1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:00,720 Speaker 1: Hi. 2 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,200 Speaker 2: I am Rashan McDonald, a host of weekly Money Making 3 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 2: Conversation Masterclass show. The interviews and information that this show 4 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 2: provides are for everyone. It's time to stop reading other 5 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:13,280 Speaker 2: people's success stories and start living your own. If you 6 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 2: want to be a guest oh my show, please visit 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 2: our website, Moneymaking Conversations dot com and click to be 8 00:00:20,160 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 2: a guest. Button press submit and information will come directly 9 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:27,159 Speaker 2: to me. Now let's get this show started. Welcome to 10 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 2: Money Making Conversations Masterclass. As you know, I'm the host, 11 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 2: I'm gonna show y'all a quote a friend of mine 12 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 2: gave me. I said when I went and visited his 13 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: conference recently. This quote moved me because I was just 14 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 2: speaking from the heart. When I was speaking to his conference. 15 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:48,519 Speaker 2: He said, Rashan, you said this, and they moved a 16 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: lot of people when you said it. If you don't 17 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 2: start dreaming about what you want today, you won't get 18 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:55,320 Speaker 2: it tomorrow. 19 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: Wow. 20 00:00:57,440 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 2: If you don't start dreaming about what you want today, 21 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 2: I won't get it tomorrow. Basically, what I'm saying is 22 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 2: that they're twenty four hours of the day. Learn to 23 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 2: take advantage of each hour. Basically, what I'm saying is 24 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 2: that when you go to bed and have a plan 25 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 2: as to why you should wake up, this snooze button 26 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 2: is a snooze button is not your friend, it's your enemy. 27 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: You can't be a person who says I'm not a 28 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 2: morning person when the stock market closes it three, So 29 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 2: that means that if you don't start early trying to 30 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 2: plan on making money, then guess what you're gonna miss 31 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 2: out on money. So you have to work hard, ladies 32 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 2: and gentlemen to be a winner. And I guess I 33 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 2: bring on my show they educate me. I'm just a storyteller. 34 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 2: My next guest is a person that I wanted to 35 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,839 Speaker 2: bring on a show because she is changing the game. 36 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 2: She's from the University of South Carolina. I gotta bring 37 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 2: that because you know, you know, they doing it out 38 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 2: there in the women's basketball world. You know, but they 39 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:56,559 Speaker 2: didn't win this year. A guess what they'll be back. 40 00:01:57,320 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 2: My next is an award winning strategy as an advocate 41 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 2: who founded When with Black Women that's WWBW. It's the 42 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 2: collective of intergenerational intersectional of more than two hundred thousand 43 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,320 Speaker 2: black women leaders from across the nation. That's two hundred 44 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:19,000 Speaker 2: thousand members and growing. She works with corporations, nonprofits, technology 45 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 2: and government organizations by helping the bridge the gap between Washington, 46 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 2: d C. And Silicon Valid. We got a lot to 47 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 2: talk about. Please work with the money making. Please work 48 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 2: with the money making Conversation Master Class. Joe taka Edie, 49 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 2: how you dog? You taker? Did I get the name right? I? 50 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: You did? You did? My brother, It's so great to 51 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: be with you. 52 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 2: You know, Teylorbody, the name is spelled j O T 53 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: A K E e A D D wise, so you know. 54 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: Is a person. 55 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 2: You have to really dance with that name a little 56 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 2: bit to make sure you got it right. So I 57 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: want to give you much respect. Then, first of all, 58 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 2: welcome to coming on Money Making Conversation master Class. And 59 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,639 Speaker 2: the reason I brought up your or the school University 60 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 2: of South Carolina is that you are student body president. 61 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: I was. I was the first black woman student by president. 