1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:08,960 Speaker 1: Afro Tech San Francisco, California. Jewel Burke Solomon, co founder 2 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:11,800 Speaker 1: and at the time CEO of part Pick, a computer 3 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: vision company, is on stage being interviewed by Angela Penton 4 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:20,159 Speaker 1: about the recent acquisition of part Pick by Amazon. She 5 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 1: describes the thought process and journey she experienced reconciling selling 6 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: a company she worked so hard to build five or 7 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: six months or so was the process in the end, 8 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: But like I said, I wasn't in the market to sell. 9 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: So it was a very big adjustment in my mind 10 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: to go from I'm just running, running, running, running, runner, 11 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 1: really fast, to Oh, somebody wants to buy company? What 12 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: does that mean? You know? Are we ready for that? 13 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:49,639 Speaker 1: All these questions came up, and I think the good 14 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 1: thing that helped me make a decision about whether or 15 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 1: not I was ready to sell was that when I 16 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: started the company, I had a vision of being acquired 17 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,720 Speaker 1: by Amazon really us. So I wrote it on you know, 18 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:03,279 Speaker 1: I wrote it on a sheet of paper. These are 19 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: the top five companies that I think we would be 20 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 1: a good fit for. Um. Amazon was at the top 21 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: of the list because I knew from the technical perspective 22 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: they had a visual search function and that's something that 23 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: they were interested in as far as making it super 24 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: simple for everybody to find products that you can buy 25 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: on Amazon and the various ways you can do that. UM. 26 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: And then obviously they have they sell the types of 27 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: products that we were able to recognize, so I thought 28 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 1: they would be a good fit. UM. So I say 29 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: that they say at the beginning, I thought that, and 30 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: I think that will help inform your decision as far 31 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,759 Speaker 1: as do you actually want to sell three or four 32 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 1: years in because some people it's probably not the right 33 00:01:43,560 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 1: thing to do because they're not where they want to 34 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 1: be yet, or that's just not what they see for themselves, 35 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: or they want to take the company public or whatever 36 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: the reason. So that helped me make a decision a 37 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: little bit because I was like, Jule, this is what 38 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: you say, you want it right, so it's here hello 39 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: if you have a text opportun a need. But it 40 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: was it was incredibly probably the hardest decision that I've 41 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 1: ever made, UM, just because perfect was my baby. Even now, 42 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: if you if I see people or you know, they 43 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 1: ask me, what do you do? The first thing that 44 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 1: wants to come out of my mouth is part picked 45 00:02:15,040 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: because that it still feels like child Um. And that's 46 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: the big thing for founders I think is you get 47 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: so tied up in your business right that the idea 48 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: of selling it is a hard one to kind of 49 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 1: grapple with. I'm Will Lucas and this is Black Tech 50 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: Dream Money. I'm going to introduce you to some of 51 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:40,040 Speaker 1: the biggest names, some of the brightest minds and brilliant ideas. 52 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 1: If you're black, in building or simply using tech to 53 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: secure your bag, this podcast is for you. Tristan Walker 54 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 1: is the founder and CEO of Walker and Company brands, 55 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: which includes the brands Bevel Informed, both designed to meet 56 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,679 Speaker 1: the health and beauty means of people of color. He's 57 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: also founder and board chairman of Cold, which matches high 58 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: performing black the Latino undergrad and graduate coders and software 59 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 1: engineering students with Silicon Valley startups for internships. He sits 60 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: on the board of directors for both foot Locker and 61 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 1: shake Shack. And with that, I asked him about what 62 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 1: made him decide to pack up the family and chart 63 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 1: a new course in Atlanta. Before I am the CEO 64 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 1: of Walker and Company, I am a black man, I 65 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: am a black father, and I am a black husban 66 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:33,519 Speaker 1: Um so every decision I make is in line with 67 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: my personal values, which happened to match my companies. But 68 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: they're in my personal values and happiness, um of my family, right, Um, 69 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: you know there are three things that I care about 70 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 1: my faith, my family, and my work in that border. Right, 71 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: So the initial decision was really driven by the first two, right, 72 00:03:51,080 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 1: the faith and family. You know, I've been in Silicon 73 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: Valley since two thousand and eight. It is the only 74 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: place that I've ever lived. I got less diverse. Right. 75 00:03:58,640 --> 00:04:02,320 Speaker 1: It's like and cut them on a bunch of different ways, right, Um, 76 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 1: you know, wealth, race, etcetera. Opportunity UM, and I didn't 77 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 1: sit too well for me. Um. You know, my wife 78 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 1: and I when we decided, hey, we wanted to consider 79 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: Atlanta for a number of reasons, not only personally, but 80 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: also for the business. That's where our consumers are. Um, 81 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,440 Speaker 1: you know, that's where the culture is. Um. You know, 82 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 1: it's it's very Walker and Company. We said, let's go 83 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: give it a shot. Right, And we were in the 84 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 1: process of negotiating with um, you know, a progan gamble 85 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:34,599 Speaker 1: to go and we went, took my son, came back. 86 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: My son was four at the time and I'll never 87 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: forget this moment. I was walking him to the grocery store. 