Oprah Winfrey, T.D. Jakes, and Industry Leaders Converge in Dallas for Record-Breaking 2025 Good Soil Forum Presented by Wells Fargo

At the heart of the Forum, the $500K Seed Capital Pitch Competition, presented by Wells Fargo, empowered a new wave of entrepreneurs with equity-free funding to grow and scale their businesses.

The 2025 Good Soil Forum, presented by Wells Fargo, concluded in Dallas this weekend with resounding success, as over 2,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders gathered at the AT&T Performing Arts Center from June 12th through 14th for one of the nation’s most transformative small business events.

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Winners of the 2025 Good Soil Forum Capital Seed Pitch Competition, presented by Wells Fargo, pictured with Chairman T.D. Jakes and Michael Martino, Head of Customer Growth Segments, Consumer, Small & Business Banking at Wells Fargo – Photo credit: @ExclusiveAccess.net

Global icon Oprah Winfrey joined T.D. Jakes, Founder of the Good Soil Movement, for a powerful fireside conversation that anchored the three-day event. The three day event boasted a dynamic lineup of speakers, including Operation HOPE Founder John Hope Bryant; fashion designer Jerry Lorenzo; financial educator Wallstreet Trapper; Camille Rose Founder and CEO Janell Stephens; Founder of CURLS and Huzzy Smart Sips, Mahisha Dellinger; artist and entrepreneur David Banner; and Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole Hayes—who shared insights on building generational wealth, securing funding, scaling businesses, and leading with purpose. Together, they reinforced the Forum’s mission to close opportunity gaps for underserved and undercapitalized entrepreneurs.

This year’s theme, The Transformation Agenda, came to life through dynamic panels, hands-on workshops, high-impact networking, and the marquee moment—the $500,000 Seed Capital Pitch Competition, presented by Wells Fargo. Entrepreneurs from across the country competed for equity-free funding to grow their ventures and drive community impact. Financial technology platform, Hello Alice was also onsite, providing small business owners with valuable resources and guidance to access capital and scale their ventures.

The competition concluded with the announcement of this year’s standout winners — each recognized for their bold ideas, strong business potential, and commitment to driving meaningful change:

2025 Seed Capital Competition Winners

• 1st Place – $200,000
  Rozalynn Goodwin, Confidence by GaBBy Goodwin — Columbia, South Carolina
• 2nd Place – $100,000
  Kia-Shun Voltz, Shampoo Time — Red Oak, Texas
  + $50,000 Dallas Community Award
• 3rd Place – $75,000
  Paden Sickles, SickFit — Arlington, Texas

The judging panel included the following leaders:

• Michael Martino, Head of Customer Growth Segments, Consumer, Small & Business Banking, Wells Fargo
• Dr. K.L. Allen, Chancellor, Western Governors University
• Elizabeth Gore, Co-Founder & President, Hello Alice
• Ansley Carlisle, Investor, Mark Cuban Companies

“For too long, entrepreneurs—especially those from undercapitalized communities—have been left without the support and access they need to thrive,” said T.D. Jakes. “The Good Soil Forum is about more than ideas—it’s about action. We’re convening power to ensure today’s dreamers have the capital, mentorship, and networks to turn their visions into sustainable enterprises.”

“Good Soil Forum delivers much needed resources and opportunities to aspiring businesses looking to grow and thrive,” said Kristy Fercho, head of Financial Inclusion at Wells Fargo. “Wells Fargo is proud to support initiatives that continue to foster innovation and equip entrepreneurs with essential tools to succeed in their journey forward.”

The Good Soil Movement—now 26,000+ members strong—continues its mission to help one million entrepreneurs reach $1M in revenue within the next decade. Since its inception, the movement has awarded nearly $1 million in capital, cultivated a thriving ecosystem of founders, and championed the belief that with the right soil, every idea has the potential to grow.

Stand Together Foundation, part of the Stand Together philanthropic community, was also onsite at the 2025 Good Soil Forum, supporting community-driven change and backing social entrepreneurs working closest to the challenges.

