Meet Malique Banks | SBE/LBE Liaison and Supplier Diversity Expert

We had the good fortune of connecting with Malique Banks and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Malique, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had a unique and challenging set of experiences entering the industry that I am in. I work mostly in small/local/diverse supplier (disadvantaged businesses) engagement and economic development. I have worked jobs where I have conducted empirical studies of the utilization of disadvantaged businesses for contract owners like state and municipal governments. I have also worked for contract owners to strategize how they can increase their economic impact by utilizing disadvantaged businesses.

Multiple factors such as the desperate desire to work for myself, utilizing my unique skillsets, and wanting to make a difference were the deciding factors for starting my business.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Equity Power Consulting (EPC) is a consulting group that brings industry leading best practices around procuring local/small/diverse suppliers (businesses). What we try to do is connect businesses to opportunities provided by public or private entities. We do this by providing our clients with services like disparity studies, social program development, outreach strategies, and policy advising. What sets us apart from other consultants in this industry is that we bring innovative approaches to our clients.

As of right now, I am excited to keep grinding at the opportunities that are ahead. I am very hopeful of this business and I can see a bright future for it.

Starting this business wasn’t easy. Yes, on paper a consultancy of my size is easy to start administratively. However, it takes years to develop the resources and connections to make this a viable business. It took years of mentorship and learning from people who have done what I have to overcome and expedite the knowledge I have on contracting with public and private entities.

Of the many lessons that I have learned, there are two that stand out to me the most. First, is being persistent. This is still challenging to me but I was always used to trying to be polite and wait for peoples response. Since my first year I have gotten better at (politely) bugging people. Second, is that every opportunity that I don’t engage in is an opportunity missed. I can’t score a point if I don’t play the game right?

I want the world to know that there is a seat for everyone at the table. Everyone can eat. There is so many opportunities out there that we throw away or provide to the same people over and over again because “thats just how things are”. We can change that.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love Oakland, but I know many people are scared of it these days. So I would want to show them the side of Oakland that does not get a lot of attention. I think we would start the day with a lovely hike in the San Joaquin Miller Park and enjoy some fresh air amongst the redwoods. We would go to one of my favorites for a light brunch at Fire Brand downtown. Next, we could go cruise piedmont do some thrift shopping. Maybe checkout a movie at the New Parkway theatre, a employee owned/community based movie theatre. For dinner we would go to this new restaurant I have been obsessed with lately called Joes Modern Thai. Depending on the night we could go checkout whats happening at the lo-Fi bar downtown where they spin chill vinyl records.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There is multiple people that I can think of. So many have been mentors and advocates of my professional growth. My mother, Jeanne McCoy has been my #1 advocate even before I decided to take this journey. Even if I did not know it at the time, my mother taught me so many useful lessons on running a business from when I was a child to today.

Website: Equitypowerconsulting.com

Instagram: The_Liquey_Faucet

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malique-banks/

Image Credits
Headshot by Liam Stewart