In honor of Black History Month, we shine the spotlight on eight small business owners who, with the support of Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, are increasing their digital acumen and laying the groundwork for their families’ future success. Through passion, determination and a commitment to growth, these entrepreneurs are not just building businesses, they’re creating opportunities for community empowerment.
In 2021, Tiffany Richardson launched Artisan-Preneur Consulting to help entrepreneurs in her community launch and grow their businesses. She began her entrepreneurial journey after spending six years in the armed forces.
Richardson faced challenges in securing clients once she started her consultancy. That all changed, though, after she leaned into her passion for artificial intelligence (AI) and tapped into three key elements: niche expertise, strategic partnerships and support from Verizon Small Business Digital Ready. She started hosting regular networking sessions, which allowed her to better support her community and also grow her business. Richardson credits her Digital Ready skills with helping her attain new business and says her website brings in 20% of her clients, thanks to UX changes she learned through the program. She also says she boosted efficiencies by 20%, thanks to learnings from free Digital Ready courses, which allows her to take on larger projects.
Richardson is also using these skills to build a legacy of entrepreneurship within her family. Her husband and mother are part of her business and her children have become budding entrepreneurs. “I share what I learned with Digital Ready to help my kids grow their businesses,” she says.
