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Chicago's entrepreneurial ecosystem buzzed with energy recently as more than 2,000 innovators and business leaders descended on Dr. Bill Winston's Business & Leadership Conference, with another 900 joining the action virtually. What unfolded over two days in March wasn't just another conference—it was a masterclass in building wealth with purpose, wrapped in a mission to close the wealth gap.
The gathering drew movers and shakers from 14 countries, all united by a simple but profound premise: business and faith aren't opposing forces. They're complementary engines for creating generational wealth and lasting impact. Under the banner "The Blessing: Anointed for Business," attendees tapped into six keynote presentations, worked through specialized workshops, and networked with peers across industries ranging from entertainment to government to education.
The Joseph Business School, which hosted the conference, has built something genuinely different. Rather than peddling feel-good platitudes, the school fuses spiritual principles with hard business tactics—the kind of practical wisdom that actually helps entrepreneurs move the needle. This commitment shows up in the numbers: more than 60 alumni have now crossed the million-dollar revenue threshold, a milestone the school celebrates through its exclusive "Million Heirs" Club. During the conference, four more graduates earned their induction into this rarefied circle.
The energy crested during the awards ceremony. Joyce Awosika, a 2022 graduate who founded ORIKI Group in Nigeria, took home the 2026 Global Entrepreneur Award along with a $7,500 check. Her company—a sprawling wellness and beauty enterprise spanning more than 106 brands across Africa and beyond—embodies the conference's core belief: entrepreneurship as a tool for continental development and dignity restoration. Watching her recognized on that stage wasn't just about celebrating individual success; it symbolized the broader movement Winston is catalyzing.
The conference structure itself encouraged deal-making and discovery. An exclusive Executive Experience brought together 90 vetted leaders for intimate conversations. The Apex Business Showcase featured 70 booths and moved nearly 470 tickets. Meanwhile, a dedicated Business Opportunity Expo connected entrepreneurs with 79 organizations showcasing cutting-edge ventures and resources. Then there was the Venture Capital Pitch Competition, where ten ambitious founders competed for funding, with three walking away with nearly $9,000 in prizes.
In total, the conference distributed more than $16,500 in awards and prizes—real money backing real entrepreneurs.
What made this gathering particularly noteworthy was the scale of its ambition. Dr. Deloris Thomas, the school's president, announced a bold collaborative effort alongside chambers of commerce aimed at equipping 100,000 entrepreneurs to reach seven-figure revenues. Two billionaires shared their scaling secrets from the main stage. The message resonated: think bigger, act bolder, and use business as your vehicle for transformation.
For anyone serious about entrepreneurship—whether you're bootstrapping in your garage or running a multi-continent operation—this conference represented something increasingly rare: a space where hustle, strategy, and spiritual grounding converge.