| Date | Program | Description | Who Should Attend | Facilitator(s) | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jan 15 4–6 PM |
Orientation Session #1 | Overview of RICE, expectations, program pathways, sectors, and navigation of resources. | New stakeholders; returning stakeholders seeking clarity. | RICE Program Team | Register |
| Sat, Jan 17 10 AM–12 PM |
Orientation Session #2 | Weekend repeat of Orientation with all sectors represented. | New stakeholders; those who missed Session #1. | RICE Program Team | Register |
| Tues, Jan 20 6–7:30 PM |
Group Coaching #1: Clarity + Goal Setting | Goal-setting and clarity-building through peer coaching and guided prompts. | Stakeholders needing direction or accountability. | Marie Hunter, President, KRG Oil Company | Register |
| Tues, Jan 20, 27 1 PM–2 PM |
Tech Tuesday Workshop AI Tools for Growing Businesses |
Overview of practical AI and no-code tools, workflow automation, rapid prototyping, and tech-enabled growth strategies for small business owners. | Entrepreneurs new to AI tools; stakeholders seeking scalable, tech-enabled workflows. | Cam Flowers, Founder & CEO, Floreo Labs | Register |
| Thu, Jan 22 1:30–3:00 PM |
Think Tank Thursday The Art of the Strategic Partnership |
Overview of collaborative learning, peer-led discussion, and practical skill-sharing through Think Tank Thursdays in Stakeholder Central. | RICE stakeholders; entrepreneurs seeking peer learning and strategic collaboration. | Courtney Counts, KTC | Register |
| Thu, Jan 22 5:30–7:00 PM |
Productivity, Focus & Well-Being Session for CEOs | Facilitated conversation on productivity, focus, and sustainable leadership for founders and CEOs. | All stakeholders; especially business owners seeking better focus and balance. | Tiffany Ellis, CEO – G Anns Cold Pressed | Register |
| Thu, Jan 29 1:00–2:00 PM |
Think Tank Thursday Creating and/or Enhancing Your Capability Statement |
Overview of collaborative learning and practical guidance on developing or strengthening a capability statement through Think Tank Thursdays in Stakeholder Central. | RICE stakeholders; entrepreneurs preparing for partnerships, contracts, or growth opportunities. | Keya Grant, CEO, The Curated Olive | Register |
| Thu, Jan 29 6–7:30 PM |
Group Coaching #2: 90-Day Planning | Traction-building and action planning to close out the month. | All stakeholders. | Myra Herring, Coach | Speaker | Trainer | Register |
| Date | Program | Description | Who Should Attend | Facilitator(s) | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tues, Feb 3 6–7:30 PM |
Group Coaching #1 (Feb) | Early-month reset, momentum recap, and accountability. | All stakeholders. | Dr. Berkley Baker | Register |
| Tues, Feb 3, 10 1 PM–2 PM |
Tech Tuesday Workshop AI Tools for Growing Businesses |
Overview of practical AI and no-code tools, workflow automation, rapid prototyping, and tech-enabled growth strategies for small business owners. | Entrepreneurs new to AI tools; stakeholders seeking scalable, tech-enabled workflows. | Cam Flowers | Floreo Labs | Register |
| Wed, Feb 4 4–8 PM |
World Cup Forum: Fireside Conversation with Jay Bailey | World Cup Forum fireside conversation featuring honest insights on leadership, business wins, and lessons learned. | All stakeholders; especially early-stage entrepreneurs. | Jay Bailey | Register |
| Thurs, Feb 5 6–7:30 PM |
Entrepreneur Essentials (NEW) | Business fundamentals: models, revenue, value proposition, customer basics, and what “scale” actually means. | All new & returning stakeholders. | Dr. Berkley Baker | Register |
| Tues, Feb 3, 10, 17, 24 2–5 PM |
Advising Tuesdays | Weekly sector-aligned advising focused on clarity, planning, financial health, and next steps. | Any stakeholder needing targeted support. | Dr. Berkley Baker; Mark Peterson | Register w/ Dr. Berkley Register w/ Mark Peterson |
| Tues, Feb 10 6–7:30 PM |
Learning Lab #1: Business Foundations | Business models, customer identification, and value proposition basics. | New and early-stage entrepreneurs. | Mark Peterson | Register |
| Thurs, Feb 12 5:30–6:30 PM |
Stakeholder Mixer / Community Hour | Fun, light community-building space across sectors. | All stakeholders. | RICE Program Team | Register |
| Tues, Feb 17 6–7:30 PM |
Learning Lab #2: Finance Basics | Cash flow, budgeting, pricing, and basic money management. | All entrepreneurs; those intimidated by finance. | Mark Peterson | Register |
| Wed, Feb 18 5:30–7:00 PM |
Leadership & CEO Perspective Session | Executive insights on leadership, decision-making, and navigating business growth from the CEO lens. | All stakeholders; especially founders and operators. Professional Services Sector. | Dr. Lawrence Henderson, CEO – Boss LLC | Register |
| Thurs, Feb 19 12–2 PM |
Meet the CEO/Founder (February) | Inspiring conversation with a major founder discussing growth, leadership, and resilience. | All stakeholders; especially mid-stage entrepreneurs. | N/A | Register |
| Sat, Feb 21 9 AM – 2 PM |
Situational Leadership | Situational Leadership equips founders to lead diverse teams effectively by tailoring their approach to the specific needs of each individual. | Founders and leaders managing teams. | Dr. Berkley Baker | Register |
| Tues, Feb 24 6–7:30 PM |
Group Coaching #2 (Feb) | End-of-month accountability check + troubleshooting, systems, automation, team development. | All stakeholders needing structure. | Mark Peterson | Register |
| Thurs, Feb 26 6–8 PM |
Advanced Learning Lab: Scaling + Systems | Revenue optimization, and expanding operations. | Established, revenue-generating businesses ready to grow. | Dr. Berkley Baker | Register |
| Date | Program | Description | Who Should Attend | Facilitator(s) | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tues, Mar 3, 10, 17, 24 6:00–7:30 PM |
Tech Tuesdays Workshop Design Thinking Mini Bootcamp Series |
