"When you put these footprints down, be very careful because your children are going to follow along." - Winnebago tribal leader Reuben Snake Jr. (named Kee-Kah-Wah-Un-Ga at birth), former national chairman of the American Indian Movement.

Annette Hamilton, Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer, Ho-Chunk, Inc. shares the story of the economic development of the Winnebago Tribe in Nebraska and her own story of becoming a self-made Cinderella.

In the early-mid 1990s, the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska was exploring social entrepreneurship models for job creation and long-term economic self-sufficiency. At the time, poverty and its symptoms were painfully visible in the community. Tribal leaders knew the expansion of casino gaming in Iowa would threaten the Tribe's modest revenue from its small casino on the reservation near Sloan, Iowa. The tribe needed to diversify its revenue and lessen its reliance on meager federal government funding to help its people in significant ways.

Annette talks about the role of a Native American tribal development company which is different from other corporations because success is defined by its ability to effect change for the tribal community.

"Culture and history are inseparable from the company, including healing from historical trauma. Centuries of oppression have threatened the traditional way of life and identity of Native Americans – including the Winnebago people. Those deep scars are felt today," she says.

The tribe realized simply, creating jobs wasn't enough, their approach had to evolve. "There's a motto that's frequently said in our company, to do one thing, you must do everything."

This led to the foundation of Ho-Chunk, Inc. or "The People, Incorporated", an award-winning socio-economic development corporation. With its mission to enable the Winnebago Tribe to reach economic self-sufficiency, it honors the vision of Reuben Snake and other historical tribal leaders by connecting the past to a brighter future. The company's profits and leadership help facilitate social and economic advancement through housing, jobs and educational programs, community partnerships, and non-profit and cultural donations.

Annette talks about the five shared priorities of the Winnebago Tribe which are aimed through Ho-Chunk, Inc.: Youth, education, housing, employment, and elders.

"The total approach has created both an economy and a middle class in the Winnebago community. Key social and economic indicators – such as education rates, homeownership, and median household income, and a decrease in the poverty rate – are showing measurable progress in less than a generation. The approach is now considered a standard of tribal self-determination and modeled by numerous other tribes on their own paths for social advancement and economic self-sufficiency. Disparities still exist in the community and the healing is far from complete, but the hope, progress, and pride are palpable."

Annette explained the approach adopted by Ho-Chunk, Inc. recognizes the shared problems of diverse groups, and by working together, they can create strength and opportunity. Termed as 'community reinvestment capitalism', the approach created a rising tide that lifts all boats. The corporation remains mindful of its communities since its inception in 1994 and has supported and invested in small businesses. Annette spoke about how the Winnebago Tribe, Ho-Chunk, Inc., and partners have created strong foundational infrastructure and institutions for the tribal community as part of this approach, such as a non-profit community development organization (HCCDC), and a Community Development Financial Institution. This is supplemented by Ho-Chunk, Inc. investing in the community's youth through the corporation's education, college internship, and professional development programs. Annette hopes businesses in Nebraska develop similar approaches and connect institutional resources to further support entrepreneurship.

"We believe it's important to be a good employer and a true community partner in the places we do business across Nebraska and beyond. That helps us all advance our mission in service of the Winnebago people and improve the communities where we have operations. We believe this approach is a sustainable approach to a bright future."

Correlating her own journey with Ho-Chunk, Inc., Annette, who is an enrolled member of the Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas, recalls her childhood in dire poverty. Her grandmother was a product of Native American boarding schools and her mother did not finish high school. There was no money for new clothes or coats. As a young girl, her sole focus was survival.

"I read the Parade magazine every Sunday. There was a one-caption cartoon that showed a picture of Cinderella with her fairy godmother. In this picture, her hand used to wave the pumpkin and the mice away. At the bottom it said, Forget the Prince, I want an MBA from Stanford. I did not know what an MBA was or the prestige of Stanford. What I did know from that cartoon was that an MBA was a way out of poverty."

Today, Annette sits on multiple boards, including the Native American Contractors Association, New Mexico Community Capital, a local hospital board for MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center, and a board for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City – Omaha Branch. The work she is doing is helping the advancement of legal and economic rights for Native Americans, both through management of Ho-Chunk, Inc. and the involvement required outside of the company, regularly meeting with US Senators and members of Congress, and testifying in front of the US House Small Business subcommittee.

Annette credits her success to her professional skill sets, finding her voice, and tenacity, in addition to her accounting and managerial degrees. She has worked across a range of industries and business environments, from public corporations to casinos.

"Finding my voice was critical. Being a woman in an executive office and earning the respect required to be effective is much harder than it sounds. You can never give up. You must have the tenacity to keep showing up each day and not take setbacks personally. I've learned that looking at problems through an objective lens, such as numbers, is a better way to discover what is right, not who is right. If I'm wrong or someone else is wrong, just say that didn't work out."

Sharing her advice for people seeking self-employment, Annette suggests going into business with someone who has experience in that market, while being firm on business values and principles. Most importantly she recommends investing in a business that has positive cash flow which can foot the bills of operations and human resources to keep the business going. "These are some of the basic tenets we follow at Ho-Chunk, Inc. when starting a new business or partnering on a new venture."