For Saria Hawkins-Banda, writing things down has always been a way to bring her vision to life. That personal act of self-care sparked Manifest Your Purpose—a thriving brand that celebrates identity and empowers women to lead with intention. With support from the Goldman Sachs Black in Business program, Saria unlocked new growth strategies and landed high-profile B2B partnerships with companies like JP Morgan and PayPal. Her revenue skyrocketed—and so did her impact. Her journey proves that when creativity meets community, anything is possible. Read More

Colleen Middleton’s path from the U.S. Air Force to successful business owner reflects the deep military legacy in her family and her own drive to serve. Inspired by her brothers, both Marines, Middleton enlisted in the Air Force and dedicated six years to military service. After her service, she moved into corporate accounting but, in 2020, pivoted to start her own trucking business. When health challenges and setbacks arose, her determination and a timely nomination to ICIC’s ICCC program helped her reassess her business direction. Supported by the ICCC staff and fellow entrepreneurs, Middleton has expanded Excerebus to pursue government contracts, creating job opportunities for veterans and launching the Excerebus Foundation to aid homeless veterans. “The ICCC staff are incredible—they weren’t just there to guide me through the program; they genuinely cared about my journey and my success,” Middleton shared. Her story is a powerful reminder of the resilience and purpose veterans bring to business, a strength now reinforced by her ICCC journey and the support of partners like FedEx. Read More