Every entrepreneur can point to a moment when someone opened a door. At ICIC's Annual Conference, Changemakers Take Action, members of the Atlanta Steering Committee of ICIC's Alumni Network (ICAN) helped create those moments for hundreds of business owners. Through warm welcomes, meaningful introductions, and a shared commitment to helping others succeed, they showed that growth doesn't happen alone. Their story is a reminder that the relationships built through ICIC programs can continue long after graduation, creating new opportunities for businesses and strengthening communities along the way. Read More

For Barb Smith, growth has always been a journey. Through Building for Growth, Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses, ICAN, and other ICIC opportunities, she has gained the knowledge, connections, and confidence to continue building Journey Steel. Today, she is paying that support forward by creating career pathways and supporting the next generation of leaders. Read More

At Global Café in Memphis, a large table sits at the center of the dining room where strangers often share a meal. For founder Sabine Langer, it reflects the purpose behind the business: creating belonging for immigrants and refugees while opening doors to opportunity. The restaurant employs immigrant and refugee chefs, honors their food traditions, and supports staff through language classes, housing assistance, and other resources shaped by their needs. The impact has earned recognition through the IC100 Awards’ Dorothy A. Terrell Community Impact Award. With support from ICIC’s ICCC program, Sabine strengthened the business while staying rooted in its mission. Read More

In this follow-up to his post from last year titled “Talk With It,” ICIC Director of AI Initiatives Dobbin Bookman expands on the evolution of AI from a conversational tool into a practical operating system for small businesses. Drawing on his work with entrepreneurs and business owners nationwide, Dobbin introduces “The 12 Power Moves,” a framework designed to help organizations move beyond basic prompting and embed AI into daily workflows, decision-making, and operations.  Read More

As the recipient of the FedEx Champion of Global Entrepreneurship Award, Liaisons Corporation exemplifies the power of purpose-driven entrepreneurship to create lasting economic and community impact. Presented through ICIC’s IC100 Awards, the recognition honors businesses that reflect FedEx’s commitment to global connectivity, diversity, and opportunity creation. Through its work connecting businesses, artists, cultural institutions, and destinations around the world, Liaisons has demonstrated how relationship-driven growth can strengthen both local communities and global partnerships. Founder and CEO Susanne Birbragher’s vision of “building bridges” underscores key lessons in authentic collaboration, inclusive leadership, and the value of culturally grounded experiences in building resilient businesses. Read More