1 00:00:01,080 --> 00:00:05,000 Speaker 1: This is the Business of Sports from Bloomberg Radio. Hello, 2 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: I'm Jason Kelly and I'm Mike Lynch, and welcome to 3 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:10,559 Speaker 1: Bloomberg Business of Sports. It's the podcast where we explore 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:12,799 Speaker 1: the big money issues in the world of sports, talk 5 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: to some of the biggest players in the industry. And 6 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:18,440 Speaker 1: that is certainly true today. Joining us today is four 7 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,560 Speaker 1: time w NBA All Star in twenty six teen w 8 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: NBA champion a Lena Beard, now working in the world 9 00:00:26,079 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: of venture capital. Welcome to the show. I know it 10 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: is a topsy turvy time, to say the least, and 11 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,480 Speaker 1: I guess I want to start by asking you what 12 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: it's been like to look at the sports world and 13 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: the broader world now as an ex player. You're in 14 00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: the venture capital business now in the working world, in 15 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: the different sort of working world. What do you see 16 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: out there? It's been a lot, it's been a lot 17 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 1: to comprehend. Um. I think I'm not saying I noted. 18 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: This is the first time in twenty years that I'm 19 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: I'm out out of that sports bubble. And I tend 20 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: to think that we're we're somewhat sheltered and have our 21 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 1: blinders on um for the most part because because of 22 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:13,320 Speaker 1: our life has been sort of one way for so long. UM. 23 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:14,959 Speaker 1: And and maybe I can only speak for me as 24 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 1: as a personal experience, but now that I'm in the 25 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: corporate world, I I tend to see things a lot 26 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: differently in terms of UM, the conversations and the dialogues 27 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,840 Speaker 1: that are being had. UM. But it's been a huge 28 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: learning experience. Has been an unfortunate year and in so 29 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: many ways. UM. But I'm I'm confident that we will, 30 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:39,040 Speaker 1: you know, want certain things are in place, like a vaccine, 31 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 1: UM activism continue to to progress as it is, UM, 32 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: we will. We will receive a lot better days. So Elena, 33 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: I have to ask you because you know you're not 34 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 1: playing sports at the moment, but basically no one's playing 35 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: sports at the moment. I mean, as you look at 36 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 1: that from the outside, you look at the effect of 37 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: this pandemic on the sports world, especially the basketball world, 38 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: which is figuring out, it looks like a way to 39 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: come back, although that feels even in jeopardy at this moment, 40 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: given some of the spike in coronavirus cases, especially in Florida. 41 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 1: What do you think about sort of a world without sports? 42 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 1: The even temporarily. What does it feel like to you 43 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: and what does it mean? More broadly, it's I think 44 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: the key word in that question is that it's temporary, 45 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: and I think people need to be patient because we can, 46 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,640 Speaker 1: we can force our hand and continue to push and 47 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 1: push when in reality, every delay, in my opinion, as 48 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: cliche as it sounds, is for the best. So if 49 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:45,639 Speaker 1: it means and I know a lot of money and 50 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 1: capital is involved, but it didn't mean taking off from 51 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: sports until a vaccine is in place and tested and 52 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: proven and Riley distributed, that's what we have to do. 53 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:02,160 Speaker 1: I don't like the idea, uh of putting money before 54 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: human life, and I think that's what we're doing. Although 55 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: it may sound a bit extreme and a bit dramatic, 56 00:03:10,040 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: attempting to have a season and putting the pressure on 57 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: an athlete to the side is it's I think it's 58 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: extremely horsh harsh because we're competitive, we love this game, 59 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: we have a passion forward and for us to say 60 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 1: no to it, it's a time of like being a trader, 61 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 1: are let down to to yourself but also to your teammates, 62 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: to those that are playing. So it's it's it's a 63 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: it's an interesting dynamic going on here, um, and obviously 64 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: the lead we're attempting to take all of the right 65 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 