For Phil Beckham III, development is not simply about buildings. It is about lineage, leadership, and responsibility.
Standing in Bronzeville, on the very corner where his family’s entrepreneurial roots were established generations ago, Beckham is doing more than constructing apartment buildings. He is continuing a family story that began long before architectural renderings and zoning approvals ever existed.
A third generation entrepreneur, Beckham grew up immersed in business as a way of life when he went on field trips on school buses with his name on them. He did not learn entrepreneurship from textbooks or seminars. He learned by watching his father move through the world with intention, discipline, and integrity. Those observations became the foundation for how he approaches both life and leadership today.
“I paid attention,” Beckham shared. “I watched how my father handled himself in business and in life. That stayed with me.”
Some of those lessons remain deeply personal and symbolic. Beckham still carries a handkerchief, a habit passed down from his father that represents preparedness, pride, and presence. Today, he models those same values for his own son, Phil Beckham IV, continuing a tradition of teaching through example rather than instruction.
At the same time, Beckham speaks with tenderness and purpose about his twin daughters, whom he adores. His work is fueled by a desire to build legacy for them. Not simply financial inheritance, but access, opportunity, and a future rooted in values.
That commitment is what anchors his continued work in Bronzeville, a community that shaped him and one he remains dedicated to uplifting. Before Beckham completed his two most recent developments, no new buildings had been erected on the South Side outside of Hyde Park in more than thirty years. His projects represent a historic shift, signaling renewed confidence in South Side development.
Yet Beckham is intentional about reframing how success is pursued.
“The path forward is not worrying about money,” he explained. “You back into the money.”
For Beckham, confidence must precede capital. Developers, particularly Black developers, must believe in their vision before external validation arrives. That internal certainty allows leaders to take calculated risks, remain grounded, and move forward with conviction even when outcomes are not guaranteed.
Throughout the conversation, Beckham emphasized his responsibility to mentor others and create opportunities for those he believes are deserving. His approach is rooted in discernment, service, and a commitment to opening doors rather than closing them.
In conversation with Coach Mo, Beckham reflects on legacy, leadership, and the responsibility that comes with building something meant to last.
In a neighborhood long recognized as a center of Black culture, intellect, and innovation, Phil Beckham III is not positioning himself as a disruptor. He is advancing a blueprint grounded in legacy and purpose.
What rises on this corner is not just a building.
It is vision made visible.
A standard being set.
And a future being built with intention.
Watch the full Chicago Defender interview with Phil Beckham III to hear his story in his own words and gain insight into the mindset behind purpose driven development.
Follow Coach Mo on Instagram at @coachMoRoberson
Follow Phil Beckham III at @philbeckham3
Follow @p3markets for continued insights on development, leadership, and legacy
Chicago Defender
Voices of Influence
