1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: An illegal alien from Guatemala charged with raping a child 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: in Massachusetts. An MS thirteen gang member from Al Salvador 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: accused of murdering a Texas man of Venezuelan charged with 4 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: filming and selling child pornography in Michigan. These are just 5 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: some of the heinous migrant criminals caught because of President 6 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:20,159 Speaker 1: Donald J. 7 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 2: Trump's leadership. 8 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:25,079 Speaker 1: I'm Christy nom the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. 9 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: Under President Trump, attempted illegal border crossings are at the 10 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: lowest levels ever recorded, and over one hundred thousand illegal 11 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: aliens have been arrested. If you are here illegally, your 12 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:41,160 Speaker 1: next you will be fined nearly one thousand dollars a day, imprisoned, 13 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 1: and deported. 14 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 2: You will never return. 15 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: But if you register using our CBP home app and 16 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: leave now, you could be allowed to return legally. 17 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 2: Do what's right. Leave now. 18 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: Under President Trump, America's laws, border and families will be protected. 19 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 3: Sponsored by the United States Department of Homeland Security. 20 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 4: Hearners, what's going on? 21 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 5: Listen, eylu is relaunching, revamping, retooling. That's why we're creating 22 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 5: a new educational experience that's more expensive. 23 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:09,120 Speaker 4: Shot. 24 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 6: Tell what we got yes, twenty twenty three. We got 25 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 6: a lot in still a lot playing for you guys. 26 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 4: So you know that EYLU already. 27 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 6: Includes monthly financial planning calls with Me, book club calls 28 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 6: with Troy, real estate calls with MG the Mortgage Guy, 29 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 6: access to the Home Buying Blueprint Volume one and Volume two. 30 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 4: Part of the. 31 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 6: Revamp will include twenty seven local chapters from across the 32 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 6: United States, live interactive teaching hands on not just pre 33 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 6: recorded videos, plus fifteen brand new curriculums. 34 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 7: The biggest just got bigger. 35 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 8: Head over to eyl University dot com. That's EYL you 36 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 8: n I V E R s I T Y dot com. 37 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 4: See you there, right, So John heard a lot about you, 38 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:57,280 Speaker 4: my brother. 39 00:01:57,840 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 9: You've heard a lot about you guys too, obvious ladies, 40 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 9: so appreciate the conversation. 41 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 6: First of all, congratulations on everything that you've been able 42 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 6: to accomplish. An extremely impressive resume for sure. Thank you, brother, 43 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 6: really really appreciate that. So I want to start out 44 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 6: just on the inspiration what inspired you and your brother 45 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 6: to start to Burr's Brothers Incorporated during Social arrest twenty. 46 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 9: Twenty Yeah, no, great question, And just to kind of 47 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 9: give you guys the background, my brother and I have 48 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 9: a company called the Burns Brothers, which is more of 49 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 9: a holding company. Now we have seven businesses. We have 50 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 9: an e vent production company. We produce concerts, awards shows. 51 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 9: We produce the first ever Juneteenth concert at the White 52 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:33,919 Speaker 9: House for President Biden for the last two years. We've 53 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 9: a marketing company. We do multicultural marketing across the country. 54 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,880 Speaker 9: We have a diversity company. My brother used to be 55 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 9: the chief diversity officer at City Group for a number 56 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 9: of years, so we do diversity work for Fortune tens 57 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 9: and Fortune one hundreds. As you guys saw from the video. 58 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 9: We have a private membership club called HQD Sea House, 59 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 9: which is really focused on bringing people of color together 60 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 9: to network, to collaborate, but to make an impact. And 61 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 9: we're opening our second location in Nairobi, Kenya in October, 62 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 9: so super excited about that. We have a performance and 63 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 9: wellness and company, and then we're also opening a restaurant 64 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 9: in DC next month. And I also want to bring 65 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 9: into the fact that we're doing tons of work in Africa. 66 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 9: So my brother and I partnered in a large call 67 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 9: center BPO company, which is a business outsourced processing company 68 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 9: about ten years ago. That was based in South Africa 69 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 9: at the time, and now we're in six countries and 70 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,639 Speaker 9: we're the largest private employer in the kind of Africa 71 00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 9: with twenty one thousand employees in Egypt, Ethiopia and Nigeria, Rwanda, 72 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 9: Kenya and South Africa. And so I wanted to give 73 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 9: you that overview before I kind of talked to you 74 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 9: about the genesis of the Burns Brothers, because the Genesis 75 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 9: of Burns Brothers was framed and impact and framing a 76 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 9: moment in time where I think we all can remember 77 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 9: what we were feeling in June of twenty twenty, the 78 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 9: height of COVID, the height of social unrest. I was 79 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 9: a partner in a law firm in DC. My brother 80 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 9: was a COO of a fortune five hundred company, and 81 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 9: we looked at ourselves. Our brother called me one day 82 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 9: in May. I'll never forget that. He said, hey, bro, 83 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 9: we got to change the narrative. 