Engineers acquire a diverse set of skillsets that can pave the way for successful entrepreneurship. However, this journey can differ significantly based on an individual’s background, network, and interests. For Black engineers, entrepreneurship is additionally shaped by under-representation, biases, and other societal barriers. Despite these factors, many Black engineers are overcoming obstacles and achieving success in the field.
Breaking into entrepreneurship
People are exposed to entrepreneurship through different avenues – family, a role model, close network, or personal curiosities. For some in the Black community, the exposure to entrepreneurship can be very limited. Despite this, opportunities often find a way to present themselves.
Rolton Edwards, P.Eng., an electrical engineer and owner of Sprit FX, a business consulting company, reflects on his introduction to the entrepreneurship space. Edwards says, “I didn’t have any role models in terms of entrepreneurs growing up. It was something I got into on a whim. The first company I started had nothing to do with engineering. My friend had an idea to book bands for universities, colleges, and venues around Toronto and we executed.”
The business grew significantly. From there, I experienced first-hand what it was like to own your own business and the possibilities that come with it.”
The desire for entrepreneurship can also come by way of family. Akinola Ifelola, M.A.Sc, P.Eng, R.Eng, PMP, a civil and structural engineer and owner of Lolay Inc., a multidisciplinary engineering firm providing services in the real estate development space, was led to start his own business through inspiration from his mom.
“When I was a kid, my mom was laid off from her job as a teacher, which pushed her to open up her own corner store.” Ifelola continues, “she did this with a small amount of her own money in Nigeria at a time when there was no access to funding or loans.”
When Ifelola was laid off from his job during COVID, these memories were top of mind when he decided to launch his own company.
Business as an engineer
Approaching entrepreneurship as a Black engineer can feel daunting but there are many transferrable skills that create opportunities for engineers to launch their own business.
After working in engineering and across various industries, Edwards recognized a gap in the information available to business owners and founders about the initial stages of starting a business. This motivated him to start a company geared towards helping owners get their ideas off the ground—from strategy to product marketing. “My skills as an engineer have helped me tremendously in understanding the technical aspects of business when it comes to supporting the development of a product. And, on the strategy side, I’m able to support the execution,” Edwards says.
With over a decade of experience as a civil and structural engineer, Ifelola was acutely aware of Canada’s housing problem. He created a company centred on helping to create solutions to house more Canadians. Ifelola’s engineering firm is a one-stop shop for all things land development. He works with individuals, companies, the government, and board approval agencies to create communities where people can live, work, and play. “We aim to open up people’s eyes to opportunities they may not see, showing them how they can have ten homes in an area rather than just having one,” Ifelola says. He credits his engineering background and his other accomplishments, including his PMP certification, for helping him start and grow his business.
Prioritizing connections
In entrepreneurship, it’s not only about what you know but who you know. “Regardless of what you’re doing in this space, it’s about your network,” Edwards says. These connections can help increase your knowledge and open new doors.
Ifelola highlights how lucky he was to have been mentored by someone who started their own business. “They helped me understand what to do and what not to do in the Canadian business landscape which was a tremendous help in starting my company.”
Mentorship from those outside of engineering and who can share new perspectives is also highly valuable. “Engineers are particularly skilled in analyzing problems and finding technical solutions. I’ve had mentors in other fields who have made me look beyond the technical aspects and focus more on the impact that we’re looking to have,” Edwards says.
In addition to mentorship, professional networks can also contribute to one’s entrepreneurial success. These groups can play a significant role in helping to navigate the complexities of the industry, particularly, networks focussed on helping Black individuals.
This can sometimes be easier said than done. Edwards notes that as a Black engineer and entrepreneur, there may not be a community introduction into some of those networks. “Newcomers to Canada may even experience an added barrier due to the lack of longstanding family members or peers in the country,” Edwards says. It is imperative to build a community outside of your traditional network of family and colleagues to be successful.
Facing some of these challenges themselves, Black engineers in entrepreneurship make it a priority to share their wealth of knowledge and experience with their community. Ifelola has been a volunteer with Black Engineers of Canada since its inception. Over the years, he has supported young Black engineers entering engineering with job search and resume building and has been a mentor for newcomers helping them navigate the engineering licensure process.
Navigating the system
Behind the accolades and achievements, Black engineers in entrepreneurship also face significant challenges. It includes navigating spaces where they don’t see many people that look like them. “As a Black engineer and entrepreneur, there aren’t that many of us,” Edwards says. “Once you combine the two, you’re looking at a very low number, unless you’re in a space specifically for Black entrepreneurs”.
In a 2023 report based on 2018 data, Statistics Canada reported that 2.1 per cent of all business owners in Canada were Black. These results speak to the limited representation in Black-led entrepreneurship.
“I don’t know any Black engineering firms other than my own,” Ifelola says. Even while working in many municipalities across Ontario and intentionally looking out for them, Ifelola has not come across any. Ifelola shares that this can have a negative impact on the success of Black businesses and on the mental health of business owners, making them feel isolated.
Confronted by such challenges, Black entrepreneurs are often pushed to work twice as much to be successful. “If others are doing 60-70 per cent and getting by, you have be putting in 110 per cent,” Ifelola notes. He continues, “though they can be difficult to overcome, these obstacles do not stop Black entrepreneurs from doing great things. There is space for everyone. As a Black entrepreneur, you just must learn how to navigate the system.”
To Black entrepreneurs
For those Black engineers exploring the idea of entrepreneurship or already on the journey, there are a few things to consider. For Edwards, the most important thing is figuring out your why—why you’re doing what you’re doing or wanting to do. “Entrepreneurship is hard. It will test you and if you don’t understand why you’re doing it, you’re going to give up.”
Ifelola also emphasizes that as a Black individual in this space, “you must believe in yourself and your abilities. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t, because you absolutely can.”
“You’re playing on a field where you might not have the network, there might be stereotypes, biases, and cultural differences, but know that you can overcome all of that” Ifelola says. “You just need to understand your strengths and weaknesses in this space.”
