Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs

Saturday School is back in session this week!  Looking for real strategies to grow your business? Whether you're launching, scaling, or refining your operations, these expert-led sessions give you the tools to succeed. You can expect: 📝Hands-on learning 📝Industry insights 📝Actionable strategies 📝Entrepreneurial community Check out what past attendees had to say about their Saturday School experience ✨ 📍Join us this Saturday! Register now: https://lnkd.in/eCgc4uKV #SaturdaySchoolatRICE #Entrepreneurs #BusinessGrowth #SuccessStartsHere

We are back for another Saturday School! It’s exciting to continue working in partnership with the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs to provide Global Language, Business, and Culture lessons to its stakeholders and the surrounding community. We make it relatable to every day life, digestible, immediately applicable, and cohesive to other subject matters being taught! Join Us THIS Saturday! Registration info below! Invite 1 friend! 🎉 Shakiri Murrain

I had the opportunity to attend a fantastic NAAAHR - Atlanta Chapter Meeting at the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), where Diane Alvarez, MBA, PHR, PRC, SHRM-CP, Director of Talent Acquisition at Grady Health System, led an insightful discussion on workplace culture, engagement, and leadership. The conversation was rich with perspectives that closely align with what we advocate for at easini. Here are some key takeaways that stood out: 🔹 Creating Authentic Connections – People should feel comfortable being their true selves at work, rather than wearing a “mask” to fit in. An inclusive culture is one where employees feel valued for who they are. 🔹 Disengagement & Productivity – A disengaged workforce often signals a lack of transparency, connection, and growth opportunities. 🔹 Bridging Generational Gaps – Organizations must create intentional opportunities for cross-generational collaboration. A structured mentorship program can help foster understanding and cohesion. At easini we believe more importantly, understanding what different generations value is key to building a strong culture. 🔹 DEI & Transparency – DEI is about more than policies; it’s about listening with genuine intent, hearing different perspectives, and creating transparency in decision-making. Employees need to see that leadership is committed to action, not just conversation. 🔹 Maintaining Morale & Encouraging Growth – When morale is low, self-improvement and external engagement can help employees feel enabled. Encouraging people to take courses, join professional groups, and expand their knowledge which builds confidence. 🔹 Future Trends: Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) – ERGs can be a powerful tool to gain insight into employee needs and inform future strategies for engagement and retention. 🔹 What Leaders Must Do Differently – One of the biggest challenges in many organizations is that leaders aren’t asking enough questions. True leadership isn’t just about making decisions—it’s about engaging in continuous dialogue with employees and acting on their feedback. As always in all my networking sessions I had the pleasure of meeting other like-minded leaders and HR professionals, engaging in thought-provoking and insightful conversations. Khalid Williams, MBA, Monte McDowell, SPHR, Jasen H., Lewanna K., Joseph Williams, PHR, SHRM-CP, Christa Cochran, BA, PHR, Michele A Jones, Shanoa Young, MBA, SHRM-CP, Tamara L McMillan, PhD [Trainer- Learning and Development], Monique Grissette-Banks, PhD, SHRM-SCP Don’t let culture evolve by chance—shape it with intention. Create a thriving workplace culture with purposeful actions. DM me and Let’s connect! #Leadership #OrganizationalCulture #WorkplaceEngagement #EmployeeExperience #Mentorship #GrowthMindset #RICE #NAAAHR #easini

We had the pleasure of connecting with Alair Castro from Northwestern Mutual today! It was a joy to share the energy and innovation of RICE with her. We're excited to explore the possibilities of future collaborations and create impactful moments together! ✨ Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs

