A BLC2024 panel discussion with Karla Trotman, Brigitte Daniel-Corbin, and Jessica Johnson-Cope, moderated by Dr. Deloris Thomas (Photo Credit: Facebook).
The 2025 Business and Leadership Conference (BLC2025) isn’t just another networking event—it’s a movement.
This free two-day gathering, held at Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park (7600 W Roosevelt Road), is designed to equip entrepreneurs, business owners and anyone looking to take their careers to the next level with the tools to scale their ventures, build generational wealth, and transform their communities.
Scheduled for March 21-22, the conference is expected to draw 3,000 in-person attendees and many more online, offering real-world insights from top business minds and faith-driven leaders.
At the center of it all is Dr. Bill Winston, the world-renowned pastor, entrepreneur, and founder of the nationally accredited Joseph Business School (JBS). JBS organizes this conference, integrating biblical principles with practical business strategies to create a unique platform for economic empowerment.
In a conversation with The Chicago Defender, JBS President Dr. Deloris Thomas spoke about the impact of BLC2025, the role of faith in entrepreneurship, and the importance of thinking big.
The Mission: Ending Poverty Through Entrepreneurship
For Dr. Thomas, economic empowerment is personal.
“I was born and raised in Jamaica by a single mom,” she said. “I saw how she groomed me and my brother to achieve things that, within our environment, might have seemed impossible.”
That experience and faith fueled her mission to create economic opportunities for underserved communities.
“When you look at wealth trajectories, many who achieve financial goals do so through entrepreneurship. It drives a healthy economy,” said Dr. Thomas. “For all those reasons, I have been committed to this cause for a number of years. I would say, decades.”
The Joseph Business School: A Model for Success
JBS isn’t just about theory. It provides entrepreneurs with real-world strategies to build sustainable businesses.
“We’ve helped over 50 entrepreneurs reach the million-dollar revenue mark,” Dr. Thomas said. “It’s about recognizing that with God, all things are possible—but also equipping people with the right knowledge, market insights, and financial literacy.”
JBS partners with organizations like the Small Business Development Center and APEX Accelerator, helping entrepreneurs access government and corporate contracts. The school also emphasizes staying ahead of market trends to avoid stagnation.
“If we start businesses without innovation or understanding market shifts, we become obsolete quickly,” Dr. Thomas explained. “We work with our entrepreneurs to make sure they become knowledgeable of not only market and economic trends, but that they have information to understand their target market, the importance of keeping good records to develop a plan to grow and for it to be an agile and adaptable plan.”
Scaling Up: Why Growth Matters
A key focus of BLC2025 is business scalability—taking a venture beyond survival into sustainable, long-term success.
“A lot of Black and Brown entrepreneurs are engaged in ‘sustenance-based’ entrepreneurship—replacing a job income rather than building a job-creating enterprise,” Dr. Thomas said. “At this conference, we want to shift that mindset.”
Speakers will discuss leveraging technology, accessing venture capital, and structuring businesses for exponential growth. A highlight is the venture capital pitch competition, where investors actively seek scalable ideas to fund.
“We often hear, ‘I don’t have access to capital.’ Well, we’re bringing investors directly to entrepreneurs at this conference.”
Tapping into Billion-Dollar Opportunities
The conference will also spotlight leading business executives from various industries.
The event will feature Dia Nichols, president of the Illinois Division for Advocate Health, which manages over 11 hospitals.
“They decided to invest over $1 billion on the South Side of Chicago,” Dr. Thomas noted.
Other featured speakers include Jamaican-born billionaire Trisha Bailey and Craig Williams, president of Nike’s global geographies and marketplace.
“The conference is going to be packed with tons of workshops and main speakers who will transform your thinking and, I believe, your pocketbook for the better,” Dr. Thomas said.
Faith and Business: A Powerful Combination
Dr. Thomas points to biblical examples of bold, strategic thinking for those who struggle to reconcile faith with business success.
“Joseph, our namesake, had a vision that helped preserve an entire economy,” she said. “During the years of plenty, he stored resources to sustain people during famine. That’s an example of thinking big and preparing for the future.”
She also highlighted how faith drives resilience in moments of uncertainty.
“Our founder, Dr. Bill Winston, led our church to financial independence while other churches were closing their doors,” she said. “Faith allows us to see beyond circumstances and take bold steps forward.”
Closing the Wealth Gap
The call for economic empowerment for the Black community is urgent. A 2024 study reported that the median net worth of Black households in Chicago is virtually zero, while for white families, it’s around $210,000.
“That is exactly why this conference is important,” Thomas noted.
Friday’s sessions will focus on financial literacy, digital currency, and developing a millionaire mindset. Experts will break down the “pyramid of wealth”—a step-by-step approach to financial stability and generational wealth.
“We’ve seen people go from public aid to becoming multi-millionaires,” Dr. Thomas said. “We’re offering this knowledge for free because we’re serious about closing the wealth gap.”
The Challenge: A Call to Action
Dr. Thomas issued a challenge to those considering BLC2025: attend.
“The program is free. The value of what we’re offering costs people hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. And we’re offering it free so that we don’t have to stay paralyzed in a state of lack,” she said. “We’re very serious about eradicating poverty and closing the wealth gap. We can only offer it, but people have to make the decision that they’re ready to change their life.”
Dr. Thomas added, “And if they are, I believe we’ll meet them there, and their lives will be forever changed.”
For More Information
The 2025 Business and Leadership Conference (BLC2025), presented by Dr. Bill Winston, will take place on March 21-22, 2025, at Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park, IL (7600 W Roosevelt Road).
This free two-day event provides entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals with essential strategies for business growth, financial empowerment, and wealth-building.
🔹 Location: Living Word Christian Center, Forest Park, IL
🔹 Dates: March 21-22, 2025
🔹 Cost: Free (Registration Required)
🔹 To Register: blc.billwinston.org
For the latest updates and speaker announcements, visit blc.billwinston.org.
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