By Xhaxany Cuellar, Assistant Editor
The McLane College of Business partnered with the Office of Kingdom Diversity to host the Minority Business Panel 2024 lecture. The event panelist included Terrel Simpon, entrepreneur and CEO of Mitas electronics; Dr. Michele Carter, Chancellor of Central Texas College; and Adrian Beard, engineering program manager at Apple Inc.
The lecture, hosted by Dr. Safrena Britt, Director for the Office of Kingdom Diversity, and began with a question about what role God has played within the panelist’s personal journey. Carter led the conversion by discussing her role at CTC where she has been employed for 32 years and states “as a receptionist with no degree and to the glory of god, here I sit before you today.” Carter discussed the role of a mentor and mentioned her previous mentor during her time as a receptionist, from which she planned to quit. However before she resigned she was asked, “what are you going to do with your life?” Carter stated “I have never been challenged by anyone outside my family like that .”
She emphasized that a good mentor not only challenges individuals, but provokes them out of a place of comfort. Carter received an education, received multiple promotions, climbed the ladder at CTC, she and faced some bumps in the road
However by adopting a “win some, lose some” attitude navigated these challenges with grace.
Beard, who graduated from UMHB in 2012, currently works at Apple as an engineering program manager and states he procured his place in life “through a series of fortunate events.” Beard played football at UMHB for two years and in his last two years before graduation, made various connections through the BSM and Revival.
After graduation, he struggled with his identity and faced the all too common challenging question of 'what am I supposed to do now,’ a question most college students wonder.
He stated “we all need to get out of our own way in order to appreciate our gifts and accept others for who they are.” Beard applauds UMHB for encouraging a mindset to seek out other people and accept their help; he says "being open to new relationships has helped me in Corporate America today.”
Simpson, who has an all too familiar back story of a troubled childhood, fought through the ranks to be where he is today. “I'm grateful to be alive and affected by the very people that you [students] are affected by today,” he said.
He recently visited Ghana where he spoke and encouraged students to consider what they want to do with their life. Simpson believes this is a primary thought that shapes us as individuals, and this question in particular drove him to meet his goals.
“At some point in life you have to reach deep inside for something that pushes you forward, so when you get knocked down, it's the reason you get back up. I had a need to do something, I needed to help my mother and my sister.” Simpson said, with tears in his eyes.
He ended his speech by recognizing and thanking all the students who came out and sat next to someone they did not know and stated “you are important and you matter.”
