VIDEO: Watch Lesson on How to Set Global Goals for Your Business
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of The Digital Diplomat™
For Entrepreneurs
Individuals interested in launching business that crosses country borders and for those pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors. Here’s information and tools to get started and scale. This is an opportunity to understand the global marketplace and how you can create your own lane.
For Organizations
Whether virtually or in front of large audiences, book me to teach and speak about digital technology and entrepreneurship, job creation, lowering unemployment rates and more. From local to international speaking engagements, I provide nontraditional and innovative ways to activate all listeners.
For Globalists
Engage in projects and missions that impact people from around the world and make long-lasting changes. From addressing youth mobilization to women entrepreneurship in underserved communities, my business and international experiences bring value to any team.
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of The Digital Diplomat™
[MUST READ] What Every New Year Business Digital Strategy Should Include
Hey, it's me! The Digital Diplomat.. As many of us [...]
Transforming Economies Through Digitalization
My work to help launch digital businesses in global markets will create jobs and help lower unemployment rates, especially for the underserved. That’s my commitment.
I thought going to school and getting my degrees would lead me there, but funny enough it was not finding a job and ending up on government support that gave me the conviction I have today to do the work I longed for. This is because for first time, I’d walked in the shoes of the very people I desired to help.
Starting the VGC Group, a global digital tech consultancy, who designs and develops eCommerce platforms and custom mobile apps for entrepreneurs, companies and organizations, was the becoming of The Digital Diplomat. It was not until we had our first African-based business increase sales around the world by 500% did I understand the power of my name.
The vision is to promote economic development through digital technology. And this is what I intend to do. I welcome you to join me along the journey.
Signed ,
Watch Lessons
How to Set A Global Goal to Address
Anytime I speak to someone like yourself or encourage entrepreneurs to think globally, they always ask, “Where do I start? or How do I begin to think globally?” Don’t worry. I recorded a video to help address those questions and get you started right away!
Testimonials
An Inside Look
W.E. is one of those people you know will do incredible things. I worked with her in 2019 through ExporTech, a program designed to accelerate a company’s growth in global markets. From our first interaction, I knew that W.E. was a passionate and driven businesswoman. She was dedicated to the process. I have no doubt she will accomplish anything she sets her mind on!
Natalie Chmiko
Vice President, Int’l Trade at Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Working with W.E for the inaugural African Business Symposium at Michigan State University was fantastic. Her talk centered on supporting African entrepreneurs and it took the audience on a journey that allowed them to imagine themselves using African made products. This simple but powerful image inspired people to think critically about how they engage and support frontier markets.
Gigi Ngcobo
Michigan State University MasterCard Foundation Scholar
Instagram @wedacruz
The love I get to receive daily from my Heavenly Father and manifested through my earthly King and Prince. ♥️
It’s the same love we’ve put into our @eatcruzburgers. Not a shameful plug. Honestly. As you mature in life and this faith walk, today and on all holidays (daily), I use it as a time to reflect on how far God has brought us and all the many ways He’s manifested His love in our lives by entrusting us with visions like Cruz Burger.
Whether your out on a fancy date or home cleaning up, so much love to reflect on. Make sure to click link in bio and join our mailing list to find out when we hit the stores!
Blessed birthday to the only man I’m hungry for @domdidash. 🎉
I hope you’re still hungry; it’s going to be a FULL year. Let’s get it babe!
#therealbonnieandcycle #dinningwiththedacruz #cruzburgers #12yearsandcounting #marriagestory
Where do I begin.
It started around this time last year. The Lord called our family into a 21 days Daniel's Fast. Dominique Da'Cruz and I decided to continue the fast for an extended 9 months eating no meat.
During the fast, Naomi Cook and I took a trip to Kampala, Uganda and Lilongwe, Malawi on a 5-figure grant we received from MSU Alliance for African Partnership to teach digital tech and eCommerce to African-based entrepreneurs for Virtual Global Consultant Group. I began to struggle a bit on the fast while away from home but Naomi nudged that I sticked to it.
While in Malawi, I stumbled upon a chickpea meatball dish that I loved. I befriended the chef during our stay and made an unreasonable request for him to turn the dish into a chickpea burger patty and I loved it.
When I got home from the trip, I was excited to recreate the dish and share it with the family. While making it one day, I ran out of chickpea and decided to use mushrooms. Dominique Da'Cruz loved it so much he said, we should take it to market. And so the journey began at that moment. Just months into the pandemic, we had to make a lot of pivots concerning the future of our family ie. homeschooling our children, work life, etc.
In just a few short months, we've developed the concept for a 100% meat-free burger patty that's almost ready to hit the market. From totally renovating our kitchen this summer to branding to building the wireframes of the forthcoming site to securing initial grocery stores, we're just waiting on our MI inspection approval.