“Stand Together is proud to partner with the Good Soil Movement to support a growing community of principled entrepreneurs,” said Brian Hooks, chairman and CEO, Stand Together. “There is no limit to what people can accomplish when they have the opportunity and support required to bring their ideas to life. Good Soil is flipping the script to show the tremendous value that can be created when we stop seeing people as problems to be solved and start seeing them as opportunities to invest in.”

Impact partners included presenting sponsor Wells Fargo, supporting partner, the Stand Together Foundation, impact partners Hello Alice, Lemonade Day, The T.D. Jakes Foundation, and Western Governors University, and media partner, iHeart Media.

For more information or to join the movement, visit www.goodsoilforum.com and follow @goodsoilforum for updates.

About The Good Soil Movement:
Good Soil Movement empowers entrepreneurs by providing networking opportunities, resources, and solutions for growing and scaling businesses. With a mission to help one million entrepreneurs generate $1 million in revenue over the next ten years, Good Soil is fostering economic stability and generational wealth. Since its inception, the movement has grown to a thriving network of over 26,000 members, equipping small business owners with tangible tools for success. Every conversation plants a seed for growth, turning every moment into an opportunity to bloom. Learn more at www.goodsoilforum.com. Follow @goodsoilforum on IG for updates.

About Hello Alice:
Hello Alice is a financial technology company that provides access to capital, connections, and education to over 1.5 million entrepreneurs. Through data-driven business plans, Hello Alice delivers personalized recommendations that drive profitable solutions between small businesses and give entrepreneurs access to the resources they need to grow. In turn, our business health engine for banks and enterprise business services helps corporations increase engagement and transactions with small businesses. The result is more money in the pockets of small businesses and the brands that serve them. Founded by Carolyn Rodz and Elizabeth Gore, Hello Alice remains steadfast in its mission to ensure that every small business owner has the resources to thrive and live their dream. For more information visit: HelloAlice.com

About Stand Together Foundation:
Stand Together Foundation is dedicated to empowering individuals to reach their full potential through community-driven change. We are building a movement of social entrepreneurs who believe in people, work with individuals closest to the problem, and unite with anyone to do right. Through innovations that inspire Americans to help each other, they are building stronger, safer communities where all people can learn, contribute, and live lives of meaning. Stand Together Foundation is part of the Stand Together philanthropic community. Learn more at StandTogetherFoundation.org.

In 2023, Pastor T.D. Jakes launched the Good Soil Movement with a mission to “plant seeds” of ideas and growth in minority businesses owners. For two years, the longtime entrepreneur and pastor—who has plans to retire as senior pastor of Potter’s House—has carried out this mission by hosting the annual Good Soil Forum at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. The weekend-long conference is headlined by a pitch competition, similar in structure to Shark Tank.

On June 14, three entrepreneurs were awarded a total of $425,000 to help grow their businesses. Two of the three founders run DFW-based businesses, Shampoo Time and SickFit.

The pitch competition featured seven finalists and each was given 5 minutes and 30 seconds to pitch their companies. They were allotted three minutes to answer questions from the judges. The judging panel included leaders from Wells Fargo, Mark Cuban Cos., Western Governors University, and Hello Alice.

Taking home the grand prize of $200,000 was a mother-daughter duo who run South Carolina-based Gabby Bows. At the age of seven, Gabby Goodwin, alongside her mother Rozalynn Goodwin, created the first patented double-face, double-snap hair barrette. Now a teenager, the CEO has sold more than 1 million bows through her website, Amazon, and Walmart and Target’s e-commerce storefronts.

The $200,000 investment will be used to help get Gabby Bows into 876 Claire’s storefronts this fall. “We were revived in our faith to believe in our business and our dreams,” Rozalynn Goodwin said following her win.

Coming in second place, earning a total of $100,000—plus an additional $50,000 for winning the Dallas Host Award—was Shampoo Time, a Dallas-based beauty brand. It manufactures shampoo mats for babies, toddlers, and children. Founder and CEO Kia-Shun Voltz plans on using the funding to expand Shampoo Time’s haircare line to include new products such as grease and leave-in conditioner.

In 2020, Voltz said she launched Shampoo Time after realizing just how much anxiety children and their parents had on hair-wash days. What started as a $200 investment has now spread across 16 countries and generated $2 million in lifetime equity. “I lived the problem, developed the solutions, and proved their demand. Now, we are planting seeds into some good soil so that we can grow,” Voltz said during her pitch.

