For Lisa Keohokalole Schauer, president of Point North Consulting, the Port of Seattle’s Business Accelerator program revealed a profound truth: the gap between organizations that talk about equity and those that truly live it. Her experience illustrates how meaningful business relationships are built not just on transactions, but on shared values and genuine investment in community success.
Photo of Lisa Keohokalole Schauer via pointnorthinc.com
Building Community Through Strategic Communications
Point North Consulting sets itself apart in the competitive field of strategic communications by prioritizing listening before building solutions. “At Point North Consulting, we like to work with clients who like to listen,” Schauer explains. The Vancouver, Washington-based firm specializes in values-led, community-driven strategic communications, community engagement, marketing, and creative services.
The company’s approach centers on partnership rather than simply service delivery. They focus on clients committed to education—from pre-K through PhD—workforce and economic development, and infrastructure and transportation projects. What makes Point North unique is their focus on collaboratively creating solutions with clients truly committed to investing in their communities. In just under five years, Point North has expanded to nearly 20 employees, reflecting Schauer’s strong leadership and the firm’s community-driven approach. Yet despite this growth, Schauer found herself facing familiar challenges that many small business owners encounter, particularly around access to capital and scaling strategies.
A Pivotal Moment: When Organizations Walk Their Talk
One session during the Business Accelerator program proved particularly transformative for Schauer. When Seattle Credit Union presented their micro-lending approach, she witnessed something she’d rarely experienced: an organization that genuinely centered equity in their business practices.
“We often hear organizations that say they’re committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and we see some really fancy words on beautiful websites,” Schauer reflects. “But I’m always interested in understanding how does it show up in your work?”
Seattle Credit Union’s presentation stood in stark contrast to Schauer’s previous experiences with financial institutions. She explained that a local credit union, where she once served on the board, required her to provide a check matching the full amount of the line of credit she was seeking. “So they’ll hold my cash for me and then they’ll give me a line of credit so that I can build credit. That’s not investing in me, my vision, or my business.”
The difference was profound. Seattle Credit Union approached small businesses not as numbers on a spreadsheet, but as organizations worthy of genuine investment. They demonstrated how equity in lending means looking beyond traditional metrics to truly recognize the potential and vision of business owners.
The Power of Collaborative Learning
Beyond the specific insights about equitable lending, the Business Accelerator provided Schauer with something equally valuable: a collaborative learning environment that sharpened her business focus. As a communications professional who acknowledges that her business “likes lots of words,” she found tremendous value in outside perspectives that helped refine Point North’s messaging.
“It was really fantastic and value-added to have other consultants, maybe even in our own space, be able to offer us some helpful tips,” she notes. Rather than competition, the program fostered collaboration among participants, creating “a real sense of wanting to help lift one another and find ways to connect.”
This collaborative spirit extended beyond the formal sessions. Schauer discovered that many of the barriers she had experienced over Point North’s four years in business were shared challenges among other DBE owners. “In some ways it’s really comforting to know that we’re not alone,” she explains. “And yet at the same time, these problems are real and they need to be solved.”
Preparing for Strategic Growth
Perhaps most importantly, the accelerator program provided Schauer with something she didn’t initially realize she needed: readiness for strategic growth. While Point North had growth goals, the program helped her understand the foundation necessary to scale thoughtfully and sustainably.
“I didn’t know that I needed this program to help me be prepared to make that next step in terms of our growth strategy,” Schauer admits. “And I can see in hindsight, had I not gone through this program, we would not have been ready. But I feel like I have a really strong foundation to be able to go through the right steps to assess when we’re ready to make that next growth step.”
This preparation goes beyond tactical knowledge to include the confidence and network necessary for sustainable scaling. The program helped Point North’s leadership team think bigger about their potential impact while ensuring they had the structural foundation to support that growth.
Making Time for Transformation
For busy business owners constantly working “in” their businesses rather than “on” them, finding time for professional development can seem impossible. Schauer almost didn’t participate, confessing she “might have been the last one to hit submit” on her application due to concerns about time commitment.
The program demanded attending sessions two nights a week over several weeks—a substantial commitment for someone already juggling many responsibilities. Yet Schauer now characterizes it as “the best investment in myself and the best investment in my business.”
Her advice to fellow DBE owners reflects this transformation: “You never have enough time to work on your business ’cause you’re working in your business. And this is worth the time. Find the time—you have it.”
A Vision for Continued Impact
Schauer’s experience highlights the broader impact that targeted support programs can have on disadvantaged business enterprises. The Business Accelerator didn’t just provide education and networking—it created genuine connections between organizations committed to equitable business practices and the small businesses that embody those values in their communities.
“This is the way in which we show up for small businesses in a tangible way to help them be able to continue to become a thriving part of our economy,” Schauer explains. Her hope is that the program will continue, providing other DBE organizations with similar opportunities to connect, learn, and grow.
At Point North Consulting, they believe in “living our north”—staying true to their values while pursuing growth and impact. Through the Business Accelerator, Schauer found partners who share that commitment to authentic community investment, creating a foundation for sustainable growth that benefits not just her business, but the broader community it serves.