Kim Davis, president and chief executive of the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce, has worked within the community to solve a problem that money alone cannot fix. She’s seen many Black-owned businesses launch with talent and hustle, but without the internal systems, collateral and experience that lenders demand.
Under her leadership, the chamber operates a regional business institution, engaging in economic development, transportation, education and workforce conversations that she says shapes the conditions in which Black entrepreneurs can grow. Davis and Heartland Black Chamber are out to make sure Black business leaders have a better understanding of what makes business thrive and the role they play in the overall economic ecosystem in Kansas City.