Author: Lauren Taber

Blog, Client Success Stories

With Itacate Foods, Martha Diaz is Expanding Latinx Representation in the Outdoors

     Growing up, Martha Diaz spent plenty of time outdoors. After immigrating from Central Mexico to California with her family when she was 10, Diaz recalls family vacations spent at campsites and on long bike rides. In college, Diaz reached her goal of becoming an experienced backpacker–but in exploring the freeze-dried, ready-to-eat meals that backpackers take on their journeys, she was disheartened by the lack of Latin-inspired options. “When you’re doing something like backpacking, it has a pain point,” says Diaz. “To then have to eat food that you don’t otherwise eat is a double whammy of discomfort.”  To Diaz, this absence of authentic Latin meals was indicative of a deeper need to make outdoor hobbies more diverse and accessible to communities of color.   She knew she could change that.

Heritage and Innovation

     With the twin goals of bringing her favorite Mexican dishes along with her on the trail and making the outdoors a more inclusive space for Hispanic communities that have not traditionally been represented by outdoor recreation brands, she founded Itacate Foods in 2021 after quitting her corporate job in product development.

Inspired by the indigenous Nahuatl term meaning “food for a journey”, itacate is also a phrase used commonly in Central Mexico today to describe the bundle of leftovers you may be sent home with after a family gathering. With this ethos, Itacate offers freeze-dried packages of traditional Latin dishes–like chilaquiles and sopa de lentejas–which hikers need only combine with boiling water to enjoy.  

Bringing together deep culinary heritage, functionality, and the promise of adventure, Itacate Foods gained traction quickly. “When I started making Itacate, my thought was, ‘I’ll just squirrel away at it and see how it does’,” explains Diaz. But demand quickly outpaced her ability to supply the handmade and individually freeze-dried packages, and she began eyeing a larger freeze-drying machine. “I needed to increase my capacity, but I didn’t have the funding for it.”  

A Need For Non-Traditional Lending

Diaz began to explore business loans, but because Itacate Foods was still considered a start-up, she had trouble making headway with banks.

After working with an advisor from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to analyze her financials and understand the size of the loan she would need, Diaz was eventually referred to California Capital FDC.

As a mission-based lender, the California Capital Lending Center was able to consider factors beyond those of traditional banks. Working with the California Capital team to complete her application, Diaz eventually received a loan to finance an industrial scale free-drying machine and working capital.

“It was intimidating,” says Diaz, explaining that because Itacate’s business credit was not established, the application process was more thorough than she had expected. “But it was so nice for my first time getting a business loan to do it through California Capital, because they’re so supportive and really educated me through the process.”  

Growth for Impact

With this boost to her capacity and efficiency, Diaz has increased her production by ten times, reduced her operation cost, and taken on new wholesale accounts.

“I would love for Itacate to be a household name within the category,” she says of her future goals. Moving forward, she also hopes to move her production from a rented commercial kitchen to her own space, and to lead by example as a person of color in the outdoor entrepreneurship space.

As part of outdoor recreation retailer REI’s Path Ahead Ventures program, Martha connected with other diverse up-and-coming brands, and solidified her mission of giving back to organizations that promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the outdoors. “Increasing representation is the reason for Itacate,” she says. “So the bigger we grow, the bigger the impact we can have.”    

Need an itacate to fuel your next mountain adventure? Visit itacatefoods.com/collections to shop today!

Black-Owned Business, Blog, Client Success Stories, Uncategorized

Through the Women’s Business Center, Lonje Deschamps Found Community and Confidence

During the Covid-19 lockdown, Lonje Deschamps was in a unique position to evaluate her career trajectory.  She and her family were returning to her hometown of Sacramento after several years in the Bay Area, and she was able to take some time away from her full-time job. After years in social services and nonprofits, Lonje knew that she was ready to shift her focus from a public-facing role to focusing on more administrative and operational tasks. She began assisting small business owners she was already connected with, and the idea to create her own business was formed.

 “Because of my background in social services, I am able to understand a wide variety of people’s needs,” explains Lonje. “I reflected on all of the tasks that I really enjoyed from my past jobs, and that became what LD’s Business Services encompasses.”  

