Staff – Workshop in Business Opportunities

News & Blog

Updates, tips, resources and articles from WIBO!

WIBO Marks 60 Years of Building New York Business Owners, Names Dr. Stacie N. C. Grant and the Gutenstein Family as 60th Anniversary Gala Honorees

October 27, 2026 No Comments

The Nov. 19 Gala at Metropolitan College of New York’s Bronx Campus celebrates six decades of free entrepreneurship training and the alumni businesses it helped build NEW YORK, NY, Oct. 26, 2026 The Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO), the New York nonprofit that has trained more than 18,000 entrepreneurs since its founding in Harlem in

Sixty Years, One Lesson for Women Founders: Learn the Numbers Before the World Tells You Your Worth

October 22, 2026 No Comments

By Dr. Stacie N. C. Grant, Chair, WIBO Board of Directors October is Women’s Small Business Month, and this year it lands in a special season for WIBO. In 1966, our founders opened a classroom in Harlem with a simple belief: ownership should not depend on who you know or what you inherited. Sixty years

AARP promotes Entrepreneurship!

September 17, 2026 No Comments

The Workshop in Business Opportunities was recently featured in an article from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) discussing ways and resources to start a business. Want to Work for Yourself? These Courses Can Help New training options can help you start a business later in life Gail Snow Moraski was nearly 54

Alumni Precious Williams Featured in Amsterdam News

September 10, 2026 No Comments

Glowing Up Delta: From Spelman College to Shark Tank to Audacity! What does it look like to have Audacity at 47? You are looking at it. Like many of my sorors of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., I have succeeded despite the odds. I was told “no” so much, I stopped hearing those words and still

WIBO on TV!

August 31, 2026 No Comments

Earlier this month, Ramon Gil, long-time WIBO alumni, volunteer and Director of Community Engagement & Development, was interviewed by Daren Jaime on Bronxnet TV’s OPEN. They talked about how WIBO has been committed to building pathways for entrepreneurs in underserved communities for over 60 years. The episode dropped on Wednesday, August 26. You can watch

Social Impact Heroes Helping Our Planet

August 13, 2026 No Comments

Why and How Dr. Stacie NC Grant Is Helping To Change Our World As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Stacie NC Grant. Dr. Stacie N. C. Grant is the Board Chair at WIBO. She is a New York State

A Spirit of Resilience for Sixty Years

July 31, 2026 No Comments

A Haitian Founder Built a Business Queens Need. A TPS Ruling Threatens the Community Behind It. Months after winning $10,000 for a business Queens badly needs, Magdala Noel watched the Supreme Court clear a path to uproot the community she comes from. A first-generation Haitian immigrant and a graduate of WIBO’s Queens cohort, Magdala is

As America Turns 250, WIBO Turns 60: Six Decades Building the Entrepreneurs Behind the American Story

July 21, 2026 No Comments

The Workshop in Business Opportunities marks its 60th anniversary in the same year the nation marks its 250th, spotlighting entrepreneurship as the engine of opportunity in under-resourced communities NEW YORK, NY (July 20, 2026) — As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, one New York City nonprofit is marking a milestone

On Juneteenth, True Freedom Looks Like a Business of Your Own

June 19, 2026 No Comments

By Dr. Stacie NC Grant, Chairman of the Board, Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO) On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned what had already been true for two and a half years: they were free. The Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. The war was over. Freedom, long delayed, had finally arrived. But

Spring Cohorts Graduate!

June 9, 2026 No Comments

Last week, we celebrated the hard work, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit of our newest WIBO graduates! These entrepreneurs committed themselves to building stronger businesses, learning new skills, and investing in their futures. We are proud of everything this cohort has accomplished and excited to see what comes next for each of their businesses and dreams. Congratulations

WIBO is in the House!

May 26, 2026 No Comments

Last week, we attended the SBA International B2B and Resource Forum in Downtown New York City! We got to table, give a presentation and basically represent and promote WIBO. Ramon gave a talk on “Knowing Your Numbers” and got a quite a few registrations and potential partnership leads. Big thanks to Interim Executive Director Ted

Caribbean Baker Offers Sweet Vegan Treats!

May 12, 2026 No Comments

If you happen to be walking down DeKalb Avenue near Tompkins in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy, you might discover a little gem of a bakery called Ava’s Lifeline. And not just any bakery, but a Caribbean Vegan bakery! Ava Bastien is a chef and a baker and is the proprietor of this charming establishment. “I grew up

WIBO Alumni Leads National Pitch Competition

May 7, 2026 No Comments

One of our ultra successful alumni, Precious Williams, is the lead instructor for an initiative called the Verizon Super Pitch, a national competition designed to give small businesses the world-class tools and capital they deserve, including a chance to win $20,000 and a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final. The Clock is

WIBO Member Wins $10k in Pitch Competition!

May 2, 2026 No Comments

Magdala Noel is a member of the Queens WIBO Cohort at the Tech Incubator at Queens College, with the encouragement of the cohort’s co-leads, Fran Holt and Ying Zhou, and the help of her follow cohort member, Magdala won $10,000 to use to build her business. Congratulations! What is your business about? Hand in Hand

When Entrepreneurs Take Their Children To Work

April 23, 2026 No Comments

Here’s What Happened at WIBO! Long before “Take Your Child to Work Day” became a tradition, six-year-old Ted Geier was already on the job, helping at the registration table during the launch of the Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO) in 1966, an entrepreneurship education program conceived by his father, Walter Geier, that addresses inequities in

From Knowledge to Profit: How WIBO Helps Entrepreneurs Build Financially Strong Businesses

April 22, 2026 No Comments

April is Financial Literacy Month, a time to reflect on the importance of understanding money, managing it well, and using it as a tool for long-term success. At the Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO), financial literacy is not just a concept we discuss; it is a core part of how we prepare entrepreneurs to build

The Lifecycle of a Nonprofit Organization.

