In the office of local San Francisco radio station KPOO 89.5 FM, Helen Branham prepares for the third installment of her new radio talk show, "Business Basics." It's just 10 minutes to show time and co-host Rachel Mays is nowhere to be found. Branham chats with her guests, briefs them on the questions she'll be asking on air and fiddles with her headphones, all the while her eyes darting back and forth between the insistently ticking clock and the door.
"Rachel, Rachel, Rachel where are you," she mutters under her breath, checking her phone one last time before shutting it off. Music suddenly fills the room signaling one minute to air. The music fades and Branham launches into her introduction, she didn't plan on going solo tonight, but everything about her demeanor indicates she can handle it.
"Business Basics" is sponsored by Urban Solutions, a nonprofit committed to helping entrepreneurs start and finance small businesses, specifically in the Western Addition and Bayview neighborhoods of San Francisco.
The monthly show originally aired in February of 2007 on the community owned and operated KPOO as a means to reach out to the community and provide a forum where entrepreneurs can get immediate advice from experts. Co-host Branham is the Director of Small Business Services for Urban Solutions, and has high hopes for the impact the program.
"Urban Solutions is about getting involved with the community, revitalizing the community with economic programs to enhance living," she says. "The best thing about the show is impacting someone's life in a positive way who would otherwise never have access to this information, people who have a dream but don't know where to go for help. Everybody has a radio. It's free, it's informative and educational."
Branham has a lot of information to share; she's been working with small business owners for more than 10 years, but this is her first stab at broadcasting. Co-host Mays has the broadcasting experience, but lacks business savvy. Mays' warm on-air confidence and honesty about her limited knowledge provides someone listeners can identify with and a good compliment to Bran-ham's technical expertise.
"I think the show will do great things in the way of making people more comfortable with talking about money, people who would normally shy away from the subject thinking 'I don't know anything, I'm not good enough to talk about money.' I look to Helen for pointers. I can come in as the layperson and ask those questions. Helen does the research, I'm there for moral support," Mays laughs.
Branham is quick to jump to her co-host's defense, praising her aptitude and ability to keep the show accessible. Both are obviously excited by the project and the impact they hope to make, especially as women discussing a subject matter traditionally viewed as "man's" territory.
"I think having two women host a business show offers an opportunity for single mothers and women who never thought they could make it in the business world," says Branham. "Hearing another woman they can identify with talking about business and sharing her own experiences gives them hope. It allows other women to feel comfortable in the business arena."
Mays agrees. "I don't have a business background, I've never sat behind a desk, the idea of business and finances have always felt overwhelming. But I realize it's really not. Society in general has raised us to believe it's not our place; it's not something we have to be concerned about. It's really enlightening to be around women who excel in business and have that frame of mind. I hope my own daughter doesn't look at the business world as something intimidating and foreign."
So far "Business Basics" has focused on local minority entrepreneurs, taxes, credit, and credit scores. Future topics will include insurance, marketing, legal issues, general bookkeeping, sales and leasing. And listeners are always encouraged to call in and receive immediate answers to their business questions.
Mays rush into the station roughly 28 minutes into the broadcast — just in time for the halfway-mark break. Obviously flustered she apologizes profusely and suggests that Branham continue hosting by herself. Branham will have none of it, and an anxious Mays has just enough time to sit down and get her headphones on before they are back on the air and she is introduced to the listeners.
As they answer caller's questions, their passion for community outreach is apparent. "We hope the show will give help people who don«t know what resources are out there," says Branham. "We want to provide for people who have that dream, be the vital link between the idea and reality
*originally posted May 2007 Bay Area BusinessWoman News
No comments:
Post a Comment