1: protocols to to start of get everyone back to playing, 66 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: but I can't imagine it turning out good. And I'm 67 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,440 Speaker 1: not an expert. Obviously, I followed the news. I I 68 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: read a lot, but I comprehend and take in what 69 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: I want. Um, But I don't think it's a good 70 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: decision to push forward with a season in any sports 71 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: other than golf. Perhaps our tenants, Alan, I know you've 72 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: just recently retired, and the plans for the w n 73 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: B as to get down to the i MG Academy 74 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: in Bradenton in early July, and I'm sure you're still 75 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 1: in touch with many of your ex teammates and the 76 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,960 Speaker 1: women around the league. What do you think their comfort 77 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: level is with this, with this concept and this idea. 78 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: You know, that's that's sort of what I just they're torn, 79 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: a lot of individuals torn, I think, Um, And I 80 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: think players that you know have maybe more responsibilities in 81 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: terms of having you know, kids, I think you know 82 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: they're leaning more towards not playing because that's crucial, right 83 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: um Am I going to bring my kid into this 84 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: environment where the risks is potentially higher. Um. And so 85 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 1: that's the decision that everyone is sort of grappling with. 86 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 1: I think, I think and and and I haven't spoken 87 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: to many people, but just my take on reading and 88 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,600 Speaker 1: started listening is that I think a lot of younger 89 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: players are more open to start of playing and getting 90 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: back to a little sense of normality here. Um. But 91 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: like I said, I'm not sure that I agree with 92 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:19,039 Speaker 1: it one way or the other. I mean, I'm not 93 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 1: sure that I agree with the fact that, you know, 94 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: you're asking these players to make a decision and to 95 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:28,680 Speaker 1: potentially put their lives in harmsway. So, Elena, let's talk 96 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 1: about the other crisis that this country is facing, and 97 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: a reckoning that I think we can all agree is 98 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: long overdue. Uh. Many would say, and I would agree 99 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: with this centuries overdue. And you know, I do wonder, 100 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: as someone who has been outspoken, someone who has lived 101 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 1: in the South as I did, who went to a 102 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,919 Speaker 1: prestigious university, who played at the professional level now is 103 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: working in Silicon Valley, what's the lens through which you 104 00:05:54,560 --> 00:06:01,520 Speaker 1: see this current moment that the country is facing. It's 105 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:05,280 Speaker 1: definitely a different len in what I have seen or 106 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:09,919 Speaker 1: how I've seen issues similar issues in the past. UM. 107 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: You know, I I alluded to it early on in 108 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: this conversation that I've been in my force bubble for 109 00:06:15,800 --> 00:06:21,120 Speaker 1: twenty years, and I think the internal conflict that I 110 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: have with myself is that have I ignored that casual 111 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:27,960 Speaker 1: racism UM that I may have experiences or may have 112 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 1: I been examped from it because of who I am 113 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: and what I do. UM. So that's been sort of 114 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: an internal conflict of mine. UM. But now just being 115 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 1: outside of that bubble and being the only person of color, 116 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:45,279 Speaker 1: are the only black person out of fifty and stb 117 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:48,440 Speaker 1: capital has forced me to see things a little differently. 118 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: It's forced me to listen to the dialogue a little differently. 119 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: It forced me to not ignore what I'm hearing UM. 120 00:06:55,720 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 1: But more importantly, it motivates me to be impact and 121 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: to create a sustainable impact UM in what in whatever 122 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:07,800 Speaker 1: way that I can UM what I what I have 123 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:14,640 Speaker 1: to And it's I struggle with sort of putting what 124 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: I'm silling into words because of the first time I 125 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: think I've just been affected maybe by it as much. UM. 126 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: But I grew up in the streetport Louisiana. Um, I 127 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: grew up where honestly, I'm at home now and I 128 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: can walk outside of my yard and Confederate flag is 129 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:38,440 Speaker 1: still flying, um in each