15 Years of Herd - Celebration and Reflection

What happens when the box disappears?

That’s the question I’ve been thinking about as Herd Strategies celebrates 15 years in business during National Black Business Month. Because 15 years ago, the box mattered.

When I started Herd Strategies in 2011, minority- and women-owned business utilization requirements created something incredibly valuable: access. Not a handout. Not a favor. Access. 

Firms like Hirons, CVR, Engaging Solutions and Borshoff opened doors for me. They gave me opportunities to sit at tables I might not otherwise have reached. But the difference is that they didn't just give me a contract– they invested in me. 

They let me participate in business development. They exposed me to how larger firms built relationships, developed proposals and sustained client relationships. They weren't simply fulfilling a diversity requirement; they were showing me how business really worked. They were helping me build a business.

Herd Strategies is a product of that investment. And now, 15 years later, I have to ask: What happens to businesses like mine when the requirements disappear?

Because let's be honest. Saying, "We'll evaluate everyone on merit" sounds fair. But merit doesn't matter much if you're never invited to compete. And that's where the conversation about diversity often gets uncomfortable. You cannot evaluate talent you never encounter. If I don't run in your circle, attend your events, belong to your networks or sit at your table, what are the odds that you will ever know what Herd Strategies can do?

That's not a talent problem. It's an access problem. And access is still one of the biggest barriers facing Black-owned businesses. We've spent years talking about diversity in terms of representation. But representation without opportunity is just optics. And opportunity without investment isn't sustainable. If we really want Black businesses to survive—and thrive—we have to move beyond the question of: "Is this business diverse?" We need to ask: "What are we doing to help this business become sustainable?"

That means more than just contracts. It means introductions. Mentorship. Business development opportunities. Strategic partnerships. Referrals. Access to decision-makers. And sometimes, simply telling someone: "You should meet Denise."

That introduction can change the trajectory of a business. I know because it happened to me. 

Herd Strategies has survived 15 years of changing economies, changing clients, changing employees, changing industries and changing rules. I've been pushed, pulled, challenged, doubted, and everything in between. And somehow, through all of it, I'm still standing. 

But I don't want to simply celebrate surviving. I want to talk about what it takes to build Black businesses that can thrive. Because National Black Business Month shouldn't be 31 days of congratulations. It should be a reminder that Black businesses need customers, contracts and capital—not just applause.

So, if you are a corporate leader, government official, foundation executive or procurement decision-maker, I have a challenge for you: Don't ask whether Black businesses are ready for the opportunity. Ask whether you're creating enough opportunities for Black businesses to demonstrate their capabilities.

And if you're a Black business owner reading this: Keep going. Build the relationships. Learn the business. Ask for the seat. Create your own table when necessary.