Applying her background in nonprofit management, social services, and human resources Lonje helps small business clients organize and elevate their operations. She provides business owners with grant writing and research services, copywriting and marketing strategy, employee recruitment and hiring, and is also a certified Notary Public. Through this wide and evolving scope of services, Lonje acts as a “virtual assistant”, empowering entrepreneurs to focus on the elements of their business about which they are more passionate. 

Building Community

An organized and ambitious person, Lonje knew the logistical steps she needed to take when she was ready to start her own business. She acquired the proper licenses and certifications, but didn’t take the idea beyond those initial steps. Ultimately, it was the guidance and encouragement of her Women’s Business Center (WBC) counselor that prompted her to launch publicly. “My counselor showed me how focused I was, and it was great to have someone to bounce my ideas off of,” says Lonje, adding that even with her own motivation, external support was a huge benefit. “We all need support and for someone to tell us we’re on the right track.”  

With this confidence, Lonje launched her website, began marketing her services and building her client base. By maintaining her connection to the WBC, Lonje has received client referrals and built a community of likeminded women business owners. Lonje has been a regular member–and a guest speaker–at the WBC’s monthly Motivated Entrepreneur networking events, which she says has kept her engaged and inspired. “Having other women that are in varying stages of business ownership to collaborate with and talk to helps you not feel alone,” she says. “The most important thing has been the camaraderie, because I’m already a structured person. Being able to discuss issues and successes has been very helpful.” 

“It Keeps My Brain Active”

Lonje currently maintains a full-time job while operating her business, but she is excited to continue building something based off of her own vision, with total creative freedom. “My business allows me to constantly evolve and pivot,” says Lonje. “It keeps my brain active.” 

Moving forward, Lonje hopes to expand her offerings to include more training for business owners, including an online grant writing and research course, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training. “Working with the WBC has helped me be comfortable with the constant evolution of my business,” she says. “I am excited to keep growing.”   

California Capital In The News

Wells Fargo Announces Sponsorship of Financial Management Training Program Through NorCal SBDCs

SACRAMENTO, California | This week, Wells Fargo announced their sponsorship of a Financial Management Training Program for small business owners in Northern California, to be administered by Sacramento Valley Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Butte College Small Business Development Center (SBDC). California Capital FDC is the host organization of Sacramento Valley SBDC. With the combined sponsorship of $30,000, the centers will host eight cohorts of the training series (four per center) from June 2023 to May 2024. The series will be offered at no charge to businesses throughout the eight counties that the two centers serve: Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, Yuba, Butte, Tehama, Colusa, and Glenn Counties. Each cohort will receive about eight hours of training. The series will be offered in-person and online.

“The U.S. economy is powered by small businesses and Wells Fargo is committed to helping them succeed financially and strengthening the small business sector for the long term,” said Kevin Barri, Wells Fargo Region Bank President, Northern Golden State Region. “Wells Fargo’s goal is to support programs that empower as many small businesses as possible, with a strong emphasis on supporting the needs faced by diverse small business owners.”

A total of 160 small and micro-enterprise businesses are anticipated to take advantage of the program, which will cover important topics such as understanding financial statements; ratio and trend analysis; using financial tools to make good business decisions; and forecasting and budgeting as tools to improve profits. Participants will also benefit from one-on-one free advising from their respective SBDC.

For business owners with expertise in their industries, but who might be less familiar with the technical side of running a profitable business, opportunities to learn financial management strategies are crucial. With the support of Wells Fargo, the Financial Management Training Program will prepare small business owners for success and growth.

Left to Right, the photo features: 
Brian Murphy, VP & Business Growth Consultant, Pacific Region, Wells Fargo
Kären Woodruff, Senior Vice President of Philanthropy and Community Impact, Wells Fargo 
Kevin Barri, Regional Bank President, Northern Golden State Region, Wells Fargo
Sophie Konuwa, Director, Butte College SBDC 
SiewYee Lee-Alix, Director, Sacramento Valley SBDC 
Stephanie Chand, VP & Senior Business Banking Development Officer, Sacramento Commercial Banking, Wells Fargo
 
Blog, Uncategorized

Remembering Clarence Williams, California Capital FDC’s Founding President & CEO

It is with heavy hearts that the California Capital FDC staff remembers the legacy of our founding President and CEO, Mr. Clarence Williams. Clarence passed away on May 8, 2023. Clarence was the President and CEO of California Capital FDC from 1982 until his retirement in 2019, and continued to serve as Board Chair until his passing.  

