- 21 minutes ago
A conversation showcasing Champion Black Businesses’ program participant, The Cookie Society, and their community impact
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:00All right, everyone, in just a couple of minutes,
00:26we are going to be presenting Championing Black Businesses, Cookie Society.
00:30So don't go anywhere.
00:56And sunshine, sparkle, pink and blue, the playground of life.
01:00If you try to ask, is it good, is it good if you arrive and don't see me?
01:08I'm going to be here with my baby.
01:12I'm free.
01:14Fly your arms over the sea.
01:19Fly your arms over the sea.
01:49A present from you.
01:51Strawberry leather, 22.
01:53The music plays, I sit in for a few.
01:58Hello, my love.
02:00Step in love.
02:01You know how to flow around.
02:02Slow motion through your face.
02:03Kisses spread like a jet cloud.
02:05Keep stepping like one, two, three.
02:07I hold it down.
02:08Fly.
02:08Heart to heart, my main contact line.
02:10Keep the phone feels paid.
02:11Let it see.
02:12I will cherish like the first thing sang.
02:14I've been sharing the same kisses.
02:15No delay, I'm first sang.
02:16It's like they'll never let go.
02:17All the notes you sang.
02:18Yeah, I got high leads, high luck.
02:20Got so many hands, drums, bass, keys.
02:21I'll tie it for you.
02:22Over time, work hard, reach out.
02:24I'll live high for you.
02:25Good luck, nice ass.
02:26Y'all fans are a little published.
02:27Raised, brother.
02:28They can't ignore them high feelings.
02:29New days like the day.
02:30They love shot.
02:31They shake your heart like they shake.
02:32It's never dry.
02:33It's never paid.
02:34They're doing the same.
02:35It's got to shake.
02:35Can't like these families.
02:36Wow.
02:37Oh, my God.
02:38But you…
02:41I love you.
02:45A favorite, two, five, dette.
02:48Strawberry lighter, 22.
02:50Yeah.
02:50Strawberry lighter, 22.
02:52a present from you
02:58strawberry leather 22
03:00strawberry leather 22
03:05strawberry leather 22
03:10strawberry leather 22
03:15A present from you
03:17Strawberry letter 22
03:20Strawberry letter 22
03:24Strawberry letter 22
03:29Strawberry letter 22
03:34You and me will always be tied
03:44Let me every day and every night
03:46Even when you start acting like a fool
03:48You know that I'm loving every single thing you do
03:51I know I can't lose you myself
03:53When I'm with you more than anybody else
03:56Every single day that I'm headed off to school
03:58You know there's no one I love as much as you
04:01The family
04:02The family
04:03The family
04:05They'll make you scream
04:09They'll make you wanna sing
04:11It's a family, thank you, family
04:12It's our business to know what makes champions
04:20This summer, the NBA will crown its champ on the court
04:24Off the court, not only are we giving the throne to black businesses
04:28ESPN is providing access, exposure, and resources
04:31To black businesses all around the country
04:34As we embark on the fourth year of this effort
04:36We bear witness to black excellence
04:38And relish in your success
04:40At ESPN, we recognize greatness every day
04:45And we are proud to champion black business
04:47Hi, good afternoon
04:54Good afternoon
04:57Thank you all so much for joining us
05:00It's a pleasure to have you here
05:01We are so excited to tell you
05:04And discuss champion black businesses
05:07This afternoon
05:08My name is Rachel Brown
05:09I am with ABC7 Los Angeles
05:12And I am so excited to introduce you
05:14To our fantastic panel over here
05:17Our Cookie Society panel
05:18I would like to introduce you to
05:20Co-founders of Cookies Society
05:23Jeff and Marissa Allen
05:24As well as ESPN Director of Diversity and Inclusion
05:29Wokey Dabo
05:30Let's give them a round of applause
05:31Yes, I think
05:34How are you guys feeling today?
05:39Good?