Another Dallas-based brand, SickFit, took home the third-place prize of $75,000. United States military veteran Paden Sickles created the durable, supportive socks after spending 11 years on her feet as an engineer officer in the U.S. Army. Launched in 2021, the compression sock brand is designed for people who live on their feet including athletes, first responders, and soldiers. SickFit has sold over 200,000 pairs of socks, and is worn by Olympians, WNBA players, and more.

Sickles plans on using the funding to advance product development, specifically creating a sensory sock for kids with autism. “We’re not just solving. We’re not just bridging a gap. We’re solving a human problem on how people work, compete, and live,” Sickles said.

The other competing finalists included Lamana Ballard, CEO and founder of hormonal healthcare brand FloEver Health, Joseph Hamilton, founder of training football company 4 Second Football, M.T. Strickland, CEO and co-founder of AI-workout platform Metric Mate, and Orleatha Smith, co-founder of coffee substitute drink brand Sip Herbals.

Prior to the pitch competition, the three-day event included workshops, panels, and keynote presentations that featured Oprah Winfrey, T.D. Jakes, and Pinky Cole. The Good Soil Movement is looking to expand its reach beyond Dallas, bringing the forum to more U.S. cities.

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The T.D. Jakes Foundation (TDJF), with funding from Wells Fargo, proudly announces more than $9 million in grants to 13 organizations across the United States. This funding marks the next phase of a transformative 10-year, up to $1 billion collaboration aimed at empowering communities and driving lasting change.

Building on an initial $9 million philanthropic investment announced in 2024, which funded 16 organizations, this new cycle reaffirms TDJF’s commitment to economic empowerment through innovative solutions. These initial grants created measurable impact by supporting financial literacy programs, affordable housing projects, and career development opportunities, among other initiatives. This second round of funding seeks to strengthen and expand that legacy.

“We are deeply committed to supporting organizations that are making tangible differences in communities,” said Kelley Cornish, President and CEO, T.D. Jakes Foundation. “Through this partnership with Wells Fargo, we are investing in innovative solutions that align with our mission to promote financial inclusion, educational access and workforce readiness, and community transformation and well-being. This milestone is a testament to the power of collaboration and our shared vision for a brighter future.”

“We believe philanthropy can be a catalyst for positive change,” said Darlene Goins, head of philanthropy and community impact at Wells Fargo. “With these grants, we are excited to work with the T.D. Jakes Foundation to expand the impactful work and capacity of local and national organizations that focus on economic empowerment and community transformation.”

This second $9 million in funding is more than a continuation—it’s a bold statement of the T.D. Jakes Foundation’s belief that access to opportunity can change the trajectory of communities for generations to come.

Organizations that are receiving grants:

• Wiley University – $1,500,000
• Develop property near campus for homeownership, entrepreneurship, and integrated learning experiences.
• Paul Quinn College – $1,500,000
• Address housing, transportation, and food insecurity for students.
• Morehouse College – $1,500,000
• Transform mental health services on campus.
• 2025 International Leadership Summit – $1,500,000
• Hosted by the T.D. Jakes Group, empower leaders worldwide by offering workshops, keynotes, and panel discussions focused on leadership, innovation, and social impact.
• Lightship Foundation – $500,000
• Enable entrepreneurs to raise venture capital and scale their businesses.
• Power52 Foundation – $500,000
• Engage 200 community members in educational workshops on energy and disaster preparedness.
• Kingdom Cares Center – $500,000
• Nurture small businesses with mentorship and programs in business planning, financial management, marketing, legal compliance, and more.
• Bonton Farms/Grocery Connect – $500,000
• Improve health outcomes and empower the community by teaching essential online skills and expanding access to broader resources.
• United MegaCare – $500,000
• As part of T.D. Jakes Group, it will host events supporting food security in local communities.
• Joint Center – $500,000
• Develop a long-term plan for economic mobility that can be executed at the community level.
• Operation Hope – $450,000
• Combine policy analysis with community engagement to elevate the national conversation on economic empowerment and drive policy solutions.
• Milken Institute – $250,000
• Offer an intensive educational course, industry conferences, as well as competitive internships and professional development.
• Green Teen Summit – $100,000
• Prepare a new generation of leaders by equipping them with essential workforce readiness skills in a growing economy.

