Meet Our Team

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Millie Chu

Founder & CEO

Millie Chu is a globally recognized bridge-builder, devoted to advancing entrepreneurs and opening pathways to lasting, transformative change. As the founder of the Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab (GEBL), she has poured her life’s work into championing women, people of color, and the under-resourced across the U.S. and internationally, helping them rise, build, and spark ripple effects of change that strengthen families, communities, and generations worldwide.

A Forbes-featured immigrant leader, Millie has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, Detroit’s Channel 7, and national economic development networks for her visionary work in entrepreneurship, economic justice, and social impact.

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She was awarded Contractor of the Year by the Michigan SBDC and honored by the Mayor and City of Westland for her contributions to society. Since launching GEBL in 2021, her programs have strengthened nearly 2,000 organizations and launched more than 120 startups, increasing household incomes and igniting generational wealth—proving that when you uplift one, you elevate many. Her impact extends globally as well, having worked with refugees in the Middle East to rebuild their lives through social gastronomy initiatives.

 

Throughout her career, Millie has judged major business competitions, advised top-tier universities, designed groundbreaking accelerator programs, and taught business management and entrepreneurship at institutions including the University of Michigan’s William Davidson Institute and Washtenaw Community College. She has also shaped national initiatives while blazing a path as a trusted voice and architect of change. She doesn’t just talk about impact, she lives it, driving forward a mission to multiply opportunity, ignite possibility, and illuminate the path for others to lead with boldness, purpose, and resilience.

Millie brings deep expertise in business optimization, operations, and strategic planning. She is known for breaking down complex concepts into clear, actionable steps, equipping mission-driven teams to build sustainable business models, sharpen their strategic vision, and measure meaningful impact. By blending creativity, coaching, and systems thinking, she empowers social enterprises and businesses to unlock their full potential and achieve transformative success; reminding us that when one voice rises, entire communities rise with it. 

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T.Rose Malone

Business Plan Specialist

T.Rose empowers entrepreneurs by helping them to write stellar business plans, transforming ideas into reality.

Armed with this invaluable tool, entrepreneurs are able to effectively evaluate their business’ potential, attract investors and lenders, and grow their enterprise. As a coach at the Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab, she mentors small businesses, guiding them in launching, expanding, and accessing capital.

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With a background as a college professor, she designed and taught entrepreneurship curriculum, while her ownership of an international fitness franchise led her to train fellow franchisees on business development overseas.

Drawing on research and personal entrepreneurship, she established WriteYourPlan.com in 2017 to assist entrepreneurs in crafting comprehensive business plans.

T.Rose, a dedicated mother of two motivated daughters, holds a master’s degree in guidance and counseling, and has excelled as a human resources consultant, public speaker, business owner, and international business consultant.

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Sharonda Simmons

Community Engagement Consultant

With over a decade of executive leadership experience, Sharonda Simmons has a proven track record of building high-performing teams and developing sustainable infrastructure that drives long-term success.

At Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab, Sharonda trains organizations on organizational principles. She has a deep-rooted passion for social impact and has served as a trained facilitator in Intergroup Dialogue for over 15 years. She has trained and facilitated curriculum for universities, educators, non-profit professionals, and community members since 2007.

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Sharonda firmly believes that companies thrive when humanitarian principles are deeply embedded within their systems and woven into the fabric of an organization. In 2020 she founded Thrive and Shine LLC, a professional development and mentorship space geared toward supporting young professionals.

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Angel Miller

Digital Literacy Consultant

At the Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab, Angel Miller architects the digital empowerment of our founders, equipping them with the cutting-edge tools and strategies required to scale their businesses. She specializes in transforming "tech anxiety" into a decisive competitive advantage, leading programs that make sophisticated technology accessible and highly practical.

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Angel’s approach is uniquely effective because it’s at the intersection of mission-driven education and real-world commerce. As the founder of the nonprofit i3 Project, she excels at creating approachable technology learning experiences. As the owner of the sustainable fashion, e-commerce brand RELUXX, she lives and breathes the daily challenges of the digital marketplace. This dual experience, built on a strong foundation in IT business analysis and data systems, gives Angel the unique ability to translate complex concepts into profitable action for the entrepreneurs she guides.

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Shonna Hawkins

Attorney

Attorney Shonna Hawkins is an accomplished trial lawyer, counselor, and tireless advocate. For the past 20 years, she has successfully represented individuals and businesses throughout Michigan and Texas. She has represented clients on a multitude of matters—including business formation and development, employment matters, wills and trusts, guardianship, and conservatorship.

She also represent clients in civil matters including real property purchases, commercial lease negotiations, employment disputes, and estate planning.

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Shonna is on the legal team at Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab and provides consulting and coaching on legal matters for small businesses. She is passionate about educating current and aspiring entrepreneurs about best practices in forming and operating a business.

Shonna is a proud graduate of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and she holds degrees from Loyola University New Orleans in Philosophy and English Literature. Since 2010, Shonna has been a partner at DeYampert & Hawkins-The DeYampert Law Company PLLC in Southfield, MI.

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John Deyampert

Attorney

John is an experienced trial and appellate attorney. An alumnus of the United States Department of Justice's prestigious Attorney General Honors Program, John has handled complex litigation and successfully argued cases in courts across the country.

He founded The DeYampert Law Company PLLC in 2010. John specializes in Family Law, Business Law, Courtroom Advocacy and oversees the law company’s mission to help Detroit plan for prosperity and protect clients from injustice, abuse, and predatory acts.

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John is on the legal team at Global Entrepreneurship Business Lab providing his expertise and consultancy on business legal matters for diverse small businesses. He uplifts Michigan through his work in community service and professional workshops on economic empowerment and the legal system in S.E. Michigan.

John graduated summa cum laude from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law and received the West Publishing Award for outstanding legal Scholarship. John worked as a law clerk for the Honorable J. Dale Wainwright (Former Associate Justice for the Texas Supreme Court) and the Honorable Kenneth M. Hoyt of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. John is a former Editor-in-Chief of the Thurgood Marshall Law Review, and has taught trial advocacy and persuasive skills at the National Advocacy Center.

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