Episode 35: Entrepreneurs + Greensboro: A Match Made in Heaven

For the final Launch Greensboro episode, Clifford Thompson and Kelli Frazier talk to Ursula Dudley-Oglesby and Jonathan Lee Kelly about their entrepreneurship journeys.

Thanks for joining us!

This episode is sponsored by Truliant Federal Credit Union

Visit Truliant here

---------------------

Today’s hosts are Kelly Fraser and Clifford Johnson, Board Members for Launch Greensboro, the Chamber’s coworking space and entrepreneurial accelerator program.

---------------------

00:58 - The fourth and final episode of the Launch Greensboro Series features board members, Jonathan Kelly and Ursula Dudley-Oglesby, along with our hosts Clifford Johnson and Kelly Fraser. The Board plays an important role in setting a vision for Launch, bringing together resources to help entrepreneurs in the Triad, and strengthening the entrepreneurial landscape in Greensboro!

 

2:05 - Kelly describes the “boomerang” phenomenon that many people on the Board have experienced - leaving Greensboro at some point before returning to establish their lives and careers. Clifford introduces himself and shares some of his background, how his family started their business, and how he found his way back to Greensboro. He also explains why getting involved with the Launch Greensboro Board was so important to him, on a personal and professional level.

 

5:25 - Ursula introduces herself, a second-generation business owner that supplies beauty products to salons all over the US and internationally. She talks about her boomerang experience and what brought her back to Greensboro, and how the entrepreneurial landscape has grown and advanced over the years. Ursula is passionate about participating in a strong network of businesses that help each other and lift up small businesses. 

 

7:50 - Jonathan shares about his background and his exposure to entrepreneurship as a way to rise above and build something better. He discusses his boomerang experience that brought him back to Greensboro to help families both locally and globally. Jonathan became a member of the Board because of Cliff and the way that he talked about the power of the entrepreneurial network.

 

12:17 - Kelly describes her own experience about how she got started in entrepreneurship, which stemmed from her family, and the experience of getting into jobs that didn’t quite fit to help her realize that owning her own business was the path she really wanted. Kelly’s boomerang experience helped her appreciate Greensboro and all that this community offers, and the growth she’s seen since moving back has been invigorating. 

 

15:30 - Cliff asks Kelly to tell her story of growing up in Oak Ridge, how she left for LA, and how she returned to headquarter her marketing business in Greensboro.

 

17:17 - Part of Kelly’s work also includes helping early stage companies, so she talks about how she and her business partner started up a venture fund, which is now at $25 million!

 

18:39 - Kelly asks Ursula what they think are the most important trends for Greensboro companies to focus on, especially during this time where we are so impacted by COVID-19. Ursula speaks to flexibility and community, stepping up to support and help each other where we need it. She elaborates on how her own beauty supply business had to pivot in the pandemic to switch to manufacturing, and how she was able to do this with the help of the Chambers of Commerce of Greensboro and High Point. 

 

22:40 - Cliff asks Jonathan what he thinks Greensboro could do to further foster the entrepreneurial environment. Jonathan stresses highlighting competitive differences that exist in the community already, like Greensboro’s several historic colleges and universities like NC A&T, one of the largest HBCUs in the country, and the wealth of different experiences that exist in our multicultural community. 

 

27:05 - Kelly asks Cliff to describe the vision for Launch Greensboro moving forward, and future plans for the fund. Cliff discusses the multiple programs that Launch provides for entrepreneurs at every level, the great mentorship program that is provided, but they really wanted to expand on the funding sources available to local startups. That’s how the First Launch Capital Fund started, so the community could invest in their own Triad-based businesses.

 

29:28 - Kelly closes out by talking about education, resources, and capital being the pillars of a successful entrepreneurial community, all of which Launch Greensboro provides. She encourages the public to come to Launch programs like Capital Connects and Demo Day to see pitches from local entrepreneurs and support their work!

---------------------

Remember to subscribe for new episode notifications each week.

Make sure to follow impact. The Boro on social media!

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @gsochamber

Visit the Chamber website at greensboro.org.