Podcast: Rustum Southwell On The Black Business Initiative In Atlantic Canada
In this episode of the “Insights” podcast, Don Mills and David Campbell talk with Rustum Southwell, the founding CEO of the Black Business Initiative (BBI) which has developed a national reputation for its work with the black business community and has expanded its mandate to serve all of Atlantic Canada.
Southwell was recently inducted into the N.S. Business Hall of Fame and named one of Canada’s most influential black leaders. Through BBI’s counsel, training programs, and financial support several hundred black businesses have been created since its inception 25 years ago.
He provides an inside understanding of the initiatives and programs used by BBI to support and develop black businesses in our region.
Southwell also talks about his childhood in St. Kitts in the Caribbean and the early signs that he had an entrepreneurial spirit.
“What I hadn’t realized at the time as a young man was what we now call entrepreneurism, we thought we were just doing stuff,” he says. “At our home in the back we had a huge garden and some workers used to come and plow it and grow lettuce and tomatoes and so on. I used to take some of the excess produce to market and sell it. My mother would take the money from me. I didn’t know at the time she was banking it (for me).”
You can listen to their conversation in the player above or download the show on your preferred podcast platform.
The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.
Search for “Huddle Insights” on podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify, and follow the show so you don’t miss an episode. You can also listen to past conversations there.