62 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 2: And now I went to University of Houston, which is 63 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 2: in Houston, Texas. I was a student and vice president, 64 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: you know. And so but I know, and the guy 65 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,560 Speaker 2: asked me to run with him. But to accomplish that task, 66 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 2: Let's talk about you as a person. You know, because 67 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 2: obviously your personality resonates and you have a lot of 68 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 2: confidence to be in a college, to have that type 69 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,080 Speaker 2: of confidence, to feel that you could lead a school 70 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 2: in the South University of South Carolina and feel that 71 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 2: you can be a student vice president who injected this 72 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: this excitement, this confidence in you. 73 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: You know, I, when I think about you, ask who 74 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 1: I am? And I recently lost my mother. Today actually 75 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 1: marks four month anniversary three of her burial. And you know, 76 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: when you lose a parent, especially your mother, it forces 77 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: you to rethink every aspect of who you are, your life, 78 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: every decision you ever made, what path you're on. And 79 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: I've been doing a lot of that over the last 80 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: four months. And so to ask me that question, I think, 81 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: particularly on this day, a day that I've been thinking about, 82 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 1: that I really appreciate because at first, I am a 83 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 1: I am Leonora Abraham Edy and im and Edie's daughter. 84 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 1: I am a black woman that grew up on a 85 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: dirt road in a very small town in South Carolina, 86 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: And a lot of who I am really comes from 87 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: how I grew up. It really comes from the people 88 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:52,280 Speaker 1: that poured into me, mostly people who didn't have a lot, 89 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: but they had a lot of love, They had a 90 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: lot of a vision for young people like me in 91 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 1: the community. And so my life growing up, and you 92 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: know when you ask like, how would you think that 93 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: you would go on to University South Carolina and run 94 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 1: for student body president. You know, USC only became integrated 95 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: in nineteen sixty three. And it was really because I 96 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: grew up around people who told me that I could 97 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: do and be anything I wanted to be, and they 98 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: cheered me on whether I was doing that Easter speed 99 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: we all know about those Eastern speeches growing up, whether 100 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: or not I was, you know, in a local oratorical contest. 101 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: They made me believe that when I was getting up there, 102 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:38,800 Speaker 1: that I was standing before the un so that when 103 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 1: I fast forward some twenty something years later, when I 104 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: am speaking before the un while I may have just 105 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,840 Speaker 1: a little bit of nervousness, I don't have fear. And 106 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:53,240 Speaker 1: that's really who and what has inspired me and continues 107 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 1: to inspire me. It started with my parents and my 108 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: family and really a strong community of people who took 109 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:04,800 Speaker 1: very little and poured into young people to really try 110 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: to grow and help those young people see things that 111 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 1: they only wish that they could see in their life. 112 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 2: Wow, let me ask you this to take them. You know, 113 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 2: when with Black Women, like I said earlier, is a collective, intergenerational, 114 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 2: intersectional or more than two hundred thousand members these are 115 00:06:25,160 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 2: black women? Why did you create that organization and basically 116 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 2: give us a global perspectives of its purpose? 117 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 1: So when with Black Women started, a lot of people 118 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: are more familiar with the Historic Call where there were 119 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,600 Speaker 1: forty four thousand people on zoom and I think it's 120 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: probably another one hundred thousand people watching that zoom because 121 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 1: they couldn't get on the zoom. But we had actually 122 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: started in twenty twenty, and it was around the time 123 00:06:54,640 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: when we were experiencing the presidential election and there was 124 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: a big debate and conversation on who was going to 125 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,000 Speaker 1: be the next vice president and then Vice President Joe 126 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: Biden had made a commitment that he was going to 127 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: select a woman, and as a part of that conversation, 128 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 1: several black