Christopher Lee brings a diverse background in the logistics, manufacturing, servicing, and marketing arenas based on businesses he has launched or has been a part of the founding team seeing successful exits. This has been the foundation for giving back to existing or aspiring minority firms in the form of guidance and mentorship. Start Co. saw his 30 years of experience as an asset to the many of the minority firms that are being served via the Propel Accelerator program and The 800 Initiative in general. I sat down with Chris to talk about his experiences and how he’s prepared to provide another layer of support for minority owned businesses and The 800 Initiative.
The Propel Accelerator program is offered for existing minority businesses. How are you positioned to help existing firms and why do existing businesses need these resources?
“During the last 30 years, I’ve had successful ventures in a few areas. I think sometimes when you look at programs like this there are a lot of advisors and mentors coming to the table with different perspectives and sometimes they have not truly immersed themselves in the launching and running of a business. So I think having the perspective I have allows me to truly help business owners because I can meet them where they are. The thing I can do most to help them is not only to help the person but to also help the people who are working with entrepreneurs to understand that minority businesses face a unique set of challenges and growing pains.”
What about your experience makes you feel connected to other entrepreneurs?
“I’ve ridden the wave down, and I’ve ridden it back up. I can sit down with an entrepreneur and in 30 minutes I can know where they are emotionally and see things they may not be wearing on their sleeve. I can pick up on their struggles because I’ve lived it and I understand it. The intuition allows me to better advise them. Many people feel like they are the only ones who have ever gone through what they are going through.”
Do you think your successes have helped you just as much as your failures?
“You cannot subtract one out of the other. I certainly know what it’s like to celebrate the new contract you were finally able to close. I also understand what it’s like to be confident you will close that deal and then it doesn’t happen.”
What are your hopes for the 800 initiative as a whole?
“There are alot of very smart people working on this initiative. Memphis is a place where it is imperative that minority businesses become successful. It’s a demand driver for our market and an economic driver. For the better part of the last 30 years, I’ve seen a lot of starts, stops and gaps in terms of resources for minority businesses. I don’t know that there has ever been a program like this where you’re layering on so many components that can help. I am very excited that so many people in this community are embracing it and getting behind it and that the resources are truly coming to life to help. From my perspective, the best way I can help is to continue being an example of how you avail yourself of the programs, you leverage these resources for growth, and then you give back what you’ve learned to help others grow.”
Connect with Chris here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherlee33/