88 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 1: He said, Um, Kada in Atlanta is where all the 89 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: black people are. In kat is where all the white 90 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: people look. Four year old who had the sense to 91 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: recognize that? And then I had to have the sense 92 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 1: to realize how privileged he was and how I am. 93 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: He went to some of the best schools, um day cares, 94 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: among other things in Palatale, and I rationalized and remembered 95 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: and reconciled with the fact that he had no black classmates, 96 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: He had no black teachers, right, And that became a 97 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: huge problem for me and my wife, who was also 98 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: and educated. Um, so you know, for our own personhood, 99 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: our family, right, my wife as an educator, now she 100 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: teaches at a school that's majority black black girls. My 101 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: son gets to go to school with kids who look 102 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: like him as a black headmaster, right, Um, and black 103 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 1: folks within positions of leadership. And we're in Atlanta, um 104 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: with a lot of folks who look like me who 105 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:43,280 Speaker 1: kind of appreciate the culture. So all that even before 106 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 1: I get to the business part, um, and the business 107 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: park just became additive to the expression, Yeah, I want 108 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:55,119 Speaker 1: to do on this Atlanta thing, because Atlanta changed my life. 109 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 1: Like I'm from Ohio, from the Midwest, like forty minutes 110 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,479 Speaker 1: from Detroit and so so it Land. It was the 111 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 1: first place that I saw black wealth in young people 112 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: that looked like me, and they were enfranchising or they 113 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: owned real estate or etcetera. So when you talk about 114 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: what you see what your son even noticed that four 115 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,840 Speaker 1: years old, I found it be true in my own 116 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 1: life story because it showed me not only was it possible, 117 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: but I had representation. Yeah, yeah, there's a productivity there. 118 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:26,800 Speaker 1: And in playing from the position and strength that I 119 00:06:26,839 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 1: care people about. I mean, every single thing that I've 120 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,719 Speaker 1: done is really about the celebration of black economic environment. 121 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 1: Everything that I will do will be in line with 122 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 1: the celebration of black economic um. And I think Atlanta 123 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:45,359 Speaker 1: is a wonderful platform, right um to help promulgate that 124 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 1: message even further than I tried to look at that 125 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: that game you've gone on the record of Saint black 126 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: culture leads all global culture, which I thought was fantastic 127 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: for you to take that stance number even you know, 128 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: beyond the factual nature of it for people who um, 129 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,039 Speaker 1: this is a new, newly realized concept or ignored concept. 130 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: Can you break down how this is true? Yeah, it's 131 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: important to start by saying, Um, people who don't understand 132 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: it are very much as a minority. Right, So there's 133 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:20,440 Speaker 1: actually data here. Um, like eight of white folks believe 134 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: this to beat truth. Right, Like, I'll show you all 135 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: types of meals and data, etcetera. I just say what 136 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: already exists. Right, It's just true. You think about food, music, dance, right, Um. 137 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: You know we influence everything. Um. And now, like what's 138 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: kind of beautiful about it? You know, kind of you 139 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 1: think folks of color a little bit more broadly, Um, 140 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: the influence together, the amalgamation of all these kind of 141 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: cultures together to create this new culture, the youth that's 142 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: coming up and how they're getting raised, right, Um. And 143 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: to kind of expand what our influence on the culture 144 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: looks like. People are called the majority of the world 145 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: right now, it's not a niche opportunity. We should all 146 00:07:56,240 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: be respecting our culture perspective, but it comes from black posts, right. Um. 147 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,880 Speaker 1: And again the celebration of that economic empowerment is not 148 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: without a celebration of our cultural impact. So all other 149 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:13,720 Speaker 1: cultures have made products for us for so long, And 150 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: why was it important to design, develop, in manufacture these 151 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 1: products for ourselves? Yeah, I think because I mean a 152 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: lot of people made products for us, so that it 153 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:26,080 Speaker 1: doesn't mean I think we didn't. I mean we deserve 154 00:08:26,120 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: that have products that work well for us. Um. Look, 155 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: I mean we should be treated not like second class instance. Um, 156 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 1: we deserve an experience that's just as great as anybody 157 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:44,719 Speaker 1: else's experience. Our cultural impact like deserves it and requires it. 158 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: Our purchasing power deserves it and requires it, right, and 159 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: our unique difference deserves it and requires it. And I've 160 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: been fortunate and blessed. Um, I just gave up the conversation. 161 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: Actually a Walkering company I've spent the majority of my 162 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: professional career at. I'm still relatively un dude, right, Um, 163 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,079 Speaker 1: But I've been able to mold the overwhelmed the majority 164 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: of my professional career around what matters to me. And again, 165 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: it's a celebration. Um. So I don't know any alternative 166 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: very much. Right, And the fact that the makeup of 167 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: my company is also representative of the culture that we 168 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 1: love so much is just wonderfully and starring for me. 169 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,319 Speaker 1: Right Um. And to be able to show people from 170 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: a position of strength that we matter, right, and our 171 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 1: unique difference matters in our culture matters, and our purchasing 172 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 1: power matters. Um, it's hard for people to rebut that, 173 00:09:38,679 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 1: you know, I think, to be quite honest, we owe you, 174 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: you know, a lot of gratitude because you know, they 175 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: I remember you told the story of you know, walking 176 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: down the aisle and seeing the products made for black people, 177 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: and it was always you know, abili ocean looking dude 178 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: on the s curl box. It was dusty on you know, 179 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: and it was that doesn't represent the lot of us, right, 180 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: But it wasn't even beyond that. It wasn't a taken 181 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: care of shelf space, right. And and I think, you know, 182 00:10:06,760 --> 00:10:08,800 Speaker 1: a Walmart came out I think it was six months ago, 183 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:10,800 Speaker 1: maybe it was even less than that, that they weren't 184 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 1: going to put our products behind cages anymore, you know. 185 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: And I believe like a lot of that is due 186 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: to your advocacy and your evangelism with this stuff. So yeah, well, 187 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: I mean, look, I mean, my my evangelism is only 188 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:28,600 Speaker 1: so good as our consumers willingness to support what we support, right, 189 00:10:28,760 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: And I could talk all the time, but if we 190 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,280 Speaker 1: weren't doing work, it wouldn't matter. Um. And I think 191 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: the fact that we were seeing results from the work 192 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,959 Speaker 1: made other people stand at attention. Right, it took too long. 193 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,200 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, this industry has been around two 194 