Area of Expertise:

• Certified executive and entrepreneurial coach
• Leadership
• Work life balance
• Entrepreneurship
• Overcoming challenging circumstances
• Strategic planning

Books Authored:

• The Road to Someplace Better:
  From the Segregated South to Harvard Business School and Beyond
• Sister to Sister: A Guide for African American Girls (co-author)
• Power of God Daily Devotional 2013 (co-author)

Seminars or Keynote Topics

• Guiding Principles to Move you from Victim to Victor.
• Empowerment: Three "C's" You Must Master
• Do You really Need to "Have it All"
• Turn Your Pity Party into a Joyous Celebration.
• Applying Moral Principles to Your Everyday Life.
• Steps to Restore the Passion in Your Personal and Business Life
• How to Avoid Burnout
• Features of a Sound Strategic Plan

Background Information:

A captivating speaker Lillian speaks about the power of persistence, resilience, courage and morality in surmounting hurdles that prevent people from reaching their full potential. Because of her experiences in facing and dealing with overwhelming circumstances — during her youth, her college years and in the world of entrepreneurship — Lillian is invited to speak to a wide variety of audiences and organizations. She draws on her life experiences from the farm to Harvard Business School to show how to use obstacles and barriers as stepping stones to higher levels of achievement and success. For more than 30 years, she has shared her hard-won wisdom on a range of business and inspirational topics to audiences small and large including traveling to Johannesburg, South Africa, to speak to the South African Black Vintners Association on the importance of building alliances to gain competitive advantage.

She is the first African American woman to receive an MBA from Harvard Business School during the tumultuous 1960's. In the mid 1970's, when few women were starting businesses, she became a barrier-breaking entrepreneur. The company grew to $20 million in sales and more than 1,200 employees with a client base of blue-chip companies and major governments.

As a business coach, she works with businesses to help them go beyond their preconceived limitations and achieve their goals and aspirations. Her education gives her the theoretical knowledge when combined with her experience as an entrepreneur brings a unique expertise that shows companies how to develop and grow successful businesses.

Using the power of storytelling, she inspires audiences to dream big, act bold and pave their own paths. Her message speaks volumes, offering guidance, hope and inspiration for anyone who is striving to achieve a better life.

Affiliations

• Board of Visitors, Virginia Commonwealth University
• Board of Directors, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System
• Board of Directors, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Engineering Foundation
• Board of Directors, African American Alumni Association, Harvard Business School
• Member, Association for the Study of African American Life and History
• Member and former board member, Metropolitan Business League
• Past president, Building Service Contractor Association, International
• Former Board member, Minority Supplier Development Council/MDDC
• Former Board member, Citizens Bank of Maryland
• Former Board Member, Board of Regents, University system of Maryland
• Former Board Member, Prince George's Chamber of Commerce
• Former Board Member, Women's Business Research

Awards & Recognitions

• Harvard Business School Alumni Achievement Award
• Enterprising Women Inductee
• TheHistoryMakers Inductee
• Virginia Women in History Recipient
• Dominion Resources Strong Men Strong Women Recipient
• Harvard Business School African American Alumni Association's Bert King Award
• MBA of the Year, Harvard Business School African American Alumni Association
• Small Business Person of the Year, State of Maryland
• Entrepreneur of the Year, Black MBA Association
• Top 50 Women-Owned Businesses, Washington Business Journal
• Finalist, Entrepreneur of the Year, Ernst & Young.