Overview of identifying and defining the right problem before prototyping using structured innovation frameworks. | AI-curious stakeholders; returning stakeholders ready to build and implement solutions. | Thomas Clifton, Founder & CEO, The Design Library | Register |
| Tue, Mar 17 1:30–2:30 PM |
AI-Amplified Entrepreneurship: AI-Enhanced Business Planning | Overview of using AI tools to support business planning, strategy, and decision-making across key business functions. | AI-curious stakeholders; entrepreneurs seeking practical AI applications. | Dedren Snead,Founder,CEO Subsume Media | Register |
| Wed, March 18 5:30–7:00 PM |
Strategic Storytelling & Messaging for CEOs | Facilitated session on using storytelling to clarify messaging, build trust, and influence customers and stakeholders. | All stakeholders; especially founders and CEOs looking to strengthen messaging and influence. | Shate Hayes, CEO – The Purpose Post | Register |
| Date | Program | Description | Who Should Attend | Facilitator | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurs, April 23 5:30–7:00 PM |
Cross-Functional Problem-Solving Roundtable for Founders | Collaborative roundtable focused on breaking down silos and improving communication across teams and partners. | All stakeholders; especially founders managing teams, partners, or growing operations. | Tommy Stapleton | Register |
| Offering | Purpose | Format | Cadence | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masterclasses | Deep dives with experts for applied skills | 60–90 min expert-led sessions | Monthly | Mar • Apr • May • Jun • Jul • Aug |
| Seminars | Core business concepts & emerging practices | Lecture-style + Q&A | Bi-monthly | Mar • May • Jul |
| Workshops | Hands-on implementation + deliverables | Small group, guided practice | Quarterly | Apr • Aug |
Terri-Nichelle Bradley is the Founder and CEO of Play at Brown Toy Box. Bradley believes that Black children should see themselves positively represented in every space the experience regularly, starting with their toybox and the toy aisle. Bradley, an equity in play advocate, is on a mission to disrupt the $27B toy industry by creating a brand that reflects the world we live in today. Launched in 2017 as a STEAM kit, Brown Toy Box evolved into a full-scale educational toy company producing and curating STEAM toys, media, and experiences for centering and celebrating Black children in a manner all children can enjoy, learn, and have fun. Prior to starting Brown Toy Box, Bradley led a communications consultancy working with Fortune 500 companies in campaigns designed to connect with the African American community. Prior to that, Bradley served as the VP of Corporate, Crisis, and Public Affairs for the world’s largest global PR agency. Bradley has been awarded the Civic Impact Award, was recognized as a 2019 Atlanta’s Top 100 Businesswomen of Influence by the Atlanta Business League, acknowledged on the 2020 Who’s Who in Black Atlanta list of influential leaders and most recently named to Inc. Magazine’s 2020 Female Founders 100 list. Brown Toy Box is sold in Target stores nationwide, with Amazon, over 30 museums including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture, as well as other independent specialty toy stores and retailers. Learn more at browntoybox.com
Stefan Miller is the Co-Founder and CMO for Young King Hair Care, which launched in December 2019. Young King Hair Care is a multicultural grooming and lifestyle brand company with tailored offerings catering to specific needs of young men of color. Stefan is a marketing professional with 15+ years of experience across marketing, sales and consulting in the CPG and tech industries. At Young King, Stefan has been featured in over 75+ national publications, was recognized by Mintel as one of the top US brand innovations of 2021, partnered with Disney and Marvel Studios for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and was a participant on Season 13 of ABC’s Shark Tank. Currently Young King Hair Care is available in multiple retail partners, including Target, Walmart, and CVS, selling in over 3,000 stores across the US. Prior to founding Young King Hair Care, he led business strategy and marketing communications, while launching innovations across multiple billion-dollar brands and categories at IBM, Johnson & Johnson, General Mills, Coca-Cola, and Red Bull. Stefan L. Miller Bio Stefan holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University with concentrations in Brand Marketing, Media Management and Management in Organizations, and is a proud HBCU alum of Morehouse College with a BA in Business Administration. He currently lives with his wife and co-founder Cora and 2 kids, Kade and Cree in Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more at youngkinghaircare.com
Ceata E. Lash, CEO and founder of PuffCuff has emerged as a pioneering figure in the natural hair accessory industry, holding the distinction of being the first African-American woman to secure four US patents in this domain. Her journey to entrepreneurship was built upon a 30-year career as a graphic designer, which laid the foundation for launching PuffCuff in 2013. Ceata’s innovative leadership has earned her prestigious accolades, including the President’s Innovation Award from Sally Beauty and the New Voices + Barefoot Wine Beauty Business Grant. These achievements have placed her among the top female founders featured in Inc. Magazine. Committed to lifelong learning and growth, Ceata has completed the Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses National Cohort and was part of the inaugural Amazon Black Business Accelerator Cohort. Her recent completion of the “Building a Successful Diverse Business” program at Tuck Executive Education, Dartmouth, further underscores her dedication to continuous improvement and leadership in the business world. Learn more at thepuffcuff.com
