Media Kit
About AIBL
Introduction
The American Indigenous Business Leaders (AIBL) is a student-based organization designed to promote and support the American Indian and Alaska Native business student and/or entrepreneur. Future trends dictate a rising need for educated Indigenous people to assist with tribal economic development planning and strategic implementation. AIBL’s primary focus is to equip young Indigenous business leaders to lead enterprises in their own communities. AIBL does this by providing support in three key areas: leadership development at our national conference; scholarship support for post-secondary education; culturally appropriate paid internships and mentoring opportunities with corporate, tribal, and small business partners.
History
AIBL was organized in January 1994 and recognized as a 501(c)(3) in 1995 on the University of Montana’s campus in Missoula, MT as a result of AIBL’s Founder and first Executive Director Michelle Henderson’s (Assiniboine) master thesis. The original idea for AIBL evolved from concerns expressed by tribal leaders who recognized a critical need for educated and experienced tribal members to assist with tribal economic development efforts. AIBL is the only Indigenous non-profit organization solely dedicated to empowering American Indian and Alaska Native business students in the United States. AIBL programs are designed to engage students in activities that stimulate, enhance, and expand educational and leadership experiences beyond traditional academic methods. All students are encouraged to participate in AIBL regardless of race, academic major, or career objectives. AIBL’s spirit of success stems from the following four guiding principles: Education, Leadership, Experience, and Culture.
Mission
The mission of AIBL is to increase the representation of American Indians and Alaska Natives in business and entrepreneurial ventures through education and leadership development opportunities.
Vision
The American Indigenous Business Leaders (AIBL) organization is the only American Indian non-profit organization solely dedicated to empowering business students in the US. Our programs are designed to engage students in activities that stimulate, enhance, and expand educational experiences beyond traditional academic methods. AIBL’s programming is designed to empower the Indigenous spirit through business leadership in four specific areas: Education, Experience, Leadership, and Culture.
Chapters
AIBL Chapters are made up of student groups at high schools, tribal colleges (TCUs), and universities. AIBL Chapters are designed to help facilitate the overall goals of AIBL. Chapters create an environment that will promote and support the American Indian and Alaska Native business student and/or entrepreneur who will use their education and experience to help improve tribal economic environments. Chapters provide peer support, leadership development training, career and college guidance, and business networking through educational activities, community services projects, and social activities. Additionally, Chapters offer an “extended-family” support system to help students facilitate the transition of being away from home while attending school.
AIBL Chapter members become part of a broad network of Indigenous students and professionals where they can meet new students, make connections, and build relationships. AIBL membership includes peer support groups and networking providing academic, social, and emotional support that can help individual members with navigating the challenges of completing a degree.
Programs
Leadership Development
AIBL’s National Leadership Conference is designed to give Indigenous students and professionals access to relevant business information and expertise, offering a variety of activities geared specifically to enhance and expand educational experiences beyond what is taught through traditional academic methods. Students compete for prizes in Business Plans, Community Projects, and Elevator Pitch competitions. Our students participate in culturally appropriate financial literacy and business plan training to give them practical skills to become successful business leaders in our Native communities.
Scholarships
AIBL offers scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students through a fund managed by the Native Forward Scholars Fund. The AIBL Founder’s Scholarship was created to help our high school students continue their education after graduation.
Internships
The Indigenous Scholars Internship Program gives AIBL students the valuable experience they need to put into practice the ideas and concepts they are learning in school. The summer program lasts 10 weeks and equips students with the soft skills necessary to be successful in any business setting. The interns are coached on how to write a resume, work through workplace conflict, and fine-tune their elevator pitch. The program helps with transportation, rent, clothing, and living expense stipends so students can focus on their internship.
Mentoring Program
The Mentoring Program provides training, mentoring, and networking opportunities–empowering Indigenous youth with business leadership skills and experience to lead economic endeavors within their communities. The program strengthens professional skill sets and personal resilience by incorporating a holistic and culturally responsive approach to business leadership.