About T.D. Jakes Foundation

The T.D. Jakes Foundation, founded in 2020, is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion, educational access and workforce readiness, and community transformation and well-being in communities. Through innovative programs, the Foundation creates pathways to economic mobility, including affordable housing, financial education, and workforce training. Our collaborative efforts enhance community well-being by promoting access to health services, supportive environments, and comprehensive support systems. Guided by our founder’s vision, we connect underserved populations with career opportunities and help corporations build diverse, skilled talent pools. For additional information visit: https://tdjfoundation.org/.

Morris Brown College received a huge surprise from Pastor T.D. Jakes, during its 2025 commencement ceremony after he announced a donation of $100,000, Atlanta News First reported.

The Potter’s House leader made the pledge towards the end of his moving speech geared toward resilience, legacy, and leadership, securing payment for more than 150 workforce certification exams that will help students with credentials in high-demand fields. “The surprise announcement underscores a key theme from his commencement address: That legacy is not what we inherit but what we invest forward,” a Potter’s House representative said in a statement.

The HBCU’s commencement ceremony, held on May 17, took place at Atlanta’s Saint Philip A.M.E. Church, where 58 students crossed the stage from college students to students of the real world. According to 11 Alive, the donation was made through the T.D. Jakes Foundation as Jakes drew a correlation between the graduation and Morris Brown’s legendary comeback. “This gift is not about what we’ve inherited, but what we invest forward,” Jakes said, who walked away with an honorary degree.

With funding from Wells Fargo, the Dallas-based T.D. Jakes Foundation announced more than $9 million in grants to 13 organizations across the U.S., marking the next phase of a transformative 10-year, up to $1 billion collaboration aimed at empowering communities and driving lasting change.

The foundation said that building on an initial $9 million philanthropic investment announced last year, which funded 16 organizations, this new cycle reaffirms its commitment to economic empowerment through innovative solutions.

“We’re deeply committed to supporting organizations that are making tangible differences in communities,” Kelley Cornish, president and CEO of the T.D. Jakes Foundation, said in a statement. “Through this partnership with Wells Fargo, we’re investing in innovative solutions that align with our mission to promote financial inclusion, educational access and workforce readiness, and community transformation and well-being. This milestone is a testament to the power of collaboration and our shared vision for a brighter future.”

The foundation said that these initial grants created measurable impact by supporting financial literacy programs, affordable housing projects, and career development opportunities, among other initiatives. It said the second round of funding seeks to strengthen and expand that legacy.

“We believe philanthropy can be a catalyst for positive change,” said Darlene Goins, head of philanthropy and community impact at Wells Fargo. “With these grants, we’re excited to work with the T.D. Jakes Foundation to expand the impactful work and capacity of local and national organizations that focus on economic empowerment and community transformation.”

The foundation said this second $9 million in funding is a bold statement of the T.D. Jakes Foundation’s belief that access to opportunity can change the trajectory of communities for generations to come.

Grants awarded
Per the foundation, here are the organizations receiving grants:

Wiley University – $1,500,000
Develop property near campus for homeownership, entrepreneurship, and integrated learning experiences.

Paul Quinn College – $1,500,000
Address housing, transportation, and food insecurity for students.

Morehouse College – $1,500,000
Transform mental health services on campus.

2025 International Leadership Summit – $1,500,000
Hosted by the T.D. Jakes Group, empower leaders worldwide by offering workshops, keynotes, and panel discussions focused on leadership, innovation, and social impact.

Lightship Foundation – $500,000
Enable entrepreneurs to raise venture capital and scale their businesses.

Power52 Foundation – $500,000
Engage 200 community members in educational workshops on energy and disaster preparedness.

Kingdom Cares Center – $500,000
Nurture small businesses with mentorship and programs in business planning, financial management, marketing, legal compliance, and more.

Bonton Farms/Grocery Connect – $500,000
Improve health outcomes and empower the community by teaching essential online skills and expanding access to broader resources.

