June Newsletter
Pride, Community Announcement, Woman of the Month
Happy Pride Month!
First and foremost, we want to take this opportunity to celebrate Pride Month. Whether you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, Pride month is a time to stand together and loudly to embrace and welcome all members of our community on their entrepreneurship journeys. We know that finding a space where you can show up as your truest self is not easy, and we want to make it clear that we work hard to ensure our Triple Point Collective community is safe and we will not tolerate any discriminatory behavior in our spaces.
One of our key values is Diversity: we strongly believe that everyone deserves a seat at the table and the best progress is made by joining different perspectives. We know that members of the LGBTQ+ Community have different obstacles they face in the workplace and in the field of business. At TPC, we believe that your gender identity or your sexuality should not be a barrier to starting your business and we will continue to work to create spaces that support you on your journey!
June Monthly Challenge:
Starting this month, in each newsletter we’d like to give you something to take action on: a small project, a journaling or discussion exercise, etc. Even in those moments where you may feel completely underwater, taking small windows of five minutes to think about your business strategically can help it feel all the more manageable.
This month, we want you to take some time (this could be anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, depending on how much time you have), unplug from technology, and grab a pen and paper. Write a journal entry answering these questions (be honest in your exploration - no judgement here!):
Where do I want my business to be in 3 years? (impact, revenue, profit, number of customers, etc. - the only limit is yourself here)
What are incremental milestones every 6 months that if accomplished, would make this goal achievable by year three? (break down your 3-year goal into 6 month sections)
What actionable steps can I take each week to make this my reality? (break this down even further by taking your 6 month goals and breaking them down into weekly goals)
When you’re done, if you’re willing to share, we would LOVE to hear from you! Your responses and experiences could be just what a fellow business owner needs to feel seen, heard, or find their direction. Drop a comment below or on Instagram to start the conversation!
Woman of the Month: Michaela Mendelsohn
Michaela Mendelsohn is Founder and CEO of Pollo West, the largest franchisee of the restaurant chain El Pollo Loco in California, with multiple locations.
As a transgender CEO, in her time running this franchise she has hired and managed many other trans employees, and knows firsthand the difficulties this community faces in the workplace: there is always uncertainty whether your employer will recognize and respect your identity, and keep you safe from harassment. For this and a variety of other reasons, the transgender population reports unemployment of double the national average.
She took it upon herself to help solve these issues. She founded Trans Can Work, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving workplace cultures around gender diversity, and providing career development and support to transgender individuals. They offer workforce/career development programs, employment navigation, and connect their clients with a variety of other resources that help them enter or renter the workforce. They also have occasional webinars and support groups available to a wider range of people.
Like many women in entrepreneurship, she is using her voice to elevate underserved communities and pioneer change. In addition to starting her non-profit and running her business, she also has dedicated time to be on the board of The Trevor Project, consult with TV producers on writing transgender characters, and is always speaking up for the LGBT+ community.
Thanks
We hope June is wonderful and abundant for all of you. We encourage you to continue to foster belonging and inclusion, this month and beyond. As always, feel free to leave a comment or send us a message if you want us to cover any specific topics. We are here for you!!
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