For Bryan Rand, Morehouse School is greater than a faculty—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 reducing a examine. It’s about setting a precedent. “I hope this present serves as a name to motion,” he advised EBONY. “We speak quite a bit 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 influence. “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 accountability to present again in a means 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 formidable targets. “I need Morehouse to be the school of selection for distinctive younger males,” he stated. “And I need these college students to have the assets to make daring strikes—whether or not that’s learning overseas, beginning a enterprise or launching a neighborhood initiative.”
Rand sees his donation as only the start. “Lengthy-term, I’d prefer to develop our assist not solely at Morehouse however throughout different HBCUs. I imagine 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 guaranteeing 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 development over fast wins. I’m not in search of exits—I’m seeking to create lasting influence.”
The mindset of legacy-building additionally fuels his perspective on generational wealth. “I hear the time period generational wealth thrown round quite a bit, and I feel individuals usually equate it to only having cash or proudly owning belongings. However to me, actual generational wealth is way deeper than that—it’s about values and information. You might depart somebody tens of millions of {dollars}, but when they don’t have the fitting mindset, self-discipline, and understanding of easy methods to steward that wealth, it’ll be gone very quickly.”
For Rand, wealth isn’t simply one thing to be inherited—it have to be understood, revered, and expanded upon. “I don’t need my children to only inherit wealth—I need them to have the prospect to earn and construct on what I’ve began.”
Trying forward, Rand has no plans of slowing down. “In enterprise, my objective is to scale Rand & Co Holdings to the subsequent stage—to rework a $400 million portfolio right into a multi-billion-dollar empire. I wish to proceed to construct companies, create jobs, and generate actual wealth—not only for me however for my neighborhood.”
And simply as he’s constructing companies, he’s additionally constructing pathways for the subsequent era.” I wish to develop my work with Morehouse and different HBCUs, specializing in creating pipelines of alternative for college kids. 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.”
Along 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 at all times 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 accountability to present again in a means 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 development and potential, and I needed to be part of that momentum. I additionally needed to set an instance, exhibiting that we—as Black enterprise leaders—can and ought to 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 only the start of your funding in Morehouse. What are your long-term targets for supporting HBCUs and Black schooling?
This present is step one in a a lot greater 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 wonderful alternatives whereas they’re right here. I need Morehouse to be the school of selection for distinctive expertise, and I need these college students to have the monetary freedom and assist to make daring strikes—whether or not that’s learning overseas, beginning a enterprise or launching a neighborhood initiative.
Lengthy-term, I’d prefer to develop our assist not solely at Morehouse however throughout different HBCUs. I imagine 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 guaranteeing 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 need different alumni and enterprise leaders to see this and suppose, “I can try this too.” Whether or not it’s a monetary present, mentorship or opening doorways to new alternatives, all of us have one thing to present.
We speak quite a bit 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 development 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 stage?
For me, the important thing has at all times 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 development over fast wins. I’m not in search of exits—I’m seeking to create lasting influence.
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 small print. In the end, I imagine in enjoying the lengthy sport, making disciplined decisions, and at all times retaining my eye on the bigger imaginative and prescient.
What’s the very best enterprise or monetary lesson you’ve realized that has formed your strategy to investing and constructing firms?
The perfect lesson I’ve realized 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 realized that money move 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 realized to play the lengthy sport. Success that comes shortly usually leaves simply as quick. I’d moderately take a gentle, disciplined strategy and construct one thing that lasts for generations.
In case you might give one piece of recommendation to a younger Morehouse scholar as we speak seeking to comply with in your footsteps, what wouldn’t it be?
My recommendation can be to remain curious and keep disciplined. At all times be a scholar—whether or not you’re within the classroom or the boardroom. Be taught from everybody and every part. And on the identical time, be disciplined along with your time and your vitality. Say sure to issues that align along with your targets 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 just a little little bit of worry. Embrace it, push via it, and at all times wager on your self.
Trying forward, what’s subsequent for Bryan Rand—each in enterprise and in your efforts to empower the subsequent era of Black leaders?
In enterprise, my objective is to scale Rand & Co Holdings to the subsequent stage—to rework a $400 million portfolio right into a multi-billion-dollar empire. I wish to proceed to construct companies, create jobs and generate actual wealth—not only for me however for my neighborhood.
On the philanthropic facet, I wish to develop my work with Morehouse and different HBCUs, specializing in creating pipelines of alternative for college kids. 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 wish to be a frontrunner who not solely builds nice firms, but in addition paves the best way for others. I’m not simply right here to win—I’m right here to verify the subsequent era wins too.