women, many of them who were people that 129 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: I knew former colleagues and friends, were named as potential 130 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: vice presidential running mates. And as we always see, there 131 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: was this following of ad hominal, racist, sexist attacks against 132 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: every last black woman, not on her merit, not on 133 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: her policies, but just on her ambition. And I remember 134 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,120 Speaker 1: just being outraged. And it was during the pandemic and 135 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 1: I was at home in South Carolina, and I reached 136 00:07:46,280 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 1: out to a dear friend, Mignon More, and I said, Mignon, 137 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: what are we going to do? What are you going 138 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: to do? Meaning like, what is your generation, you know, 139 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,280 Speaker 1: the anti political, anti generation is going to do? And 140 00:07:57,320 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: I'll never forget. She said, well, what are you going 141 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:02,600 Speaker 1: to do? And I was very convicted by that, you know, 142 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: And what she meant was not necessarily what was huge 143 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:06,680 Speaker 1: or take is going to do, but what is your 144 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: generation going to do in this moment? And I put 145 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,840 Speaker 1: the phone down, and I think it was maybe thirty 146 00:08:13,880 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: minutes later, I picked up my phone and I wrote 147 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: an email on my phone and sent it about sixty 148 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,680 Speaker 1: five friends and it ranged from everyone from you know, 149 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 1: my good friend Angela Rai and Tamika Mallory to Donna 150 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:34,400 Speaker 1: Brazil and Yolanda Carroway and so many others, and just 151 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: put an all call and said we need to come 152 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: together as black women in this moment and say not 153 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 1: on our watch. And that night, ninety women got on 154 00:08:42,920 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: a call and we decided to pind an open letter. 155 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: Forty eight hours later, we had more than two thousand 156 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 1: black women from across the country signed this open letter, 157 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,199 Speaker 1: and then from there we kept fighting and growing and 158 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,599 Speaker 1: today When with Black Women has grown to where it 159 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:02,360 Speaker 1: has where it is today, and we focus on three goals. 160 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: One making sure we continue to speak out against racism 161 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:09,920 Speaker 1: and sexism against black women. Two, working in our individual 162 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 1: capacities to elect black women up and down the ballot 163 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: because representation matters. The third making sure that we uplift 164 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: the power and the image of black women. And that's 165 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 1: also about our economic power. So we've done everything from 166 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:28,839 Speaker 1: help support along with other Black women organizations the nomination 167 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 1: and election of the maation's first black woman vice president 168 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,680 Speaker 1: or our first US Supreme Court justice, but also when 169 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,839 Speaker 1: we saw the backlash against the fact that the Little 170 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:43,280 Speaker 1: Mermaid was cast as Hallie Bailey, that we needed to 171 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 1: show that our economic power mattered as well, and so 172 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:48,319 Speaker 1: we did one hundred theater buy out the opening weekend 173 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: to show that representation matters in our dollarge matter. And 174 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: that's been the work of Women with Black Women for 175 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:57,840 Speaker 1: the last now almost five years, and We've continued to 176 00:09:57,920 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: grow and really lead in on the collective power of 177 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,600 Speaker 1: black women because I think when we're connected, there's nothing 178 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:07,839 Speaker 1: that could stop us. And I think America wins when 179 00:10:07,880 --> 00:10:08,960 Speaker 1: black women are winning. 180 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 2: You can talk. You know that you can talk. You 181 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:14,839 Speaker 2: can talk. I was trying to dance my way in 182 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:16,960 Speaker 2: and say to us, and no, she got it. She 183 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 2: got she knows how to connect the word after another 184 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 2: word after another word. You know when you say about 185 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 2: the perception of black women, and I have six sisters, 186 00:10:27,679 --> 00:10:30,400 Speaker 2: and I have a daughter, and that matters to me. 187 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:35,120 Speaker 2: My financial planner, she's a female and she's an African American. 