Why Partner
You can support our Indigenous student community so they may pursue their professional dreams. Many Indigenous students do not have the resources and equitable opportunities to graduate college and transition into the workforce. Partners like you can help our students achieve their goals by contributing to their academic and professional success. AIBL students are problem solvers with diverse background and unique skill sets. AIBL students are leaders within their communities who show up every day determined to make a difference. By supporting our AIBL program, you are helping Indigenous talent develop and expand their education and experience in a way that will change Indian Country in the most positive ways.
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Quotes
Prairie Blount
- Since 2019, the number of participating chapters and students has doubled.
- The organization began when tribal leaders raised concerns that young people weren’t accessing real-world job experience. Students would go away to school, get a degree and come back to the reservations, but they would have no real work experience or practical knowledge. So when people go home with a marketing degree and three years of internship work, it gives them a larger toolset to bring to the table.
- Large corporations are really starting to take notice that there’s so much value to be found in students who are Indigenous and come from a different background,” she said. “(Indigenous students) are able to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions people wouldn’t normally think of because they’re used to being creative. Normal solutions may not have worked for them in the past.
Mentors
- I volunteered to Mentor with AIBL because I was moved by a presentation on the program by one of my colleagues who is involved in our company’s Native and Indigenous Peoples group.
- I volunteered to Mentor with AIBL because I wanted to be more purposeful about sharing my experiences and network with the Indigenous community.
- I volunteered to Mentor with AIBL because I want to give back to the community. I want to learn about and from people with different backgrounds than my own and share my lessons and expertise with others.
- I volunteered to Mentor with AIBL because I did not have a mentor in college and would have loved to have experienced this first-hand. Also, very passionate about helping talented people get a “leg up” in their goals.
- I volunteered to Mentor with AIBL because I am Native Hawaiian, very active in DEI, and feel very strongly about mentoring. The opportunity to mentor a Native American student was very exciting, especially when I could have a mentee located close to where I live.
- As a Mentor, I appreciated the intelligence, poise, and maturity of my mentee and his willingness to share his perspectives and ask questions based on real issues he was facing.
- As a Mentor, I appreciated my mentee’s openness to have a two-way conversation, his curiosity and his already-mature outlook on professional growth.
- One thing I loved about the Mentoring Program was the give and take of the conversations. There were obvious moments where I could tell he was appreciative of my counsel and I was also able to gather take-aways from his sharing.
- One thing I loved about the Mentoring Program was AIBL’s communication and organization.
- It was very seamless and that was much appreciated.
- One thing I loved about the Mentoring Program was getting connected with someone so different from myself in a mutual-learning relationship. I learned a lot from my mentee and was also pleasantly surprised by how much we had in common.
Students
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AIBL has allowed me to look towards my future career and educational goals. Attending the AIBL National Conference gives me the chance to introduce my Chapter, meet professionals, attend business trainings, and competitions. AIBL has provided me with professional guidance, business knowledge, and family. -Frederika Thomas-
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I 100% owe my entire professional development to AIBL and the resources I have accumulated.
- AIBL gives students opportunities they wouldn’t typically get at their institutions. I enjoy how much passion goes into the programs, retreats, and conferences.
- I love working with AIBL because it taught me so much and I’ve met such an amazing group of individuals that I know will apply change to their community!
- I appreciate AIBL because they prioritize ethical practices and promote diversity. They also support growth and development such as the mentoring program.
- I appreciate AIBL because I 100% owe my entire professional development to AIBL and the resources I have accumulated.
- I appreciate AIBL because it gives students the opportunity to gain resourceful knowledge which is very empowering as a young adult.
- I appreciate AIBL because they are relevant and focused on Native people. They make a path and open doors for Native people and students.
- I appreciate AIBL because they are relevant and focused on Native people. They make a path and open doors for Native people and students.
- I appreciate AIBL because it provides teachings on different skill sets. It offered friendships and connections that will assist my personal and professional life. AIBL does not just focus on business life but also focuses on mental health and healing as this can affect life in my future career.
