of a growing business
  • Develop interactive learning sessions where participants hear from and interact with the facilitator who shares practical information on business management and then, from a panel of experienced subject matter experts with various perspectives and different backgrounds
  • Facilitate opportunities for participants for hands on learning, interaction with other participants and interaction with practitioners and subject matter experts
  • Create environments for learning with participants at similar growth points
  • Ensure business owners understand their pricing model, profit margins, monthly expenses and revenue and sales goals
  • Measure the learning of presented information with weekly homework assignments and a final business presentation in week 8
  • Facilitate effective communication between Business Owners and Students

To graduate, Businesses must:

  • Attend class
  • Submit weekly homework assignments
  • Meet with their assigned students, create a scope of work and provide timely feedback and input
  • Explain their cash flow projections in week 6
  • Give a Practice Presentation in week 7
  • Give a Final 15-minute presentation in week 8

Important Links:

WEEKLY OPERATIONAL CALLS

Each Business Owner is required to have a weekly call with Mr. Brown. Here is the schedule:

  • Week One- Business Owner meets with the Mentor to set up Version 1 of the cash flow projections. Business Owner should be prepared to discuss expenses and potential revenue opportunities. After this session, the Business Owner should work on refining the cash flow projections before the next call. (Mentor options: Mr. Brown)
  • Week Two- Business Owner presents Version 2 of the cash flow projection explaining expenses and discusses revenue opportunities, capital needs and time frame to the Mentor. (Mentor options: Mr. Brown)
  • Week Three- Business Owner revised Version 2 of the cash flow projections, adding additional expenses and income and discusses profitability with the Mentor. (Mentor options: Mr. Brown)
  • Week Four- Business Owner and the Mentor have a discussion on marketing. (Mentor options: Mr. Brown)
  • Week Five- Business Owner and the Mentor have a discussion on operational growth strategy. (Mentor options: Mr. Brown)
  • Week Six- Business Owner presents Version 3 of the cash flow projections to the Mentor. (Mentor options: Mr. Brown)
  • Week Seven – Business Owner presents practice presentation to the Mentor. (Mentor options: Will Holmes or Mr. Brown)
  • Week Eight- Business Owner presents practice presentation to the Mentor. (Mentor options: Mr. Brown)

 

LEARNING SESSIONS

Week One for Businesses
6pm to 9pm | Zoom Log In for Businesses 

Topic: Introductions, Program Orientation & Business Challenges
Facilitators: Tracy Akinade, Will Holmes & Rennard Brown

During this 3-hour session, we will discuss the goals of the program, expectations and the final presentation. Participants will introduce themselves and share their greatest challenge. We will discuss common business challenges and the importance of the 12-month Cash Flow Projections, which will be the foundation of planning the growth of the business.

Homework:

CLICK HERE FOR HOMEWORK WEEK 1

Resources:

 

Week Two for Businesses 
6pm to 9pm | Zoom Log In

Topic: Building a Sustainable Organization’s Infrastructure
Facilitators: Will Holmes & Rennard Brown
Panelists:  TBD

During this 3 hour session, for the first half, the facilitator will lead an interactive discussion on the Participants’ greatest challenges and how to address them with market research, customer segmentation, infrastructure, technology, planning and coordination of people and processes. During the second half, we will be joined by a panel of successful business leaders who will share their experiences, take questions and offer advice. Homework will be assigned to be submitted by the next class.

Homework:

CLICK HERE FOR HOMEWORK WEEK 2

Resources:

 

 

Week Three for Businesses 
6pm to 9pm | Zoom Log In

Topic: Leading People & Planning for Growth
Facilitators: Will Holmes & Rennard Brown
Panelists: TBD

During this 3 hour session, for the first half, the facilitator will lead an interactive discussion on the Participants’ greatest challenges and how to address them with effective techniques for assessing the needs of the market, identifying organizational goals and creating win/ win situations with team members to ensure success. We will also discuss pricing, operational strategy, basic project management and allocation of time, people and resources. During the second half, we will be joined by a panel of 3 successful business leaders who will share their experiences, take questions and offer advice. Homework will be assigned to be submitted by the next class.

Homework:

CLICK HERE FOR HOMEWORK WEEK 3

Resources:

 

Week Four for Businesses 
6pm to 9pm | Zoom Log In

Topic: Marketing & Selling B2G, B2B & B2C
Facilitators: Will Holmes & Rennard Brown
Panelists: TBD

During this 3 hour session, for the first half, the facilitator will lead an interactive discussion on the Participants’ greatest challenges and how to address them with effective market research, identifying target customers, lead generation, business development, proposal writing, strategic partnerships and relationship building. During the second half, we will be joined by a panel of representatives from government procurement offices and local anchor institutions who want to do business with smaller companies.  They will share their experiences, take questions and offer advice. After the panel, we will have a discussion on social media strategy and management. Homework will be assigned to be submitted by the next class.

Homework:

CLICK HERE FOR HOMEWORK WEEK 4

Resources:

 

Week Five for Businesses 
6pm to 9pm | Zoom Log In

Topic: Accounting, Human Resources, Legal, Taxes & Insurance
Facilitators: Will Holmes & Rennard Brown
Panelists: TBD

During this 3 hour session, for the first half, the facilitator will lead an interactive discussion on the Participants’ greatest challenges and how to address them with better compliance and internal controls. We will examine best practices in Human Resources, Accounting, Contracts, Taxes and Insurance. During the second half, we will be joined by a panel consisting of a HR consultant, accountant, attorney and a financial advisor. They will share their experiences, take questions and offer advice. Homework will be assigned to be submitted by the next class.

Homework:

CLICK HERE FOR HOMEWORK WEEK 5

Resources:

 

Week Six for Businesses 
6pm to 9pm | Zoom Log In

Topic: Preparing for Capital & Essential Financial Documentation
Facilitators: Will Holmes & Rennard Brown
Panelists: TBD

During this 3 hour session, for the first half, the facilitator will lead an interactive discussion on the Participants’ greatest challenges and how to address them with accessing capital from various sources and preparing the financial documentation and narratives necessary to attract funding. During the second half, we will be joined by a panel of lenders, investors and accountants who will share their experiences, take questions and offer advice. Homework will be assigned to be submitted by the final session.

Homework:

Part 1: CLICK HERE FOR HOMEWORK WEEK 6 

Part 2: Business Owners must complete homework questionnaire and schedule a one-on-one with Rennard Brown to discuss their cash flow projections.

Resources:

 

Week Seven for Businesses
6pm to 9pm | Zoom Log In

Topic: Practice Final Presentations
Facilitators: Will Holmes & Rennard Brown

During this 3 hour session, the facilitator will review the final presentation template and take questions from the Participants. Then the participants will present their draft slides for feedback from the Facilitator.

HOMEWORK:
Practice the presentation with your assigned CCL student team and finalize your projections.

 

Week Eight for Businesses 

Graduation for Businesses
Zoom Log In

Topic: Presentations and Graduation
Facilitators: Tracy Akinade, Will Holmes & Rennard Brown

During our final 3 hour session, we will bring together all the Participants in both tracks for presentations. Due the number of Participants and limited time, we will separate into smaller groups in virtual breakout rooms to hear the presentations. Participants can cheer on the presenters and ask questions about their growth plans. After the presentations are complete, we will have a graduation ceremony. Certificates of Completion will be sent digitally to all Participants who completed the program.