It’s easy to believe the path to wealth is paved with long hours, bootstrapping, and burnout. But for Dr. Karwanna D. Irving, the opposite proved true: building legacy wealth meant working less, trusting more—and learning how to pitch to power.
From single motherhood and financial struggle to creating over $25 million in government contracts for her clients, Dr. Karwanna is on a billion-dollar mission—literally. Her goal? Help 1,000 Black entrepreneurs each earn $1 million through the most overlooked wealth vehicle in the small business world: government contracting.
From Divorce and $30K a Year to $300K in Months
Dr. Karwanna wasn’t always the powerhouse she is today. Before discovering the world of government contracts, she was working full-time in her own business—and barely getting by.
“I was living in California with two kids, recently divorced, and only bringing in $30,000 a year,” she shares. “When I got my first government contract, I doubled that in just 28 days, working two hours a day.”
Her first $70,000 contract led to a domino effect. She stacked it with two more contracts—one worth $60K, another for $40K—and scaled to $300,000 in less than 5 months. No VC funding. No fancy tech. Just strategy and execution.
“I used to think you had to suffer for years before you see success. Turns out, that’s a myth.”
Unlearning the Grind: The Smarter Way to Scale
Karwanna’s biggest revelation? Most entrepreneurs are selling to the wrong clients.
Rather than chasing down B2C customers one by one, she teaches her clients to go straight to the top: the U.S. government, the world’s largest purchaser of products and services. And yes, even solo entrepreneurs and home-based businesses can qualify.
“If you’ve ever sold your product or service to a person, you can sell it to the government.”
From sticky tape to branding services to cultural sensitivity training—government agencies buy almost everything. One of her clients even landed a $2.7 million contract teaching diversity and inclusion.
The 4-Step Framework for Government Contracts
Dr. Karwanna’s system demystifies the red tape. She teaches it through her popular 5-Day GovCon Challenge, walking business owners through the pre-qualification process in just one week.
Her signature framework, BCMP, covers:
- Business Foundation – Ensuring your LLC, EIN, and tax docs are in order
- Certifications – Unlocking “set-aside” contracts for women, minority-owned, veteran, or disadvantaged businesses
- Marketing – Identifying your NAICS codes and matching with buyers at sites like USASpending.gov
- Proposals – Submitting bids confidently with a roadmap in hand
“Certifications are the golden ticket. They help you skip the line and go straight to the million-dollar deals.”
Business, But Make It Biblical
More than money, Karwanna’s work is rooted in faith and purpose. Her business is built on spiritual principles—putting God first and trusting in divine alignment.
A scripture that anchors her journey? “Be fruitful and multiply.” She sees her mission as an extension of that call.
“If your business isn’t multiplying, there’s a root issue. You have to plant new beliefs, not just new strategies.”
This alignment fuels her unapologetic focus on creating generational wealth and breaking cycles of scarcity—especially for Black women entrepreneurs who’ve historically been excluded from these systems.
Legacy Over Limitation
What sets Karwanna apart is her ability to connect high-level vision with real-life strategy. She’s not just teaching people how to land contracts—she’s helping them step into a new identity.
“Mindset is 90% of the game. You have to believe you’re qualified before anyone else will.”
Through her courses, coaching, and content, Dr. Karwanna is equipping entrepreneurs to shift from hustle to harmony—from striving to scaling. And her mission is just getting started.
Giveaway
As part of this episode’s special feature, Dr. Karwanna is giving away a free copy of her book, Don’t Duck the Government: They’ve Got Your Money—a must-read for anyone ready to pitch and win contracts with confidence.
One lucky listener will also receive free access to her $10,000 government contracting course, reserved for those ready to claim their next level of impact.
Connect with Karwanna:
- Website: https://govconchallenge.com/unconventional
- Book: https://dontduckthegovernmentbook.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/kwarwaspeaks
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@karwannad
