The Flavor Room: Building a Movement for Entrepreneurs of Color with Sutton McCartney & Lace Flowers
The Flavor Room: Building a Movement for Entrepreneurs of Color with Sutton McCartney & Lace Flowers  
Podcast: Business Insider: Round Table Podcast
Published On: Sat Feb 21 2026
Description: In this episode of Business Insider Roundtable, host Andrew Jones is joined by two incredible leaders, Sutton McCartney and Lace Flowers, co-founders of The Flavor Room. This exclusive, invite-only ecosystem serves as a curated space for diverse entrepreneurs and leaders of color, empowering them to thrive without asking for permission or trying to fit into pre-existing molds. Through candid discussions, Sutton and Lace share their journey of creating a community where entrepreneurs can come together, build meaningful connections, and make an impact without the need for tokenism or fitting in.The Flavor Room isn't just about networking—it's about creating a movement that prioritizes action, growth, and authentic connections. Sutton and Lace delve into their experience building the business, their commitment to integrity over money, and how they are actively reshaping the entrepreneurial landscape. From overcoming personal challenges to supporting each other through business growth, they provide insight into how this unique community is changing the way entrepreneurs of color interact, collaborate, and thrive.Key Takeaways from This Episode:Why creating a space for entrepreneurs of color to thrive without tokenism is essential to real progress.How Sutton and Lace built The Flavor Room as a curated ecosystem and movement.The importance of shifting from networking to actionable collaboration with trusted, vetted individuals.The critical role of integrity in entrepreneurship and how to avoid the performative allyship seen in many industries.How supporting your community and working with those who are aligned with your values leads to authentic growth and collaboration.Key Topics Discussed:Creating a New Ecosystem: Sutton and Lace discuss how they built The Flavor Room as a response to a lack of representation and trust in the entrepreneurial ecosystem for people of color.The Mindset Shift for Entrepreneurs of Color: How Lace and Sutton help entrepreneurs overcome self-doubt and reclaim their power in business, leading with integrity over profit.Moving from Tokenism to True Representation: The power of creating inclusive spaces where diverse entrepreneurs can truly be themselves and achieve success without having to conform to external expectations.The Value of Building in Silence: From working in isolation to stepping into leadership, the Flavor Room fosters a community where members elevate their businesses while supporting each other.This episode is a must-listen for entrepreneurs, particularly those from marginalized communities, who are looking for actionable steps to reclaim their power, build businesses with integrity, and find spaces that celebrate their true selves.