05:40Good
05:40Good
05:41All right, we're going to get into it
05:43Because this 30 minutes will go pretty fast
05:45And I want to start with you, Wokey
05:47Because we just saw that clip there
05:49For people who aren't familiar with
05:51Champion Black Businesses
05:53Can you just tell us what it means
05:55And the work you all are doing?
05:57Yeah, we're really proud of this initiative
05:58Which came from what was happening in 2020
06:02ESPN has a long-standing history
06:04Of really being committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion
06:06Not just from an employee perspective
06:09But from, you know, when we think about our fans and our audiences
06:12And so recognizing in 2020
06:15We're navigating the pandemic
06:17Navigating the racial reckoning
06:21That the country was going through
06:22Due to the death of George Floyd
06:24We started having conversations internally around
06:27You know, can we do something?
06:29And that quickly pivoted into
06:30We need to do something
06:31And the backdrop of that was
06:3340% of black-owned businesses
06:35Were shutting down, right?
06:37And so we recognized that we have
06:39A massive platform
06:41We had black audiences and fans
06:44That we needed to support
06:45And so from that
06:47Our marketing leaders recognized
06:48That, okay, there's something we can do here
06:50Really spotlighting and profiling black businesses
06:53And so that's how
06:53Champion Black Businesses came to be
06:55Okay, and what are the businesses
06:58That you guys profile
06:59And how do you go about selecting?
07:01Yeah, so we work with a black-owned agency
07:03Advertising agency
07:05That's really done a great job
07:06Of helping us scale this program out
07:07Helping us identify incredible organizations
07:10Like Cookie Society
07:11To be able to really get after
07:13You know, their consumer base
07:16To really amplify, elevate
07:18And really be a win in their sale
07:19Really highlighting and showcasing
07:21Black excellence
07:22Black entrepreneurship
07:23And really organizations
07:25That we feel we could really lift
07:27Right, in this moment
07:28And beyond
07:28And so we launched this in 2020
07:30And have still been committed to it
07:32Thus far
07:33We've supported 14 different business owners
07:35Or businesses with
07:37Across nine different cities
07:38So again, continues to grow
07:40Really proud of it
07:41And happy to just see
07:42Meet these folks in person
07:44And then really
07:45If you have not visited the site
07:47And ordered their cookies
07:47You need to do that ASAP
07:49But again, really proud of
07:50Of the folks that we're supporting
07:52Absolutely
07:53And so now we are going to move
07:54To Jeff and Marissa Allen
07:56And talk about Cookie Society
07:57This is one of the businesses
07:59That was spotlighted in 2021
08:01By Champion Black Businesses
08:02And we actually have a short clip
08:04We want to show you guys
08:05Here at the Cookie Society
08:08We make large, amazing, handmade cookies
08:11And they're made with the best ingredients
08:13That I can find
08:13The past year has been all about
08:16Adjustments and adapting
08:17I think it's really unique
08:19Being a Black-owned business
08:20We feel this responsibility
08:21Of putting our best foot forward
08:23And that's what we strive for
08:24A lot of our flavors
08:26Are reflective of our culture
08:28And it was important to represent us
08:32Champion Black businesses
08:33Like Cookie Society
08:34As we share the NBA Finals stage together
08:37Love it, love it
08:38And so this discussion
08:41Is particularly special to me
08:43Because Jeff, Marissa, and I
08:45Went to college together
08:46University of Illinois
08:47At the same time
08:48And so it has been such a joy
08:52Truly and an inspiration
08:53To see you guys grow
08:54And the success that you've had
08:56That you've worked really hard for
08:58So can you just talk about your story
09:00And how this all got started?
09:02Absolutely
09:03How far back
09:04Are we going back to Illinois?