Over the course of over five decades, Clarence dedicated his career to promoting racial and economic equity and justice. A trailblazer in the field of small business, community and economic development, Clarence was a recognized authority on advancing access to capital and resources for small business owners from historically  underserved communities. During his tenure, California Capital grew from a non-profit corporation dedicated to administering the California Small Business Loan Guarantee Program to a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with three vibrant technical assistance programs and a mission-based direct lending program. In addition to creating equitable underwriting practices during his time with California Capital, Clarence was also a founding Board member of the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, a longtime board member of the California Reinvestment Coalition, Sacramento Region Community Foundation, and the National Community Capital Association (now Opportunity Finance Network).

A dedicated and humble steward of California’s small business ecosystem, Clarence will also be

remembered as an inspiring and spirited leader. Throughout his career, Clarence was a trusted speaker at community events and a natural matchmaker, often fostering connections between stakeholders in civil society, elected offices, and the private sector. Indeed, Clarence was a generational visionary whose living legacy persists not only in fond remembrances, but in the work that continues to be undertaken by the organizations he built and the individuals he mentored.  

 

To be sure, Clarence will always be thought of as a dear friend and mentor to multiple generations of changemakers. In addition to his busy professional life, Clarence was also an active member of the Allen Chapel AME Church for over 50 years. Clarence will be missed by his community members and family in Sacramento, and his family in his home state of Ohio.  

Every day, California Capital FDC staff seeks to honor Clarence’s vision through our work of supporting small business owners and championing increased opportunity for underserved populations. We are grateful to have been led for so many years by such a gracious and innovative soul.  

In Clarence’s memory, donations can be made to Allen Chapel AME Church, the Sacramento Region Community Foundation or California Capital FDC-Clarence Williams Community Benefit Legacy Fund. 

California Capital News and Updates, Client Success Stories

Big Day of Giving 2023: Supporting the Future of Sacramento’s Small Businesses

As of today, early giving for Big Day of Giving 2023 is open, bringing the opportunity to support hundreds of non-profits across the Sacramento region. This year, California Capital Financial Development Corporation is proud to participate in Big Day of Giving as we celebrate our 40th anniversary. We’re raising funds that will

Melissa Muganzo-Murphy, founder of Mindy’s Kitchen

directly benefit diverse small business owners by allowing us to reach more entrepreneurs from marginalized communities with no-cost business development resources and access to capital.  

“I have worked for California Capital for over 30 years, and I am still inspired every day by the creativity and resilience of our region’s small business owners,” says Deborah Lowe Muramoto, President and CEO of California Capital. “We are looking forward to strengthening our programming to continue meeting the needs of entrepreneurs.”  

It is no secret that the past three years have been challenging for small business–but the resourcefulness of entrepreneurs is unparalleled. Taking advantage of guidance and education from organizations like California Capital, countless small business owners have pivoted their operations, accessed emergency funding and capital infusions, and even expanded.   

“The Sacramento region is full of creative, ambitious individuals,” continues Lowe Muramoto. “Being able to support their dreams and see the impacts they have in their communities makes our work so gratifying.”  

Brittney Hoffman, founder of Glass House Garden

From artists like Brittney Hoffman, who seeks to spread joy with her unique products, to community leaders like Melissa Muganzo-Murphy, who is using their business to increase access to nutritious food for under-resourced communities, small business owners are positive changemakers.  

If you are passionate about seeing entrepreneurs succeed and grow into thriving small business owners, consider supporting California Capital’s work for Big Day of Giving 2023. Your donation will allow us to continue providing no-cost business counseling and educational courses, and access-to-capital programs. Give today and remember to #ShopSmall!  

Head to cacapital.org/bdog to donate.  

