Must-Have Items For Every Black Entrepreneurs' Travel Bag

You’re booked and busy with things to do and places to go, or perhaps you’re an entrepreneur heading to Oakland, CA for AfroTech 2019 in November. No matter where you’re heading next, being an entrepreneur can require a lot of travel regardless.

While the logistics such as flight plans, hotel accommodations, and rental car purchases are all handled by your team, packing your carry-on and checked luggage is solely up to you.

Instead of waiting until the last minute before your flight, make sure you have everything you need in your travel bag. Peep our list of must-haves to make sure the entrepreneurial necessities don’t get left behind for your next trip.

Promotional Material

Traveling can be one of the best networking tools to date. Since airports and flights are full of potential connects, you want to make sure that you have your contact info or promotional flyers on hand. Whether it’s an e-card you can AirDrop or a traditional paper card, have it packed in your carry-on. You never know who you might meet.

A Traditional Notebook or Digital Tablet

Whether you prefer to jot your ideas on paper or your iPad, have some sort of easily accessible tool available to quickly write down ideas or take notes. Chances are, you will be inspired by a background conversation or event that you encounter during your travels, and you don’t want to forget it during your busy travel schedule.

Something Educational

What better time to learn about the newest investments or listen to your favorite entrepreneur podcast than on a long flight. This is also a great time to review your speaker notes or formulate questions that you want to ask at an upcoming conference (hint hint).

Power Bank

There’s nothing worse than your phone or laptop battery going below 10 percent, and there isn’t an available outlet or you’ve left your charger in your hotel room. Having a reliable power bank saves you from having to abruptly end important Skype, business calls, or miss out on a potential connection.

Noise-canceling Headphones

If you plan to use your flight time to finish a project or map out your next business move, a set of noise-canceling headphones are just what you need to get in the zone. Even if music is distracting to you while you work, just wearing them may signal that you do not want to be disturbed.