84 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:57,640 Speaker 10: For people that looked like us. 85 00:03:57,800 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 9: And I don't think the jobs that we're doing right 86 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 9: now are really are really moving the needle. I said, 87 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 9: what are you talking about? He said, I think we 88 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 9: can make a difference. Let's do something for ourselves and 89 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 9: for our people and our communities. And so June of 90 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 9: twenty twenty, in the height of COVID, the height of 91 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 9: social unrest, I dropped my nose in my low room 92 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 9: and quit my job to launch a company called the 93 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 9: Burns Brothers because we believed in the difference that we 94 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 9: could make. And so everything we do across this country, 95 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 9: across Africa is how can we mobilize, support, uplift and 96 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 9: empower people of color, specifically black people. 97 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 4: Bad. 98 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 5: I mean, we always talk about in our space as entrepreneurs, 99 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 5: taking that imperfect action. Before you made that decision, one 100 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 5: of the things you contemplating is that if do I 101 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 5: have to hit this financial globe before I do it, 102 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 5: or I've done enough to put myself in a position 103 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 5: where if I want to take this leap and say 104 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 5: this is where my values is, this is where my 105 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 5: purpose is, I can go. 106 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 7: What was that moment like for you as you're processing it? 107 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 10: No, really good question. 108 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 9: I think that moment was, you know, obviously a very 109 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 9: difficult decision, right. I think everybody's telling you, man, it's 110 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 9: the unknowns. There are tons of unknowns the world's and chaos. 111 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 9: But I had a mentor told me one time. If 112 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 9: you have a fallback, you fall back. And I think 113 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 9: at that moment in time, we were so purposeful and 114 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 9: we were so passionate about the work that we were 115 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 9: going to do, and we really felt we could change circumstances, 116 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 9: we could change the world, and so the challenge from 117 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 9: a decision making standpoint wasn't as overwhelming because we believed 118 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 9: it was divine, it was our God's calling, and so 119 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:33,359 Speaker 9: from a decision making standpoint, it wasn't that hard, and 120 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,599 Speaker 9: we always knew I always could go back to law right, 121 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:38,599 Speaker 9: I could always be a lawyer. I could always go 122 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 9: back to that law from environment. But I said, there's 123 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 9: a few moments in your life that you can really 124 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 9: take a leap and believe in yourself. 125 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 10: And that was that moment. 126 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 4: So let's talk about Africa. 127 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 6: And you said, you've done a lot of work in Africa, 128 00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 6: and that's something that you know, I think a lot 129 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 6: of people are interested in. We went to Africa, we 130 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 6: went to Egypt, went to Nigeria, but specifically Ghana. We 131 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 6: went to gone on two times this year and we 132 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,479 Speaker 6: are working on business out there. So the opportunities is endless. 133 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:04,680 Speaker 6: But a lot of people don't know when where to start? 134 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 6: So talk about can you walk us through your journey 135 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 6: on the continent, like where did you start, how were 136 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 6: you able to scale, what challenges did you have, and 137 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 6: what do you see the future of entrepreneurship? 138 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 4: Yeah? 139 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 10: No, So number one the power of partnership. 140 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 9: Right, you can't do anything from a business entrepreneur standpoint 141 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 9: without partnerships. And so I mentioned my brother was the 142 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 9: CEO of a Fortune five hundred company prior to launching. 143 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 10: The Burns Brothers. 144 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 9: That company happen to be a company called Conduit, and 145 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 9: Conduit's the largest call center company in the world. So 146 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:38,160 Speaker 9: my brother had thirty eight thousand employees across sixteen countries, 147 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 9: but number were in Africa, and so vis his relationships. 148 00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 9: We got into Africa through a partner he had known 149 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 9: and took us to South Africa about ten years ago 150 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:49,160 Speaker 9: and said, Hey, I want you to meet these guys 151 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 9: are doing great work. And the work wasn't necessarily call 152 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 9: center per se. It was call center, but the work 153 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 9: was providing opportunities for black people. I don't know if 154 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 9: you all know, and those general v gentlemen probably know 155 00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,840 Speaker 9: the unemployment across the kind of Africa for skilled Africans 156 00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 9: is outrageous. And these are young, talented, hard working people 157 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 9: that just have done all the right things. They've gone 158 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 9: to school, they got the degrees, but no opportunity comes 159 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 9: to them. And so we thought, what could we do, 160 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,040 Speaker 9: not thinking of it from like a business standpoint, but 161 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 9: from a human being standpoint, What can we do could 162 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 9: change those circumstances. And so we became partners in that 163 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 9: organization with the premise that we had American company relationships 164 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 9: that we could drive business that would create jobs and opportunity. 