direction. UM, maybe a half 130 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: a mile down the road one way, in less than 131 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: a half a mile down the road the other way. UM. 132 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: So those are things that I think our country has 133 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: to come together on, get better at, and realize that 134 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 1: it's not about UM, it's not about the color of 135 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: your skin. UM. It's about moving forward and unite it 136 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: as a country. But this is extremely hard to handle. UM. 137 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: I know that I'm you know, started going on and 138 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: on about it. But what I started to realize is 139 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 1: that my reality is that I'm a mother of a 140 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:17,239 Speaker 1: brown son, I am a sister of a black brother, 141 00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: I am a daughter of a black father father, and 142 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: an aunt of a black nephew. And their reality it's 143 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: completely different than what many of us face, UM in 144 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: this world. And it's it's kind of part to the 145 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 1: sort of a step, UM. But it's time to take 146 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: action that I think a lot of us are right now. 147 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:40,680 Speaker 1: And what do you see going on around you in 148 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: Silicon Valley, Elena, when you're when you're back there because 149 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: you know, we've written a lot about this, and a 150 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,080 Speaker 1: lot has been talked about that Silicon Valley, for as 151 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: progressive as it appears to be, sometimes you know, has 152 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 1: some of the same problems that we see in the 153 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: broader country in some ways even worse. Bloomberg had a 154 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:02,640 Speaker 1: very powerful story that you may have seen about black 155 00:09:02,760 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: entrepreneurs and the struggles that they've had in securing funding, UM, 156 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: securing venture capital funding amid uh you know, in Silicon 157 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:15,480 Speaker 1: Valley and sort of in the broader uh technology world, 158 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 1: do you hear the right conversations at least starting to happen. 159 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: How much work needs to be done in the technology 160 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 1: and VC space In your estimation, there's a lot of 161 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: work that needs to be done. Um. The conversations are 162 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:31,000 Speaker 1: extremely uncomfortable, right, UM. I think people are learning how 163 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 1: to have those conversations. And the question I always ask 164 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: is why now? Why is this moment different? Why have 165 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: you waited so long to put a focus on and 166 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: ificism helping everyone? Um? But it's it's interesting because Silicone 167 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: Valley has the power to change whenever they want to. 168 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: Because the capital, the influx of capital within that industry 169 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 1: is unreal to me. Um. So, what I've saying is 170 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: that a lot of people initially wanted to take action fast, 171 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 1: and they wanted to take action from a monetary perspective, 172 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:09,600 Speaker 1: and I'm not sure that that is the right way 173 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:12,559 Speaker 1: to go. Um. I think one thing that up safe 174 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: Betty Lift is that it is important to listen to 175 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: what is going on around you, to educate yourself first, 176 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:23,360 Speaker 1: to take a step back after that education, after that listening, 177 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: and then take action. Um. And I think after it 178 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:30,440 Speaker 1: has settled down a little bit, I feel that's what 179 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:34,439 Speaker 1: people are starting to do. Um. So it's it's been 180 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: an interesting dynamic. Um. I've set back and I've watched, 181 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: um how everything works. But I do feel that this 182 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:47,240 Speaker 1: is a bit difference. Elena. I know you're involved in 183 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 1: a program called Lift, which is a sort of parallels 184 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: parallels some of the conversation we've just had over the 185 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: last five minutes or so. Why don't you just enlighten 186 00:10:56,160 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: us a little bit about how you're doing this and 187 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: how it's going to impact women in women of color. Well, 188 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 1: I I think that's what we're trying to figure out 189 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:07,439 Speaker 1: right now. But the just of LIFT, it's just it's 190 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: an it's an LP limited Partner general partner matching concept 191 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: UM to where you know, obviously we have our group 192 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: of our our emerging Managers team that goes