Staying ahead of the curve is what keeps communities on top of their game. And with the help of the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA), students, entrepreneurs and others can realize both economic and academic success.

One of the ways BBPA is making that happen is through its involvement in organizing landmark events like the National Black Business and Professional Conference, taking place November  4 to 5 at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto. The first of its kind, the event is perfect for entrepreneurs and other Black businesses in Canada, as it aims to introduce attendees to best practices and out-of-the-box thinking to help them move their businesses forward.

“To remain successful, businesses need to be flexible and have new ideas to keep their customers engaged,” says Pauline Christian, BBPA president. “This professional conference will bring together some of the best minds in business so that we can share and learn from each other, and with that, become even better and more competitive Black business people.” Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from key business leaders. Invited guests include Jim Flaherty, MPP, finance minister and minister responsible for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Later in the month, on Nov. 25, more than 250 high school students from priority neighbourhoods across the GTA will participate in the annual BBPA National Scholarship Fund Leaders of Tomorrow Conference. It is a unique one-day educational event with a goal to provide students with the tools necessary to achieve both personal and professional success.

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BBPA heats up with new initiatives

Black Business and Professional Association

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Topping off the day, more than 45 gifted and community-minded Black students will be recognized at a presentation ceremony. Since its inception in 1986, the BBPA National Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $5-million to more than 500 deserving students. Its programs have given many of Canada’s Black youth an opportunity to be successful and help to level the academic playing field.

For more than two decades, the BBPA has been an organization that listens and responds to the business and educational needs of Black communities. With creative tools, services and programs designed to challenge and motivate its members, the organization continues to provide value.

Early bird registration for the National Black Business and Professional Conference is available at nbbpc.eventbrite.com. Donations to the BBPA National Scholarship Fund can be made by visting bbpa.org.

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Award-winning business executive Wayne Isaacs on tunnelling his way to the top

BY: Austin Maxwell

Wayne Isaacs has come a long way from his birthplace, the small town of Savanna-la-Mar, deep in rural Jamaica. Raised there until the age of 11 by members of an extensive family, he finds himself now, as a husband and parent in Canada, placing considerable emphasis on the value of a close and loving family.

So it’s no surprise that, professionally, he places equal emphasis on “building good people,” because by doing so, “you build good companies.” According to Isaacs, too many employers try and build companies at the expense of their people — and then wonder why true success eludes them.

And Isaacs has built an impressive career in a relatively short time. A University of Western Ontario graduate, Isaacs began his career in corporate finance with a US bank, quickly becoming its youngest vice-president. Fast-forward to the year 2007 and he’s co-founder, chairman and CEO of Delta Uranium Inc., a prospering, Toronto Stock Exchange-listed firm that now owns more than 1,000 square kilometres of uranium exploration land in northern Ontario. In between, he has been a senior executive and director of more than 30 publicly listed companies, the majority of which have been in the resource industry.

In recognition of such great accomplishments, Isaacs won the 2009 Harry Jerome Business Award handed out by the Black Business and Professional Association.

His journey to success in Canada has not been without incident, however. He faced the shock of racism within the first week at a Toronto public school. “I realized, from that moment, many of my relationships here would now be based on my colour and ethnicity — something completely foreign to me, until that point,” he says.

His adult life has seen its fair share of more of the same — one insurance salesperson, on hearing that Isaacs worked with a uranium mining company, asked, “Oh, what’s it like, working in the mines?” Isaacs was then president and director of the company in question. “People just don’t expect folks like me to be doing what I do. But I guess I’m either too dumb or too stubborn because I don’t let it even slow me down,” he says in retrospect. “I just ignore it and carry on being… myself.”

Asked what advice he’d give immigrants today, especially those considering the entrepreneurial path, Isaacs says: “The principal roadblock to anyone’s future is a lack of ambition — unwillingness to take a risk. If you have ambition and love what you do — even if you don’t have all the skills — I’ll take you on, because… you can learn skills! Without passion, you’ll never do a good job, never fully succeed.

“And, don’t let others define you — a ‘foreign’ accent should never be the reason for being denied any opportunity in life.”

By Paula Morrison

The Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) continues to be the catalyst for success, opportunity and recognition in the Canadian Black community, with its mandate to inform, educate and provide business networking opportunities.

In April, the BBPA honoured another group of dynamic individuals at the 28th Annual Harry Jerome Awards. Even Prime Minister Stephen Harper attended the gala to honour the founding members of the BBPA for envisioning the organization almost 30 years ago.

Alongside other prominent Canadian dignitaries, 14 individuals were recognized for their outstanding achievements.

“The BBPA continues to be the driving force for inspiration, information and opportunity in the Black Canadian community,” says Pauline Christian, BBPA president. “We are plugged in. We listen to what’s important and provide programs of importance.”

This fall, the BBPA will embark on another first. From Nov. 4 to 5, the organization is launching its first ever National Black Business and Professional Convention to encourage broader dialogue and provide opportunities for attendees to learn best practices.

This two-day event, with inspirational seminars, networking sessions and a trade show, has been created to empower Black professionals to achieve economic excellence.

“We are looking to attract the brightest and the best of Canada at this inaugural event,’ says Christian. “With the added effort to promote diversity and build networks across businesses and across the country.”

Upcoming BBPA events, include a General Meeting (July 13) and a workshop on the HST. Plus the Fourth Annual Black Heroes Golf Tournament (July 17) in support of the BBPA National Scholarship Fund. For more detailed event info, visit bbpa.org or call 416-504-4097.