By Asia Nail
\nThe Truth Reporter<\/p>\n
Imagine climbing a mountain. The higher you go, the thinner the air gets, the steeper the path, and the more challenging each step becomes. Now imagine Ebony Carter<\/strong>, not only making that climb but reaching back to help others up along the way. That\u2019s exactly what she does every day.<\/p>\n As the Minority Business Assistance Center (MBAC) Program Director<\/em><\/strong>, Carter has dedicated her career to guiding entrepreneurs, particularly minority business owners, through the ups and downs of growing their businesses. This year, she\u2019s being recognized for her extraordinary work with the YWCA Milestones 2025 Women on the Rise <\/em>Honor<\/strong>\u2014a well-earned accolade that celebrates the impact she has made in Toledo\u2019s business community.<\/p>\n But if you ask her about this award, she won\u2019t take the credit alone. \u201cI accept this on behalf of my community,\u201d Carter says, her voice full of gratitude. \u201cIt takes a village. If it wasn\u2019t for the people who poured into me, supported me, and reminded me to keep going when things got tough, I wouldn\u2019t be here.<\/p>\n Carter\u2019s story isn\u2019t just about success\u2014it\u2019s about service, vision and a fierce determination to uplift others.<\/p>\n One of Carter\u2019s biggest initiatives at MBAC is The Art of Scale-Up<\/strong>, an eight-week program designed to help business owners get out of the \u201cstartup struggle\u201d and into a real growth phase.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of entrepreneurs get stuck,\u201d Carter explains. \u201cThey do all the right things to start\u2014registering the business, setting up a bank account\u2014but then they hit a wall. They don\u2019t know what\u2019s next, and they stay in survival mode.\u201d<\/p>\n This program is all about pulling back the layers, getting real about what\u2019s working (and what\u2019s not), and empowering business owners to take the next step with confidence.<\/p>\n But here\u2019s the thing: it\u2019s not about pushing people into growth they\u2019re not ready for. \u201cWe don\u2019t tell them what to do,\u201d Carter says. \u201cWe help them figure out what\u2019s right for them. Not everyone is in a place to scale up just yet, and that\u2019s okay. The key is knowing when the time is right.\u201d<\/p>\n And it\u2019s working. The impact is real and measurable.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t want people to just take another business class,\u201d Ebony says. \u201cWe want them to finish this program and say, \u2018I increased my revenue by $15,000.\u2019 Or, \u2018I finally opened my second location.\u2019 That\u2019s what matters.\u201d<\/p>\n To make sure each entrepreneur gets the hands-on support they need, MBAC keeps the class size small\u2014only 15 business owners per cohort. The goal isn\u2019t to push out huge numbers. It\u2019s to create real transformation, one business at a time.<\/p>\n Recently, Carter spoke at a HerHub luncheon about the most important things entrepreneurs need to do to scale their businesses. Her top three takeaways?<\/p>\n \u201cBefore you even start looking at the market, take a deep dive into your own business,\u201d she advises. \u201cWhere are your weak spots? What\u2019s slowing you down? You can\u2019t fix what you don\u2019t see.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t do it all alone,\u201d Carter stresses. \u201cFind people who compliment your strengths and fill in the gaps where you need help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBillionaires don\u2019t have some secret code,\u201d Carter says with a laugh. \u201cThey just make a plan, set deadlines, and actually do the work. That\u2019s it. No magic. Just consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n And that consistency? It\u2019s where most businesses fail. Tracking progress, holding yourself accountable, and making real moves\u2014that\u2019s the game-changer.<\/p>\n One of the most powerful things Carter has seen through her work is how success looks different for everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was one business owner who wanted a loan to buy a building,\u201d Carter recalls. \u201cShe found a lender willing to approve her, but after going through our program, she realized it would actually put her in financial trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n The old her might have taken the loan anyway. But through the deep dive into her business, she recognized the risk herself.<\/p>\n \u201cShe told herself \u2018no,\u2019\u201d Carter says, smiling. \u201cAnd that\u2019s powerful. It\u2019s different when someone tells you no versus when you realize on your own that the timing isn\u2019t right.\u201d<\/p>\n Instead of taking the loan, the business owner made smart financial moves, increased her revenue, and ended up renegotiating her lease for a better deal.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s success,\u201d Carter says. \u201cNot just growth, but growth at the right time.\u201d<\/p>\n When Carter learned she was the only<\/strong> Woman on the Rise honoree this year, she was surprised.<\/p>\n \u201cI know in past years they selected multiple women,\u201d she says. \u201cSo, to be chosen as the sole recipient is really special.\u201d<\/p>\n But again, Carter doesn\u2019t see this award as just hers.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a team win, a community win. I\u2019ll be the face of it because they put my name on it,\u201d she says with a laugh, \u201cbut I couldn\u2019t rise without my people.\u201d<\/p>\n She credits women like Amerah Archer, Olivia Holden, Alicia Smith, Arlana Alexander and Carlena Johnson for being inspirations and examples of leadership in action.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m blessed to be surrounded by women who constantly pour into me,\u201d Carter says. \u201cThey remind me that, yes, there\u2019s more work to be done, but it\u2019s possible.\u201d<\/p>\n What keeps Carter fighting for minority entrepreneurs every day?<\/p>\n \u201cThe people,\u201d she says without hesitation.<\/p>\n As a proud Toledo native, Carter sees firsthand the hustle, resilience, and talent in her city. But she also sees the lack of resources and recognition.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have some truly amazing, hardworking business owners here,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd if the fight is making sure they get the exposure and opportunities they deserve, then that\u2019s the fight I\u2019m in until the end.\u201d<\/p>\n Because for Carter, it\u2019s not just about business. It\u2019s about breaking barriers, building wealth, and creating a stronger community.<\/p>\n So what\u2019s next for MBAC and Carter\u2019s mission?<\/p>\n More accessibility. More engagement. More impact.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to expand The Art of Scale-Up <\/em><\/strong>to make it available to even more entrepreneurs across the city,\u201d Carter says.<\/p>\n And beyond that?<\/p>\n \u201cCollaboration over competition,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s all about bringing people together, sharing resources, and making sure that success isn\u2019t just for the few\u2014it\u2019s for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n As Ebony Carter continues to rise, uplift, and empower, one thing is clear: her work is changing lives. And if you ask her, she\u2019ll tell you\u2014she\u2019s just getting started.<\/p>\nScaling Up, Leveling Up, and Breaking Through<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Keys to Scaling a Business<\/h2>\n
1. Do Your Research\u2014Yourself, First<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Build the Right Team<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. Set Dates & Execute the Plan<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Success Isn\u2019t Always What You Expect<\/strong><\/h2>\n
More Than an Award\u2014A Movement<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Heart Behind Her Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What\u2019s Next? Bigger & Bolder Moves<\/h2>\n