The Dr. Yasmin Davidds Leadership Institute is partnering with the Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Foundation and the USC Marshall School of Business on a new entrepreneur program. 

The Multicultural Entrepreneur Program (MEP) for Women and Men is a first-of-its-kind interpersonal entrepreneur development program for multicultural women and men entrepreneurs, and meets business owners at the intersection of true success and the aspiration to lead with humanity. 

To this end, it also seeks to address the unique barriers multicultural entrepreneurs face in building and maintaining a thriving business.

The MEP will support and empower entrepreneurs to navigate the complex matrix of empathic leadership, cultural norms, and business goals, offering guidance in overcoming obstacles and a new road to success.

The program provides deep guidance and mentorship for a select cohort of multicultural individuals to develop the functional, managerial, and leadership skills that differentiate the good from the great entrepreneurs. 

“The Multicultural Entrepreneur Program meets every entrepreneur where they are on their business journey,” the program description reads. 

“We understand that every great entrepreneur has a unique psychological mindset that allows them to demonstrate and possess specific traits that elevate them above and beyond. These traits directly affect their leadership skills, their business, and their team. Therefore, we are not only committed to fortifying your network and increasing business growth and revenue, but also to provide you with the resources needed to hone in on your specific traits by addressing central psychological, social, and skills within yourself,” it continues. 

The program is pursuing pathways to expand the possibilities for entrepreneurs at a time when ensuring equitable opportunities matters more than ever.

To accomplish this goal, the program is comprised of three components:

• Development of Multicultural Entrepreneurial Leadership skills through Harvard’s “Authentic Leadership” curriculum
• Integrated study of a comprehensive step-by-step systematic business growth model
• A network of successful multicultural entrepreneurs to help business owners focus on their most critical business issues and increase business capacity. 

The program is also intended for multicultural business owners with limited opportunities to access a business education designed to enhance small business success. 

“Our mission is dedicated to expanding human potential through leadership development and emotional intelligence on transformational change,” the program description reads. 

Eligibility requirements include:

• Applicants should own a business poised for growth
• Have been in operation for at least two years
• Have at least two employees (including themselves)
• Have business revenues between $75,000 and $2 million in the most recent fiscal year. 

Applications are being accepted now, with the first-round deadline set for March 9. The program will run from June 2023 to September 2023. 

For more information or to apply for the program, click here.