out and 193 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 1: they bet the new emerging manager. So I think that's 194 00:11:21,080 --> 00:11:24,079 Speaker 1: where the change will come UM because there is a 195 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:26,680 Speaker 1: focused on women. There is a focus on their own 196 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,000 Speaker 1: funds that are led by women, on funds that are 197 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: led by people of color. UM. So with that being said, 198 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:36,160 Speaker 1: you know, the list team will have a direct impact 199 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:40,200 Speaker 1: on helping, you know, to potentially introduce those limited partners 200 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 1: to to those to those funds and how have the 201 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:48,199 Speaker 1: conversations you know, one of the interesting things e Lena 202 00:11:48,320 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: that I've been hearing over the past few weeks is 203 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:54,320 Speaker 1: akin to something you said a few minutes ago, which 204 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: is suddenly everybody's having this conversation. How do you sort 205 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:05,280 Speaker 1: of sort out in some ways the those with good 206 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: intentions and those with you know, sort of fleeting intention 207 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 1: if you get my drift, you know people who are 208 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:15,359 Speaker 1: who are really committed to seeing this through because ultimately, 209 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: and you know this far better than I, this is 210 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: going to take a long time. This is hard work. 211 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: This is something that people have to be deeply committed to. 212 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: How do you sort of figure out who's really in 213 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,559 Speaker 1: it to win it? For for lack of better term, 214 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: I think it's I think it's pretty mature to start 215 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: say that I haven't figured out now, because first of all, 216 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: I've only been at SCB and in that in that 217 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: world for for three months, so I'm still learning individuals. 218 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: I'm still learning a genuine relationship from a transactional relationship 219 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 1: where I've come from a world where all of my 220 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: relationships has been extremely dangering. Right. UM. I've been able 221 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: to travel around the world and and I have best 222 00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 1: friends from from multiple countries UM. And those are those 223 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: are relationships that I'm extremely proud of. UM. But I'm 224 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: still figuring it out in this new world of mine. UM. 225 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: But I think the Teletell sign will be UM a 226 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: year from now if the conversations are still going. Are 227 00:13:11,280 --> 00:13:14,000 Speaker 1: we still being as active, Are we still making direct 228 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 1: impact that we want to the direct impact that we 229 00:13:16,760 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: want to make? UM. I've been doing a lot of reading, 230 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 1: and you know, I think one of the suggestions that 231 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 1: several people have made is to report your metrics, keep 232 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 1: up UM with what you're doing, make your metrics UM 233 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:35,479 Speaker 1: public UM. And I think those companies are those individuals 234 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:37,800 Speaker 1: that are willing to put themselves out there to be 235 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: as transparent as possible will be the ones that come 236 00:13:40,600 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: out on top as the most genuine individuals who truly 237 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: want to see this well changed. I couldn't agree more. 238 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: You know what, you know when you talk to someone 239 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: all the time and say, hey, if it anything, just 240 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,080 Speaker 1: give me a call, and then you know you kind 241 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: of really don't mean it, you know what I mean, 242 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: It's like it's it's for the moment, and and I 243 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,160 Speaker 1: just don't want to I don't want this what's happening 244 00:14:03,160 --> 00:14:05,320 Speaker 1: now to be just for the moment to go away 245 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 1: in a week, a month, or three months. I want 246 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: this to last in perpetuity. How do we make that happen? 247 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,160 Speaker 1: It stills, it stills different. I'm not sure if that 248 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: that was a question. Obviously it was a statement, but 249 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:19,240 Speaker 1: I think we're all trying to figure out how to 250 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: make it happen. Right. Um, what I was with my father. 251 00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 1: I got home to Louisiana two days ago, and then 252 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: my father and I took a drive and it's something 253 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: that we always do just to sort of, you know, conversation. 