The Institute for Entrepreneurial Thinking

Who We Are

Passionate About the Success of Minority Business Development

Our associates are passionate about our mission: To improve the outcomes of minority business development initiatives. We are intellectually curious, practical in our approach and experienced. We have strong backgrounds in corporate executive leadership, minority entrepreneurship, boards of community organizations, and community development. Our expertise uniquely qualifies us to assist our clients in their efforts to improve the results of minority business development.

Most importantly, we are professionally committed to the success of our clients. We value our role in aiding clients in positioning entrepreneurs, corporations, and communities to strategically grow minority businesses.

About Our Leadership

Melvin Gravely II, Ph. D.

Dr. Melvin Gravely is professionally dedicated to developing capacity and opportunity for minority entrepreneurs. He is the author of the popular books, The Lost Art of Entrepreneurship,

When Black and White Make Green and his latest book, Getting to the Next Level: Business, Race and Our Common Goal to Be Competitive. Gravely is a sought after keynote speaker and respected advisor to major corporations, chambers of commerce executives, urban city leaders, and NMSDC affiliates.

Dr. Gravely is a frequent guest on radio stations from Los Angeles to New York and has been featured in many national publications including Black Enterprise Magazine, Ebony Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine and American City Business Journals.

After ten successful years working for a large corporation, he co-founded a civil engineering firm and grew it into a multimillion dollar company. He is also an author, speaker, and entrepreneur. Dr. Gravely speaks and writes on various topics related to entrepreneurial thinking and minority business development. He is the author of six other books, including The Lost Art of Entrepreneurship.