We invite you to join our journey to healthier eating as a family. Visit www.cruzburgers.com to learn of the official launch coming soon! #plantbased #detroitmade #blackowned #dacruzfamily #cruzburgers
Cruz Burger package designs have been sent to the printers! 🙏🏾🙌🏾
For those who’ve been following the whole journey @eatcruzburgers, thanks so much for all the support and love!
We 👀 you!
@domdidash and I have been tag teaming! He’s been working on the backend operational requirements to get us approved by the state to start selling, while I’ve been building out our user experience and digital infrastructure.
Now that we have the brand design completed with packaging, @thevgcgroup is working with one of my favorite web designers to develop our online eCommerce experience. Of course, everything happens in phases and things evolve but we believe in progress over perfection.
I’m also situating the logistics of our first marketing shoot with an amazing photographer @pointesofview! I just need to ensure our packages are mailed in time. Whew 😅.
This is all while securing grocery stores to place purchase orders. Happy to say we have 3 locally who have given us their commitment!
If we can launch a food product in the middle of quarantine, you can do anything too!
Put a 🚀 below if you ready for the LAUNCH!
The picture is blurry. But the vision is clear: God’s love.
I applaud all the families that were organized enough to choose outfits in advance and schedule professional shots.
Us on the other hand, my mother bought the children’s outfits on Christmas Eve. The parentals found matching pieces on Christmas Day in our closets.🤷🏾♀️😅
I told my mother to take a photo and this is what we got. 🤦🏾♀️🤣
We just Keep Calm and DaCruz on ...
Blessed Christmas!
If you can relate, just put a ❤️ below. I probably won’t have this post up for long but I just wanted to let someone know that it’s okay.
Beauty, gratefulness, love and joy is in the eyes of the beholder. To me, this photo is picture perfect because I know what we’ve been through and out as a family and still smile because of God’s love.
A professional photo can’t capture that, only our hearts.
Cruz Burgers is our conscious.
It was birthed out of a global pandemic. Just like you, we were forced to pivot. What better way to adjust than to start a family endeavor and eat healthier. So the journey began.
The English word for Cruz is the cross. Our mission is to be the point of intersection where family and healthy eating collide. Whether you’re a meat lover, vegetarian, vegan, and the likes, you can gather around the table for a Cruz Burger.
We’re on this journey with you @eatcruzburgers.
Prior to this, we’d never developed or launched a food product. This is new for @domdidash and I. But for us, we didn’t see pandemic, we saw possibility and acted upon it.
A lot has transpired. Much of which has caused great anxiety, stress but also joy and peace because of a renewed standard of purpose.
Spending the next few days left in the year auditing my life and re aligning myself with God’s voice and what’s next for us.
In the meantime, #Clubhouse accepted one of my two rooms so far.
Follow Conscious vs. Circumstantial Living. We’ll be discussing the kind of principles one needs to acquire and active to rise above challenges like a pandemic. See you in the room!
It’s the hands for me. What you think? Swipe left to see 👀 what I mean.
Consciousness starts young.
I practice what I preach. It starts with how I teach.
My daughter was my first student, but she’s not my last.
More videos coming weekly 🙏🏾.
Turn on notifications.
This is the new look of education because of #homeschooling.
@vashtiharrison we can’t get enough of your work. God bless you for this work of art.
I never imagined myself really homeschooling in this fashion. In fact, I was very ignorant about homeschooling.
You know, I always imagined traveling the world with my children as hubby and I built businesses, but I don’t think I ever wrapped my head around what that would entail as it pertained to the education of my children. I think at some level, I just assumed they would learn on their own by watching. 🤦🏾♀️
True to some extent, but extremely ignorant. It’s been a learning curve to say the least, but it’s a curve toward consciousness I wouldn’t change for the world.
After morning circle today, we learned about Benjamin Banneker. Scroll left to hear what the children have to say about him.
Once I got really committed to elevating the consciousness of my children, homeschooling became more of a lifestyle for me. And a lot of the anxiety I’ve dealt with during this pandemic, because truth be told, they’ve been home all day, every day for the last 265 days (but who’s counting right🤷🏾♀️?), has slowly been disappearing.
What are some of the books that you’re reading to your children?
How’s schooling been for you thus far?
I’ve also been the kind of mother who pays in advance for early drop off and late pick up at school. Don’t judge. 😩 I’m sharing this to give you context as to why it’s been really a lifestyle shift over these past few months.
Nonetheless, I’m grateful because we are all elevating, together. Thanks @miguel.j.dacruz for the book!
What gets you the most?
The missing teeth or hand gestures? 🤣🤣
Someone said it was the neck roll. How could I forget that?
