Growing Through the Intuit Ideas Program: A Journey in Business and Community

This year has been a season of growth for me as an entrepreneur. At the same time that I graduated from the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business Program, I also completed the Intuit IDEAS Program for small business owners. Balancing both was intense, while still operating my business and managing client projects. But I knew why I was doing it: I wanted to show up more fully for my clients, my mentees, my community, and most importantly, myself.

Learning From Two Powerful Programs

The Goldman Sachs Black in Business program encouraged me to think bigger about strategy, scaling, and the long-term vision for my company. The Intuit Ideas Program grounded me in something just as important: the everyday systems that keep a business strong, from financial management to bookkeeping practices.

Even after more than a decade in marketing, event planning and partnerships, I realized there were areas where my business could be sharper and more efficient. The Intuit Ideas workshops, while especially valuable for novice and early-stage business owners, gave me a chance to reset and strengthen the fundamentals that make everything else possible.

MY BIGGEST TAKEAWAY: Why Bookkeeping and Taxes Matter for Growth

One of the biggest lessons I took away from the Intuit IDEAS Program was the importance of keeping clean and updated books and taxes. As entrepreneurs, especially those of us working with nonprofits and purpose-driven brands, it can be tempting to prioritize impact over infrastructure. But I was reminded that financial clarity is directly tied to opportunity.

When your books are accurate and up to date:

• Grant applications are easier to complete and more competitive.

• Accelerator programs take your business more seriously.

• Strategic growth decisions are guided by real numbers instead of guesswork.

Put simply, clean books are not just paperwork. They are a nonnegotiable when it comes to funding, partnerships, and sustainable growth.

5 Lessons I’m Carrying Into My Work

As the founder of a business that specializes in integrated marketing for nonprofits and community-centered brands, I’m applying what I learned from both programs to better support my clients and community. Here are five more key takeaways:

1. Build From the Ground Up – Just like strong finances, strong marketing requires solid foundations. Structure is directly tied to scaling.

2. Lead With Emotional Resilience – Running a business or leading a nonprofit requires balancing capacity, boundaries, and compassion. I’m learning to protect my time and energy while also extending grace to myself and others.

3. Simplify Complex Tools – Whether bookkeeping, tax preparation, or campaign analytics, breaking tools into simple steps helps leaders focus on results.

4. Invest in People and Processes – Sustainable growth comes from empowering people and building smarter systems, not just doing more.

5. Stay Opportunity-Ready – Updated financials keep a business prepared for grants, accelerator programs, and partnerships at any moment.

Why I Recommend BUSINESS ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS

When I joined these programs, one thing became clear right away: this program meets you where you are. For early-stage business owners, it’s a lifeline. The workshops break down bookkeeping, taxes, and financial systems in a way that feels approachable, which is exactly what you need when you’re just starting out and trying to build a strong foundation.

For seasoned entrepreneurs, business accelerators are just as valuable, but in a different way. The real benefit for me came from access to Intuit’s software tools, one-on-one time with financial experts, and executive coaching that challenged me to refine how I run my business.

Even if you already have clients, systems, and a few wins under your belt, there’s always room to sharpen your tools and see things with fresh eyes. Going through both programs was the perfect combination. Goldman Sachs pushed me to dream bigger and expand my vision, while Intuit grounded me in the day-to-day practices that keep a business healthy. Together, they stretched me in different directions and gave me the balance of strategy and structure that every entrepreneur needs.

Most importantly, these experiences reminded me that growth isn’t just about revenue or new clients. It’s about showing up fully in every space I occupy and trusting that I have—or can access—the clarity, data, resources, support, and funding needed to continue thriving as an entrepreneur.

Leave a comment if you have any questions about either program, I'd be more than happy to give you some more insights.

And if you're looking for a marketing agency that prioritizes relationships over transactions, I'd be happy to collaborate and provide consultation that turns your vision into action. Contact me to restrategize your growth and reimagine your impact. P.S. The Goldman Sachs' One Million Black Women and Intuit IDEAS program applications are currently closed, but Intuit is expanding into 6 new markets nationally. So, look out for the next application period.