Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sabrina Gonzalez, Founder of NOWINCLUDED, located in Birmingham, AL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Acclinate is working to disrupt the way healthcare has been seen for communities of color. These historically excluded groups have been overlooked in many ways across healthcare. Our company utilizes our omni-channel community platform, NOWINCLUDED, to empower our communities to take control of and become better advocates for their health and the health of their families. Through honest, community-led storytelling, expert-approved resources, thoughtful partnerships, and event connections, we hope to help restore the trust between black and brown people and the medical community so that they have more success seeking and getting the healthcare they deserve. Our paying customers are typically pharmaceutical companies, healthcare organizations, and CROs (Clinical Research Organizations.) Our most important customers are our NOWINCLUDED community members, those people waiting for us to disrupt the industry and become the new industry standard.
Tell us about yourself
I essentially came to the role at Acclinate because I was born to an interracial couple and given up for adoption because of my mixed race. I have understood, from a very early age, what it meant to be marginalized for reasons beyond my control. As a result, I was always concerned with not having a complete picture of her family background. That lapse in information became increasingly critical with the birth of my son. It is what, in part, led me to healthcare and especially healthcare for minorities. I’m passionate about solving the problem of disparities in healthcare because even with my professional experience in business development and management, I have always thrived in any capacity that allows me to give a voice to those who often go unheard. In my position with Acclinate, I have been able to become a visible and vocal champion for black people who are very often overlooked and even mistreated in medical settings. When I can help to decrease the gap in quality care, I do it not only for communities of people I don’t even know but for my family and myself.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Scaling our NOWINCLUDED community beyond 20K members is by far my biggest accomplishment.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
- Learning to Delegate--I had to learn what to delegate and when. Delegation forces you to hire strong leaders who can lead internal teams and drive your business forward.
- Scaling at the Right Time—In business, timing is everything! You have to know when to build teams, implement processes, and make important plays to get to the next level.
- Saying No- You have to know when to say no not every deal is a good deal. Not every investor is a good investor, and not every partnership is meant for you. Saying no can allow you to remain focused.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can’t do everything on your own.
- Never stop dreaming! Continue to think big and think about what you want at the end of the day. Do you want to impact a certain number of lives? Do you want to make a certain amount of money? Do you want to be acquired? Build backward off of those plans!
- Hone in on the one or two things that make you unique and start with those things.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://nowincluded.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NOWINCLUDED
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/now_included/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nowincluded
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acclinateinc/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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