WHM: Dr. Millicent Davis Builds Business Legacy To Uplift Others
Photo provided by Dr. Millicent Davis
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was produced as part of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University’s South Jersey Information Equity Project fellowship and supported with funding from the Independence Public Media Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and the NJ Civic Information Consortium.
MY MONIQUE HOWARD | South Jersey Information Equity Project
SICKLERVILLE — For Dr. Millicent Davis, having a job wasn’t enough.
Her entrepreneurial aspirations were fueled by the desire to create generational wealth and support the local community. Davis’s interests in social efforts and the nonprofit sector led to the creation of KMD Business Consultants LLC in Sicklerville.
In addition to running a business, Davis is an adjunct professor at Rowan College in Burlington County in the Business Department and an adjunct instructor at the Rutgers University Center for Government Services.
“I started with KMD by helping people put their lives in order with their finances, life insurance, and everything else,” she explains in an interview with Front Runner New Jersey.
“The Nonprofit Peer Network is another business I created to help nonprofits who couldn’t afford consulting and really needed to get their nonprofit businesses in order. We would meet once a month and train them on how to do everything themselves to make them compliant with the state and federal government.”
Since then, Davis has opened a hair and beauty supply store called Ella’s Hair and Beauty Supply in Paulsboro.
While on the path to success, she faced some challenges along the way.
“I faced discrimination and financial hardship, but the way I overcame it was I was determined to move forward to create economic opportunities and give back,” she said.
Davis credits her parents for fostering her entrepreneurial spirit when growing up. Her very first entrepreneurial venture began in grade school when she joined a jewelry-making club and made jewelry for other groups to sell. Alongside parental support, her children and assistant Audra have been positive influences in her journey as a business owner.
“My pastors and people who I went through my doctoral program with are all mentors and role models, especially my advisor in my doctoral program,” she said. “We still talk and are friends today, and last but not least, Jesus Christ is my biggest mentor and role model.”
After considering advice for young entrepreneurs, Davis said, “I would say find good people who can help you and guide you along your journey. Putting a great team around you, fostering a diverse team and mentoring others is foundational to success. It’s not all about you and what you’re doing. You have to be able to help others.”
She continues by adding, “You need to have strategies to navigate challenges like knowing what your funding requirements are, and don’t go to an investor when you don’t even know what your funding opportunities are. Understand your systematic barriers. Then, you want to build a robust financial narrative and know your level of detail and your ability to communicate.”
She believes KMD Business Consultants LLC stands apart from other businesses in the industry due to providing excellent products and services at competitive rates. According to Davis, her long-standing client base is sustained by added value, continued business growth, and putting the customer first as well as innovative company culture and technology.
Davis hopes to leave a legacy for her children and grandchildren by passing the consulting business on to them. Her son Eugene Davis is her partner and the COO of KMD Business Consultants LLC.
“I always want to have some part in the business, but I don’t want to be the top person,” she said. “I’m excited about starting a podcast to advise others. The business ladies I have met along the way will have a platform where they can share their journey. I guess I will end where I started by giving back.”
Follow Us Today On:
Note from AC JosepH Media: If you like this story and others posted on Front Runner New Jersey.com, lend us a hand so we can keep producing articles like these for New Jersey and the world to see. Click on SUPPORT FRNJ and make a contribution that will go directly in making more stories like this available. Thank you for reading.
About Author