09:06We met in college
09:07And Jeff actually got drafted
09:09By the Kansas City Chiefs
09:10And went to play a nine-year career
09:14In the NFL
09:14And in between all of that
09:16We've had some kids
09:17And he has been an incredible encourager
09:20Of me and pursuing my passions
09:23And so we took a trip to New York
09:24And we tried Levain Bakery
09:26And they have, y'all
09:27Some of the most incredible cookies
09:29And we were so impressed
09:30And he was jokingly told me
09:32I bet you can't make a cookie like that
09:34And I'm very competitive
09:35I played soccer at the University of Illinois
09:38And I went home to try to make that cookie
09:40And I ended up abandoning
09:41Trying to recreate theirs
09:43And started coming up with something of my own
09:45And through a ton of tests and trials
09:47Sending hundreds of cookies up
09:49To the locker room with Jeff
09:50We found something special
09:52And I started making flavors
09:54That represent the culture
09:56And represent the things that I grew up eating
09:58And we started a business
10:01With his encouragement
10:02Did you ever think you guys
10:05Were going to become
10:05This massively successful business
10:09Well, I always knew that my life was special
10:13So I knew whatever she put her mind to
10:14She was going to do it
10:15And it was going to be something big
10:17So I'm just happy to see it come to fruition
10:19And she's living out her dream
10:21So how did it feel to be spotlighted
10:24As one of the champion black businesses
10:26And what did that do?
10:27What was the impact?
10:28Oh my goodness
10:29It was huge
10:30We had just come off of the high
10:33Of Oprah's favorite things
10:34We were class of 2020
10:35Wow
10:35Which was incredible
10:36And then we get this call
10:37Like you said
10:38From an incredible black marketing
10:40Or advertising agency
10:42And they're like
10:43Hey, we have this program
10:45And it was only in the second year
10:47And it was just so impactful
10:48To our business
10:49From the resources they provided
10:51From the different conversations
10:52We got to have about business
10:54And we were just so lucky
10:56Because our business was still
10:57In an early stage
10:59And so we were able to apply
11:00So much of the knowledge
11:02That we learned from that program
11:03And then getting to be in front of
11:05Millions of households
11:06Was you just can't even fathom
11:09The impact that that had on us
11:10And it really helped legitimize
11:12The business that we were building
11:13And when you talk about
11:14The resources Marissa
11:15What specifically
11:17Were some of the things?
11:19So this program was so in depth
11:20And I think when we first signed on
11:22We didn't realize
11:23As in depth as it would be
11:26We actually were
11:27We worked really closely
11:28With a team of
11:30Business MBA students
11:33And they brought so many
11:36Resources to the table
11:37They had some incredible backgrounds
11:38And they talked with us
11:40Through marketing
11:41Through forecasting
11:42Operations
11:44Finding even financial resources
11:46Which is just not readily available
11:48To our community
11:49And so it was just
11:51An incredible program
11:52That they started
11:52Yeah I'll add to it
11:54I think one of the biggest parts
11:56Of being a small business owner
11:58Specifically a black business owner
11:59Is financing
12:01Less than 1% of black owned businesses
12:03Get outside financing
12:05In the first year
12:06There would be bank
12:07Private investor
12:08And Disney stepped in
12:10And they gave us
12:11A $10,000 grant
12:12You know that was huge
12:13And not only that
12:14Not just putting your money
12:15In it
12:15It's giving the resources
12:17How our university
12:19With the MBA program
12:19You know the finance aspect
12:21Of it
12:21The operational