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,719 Speaker 1: hundred years, Like, why did it take us to kind 195 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: of break that barrier? Right? But we got to do 196 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:54,240 Speaker 1: the work right, Um, time, time, last, forever. We're just 197 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: one bit on that timeline. UM. And you know, I'm 198 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: not going out without having some impact attributed to the 199 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 1: work that I try to do every single day in 200 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 1: partnership with college. It seems like there's still yet so 201 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 1: many verticals where a black perspective or building from a 202 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: perspective of ethnic identity, UM, could be valuable. Um, what 203 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: is the opportunity black people have? How should we be 204 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: thinking about building products for people who look like us 205 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: and have similar issues in etcetera. I mean, you gotta 206 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: be yourself, you know. I've the wonderful thing about creating 207 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: things for this audience and having an employee base that 208 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: represents the diversity of this audience is that we can 209 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:44,599 Speaker 1: selfishly make things for ourselves. You know, we're more like 210 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 1: than we are different. And um, you know that's not 211 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: only the ingredients that go into a bottle, it's the 212 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:55,360 Speaker 1: language that goes onto that bottle. It is the imagery 213 00:11:55,400 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: that we share out with the world. How do we 214 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:01,120 Speaker 1: inspire ourselves with things that we felt that we deserve 215 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: to have created for ourselves. Um. So, you know, as 216 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: folks think about kind of making the choice between kind 217 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:14,719 Speaker 1: of serving consumers, are black consumer specifically? I think you 218 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:17,800 Speaker 1: consider a couple of things. Number One, why wouldn't you 219 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:21,319 Speaker 1: authentically focus on this audience that's culturally relevant and authentic, 220 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 1: has greater purchasing power in various categories and everyone else? Right, 221 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:27,719 Speaker 1: and again we loop in kind of other folks of 222 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: coloring majority of the world. I think it is the 223 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: primary thought that should be on the minds of every entrepreneur. 224 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:36,760 Speaker 1: It should be the primary thought on the minds of 225 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 1: every large business. Um. And you know I'm going to 226 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:43,400 Speaker 1: be and I mean my commitment to evangelize that because 227 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 1: it's a good business and a hell of a lot 228 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: of fun. Yeah. I had this conversation with morgen Um, 229 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:52,960 Speaker 1: the Bond CEO of Black videoon episode one, and it 230 00:12:53,040 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 1: was about building products for us, And she said, you know, 231 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: when she was talking to investor. In the early days, 232 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: they were asking her if she was already limiting her 233 00:13:01,360 --> 00:13:04,839 Speaker 1: reach because she was only going to focus on black people, 234 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 1: and she was like, have you heard of Brazil? Have 235 00:13:07,080 --> 00:13:10,079 Speaker 1: you heard of you know, Europe and all these different 236 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: places where we are the UK and Canada. You can't 237 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 1: all over the world. And I wonder if now that 238 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: I hear you say that, I'm wondering if it is 239 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: intentionally divisive potentially that we don't get taught to us 240 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 1: that we have the buying power that we have, that 241 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 1: our dollar can build billion dollar companies and et cetera. 242 00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: I'm I'm not I don't want to indict anybody, but 243 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: I'm just I'm thinking through this now, like we haven't 244 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: been taught that if you build it for black people, 245 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 1: you can actually build a real business. Yeah, um, I 246 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: think we. I'm a bigting of this too, because I 247 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: come from it of relegating our thoughts on business with 248 00:13:57,880 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: what to what venture capitalists believe it should be. I 249 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:07,040 Speaker 1: find myself jealous not of the folks who raise all 250 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: this money itself for a billion dollars, actually find myself 251 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:17,000 Speaker 1: jealous of the small business owner who's black making a million. 252 00:14:17,040 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 1: The two million dollars a year in profit every year. 253 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: You've never heard for her, right, installing h VAC, you know, 254 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:30,480 Speaker 1: systems and homes right, Um, and they have a freedom 255 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:34,680 Speaker 1: that doesn't require the opinion of anybody. Um. So I think, yes, 256 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 1: we have been unfortunately kind of taught what actually isn't true. Um. 257 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,760 Speaker 1: You know, black folks have driven the economic engine right 258 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:49,240 Speaker 1: in ways that have been unseen to this country. Right. 259 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: So it's important that we also recognize that there are 260 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 1: other folks who didn't need a dime from a venture 261 00:14:56,400 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: capitalists to realize their vision, right, had their own definition 262 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: of what success is. That is very different from in 263 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: a lot of ways folks who go to the Silicon Valley. 264 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: Uh kind of way, right, it's very binary thinking. There 265 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: are ways to hit your singles and your doubles right 266 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: and your triples, and the power of compounding really kind 267 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:19,240 Speaker 1: of gives you the r v I s like over 268 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: and over and over and over and over again. Um. 269 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: And that's the wealth creation stuff, right. Um So, yes, 270 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:30,240 Speaker 1: I think it's unfortunate that we have been kind of 271 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: given this story that's inevitably not true and dictated by 272 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,800 Speaker 1: the laziness and the apathy of the muddied interests to 273 00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 1: actually learn to rid themselves of their ignorance. But you know, 274 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: there's power in the entrepreneurs who haven't needed their calls right, 275 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,760 Speaker 1: who knew that there is an inevitability to the demographic 276 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: shifts in terms of numbers, the cultural influence in terms 277 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: of numbers, the purchasing pollower in terms of numbers, and 278 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 1: have been way ahead of the game before me or 279 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: a Morgan or a lot of the others looking bat 280 00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:21,320 Speaker 1: she desired. Uh, kind of those large outcomes. Tristan has 281 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: been named one of the Fortune Magazine's fifty World's Greatest Leaders, 282 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 1: USA Today's Persons of the Year, EVNY Magazines one hundred, 283 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: Most Powerful People, Vnity Fairs next Establishment, Fortune Magazines forty 284 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: Under forty at Age Creative fifty, the Hollywood Reporters Digital 285 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:44,520 Speaker 1: Power fifty, and Black Enterprises forty next Today at around 286 00:16:44,520 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: thirty five years old, he sits on two publicly traded 287 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: corporate boards, foot Locker and shake Shack. So should more 288 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: Black people have a desire to sit on corporate boards? 