Saint Ursula Academy welcomed guest speaker and successful business owner Means Cameron to talk to sophomores for Black History Month. The uncle of a current student, Means spoke to the girls about entrepreneurship and about creating a legacy in a space that never existed before. He shared inspiration about being willing to take a chance on yourself and share your message and how that energy can positively change the world around you. 

He shared with the students that the first thing in owning a business is to “own yourself,” meaning know who you are and what is important to YOU.  What is your brand and how does it connect to who you are? 

He shared his personal experience as an entrepreneur and the growth of his successful business, BlaCkOWned, which he started after college. A native Cincinnatian, Means Cameron studied marketing at Miami University where learned skills for engaging customers. As he pondered his future, he saw the need for fashion products for people with his shared heritage. While filling a need, Means believes his products can transcend race, generation and location. 

He shared some key business learnings and then talked about his business growth over the years.  He reminded the students that success does not happen overnight. It can take years of hard work and believing in yourself and the product(s) you are providing to the community. 

BlaCkOWned started in 2011, with a few t-shirts, some borrowed funding, and sales out of the back of Means’ Honda sedan. By 2014, the business growth enabled him to open a storefront in downtown Cincinnati. 

14 years later, BlaCkOWned has thrived with partnerships with the Cincinnati Bengals, FC Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati, and a back-to-school program with Cincinnati Public Schools, and has expanded beyond Cincinnati to areas from Atlanta to Houston.

Part of the presentation included a fashion show featuring student volunteers modeling a few BlaCkOWned jackets. The students cheered on their classmates as they walked the “runway.” Means shared that having the courage to volunteer to model the fashions is a little like finding the courage to take a risk in business, even when you are a little nervous about a new experience. 

He was honored by the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce in 2019 as part of the annual “We are Making Black History” celebration as a leader who goes the extra mile for the community, excels in his field, and opens doors for future leaders coming up behind him. 

The students enjoyed the engaging presentation and were thrilled to meet this business owner who is a special part of Cincinnati’s Black History. 

SIDE NOTE:

One of the sweatshirts features a Honda sedan on the back. It is a shirt called Out The Trunk that highlights the history of BlaCkOWed, which started with the company’s first sales out of Means’ trunk in 2011.