For Bryan Rand, Morehouse Faculty is greater than a college—it’s the muse that formed his trajectory. At Morehouse’s thirty seventh annual A Candle within the Darkish Gala, Rand, Founder & CEO of Rand & Co Holdings, LLC, introduced a $1 million donation to his alma mater—an funding in the way forward for Black excellence. However for Rand, this isn’t nearly slicing a examine. It’s about setting a precedent. “I hope this present serves as a name to motion,” he instructed EBONY. “We discuss loads about Black excellence, however excellence isn’t nearly what you obtain for your self—it’s about what you construct for others.”
Rand was honored on the gala with the Bennie Lifetime Achievement Award, becoming a member of a prestigious group of trailblazers, together with Pharrell Williams and enterprise capitalist Rashaun Williams. However the second wasn’t about accolades—it was about affect. “Morehouse took an opportunity on me as a younger child from Indianapolis, offering me with a scholarship that modified the trajectory of my life,” he mirrored. “Now, standing the place I’m, I really feel a deep duty to provide again in a approach that’s as transformative as the chance I used to be given.”
His donation will set up the Rand Household Excellence in Motion Scholarship, designed to draw prime expertise to Morehouse whereas offering college students with monetary freedom to pursue bold objectives. “I would like Morehouse to be the faculty of alternative for distinctive younger males,” he stated. “And I would like these college students to have the assets to make daring strikes—whether or not that’s finding out overseas, beginning a enterprise or launching a group initiative.”
Rand sees his donation as just the start. “Lengthy-term, I’d wish to increase our help not solely at Morehouse however throughout different HBCUs. I consider in creating ecosystems the place our greatest expertise is nurtured, our tales are celebrated, and our communities are strengthened. That is about constructing pipelines of alternative and making certain that our establishments stay well-resourced and world-class.”
That philosophy extends past philanthropy and into how Rand has constructed his personal empire. His strategy to enterprise has been centered on possession and long-term imaginative and prescient. “I don’t simply put money into companies—I construct them. I deal with possession, creating worth and making selections that prioritize sustainable progress over fast wins. I’m not in search of exits—I’m seeking to create lasting affect.”
The mindset of legacy-building additionally fuels his perspective on generational wealth. “I hear the time period generational wealth thrown round loads, and I believe folks usually equate it to only having cash or proudly owning property. However to me, actual generational wealth is way deeper than that—it’s about values and data. You can depart somebody tens of millions of {dollars}, but when they don’t have the precise mindset, self-discipline, and understanding of methods to steward that wealth, it’ll be gone very quickly.”
For Rand, wealth isn’t simply one thing to be inherited—it should be understood, revered, and expanded upon. “I don’t need my youngsters to only inherit wealth—I would like them to have the prospect to earn and construct on what I’ve began.”
Wanting forward, Rand has no plans of slowing down. “In enterprise, my objective is to scale Rand & Co Holdings to the following degree—to remodel a $400 million portfolio right into a multi-billion-dollar empire. I need to proceed to construct companies, create jobs, and generate actual wealth—not only for me however for my group.”
And simply as he’s constructing companies, he’s additionally constructing pathways for the following technology.” I need to increase my work with Morehouse and different HBCUs, specializing in creating pipelines of alternative for college students. I’m additionally seeking to mentor extra younger Black entrepreneurs, sharing my experiences and serving to them navigate the challenges of constructing one thing actual.”
Together with his $1 million present, Rand isn’t simply making a donation—he’s issuing a problem. To Morehouse Males. To Black entrepreneurs. To these with the means to uplift the establishments that formed them. His message is obvious: the way forward for Black excellence isn’t simply one thing to aspire to—it’s one thing to put money into.
EBONY: Your $1 million present to Morehouse is a strong assertion of Black philanthropy. What impressed you to make this historic dedication, and why now?
Bryan Rand: I’ve all the time believed that Morehouse is greater than a school—it’s a launchpad for excellence. Morehouse took an opportunity on me as a younger child from Indianapolis, offering me with a scholarship that modified the trajectory of my life. Now, standing the place I’m, I really feel a deep duty to provide again in a approach that’s as transformative as the chance I used to be given.
