Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. ZaLonya Allen.
Hi Dr. Allen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My parents were entrepreneurs, so I was always around entrepreneurship. In addition to his job at Ford Motor Company, my dad invested in real estate properties and stocks. My mother owned a hair salon. As a child, I always knew that I wanted to be an entrepreneur in some capacity. During college, I began taking public speaking classes and learned that it was a lucrative business. In my twenties, I began speaking wherever I could for free. Eventually, I gained the confidence to charge a fee. To date, I have delivered hundreds of presentations across the country and trained corporate executives, teachers, government employees, and business owners in the areas of leadership development, motivation, and diversity.
In 2011, I decided to stop traveling so much and start a brick and mortar. In doing so, I discovered there was still a lot I did not know about entrepreneurship. I thought to myself, there are probably a lot of entrepreneurs in the same position, wanting to start businesses but lacking the information to do so correctly. I began doing some research and learned about the high fail rate for small businesses. According to the SBA, over 50% of small businesses fail within the first five years. At that point, I decided to take action and put together a conference called the “Entrepreneurs Forum” a daylong event where experts could come together under one roof and provide information on how to start and grow a business. The event was very successful. We had about 120 entrepreneurs come out and spend the day listening to speakers, participating in panel discussions, and attending breakout sessions.
Based on the Entrepreneurs Forum, I concluded something ongoing was needed, and with the help of my brother and a friend, I launched the Southeast Michigan Entrepreneurs Association. We began holding monthly meetings so that entrepreneurs could come together and network and connect with other professionals on a regular basis and get the support they needed to grow. In 2018 I decided this needed to become a national effort and expanded on the idea. At that point the National Entrepreneurs Association was born, a 501c3 nonprofit corporation with the mission of empowering entrepreneurs to grow and sustain successful businesses through quality networking events and training programs.
Forming partnerships with Dell Technologies and Comerica Bank was a game changer because it allowed me to gain access to funding and resources that I did not have before. NEA partnered with Dell Technologies to launch national pitch competitions where entrepreneurs can win cash, computers, and a one-year membership to the association. NEA partnered with Comerica bank to put on the Entrepreneur Bootcamp and Certification Program, a nine-week course designed to give entrepreneurs a complete overview of what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur, now entering its fourth cohort. Both ventures have been very successful. The National Entrepreneurs Association now has a network of over 3,000 entrepreneurs across the country. Our primary goal is to reduce the fail rate through world-class training programs that truly make a difference in the lives of entrepreneurs everywhere.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. I don’t think entrepreneurship is ever a smooth road. It’s full of ups and downs and twists and turns. It’s a journey. One of the biggest challenges for me has been wearing so many different hats. As an entrepreneur, you have to know how to do so many different things. One day you’re working on marketing, the next day you’re working on funding, another day you are putting on an event. I feel like you have to know a little about a lot of different things and at times it can be overwhelming. I have also had to learn a lot about intellectual property and protecting my ideas because when you come up with a great idea unscrupulous people will steal it. This has been one of the biggest challenges for so many of the entrepreneurs that I have worked with and coached.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I have had many jobs throughout my career. I started working when I was nine years old helping my brother deliver papers on his paper route with the Detroit Free Press. At 12 years old I took over the route and I’ve been working ever since. When I was in high school, I worked in dietary at a retirement home. During the summer breaks, I worked in an auto plant inspecting auto parts. During the Christmas holidays, I worked at the mall. I have always worked because I love independence. Upon graduating from undergraduate school, I took a job as a loan counselor at a mortgage company which allowed me to use my psychology degree. I later left that job and took a job as a sales representative at a medical supply company. I also worked in customer service at several companies. While working on my doctorate degree in psychology I began teaching at a local college. I learned so much from all of my work experiences. I learned skills that helped me become a better entrepreneur. I’ve always been a creative. I love to write poetry; I love to draw and color. I love to play instruments, listen to music, and dance. I’m really into fashion and putting together outfits so that creative side has always been there but many of the jobs that I had did not allow me to express that creativity. As an entrepreneur, I feel like I have more outlets for my creativity whether it’s developing a training program or planning a conference. There are so many opportunities for me to be creative and that has been such a big intrinsic reward for me.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
There are so many things that make me happy. As I get older, I have learned to appreciate the little things like waking up in the morning, eating healthy, going for walks in nature, traveling, and spending time with family. All of the things that I once took for granted I have a greater appreciation for now. I think the pandemic had something to do with that. I am a true believer that when you appreciate what you have God will give you more. That has been my experience. With regard to the National Entrepreneurs Association, what makes me happy is seeing entrepreneurs thrive. I love when I see an entrepreneur in the beginning stages of their business figuring it out and progressively growing the business into something that can support their lifestyle and legacy. Doing this work and helping entrepreneurs obtain financial freedom and autonomy makes me feel like I’m living in my purpose and helping to make the world a little better.
Pricing:
- Memberships start at $250 a year.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nationalentrepreneurs.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/National-Entrepreneurs-Association-137536660415863/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/NationalEntrep1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0MiAnMYBpFHWeGZ_Z2Cquw
Image Credits
NEA National Entrepreneurs Association