12:22The marketing
12:23All of those things
12:24And get an opportunity
12:26To talk to Disney
12:27And ESPN execs
12:28Sit down with Mark Cuban
12:29Who's right up the road
12:30From us
12:31Who was kind enough
12:32To give us his email
12:33And answer any
12:34And every question
12:34He actually answered them
12:35That's actually doing the work
12:37That's not just doing it
12:38For press
12:39That's actually doing it
12:40For the right reasons
12:41So we appreciate that
12:42And Jeff I'm so glad
12:43You mentioned Mark Cuban
12:44Because that's exactly
12:45What I was going to get into next
12:46You guys received a 30 minute
12:48Shark Tank session
12:49With Mark Cuban
12:51That is huge
12:52Talk about the experience
12:53I know he had to share
12:55Some words of wisdom
12:56Yeah
12:56One of the biggest things
12:57That we learned
12:58Was we're running our own race
12:59A lot of the times
13:00Especially us both
13:01Being former athletes
13:02We're really competitive
13:03And sometimes
13:04You can look at your competitors
13:05And you want to get
13:06To where they are
13:07But in reality
13:08It's a marathon
13:10Go at your own pace
13:11Do what you need to do
13:13Do it the right way
13:13And it will happen
13:15Instead of trying
13:16To rush the process
13:16Yeah
13:17And we actually have a clip
13:18We'd like to share too
13:19There's always a reason
13:20To give cookies right
13:21Yeah
13:22Cookies cure everything
13:24Yeah
13:24You guys
13:31Are the real deal
13:32We really appreciate that
13:33There's lines
13:34When the store is open
13:35And there's people waiting
13:36You are doing them a favor
13:37By letting them buy your cookies
13:39Always remember that
13:41You know what
13:42I would love your cookies
13:43I will come visit you though
13:45Because now I'm curious
13:46That's wonderful
13:50And you already did
13:51Just share some advice
13:52But do you have any advice
13:54For black entrepreneurs?
13:56Absolutely
13:57He talked about
13:58Running your own race
13:59And something that
14:00We talked about actually
14:01In our panel earlier today
14:02Was taking care of the people
14:03That help you get there
14:04And that's been huge
14:06We have a very small
14:07But mighty team
14:07My sister-in-law
14:09Once said that
14:09We are a big business
14:11In a small building
14:11And we're trying to grow
14:13And just bringing those people
14:15With us
14:16And really understanding
14:17The impact that they've had
14:18On our journey
14:18I think has been huge
14:20And helped us
14:21Keep pushing forward
14:22You know?
14:23And we were talking
14:24A little bit in the green room
14:25About being featured
14:26As one of Oprah's favorite things
14:28That's just fantastic
14:29But you said
14:29You have to be ready
14:30When that opportunity comes
14:33Yeah
14:34That's an understatement
14:37You have to be ready
14:38There was a lot to get
14:40To the point of being featured
14:41On the list
14:42And it's such a short window
14:44So it's really around
14:45The holiday season
14:47And so you have
14:48From the week before Thanksgiving
14:49To the week after Christmas
14:51To really capitalize
14:52On the opportunity
14:53And so we were getting
14:55Hundreds of orders an hour
14:56And we had that small
14:58And mighty team
14:59We had the same small building
15:00And we were just working
15:01Around the clock
15:02To get it done
15:02And we actually learned
15:03So much about processes
15:05And just doing things
15:07The right way
15:08Through that experience
15:09So
15:09And Wokey
15:11I want to go back to you
15:12I know the work
15:13Doesn't stop
15:14But you have to be
15:14I'm sure
15:15Especially proud of the work
15:16Disney, ESPN
15:17Are doing
15:18When it comes to
15:19The resources
15:20They're able to provide
15:21Black businesses
15:22What's next?
