Elton John released "I'm Still Standing" in 1983, but the song could have been written for 2026.
This has been a rocky year for women- and minority-owned businesses. Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts were eliminated at the federal level and here in Indiana by executive order, not by law, and the business community was thrown into a tailspin.
It's worth remembering why these programs exist. Minority and Women Business Enterprise (WMBE) certifications were created by law. States recognized a real inequity in who had access to public contracts and decided to do something about it. WMBEs have never been handed anything. We have always had to prove our merit. The certifications created unprecedented access to doors that had long been closed.
Those doors were never easy to reach. Being a woman brings its own set of obstacles, and if you own a business in a male-dominated industry, the sexism is palpable. If you are Black, you already know. People question everything from your education and upbringing to your ability, and then ask who can vouch for you.
This year I have heard terrible stories from women and minority business owners who have lost anywhere from thousands to millions of dollars in business and have had to realign their visions. We were affected too. A multi-year statewide transportation contract was abruptly "sunset" because of these changes. I would be lying if I told you it didn't hurt us. It did, both financially and emotionally.
I think everyone reading this can also attest to the shift in our culture and in how we treat one another. People are more cynical and openly angry. Racism, sexism and homophobia are out in the open, and many no longer bother to hide their disdain for anyone who doesn't fit their idea of who should own a business, raise a family or simply live in the United States.
But through it all, I'm still standing. In fact, we all are. Like the song, we look like survivors because we are, and we still carry the hope we had when we started.
As we march toward the end of 2026 and step lightly into 2027, hold your head up and stay laser-focused on your goals. What happened this year was a distraction. It does not define who you are or what we represent as a country.
We have unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Make those three the foundation of your goal-setting for 2027. Protect your health and your peace. Guard your freedom to build the business you envisioned. Go after the work that brings you joy.
When a door closes, find a workaround. And don't let anyone with a perceived power issue convince you that your race or your gender declassifies you.
We are still here. Our businesses, our talent and our commitment to our communities have not gone anywhere. 2026 tested us, but it did not break us. So let's walk into the new year the way we have always walked into rooms that weren't built for us: prepared, confident and unapologetically ourselves.
I'm still standing. I'll see you in 2027, standing right beside me.