April 17, 2026 1 Comment

This meeting was co-hosted by Support Center and focused on organizational life cycles for nonprofits, led by Keith Timko, executive director from Support Center. Support Center is dedicated to empowering nonprofits and social enterprises to transform their leadership and management and advance our vision for social change. The session covered different phases of nonprofit development

At WIBO, Building Strong Businesses Starts with Financial Clarity

April 16, 2026 No Comments

April is Financial Literacy Month, and for entrepreneurs, it is a moment worth pausing on. Because understanding your numbers is not a bonus skill. It is the foundation on which everything else is built. At WIBO, we see it every day. An entrepreneur walks through our doors with a strong idea, real passion, and the

WIBO Staffer, Ramon Gil, Get Some Press!

April 13, 2026 No Comments

Being the dedicated Communications Director that he is, Ramon Gil couldn’t stop talking about WIBO in this Canvas Rebel magazine interview. We were lucky to catch up with Ramon Gil recently and have shared our conversation below. Ramon, appreciate you joining us today. If you’re open to it, can you talk to us about the

Getting Tax Season Ready: What Every Small Business Owner Should Know

April 5, 2026 No Comments

Each year, Tax Season arrives with urgency, but for small business owners, it should also bring preparation, clarity, and intention. At the Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO), we work closely with entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. One of the most consistent challenges we see is not a lack of effort or commitment; it

Winter Graduation

March 27, 2026 No Comments

Twice a year, The Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO) is proud to honor graduates of our 16-week workshop on how to start and run a business. This past week, we awarded certificates to our Spring virtual and Manhattan cohorts. Catered by Chef T and photographed by Duane Knight, both WIBO alumni. The event took place

A Boom in Black Women Owned Businesses

March 17, 2026 No Comments

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, the media is noticing that the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurs is among Black women. Job cuts in federal agencies and corporate America as well as a scaling back of DEI programs are leaving many women of color little choice but to create their own jobs and start businesses.

Talking to Some Lawyers

March 10, 2026 No Comments

One of the most common questions among new business owners is “What kind of business entity should I have?” Obviously the answer depends on many factors. What kind of product or service will you be providing, how many owners will there be, what kind of liabilities will you face, and many more. Luckily for us,

Glowing Praise From Alumni Conlyn Chan of August Designs

February 27, 2026 No Comments

I had the pleasure of attending WIBO and the experience was truly transformative. From the moment I stepped into the classroom, I could feel the passion and dedication of the teachers. They were not only knowledgeable but also genuinely committed to helping each student succeed. Their guidance was always practical, actionable, and tailored to the

Presidents’ Day – Leadership, Legacy, and the Power of Economic Opportunity

February 16, 2026 No Comments

By Dr. Stacie N. C. Grant, Board Chair, WIBO Presidents’ Day encourages us to reflect on leadership, not just the type exercised in the Oval Office, but the everyday leadership that shapes our communities, families, and futures. At the Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO), we believe that true leadership begins with economic agency. The ability

Spring 2026 Cohorts Launch!

February 6, 2026 No Comments

Two new groups of WIBO learners launched this week. The first one at Tech Incubator Queens College (TIQC) on Tuesday nights and a virtual one on Wednesday nights! Congrats to over 35 future entrepreneurs who have taken their first steps toward starting and building their own businesses! Big thanks to TIQC and Holt Computer Training

Black History Month: Honoring Legacy, Family, and the Power of Black Entrepreneurs

February 1, 2026 No Comments

By Dr. Stacie N. C. Grant – Chair, WIBO Board of Directors Black History Month encourages us to honor the stories that often go untold: the narratives of families building futures, and entrepreneurs transforming vision into legacy. At WIBO, we recognize Black history not only as something from the past but as something actively being

Why WIBO Works: The Power Behind 60+ Years of Entrepreneurial Success

January 25, 2026 No Comments

Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant- Chair, WIBO Board of Directors As the Board Chair of WIBO, I have the privilege of witnessing something remarkable: the transformation that occurs when individuals realize they can build the life they envision through entrepreneurship, education, and community support. For more than 50 years, WIBO has guided thousands of entrepreneurs on

From Dr. King’s Dream To Community Action: How WIBO Advances Economic Justice

January 19, 2026 No Comments

By Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant – Chair, WIBO Board of Directors Each year on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we take a moment to reflect on the life, leadership, and enduring vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. His vision is rooted not only in justice and equality but also in dignity, opportunity, and economic

A Story of Resilience, Community, and Endurance: The Tru Jamaica Journey

January 16, 2026 No Comments

By Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant – Chair, WIBO Board of Directors One of the greatest privileges of serving as the Board Chair of the Workshop in Business Opportunities (WIBO) is witnessing what can happen when determination meets education, and when a community supports entrepreneurs during their most challenging moments. The journey of Aniceto Charles Jr.,