United MegaCare – $500,000
As part of T.D. Jakes Group, it will host events supporting food security in local communities.

Joint Center – $500,000
Develop a long-term plan for economic mobility that can be executed at the community level.

Operation Hope – $450,000
Combine policy analysis with community engagement to elevate the national conversation on economic empowerment and drive policy solutions.

Milken Institute – $250,000
Offer an intensive educational course, industry conferences, as well as competitive internships and professional development.

Green Teen Summit – $100,000
Prepare a new generation of leaders by equipping them with essential workforce readiness skills in a growing economy.

Founded in 2020, The T.D. Jakes Foundation is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion, educational access and workforce readiness, and community transformation and well-being in communities.

“You are a good seed. Even if you’re broke.”

That’s the unapologetic affirmation Bishop T.D. Jakes is delivering to the Black community, entrepreneurs, and aspiring entrepreneurs, through the Good Soil Forum—a three-day gathering happening June 12–14 in Dallas, Texas, that’s part pitch competition, part networking hub, and part masterclass in building Black wealth.

In an exclusive interview with theGrio’s Natasha S. Alford, Jakes made one thing clear: this isn’t just another conference—it’s a movement with real money waiting to be poured into people’s dreams. “Good Soil Forum gives you access to capital,” Jakes said. “It connects you with the resources, the grant monies– the information that you need is almost as powerful as the capital that you gain.”

Backed by the T.D. Jakes Group and Wells Fargo Bank, this year’s Forum will feature a live pitch competition offering up to $500,000 in funding, small business grants starting at $5,000, and access to a newly launched app, Good Soils XP, to connect participants beyond the event. But as Jakes explained, the Forum’s true value lies in changing the trajectory of our communities.

“We have built a coalition of corporations that are willing and interested in pouring into those that are having a hard time struggling with their businesses,” Jakes said. “The cross-pollination of all of those feats—right down to training children to be entrepreneurs—may change the trajectory of the community and be our fastest way forward.”

The Forum couldn’t come at a more urgent time. As the U.S. continues to reckon with layoffs, inflation, and corporate backpedaling from DEI commitments, Jakes is sounding the alarm—particularly for Black women. “We have over 300,000 Black women who have lost their jobs in the last three months,” he told theGrio. “That’s horrifying. That’s three stadiums full of people. Three more stadiums of family members who don’t have food to eat, who are having struggles, who have to push to get ahead.”

Where some see despair, Jakes sees opportunity. “Ninety-two percent of African American businesses are women, are accelerating but they’re not staying in business because they don’t have access to capital,” he said. “Good Soil Forum gives you access. It connects you with the resources. The grant money. The information. And sometimes that’s just as powerful as the money itself.”

Jakes also spoke directly to the grind many know too well—working multiple jobs, trying to turn side hustles into something sustainable. “Your hobby could be a business. Your cake designs could be a business,” he said, shouting out platforms like Cast Iron and Nourish, which help turn passions into income. “To get the extra money, you may have to do extra work initially to get yourself to a place where you can invest in yourself. It’s hard in the short run, I will not lie.”

Investment, Jakes said, is a critical mindset shift. “It doesn’t have to be big money. It has to be smart money,” he explained, noting that investments can lead to freedom in all areas of life. “You make better choices when you’re self-sufficient. You date better when you are self-sufficient. You marry more wisely when you self-efficient. Your children have a better chance at education when you yourself sufficient. So if you’re not doing it for you, you ought to do it for your children.”

Beyond the dollars and cents, Good Soil is rooted in legacy—a concept Jakes embodies both as a father and spiritual leader. “I told my daughter, my landing space is your launching space,” he said, referencing his recent transition of church leadership to his daughter, Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts. “We are descendants of Nigeria. Igbo people. Known for business acumen. It’s genetic. It’s a propensity to take something that looked like nothing and turn it into something and make a business out of it.”

That’s why the Forum’s speaker lineup is filled with visionaries who’ve built empires from the ground up: Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Lorenzo, John Hope Bryant. “I picked them because they started with nothing,” Jakes said. “Oprah was making mud pies in Mississippi. John Hope was raised in the hood, okay?”