254 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: But my dad said something that just really hit home. 255 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:39,000 Speaker 1: He said, these young people are different, they have it 256 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,040 Speaker 1: going on. And I was like, what do you mean that? 257 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: He was like, I just think our generation dropped the 258 00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: ball on this, dropped the ball on activism. UM. And 259 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,800 Speaker 1: I thought that was an interesting, interesting perspective. UM, coming 260 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: from one generation UM to this to the generation now 261 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: that is sort of a huge part of this movement 262 00:14:56,360 --> 00:15:00,880 Speaker 1: and leading this country in the right direction. Wow. Do 263 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 1: you agree with that? I mean, did it? Did it 264 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: make you stop and think? Because you've seen both? I 265 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 1: mean you sort of sit between them in in in 266 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: some ways. UM, what do you see that's different with 267 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: young people right now? I have to agree with I 268 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: have to agree with it. Um. You know, the young 269 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:23,440 Speaker 1: people now aren't on taking no foreign answer. Uh. One 270 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: person that I can recall is is Cocoa golf. I 271 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: was listening to a speech that she was giving. Her 272 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: family organized a rally in her hometown in Florida, and 273 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: she said that her grandmother mentioned, it's unfortunate that my 274 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: sixteen year old granddaughter is still fighting for what I 275 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: thought for fifty years ago. UM. So that to me 276 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: tells me that the youth is there are future right 277 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,640 Speaker 1: and so it means everything to me, which is why 278 00:15:55,640 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: I actually joined. The is not Momba Sports Academy anymore, 279 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:02,080 Speaker 1: it's now Sports Academy, but I do on their advisory 280 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 1: board because they have a platform of over seven hundred 281 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: thousand youth and I one percent believe that we could 282 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: figure out a way to make a sustainable impact um 283 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 1: within within the youth. The youth trame of things. UM, 284 00:16:17,520 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: They're fearless. They have a voice on top of a voice, 285 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: and that voice is social media, and they don't mind 286 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 1: using it. And so I'm really happy and interested to 287 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: see where this goes. Well. One of the greatest compliments 288 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: someone can have bestowed upon them is, uh, you made 289 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: a difference and and from my conversation with you, Elena 290 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: right here, you are going to make a difference in 291 00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:44,920 Speaker 1: this world. And I congratulate you and and um and 292 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: wish you all the best. Thank you so much. That's 293 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,560 Speaker 1: that's an ultimate goal of mine. It's just a matter 294 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: of figuring out how UM I want to move forward 295 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,320 Speaker 1: with it. I think this is an interesting platform that 296 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 1: a lot of us need to to take advantage of 297 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 1: and in terms of making it and then passed on 298 00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 1: change for the world, Elena, I did have one more 299 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:07,959 Speaker 1: question for you, sort of keying off of something that 300 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:11,520 Speaker 1: you you just said about Coco um and and thinking 301 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 1: about your background as an athlete, and thinking about the 302 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:18,480 Speaker 1: fact that professional basketball for for men and women, and 303 00:17:18,560 --> 00:17:21,440 Speaker 1: you know, and I'm thinking of you know, Lebron and 304 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 1: others who have really galvanized around this issue, and basketball 305 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,639 Speaker 1: players seem to have been a little further ahead in 306 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: some ways in terms of activism. And if I think 307 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,280 Speaker 1: back to Eric Gardner, if I think back to a 308 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: lot of the things that have been forward thinking when 309 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,359 Speaker 1: it comes to the NBA and the w n b A, 310 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: I wonder what you make of that and why you 311 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: think basketball at both the collegiate and the professional level 312 00:17:47,920 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 1: has been has been a place where this has thrived. 