188 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 2: What do you think the perception of America's version of 189 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 2: what a black woman is? Since you are at the forefront, 190 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 2: you have an organization called Women with Black Women, so 191 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 2: it means that you are only in a positive light 192 00:10:48,240 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 2: of what black women are capable of, capable of accomplishing. 193 00:10:52,679 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 2: What do you think the perception of black women is 194 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 2: in America today? 195 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: What was sean, It's what we know the reality of 196 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: black women. But to your question, what is the perception? 197 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:09,200 Speaker 1: And sadly, the perception of black women is that we're 198 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 1: not fill in the blank. Enough, we're not smart enough. 199 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: We're not you know, we aren't capable of leading, we 200 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: aren't capable of being elected. That we can't nor do 201 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: we have the ability to manage financial institutions and or 202 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 1: large corporations. All of these negative stereotypes that get cast 203 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: upon on black women, and largely it's in the media. 204 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:43,160 Speaker 1: It's reinforced over and over again. But all of those 205 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: perceptions are far from the reality. When you look at 206 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: black women, we're the most educated demographic in this country. 207 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 1: We start businesses at fast rates that any other demographic 208 00:11:53,640 --> 00:12:00,400 Speaker 1: in this country, very highly successful. Black women are leading 209 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,559 Speaker 1: across this country. When you look at major cities right now, 210 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,760 Speaker 1: across the country country, whether it's Saint Louis, whether it's 211 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:12,600 Speaker 1: Los Angeles, Washington, d C, Philadelphia, New Orleans, all led 212 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 1: by Black women. And we continue to see black women thriving, 213 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 1: whether it's in sports and entertainment. You mentioned my beloved 214 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 1: University of South Carolina. When you look at Don Staley, 215 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: she's the highest paid uh female coach that is in 216 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 1: college basketball and a capable, amazing leader. But the perception 217 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: that even someone like a Don Staley gets is that 218 00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: you know, she's too much when she's absolutely enough and 219 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: and and more than qualified for the work that she does. 220 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,440 Speaker 1: And so I think that it's a continuous struggle for 221 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:58,520 Speaker 1: black women too, sadly, to have to root out the 222 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: miss and information about who we are, and also the 223 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:06,559 Speaker 1: work that we have to do with ourselves to cast 224 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 1: out the self doubt that is built in us from 225 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: the time that we're born. 226 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 3: Please don't go anywhere. We'll be right back with more 227 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 3: money Making Conversations Masterclass. Welcome back to the Money Making 228 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 3: Conversations Masterclass hosted by Rashaan McDonald. Money Making Conversations Masterclass 229 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 3: continues online at Moneymakingconversations dot com and follow money Making 230 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 3: Conversations Masterclass on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 231 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 2: Now let me ask you this because stereotypes carry us 232 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,199 Speaker 2: a lot, you know, and we talked off air. I 233 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 2: would like to talk to my guests prior to a 234 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,720 Speaker 2: phone call. We talked about Silicon Valley, which you know, 235 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 2: in technology, and so when you talking about the perception 236 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,839 Speaker 2: of African American women, the perception of black people when 237 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 2: it comes to technology is My degree is in mathematics 238 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,160 Speaker 2: and my miners in sociology. So I know whenever I 239 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 2: tell us about it I got math degree, I get 240 00:14:00,880 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 2: two things. I get a stare and I get really, 241 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:06,079 Speaker 2: I get that, I get a stare and I get 242 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 2: to work. Really when I tell people I have a 243 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:14,840 Speaker 2: degree in mathematics, I get that sometime too, because people 244 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:19,000 Speaker 2: will stereotype you and tell you, Okay, you're different. That's 245 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 2: not normal. And we talked about Silicon Valley. You play 246 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 2: a major role, like we said, from Washington to Wall 247 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 2: Street to Silicon Valley, talk about how you are trying 248 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 2: to bridge that gap of opportunity for African American men 249 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:39,160 Speaker 2: and women in Silicon Valley. 250 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: First of all, I think it's absolutely amazing that you 251 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: have a mathematics degree. And I say, as you said, 252 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: you know, the perception is that black men and black 253 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:55,280 Speaker 1: people that we can't excel in STEM and that's the 254 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,239 Speaker 1: furthest thing from the truth. We just don't have opportunity. 255 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: I believe that talent is the street equally, but opportunity 256 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: is not. And I think that is the reality when 257 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 1: we think about Silicon Valley and what really drove me 258 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: to dive deeper into Silicon Valley. I mean, my story 259 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: is unique in that I had spent years in politics 260 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: and advocacy had been at the NAACP, and I was 261 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:25,239 Speaker 1: recruited in the Silicon Valley. So this was around twenty thirteen, 262 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: So this was at a time where people kind of 263 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 1: was talked about Silicon Valley but not really. But there 264 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: had been a large number of black folks that had 265 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: been existing in Silicon Valley for many, many years, that 266 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: had been in the valley been very successful, but you 267 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: hadn't really heard about it, you know, folks like Eric 268 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:50,160 Speaker 1: Moore who had been very successful investors. And so when 269 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 1: I went into Silicon Valley though, there had not been 270 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: a lot of people like me that had went in, 271 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: so folks that had worked in policy or politics or 272 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: advocacy that went into the industry. And I remember, quite 273 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:10,080 Speaker 1: honestly having imposter syndrome. Despite the fact that I had 274 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: helped win a US Supreme Court case, or I had 275 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: lobbied before the un that I had been a senior 276 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: advisor to the president of the NAACP, I just did 277 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:23,720 Speaker 1: not see myself in that industry because there was not 278 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 1: a large reflection of black women or people who did 279 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 1: not have a traditional coding background in Silicon Valley. And 280 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:37,160 Speaker 1: so I remembered being very reluctant to take the job. 281 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 1: I remember sitting on the offer for eight months and 282 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: the company it really wanted me, and they said, we'll 283 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: hold this offer for eight months and when and if 284 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: you're ready, you know, we want you to be here. 285 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: And this is a company with a financial technology company. 286 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: I would have been the first black employee in that company. 287 00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: I was going in on the executive team. And it 288 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: was a company that had been marketing very heavily a 289 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:09,000 Speaker 1: product that heavily relied on adoption from consumers from you know, 290 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: black and brown communities, but yet had not any black employees. 291 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:15,959 Speaker 1: And so when I finally took the job and I 292 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 1: went into the industry, what I realized is that my 293 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:24,080 Speaker 1: hesitancy was around this this this preconceived notion that there 294 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:27,280 Speaker 1: wasn't a place for me. But once I got into industry, 295 00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:30,479 Speaker 1: what I realized is that not only was there a 296 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 1: place for me, there was a need for me, and 297 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: people liked me. And so it became very much a 298 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:42,439 Speaker 1: mission for me to really demystify Silicon Valley for others 299 00:17:42,480 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: because I was like, I'm the type of person my 300 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: good friend Donna Brazil often says, is when we walked 301 00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:51,960 Speaker 1: through doors. It's important for us to walk through a 302 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 1: door and keep it open and if we can remove 303 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: the hinges so the door. 304 00:17:55,600 --> 00:18:00,439 Speaker 2: Never to take a eat it or it is an 305 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:04,200 Speaker 2: edi eddie. Edie is edie correct? It got to take 306 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 2: an edie e A d d y to take an 307 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 2: ed Let me recap. Let everybody know who I'm talking to. Okay, 308 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 2: I'm talking to an award winning strategist and advocate, very 309 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:18,760 Speaker 2: smooth talking, very confident. I just love the way you 310 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 2: talked to take a you know, because it was something 311 00:18:21,800 --> 00:18:24,919 Speaker 2: interesting when you was talking about when I got my 312 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 2: math degree. You know, as you go through college, you know, 313 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:29,800 Speaker 2: you start out with a bunch of people, and as 314 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 2: you go up, that's I call it the pyramid effect 315 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:35,720 Speaker 2: because it's less and less people as you get to 316 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 2: that point of graduation. I can remember I was in 317 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 2: the class. It wasn't a black person in the class 318 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:44,720 Speaker 2: with me, So that means that I really had enough. 