Negoshantay Ako! is a program that helps LGBTQIA+ individuals prepare for employment and helps LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses through practical learning, mentorship, and meaningful connections.
The program has two (2) pathways: Employment and Entrepreneurship—each designed to help you take your next step with greater confidence and capability.
The Employment pathway supports LGBTQIA+ jobseekers and professionals in becoming more prepared, confident, and connected to the world of work.
Through practical sessions and activities, participants can build the tools they need to put their best foot forward—from creating a stronger resume to developing professional networks.
What you can expect:
The Entrepreneurship pathway provides LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs with access to short, focused mentorship sessions covering practical areas of business.
Whether you’re refining your brand, figuring out your finances, improving your marketing, or exploring digital tools, the program connects you with people who can help you work through specific business challenges.
Below are key topics covered by our esteemed mentors under this track:
Build a clearer and more purposeful brand by exploring your identity, positioning, audience, visual direction, and overall brand experience. Sessions can help entrepreneurs better understand what makes their business distinct and how to communicate that consistently.
Build and grow your business from the ground up—from identifying opportunities and understanding your customers to developing and refining your products or services. Sessions may include Business Model Canvas development, value proposition design, product development, customer segmentation, pricing, partnerships, and exploring new markets.
Discover practical ways to use digital tools and technology to improve your business. Sessions may cover digital workflows, e-commerce, productivity tools, customer management, automation, data, and other technologies that can help businesses operate more efficiently and compete in an increasingly digital marketplace.
Develop a better understanding of the financial side of your business. Mentorship may cover basic bookkeeping, financial planning, cash flow, budgeting, pricing, tax obligations, record-keeping, and understanding key financial statements—helping entrepreneurs make more informed decisions about their money.
Learn how to better reach, engage, and retain your customers. Sessions may cover marketing strategy, target audiences, customer journeys, content, social media, campaigns, promotions, and other practical approaches to building visibility and turning awareness into sales.
Navigate the requirements involved in formally setting up and operating a business. Sessions may provide guidance on business registration, permits, licenses, taxation registration, regulatory requirements, and ongoing compliance, helping entrepreneurs understand what they need to accomplish and where to seek the appropriate government support.
Build the people practices needed to create and manage a healthy, effective team. Sessions may cover hiring and recruitment, job descriptions, onboarding, performance management, compensation, workplace policies, employee development, and building inclusive workplaces.
Strengthen the systems and processes that keep your business running efficiently. Sessions may cover workflow and process development, inventory management, quality control, supplier management, standard operating procedures (SOPs), capacity planning, and improving day-to-day business operations.
Business needs don’t always fit neatly into a category. Depending on the needs of participating entrepreneurs, Negoshantay Ako! can connect them with relevant expertise and focused mentorship on other topics that can help address specific challenges and move their businesses forward.
Sometimes, moving forward starts with having the right person to ask.
Negoshantay Ako! creates opportunities for LGBTQIA+ individuals and entrepreneurs to learn from others, build confidence, expand their networks, and take practical steps toward their goals.
Whether you’re preparing for your next job or building your next business, start where you are. Let’s move forward from there.
Equip LGBTQIA+ individuals with practical tools, skills, and confidence for employment through resume building, career preparation, professional development, and networking.
Provide entrepreneurs with accessible, focused mentorship across key areas of business, including branding, product development, business development, finance, marketing, HR, operations, digital transformation, and compliance.
Connect LGBTQIA+ individuals, entrepreneurs, professionals, businesses, mentors, and organizations to resources, expertise, and networks that create meaningful opportunities for growth and economic participation.
Expect short, relevant sessions focused on real-world employment and business needs. No lengthy lectures—just practical knowledge, tools, and guidance you can apply right away.
Connect with mentors, professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry practitioners who can share experience, answer questions, and offer perspectives relevant to your goals.
Leave with clearer direction and practical next steps—whether that’s improving your resume, preparing for an interview, refining your business model, strengthening your brand, or addressing a specific business challenge.
For LGBTQIA+ individuals preparing for employment, looking to improve their resumes and interview skills, build professional confidence, or expand their networks.
For aspiring and established entrepreneurs looking for practical guidance, focused mentorship, and support across different areas of building and growing a business.
For students and individuals exploring their career or entrepreneurial path who want to gain practical knowledge, meet people in the community, and start building their professional future.
Discover how Negoshantay Ako! helps LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs and professionals gain practical knowledge, build connections, and find new opportunities to move forward.
Whether you’re looking to prepare for employment, strengthen your business, or simply learn more about Negoshantay Ako!, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch with the Negoshantay Ako! team to learn about upcoming sessions, mentorship opportunities, and how you can take part.
Email us through this email address:
Help build a more inclusive economy where LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs, professionals, and businesses have equal opportunities to grow, lead, and succeed.
