Enterprising Women Magazine

Vol. 11, No. 2, 2010

Enterprising Women of the Year Awards

Lillian Lambert is the very definition of a barrier-breaking entrepreneur, from being the first African-American woman ever to receive a Harvard MBA in 1969, to founding her own building maintenance company in her garage on a few thousand dollars and building it into a $20 million enterprise with more than 1,200 employees.

Raised in rural Virginia, where she wore homemade burlap bag dresses to school, Lillian came to New York City when she was 18 and worked as a maid before she realized that, as she put it, “Owning the mop is much better than pushing the mop.” She earned her bachelor of arts at Howard University, where a professor serving as her mentor convinced Lillian that she was Harvard Business School material. But after graduating there, she received no job offers from recruiters.

Undaunted, Lillian started her own company, Centennial One, based in Landover, Maryland, and it expanded into the Boston and Rhode Island markets and won accounts with such blue-chip clients as Dulles National Airport, ABC News and Hewlett-Packard before Lillian sold it.

Since then, Lillian has spent her time writing, including penning her autobiography titled “The Road to Someplace Better: From the Segregated South to Harvard Business School and Beyond,” and public speaking, where her style has been described as a blend of Cicely Tyson and Maya Angelou. She also sits on the Board of Visitors at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Along the way, she has been the recipient of many awards, including Harvard Business School’s African American Alumni Association’s Bert King Award; MBA of the Year, Harvard Business School African American Alumni Association; Small Business Person of the Year, State of Maryland; Entrepreneur of the Year, Black MBA Association; Top 50 Women-Owned Businesses, Washington Business Journal; and Finalist, Entrepreneur of the Year, Ernst & Young.
 

Testimonials

"Ms. Lambert is a gifted storyteller who knows the power of a story to make a point. Her spirit and drive are contagious."

Alisa L. Griffin, Business Analyst II
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

"Lillian's speech was very enjoyable. Terrific ideas and heartfelt stories that I will remember always."

Angela B. Creech, JD
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

"Lillian, thank you for such an engaging presentation filled with useful information that I can apply to my personal life and business. Your points were well presented through your stories."

Donna Rominiecki, Partner
Vmeals (Point & Click Meals, LLC)

"Lillian Lambert tells a compelling story of her rise from humble origins to making history as the first African-American woman to earn an MBA from Harvard. Her strength of character, sage advice, coupled with her no-nonsense delivery, will resonate on some meaningful level with everyone in the audience."

Bill Bussey, Provost
Noble and Greenough School

"Lillian's guiding principles are solid, inspirational and motivational. Her resume is impressive. Overcoming all kinds of obstacles, she has achieved success - academic (MBA - Harvard) and entrepreneurial. She embodies her principles. Excellent presentation!"

Dr. Clark Scanlon, Retired
Baptist International Board

"It's not just what Lillian has done that's inspiring, it's who she is. Thank you for both."

Mary Foley, Woman In Charge
Bodacious! Ventures

"Thank you, Lillian! At about 4:30 this morning, I finished reading your book. What a great, inspiring story! I’m really in awe of you and of all you’ve accomplished. You’re a wonderful role model, not only for African-American girls, but for all young people, regardless of gender or color! I’m honored to be able to call you a friend."

Charles O. Heller
Former Member, Dingman Center
University of Maryland

"I love Dream Big-Act Now! I have big dreams and will continue to chase them. It's nice to know that I'm not the only late bloomer."

Jill F. Reynolds, Business Owner
Party Perfect

"I just finished reading your book. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I loved reading about your family, your hard work to get through Howard and Harvard and the beginning and growth of your business. But it was the chapters on leadership that I wish I had been able to have in front of me when I was a manager."

Janice Robinson
Federal Government Manager

"I found your presentation useful and appropriate for our organization. You took the time to research our organization and the history of nursing."

Darnell Glass
Mount Sinai Rehabilitation

"I met you last week at James River High School and purchased your book. I finished reading it over the weekend and I must say I Loved your book. Thank you so very much for sharing of yourself to the world. I was very inspired by your testimony and I'm sure the book only touched the surface of all you endured on your journey to success."

Teshia Wright, Broker
Ivy League Realty, LLC

"The Daffodil Principle – planting one bulb at a time – took my breath away. You confirmed and reinforced many of my thoughts and activities to ensure success."

Alison W. Eckis, Employee Benefits Specialist
Straus, Itzkowitz & LeCompte

"I enjoyed hearing you speak. The speech was very inspirational. I would love to have you do a seminar at my business. I will be in touch."

Gayle Taylor, Vice President
Professional Training & Consulting, LLC

"Excellent presentation! As a 'very late bloomer', I am inspired to keep reaching, keep planning and enjoy the journey."

Rose Boeckman
Virginia Cooperative Extension

Lillian's Blog

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Lillian is a passionate speaker who understands the power of storytelling. Read More...

Lillian’s Author Pages

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