Small Business Focus: I prefer ladder coaches to Fortune 500 companies in employee development, retention

I prefer the ladder team.

Three years ago, Watchen Nyanue, MBA ’22 had a dream job as senior vice president of marketing partnerships for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky. The only problem? It wasn’t her Dream job.

“I was at the Basketball Hall of Fame dinner and there was a voice in the back of my head saying, ‘You’re living someone else’s dream,'” said Polsky Center Small Business Development Program participant and participant. “I loved the people there and the work was fun, but I still felt like something was missing.”

She knew that voice was pointing her toward entrepreneurship, a pull she had felt before.

“I’ve always wanted to work for myself and start my own company and build a company culture. It was an indelible feeling,” she says. “I had to find the right fit for my skills and interests.”

In fact, Nianu tried several businesses during that time, including an online clothing sales site, a consulting firm, children’s activity boxes, and a series of video films. The companies had varying degrees of success, but ultimately did not compromise Nianwe’s professional goals.

Then, in 2018, she had two experiences that led her to found I Select Ladder, an HR consulting service for Fortune 500 companies.

“The bottom line in my business is always about conversations and empowering people,” she says. “That’s what we do at Choose Me the Ladder – empowering people to make choices and succeed in whatever career path they choose.”

The value of networking, consulting

In a sense, Nianu has been preparing for Pick the Ladder since college. She attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana on a Posey Scholarship that provides financial and career counseling support to diverse students.

Through the program, Nianu was exposed to business leaders from an early age and learned how to network and develop mentors. At 18, she became both her first billionaire and her first entrepreneur, and was introduced to the CEOs and CFOs of major corporations. Posey’s program helped her land a job at Comedy Central, introducing her to the channel’s president, who sat on the company’s board.

Nyanwe, at Yahoo! And Hearst, they didn’t realize this experience was common until after college when they talked to friends about their careers.

“I thought everyone had a mentor and I knew successful people,” she said. “When my friends complain about their boss, I say, ‘Well, get your counselor to help you find a new job.’ I’ve been flexing that muscle since I was 18, so I didn’t realize that not everyone has that kind of network.

Supporting black female talent

Then, during the Alumni of Color weekend at her alma mater, she heard from black students that they wanted more black students to come back when they started their careers.

“Because of those conversations, I wanted to create something sustainable that would help young people, especially young black women, pursue careers in corporate,” Nyanu said. “So I started a podcast that interviewed high-profile black female corporate executives, not about their careers, but their paths as black female leaders.”

The Ladder I Choose podcast was launched in March 2018. It immediately gained a following, and soon listeners began asking for additional avenues of support, including workshops, classes, and training. Nianu responded by organizing a conference in September 2018. It has been sold.

“Then I realized that this company could grow,” she said. “My move was to decide on the most logical development path for me.”

With her connections in corporate America, Nianu, who studied entrepreneurship and organizational behavior at Chicago’s Booth School of Business, said it was the most logical route from business-to-business (B2B). Today, she and her five-person team work with Fortune 500 companies on employee development and retention, with a focus on black female talent.

“Our programs are open to everyone, but we specialize in the retention of black women,” said Nyanu, who takes a two-pronged approach to creating cultures that support a diverse workforce. Her programs not only teach people of color how to lead a career in a corporate environment, but also teach people of color how to work with a diverse workforce.

“You have to have both,” she said. “One does not work without the other.”

Smart growth plan

To date, Nianu has not done any overseas development for its business. She got her first client – Nike – through a connection she made while working in the WNBA. Her networking and word of mouth also brought her the company’s next two clients, McDonald’s and Best Buy.

Now, she’s interested in actively developing new clients, and is working with the Polsky Center’s Small Business Development Program to create a business development plan.

“I want to make sure I have the right partners and the right employees and build a strong foundation,” said Nyanu, who plans to hire two more employees this year. “I want the business I’m building to be one that I enjoy and that my team enjoys.”

Nianu has a long history with the Polsky Center, attending lectures there as a student and using the office space for meetings when her business was just starting out. She says she is looking forward to working with the company on her business development plan.

“I have nothing but great things to say about the Polsky Center,” she said. There are many opportunities and resources that you can take advantage of. As an entrepreneur, if you can find a place like the Polsky Center, it’s really a no-brainer.