Blog, Client Success Stories, Uncategorized

With Local Fresh Eats Grocery Delivery Service, Michelle Duong Matches Conscious Consumers with Regenerative Farmers

Michelle Duong, founder and CEO of Local Fresh Eats, knows firsthand what goes into environmental stewardship. Working as a conservation scientist for over 10 years at local and global organizations, Michelle developed a “big picture” perspective on humans’ relationship with Earth’s natural resources. Seeing that the largest impact on land use comes from food production, she began to seek out farms that espoused practices of regenerative agriculture–a land management philosophy that recognizes the interconnectedness of ecosystems through farming techniques that benefit biodiversity, soil health, waterways, and more. “There are farms that are already managing the natural resources on their private property, but how is it affecting their bottom line?” explains Michelle. “It’s almost like they’re making a sacrifice, and I wanted to provide market incentive and reward farmers for doing that and make it easier for consumers to find those farmers.” Michelle knew that, for regenerative practices to spread, someone would have to bridge the gap between environmentally minded producers and consumers.     

With this in mind, she founded Local Fresh Eats, a grocery delivery service that provides regular deliveries of fresh, seasonal goods to subscribers.  Michelle works directly with farmers to exercise her expertise and provide her customers with quality products and opportunities for education beyond what is commonly available.    

THE CHALLENGE 

With a clear vision for her online farmers market, and a list of farmers in the Greater Sacramento area from whom to source, Michelle began working on the technical aspects of running a business.

A typical Local Fresh Eats delivery.

As a first-time entrepreneur, Michelle knew she would need assistance from the start.  She had begun a simple business plan, but questions of choosing a legal structure, licenses, permits, and insurance needs persisted. She connected with the California Capital Women’s Business Center (WBC) and was matched with Business Counselor Prashante Bailey.  

THE GAMEPLAN  

Michelle worked with Prashante to lay the foundations of her business. With expert guidance, Michelle completed her business legal filing, worked on financial projections, developed a marketing strategy, and built a website. In November of 2022, Michelle made her first deliveries through Fresh Local Eats, and continued working with the WBC to refine her operations and marketing strategy.  

A key focus of her business strategy since launching has been to increase revenue by keeping overhead costs low. “I love that the WBC takes a holistic approach, helping in so many aspects of being an entrepreneur,” says Michelle. “It’s been essential for helping me fill in knowledge gaps and helping with overwhelm.” At Prashante’s suggestion, Michelle has forgone paying for social media advertising, raised her prices, and taken classes on marketing, taxes, and mental health.  

THE RESULTS  

Less than four months since launching Local Fresh Eats, Michelle broke even on revenue in February of 2023. Having someone with an outside perspective of what strategies and strengths to leverage has been key to growing her client base and list of vendors while keeping a close eye on her cash flow. “My husband definitely notices the before and after of talking with Prashante,” says Michelle.  “He can’t believe how much I get out of just a one-hour phone call!” 

In upcoming years, Michelle’s vision is to become a household name as Sacramento’s online farmers’ market. She hopes to make local, nutritious food accessible to families who don’t have the opportunity to attend in-person markets or otherwise rely on delivery services. “Sacramento is a great place for this type of business,” she says. “We have so much opportunity: a yearlong growing season, different scales of farms doing amazing conservation work, and an established culture of supporting local farmers.” While adding clients, Michelle is also leveraging her website blog and social media presence to educate on regenerative agriculture and other sustainability topics. With ever-increasing impact, Local Fresh Eats is on track to be an important piece of the Sacramento region’s sustainable food system.  

To learn more or become a Local Fresh Eats Client, please visit: localfresheats.com

Blog, California Capital In The News, California Capital News and Updates, Client Success Stories

Queers & Allies Fitness Opens, Bringing LGBTQ-Inclusive Gym to Sacramento

For Hayden Glenn, a sports psychologist and the co-owner of Queers & Allies Fitness, exercise has been more than a means to staying in good health.  A lifelong athlete, Hayden played multiple sports until a knee injury in college caused him to take a break. During this time, he reflected on his identity as an athlete as well as his gender identity, and decided to begin the gender transition process. While pursuing his Masters in Sports Psychology, Hayden became more involved in the community of LGBTQ athletes and learned about the experiences of Queer athletes. “What I learned was, particularly in the athletic community, there is a huge disparity in mental health–Queer athletes are more at risk of negative mental health outcomes,” he explains.  After coming out as trans, Hayden decided to combine his personal training and sports psychology coaching businesses and pivot to serving the trans population with services that would support the physical transition process (including pre- and post-op chest masculinization for female-to-male trans and non-binary folks who undergo top surgery) and address the mental experience of gender dysphoria through mental health coaching.   