289 00:16:55,120 --> 00:17:05,119 Speaker 1: Tristan speaks on it. Um. I paused because I have 290 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:10,760 Speaker 1: to recognize a couple of things. Number One, my own privilege. 291 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: I have to check my privilege, right. You know, I 292 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 1: am a CITs gender black man who, regardless of how 293 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:21,280 Speaker 1: I was brought up, right, I ended up going to 294 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 1: a boarding school and tool scholarship. I have a Stanford NBA. Um. 295 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:29,199 Speaker 1: You know, I sold a company that was important to me. 296 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: I am the first black CEO and procnting animals history. 297 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: I stood on two public boards. Right, the compound interests 298 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: of my privilege has kind of scaled, So I want 299 00:17:40,040 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: to make sure that any anti that I offer kind 300 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: of abstracts away the privilege that I can see. So 301 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:49,400 Speaker 1: let me kind of um suggest this. It's only as 302 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:53,919 Speaker 1: important as you wanted to be right for me. Um. 303 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 1: This idea of freedom is something that I didn't really 304 00:17:56,880 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 1: understand until I sold the company in December. Team I 305 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: realized that what freedom really means, it's not owing anybody anything. 306 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: You know, you pay back your investors, um, you give 307 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:12,360 Speaker 1: your employees a good outcome, and you know your acquirer. 308 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:15,199 Speaker 1: You don't really owe right like it's my duty to 309 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:17,840 Speaker 1: continue to do what I'm doing. But there's power and 310 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: not feeling like you have to owe anybody anything more. 311 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:22,120 Speaker 1: And that's a that's a feeling that I never want 312 00:18:22,119 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: to give away, and it's also a feeling that I 313 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 1: want people to have. UM. So this idea for me 314 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: around celebrating black economic compartment really centers around that theme 315 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:36,199 Speaker 1: of freedom for me. So for me, it's important to 316 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:39,360 Speaker 1: be on these boards right because I want to help 317 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:42,600 Speaker 1: quickly realize that vision for other people to the extent 318 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: that they feel that there are barriers towards their attainment 319 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: of doing it right. I'm on two public boards. I 320 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 1: got there as a thirty five year old black man. 321 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: It is possible, right, certainly with respect to kind of 322 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: the privilege that I've had. But even more than that, 323 00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 1: you know, it's not just that I'm on the board, 324 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: like I'm on the governance committee, uh and the nominating 325 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: committee of these boards, right, I can have some influence on, 326 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 1: you know, how our frontline employees, a majority of whom 327 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:13,560 Speaker 1: look like me, are treated, um, you know, to our 328 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:17,159 Speaker 1: inevitable kind of shareholder interests, right, but also how do 329 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 1: we help them grow right? How do we help them 330 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaker 1: see um that you know, there are folks, whether they 331 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:27,240 Speaker 1: look like me or that gentleman or woman, as I 332 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:31,760 Speaker 1: mentioned earlier, running that profitable age back installation, right, Um, 333 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: it's my job to evangelize it. Corporate boards aren't for everybody, um, 334 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:40,199 Speaker 1: and folks can find as much impact and building a 335 00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 1: wonderful profitable business. You know, I'd like to say progress 336 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 1: and resistance isn't a one lane highway. I lane because 337 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 1: I think I have a unique point of view to 338 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:53,920 Speaker 1: help evangelize kind of my celebration of black economic environment. Um, 339 00:19:53,960 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 1: you know that small business owner that's building something profitable 340 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:00,119 Speaker 1: for us, that's another lane, right, And it's important. You know, 341 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: the destination is let's get to the same destination together. Um, 342 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 1: But it's just the land. So I don't want to 343 00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: have a kind of carte blanche assumption that everybody's potential 344 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:14,199 Speaker 1: participation on the board is right and much in the 345 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: same way that everybody is running their own company also 346 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:20,639 Speaker 1: isn't right. Right, Um, you know, we need to figure 347 00:20:20,680 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 1: out what we are uniquely qualified to do and do 348 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:27,160 Speaker 1: that to the benefit of all of us. So rising 349 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:31,000 Speaker 1: tide to lift all those So I'm gonna flip that question. Hey, 350 00:20:31,040 --> 00:20:34,440 Speaker 1: what is the then, the corporate imperative to placing people 351 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:37,160 Speaker 1: of color in these board roles? I mean, the inperative 352 00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:38,840 Speaker 1: is something that we all know, at least to more 353 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: profitable outcomes. I mean, it's it's like the it's staring 354 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,119 Speaker 1: everybody in the face. You know. I've been doing a 355 00:20:45,160 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 1: lot of interviews lately, right, and I've been very blessed 356 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:48,920 Speaker 1: and fortunate to have like a whole bunch of press 357 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 1: about me company and all that stuff. Um. I remember 358 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: I was on Bloomberg the other day, you know, we 359 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 1: had a wonderful conversation around diversity, and I paused and 360 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 1: I said, you know, I've been very fortunately, very privileged. 361 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:05,120 Speaker 1: I have so much press. Bloomberg was the first kind 362 00:21:05,119 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: of TV interview I've ever done. If you go back, 363 00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:10,359 Speaker 1: you'll see I was saying the exact same things ten 364 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:14,359 Speaker 1: years ago, right, I think, what what has changed? Um? 365 00:21:14,440 --> 00:21:16,399 Speaker 1: And you know, I felt that it was their duty 366 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: to continue to hold corporations accountable to the things that 367 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 1: they've promised. And one of the things that you hear 368 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 1: them talk about all the time is how diversity leads 369 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: to more profitable outcomes. Well, why aren't you, like, why 370 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:34,679 Speaker 1: aren't you doing everything in your like remote possibility to 371 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:39,360 Speaker 1: get this done? Right? Like it it is a strategic priority. 372 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 1: And that's the thing that I think I love so 373 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:44,040 Speaker 1: much about the potential from governance, right and sitting on 374 00:21:44,040 --> 00:21:45,720 Speaker 1: the boards. You know, my job is not to run 375 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,720 Speaker 1: the company. That's management's job. And I know, look, I 376 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: mean folks have had terrible boards, right, so I know 377 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,679 Speaker 1: what it's like to have before. That's overbearing. Um. But 378 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 1: from my perspective or as a religio to governance and 379 00:21:56,359 --> 00:21:59,920 Speaker 1: having diversity lead to more profitable outcomes research that we've 380 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 1: already right, let's keep driving at home until it starts 381 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:06,240 Speaker 1: to get realized in folks like foot lockers, shake shack 382 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: are realizing it, certainly at the board level. Look again, 383 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: thirty five year old black man who's gotten these opportunities. 