313 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:56,440 Speaker 1: I'm not sure that that I that I haven't answered 314 00:17:56,560 --> 00:18:01,719 Speaker 1: to that. Um. I don't know. Maybe maybe because a 315 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: lot of the basketball players have a bigger platform, maybe 316 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 1: they feel that they have more control than their league, 317 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: or maybe it speaks to the leadership of of the 318 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:15,680 Speaker 1: NBA and the w n b A which is allowed, 319 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: not allowed, but but understands that that these athletes have 320 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: their individual platforms and as long as they're representing themselves 321 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: in the league in the right way. Um, why why 322 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:32,640 Speaker 1: muscle them? Why why why tell them not to use 323 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: what they have? Um? But I'm not sure that I 324 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,239 Speaker 1: have an answer to that, m a clear answer to 325 00:18:38,280 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: that just yet. It's interesting. Yeah, No, I do. I 326 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:44,560 Speaker 1: think you're right if I met like I do. I 327 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:46,919 Speaker 1: do think you're right that there is a sense and 328 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 1: I think more and more people are getting this sense 329 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:50,639 Speaker 1: that you want to be on the right side of 330 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:53,960 Speaker 1: history at this moment. And I think you I think 331 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: the league, the leagues in many ways don't They don't, 332 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 1: as you say, they don't want to get the way 333 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 1: of that. Helena, let me ask you about making the 334 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 1: transition from the w n B. A. You played high 335 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 1: level college basketball at Duke, and how did your experience 336 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 1: being a member of a team playing professional basketball prepare 337 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:19,159 Speaker 1: you to jump into the venture capital world. Yes, well, 338 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 1: first of all, it you understand that you know how 339 00:19:24,760 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: to be a part of a team. I think that's 340 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:29,639 Speaker 1: the most important thing. And what I'm understanding, you know, 341 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: being at a corporation like UM, Silicon Valley, thaing, UM, 342 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: it's so many different entities, there's so many different teams 343 00:19:35,800 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 1: within one dick team. UM. So knowing how to just 344 00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 1: sort of guide your team within your team and then 345 00:19:41,400 --> 00:19:43,640 Speaker 1: focus on on a on a broader perspective, I think 346 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: is a huge advantage for me. UM. But on top 347 00:19:47,560 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: of that, you know how to handle relationships, you know 348 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 1: how to communicate, you know all the all the intangible 349 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: things to do to make a team successful. So that's 350 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: been something that I for now can can add value 351 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 1: to and bring to the tech I know coming in, UM, 352 00:20:02,359 --> 00:20:05,640 Speaker 1: it's tough because I'm a rookie all over again and 353 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:09,680 Speaker 1: I it's it's it's a brand new world and I'm 354 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:11,680 Speaker 1: trying to figure it all out as I go. So 355 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: this is the first time in a long time that 356 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: I've been at my most vulnerable state and it is 357 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,199 Speaker 1: a challenge. UM. But with that, you understand what it 358 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:22,919 Speaker 1: means to to succeed by progression um, and that's what 359 00:20:23,000 --> 00:20:25,600 Speaker 1: I'm currently doing, although I'm starting all over. How do 360 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 1: you choose this path? Elena? The venture capital world that 361 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: is a I dare say and especially aggressive next career. 362 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 1: You know, a lot of times you see athletes, you know, 363 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 1: go into something you know a little more sort of rainmakery. 364 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 1: You know, like sort of leveraging. Uh, some of their relationships. 365 00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: Mean this is a as you've alluded to, a high 366 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: octane world, high pressure. Is that just sort of how 367 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:54,440 Speaker 1: you're wired. I think it is how I am wired. 368 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:58,200 Speaker 1: It's what I've done my entire life. UM. I came 369 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 1: from Treeport, Louisiana, UM, and from here I chose to 370 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:05,479 Speaker 1: go to Duke University understanding what those challenges would be. 371 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:08,919 Speaker 1: On top of the academics um load workload that I 372 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,960 Speaker 1: that I knew I would have, it was the fact 373 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: that I was leaving my family, who I was extremely 374 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:18,080 Speaker 1: close to, going sixteen hours away. UM. You know, and 375 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: I laugh about it now, but I I cried literally 376 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: every single day for two consecutive years, UM at Duke, 377 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 1: every time my family would come and have to leave. 