February Staff Spotlight
Elizabeth "Liz" Hope is the Business Development Manager with New Covenant Community Development Corporation (NCCDC). In her role, she supports the economic well-being of small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs by providing educational and coaching services to broaden their knowledge base to assist in the growth and development of their businesses. Additionally, she extends her expertise to Sunshine Enterprises, providing valuable educational and coaching services.
Liz's journey with Sunshine began through a recommendation from her cousin Valerie, leading her to enroll in the CBA’s property management cohort. This experience transformed her business trajectory, prompting her to advocate for the benefits of CBA classes to others seeking to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship and achieve business growth. With over a year of experience as a CBA instructor at Sunshine Enterprises, Liz offers personalized 1:1 business and financial coaching to guide entrepreneurs through the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey.
As a CBA instructor, Liz's primary responsibilities include facilitating the CBA Curriculum, reviewing student work submissions, providing constructive feedback, and conducting individual business coaching sessions throughout the cohort and beyond to support the ongoing success of students' businesses.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part is 1:1 business coaching. Having the opportunity to hear the goals and dreams of the students. Experiencing the growth as they work through and the excitement they feel as they see their vision come to life.
Q: How do you create a positive and inclusive environment to help all students & clients succeed?
One of the first things I try to do is create an atmosphere where the students feel comfortable sharing information and asking the questions that they may not feel comfortable asking in other environments. We start out talking about our business aspirations, how we feel about it and move toward what we feel we need to continue. I promote this is the safe space and a team effort to figure out what’s next and utilizing peer to peer support as an advantage for helping increase your learnings.
Q: Can you share a memorable moment from your time at Sunshine that has had a significant impact for you?
One experience was being privy to the ‘a-ha’ moment one student had when she realized that to really do business she had to understand the concepts and information that was being shared. When she joined the class, she was just doing the business. Not focusing on its future or growth. She was making sales, but she was not tracking her income and expenses. As she worked through the program, she discovered that she was pricing her product too low. She initially thought that since was able to pay her bills, she was doing okay. She realized that she was funding the business activities through her day-to-day job. She made the adjustment to her pricing to move toward making her business sustainable.
Q: What strategies do you use to keep your students engaged and motivated?
I always start class with asking the students what excited them about their business this week. This is based on what you learned last week. Were you able to apply the learnings and if necessary, shift your thinking? I continue to ask the students to apply the knowledge each week. As they do that, they demonstrate more engagement in their business. I continue to promote the value of implementing the learnings in your business to expand your knowledge and role as the CEO of your business.
Q: What challenges have you encountered in your position and how have you overcome them?
The only challenge is when there is a student that does not push through life’s intrusion and complete the learnings to move their business forward. The class incorporates the idea of life intrusion, but sometimes a student can’t conquer it at that time and will push their business dream into the future.
Q: Any advice you have for entrepreneurs?
One thing I share with my students and 1:1 coaching clients it is a marathon to build a business. It is not a short race. It will require your dedication and commitment for growth and sustainability. If you make that commitment, you will be rewarded. Being a business owner is living out your calling and bringing the dream to reality.
Liz Hope with her students at Sunshine Enterprises’ recent graduation in December.