384 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 1: But it's a start, Um, and this thing is gonna 385 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:19,080 Speaker 1: take some time. But now I have a seat at 386 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: the table to help catalyze UM for people who did 387 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,480 Speaker 1: do sit in these prominent corporate positions, whether they be 388 00:22:27,520 --> 00:22:30,760 Speaker 1: on the board or high level executives. Um, what is 389 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 1: your thought process for how to remain authentic to your values? 390 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 1: Speak up about issues that UM matter to you from 391 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:45,200 Speaker 1: a cultural standpoint without jeopardizing opportunities. Yeah, and again privilege privilege, right, 392 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,720 Speaker 1: So let me let me, let me separate. I like, I, Um, 393 00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 1: it's so important to me, right because look, I mean, 394 00:22:52,080 --> 00:22:54,919 Speaker 1: I gotta support, you know, my black sisters, right, I 395 00:22:54,920 --> 00:22:57,840 Speaker 1: gotta support my black trans folks, right like I gotta 396 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,280 Speaker 1: like and not everybody has it as as I'm not 397 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 1: gonna say, as easy as I've had it. Um, But 398 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:09,159 Speaker 1: I think a lot of folks have nuanced difficulties that 399 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: they face it I'll never understand, So it's merely really 400 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,400 Speaker 1: really important for me to suggest that. But I'd also say, 401 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:19,479 Speaker 1: and this goes to values. I wrote them down, and 402 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:23,679 Speaker 1: I define them, and I wrote those definitions down. Um, 403 00:23:23,760 --> 00:23:26,920 Speaker 1: And I've tried my best, I really really really do, 404 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: and I encourage people to check me on it now 405 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:32,320 Speaker 1: when it's not the case that I make every decision 406 00:23:32,320 --> 00:23:34,679 Speaker 1: in mind with those things, because I did defined it, 407 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,439 Speaker 1: and I try and at least for my team to 408 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:39,960 Speaker 1: help evangelize what those to the same personal values I 409 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:42,320 Speaker 1: have or the same corporate values. Because I started the company, 410 00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: I'm like, wow, like, I want to work around people 411 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 1: who are like me from a values perspective. We can 412 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: all be different people, but our value French, because why 413 00:23:51,359 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 1: should I be hanging around anyone who doesn't share any 414 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 1: of the values that I have. But it also equips 415 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 1: folks who might not have had the language, um, to 416 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 1: call all people out when they do things that are 417 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:03,920 Speaker 1: out of line with those values. Right. So, whether it's 418 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: a junior person talking to senior folks, now they have 419 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 1: the language that doesn't necessarily make them feel chastised. It's 420 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:14,159 Speaker 1: something that we've all agreed with. You went through our 421 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:17,440 Speaker 1: interview process. You know what they are. They're defined there 422 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: in our annual review process. Right. It's very clear and 423 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 1: it's very objective. UM. So you know when I kind 424 00:24:23,920 --> 00:24:28,280 Speaker 1: of talk about authenticity, it's important to just know who 425 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:34,080 Speaker 1: you are, right and know what you're willing to not do. Uh. 426 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 1: And values force you to pick a side, and you 427 00:24:37,240 --> 00:24:41,640 Speaker 1: tend to find allies more quickly, and then you anticipate 428 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,320 Speaker 1: want you define what those values are. And we're all 429 00:24:44,359 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 1: works in producs right, Like I'm not there, um, even 430 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:52,359 Speaker 1: if I'm sixty there. It's much better than not knowing 431 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 1: who I am, UM. And it forces you to really 432 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:57,439 Speaker 1: get a sense for who you are, what you stand 433 00:24:57,480 --> 00:24:59,880 Speaker 1: for in the folks around you. It's required a lot 434 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: of of um, you know, tough conversations, honest conversations self reflection. 435 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:10,960 Speaker 1: I have a wonderful wife who like forces me UM 436 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 1: to you know, improve my emotional quotation UM. And I 437 00:25:15,640 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 1: very much thank her for that. But she also reminds 438 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 1: me of the privileges that I have, right and the 439 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 1: privileges my sons will have. UM. And it's important for 440 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: me to abstract those two a way. For the reasons 441 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:35,320 Speaker 1: that are UM. Several organizations have developed developed people for 442 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 1: board positions and but in reality and from experience also 443 00:25:39,880 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 1: as many of these nominations come from direct relationships, right, 444 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:47,439 Speaker 1: and how can these relationships be built? Um? And how 445 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: do we raise our hand for these types of roles? Yeah, 446 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: that's a big one. UM. I know that this stuff 447 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: takes time. I think there are a lot of people 448 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: who know that this is broken. UM. Yeah, we have 449 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:04,920 Speaker 1: an access problem, but also there's an awareness problem. A 450 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:06,440 Speaker 1: lot of people don't even know that this is an 451 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,440 Speaker 1: opportunity for them, right, So you know, let's kind of 452 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: shout this stuff from the mountaintops, like here's a viable 453 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 1: path forward. And also knowing what boards do, right because 454 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:21,240 Speaker 1: I think it sounds sexy, but there's work, right, and 455 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 1: there's work that you need to know that you're contributing 456 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:28,480 Speaker 1: to UM as a legal fiduciary and steward of the business. 457 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 1: And look, it's no different from knowing that you want 458 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: to get in. And you know, a lot of people 459 00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 1: come to say, hey, you know, I want to start 460 00:26:34,680 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 1: a company, and my first question of them is do 461 00:26:36,240 --> 00:26:38,280 Speaker 1: you want to run it? And they very rarely have 462 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: an answer for that, right, And it's the two very 463 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:45,840 Speaker 1: different things. UM. So i'd almost ensure that, you know, 464 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: when folks kind of look at board seats, know why 465 00:26:47,840 --> 00:26:51,199 Speaker 1: you want one. I know, what are the things that 466 00:26:51,240 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 1: you can potentially do to help other people if you 467 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:56,119 Speaker 1: get one to acquire that same thing. So this is 468 00:26:56,400 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 1: I'm still kind of going through that process myself. UM 469 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: as far as like, you know, how do we open 470 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:05,640 Speaker 1: up the opportunities for network There are some wonderful kind 471 00:27:05,640 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 1: of organizations like the e LC Executive Leadership Council right 472 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:13,800 Speaker 1: among others that help folks kind of get trained around 473 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 1: how to run aboard, how to be a part of 474 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 1: a board. I mean, there are a lot of entrepreneurs 475 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:22,879 Speaker 1: right now who can get the requisite training right to 476 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,920 Speaker 1: know what it takes to build a board with proper governance. 