This is the kind of conviction I’m bringing to my #IGTV. 🙅🏾♀️ But, even better. This is the kind of conviction that all of our black and brown children need concerning their history. The source of their power.
We’re elevating everyone’s consciousness in this household.
Every day, morning and night, we read biographies of bold black women and exceptional black men.
Autumn Eve is referring to Matthew Henson in this video. He’s the first African American and possibly American, to reach the North Pole. But of course, it took many years after his achievements before he was acknowledged for his work.
We’re winning in this area of our #homeschooling. The children can’t go to bed without reading. In fact, @domdidash and I use it to get them to listen because if they don’t, they don’t get to read.
Can you believe they cry when I threaten to put them to bed without reading? I cry a lot because of the pressure of building family, building businesses while homeschooling full time in the midst of a global pandemic. But, I promise you, my tears dry up really quickly when we see these kind of results.
Excuse the laundry mess behind Autumn Eve; I have about 5 baskets of laundry to fold. 😭😭 Again, this is why I cry.
What are some books that you are reading to elevating your #consciousness?
#homeschooling #conciousliving #conciousparenting
The bridge to get you from where you are now to where you want to be is your WORD.
I’ll be going LIVE sometime today or tomorrow to discuss the power of language.
You know, growing up, I used to hear friends in the neighborhood say “word is bond” and I never quite understood what it meant until I got mature revelation about Proverbs 18:21:
“Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
I’ll be sharing a key principle that I rooted a major life decision on: Marriage at the age of 23. It’s going to be good.
This will help you get a breakthrough in your relationships, business and ALL your desires.
I told y’all, we about to become REAL acquainted. See you later! Turn notifications on.
#wedacruz #igtv #live #principles #wordisbond #proverbs18:21
Hi there!
Welcome to my page! I figured, I might as well re introduce myself so that we can become better acquainted.
My name is W.E. Da’Cruz. You know, like W.E. B. Dubois. Not “WE”. It’s exactly as you see, the initials, W.E. And yes, please do give me both my periods when writing it out. 👀Details are everything. 🤷🏾♀️
My friends and family call me Ekua, Kua or Kukua. Others, Wendy or W.E.
Depending on how you refer to me tells me a lot about where and how we met.
2nd oldest of 5 girls. Born in Jersey, raised in Ghana as a child for a bit, but back to Jersey most of my life. Now, I’m currently residing in Detroit with my husband of 7 years @domdidash (but together for more than a decade 🤯☺️), two children Autumn Eve and Geody and our dog, Baylis.
After completing both my masters degrees in 2015, all while getting married and having my first child, I couldn’t find a job and ended up on government support, unemployed. My husband connected me with Naomi. There’s details to that story but in essence I went from her assistant to business partner and cofounder @thevgcgroup. We’ve been in business 4 years now and have traveled around the world speaking, mainly across Africa.
Most recently, my husband and I launched a family venture in the midst of quarantine @eatcruzburgers. Originally called Angel Burger. It’s a plant-based burger patty were in the process of taking to market. Visit CruzBurgers.com to join mailing list and hear of the launch first!
Dom and I are full time entrepreneurs now, teaching our children the ropes. We got into real estate last year after purchasing our first multi family unit of more than 4,000 square ft. Currently, renovating. We’re learning that game too but all while launching a food product.
Yup, we know. A lot.😅 Say, no more ...
Check out my last two IGTV lives to hear details about where we are in the process. I’m inviting you to follow the journey. Our hope is to activate you to create the life you desire too. It’s all about living at the level of your consciousness and never your circumstances. Do quote me when you use that phrase. 😘🙏🏾
Here are some photos from the last few months. Tell me more about you below 👇🏾.
From unemployment to employer @thevgcgroup and soon to be employing through our newest venture @eatcruzburgers, I know all too well about the power of your tongue.
I deeply feel for those who have been greatly impacted by #COVID19.
I feel for those experiencing job loss.
I feel for those experiencing the loss of family and friends.
And everything else that’s been negatively impacted.
But, if I can offer you a word of wisdom that I’ve learned along my journey as I elevated my consciousness, it is this:
It’s never the situation that’s killing you; it’s always what you are saying about the situation that has the potential to take away your life.
I’ll be on IGTV tonight sharing more about the launch of @eatcruzburgers and the journey to this moment, and the way forward for us as a family.
See you soon!
#entrepreneurship #howtopivot #familybusiness #quarantine
We launched a plant-based burger while in #quarantine. 🤷🏾♀️
We’re bringing all the meat lovers, vegetarians, pescatarians and vegans together at one table.
