VCWoman Achieve 2025 Mentor Spotlight – Elizabeth Small

Posted on January 30, 2025
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Name: Elizabeth Small | Business/Profession: Director of Business Networks & Instructor of Real Estate Development, UA Little Rock

Please share a little about your background, personally and/or professionally.

Jackson, Mississippi was my hometown and I left to attend Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. Upon graduation, I married a Pine Bluff native and moved to Little Rock. As the first employee of a commercial real estate development firm, the job was never dull and my opportunities changed frequently as the business grew. A natural curiosity and yearning for business knowledge kept me on top of the profession and led me into the commercial construction arena, learning from the ground up. I eventually earned the position of partner and CEO/President. Construction and real estate development go hand-in-hand. After 32 years, I sold my company interest and begin teaching in the School of Business Finance Department at UA Little Rock.

Please share more about your current position and place of work. How have you grown professionally/personally in this role?

I am the Instructor of Real Estate Development in the UA Little Rock School of Business. After several years on faculty, I was also asked to be the Director of Business Networks for the University. Connecting students and faculty to businesses is a passion and the business connections made in my early years have been a great resource for current opportunties. The connections were made with help from business partners, clients, the Chamber of Commerce, state associations, and national industry orgranizations.

What drew you to being a mentor for an entrepreneurial group curated for non-men? How has being a woman or non-binary individual impacted your professional journey?

Women can be the best or the worst promoters. Promoting women who have a healthy ambition to grow and acheive makes mentoring worthwhile and fun. Seeking the counsel and friendship of women in a variety of professional fields has broadened and strengthened my “life” journey. Recognizing greatness in people through a woman’s eyes is powerful and finding the natural spark in people brings an amazing sense of satisfaction.

What are three things you enjoy doing outside of work?

Walking; Reading/Listening to Audiobooks; Gardening.

What is your go-to piece of advice for professionals, entrepreneurs, or anyone looking to you for guidance?

There are people all around who are willing to share time, expertise, and experiences. Make a list of people you want to talk to and ask them out for lunch or coffee; listen to what they may tell you about yourself; act on their constructive suggestions.

What is a professional achievement that you are most proud of, and why are you proud of it?

Most recently, coaching my student team to victory in a national competition was a great professional achievement. The experience taught the students where and how real opportunities are garnered and they met other university students from across the country with similar interests. Raising the awareness of UA Little Rock’s students in the world is always a goal worth pursuing.