477 00:27:26,480 --> 00:27:28,320 Speaker 1: You know, by this time, I had run my company 478 00:27:28,359 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 1: as a chairman of the board. You know that I 479 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: helped found I was a chairman of that board, so 480 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 1: I had some perspective, albeit from kind of walking company coach, 481 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:41,199 Speaker 1: around what it took. I didn't do it in a 482 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 1: billion dollar company, but I had a respect for what 483 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:47,520 Speaker 1: government's meant um. And then you know, I think once 484 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 1: I saw other folks on the board and know that 485 00:27:51,040 --> 00:27:53,320 Speaker 1: I had access to them, I would reach out to 486 00:27:53,359 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 1: them and just have a conversation the way I got 487 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:58,600 Speaker 1: to the foot Locker board, and you know, shake Jack 488 00:27:58,680 --> 00:28:00,920 Speaker 1: came because I was on the footlock board. But there's 489 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 1: a woman Rosalind Brewer who is such an inspiration, friend, advisor, 490 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:10,639 Speaker 1: ment whorma and Rose is the CEO at Starbucks. She yeah, 491 00:28:10,720 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: she's on the board of Amazon. I got to know 492 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:16,399 Speaker 1: ros when she was a CEO of Sam's Club. And 493 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:18,960 Speaker 1: that's because you know, when I started kind of the company, 494 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:20,560 Speaker 1: we're in health and beauty. We're trying to figure out 495 00:28:20,600 --> 00:28:23,800 Speaker 1: what channels achieved, and we just had a conversation just 496 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:26,480 Speaker 1: about you know, what it takes to you know, succeed 497 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: in the corporate environment. And we've been kind of fast 498 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,960 Speaker 1: friends for years now. So when I was ready and 499 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:34,960 Speaker 1: I had told the company, we just had breakfast, and 500 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:36,760 Speaker 1: I just asked her for our thoughts, like am I 501 00:28:36,840 --> 00:28:39,840 Speaker 1: ready for this? Right? It wasn't me saying, hey, I 502 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:43,360 Speaker 1: want to do this. It was her helping me understand 503 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:45,719 Speaker 1: if I was prepared for it right as someone who 504 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 1: actually has had the experience. So someone is just raising 505 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 1: the hand being vulnerable and have a willingness to reach 506 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 1: out to folks to have that conversation before you say 507 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 1: that it's something that you want to do right, because 508 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: if you've never done it before, you don't necessarily know. Um. 509 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:04,240 Speaker 1: And maybe the case that you don't want to do 510 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 1: it right where you can kind of focus on another lane. Uh, 511 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: that's contributory to the success and uplifting of of life, folks, 512 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:16,280 Speaker 1: So long winded for both way of saying, um, number one, 513 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 1: know what your values are? Are your values leading you 514 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 1: towards this potential decision? What do you want to do 515 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:25,040 Speaker 1: if you were kind of blessed with the opportunity to 516 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:27,920 Speaker 1: be on that board. And then also at least for me, 517 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 1: and you know, I think a lot of people look 518 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:32,440 Speaker 1: at foot locker and shake shack man wow, like too 519 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 1: wonderful consumer brands. But you know what, Um, it wasn't 520 00:29:36,400 --> 00:29:37,720 Speaker 1: just that I wanted to be on the board. I 521 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 1: wanted to be a part of companies that had respect 522 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:41,720 Speaker 1: for the demographic shifts happening in the country and the 523 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 1: culture of the back of black people. I wanted to 524 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:47,240 Speaker 1: be a part of companies that, you know, consider brands 525 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 1: and great brands and of course for good And I 526 00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:52,840 Speaker 1: wanted to, you know, consider companies that respected technology not 527 00:29:52,920 --> 00:29:55,440 Speaker 1: only its impact on the business, but also the unseen 528 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:59,440 Speaker 1: or forgotten. Right UM Walker and companies done that co 529 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:02,720 Speaker 1: where He's done that, proper gambles doing it, foot lockers 530 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 1: doing it, Shake Shack is doing it. So I've been 531 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 1: blessed because I know what's important to me, because I 532 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:13,160 Speaker 1: know what my values are. To almost have these opportunities 533 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:18,680 Speaker 1: and come without my kind of asking for them. All 534 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:22,440 Speaker 1: the experience I've had prepared me for it, but prepared 535 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:24,560 Speaker 1: me in a way that it was truly authentic to 536 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:27,960 Speaker 1: other folks who might be chasing the same thing. Love it. 537 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:32,480 Speaker 1: UM specific and social board appointments are a lot easier 538 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:36,400 Speaker 1: to achieve. UM corporate board corporate boards, especially ones that 539 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 1: have retainers involved be much harder. UM, when people are 540 00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:43,400 Speaker 1: I went only when you talk about the interview process 541 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:46,840 Speaker 1: and the when people are going through that process of 542 00:30:46,880 --> 00:30:50,160 Speaker 1: board review, they are they're being nominated. What is the 543 00:30:50,240 --> 00:30:54,280 Speaker 1: interview process? Like, how do you negotiate the retainer? Or 544 00:30:54,320 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 1: if it's a negotiation all they didn't me to say 545 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:59,000 Speaker 1: we pay ten dollars, you got ten dollars or you 546 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:01,680 Speaker 1: out you know, you talk about just what that process 547 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 1: is like, yeah, so I'll start in reverse part of governor. 548 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: She can't really negotiate it because remember your producer the shareholders. 549 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,440 Speaker 1: So there is a standard by which your contribution will 550 00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:15,800 Speaker 1: yield whatever compensation has been UM agreed on by the 551 00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:19,959 Speaker 1: board and shareholders. Right so UM. You know, certainly if 552 00:31:19,960 --> 00:31:22,880 Speaker 1: you're part of certain committees, then there might be kind 553 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:25,720 Speaker 1: of additional compensation for that. But it's pretty standard and 554 00:31:26,040 --> 00:31:28,760 Speaker 1: you can do that work well in advance of even 555 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:32,120 Speaker 1: getting through the process. It's all a part of UM. 556 00:31:32,160 --> 00:31:34,320 Speaker 1: You know, the public reporting that's out there and you 557 00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:39,200 Speaker 1: can see how much I'm compensated, right um or anybody 558 00:31:39,200 --> 00:31:41,160 Speaker 1: else on any board that you want. For public companies, 559 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:46,320 Speaker 1: the interview process, UM, at least for me, was very 560 00:31:46,400 --> 00:31:49,040 Speaker 1: unique um, and you know, I'll tell you how it 561 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:51,000 Speaker 1: worked for for foot Locker, and then I'll tell you 562 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:54,880 Speaker 1: how it worked for appreciation check. Um mean with Roz 563 00:31:55,040 --> 00:31:57,760 Speaker 1: Rosber on a Wednesday. She was in Atlanta. She spends 564 00:31:57,800 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: time between Atlanta and UH and see't and you know, 565 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:03,960 Speaker 1: I asked her, you know I ready for it. You know, 566 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,360 Speaker 1: she said, Tristen, I think it's a great time. I 567 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:10,760 Speaker 1: want to connect you with a recruiting firm, let's locally 568 00:32:10,800 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 1: to Atlanta that does a lot of great work on 569 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,719 Speaker 1: executive placement board place. I met with this partner on 570 00:32:16,800 --> 00:32:20,880 Speaker 1: Friday of that same week. We had an hour m 571 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:25,000 Speaker 1: For the first fifty nine minutes, um, we just talked 572 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:28,760 Speaker 1: about my life. I grew up in Queen's hum beginnings. 