- I appreciate AIBL because they are greatly understanding with everything and they put their mentees first. Providing assistance and help during and even after the mentorship program.
- I appreciate AIBL because I am driven, inspired, and humbled by the opportunities put before myself and the others I was able to experience this journey with. I hope to repay them by integrating everything I’ve learned into my lifestyle.
- I appreciate AIBL because it has provided me with so many new open doors. The team really cares and values the students and it is felt.
- I appreciate AIBL because I have made connections with professionals and peers who have pushed me to be a better student while inspiring me to be a better version of myself.
Mentoring Program
- The Mentoring Program has given me the skills to not only be a good employee but to be my own boss and start my own business, or be an entrepreneur.
- The Mentoring Program has given me the skills to put myself out there more, meet new people, strengthen my leadership skills, and manage my stress in a healthier way.
- The Mentoring Program has given me the skills to become a more disciplined, respectful, organized, understanding and inspiring leader in my everyday work and life journey.
- The Mentoring Program has given me the skills to network and reach out to opportunities and people in order to assist in my career path. Not only have I gained professional skills, but also learned how to go through life with the knowledge of mental health.
- The Mentoring Program has given me the skills to help strengthen my ability to allow my culture be represented equally as my knowledge.
- Since participating in the Mentoring Program, I notice I’m able to speak up in professional situations that revolve around my professional and personal values. I talk differently to people, whether it be beneficial to my career path, or just to learn how to interact with other people.
- Since participating in the Mentoring Program, I notice I’m setting more goals, taking up responsibility, choosing my actions carefully, and taking time to recover and heal my holistic self.
- Since participating in the Mentoring Program, I notice I’m more confident in my ability to network and connect with new people.
- Since participating in the Mentoring Program, I notice I’m a lot more confident in my ability to do certain things that I struggled with before such as setting boundaries or asking for help when needed.
- I appreciate all of the information, experiences, friendships, and connections. This is a great opportunity for people who are willing to strengthen their abilities in order to benefit not only their personal lives but career paths and goals. The support and friendships I made will stick and be a prominent part of my journey.
- The AIBL Mentoring Program has given me skills to become a leader, that leadership is not a status but a service to others and skills to have professional knowledge and training for my career path.
- The AIBL Mentoring Program has given me skills that I will never forget and the confidence to believe that I am worthy.
- The AIBL Mentoring Program has been a real experience. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I feel like I can take these leadership skills and apply them to myself. I hope to one day do the same to inspire and guide future generations of Indigenous individuals just as AIBL as done with me.
- This Mentorship Program was the most beneficial program I have taken part in throughout my career. I’ve learned so much practical information that I can actually apply to my industry and further my career. I am truly grateful for this experience in developing my skills as an Indigenous Business Leader.
Indigenous Scholars Program
- I met many successful people during this experience who influenced me to continue to be an educated warrior… It’s frightening to be involved in a global pandemic while trying to focus on growth, but I learned that I can and will succeed through any obstacle that I face. – Brittany Robles, Salish Kootenai College
- This experience overall meant discovering more about myself and growing as a young professional. Without this opportunity, I may not have been faced with the same challenges to overcome. I grew in more ways that I thought possible and learned skills that I can’t learn in school. – Emily Barrett, Northeastern State University
- I was blessed to have this experience. It was my first internship and it shed light on what I need to work on as an individual. Someday I hope to create my own program to help Native youth gain work experience & job skills. – Cody Campbell, University of Montana
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Statistics
Overall
42 Chapters
The organization serves between 400 and 500 high school, university and tribal college students each year and has 42 chapters across the country.
Tremendous Growth
Only 11% of Native Americans obtain Bachelor’s degrees and 6% obtain Graduate level degrees. AIBL aims to provide Indigenous youth with the resources, support, and work experience necessary to improve these statistics. As a direct result of completing our internship program, our 2020 cohort of students reported tremendous growth.
Mentoring Program 2022-2024
Proficient Growth
As a direct result of completing our Mentoring Program, our students reported proficient growth in leadership skills and concepts related to career building, professional excellence, and personal resilience.