THE CHALLENGE  

With a vision to create an inclusive and empowering space for trans and Queer folks to train and build mind-body alignment, Hayden began coaching clients out of his garage. The demand quickly grew beyond what the space would allow, so Hayden reflected on the direction of his business. He invited his friend, Sarah Serbic, to be a part of the project, and Queers & Allies Fitness was formed. “We knew it was important to merge Queer and straight populations, because it’s so divided,” explains Hayden. “We wanted to create a space for allies to show their support in a healthy way as well.”   

Looking to build a full-service gym with offerings beyond one-on-one training, Hayden and Sarah knew they would need to explore commercial leasing options–and that a capital infusion was a must.  

THE GAMEPLAN  

While searching for the perfect space to lease, Hayden connected with the California Capital Lending Center and began the loan application process. Working with the credit administrator and a business advisor, Hayden solidified his business plan, created realistic financial projections, and completed the rigorous work of applying for funding.  

“The process took longer than anticipated, but the biggest takeaway was the amount of support we received from everyone we worked with,” says Hayden.  

Ultimately, Queers & Allies Fitness was approved for a $75,000 loan in late 2022. With this, Hayden and Sarah were able to secure a lease in East Sacramento, purchase exercise machines and weights, build out their administrative space, and have working capital moving forward.  

THE RESULT  

Hayden and Sarah opened the doors of Queers & Allies Fitness in December of 2022, and celebrated their grand opening on March 4th. To date, the gym has 20 members, 10 of whom are personal training clients. By the end of the year, Hayden hopes to have 80 members and 30 personal training clients. In addition to growing their client base, Hayden and Sarah are building an attainable culture for populations that are sadly still marginalized in traditional gyms and athletic spaces. “I want to host a trans and non-binary powerlifting competition, and eventually, I want to have a space that could accommodate youth leagues. There are a lot of trans youth that don’t have access to sports now,” says Hayden, explaining that many young people are still faced with choosing between transitioning or playing in sports leagues. With Queers & Allies Fitness, Sacramento has become a stronger and more welcoming place.  

Queers & Allies Fitness is located at 1770 36th Street. Check out their recent feature on KCRA 3 below! 

Black-Owned Business, Client Success Stories

Janine Anderson Provides On-the-Job Skills Training to Youth with Build a Sundae Ice Cream Shop

For Janine Anderson, working with Sacramento’s underserved youth populations is more than just a passion: it’s a family legacy. Growing up, Janine’s mother, Rosalie, would often open up their home to foster youth, providing an safe space for all children–Janine included–to learn how to navigate the real world. “She was always big on making sure that we were prepared to maintain a job, navigate the workforce, and communicate effectively with supervisors,” explains Janine. In 2007, Janine and her husband, Maurice, launched LaCar’s Legacy, a nonprofit that empowers youth with employment services including resume writing, interview strategies, and conflict resolution coaching. Now, with a new for-profit endeavor, Janine is bridging the gap between securing a job and what it means to thrive in the workplace. Working primarily with neurodivergent youth, Janine is launching Build a Sundae, an ice cream shop where youth will real-world experience and acquire transferable job skills. With support from her Women’s Business Center counselor, Janine has written a business plan that has allowed her secure a lease, to hit the ground running with pop-up events, and prepare for a grand opening in 2023. 

STARTING WITH A MISSION, AND ICE CREAM  

In 2007, when Janine and her husband launched LaCar’s Legacy, their goal was to empower youth to actively participate in their communities, and represent themselves authentically. Doing workshops at community spaces across South Sacramento, Janine built on her experience growing up alongside foster youth and learned even more deeply about what young people need to thrive.  

“What we found is that, for neurodivergent youth, they need to be understood and afforded the right type of patience,” says Janine, adding that many of the youth in that population are not given the opportunity to perform to the best of their ability. “My mother didn’t put limitations on anyone, and they rose to the occasion. We wanted to keep that going.”  

As their work expanded, Janine began to imagine how LaCar’s Legacy could expand the impact of their programming beyond simply finding a job– and providing on-the-job experience was a natural next step. Proving workplace skills training in-house would ensure that teachable moments are not missed, and the youth get the most out of their employment. “We wanted to provide a place that’s inclusive, diverse and allows people the time to learn and acquire skills in an environment that allows for mistakes,” says Janine.  