573 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:32,480 Speaker 1: All these opportunities have come my way tech p ANDNG 574 00:32:32,600 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 1: walking company. And that minute fifty nine she looked at me. 575 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:39,000 Speaker 1: She said, Tristan, I have an idea. I can't promise 576 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:41,680 Speaker 1: you anything because they're doing final round interviews on Monday, 577 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:44,720 Speaker 1: right I'm gonna have to reach out to the lead 578 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:48,400 Speaker 1: director to see, like, if there's a there there um 579 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:50,840 Speaker 1: And she said it's foot Locker. And at that point 580 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:54,720 Speaker 1: my eyes opened I had to maintain my decorum because 581 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:57,800 Speaker 1: I'm like, yeah, I can't cool. Foot Locker, I mean 582 00:32:57,880 --> 00:32:59,719 Speaker 1: has been a part of my life since I was twelve, 583 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:03,600 Speaker 1: Remember buying um, you know, sneakers out of the East 584 00:33:03,680 --> 00:33:06,600 Speaker 1: Day with money or like I am O g foot 585 00:33:06,600 --> 00:33:09,440 Speaker 1: Locker and like there you know East Day chants. But 586 00:33:09,640 --> 00:33:13,200 Speaker 1: that like I that's all she had to say, say 587 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:16,080 Speaker 1: no more right. She called me on a Sunday, She's like, 588 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 1: they would like to meet with you. I flew out 589 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 1: to me with the lead director that Tuesday. I guess 590 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:24,120 Speaker 1: that went well. Then I met with the head of 591 00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:29,560 Speaker 1: Nominating Government Committee of Brazoom Thursday. That went well. The 592 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:32,520 Speaker 1: following week I throughout to New York to meet with 593 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:34,920 Speaker 1: the CEO for three hours. We walked to the stores, 594 00:33:35,000 --> 00:33:36,800 Speaker 1: that sort of thing, and that went well, and a 595 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:38,920 Speaker 1: month later I was actually join the board. That is 596 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:41,920 Speaker 1: a really fast process, but I think it was really 597 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:44,360 Speaker 1: spearheaded by the fact that like they were already in 598 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:47,000 Speaker 1: last round interviews. It got me through it and there's 599 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:49,680 Speaker 1: a window of nomination because they wanted us. It was 600 00:33:49,720 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 1: me and another kind of board member were joined together. 601 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 1: So originally they're thinking one I came in and then 602 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:56,320 Speaker 1: they put both of us on, which was really really great. 603 00:33:56,920 --> 00:34:01,400 Speaker 1: UM the second time at least for shakes, and I 604 00:34:01,520 --> 00:34:05,440 Speaker 1: was speaking with the buddy of mine, Josh, who runs Etsy. UM, 605 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:08,600 Speaker 1: so you know, we had a fireside one on one 606 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:12,279 Speaker 1: chat in Brooklyn UM at Etsy, just talking about kind 607 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,680 Speaker 1: of diversity inclusion and you know what it means. And 608 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:17,719 Speaker 1: Etsy doesn't really wonderful work here that um, you know, 609 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:20,800 Speaker 1: deserves to be lauded. But we had a side conversation. 610 00:34:20,840 --> 00:34:22,920 Speaker 1: I'm like, yeah, you know, I'm thinking about them. I'm 611 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:26,040 Speaker 1: going through this board process and he said, UM, you 612 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:28,759 Speaker 1: know I'm on the board of shape Ship. And I 613 00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:30,160 Speaker 1: looked at him and I was like, I'm go join 614 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:33,240 Speaker 1: that board, right. I just had the kind of bold 615 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:35,000 Speaker 1: thought to just say it right and the worst you 616 00:34:35,040 --> 00:34:37,600 Speaker 1: can say it, you know, right, So let's number one. 617 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 1: You don't get what you don't ask for. UM kind 618 00:34:40,200 --> 00:34:42,040 Speaker 1: of strugged it off. He was like, we're not really 619 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:44,040 Speaker 1: looking at but let me connect you to Randy the 620 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:48,440 Speaker 1: CEO connected me the following week over email. And this 621 00:34:48,560 --> 00:34:51,759 Speaker 1: was in December, I believe. UM. You know, we had 622 00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:53,920 Speaker 1: some back and forth. We couldn't meet. He was busy, 623 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,440 Speaker 1: holidays all that stuff, and then we planned some time 624 00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:58,319 Speaker 1: to meet in January, and I would never forget this. 625 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 1: It was mid January. I was about to get on 626 00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:03,040 Speaker 1: my flight or all my way to the airport to 627 00:35:03,239 --> 00:35:05,400 Speaker 1: fly to New York to meet with them just for 628 00:35:05,440 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 1: the day, and uh, you know, he was on his 629 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:10,560 Speaker 1: way back from China. And that was the first time 630 00:35:10,600 --> 00:35:14,440 Speaker 1: I heard about the seriousness of COVID nineteen because he 631 00:35:14,520 --> 00:35:17,040 Speaker 1: was like, hatress and up to you, but I'm going 632 00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:18,880 Speaker 1: to send a note to my team that I'm gonna 633 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:23,160 Speaker 1: just go on quarantine for the extreme precaution for fourteen days. 634 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:24,680 Speaker 1: And at that point I was like, you know what, 635 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:28,279 Speaker 1: let's let's kind of reschedule and figure it out. Um. 636 00:35:28,320 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 1: So then February hit and I'm start to hear about 637 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:33,799 Speaker 1: COVID ninteam more um. And then marsh we were like, hey, 638 00:35:33,880 --> 00:35:36,799 Speaker 1: let's just talk, right. He was zoom check because this 639 00:35:36,840 --> 00:35:39,400 Speaker 1: is started him coming new normal. We had a chat. 640 00:35:39,800 --> 00:35:42,680 Speaker 1: He liked me. Next person I met, because Danny Meyer, 641 00:35:43,000 --> 00:35:45,920 Speaker 1: the chairman of the board. Uh. And then at that 642 00:35:45,960 --> 00:35:49,920 Speaker 1: point I guess it became a process, right because they 643 00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:52,800 Speaker 1: weren't looking at the time. And then I just started 644 00:35:52,800 --> 00:35:55,480 Speaker 1: to get invites in my email to meet other board 645 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:58,640 Speaker 1: members UM. And you know, a couple of weeks later 646 00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:02,520 Speaker 1: and I was asking on and then we announced UM 647 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:06,359 Speaker 1: in about a month a little over a month ago. UM. 648 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:09,399 Speaker 1: So again I referred back to this idea like, yes, 649 00:36:09,520 --> 00:36:12,480 Speaker 1: my access got me there, but also a little bit 650 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:15,440 Speaker 1: of bold actually in my asking because I knew what 651 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:17,720 Speaker 1: I wanted at that point. I had done my research 652 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:21,799 Speaker 1: around kind of what public boards meant, what my responsibility was. 653 00:36:21,920 --> 00:36:25,080 Speaker 1: I was prepared for that moment. I had time, having 654 00:36:25,480 --> 00:36:28,400 Speaker 1: kind of merged our companies with Property Gamble, to really 655 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:31,600 Speaker 1: think about the next stage in my career too, you know, 656 00:36:31,719 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 1: up level my ability as a leader and CEO, and 657 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 1: what better way to do it at an eight billion 658 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:39,759 Speaker 1: dollar company UM at the time with Flipbocker, right, a 659 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:43,839 Speaker 1: global multinational company, multi brand UM. And then shake Check 660 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:47,360 Speaker 1: which is a you know, sub billion dollar but growing 661 00:36:47,400 --> 00:36:51,759 Speaker 1: brand UM. And it really stretches the capacity with those 662 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:55,360 Speaker 1: three themes I mentioned to you earlier, and they're facing 663 00:36:55,400 --> 00:36:58,480 Speaker 1: the same exact things, just some different categories. Right. So 664 00:36:58,560 --> 00:37:00,600 Speaker 1: for me, like all this stuff on line and made 665 00:37:00,640 --> 00:37:04,279 Speaker 1: sense UM. But it was a very different process from 666 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:06,040 Speaker 1: a lot from what a lot of folks are used 667 00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:08,440 Speaker 1: to in the least thing that I'd say is it 668 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:10,760 Speaker 1: wasn't the first time that I had spoken to a recruiter. 