The pleasure was all mine attending the Augusta Metro Chamber’s 116th Annual Meeting at the beautifully renovated Bell Auditorium! An evening packed with gems—brought by none other than keynote James “Jay” Bailey, CEO of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) in Atlanta. If you haven’t heard of RICE…where have you been? I joked with Jay that Ive visited and attended business meetings at RICE too many times to count always looking for the man personally chosen by THE Mr. Herman J. Russell—one of Atlanta’s most prolific Black entrepreneurs, renowned businessman, civic leaders, and man of many firsts—to help carry on his legacy for building Black business. And, as expected, Jay Bailey did not disappoint! He dropped a few gems! 💎To be transformative you have to do more than teach 💎One organization cannot solve the problem alone 💎Collaboration beats competition every day of the week 💎Change requires fierce intentionality 💎Readiness + uncommon access = ??? 💎Community—>Culture—>Covenant 💎Dismiss and dismantle radical indifference You tell me what you think radical indifference vs racism means? And—I will tell you what I learned! Thank you Jay for the shout out to the “country folk" club!!! I have a little St. Louis in me but yes I know I am country as the day is long and Im proud of it🙋🏾♀️😝 Beyond the incredible keynote, it was great running into new and familiar faces—and sitting at a table full of UGA grads, Jay’s alma mater who took delight in having a field day with him yelling all the way from the back to him on the stage! I promise this is the part of being an entreprenueHER and businesswoman that I truly enjoy—connecting, learning, and celebrating with humble and successful "Beautiful" business people 🤩 Thank you Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Congratulations on 116 years of local impact to the Augusta business community! 🎉👏🏾👏🏾 #RICEAtlanta #build #blackbusinesses #augustametro #chamberofcommerce #smallbusinessownerlife #augustaga #BMSintheCommunity

Full Circle Moments & Building the Future of Real Estate Together! Huge thank you to Quinn Green, MBA for not only sharing his time and wisdom but for dropping history lessons on the legacy of H.J. Russell and the foundation he laid in this industry. What made this moment even more special? Quinn’s journey started right here, at the former HJ Russell HQ, where he landed his first internship—a pivotal step in his path to becoming the real estate leader he is today. To have him return to this space, now as a featured guest speaker, was a powerful full-circle moment and a reminder of the impact mentorship, access, and community have in shaping the next generation of industry leaders. His insights on coaching, mentorship, and career growth resonated deeply with our group, reinforcing why this sector meet-up is becoming something truly special. We’re just getting started, but the momentum is building. These meetings are becoming a hub for real estate professionals to connect, gain valuable insights, and expand their networks in ways that drive real opportunities. The future is bright! Special thanks to COLOR Co and Interrüt for expanding the reach of these conversations beyond RICE—because when we build together, we all grow together. Thank you to U.S. Bank for their investment into and providing the spaces for these conversations to happen. If you’re looking for a space to learn, connect, and be part of something bigger in real estate, this is the room you want to be in. See you at the next one! #RealEstate #Networking #Mentorship #HJRussell #Legacy #BuildingTheFuture #Interrüt #COLORCo #RussellInnovationCenter #RealEstateLeadership #Coaching #Community 

It was an honor to represent the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs during the “Focus on Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Small Business Impacting the Economy” Fireside Chat with Frank Holland, anchor with CNBC’s Worldwide Exchange, during the inaugural NYBLACKMBA - Metro New York Chapter of the National Black MBA Association Business & Lifestyle Festival. Thank you Norville Barrington, Chapter and Advisory Board President, the entire NYBLACKMBA Board of Directors, my fellow Advisory Board members, volunteers, and sponsors for the extraordinary job in the execution of the festival and their continued unwavering dedication to drive economic growth. I’d like to also extend my congratulations to the NYBLACKMBA as they proudly opened the NASDAQ Market Bell, once again making history last month. #RICE #NYBLACKMBA

Crystal Clarke is a force to be reckoned with! As the project manager for RICE Market and the UPS Logistics Launchpad, she brings high energy and a powerful presence into every room she enters. In our HERStory in Motion series, she shared her thoughts on owning your power, standing firm in resilience, and embracing the versatility of being a woman. Her message? Never shrink for anyone, show up as your full, unapologetic self. “Know that you are valued. Know that you matter. Whatever path you choose is important, and we need it. Keep pushing!” Watch the clip and soak up all the wisdom, power, and inspiration she’s serving ✨ We’re celebrating the phenomenal women of RICE all month long! Catch up on past episodes and stay tuned to see who we feature next. #HERStoryInMotion #WomensHistoryMonth #WomenWhoMeanBusiness #RICEWomen #WomenWhoLead

Check out this awesome, inspiring video from my friend and PHS/IB classmate Oni Holley Brown, JD, CPC, ELI-MP. We had the chance to reconnect last week where a 30 min Zoom turned into a 90 min catchup session, sharing ideas. An accomplished lawyer by trade she’s now providing professional coaching for lawyers and legal professionals. Check her out!

😁 Starting my day with smiles and incredible connections! Had a truly powerful conversation with Courtney J. and Arielle Griffin from Atlanta Life Insurance Company. We're building something special together, and I can't wait to share the impact of our partnership with the world. Here's to a future filled with collaboration and transformative work! ✨ #PartnershipGoals Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs