1 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:04,400 Speaker 1: I'm Will Lucas and this is black Tech a money. 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: Mandela sah Dixon is the powerhouse in the startup world. 3 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,239 Speaker 1: A multi time founder, angel investor, and former CEO of 4 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,479 Speaker 1: All Rays and founder Gym, She's been focused on making 5 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 1: tech more inclusive and accessible for underrepresented founders. She's one 6 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: of the first black women to raise venture capital in 7 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: Silicon Valley and she's paved a way for countless others 8 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: and now serves as an executive coach, helping high performing 9 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 1: founders and executives leave with purpose. Mandela is also a 10 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: past AFRO Tech speaker. She mc the first Afro Tech 11 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: in twenty sixteen. Let's see what she's up to. Now. 12 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 1: You've been in and around tech startup culture and specifically 13 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: underrepresented you know, in black founder culture for a long time, 14 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: and you also, at least it appears to have a 15 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: little bit of distance from it, so you get to 16 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: see it and you get to be in it, and 17 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: you know, in recent year it looks like you've been 18 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: able to create just a little bit of separation and 19 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,759 Speaker 1: not so much live in a bullbule. And so I wonder, 20 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: you know, having that near but still far perspective, what 21 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: encourages you about you know, this culture and what we're 22 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: building has a black you know, technology community, and what 23 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 1: do we need to be careful about. 24 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, such a good question, And I also liked the phraming. 25 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 2: I hadn't heard that where you're still in it. But 26 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,080 Speaker 2: I've also intentionally created some space, so I am not 27 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 2: just in that bubble, and I think it's important for 28 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 2: people to understand a little bit more of the context. 29 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: And you know, when I started this journey in twenty eleven, 30 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 2: I came in as a founder, a founder who was 31 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 2: living and building an educational technology company in Los Angeles 32 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 2: at a time when there were not venture capitalists investing 33 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 2: in ed tech down there. It was focused on media 34 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:54,240 Speaker 2: and gaming, there was no Silicon Beach, and so I 35 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: got the opportunity to get my first investment from an 36 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: investor out here in San Francisco, and that took me 37 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 2: on a journey. So I will just summarize this for 38 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 2: everybody who may not understand the context by which I 39 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 2: will be sharing my answers is that you know, a 40 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:14,079 Speaker 2: serial entrepreneur venture back. Also, I've worked on the other 41 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 2: side of the table, formally at a venture capital firm 42 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 2: called kpoor capital, but also informally, I have a portfolio 43 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 2: over one hundred startups that I've invested in as an 44 00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 2: angel investor. I'm also an LP and multiple funds, a 45 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: large and small, and I was the CEO of All Rays, 46 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 2: supporting a community of woman venture capitalists. So when you 47 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 2: ask me the question like what do I hope for 48 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 2: or what do I want to share about what I've 49 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 2: seen in the last thirteen years of my journey out 50 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: here and bringing it full circle, I think one of 51 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 2: the things that I want to share this's really hopeful, 52 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 2: hopefully for the black tech entrepreneurship community, is resilience. I 53 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 2: have seeing the diversity equity inclusion movement up close when 54 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: it really gained headway, and it was starting back in 55 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 2: twenty fourteen and even earlier. I saw it at its peak, 56 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:14,480 Speaker 2: and I also saw it being attacked in the last 57 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 2: couple of years. I had a front row seat to 58 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 2: that and I was in a leadership position. And so 59 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: one of the things that is really encouraging is the 60 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 2: fact that despite how certain corporations budget may shift, how 61 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 2: their intentions may shift, that people with ideas and agency 62 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 2: and motivation and a spirit of collaboration and wanting to 63 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 2: bring four things that don't presently exist in the world 64 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 2: and make it happen and be resourceful and gritty. That 65 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:51,240 Speaker 2: has not changed and it's never going to change. And 66 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 2: so I find it very encouraging that despite all of 67 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 2: the things outside of our control that continue to change 68 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 2: and even be demoralizing at times. I'm not going to 69 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 2: sugarcoat it, the people keep showing up, not just for 70 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 2: themselves but as a community. And you know, that's everything 71 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 2: that afro Tech and Glavity represent. So it's always, you know, 72 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: an honor to be in conversation with you. That's one 73 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 2: of the things I would share. 74 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 1: And so having seen some of the pitfalls we fall into, 75 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: not knowing that pitfalls still exist in some of the 76 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: areas that may have been you know, sheened over. You 77 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 1: know when you when you mentor black founders, people who 78 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: are new to this or you know, maybe just confused 79 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,720 Speaker 1: about what when somebody says, let's meet again about that, 80 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,919 Speaker 1: but they really mean no, Like, what are some things 81 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: that you would advise us to avoid that we too 82 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 1: often are still falling into. 83 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 2: What to avoid? I think one of the things to 84 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 2: avoid is this, Like I don't want to say hope, 85 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,120 Speaker 2: because I think hope is a really important word. But 86 00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 2: this misalignment with mission and money that a lot of 87 00:05:01,080 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 2: founders have, and let me break that apart of it. 88 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 2: If you do not have a business and business strategy 89 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: where money is a core or primary focus of it, 90 00:05:12,440 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 2: it does not meet the mission of the venture capitalist. 91 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 2: And even if we were to reframe that, if you 92 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 2: have such a strong calling to the mission of your 93 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: business and who you're serving in all those things, yes 94 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 2: that is wonderful. That is powerful. But without the clarity 95 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 2: and the strategy and the financial literacy of understanding what 96 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 2: game you are playing when you sign up to secure 97 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 2: something like venture capital, it really is a mismatch. So 98 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:45,600 Speaker 2: one of the biggest pieces of advice I can give is, yes, 99 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,039 Speaker 2: have your mission tightened up and in alignment with who 100 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 2: you are and what you want to bring forth in 101 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 2: the world. But this is capitalism. You don't have venture 102 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,919 Speaker 2: capital without capitalism. It's very important for people to understand that, 103 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 2: and for those who feel like that may not speak 104 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 2: to their lived experiences, that may not speak to their values. 105 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 2: One thing I would invite people to consider is reframing 106 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 2: money as a tool it's simply a tool to bring 107 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 2: forth the world that you want to exist. And without 108 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 2: that tool, you are reliant on working for other people 109 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 2: and bringing forth their visions. So really working out your 110 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 2: relationship with money, your understanding of money, learning how to 111 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 2: speak VC venture capital that language. If you want to 112 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 2: travel to this country, a venture capital in Silicon Valley 113 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: and tech startups, right, go do the doogo lingo of VC, 114 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,559 Speaker 2: like learn the language. What is LTV, what is CAC, 115 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 2: what's a term sheet, what's a cap table? All of 116 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:59,279 Speaker 2: these fundamentals baseline information of understanding is absolutely imperative if 117 00:06:59,320 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 2: you're going to be able to negotiate with financial experts 118 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 2: on the other side of the table who are employed 119 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 2: as venture capitalists. 120 00:07:08,080 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: So what I hear you saying in I'm going to 121 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: translate that for how I heard it. So there's too 122 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: many of us potentially still thinking about, Hey, I just 123 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 1: have this great idea that should exist in the world, 124 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 1: and therefore you should fund me. 125 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, yes, exactly. And so it's a mismatch because that 126 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 2: is not the core incentive of a venture capitalist and 127 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 2: a venture capital firm. That is a fundamental mismatch. Venture 128 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 2: capital is not philanthropy. It's not grant making organization. It 129 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 2: literally is a value exchange of where they're going to 130 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 2: give you fresh capital in the form of a wire 131 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 2: transfer to your business bank account in exchange for ownership 132 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 2: shares equity in your company. That's the deal that is 133 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 2: being done here. That's how they measure the value of 134 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 2: your company, not how mission oriented or even mission aligned 135 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 2: you personally the founder are, And so that can feel 136 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:13,680 Speaker 2: icky to people, especially like I'll give you my own 137 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 2: lived experience. I'm the daughter of two civil rights attorneys. 138 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:22,560 Speaker 2: I didn't have any background in business, finance, technology, entrepreneurship 139 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 2: not a thing right, And so how I've evolved my 140 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 2: thinking over the last thirteen years and just being in 141 00:08:30,480 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 2: proximity to this world, understanding how things get done, also 142 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 2: understanding what you are able to do once you break 143 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 2: into this world. It's been really important. And I'll go 144 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,680 Speaker 2: back to the point I made earlier about really unpacking 145 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 2: your personal relationship with money and understanding that you, yes, 146 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 2: you may have been called to bring forth this vision 147 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 2: into the world, but without the money, the mission stops 148 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 2: and I can't even take credit for that. That's one 149 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:05,000 Speaker 2: of our former alumni, Kui who shared that, you know, 150 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 2: really powerful sentiment. It stuck with me. 151 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: You know, you also do some executive coaching, and I wonder, 152 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,559 Speaker 1: you know, what are some key focus here is that 153 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:17,080 Speaker 1: you work on with founders and executives. 154 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. So I'm of the belief that your business is 155 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 2: a reflection of you the founder, and the more you 156 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 2: are still an operating founder or an operating FEO, you're 157 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 2: in the business not just kind of collecting checks and 158 00:09:33,679 --> 00:09:36,880 Speaker 2: benefiting from the beautiful systems and people you put in place, 159 00:09:38,280 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 2: that it really is a product of you. And so 160 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 2: if you find your business stalling or not growing or 161 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 2: even digressing, or you have turnover issues or frustration, you know, 162 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 2: what I always ask people is what is in your 163 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 2: control as the owner leader of this company to change? 164 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 2: And it could be a simple as having better clarity 165 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 2: on exactly what you are trying to achieve. I'm not 166 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,000 Speaker 2: talking about long term the world that you want to 167 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,199 Speaker 2: see that's a vision statement, a mission statement, how you're 168 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 2: going to get that done, but the actual strategy and 169 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:17,760 Speaker 2: the quantifiable numbers to measure your progress against that. So 170 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 2: one of the things we work on is clarity, like 171 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:26,000 Speaker 2: really unpacking what are you trying to do at which 172 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:29,560 Speaker 2: speed are you trying to achieve it? And how will 173 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 2: you ultimately know if you're successful? Right? Like, that's like baseline, 174 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:39,000 Speaker 2: brax tax Beyond that, one of the things I really 175 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 2: feel empowered to educate people on as their executive coach 176 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 2: is their own financial wealth building strategy. Right. The business 177 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:53,440 Speaker 2: that you're building is an asset, and hopefully for many people, 178 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 2: it's going to be one asset that you create in 179 00:10:56,040 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 2: your entire life. And so how does this asset your 180 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:05,680 Speaker 2: larger financial goals? Financial freedom? Right? Where you are able 181 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 2: to get up, do what you want, when you want, 182 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 2: whenever you want, how you want. I mean, isn't that 183 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 2: the goal? And so how is this business serving that 184 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 2: get out of the business into the bigger picture, and 185 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 2: then how does that business complement your whole life goals? Right? 186 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 2: So much of what I also talk to people about 187 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:32,840 Speaker 2: as founders is your measure. We're getting really clear on 188 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:36,080 Speaker 2: how you measure success and how you set up systems 189 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:39,200 Speaker 2: and business to achieve that success. But how can you 190 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 2: take that same blueprint and apply it to your life 191 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:47,400 Speaker 2: in an intimate, long term relationship? Family building wealth building? Right, 192 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 2: It's about teaching people transferable skill sets that are going 193 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 2: to serve them in this moment of my engagement with 194 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 2: them as a business owner, but that will serve them 195 00:11:58,080 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 2: in their life and what they want to cheat in 196 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 2: their life. 197 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 1: What qualities have you seen distinguished really effective founders and 198 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:11,000 Speaker 1: executives from those that you're like, you need some work, 199 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:12,760 Speaker 1: you really need some help here. 200 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:15,960 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, I think that one of the biggest things, 201 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 2: aside from clarity, is I mean you got to know, like, 202 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,160 Speaker 2: what are you trying to do here? Right? And that 203 00:12:20,200 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 2: can be scary for people because they have analysis paralysis 204 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 2: where there is so much information. I mean you've got claude, chat, GPT, 205 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 2: the Internet, the community, you got all this stuff about 206 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,199 Speaker 2: a million ways you can build a business. How you're 207 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 2: going to like, it's just information overlow. You're drinking from 208 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 2: a fire hose almost. And so what I recommend to 209 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 2: people is you have to know your level of risk tolerance, right, Like, 210 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,640 Speaker 2: at what point do you have enough information and you've 211 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 2: mapped out enough of a strategy that you're willing to 212 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 2: go right, like jump, let's go. And have secondarily a 213 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 2: bias for action. I saw this clip show on my 214 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 2: knew See the other day where they were talking about 215 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 2: this multi billionaire and he admitted he was like, I'm 216 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 2: not smarter than anybody, Like he was very effusive and 217 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 2: like belittling himself and an intellect. But he says where 218 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 2: I win is I'm just faster. If I see something, 219 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 2: I do it right. 220 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 3: And it's about like not getting lost and paralyzed by 221 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:26,560 Speaker 3: overthinking every single thing, but trusting that you will learn 222 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 3: as you go, trusting your ability to course correct as 223 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 3: you go right. 224 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 2: And I think that's been my personal superpower is Where 225 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 2: other people are like, you know, I need to have X, 226 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 2: Y and Z in place, I'm like, no, I have 227 00:13:39,200 --> 00:13:41,640 Speaker 2: an idea. I'm gonna put it out to my community, 228 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:44,360 Speaker 2: see what resonates. If I get enough traction, then I'm 229 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 2: going to turn into a prototype. Right, we'll test that 230 00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,359 Speaker 2: out that you know, it's this design thinking, this incremental 231 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 2: startup methodology that is applicable in business but also in life. 232 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 2: And so I have to answer your question, I would 233 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:01,960 Speaker 2: say clarity and a bias for two huge things. And thirdly, 234 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:06,719 Speaker 2: this is a really important one, especially for the communities 235 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:10,400 Speaker 2: I historically serve, which are black, brown women, other underrepresented 236 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 2: groups in tech. Is really getting out of independence into interdependence. 237 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 2: And so when you come, when you come from a 238 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 2: space where you are the first, the only right to 239 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 2: really chart this path and go this route, and you've 240 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 2: had to rely on yourself for so many things, there's 241 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:37,560 Speaker 2: a point where you have to start unlearning that because 242 00:14:37,600 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 2: it's limiting. There is a ceiling to what you as 243 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 2: an individual can do in a twenty four hour period. 244 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:48,840 Speaker 2: But if you start sharing the responsibilities across a group 245 00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,760 Speaker 2: of people, you can go faster and farther. And so 246 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 2: one of the barriers I oftentimes see, one of the 247 00:14:55,520 --> 00:15:01,840 Speaker 2: most common things is people's pattern of doing it by themselves. 248 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 2: It's just their default, it's what they've always done. So 249 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 2: it's a bit of that, but it's also a lack 250 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 2: of trust. Is that they don't trust other people to 251 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 2: either respect their ideas, honor their ideas, have allegiance and 252 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,480 Speaker 2: loyalty to their ideas, or to get it done as 253 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:21,480 Speaker 2: good as they could get it done. And so what 254 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 2: you have to mitigate as a leader is number one, 255 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:29,760 Speaker 2: figuring out how do you attract a players right, how 256 00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,080 Speaker 2: do you attract a players and also how do you 257 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 2: know well you actually need a B or C player right, Like, 258 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:39,360 Speaker 2: you're not looking for an executive right now, you're just 259 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 2: looking for someone hungry who's willing to sorry my air 260 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 2: project thought, who's willing to do what needs to get done, 261 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,360 Speaker 2: be scrappy, right and just get it done. They're on 262 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 2: their learning journey, on their come up, and so you know, 263 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 2: it's moving away from being an inventor of an idea 264 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 2: and an owner of a business this once you're incorporated, 265 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 2: to actually a leader and a manager of people. So 266 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 2: there's a big shift that needs to happen to like 267 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:13,920 Speaker 2: having an idea, building a product or service, getting it 268 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 2: to market, to managing people and then retaining people keeping 269 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 2: them happy is a is a learned skill. 270 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, so much of that, you know, allowing somebody else 271 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:30,760 Speaker 1: into your space in helping you get there, you hit 272 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: on a couple of great things, Like it's like a trust. 273 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,760 Speaker 1: Sometimes it's you know, being so tied to wanting to 274 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 1: do it yourself because you're good at it, you know, 275 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: that's part of it. Some of it's also not having 276 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: the capital to pay somebody and so how do you 277 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 1: get over those things when you feel like I would 278 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: take help, but that person needs X, y Z. That 279 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: person out there whoever they. 280 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,600 Speaker 2: Are, Yep, yep, and so oh, I love this question 281 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:58,880 Speaker 2: or my favorite one, so thank you for bringing this up. 282 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:01,200 Speaker 2: I think it's a couple of things. Number one is 283 00:17:01,240 --> 00:17:04,680 Speaker 2: self awareness. You have to know yourself what you bring 284 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 2: an offer to people aside from just money in a paycheck, right, 285 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:12,159 Speaker 2: that's one thing. So if you can provide value in 286 00:17:12,200 --> 00:17:13,959 Speaker 2: the form of you may not know this, but I 287 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 2: can teach you, like turn the job opportunity into a 288 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:22,000 Speaker 2: mentorship opportunity, into an internship, into a fellowship opportunity where 289 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 2: rather than the value exchange being hours of time for 290 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 2: money paid, it's like hours of time and impact for mentorship, 291 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 2: for connections, for guidance. There's other ways that you can 292 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:37,680 Speaker 2: provide value to people aside for money. And that's honestly 293 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 2: what I did. I'm not just speaking about this from 294 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 2: what you could do. This is what I literally did. 295 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:46,960 Speaker 2: My last business was one hundred percent bootstrap. We hit 296 00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 2: a million within a few years, right like, and we 297 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 2: did this with very limited resources, zero capital put in 298 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 2: from investors. Because I was very self aware that what 299 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 2: I had to offer aside from money, and if I 300 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:07,199 Speaker 2: could package that into a fellowship and some sort of 301 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,760 Speaker 2: time bound engagement where you're going to come here and 302 00:18:11,840 --> 00:18:14,480 Speaker 2: work on X, Y and Z projects for the company 303 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:16,720 Speaker 2: that needs to get done, and exchange I'm going to 304 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 2: give you a small siphen and I'm going to give 305 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:21,679 Speaker 2: you I'm going to give you a small tit end 306 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 2: mentorship or access or branding. Right, And so many of 307 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:28,800 Speaker 2: those turned into my employees. Right, So there are so 308 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:33,800 Speaker 2: many ways to attract people. Another thing, too, is people 309 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,919 Speaker 2: assume that nobody will want to work for them without money, 310 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 2: and you don't undervalue how much your knowledge, your networking, 311 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 2: your brand can actually offer other people who don't have 312 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 2: those things yet. Right. And then for those who say, well, 313 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 2: I don't have a big following, I don't have, what 314 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:52,639 Speaker 2: do you have? Can we talk about that, like what 315 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 2: do you have? Clearly you have a lot. If you 316 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:59,120 Speaker 2: even got to the point of starting a business, you're 317 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:02,399 Speaker 2: ahead of the majority of this population on planet Earth. 318 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,520 Speaker 2: You have things. It's about a reframing of your mind 319 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 2: into a scarcity mindset, from a scarcy mindset into an 320 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:14,920 Speaker 2: abundant mindset and being scrappy and resourceful and understanding that 321 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:18,080 Speaker 2: actually is the makeup in the DNA of some of 322 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 2: the most successful entrepreneurs. Right, you face these obstacles. Okay, 323 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 2: what are you going to do about it? And so 324 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 2: if the obstacle is money, what else can you offer? Right? 325 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 2: And so's that's genuinely what I did. 326 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:32,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, I like a couple of things you said there, 327 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:34,719 Speaker 1: and I want to touch on, you know, developing your 328 00:19:34,760 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: leadership style because so often when we see successful people 329 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 1: who are in the vertical that we want to be in, 330 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: they either may not look like us, or their style 331 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 1: isn't our style, and et cetera. And so we're learning 332 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: so many of us as either first generation founders, first 333 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:53,720 Speaker 1: generation college students, first generation homeowners, we're learning how to 334 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,280 Speaker 1: do this thing. And at the same time, we're told 335 00:19:56,280 --> 00:19:58,879 Speaker 1: in so many spaces that who we are we have 336 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:03,280 Speaker 1: to adjust to fit into those spaces. So you talked 337 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 1: a little bit about alignment and you know your personal values, 338 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: is how do you develop into that person as you're 339 00:20:10,359 --> 00:20:12,920 Speaker 1: you know, trying to find your way to the from 340 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 1: the idea to some sort of success and however you 341 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: define it? 342 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,679 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, yes, So how do you stay true to 343 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 2: yourself or even more of yourself while you are operating 344 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,320 Speaker 2: in an environment where you may not see yourself reflected 345 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 2: and may not feel safe to be yourself. You know. 346 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 2: One of the things I've been reflecteds such a good question, 347 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 2: will and you're You're so thoughtful in how you laid 348 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 2: it up for me. I've been reflecting a lot about 349 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:44,199 Speaker 2: what I've represented as a person, as a leader myself, 350 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 2: which is authenticity of like being yourself, like truly showing 351 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,119 Speaker 2: up as your whole self, take it or leave it 352 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:54,920 Speaker 2: kind of style, and reconciling that with another idea of intentionality. 353 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 2: Of authenticity is more so like who I am now 354 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:00,679 Speaker 2: and what I'm bringing to the table, what I believe in, 355 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 2: But also that intentionality, who do I want to become? 356 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 2: And there's a gap between who you are and who 357 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:10,560 Speaker 2: you want to become. And then there's a reflection opportunity, 358 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 2: which is why am I choosing to build a tech 359 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 2: business and raise venture capital? Does that align with my 360 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 2: intention of the leader I'm trying to become? Right? So 361 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,320 Speaker 2: part of it is understanding this is a choice to 362 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 2: make to come into this space and to navigate it 363 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 2: and to leverage it and to benefit from it and 364 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 2: to contribute to it. It's a choice, and I think 365 00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:38,040 Speaker 2: part of what is a really important act as you 366 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 2: begin this journey is to make a very intentional decision 367 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,679 Speaker 2: that you are choosing this path. You are choosing this 368 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:49,440 Speaker 2: industry for ex fry and z outcomes that you are 369 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 2: hoping to attain for yourself. Another thing I will say 370 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 2: that you know it's on my heart often because I 371 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 2: answer this question a lot too with the community that 372 00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 2: I serve is the reality of pattern matching is that 373 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:08,360 Speaker 2: this industry is one in which there are two sides. Typically, 374 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:10,960 Speaker 2: just to simplify it to the table, there's the investor 375 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 2: and there's the founder, and the investors have an influx 376 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 2: of entrepreneurs. It's lopsided, meaning they are way more entrepreneurs 377 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 2: seeking venture capital than there are venture capitalists distributing the 378 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 2: capital to the boundaries. Right, it's lopsided, and so one 379 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 2: way the venture capitalists manage all this inbound interest is 380 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:39,679 Speaker 2: to find patterns, find patterns of success. Where are successful companies? 381 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,480 Speaker 2: What was the deconstructing them, reverse engineering to figure out 382 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:46,640 Speaker 2: how they got that way, and then forming a pattern 383 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 2: in order to judge everybody else coming in the door. 384 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:54,320 Speaker 2: What's fundamentally wrong with that is that that pattern is 385 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:58,640 Speaker 2: based off of the companies currently are previously in existence, 386 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 2: and for the majority of venture capital's history, it has 387 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:09,159 Speaker 2: been off limits. Are not not open to people of color, women, 388 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 2: et cetera. Et it's a very white, male dominated industry. 389 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 2: And so one of the things I educate people on 390 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 2: is if you know, there's a pattern that they are 391 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,199 Speaker 2: looking for based on the current data that exists, and 392 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 2: that pattern may not align to you. So maybe it's 393 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 2: where they went to school, their gender, their race, what 394 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 2: tech companies they worked at, who their father is, who 395 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 2: their brother is, who they're you know, all these ways 396 00:23:35,320 --> 00:23:39,439 Speaker 2: in which we codify people to figure out is this 397 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:42,160 Speaker 2: going to be the next thing? And that's just the person. 398 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 2: I haven't even talked about the business, like the market 399 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:48,200 Speaker 2: and the product and the team. Right, there's a plethora 400 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:50,639 Speaker 2: of things that they're being judged on. But if you 401 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:54,919 Speaker 2: don't meet the pre existing pattern, Number one is recognized 402 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:58,959 Speaker 2: that that acknowledgement of what you are up against is 403 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,919 Speaker 2: very important in to choose the strategy in what you 404 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:07,360 Speaker 2: are going to navigate that reality. It's a reality. It's 405 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:11,200 Speaker 2: not fair, it's not right. I don't condone it. We've 406 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:13,119 Speaker 2: done a lot of work to try to change the 407 00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 2: other side and how they're sourcing founders, how they're sourcing companies. 408 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:20,840 Speaker 2: But it is a reality, and so work with that reality. 409 00:24:21,160 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 2: What could you do with it? Part of it what 410 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 2: I've seen founders do, and I'm telling the truth there, 411 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 2: so I hope that's welcome in this conversation. Part of 412 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 2: what I've seen them do is try to get a 413 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,440 Speaker 2: bit more of that pattern. So what does that mean? 414 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:37,119 Speaker 2: That may mean they may not fit the pattern, but 415 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:40,160 Speaker 2: their co founder fits the pattern, their first employee fits 416 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:43,160 Speaker 2: the pattern, their first employee fits about their advisor fits 417 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:47,560 Speaker 2: the pattern, their angel investor fits the pattern. So there's 418 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,480 Speaker 2: a strategic, intentional way they're trying to get closer to 419 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,040 Speaker 2: that pattern even if they don't fit it. Another thing 420 00:24:53,240 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 2: is really educating the other side of the table, the investors, 421 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:00,919 Speaker 2: about what else they bring to the Tabor table to 422 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 2: help like de risk themselves and convince the investors that 423 00:25:05,359 --> 00:25:08,879 Speaker 2: they are a viable bet to make right. So you 424 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:11,119 Speaker 2: may not have went to the same school as the 425 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,520 Speaker 2: previous pattern as a pattern, but you may have a 426 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:19,000 Speaker 2: lived experience that makes you have deep market expertise in 427 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:22,680 Speaker 2: this niche niche things and like have this like nugget 428 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 2: of understanding that nobody else has because nobody else traveled 429 00:25:26,320 --> 00:25:28,640 Speaker 2: existance you did. Nobody else did the work you did, 430 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,919 Speaker 2: and it's about elevating that and telling that story. And 431 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 2: again I'm speaking from this from personal experience. I didn't 432 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 2: know anybody in this space when I started. I didn't 433 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 2: know anybody. I didn't have a degree i'd have any connection. 434 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 2: But one thing that I've learned to hone over the 435 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 2: years that I've tried to teach other people is how 436 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 2: to tell your story. How to create value from who 437 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 2: you are, what you've been through, what you represent, in 438 00:25:55,400 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 2: a way that will appeal to the interests of the 439 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:03,160 Speaker 2: other side. Right, So they may not care that my family, 440 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 2: you know, has a background in civil rights. They may 441 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,000 Speaker 2: not care at all. But what I can tell them 442 00:26:08,080 --> 00:26:10,280 Speaker 2: is my background when I was building my education company 443 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:12,959 Speaker 2: that I am deeply seeked in education. And look at 444 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 2: all the people I know, and I could just send 445 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:17,120 Speaker 2: them an email that be our customers, right, So talk 446 00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:19,359 Speaker 2: to them in a way that appeals to them but 447 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:21,880 Speaker 2: still stays true to you who you are. 448 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:26,840 Speaker 1: That's great. That's There's so much that I wish we had, 449 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:28,920 Speaker 1: like so much more to I want to get into 450 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: a couple other questions before I'll let you go because 451 00:26:30,800 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: I want to be respectful of your time. Is when 452 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 1: you think about you know, you've exited startups and you've 453 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:41,119 Speaker 1: moved on from startups and companies and organizations and et cetera. 454 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:44,480 Speaker 1: You know, tell me, like, what has your journey been 455 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:46,960 Speaker 1: like this over like the past since you spoke at Afrotech. 456 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: Let's start there, since you've spoken at Afrotech, what has 457 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:53,639 Speaker 1: your mandela been, you know, journey into stepping into stepping 458 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:54,480 Speaker 1: out of and et cetera. 459 00:26:56,160 --> 00:26:58,399 Speaker 2: Oh, my gosh, I've even it was twenty sixteen. The 460 00:26:58,440 --> 00:26:59,160 Speaker 2: first Afrotech. 461 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:00,800 Speaker 1: Twenty sixteen was the first AFRO tech. 462 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:05,119 Speaker 2: Okay, so twenty sixteen. I was so grateful. I was 463 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:08,080 Speaker 2: the MC of Afrobacks. I'm like a og. I was 464 00:27:08,119 --> 00:27:10,720 Speaker 2: so honored to play that role and to be a 465 00:27:10,760 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 2: part of the energy and the moment and just witness 466 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:19,640 Speaker 2: at Firstthand what I've been to up to since then 467 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:22,959 Speaker 2: is really is I've told you before, I've worked at 468 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 2: a venture capital firm, and then I also founded a 469 00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:30,800 Speaker 2: company called founder Gym, where we basically taught underrepresented founders 470 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 2: not just in the United States but around the world. 471 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:36,679 Speaker 2: How to raise their first round of institutional capital. So 472 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:38,560 Speaker 2: I'm sure you could pick that up and some of 473 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:41,120 Speaker 2: the advice I was sharing. I'm very passionate about it. 474 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:43,479 Speaker 2: And then after that, I was recruited to be the 475 00:27:43,520 --> 00:27:46,600 Speaker 2: CEO of Always and Always is the largest community of 476 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:49,720 Speaker 2: women venture capitalists in America, and so I had the 477 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,439 Speaker 2: privilege of serving in that. And then most recently, I 478 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:55,959 Speaker 2: have served as an executive coach. So my clients range 479 00:27:56,040 --> 00:28:00,679 Speaker 2: from what is it unicorn tech startup founders to fitness 480 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:05,359 Speaker 2: influencers and nonprofit founders. I really find, you know, I 481 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 2: have so much joy in helping people see themselves, like 482 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:14,879 Speaker 2: really see who you are and who you want to be, 483 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:19,760 Speaker 2: and create systems and process and discipline to close those 484 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,240 Speaker 2: gaps and have more of what you want. I find 485 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:24,960 Speaker 2: great joy in it. And I also have the privilege, 486 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:27,280 Speaker 2: like I Considerarier being an investor, so I invest a 487 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:29,800 Speaker 2: lot of startups as well as funds. 488 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:34,399 Speaker 1: What do you think afro tech means? And it's growing 489 00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:37,120 Speaker 1: to me even more to this you know black tech 490 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 1: founder community and I'm just just technology community. 491 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 2: Yeah. Well, well, I am so proud of you and 492 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,040 Speaker 2: honored to be in your orbit. I feel like what 493 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:48,239 Speaker 2: you stand for and what you've always stood for is 494 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:51,920 Speaker 2: so powerful. And you know, I say the same about 495 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 2: your entire leadership team at Afrotech. What you all have built, 496 00:28:57,080 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 2: sustained and scaled is everything. And given what's going on 497 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 2: in the context of America and the broader context of 498 00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 2: the world, these spaces not only where you can show 499 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:15,160 Speaker 2: up as yourself it's safe to fully express yourself, but 500 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 2: you are intentionally creating programming and community to sustain that 501 00:29:22,520 --> 00:29:25,440 Speaker 2: initial interest in that spark. That's what I love so 502 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 2: much about it, right, is that this event is just 503 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 2: a series of days, right, but it's a catalyst. It's 504 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 2: a catalyst for so much more. Whether you're going to 505 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 2: find your next co founder, your first employee, you're gonna 506 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 2: get employed by someone else, You're just going to find 507 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:48,200 Speaker 2: people of like mind. It is such a sacred place 508 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:51,959 Speaker 2: that I cannot say enough about how important it is 509 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 2: for others, and even how important it has been for me. 510 00:29:55,280 --> 00:29:57,800 Speaker 2: You know, so many of my friends. So people now 511 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:00,960 Speaker 2: see y'll you know, magazine covers and raising their x 512 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 2: amount of fund and has a billion dollars under management. 513 00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 2: I mean, we all met up at Afrotech, right, so 514 00:30:07,720 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 2: hopefully you know this is inspiration for others of just 515 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:16,880 Speaker 2: our own distance traveled and what a catalytic opportunity or 516 00:30:16,960 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 2: attendance that Afrotech was for us personally. 517 00:30:20,120 --> 00:30:22,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, so I'm going to give the flowers right back. 518 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 1: You know, you're somebody who, like we've known each other 519 00:30:25,680 --> 00:30:28,880 Speaker 1: for twelve thirteen years now, we've you know, come up 520 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 1: in this and you've always been authentic, always been genuine 521 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: and to see your growth and development has been a 522 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:36,680 Speaker 1: great joy. So it's been a pleasure talking to you 523 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: to day. 524 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 2: Oh well, I received that with such a grateful heart 525 00:30:41,920 --> 00:30:44,360 Speaker 2: and means so much to me. And yes, I am 526 00:30:44,360 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 2: proud of us. We keep showing up, don'tways, that's a fact. 527 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:06,400 Speaker 1: Black Tech Green Money is a production in Blavity afro 528 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:09,520 Speaker 1: Tech on the Black Effect podcast Networking I Hire Media 529 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:12,520 Speaker 1: and it's produced by Morgan Debonne and me Will Lucas, 530 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 1: with additional production support by Kate McDonald and Jaden McGee. 531 00:31:17,320 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: Special thank you to Michael Davis since Aara Ergin. Learn 532 00:31:20,280 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 1: more about my guests the other tech. This's represent innovators 533 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 1: at afrotech dot com joining Black Tech Green Money. Share 534 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:31,560 Speaker 1: this with somebody, go get your money, peace and love.