378 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: We were we were just that quote. So UM, I 379 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:33,240 Speaker 1: I knew that would be a challenge, and I stepped 380 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,000 Speaker 1: to that. But then on top of that, you know, 381 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: I in two thousands then I had a potential career 382 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: in the injury and the doctor came in on April 383 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:46,359 Speaker 1: twenty and I badely remember it, uh, two thousand and ten, 384 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 1: and said, hey, you have a you have a nine 385 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 1: chance that you'll never play again, And in that moment, 386 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: I started doing rehab in my head. UM. So that 387 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: I so transitioning to the venture capital space was was 388 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: no difference. UM. I knew what I was getting into 389 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,720 Speaker 1: coming in, UM, I knew would be a challenge. I 390 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 1: knew it would be a steep learning curve UM. And 391 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: that's what I'm going through now and it is. But 392 00:22:11,440 --> 00:22:15,000 Speaker 1: in terms of how I kind of chose the venture 393 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 1: capital space, I've always been entrepreneurial minded UM. And it 394 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:23,480 Speaker 1: started in college actually, when I started getting deep into 395 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 1: sort of franchising and following the trend of franchising. UM. 396 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: I related with the concept of franchising because it's a 397 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: blueprint that's giving to you and your jobs to follow 398 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:35,879 Speaker 1: the blueprint and do it to the best of your ability. 399 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:39,399 Speaker 1: So I'm confident in that I can got to do that. UM. 400 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: And with that, I eventually ended up owning UM a 401 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,879 Speaker 1: Mellow mushroom with with a good friend of mine, Marissa Coleman, 402 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 1: and a few other people UM and Rono Virginia. But 403 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:55,200 Speaker 1: that's a long winded way of saying that I eventually 404 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: met a mentor of mind. His name is Dan Levinton, 405 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 1: he seased to rooted into the venture capital Spacey's the 406 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 1: duke A Lum. He's the managing partner of ned ron 407 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:09,439 Speaker 1: Um never venture capital. And he challenged my perspective on 408 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:12,560 Speaker 1: brick and mortar. And that's all that it took UM 409 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,640 Speaker 1: for me to start of start taking the deeper dive 410 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: than to vink you capital and thinking outside of the 411 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 1: franchise rama things Um. And once that conversation happened about 412 00:23:22,119 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 1: two two and a half years ago, there was it 413 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:28,920 Speaker 1: was no turning back because startups is what I've always 414 00:23:28,960 --> 00:23:31,360 Speaker 1: been interested in. I just never knew how to get 415 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: involved in it. And once I got my foot in 416 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:37,440 Speaker 1: the door, UM, I kept that my my foot start 417 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:39,800 Speaker 1: of I kept the pace going and I knew that 418 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: this is what I wanted to do. The passion is 419 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 1: continuing with and grow um, and I know that eventually 420 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:47,640 Speaker 1: I'll get to where I need could be. All right. 421 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:50,760 Speaker 1: I have to say, Mike, I almost stopped this entire 422 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: interview just a minute ago when she said Melo mushroom 423 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: because I haven't experienced melo mushroom pizza. I grew up 424 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,399 Speaker 1: in the South. It was born in Atlanta, and I 425 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 1: tell you I live in New York now and every 426 00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:04,440 Speaker 1: single time I go south Elena, I take my kids 427 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 1: and my wife there. Wherever there's a Mello mush It's 428 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,280 Speaker 1: like the best pizza on the planet. Anyway. So like 429 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 1: we almost just like went off and went down a 430 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: huge rabbit hole here. R. But it's it's so like 431 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: I I own the franchise and I understand the product, 432 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: which is why you know, we we decided to go 433 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:25,959 Speaker 1: forward with it. But it's very hard walking in and 434 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 1: not touching it. Right. Yeah. Actually, when I was, you know, 435 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 1: in season, had a diet. It's just diet that I 436 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:34,160 Speaker 1: was sticking to. Um, it's very hard not to eat 437 00:24:34,160 --> 00:24:36,400 Speaker 1: a whole pizza when I'm there. Oh my god, they 438 00:24:36,400 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 1: have this dressing. My I mean, I am going to 439 00:24:38,680 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 1: go down a rabbit hole. You're like they had this 440 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 1: this salad dressing that I always would order like a 441 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:45,920 Speaker 1: little bit extra. You dip the crust, these molasses in 442 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:49,040 Speaker 1: the crust, like I am long mellow mushroom in any case, 443 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:53,000 Speaker 1: all right, back to back to the interview. Um, well, 444 00:24:53,040 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 1: if he if he hears silence on this end