319 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 2: I couldn't relate. I couldn't go to anybody, couldn't go 320 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,479 Speaker 2: to my friends, I couldn't go to anybody. So I 321 00:18:50,560 --> 00:18:54,040 Speaker 2: understood what you were worried about. It's like who do 322 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 2: you talk to? It's called That's why organizations like your 323 00:18:57,359 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 2: organization is very powerful. That's why our mentorship is very powerful. 324 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:05,159 Speaker 2: Because my father was a truck driver. My mom, you know, 325 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,399 Speaker 2: she graduated from high school, so she could motivate me, 326 00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 2: but she couldn't share any experiences with me that could 327 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:15,119 Speaker 2: enable me to understand that Rushan, you belong. You belong 328 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 2: and IBM Rushan, you belong in anything you've done. Look 329 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 2: at your accomplishing in life, and I think that when 330 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 2: I hear you talk, that story you just told reminds 331 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 2: me of why it's important that we share your story 332 00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:30,240 Speaker 2: and for people to hear your story so young minds 333 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 2: and young people can understand when that opportunity is presented 334 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:37,360 Speaker 2: to them, don't hesitate, it's yours because you've earned it. 335 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:38,640 Speaker 2: Am I correct when I say that? 336 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: To take her? You're absolutely correct in that because society 337 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: will try to tell us that we're not enough, that 338 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 1: we don't belong, and we will often like in my 339 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 1: own situation, I was overqualified. Yes you were to be 340 00:19:56,760 --> 00:20:01,399 Speaker 1: in Silicon Valley, but I was waiting for this magical notion, 341 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:04,919 Speaker 1: for this idea of what I was supposed to be. 342 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: When I was enough with just who I was, and 343 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:11,600 Speaker 1: I think that anybody, particularly a young person that's listening 344 00:20:11,680 --> 00:20:14,919 Speaker 1: to this. I grew up on a dirt road in 345 00:20:15,000 --> 00:20:20,840 Speaker 1: a town with fourteen hundred people, and I found my 346 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 1: way to the C suite in Silicon Valley at some 347 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 1: of the most successful companies, companies that now have multi 348 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:34,560 Speaker 1: billion dollar valuations. And if I would have just listened 349 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: to society, or I would have listened to that high 350 00:20:37,640 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 1: school guidance council teacher who tried to convince me that 351 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:44,160 Speaker 1: I shouldn't go to the University of South Carolina, where 352 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:47,640 Speaker 1: I ended up becoming the first black woman Sudermighty president, 353 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 1: graduating and going on to do all the things that 354 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 1: I did in my career, I wouldn't be here today. 355 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:59,440 Speaker 1: And I think we have to note that there are 356 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:01,919 Speaker 1: people who are going to try to distract us. But 357 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: what we have to recognize and understand is that who 358 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:06,800 Speaker 1: we are and whom we are, and if we can 359 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: always remember that and have that purpose and that north star, 360 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:13,320 Speaker 1: there's nothing that can stop us. And I think that's 361 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: what's so important in this day and age, particularly when 362 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 1: there are so many detractors, particularly on social media and 363 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:26,239 Speaker 1: other places that lead us to believe that we're not 364 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:29,159 Speaker 1: enough when we are exactly who we are, and we 365 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 1: are more than enough in most cases. 366 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:32,879 Speaker 2: You know what I hear you talk, it's really a 367 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 2: profound You had a question here that says leadership is 368 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 2: it about positions? About motion? Sometimes leadership looks like being 369 00:21:40,880 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 2: out front of the time, it looks like building space 370 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 2: for others to shine. Either way, it's movement, it's momentum, 371 00:21:48,520 --> 00:21:52,159 Speaker 2: it's power. Expound on that for us, Please no. 372 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 1: I think it's a very powerful notion that I think. 