Jakes says his work with the Good Soil Forum is part of his larger legacy. Even after stepping down from the pulpit, he’s got new initiatives in the works, launching a podcast, My Next Chapter, through iHeartRadio this fall. “I gonna get to talk about things that weren’t pulpit conversations,” he said. “We didn’t all have fathers, we didn’t all have advisors, we did not have mentors, and through my podcast, I want to make a difference in the lives of the people that hear it.”

For those who feel burned out or are tempted to check out given the state of the world, Jakes puts his spiritual hat back on and offers this encouragement: “Everybody has a different breaking point. I think when your body tells you you’ve had enough, you need to listen to it. That doesn’t mean that you quit. There’s something between stop and go and it’s called pause. Pause, regroup yourself, redefine yourself, reinvent yourself, recreate yourself, but get back in the game again.”

The following Black entrepreneurs have been named finalists in the Good Soil Pitch competition and prizes will be given out next week in Dallas:

• Kia-Shun Voltz, Shampoo Time of Red Oak, Texas
• M-T Strickland, Metric Mate of Atlanta, Georgia
• Paden Sickles, SickFit, Arlington, Texas
• Lamanda Ballard, FloEver Health, Austin, Texas
• Orleatha Smith, Sip Herbals, Gresham, Oregon
• Joseph Hamilton, 4 Second Football, Fairburn, Georgia
• Rozalynn Goodwin, Confidence by GaBBy Goodwin, Columbia, South Carolina

To learn more about the Good Soil Forum, visit https://www.goodsoilforum.com/.

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The 2025 Good Soil Forum, one of the nation’s premier gatherings for fostering entrepreneurial success, returns to Dallas June 12-14, 2025, at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, presented by Wells Fargo. This year, Oprah Winfrey joins T.D. Jakes for a one-on-one fireside chat, as a powerhouse lineup of business icons are featured throughout the event–including Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, John Hope Bryant; fashion designer and founder of Fear of God, Jerry Lorenzo; financial educator, Wallstreet Trapper; CEO and founder of Camille Rose, Janell Stephens and entrepreneur and TV host, Mahisha Dellinger. The Forum’s convergence of minds and missions champions a business ecosystem built on access to capital and sustainable growth, bringing together visionary leaders committed to empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs.

This year’s theme, “Transformation Agenda,” is more than a discussion. It offers access to capital, inspiring keynotes, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities. It’s a movement uniting thought leaders, business pioneers, and innovators to break barriers, create pathways, and accelerate economic progress for small businesses. Winfrey’s involvement reinforces the mission to equip small business owners with the resources, capital, and connections needed to build lasting generational wealth.

A Movement Rooted in Economic Empowerment

The Good Soil Movement is one of the nation’s fastest-growing small business ecosystems, creating pathways for entrepreneurs to succeed. It provides access to startup capital, resources, and connections from the ground level to the boardroom. Over the past two years, it has invested nearly $1 million in small businesses through its Seed Capital Pitch competition. The 2025 Good Soil Forum builds on this momentum, offering small business owners access to strategic partnerships, investors, and industry-leading insights.

With approximately 65% of business owners relying on personal or family savings to fund their businesses,* The Good Soil Forum aims to bridge this financial gap by providing tangible funding opportunities, mentorship, and essential resources to help entrepreneurs scale without solely depending on personal assets. This event is a gathering and a movement dedicated to ensuring capital and opportunity reach those who most need it.

As one of the nation’s most significant forums focused on small business ownership, the event will feature:

Educational Fireside Chats & Breakout Sessions – interactive panels with top executives and entrepreneurs sharing insights on growth strategies, leadership, and financial empowerment.
The $500K Capital Pitch Competition – presented by Wells Fargo, the Title Sponsor of the Seed Pitch Capital Competition and Good Soil Forum, this expanded competition awards $500,000 seed grants to entrepreneurs.
Networking & Marketplace Opportunities – a curated space for entrepreneurs to connect with investors, business leaders, and innovative vendors showcasing new products and services.
“For too long, entrepreneurs—especially those from undercapitalized communities—have been left without the support and access they need to thrive. The Good Soil Forum is about more than ideas—it’s about action. We’re convening power to ensure today’s dreamers have the capital, mentorship, and networks to turn their visions into sustainable enterprises.”
— T.D. Jakes, Chairman of the T.D. Jakes Group and Founder of the Good Soil Movement

The 2025 Good Soil Forum promises to be a landmark event in Dallas, bringing together visionaries and changemakers to build a future where small businesses can thrive at the highest levels. As the event continues to expand its reach, its mission remains clear: to plant the seeds of opportunity, cultivate innovation, and yield lasting economic empowerment.