100%
100% of participants liked the retreat curriculum workbook.
92%
92% of participants agreed the leadership skills activities were engaging.
96%
96% of participants agreed that they learned something from the leadership skill activities.
Indigenous Scholars 2017-2020
Expanding Opportunities
As a direct result of completing our Internship Program, our 2020 cohort of students reported tremendous growth in skills like adaptability, leadership, and navigating workplace culture and communication. They’ve gained work experience, created relationships, and greatly expanded their number of potential opportunities.
22%
40%
50%
100%
New Pathways. 100% of our students reported that their internship experience helped them to confidently determine their desired career paths.
100%
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Logo Variations
Primary
Secondary
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Color Palette
#000000
#63170d
#9e210e
#cd2327
#c98b82
#4e4f48
#989998
#f8f8f8
#2c2d28
(Mentoring Program Color)
Typography
Now Bold: headline
Suukar: headline
Nunito: body text
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Images
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Staff Bios
Prairie Bighorn Blount
Prairie Bighorn Blount
Prairie Bighorn grew up on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in eastern Montana and is an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Sioux Tribe. She graduated from Rocky Mountain College, with a bachelor’s degree in business, and from the University of Montana, with a master’s degree in business administration. While she was in college, she was an active AIBL chapter member and also worked for the National AIBL office during her graduate studies.
Before joining the AIBL team, she worked in Washington DC, providing accounting and contract management services to help support economic development within American Indian communities. She has also served as the comptroller for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe in Montana and worked for an auditing firm specializing in governmental compliance.
In 2011, she was a recipient of the National Center for American Indian Economic Development’s 40 Under 40 Awards. This prestigious award recognizes 40 emerging American Indian leaders who have demonstrated leadership, initiative, and dedication and made significant contributions in business and their communities. In her spare time, she enjoys running, snowboarding, reading, starting new businesses, and hanging out with her family.
Tessa Sayers
Tessa Sayers
Tessa Sayers, Turtle Mountain Chippewa, is a poet, artist, trauma-informed somatic yoga teacher, and holistic health enthusiast. She is the owner and designer of Soul Curiosity, inspiring self-healing through art and storytelling through the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual elements of the Medicine Wheel. Her woodland floral beadwork is featured in the permanent collection of the Portland Art Museum. She has a B.A. in Sociology focusing on Native American studies from Western Washington University. As Co-director of the Native American Mentoring Program at WWU, she tutored and mentored youth on the Lummi Reservation. After moving to Salt Lake City, she obtained an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology at the University of Utah that supported her desire to be a counselor at NAYA ECA, a Native American high school in Portland, Oregon. Tessa transitioned to the Nike World Headquarters at Nike N7, working alongside Sam McCracken for 6.5 years in program, product, merchandising, and brand roles. Currently, she is the director of Marketing and Program Development for the American Indigenous Business Leaders. In 2022, she was a recipient of the National Center for American Indian Economic Development’s 40 Under 40 Award. She is also a founding board member of Women Who Rise. Tessa lives in the country with her husband, two dogs and 9 chickens.
Shabrie Perico
Shabrie Perico
Shabrie Perico, Fort Sill Apache Tribe, was raised in Lawrence, KS and currently resides in Kansas City, MO. She holds a M.A. in Native American Studies from the University of Oklahoma and a B.A. in Indigenous and American Indian Studies from Haskell Indian Nations University. Shabrie has worked throughout Indian Country to build collaborative relationships and explore, understand, address, and bring awareness to the social, health, and wellness issues that impact Indigenous communities. Before joining the AIBL team, she worked in Seattle, WA for an Indigenous and woman owned consulting firm providing contract and project management services to support health and wellness efforts within Native communities. She has also served as a researcher at the University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research. Currently, she serves as the Program and Marketing Associate Manager for the National American Indigenous Business Leaders.
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Social Links
Instagram
@NationalAIBL
Facebook
@NationalAIBL
LinkedIn
@NationalAIBL
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