Hubby aka Chef @domdidash with the grill tonight. 🤯
Full video of his prep and outcome @eatcruzburgers! (Give me a few minutes to post it, enjoying my dinner 😅☺️)
#familybusiness #dinningwiththedacruz #plantbased #detroit #vegan #veggie #blackowned
Swipe LEFT to see final hair cut. This is G at 3! #haircutbydaddy #newlook #3 #beforeandafter
This day is inscribed in my soul forever. Way to emotional with gratitude for a long caption.
But, this pregnancy. This delivery. What it did to my entire consciousness and being. I will always be indebted to you ☀️.
Your name is so fitting. Literally pronounced G-O-D.
You’re a constant reminder that G-O-D is with me, us, our family.
My first ☀️, Geody. Thanks for being my light.
I love you so much. I love you so much ☀️.
Blessed 3rd birthday! 🎉
We’ve been working on something 🤯 behind the scenes while quarantining y’all as a family.
Never, ever, in my life did I really think, we’d go to market with a food product. And a plant based meatless burger at that! 🤷🏾♀️
I’ve been in the entrepreneurship space for some time now, but this right heerrreeeeeee....
Theeeee most exciting project to date. Why? Because we’ve been building it as a family.
Yup, homeschooling our two children Autumn Eve and Geody for @domdidash and I has become the perfect opportunity to show them how to build a business from the bottom up.
Get ready. The branding is bananazzzzzz! And the 👅??? The taste? Wild!
Follow us @eatcruzburgers for all the details. Just an ordinary family committed to EXTRAordinary things in faith, family, food and funds! Yesssssir!
Shoutout to @thevgcgroup for handling the branding and development of CRUZ BURGERS.
If you’re looking to start a business or scale and idea and need support, check our our newest Support Membership program. You can literally engage our team of experts on the go! Link in bio.
I’m pregnant.
I’m really pregnant. That’s all I was thinking about in this photo. This #tbt photo was taken three years ago this time; I can hardly believe it.
October is such a powerful month spiritually. My spiritual father @archbishop_jordan has been teaching us about it on his conference calls daily; open to the public so I encourage you to join. He does a much better job breaking down the depth of this than I ever can.
You see, although we’ve been taught that October is the 10 month of the year; it actually means the eighth month and the number 8 represents wealth, new life, and prosperity to name a few. It’s not by chance they call this season, these months the harvest season.
In spite of the havoc that’s going on all around us from social injustices to a global health pandemic, when and if we dig deep into the depths of the spirit, we’re actually in a harvest season. And while everyone wants the harvest it’s actually the most spiritually and physically intense time of the year.
I’m encouraging you to fight past the “labor pains” - literally and birth that baby growing inside of you. We’re all laboring to rise above the challenges in the land, but the only way to get past the pain is to keep pushing.
Ask any woman who’s birth; we know. We defeat the odds of carrying and birthing babies physically so we can encourage you to do it mentally, emotionally, and spiritually too.
It’s time to harvest. If it’s learning a new skill, brushing up on an old, or just being part of a network that can move you forward into purpose, do it. When it comes to business, that’s what we do at #VGCU @thevgcgroup. We’re happy to lend a hand. DM us. Otherwise, just know everything you see me doing is about getting what’s divinely mine.
Trump vs. TikTok
[Full video IGTV]
What started some time ago is getting ready to come to a halt of some sort on November 12th. But, we’ll all just have to wait and see..👀
I know many of us are wrapped around the U.S. elections on November 3rd, but if you’re a small business who generating its income from the use of TikTok, then you better have two dates marked in your calendar.
Trump’s administration alleges that the Chinese-owned #TikTok and #WeChat apps are being used to surveillance the U.S. people thus posing a national #security threat.
Of course, TikTok and WeChat beg to differ. Nonetheless, in a few short weeks, we’ll know for sure if the ban to stop U.S. citizens from downloading these apps will hold any ground.
What does this mean for businesses? Well, a few things:
🚫If you haven’t already, you need to ensure you are implementing marketing funnels that help you to capture contact information from your audience/viewers on TikTok. If you are serious about building a business, you must diversify your marketing and solidifying how you plan to engage with your prospective customers outside the app
🚫If you are going to engage outside the app, consider having a website, eCommerce preferably so that you can engage your customers with other product or service offerings that you may have
These are just two of many steps you can take to ensure you are still in operation should Trump’s ban go into effect. I’ll be posting a longer video on my site and Youtube page in the upcoming so stay tuned.
Comment below and let me know if you’re currently on TikTok and your game plan for whichever way the ruling goes.
If you’re looking for more advice on how to pivot, join us at #VGCUniversity. Just text “Open Door” to 📲206-594-4854 and we’ll invite you to class.
#diplomacy #TikTok #internationalrelations #SMEs #business #thedigitaldiplomat #online #socialmedia #china #trumpban #trumpadministration #chinese #traderelations #tradewar #wedacruz