669 00:37:11,560 --> 00:37:14,360 Speaker 1: In fact, um, you know a lot of the recruiters 670 00:37:14,360 --> 00:37:16,440 Speaker 1: that I had spoken to in the past almost have 671 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:20,080 Speaker 1: a conversation based on the diversity flavor of the month. Right, 672 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:23,040 Speaker 1: So for some period of time, you know, two thousands, tens, 673 00:37:23,120 --> 00:37:29,239 Speaker 1: let's say, you know it was about black folk, right too? 674 00:37:29,560 --> 00:37:35,840 Speaker 1: You know, twenty evenen or so it was a woman, right, um. 675 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:38,840 Speaker 1: And I just mean like the attention that's given to it. 676 00:37:38,960 --> 00:37:43,279 Speaker 1: So depending on what period you're speaking to recruiters, that's 677 00:37:43,320 --> 00:37:47,040 Speaker 1: what's top of mind for them, because the companies almost 678 00:37:47,120 --> 00:37:50,160 Speaker 1: have a flavor of the month mentality, and that coupled 679 00:37:50,200 --> 00:37:53,319 Speaker 1: with that, well, you haven't run a billion dollar business yet, right, 680 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 1: It's like, okay, so show me on one hand, right, 681 00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:00,319 Speaker 1: the number of folks you have access to happen to 682 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:02,920 Speaker 1: be black who've had those opportunities, and those tend to 683 00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:05,439 Speaker 1: be the same people recycled on the same boards over 684 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:07,319 Speaker 1: and over and over again. And I have to give 685 00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:09,880 Speaker 1: foot black and shake Chack to credit here, right, because 686 00:38:10,560 --> 00:38:13,040 Speaker 1: they were forward looking enough to recognize here's a young 687 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:16,160 Speaker 1: guy who cares about these three things which we care about. 688 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:20,120 Speaker 1: He's closer to our consumer. The overwhelming majority of our 689 00:38:20,200 --> 00:38:22,600 Speaker 1: employees look like him, and he has a point of 690 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:26,359 Speaker 1: view Um, And it's my hope that we broke down 691 00:38:26,440 --> 00:38:30,280 Speaker 1: some barrier of reflection there that will offer more opportunities 692 00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:33,560 Speaker 1: for folcus. And now I'm getting calls from recruiters asking 693 00:38:33,560 --> 00:38:37,080 Speaker 1: who I know, right, So if I have a responsibility now, 694 00:38:37,719 --> 00:38:40,680 Speaker 1: it's wonderful. You have no reason to remember this. But 695 00:38:40,719 --> 00:38:46,880 Speaker 1: I met you at tech Crunch Disrupt because because because 696 00:38:46,960 --> 00:38:49,160 Speaker 1: the crazy part is about it, and I'm getting to 697 00:38:49,160 --> 00:38:51,480 Speaker 1: a question. Is there like three other black people, there's 698 00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:55,600 Speaker 1: Wayne Sutton, Um and Paul Judge. My question is, do 699 00:38:55,680 --> 00:39:03,879 Speaker 1: you feel an increasing responsibility to be accessible to black folks? 700 00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:05,560 Speaker 1: And here's why I asked this because I talked to 701 00:39:05,560 --> 00:39:07,920 Speaker 1: Morgan about this. I talked to Charles Hosting about this 702 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:10,319 Speaker 1: is Charles says the same thing. Morgan says the same thing. 703 00:39:10,360 --> 00:39:13,320 Speaker 1: When they're at a conference or just out, all the 704 00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:15,640 Speaker 1: black people there want to come to you because you're 705 00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:18,879 Speaker 1: the one who may get it right. And so how 706 00:39:18,960 --> 00:39:22,919 Speaker 1: much of a responsibility do you feel to be accessible 707 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:25,640 Speaker 1: to do things like this conversation even to to give 708 00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:28,960 Speaker 1: back to the community. Yeah, a couple of things, the 709 00:39:29,080 --> 00:39:31,920 Speaker 1: one that only twenty four hours a day. Um, there's 710 00:39:31,960 --> 00:39:35,520 Speaker 1: only seven days a week. Um. And you go back 711 00:39:35,560 --> 00:39:37,600 Speaker 1: to the priority of things that you know, I take 712 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:39,920 Speaker 1: priority for us my faith, my family, my work. I 713 00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:44,920 Speaker 1: don't care about anything else, right, Um. And every interaction 714 00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:46,920 Speaker 1: and every decision that I make, it's like, all right, 715 00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:49,759 Speaker 1: does it's my value? If it doesn't, it's not worth 716 00:39:49,800 --> 00:39:54,399 Speaker 1: the time. And it's it's really fascinating how how how 717 00:39:54,640 --> 00:39:57,840 Speaker 1: clear your schedule and your time gets when you have 718 00:39:57,920 --> 00:40:01,399 Speaker 1: a focus determination around know what your values are, right, 719 00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:04,960 Speaker 1: and you make more time for this right. Um. Secondly, 720 00:40:05,239 --> 00:40:07,920 Speaker 1: you know, um, you know, is it getting in front 721 00:40:08,040 --> 00:40:10,319 Speaker 1: of my ability to kind of focus on my faith 722 00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:14,160 Speaker 1: at family if it does? Sorry, right, because those things 723 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:18,759 Speaker 1: take priority now to the work thing. Um? Is it 724 00:40:18,840 --> 00:40:22,319 Speaker 1: in line or is it kind of contributory to the 725 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:25,600 Speaker 1: three things that I mentioned demographic shift, brand second fact 726 00:40:25,920 --> 00:40:29,400 Speaker 1: and the celebration of black economic compartment. I know my 727 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:33,640 Speaker 1: lane on that progress highway, right, Um. You know it's 728 00:40:33,640 --> 00:40:36,920 Speaker 1: not a one lane highway. I know my lane and 729 00:40:36,960 --> 00:40:39,520 Speaker 1: there are other folks that are participating in their lane. 730 00:40:40,239 --> 00:40:43,279 Speaker 1: Um it's hard enough for us. I don't need to 731 00:40:43,400 --> 00:40:47,360 Speaker 1: do redundant things. Um where folks are better in the 732 00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:52,480 Speaker 1: world than I at that thing, right. So I it's 733 00:40:52,560 --> 00:40:56,520 Speaker 1: my duty, um, if things are contributing to this goal 734 00:40:56,600 --> 00:40:58,640 Speaker 1: and mission that I have, assuming that there are enough 735 00:40:58,640 --> 00:41:02,120 Speaker 1: hours in a day that I participate, right, Um, it 736 00:41:02,239 --> 00:41:04,400 Speaker 1: is my duty when folks potentially come up to me 737 00:41:04,520 --> 00:41:08,319 Speaker 1: at a conference to not rush out right like, and 738 00:41:08,320 --> 00:41:11,320 Speaker 1: it's my duty to prioritize that's assuming it's not getting 739 00:41:11,320 --> 00:41:13,200 Speaker 1: in a way of those other things and my values, 740 00:41:13,360 --> 00:41:17,200 Speaker 1: right Um. So yeah, I mean the responsibility is so 741 00:41:17,280 --> 00:41:21,279 Speaker 1: much of responsibility as um. You know my commitment to it, 742 00:41:21,880 --> 00:41:24,760 Speaker 1: and I've dedicated my life to this for the past 743 00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:27,480 Speaker 1: ten years and I will continue to dedicate my life 744 00:41:27,480 --> 00:41:30,840 Speaker 1: to it for the rest of my life because frankly, 745 00:41:30,880 --> 00:41:33,080 Speaker 1: for me, I think it's the only thing we're focusing on, 746 00:41:33,880 --> 00:41:36,680 Speaker 1: right I think if we can realize some of the 747 00:41:36,719 --> 00:41:38,920 Speaker 1: things that I hope for in this idea of black 748 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:41,719 Speaker 1: economic and power with you know, we will have made 749 00:41:41,719 --> 00:41:44,920 Speaker 1: so much progress for the secondary and tertiary things that 750 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:48,319 Speaker 1: we all want to see that. So, yes, it is 751 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:53,840 Speaker 1: a responsibility. It's not a burden, um because also I 752 00:41:53,920 --> 00:41:56,360 Speaker 1: know who I am, and you know I can't be 753 00:41:56,400 --> 00:41:59,200 Speaker 1: everything to everybody, and that's something I have to reconcile 754 00:41:59,239 --> 00:42:27,719 Speaker 1: every day, and that's what that's okay. Black Tech Green 755 00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:30,800 Speaker 1: Money is the production of Blackty. Afro Tech is produced 756 00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:34,920 Speaker 1: by Morgan Dubon and me Well Lucas, with additional production 757 00:42:34,960 --> 00:42:38,720 Speaker 1: support by Love Beach, Stephane y'all, Bogu and Raven near Borne. 758 00:42:39,840 --> 00:42:42,680 Speaker 1: Special thank you to Michael Davis, some Car savan Yan 759 00:42:42,840 --> 00:42:45,239 Speaker 1: you know like the wine and yes that's his real 760 00:42:45,320 --> 00:42:50,000 Speaker 1: name and Dominique right. Learn more about Tristan Walker another 761 00:42:50,040 --> 00:42:54,520 Speaker 1: tech this for I'm using innovators at afro tech dot com. 762 00:42:54,560 --> 00:43:02,680 Speaker 1: Go get your money, Peace and Love suction