of 445 00:24:55,080 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: the phone, I'm really hungry right now, So I'm going 446 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:01,719 Speaker 1: to be stepping away from this interview, Hey, Elena, let 447 00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:03,639 Speaker 1: me ask you this. You know, the old saying. You know, 448 00:25:03,840 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: some athletes just can't handle life when the cheering stops 449 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 1: um their loss, that they're they're just so traditional a lot, 450 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:15,199 Speaker 1: I mean, trained that they play, they hear the crowd, 451 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, when it ends, they're lost. 452 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 1: They don't have a compass. What what what? What was 453 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 1: inside of you? Was that your family upbringing, was that 454 00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,840 Speaker 1: your education and duke that that turned you into an 455 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 1: entrepreneur and eventually adventure capitalist. Well, you know, I want 456 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 1: to touch on that point because I think it's the 457 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:33,760 Speaker 1: topic that's that's not touched in terms of the transition 458 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:37,560 Speaker 1: of an athlete um to the real world. It's a 459 00:25:37,640 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 1: dramatic um event um. And I was aware enough to 460 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:48,040 Speaker 1: know that and to understand that my career was going 461 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:50,600 Speaker 1: to be over, you know, as as unfortunate as my 462 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,119 Speaker 1: injury was in two thousand and ten. And not to 463 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:55,199 Speaker 1: say I didn't think about it before then, but it 464 00:25:55,359 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 1: just it accelerated that thought process. But in two thousand 465 00:25:58,600 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 1: and ten one I had a nine percent chance of 466 00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:03,800 Speaker 1: never playing again. I have to start thinking, um a 467 00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:07,119 Speaker 1: little deeper. Into the next phase of my life, and 468 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:09,919 Speaker 1: I just think this topic should be spoken about a 469 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:13,960 Speaker 1: lot more. But I think athletes don't like being vulnerable 470 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:17,440 Speaker 1: and as transparent as they should be because a lot 471 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:19,880 Speaker 1: of our stories are the same, and I think it's 472 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: important for other athletes to hear it while they're still 473 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:27,680 Speaker 1: actively playing. UM. But in terms of my mindset and 474 00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:32,200 Speaker 1: how I knew UM, I had to prepare. It's theems 475 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:35,080 Speaker 1: from my my upbringing. Yes, my my family or my 476 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,639 Speaker 1: mom and dad are hard working individuals. UM. For as 477 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: long as I've known my mom to to to start 478 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 1: to have a job, she's always worked with mentally challenged individuals. UM. 479 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,600 Speaker 1: They've always worked for someone. UM. It wasn't until about 480 00:26:47,640 --> 00:26:50,399 Speaker 1: maybe eight years ago that my dad eventually owned his 481 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 1: own business fook for twenty two plus twenty two years. 482 00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:57,679 Speaker 1: He's a truck he was a truck driver for for 483 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 1: a company. Now he's his own contractor. UM. So just 484 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 1: seeing sort of the work ethic of my parents and 485 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:07,000 Speaker 1: and start of having that motivation that I want to 486 00:27:07,119 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 1: eventually take care of my parents, tell them to go home, 487 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:14,040 Speaker 1: go on vacation, do whatever you want to do. UM 488 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:18,240 Speaker 1: was always the driving force and what I did after basketball, um, 489 00:27:18,359 --> 00:27:21,880 Speaker 1: so it was it was always a constant thought, um, 490 00:27:21,960 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: in terms of what I wanted to do. So I 491 00:27:24,720 --> 00:27:27,440 Speaker 1: didn't know what I didn't know sort of what avenue 492 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:31,359 Speaker 1: I was going to take it. It's slowly developed, but 493 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:34,439 Speaker 1: now it's here. Elena Beard, thank you so much. It 494 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 1: really was a pleasure. Thank you for being so candid 495 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 1: and thoughtful with us. And this is an extraordinary time 496 00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:47,399 Speaker 1: in in both terrible and and maybe hopeful ways, and 497 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 1: we really appreciate you sharing some time with us. We 498 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:53,200 Speaker 1: thank you for having me guys, and you can catch 499 00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:56,280 Speaker 1: our Businesses Sports podcasts every week on Monday's, Wednesdays and 500 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,800 Speaker 1: Thursdays on Apple, iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts, 501 00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:03,119 Speaker 1: and follow me on Twitter at Jason Kelly News and 502 00:28:03,160 --> 00:28:05,159 Speaker 1: I'm Mike Lynch. You can follow me on Twitter at 503 00:28:05,240 --> 00:28:08,399 Speaker 1: Lynch e w CBB. You're listening to Blueberg Business of 504 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 1: Sports from Blueberg Radio around the world.