373 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:03,760 Speaker 1: Positional leadership is often type of leadership that society focuses on. 374 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: But true leadership is your ability to tap into someone 375 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 1: their best self, their sense of unlocking the greatness in themselves, 376 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 1: your ability for other people to see their power, and 377 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:21,159 Speaker 1: for you to really create a platform for that power 378 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:28,439 Speaker 1: to be forced multiplied. I think also that leadership continuously 379 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:31,879 Speaker 1: is motion. It's evolution. I wake up. One of the 380 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:35,200 Speaker 1: things that I say every morning when I wake up 381 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 1: and I tell myself, I said, jo taking, you have 382 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 1: a choice. You're either going to evolve or repeat. Evolve 383 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:46,520 Speaker 1: or repeat, and not every day is it that I 384 00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: hit that revolve that evolved button. Some days I'm going 385 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:53,399 Speaker 1: to repeat, and we all are human. We're all human. 386 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 1: But my prayer is that I evolve more than I repeat. 387 00:22:57,640 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: And if I can evolve more than I can than 388 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,720 Speaker 1: I repeat, that I'm always going to be moving forward. 389 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:05,680 Speaker 2: Wow. You know when you how can we get in 390 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 2: touch with you? I know the organization is UH is 391 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 2: out there, but other ways to reach out to your websites. 392 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:17,400 Speaker 1: Absolutely, you can always go to www. Dot win with 393 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: Black Women dot org. I'm also on all socials at 394 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: show taka E j O t A k A. I'm producer. 395 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 2: That's unusual. I'm pretty sure it's not a bunch of 396 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 2: joe take us out there. That's another story about how 397 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 2: you got that name. Because I need to meet those parents. 398 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:39,880 Speaker 2: You know, unfortunately your mom has passed away. But when 399 00:23:39,880 --> 00:23:42,240 Speaker 2: you when you look at the world that we live in, 400 00:23:42,400 --> 00:23:46,000 Speaker 2: to take a I have to say, you have a 401 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 2: personality that that is really very motivating. You grab a person, 402 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 2: you want to hear more from you, you want to 403 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,920 Speaker 2: find out. Can I just tag along because something special 404 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:00,640 Speaker 2: is going to happen with you and for you. 405 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: I'm pretty sure. 406 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:03,320 Speaker 2: You've heard that a lot, but I just wanted to 407 00:24:03,320 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 2: remind you that sometimes you need to be reminded how 408 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 2: great you are, even though I'm pretty sure you're aware 409 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:12,920 Speaker 2: of your success. But I have a lot of people 410 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 2: I interview on this show, and you're definitely one of 411 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:21,560 Speaker 2: these motivators, natural motivators that when you wake up, yeah, 412 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 2: you inspired to live a better life for yourself, but 413 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:28,680 Speaker 2: you know that everything you do in your life will 414 00:24:28,720 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 2: positively impact other people. That's my takeaway from this interview. 415 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:36,040 Speaker 2: And I rarely have said this on this show, but you, 416 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 2: my friend, are very very special. 417 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:44,120 Speaker 1: Thank you, my brother. I truly appreciate that those words 418 00:24:44,680 --> 00:24:46,840 Speaker 1: they mean a lot to me, particularly on this day, 419 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:51,199 Speaker 1: on this day, they mean a lot. They mean a 420 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: lot of it, and I just hope that I can 421 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:56,639 Speaker 1: just live my life in a way that you know, 422 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:58,879 Speaker 1: it's an old cliche saying I grew up in the church, 423 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 1: but if I can just help somebody along the way, 424 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:04,399 Speaker 1: that my living will not ever be in vain. I 425 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:05,440 Speaker 1: appreciate your words. 426 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 2: Thank you, Thank you for coming on Money Making Conversation 427 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:10,600 Speaker 2: master Class and we will talk to the Okay, thank you. 428 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:14,440 Speaker 2: This has been another edition of Money Making Conversation Masterclass 429 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,600 Speaker 2: hosted by me Rashaun McDonald thank you to our guests 430 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:21,000 Speaker 2: on the show today, and thank you our listening audience now. 431 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:23,520 Speaker 2: If you want to listen to any episodes or want 432 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:26,359 Speaker 2: to be a guest on the show, visit our website, 433 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:31,119 Speaker 2: Moneymakingconversation dot com. Our social media handle is money Making Conversation. 434 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 2: Join us next week and remember to always leave with 435 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 2: your gifts. Keep winning.