The timing felt proper as a result of Morehouse is in a second of progress and potential, and I wished to be part of that momentum. I additionally wished to set an instance, exhibiting that we—as Black enterprise leaders—can and must be on the forefront of supporting our establishments. This present isn’t simply concerning the current; it’s about creating alternatives for generations to return.
You talked about that that is just the start of your funding in Morehouse. What are your long-term objectives for supporting HBCUs and Black training?
This present is step one in a a lot larger imaginative and prescient. The Rand Household Excellence in Motion Scholarship is designed to draw the nation’s finest and brightest younger males to Morehouse and provides them the assets to pursue superb alternatives whereas they’re right here. I would like Morehouse to be the faculty of alternative for distinctive expertise, and I would like these college students to have the monetary freedom and help to make daring strikes—whether or not that’s finding out overseas, beginning a enterprise or launching a group initiative.
Lengthy-term, I’d wish to increase our help not solely at Morehouse however throughout different HBCUs. I consider in creating ecosystems the place our greatest expertise is nurtured, our tales are celebrated, and our communities are strengthened. That is about constructing pipelines of alternative and making certain that our establishments stay well-resourced and world-class.
How do you hope your donation influences different alumni and enterprise leaders to put money into HBCUs?
I hope this present serves as a name to motion. I would like different alumni and enterprise leaders to see this and assume, “I can do this too.” Whether or not it’s a monetary present, mentorship or opening doorways to new alternatives, all of us have one thing to provide.
We discuss loads about Black excellence, however excellence isn’t nearly what you obtain for your self—it’s about what you construct for others. My hope is that this donation is a spark that lights a bigger fireplace, inspiring others to consider how they’ll contribute to the sustainability and progress of HBCUs.
You oversee a $400 million portfolio spanning a number of industries. What have been the important thing strikes that helped you scale your companies to this degree?
For me, the important thing has all the time been long-term pondering. I don’t simply put money into companies—I construct them. I deal with possession, creating worth and making selections that prioritize sustainable progress over fast wins. I’m not in search of exits—I’m seeking to create lasting affect.
I additionally encompass myself with nice expertise and make investments deeply in management. My strategy is hands-on, and I’m not afraid to roll up my sleeves and get into the main points. In the end, I consider in enjoying the lengthy recreation, making disciplined decisions, and all the time maintaining my eye on the bigger imaginative and prescient.
What’s the very best enterprise or monetary lesson you’ve discovered that has formed your strategy to investing and constructing firms?
The perfect lesson I’ve discovered is that self-discipline creates freedom. The extra disciplined I’m with my investments, my time and my relationships, the extra freedom I create for myself and my companies. I’ve additionally discovered that money stream is king. It’s not nearly top-line income—it’s concerning the well being of the enterprise and ensuring you’re not simply rising however rising profitably.
Lastly, I’ve discovered to play the lengthy recreation. Success that comes rapidly usually leaves simply as quick. I’d fairly take a gentle, disciplined strategy and construct one thing that lasts for generations.
In the event you may give one piece of recommendation to a younger Morehouse pupil right this moment seeking to comply with in your footsteps, what wouldn’t it be?
My recommendation can be to remain curious and keep disciplined. All the time be a pupil—whether or not you’re within the classroom or the boardroom. Study from everybody and all the pieces. And on the identical time, be disciplined along with your time and your power. Say sure to issues that align along with your objectives and have the power to say no to distractions.
I’d additionally say, don’t let worry dictate your decisions. The largest alternatives usually come wrapped in a bit of little bit of worry. Embrace it, push by it, and all the time guess on your self.
Wanting forward, what’s subsequent for Bryan Rand—each in enterprise and in your efforts to empower the following technology of Black leaders?
In enterprise, my objective is to scale Rand & Co Holdings to the following degree—to remodel a $400 million portfolio right into a multi-billion-dollar empire. I need to proceed to construct companies, create jobs and generate actual wealth—not only for me however for my group.
On the philanthropic facet, I need to increase my work with Morehouse and different HBCUs, specializing in creating pipelines of alternative for college students. I’m additionally seeking to mentor extra younger Black entrepreneurs, sharing my experiences and serving to them navigate the challenges of constructing one thing actual.
In the end, I need to be a frontrunner who not solely builds nice firms, but additionally paves the way in which for others. I’m not simply right here to win—I’m right here to verify the following technology wins too.