Sponsorship and Tickets are available now; visit Good Soil Forum at https://www.goodsoilforum.com/

About The Good Soil Movement:

Good Soil Movement empowers entrepreneurs by networking, resources, and solutions for growing and scaling businesses. With a mission to help one million entrepreneurs generate $1 million in revenue over the next ten years, Good Soil is fostering economic stability and generational wealth. Since its inception, the movement has grown to a thriving network of over 26,000 members, equipping small business owners with tangible tools for success. Every conversation plants a seed for growth, turning every moment into an opportunity to bloom. Learn more at www.goodsoilforum.com. Follow @goodsoilforum for updates.

*2019, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation published Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs: Removing Barriers, a report which presented a landscape analysis of the capital ecosystem.

ORLANDO, Fla., March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The world is transforming at a breakneck pace, disrupting every sector from technology to finance to politics and communications. As Generation X brings initiative and experience to the table and Gen Z drives innovation in the workforce, never has there been a greater need for leaders to engage in cross-generational collaboration.

To be future-ready for a dynamic shift in the way leaders lead, T.D. Jakes’ annual International Leadership Summit, presented by Wells Fargo, will focus this year on the theme, “Changing of the Guard” — concentrating on advancing a new generation of ministry and business leaders as they continue to glean wisdom from past generations. The International Leadership Summit will return to Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center, April 10-12, 2025, featuring business and spiritual leaders from around the world who will discuss topics ranging from faith to finance. Media credentialing is now open, and applications may be submitted online.

Topics presented at the 2025 International Leadership Summit will reflect national conversations in today’s culture: navigating challenging times, leadership and wealth generation, turning technology into a competitive edge, and the changing of the guard.

Launched in 2011, the International Leadership Summit remains a crucial gathering of business and spiritual leaders discussing the most pressing issues of today while working together to solve society’s most complex problems. The summit is one of the most transformative leadership conferences as a standard-bearer for values-based business learning and professional development.

The International Leadership Summit will be the first of three conferences the T.D. Jakes Group will host in 2025. Presented by Wells Fargo, each of the three conferences aim to empower leaders and communities around the world. Following the International Leadership Summit, Good Soil will take place June 12-14, 2025, at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas to catalyze and support a broad range of business owners. Sarah Jakes Roberts’ Woman Evolve is set to host its next conference at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, July 31-Aug. 2, 2025. Woman Evolve’s mission is to equip women through spiritual and practical development with the tools necessary to evolve into the highest version of themselves.

The International Leadership Summit will welcome these key industry leaders.

WHO:

T.D. Jakes, CEO of the T.D. Jakes Group
Steven Furtick, faith leader and author
Cindy Trimm, founder and CEO, Trimm Institute of Global Leadership + Trimm Global Charities
Carla Harris, senior client advisor, Morgan Stanley
Dr. Myron Rolle, pediatric neurosurgery fellow at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Joel Tudman, senior pastor, The Faith Center
James Meeks, CEO, Hope Center Foundation
Lambert Gates, president, L.W. Gates Ministries
John Hope Bryant, founder and CEO, Operation Hope
Courtney McBath, Courtney McBath Leadership and president of Virginia Christian College
… and more leaders of business and faith found on the website.
WHERE:
Orange County Convention Center
9800 International Dr.
Orlando, FL 32819

WHEN:
April 10-12, 2025

Media Credentials:
All members of the media – reporters, photographers, videographers and crew – are required to have and display credentials in order to cover events within the conference. Press may request media credentials for the International Leadership Summit by filling out this form. Applicants will be notified via email whether they are approved or declined for credentials. Information regarding where to pick up credentials, parking, facility access, interviews and other details will be sent, pending approval of credentials.

