Dash of Life Blog: From the Pinnacle to the Unknown: Navigating Life After Leading DC’s Business Community
As many of you know, I served as President/CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce for 12-plus years after an amazing three-decade corporate career at IBM and Fannie Mae. The Chamber position was probably the most rewarding and my team was successful, with major accomplishments, including: • Securing numerous legislative wins for the business community• […]
Now is the Time to Step up and Support Small Businesses
Consider this: According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), only 40 percent of small businesses are profitable, and that is during “normal” economic times. During this unprecedented pandemic, thousands of people have lost their lives, and together we mourn for the families impacted so tragically. Thousands more have lost their jobs and are scraping to […]
Barbara Lang: Ethics deserve a starring role in business dealings
Ethics deserve a starring role in business dealings They created cultures of fear, deception and arrogance, and they put their own personal interests in front of all others, including their own families. They didn’t care whose lives they destroyed, using their power to conquer and destroy anyone blocking their path to money and gratification. Shockingly, […]
Barbara Lang: D.C. must flex its local economic muscle
Let’s face it. On the proverbial plane of economic development, the District of Columbia is in the middle seat fighting for elbow room with Maryland on one side and Virginia on the other. We have a history of challenging business practices that cannot compete with the tax structures and available spaces offered to the north […]
Letter to DC Council from Barbara Lang
Dear Mr. Chairman: Re: Sports Betting & the DC Lottery Contract As you know, I have a strong history advocating for small businesses in this city. As Vice President & Chief Procurement Officer at Fannie Mae for 10 years and more than 12 years as President & CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce, I […]
Reflecting on Five Years of Lang Strategies
With change comes opportunity. But the uncertainty that comes with change can often cause anxiety and even fear, yet no one I know has ever succeeded without some discomfort along the way. When I left the DC Chamber of Commerce more than five years ago, I felt some of that discomfort as I packed up […]
Creating a Culture of Women’s Empowerment Beyond March
I am a woman, and proud of it. I say that not in a defiant way, but it happens to be a fact of which I am very proud. The challenges and obstacles set before me as a minority woman throughout my life have not discouraged me, but empowered me to be not the just […]
Partnerships Are Built on Trust, Loyalty, and Difficult Conversations
Contrary to popular belief, the customer is not always right. Sure, when it comes to partnershipsand building relationships with clients, it is vital to align with their business goals and objectives.But they hired you to work with them on what is the right course of action, and that is whatrelationship management is all about.They key […]
Only You Can Determine Your Success as a Leader
2,017! That was the magic number. The DC Chamber of Commerce’s membership was stagnant. We had 1,400 members and we were bleeding. For every member brought in, we must have lost three or four. That was not a sustainable business model. I was the new President and CEO. It was my job the plug the […]
DC’s Light Shines Bright for Those That Live and Work Here
As I sat on the city bus headed to school, I knew I was in the “wrong” seat. There was no way a little black girl should betaking up space in the front of one of Jacksonville, Fla.’s, most popular modes of transportation. But I didn’t care. I hadas much right to that seat as […]