Date of Conferral

4-20-2026

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Denise Land

Abstract

African American business leaders in the United States experience persistent operational constraints that affect business sustainability and long-term profitability. These leaders face recurring challenges in accessing capital, securing managerial support, and effectively utilizing resources, which may hinder their ability to remain viable and competitive. Grounded in resource-based view theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry project aimed to identify and explore the practical strategies used by African American business leaders in the Southeastern United States to increase their business profitability over more than 5 years. The participants were six African American business leaders from the Southeastern United States who had grown their business profitability for more than 5 years. Data was collected through semistructured interviews and publicly available information. Data were analyzed with thematic analysis, and five themes were identified: (a) overcoming barriers to accessing capital, (b) role of social networks and mentorship, (c) entrepreneurial resilience and adaptation, (d) overcoming racism for entrepreneurial success, and (e) cultural identity in entrepreneurship. A key recommendation for African American business leaders is to secure company support to prepare and integrate financial literacy training, strategic planning, and mentorship to address interconnected strategies for business profitability. Implications for positive social change include the potential for African American business leaders to secure stable employment, build community wealth, and develop sustainable approaches to financial empowerment that help local communities.

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