About the International Leadership Summit
Founded by T.D. Jakes – real estate mogul, New York Times bestselling author, pioneering CEO and entrepreneur, global humanitarian, devoted philanthropist, senior pastor of The Potter’s House – the International Leadership Summit is an annual transformative conference. Since 2011, the conference has cultivated aspiring and tenured entrepreneurs and leaders with the tools to become successful in for-profit and not-for-profit industries.

SOURCE International Leadership Summit

The Potter’s House, a Dallas-based megachurch with a campus in Los Angeles, is collecting essential items through Wednesday and loading them onto trucks bound for those affected by wildfires in California.

Wildfires in the Los Angeles area have killed at least 25 people, displaced thousands of others and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings as of Tuesday night, according to the Associated Press.

The Potter’s House, which is led by senior pastor T.D. Jakes, said it was delivering aid to Los Angeles residents in a video posted to Facebook and Instagram Sunday.

“Bring essential items such as bottled water, non-perishable food, baby supplies, blankets, flashlights, and personal hygiene items to The Potter’s House of Dallas,” text displayed in the video read.

The video said donation hours were from Sunday at 8 a.m. through Wednesday night after a 7 p.m. Bible study at the church at 6777 W. Kiest Blvd.

“With over 350 volunteers mobilized and more than $100,000 in supplies being sent from Dallas, alongside critical relief efforts here in LA, we are determined to be the hands and feet of Christ to those in need,” pastor Touré Roberts told The Dallas Morning News in an emailed statement Tuesday.

Roberts is the husband of T.D. Jakes’ daughter Sarah Jakes Roberts, and the couple lead ONE | A Potter’s House Church in Los Angeles. Roberts also said in the statement that he is a Los Angeles native.

“To our Dallas community, your generosity is making an eternal impact — let us continue to rally together to bring hope and healing to those facing unimaginable loss,” Roberts said. “The Potter’s House of Dallas is fueling relief efforts by loading trucks with life-saving supplies, while here in Los Angeles, we’re providing shelter, transportation, and counseling to families facing uncertainty,” Sarah Jakes Roberts also wrote in the Tuesday email.

The church’s email said that since Sunday, it has been loading 18-wheelers in Dallas that will head to Los Angeles. It said nearly 200 volunteers have registered to help unload trucks in Los Angeles, and it has so far paid for nearly 150 nights of emergency hotel accommodations.

Taking into consideration its network of entrepreneurs, T.D. Jakes Enterprises has launched an accessible marketplace.

In 2023, the social impact holding company set out to support underrepresented entrepreneurs by addressing a critical gap. Despite the efforts of stakeholders driving meaningful change, there were no centralized systems or platforms to provide comprehensive resources. This need inspired the launch of the Good Soil Movement in April 2023.

“What we didn’t find was one centralized space where entrepreneurs can not only network but actually get access to capital, access to back office support, legal help, accounting support, business plan development, understanding where they fall on the capital continuum… So out of that, we created Good Soil,” Michael Phillips, chief operations officer of T.D. Jakes Enterprises, told AFROTECH™.

“We acquired this company with the intent and understanding that we believe that our destiny is to help small businesses with theirs,” Phillips explained.

“We are huge on AI over at Good Soil and at Nourysh…We think it is going to be a very effective tool for our future,” Phillips said. “But also, also while AI has captured our attention, humans are always gonna capture our heart. And so we have some phenomenal people who work in both Nourysh and Good Soil and, and they are connected to the community, always talking to the community and always there to help those businesses grow.”

For those interested in onboarding to Nourysh, they can also expect to be connected to a network of like-minded business owners, competitive pricing, and decreased fees in comparison to competitors.

“Why buy a platform that’s gonna be out of reach for many,” Phillips mentioned. “And so what we were able to do was make a price point that was accessible to most. It’s extremely affordable to get your product on here, and the support that you’re getting is just a no-brainer, end-to-end services and support for you.”

He added, “Nourysh is really an answer to a prayer for somebody because that platform provides for people to have their dreams take root and actually flourish because we are nourishing it every day through our content that we’re putting out, as well as across our multiple platforms that we can continue to create. And so leveraging the massive amount of eyeballs that come from our platform to your product, that’s the benefit of being on Nourysh.”