When imagining what type of business could fit that need, an ice cream shop seemed like a no-brainer. In addition to providing opportunities for learning fast-paced customer service, staffing logistics and inventory management, ice cream was another way to honor the family legacy. Janine’s mother, Rosalie, loved ice cream (mint chocolate chip in particular), and Janine gained her first job skills at an ice cream shop in high school.  

SEEKING SUPPORT TO GET STARTED 

With her idea and goals in place, Janine was ready to work on the technical side of starting a business–and knew she would need support to navigate the start-up process.  

“The whole idea of a business plan was so daunting: where do you start? What is the purpose? Once you have it, what do you do with it,” explains Janine, who was directed to the Women’s Business Center by an economic development officer at the City of Rancho Cordova. She was matched with a business counselor, Prashante Bailey, who has worked with Janine to write an actionable business plan. “I chose to write a longer, more detailed plan, and it has been so helpful to have Prashante to talk things through with,” she says. “She helps me think out the process, and offers resources and guidance on areas I hadn’t thought about.”  

As she plans for the year ahead, Janine is on solid ground to launch her business. Since working with the WBC, Janine has secured a lease, created financial projections, and booked pop-up events to begin selling as Build a Sundae ahead of their grand opening.  With Build a Sundae, Janine will be honoring her mother’s legacy not just in spirit, but in practice.  

“We think of our ice cream shop as a starting space. The goal is to help them build confidence, help them to be avid in the workforce and to help them to promote on to some other careers that they may way want for themselves.”

To learn more and stay up to date on Build a Sundae’s grand opening, visit www.buildasundae.com

 

California Capital News and Updates

“It’s much more than just being optimistic” : The Importance of Mental Health for Entrepreneurs with Life Coach Asia Hilario

January 6, 2022 | Oftentimes, a new year brings with it new resolutions, and refreshed focus on personal and professional goals. For Asia Hilario, a certified Life Coach and successful mental health blogger and podcaster, the new year is also the perfect opportunity to uproot the beliefs that are keeping us in cycles of burnout and stress.

In addition to growing her own business, Ms. Hilario is the teacher of our upcoming eight-part mental health series, Preparing For Harvest, which begins January 27th. (It’s offered free of charge–click here to sign up!) We sat down with her to discuss her business journey, tips for entrepreneurs to cultivate mental health, and why the harvest is a fitting metaphor for self-love. 

*Note: this is a transcript of a longer conversation. Some comments have been edited for length or clarity* 

California Capital: How did you get your start as an entrepreneur?

Asia Hilario: I originally started as a fashion blogger after people on social media reached out asking me to share about my outfit choices. I started that blog, and it got some traction, but my heart wasn’t in it. After more people reached out suggesting I write about my philanthropy, which I had been doing for years but didn’t promote, I transitioned to a lifestyle and mental health and wellness blog. A few months after launching, one of my posts went viral and my blog was read in 160 countries. 

When more people started messaging me looking for advice, someone suggested that I become a life coach. I didn’t know people got paid to do that! So I got my certification and launched my coaching business in 2020. I was able to leave my corporate job and work on my business full-time just eight weeks after launching. 

CC: Do many clients come to you looking to make the jump to business ownership?

AH: They don’t necessarily come to me thinking they want to pursue entrepreneurship, but through the program they realize they don’t feel aligned with their current job any more. It takes a lot of bravery and healthy self-esteem to really go after what you want, and self-love is where that starts. 

CC: Why did you decide to focus on mental health as a career? 

AH: I’m a childhood abuse survivor, so with that background I grew up with a lot of self-limiting beliefs. I also have depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I firmly believe that mental health affects how we think, feel, and act, and it also helps us handle stress and make healthy choices. In regards to entrepreneurship, it’s tied to the belief that we can thrive and have success in a chosen industry. 

Once I started taking care of my mental health, my whole world changed. I think everyone could benefit from learning how to take care of their mental health. I’m also a former crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line, so it has always been a passion of mine. 

CC: Do you see common themes among your clients who are entrepreneurs? 