15:24Yeah that's a great question
15:25I think continuing
15:25To elevate
15:26And profile this program
15:27And really expanding
15:29The reach
15:29Really expanding
15:30The impact
15:30And making sure that
15:32You know
15:32Even for the folks
15:33That you know
15:34Were part of that
15:34First group
15:35How do we stay
15:35Connected to them
15:36And make sure that
15:37We're able to help them
15:38Sustain their businesses
15:39And really continue
15:40To engage
15:41And be a champion
15:41And sponsor of them
15:42And again
15:43Continue to be
15:44The one in the sale
15:44You know
15:45This is part of
15:46You know
15:47From a D&I perspective
15:48Often we think about
15:48The work in terms
15:49Of employees
15:50But when you can see
15:51The impact of the
15:52Communities that we serve
15:53Our audiences
15:54Our fans
15:54That are broad reaching
15:55Like this is what
15:56This feels good to me
15:57Right
15:58To see the impact
15:59And it came from
16:00Conversations in 2020
16:01Right
16:01And just again
16:02I think organizations
16:04Have a role
16:04To go beyond
16:05Their audiences
16:05And fans
16:06And the bottom line
16:07That we always
16:08Often think about
16:09Which is you know
16:10Sometimes we're
16:11Over anchored around
16:12And this is you know
16:13This is the kind of work
16:14That's really important
16:14Forty percent folks
16:16Of black businesses
16:17Shut down in 2020
16:18And so there's a role here
16:20That we have to play
16:21To make sure that
16:21We're able to stabilize
16:22The economy for our people
16:24Moving forward
16:25And I apologize
16:27If I'm being redundant
16:28But can businesses
16:29Apply for this
16:30They can
16:31Correct
16:31And how do they
16:32Go about that process
16:33So there's a link
16:35Online
16:35And then obviously
16:36We partner with
16:37The agency
16:38That we work with
16:39To help us source
16:40And identify
16:41And think about
16:41Kind of what that
16:42Profile of business
16:43Looks like
16:44That makes the most
16:44Sense for us
16:45But again I think
16:46You know
16:47My feedback going back
16:49Will be we need to
16:49Expand this program
16:50And think about
16:51More businesses
16:52Getting them in the fold
16:52So right now
16:53We're at 14 nine cities
16:54And I'm hoping
16:55That we can continue
16:56To grow that
16:57Over the next couple
16:57Of years
16:58And are there
16:59Certain businesses
17:00You're looking for
17:01I know
17:01Cookie Society
17:02Obviously they're baking
17:03What other kinds
17:04Of businesses
17:05I think consumer facing
17:07Consumer packaged goods
17:09You know
17:10Anything that's
17:10Sometimes outside
17:11Of the box
17:12Right
17:12I think we need
17:12Way more black bakers
17:14Folks that are
17:14In this industry
17:15And so thinking
17:16About spaces and places
17:17Where you don't
17:17Always find us
17:18And you know
17:19Our ability to really
17:20Elevate that
17:20And there's the
17:21Athlete component to that
17:22Folks that have
17:22Been on the athletic journey
17:24I think are also folks
17:26That we want to support
17:26In this entity as well
17:27Great, great
17:28And so Jeff and Marissa
17:29I know you guys
17:30Are based in Dallas, Texas
17:32Correct?
17:33Correct
17:33Do you have
17:34Any more locations
17:35And what's next
17:37For you all?
17:38We do
17:38So we've been
17:39We've been taking over Dallas
17:40We have a store opening
17:42Actually next month
17:43That we're very excited about
17:44We just got
17:45A really cute food truck
17:47That we are
17:47Hitting the road with
17:48So we hope to
17:49Bring the truck to the cities
17:51And really find out
17:51Where our customer is
17:53And bring cookies to them
17:55Because like Mark Cuban said
17:56Everyone deserves a cookie
17:57So
17:57Awesome
17:58Thank you guys so much
17:59We really appreciated
18:00Talking to you
18:01Thank you all
18:02Let's give them
18:03A round of applause
18:04And if you would like
18:07To learn more
18:08About other businesses
18:09That are spotlighted
18:10Please go to
18:11ChampionBlackBusinesses.com
18:14Finally
18:15Cookies do cure everything
18:16So you have to check out
18:17The Cookie Society
18:18Cookies here
18:19Thank you guys
18:21Thank you
18:23Thank you
18:24Thank you
18:25All right everybody
18:39In 15 minutes
18:40We will have our first
18:41National Geographic panel
18:43That is on the red carpet
18:45Blurreds unite
18:46We will be
18:59And hopefully
19:00Make you
Comments