At the Afro-Caribbean Business Network, we believe wisdom is capital. Through our series When Elders Speak, we share conversations that help entrepreneurs ground their businesses in values that last.
Recently, we sat down with Baba Malik Yakini, a Detroit-based pioneer whose decades of leadership span food security, cooperative economics, and community empowerment. As the Executive Director of the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN), Baba Malik has overseen transformative initiatives such as the seven-acre D-Town Farm, youth development programs, and the Detroit Food Commons—home of the community-owned, Black-led Detroit People’s Food Co-op.
His message is clear: resilient businesses and communities require vision, alignment, and institution building. For Black entrepreneurs, his insights are a blueprint for both personal and organizational longevity.
Key Leadership Lessons for Black Entrepreneurial Resilience
1. Align Mission with Spiritual Purpose
True success comes when leadership decisions align with what is just, balanced, and right. Baba Malik reminds us that spiritual grounding ensures organizations stay true to their core mission.
Takeaway: Regularly ask yourself—are my products, partnerships, and operations aligned with my values and long-term destiny?
2. Transition from Soldier to General
With time, leaders must shift from frontline execution to guiding strategy, mentoring, and transferring knowledge. Baba Malik calls this the evolution from “soldier” to “seasoned general.”
Takeaway: Entrepreneurs should document their experiences and build systems for passing lessons forward. This ensures your business thrives beyond your direct involvement.
3. Value Wisdom and Foresight
Elders provide accumulated wisdom that helps avoid repeating mistakes. Their foresight is a critical compass for sustainable growth.
Takeaway: Invite experienced voices into your advisory circles. Wisdom from decades past strengthens decisions for decades ahead.
4. Practice Self-Determination (Kuji Chagalia)
From farming to food co-ops, Baba Malik stresses the importance of defining success on your own terms. External systems often push short-term gains, but self-determined strategies create lasting independence.
Takeaway: Shape business models that serve your community’s needs first, not just outside pressures.
5. Build Institutions That Outlast You
The Detroit People’s Food Co-op isn’t just about groceries—it’s about creating structures that guarantee self-reliance for generations.
Takeaway: Think beyond transactions. Build organizations, co-ops, and partnerships designed to stand long after your tenure.
In Closing
Baba Malik Yakini’s legacy teaches that leadership is about more than growth—it’s about continuity, accountability, and building institutions that strengthen future generations.
Watch the full interview to hear Baba Malik’s wisdom on leadership and Black entrepreneurial resilience:
👉 Watch on YouTube
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