AH: Definitely: burnout, imposter syndrome, stress, overwhelm, feelings of inadequacy. Those are the most common themes. During Preparing for Harvest, I’ll talk about “self-concept”, which is a collection of beliefs about oneself. Many entrepreneurs don’t realize that a lot of their thoughts, actions, and beliefs are rooted in childhood, trauma, or other past experiences. 

CC: How does self-concept impact mental health? 

AH: Unless we get to the root of our self-concept, we’ll be recycling the same challenges. The people that don’t see change in burnout, etc., it’s because they’re only going surface level. They’re not digging deep enough. In terms of self care, self-concept is really big because we have to dig into what identity we’re anchored to that is keeping us from doing what’s good for us. 

Because we know what to do! It’s just getting ourselves to do it that is the challenge. 

CC: What do you wish more people knew about mental health/wellness? 

AH: I wish people knew that it’s much more than just positive thinking and being optimistic. 95% of what we do, say, think is on autopilot by our subconscious. It’s kind of scary to think that we’re not really in control. Our subconscious is our master program, so unless we reprogram we’ll just repeat the same patterns. Will power can only go so far, and just being positive doesn’t get to the root of our problems.  

I also think that people forget the brain is an organ. We think mental health is just in our heads–we don’t hold it to the same standards that we do our bodily health. When we experience something traumatic we sweep it under the rug, rather than seek the help we need to make sure we heal properly. Chronic stress hugely impacts our mental health and brain. I read recently that 72% of entrepreneurs are affected by mental health issues compared to 48% of non-entrepreneurs.

CC: Why did you choose the name “Preparing for Harvest” for your upcoming series with the Women’s Business Center? What does that concept mean to you in relation to mental health?

AH: As entrepreneurs, when we’re producing fruit that is not good in our business, do we change the branch, or do we change the soil and the environment that we’re growing these fruits in? I like that analogy because unless we uproot and change things, we’ll produce the same fruit. 

We think mental health is on the surface level, and a lot of entrepreneurs, a lot of us can be addicted to the stress and we don’t know it. I wanted to create an analogy that would show the importance of digging deep. 

Preparing for Harvest runs January 27-March 17 and is offered online, free of charge. If you are ready to dig deep and plant the seeds of mental health and business success, click here to register.

California Capital News and Updates, Client Success Stories

Through Licensed to Care- Training Program, California Dream Fund Recipient Sithumini Millawabandara Expanded Adventure Montessori STEAM Academy and Created Jobs

For Sithumini Millawabandara, business ownership has been a creative expression. While working in a preschool nearly 10 years ago, Sithumini found herself coming up with many ideas for innovation that her employer was not willing to act on. With a degree in business, Sithumini knew that she was capable of running her own preschool center–and if she wanted to carry out her creative ideas, she would have to do it on her own.  

In 2014, Sithumini opened Adventure Montessori STEAM Academy from her home. While she made the at-home business work, offering a Montessori-inspired and STEAM curriculum, Sithumini consistently searched for opportunities to expand the business to an established facility. When she found a promising facility in Natomas, she joined the second cohort of the California Capital Women’s Business Center’s Licensed to Care Training Program and began working with business consultant Danielle Marshall to work on securing the lease and opening the new facility.  

“Even with my degree in business, I learned a lot during the program,” explains Sithumini. “It made me rethink my mission and vision of my program, and how certain things should be positioned when it comes to marketing.”  

Working with Danielle Marshall for a total of 20 hours of counseling, Sithumini created an actionable business plan, which proved to be advantageous for several reasons. Being able to show a strong vision and financial projections helped Sithumini secure a lease on the space in Natomas, as well as receive a loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration which she used for the purchase of an established childcare business. Additionally, through her participation in the Licensed to Care program, Sithumini was eligible to apply for a California Dream Fund grant, which she was awarded.  

Sithumini opened Adventure Montessori STEAM Academy at its new location in Natomas (Northern Sacramento) in the fall of 2022 with a renewed focus on her creative vision for early childhood education: natural playscapes and classrooms; teaching of mindfulness activities, and cultural diversity. Since participating in the Licensed to Care program, in addition to the acquisition of another business, expansion to a larger operation space, and receiving a Dream Fund Grant, Sithumini has also created five jobs–with plans to hire more–and doubled her revenue. 

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