165 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:33,160 Speaker 9: And so look at a lens of advocacy, a lens 166 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 9: of like cultural change and impact was ultimately was the 167 00:07:35,640 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 9: driving force. But then obviously from a business standpoint, through 168 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 9: that we were able to build more business relationships. And 169 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 9: then through that we built more business relationships and grew 170 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 9: the company across the continent. 171 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 10: And visa that company, we're able to. 172 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 9: Now open our membership club HQ in Nairobi, Kenya in 173 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 9: four months. And so God is great, the blessings are abundant. 174 00:07:58,080 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 9: But I think it's always leading with the lens of 175 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 9: advocacy first and impact and then the entrepreneurship kind of second. 176 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,760 Speaker 4: What are some of the challenges that you face out there. 177 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 6: Because we were out there, we saw a tremendous opportunity, 178 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,559 Speaker 6: but there are challenges, like even in Ghana they lost 179 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 6: power for two weeks and that's something that we can't 180 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 6: even imagine something like that happening in America. But what 181 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 6: are some of the challenges that you've been facing as 182 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:21,680 Speaker 6: an entrepreneur in Africa? 183 00:08:22,440 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 10: Yeah, I think technologies one. Infrastructure is one for sure. 184 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 9: I think I don't know, cans up how many people 185 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 9: in the room avent of the continent, Okay, so a 186 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 9: few people. 187 00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 10: I think that's one. 188 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:39,559 Speaker 9: I think sometimes just the level of liaising across the 189 00:08:39,600 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 9: whole New side of the world from like an employee 190 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:45,840 Speaker 9: standpoint can be challenging too. One thing that's often times 191 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:47,439 Speaker 9: I thought was going to be a challenge but it's 192 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,440 Speaker 9: really not is the level of understanding of American culture 193 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 9: across kind of Africa. 194 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 10: It's unbelievable. 195 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 9: And so that was a pleasant surprise how much they 196 00:08:56,600 --> 00:08:57,600 Speaker 9: embrace American culture. 197 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 10: There's so knowledgeable American culture. 198 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:04,440 Speaker 9: I think too in some parts of Africa there are 199 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 9: specific things that change, just like the United States, with 200 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 9: whatever administration is in office and right so I think 201 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 9: that can be a challenge to making sure you navigate 202 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:16,640 Speaker 9: the political landscape. But I think those are evolving and 203 00:09:16,679 --> 00:09:18,960 Speaker 9: I think those are changing for the better. And well, 204 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:21,320 Speaker 9: I'll say, and I've said that for years now, Africa 205 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 9: is not the future Africa as the president, and I 206 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 9: think from an entrepreneurship standpoint, you think about black people 207 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 9: in this country, if you're not focused on what that 208 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,360 Speaker 9: connectivity looks like from an entrepreneurship standpoint, from the outreach standpoint, 209 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 9: with the kind of Africa, you're doing yourself a disservice 210 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 9: and you're doing the business of the disservice. 211 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:42,839 Speaker 5: It's interesting, you know, you got the HQGC house and 212 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 5: most of us, you know, who travel and been to places, 213 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 5: we've seen these type of houses. 214 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 7: We've seen solo house. 215 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 5: So I think it's brilliant that we have one that's 216 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 5: ours that we can call our own. From a membership side, 217 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 5: But I want to talk about the intentionality and maybe 218 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 5: it was done very intentional, right, you you had it 219 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 5: in DC. You could have done it in New York, 220 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 5: maybe Miami, Houston, Chicago, but you chose not. Roby talk 221 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:09,320 Speaker 5: about that because when we think Nairobi and most people 222 00:10:09,559 --> 00:10:12,959 Speaker 5: if they've watched like The Avengers, they've seen Nairobi in 223 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 5: a film. But the tech center that has become the 224 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 5: hub that it's become for East Africa. What was the 225 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:21,840 Speaker 5: intentionality in choosing specifically that place. 226 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 9: Yeah, a number of different factors went into that. So 227 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 9: number one, as our brother mentioned, it's an economic hub 228 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 9: brief East Africa, and it's actually the only African country 229 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:32,719 Speaker 9: that has a. 230 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 10: Strategic partnership with the US. 231 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,440 Speaker 9: So from like a connectivity standpoint with the US, that 232 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 9: was important, right, And we knew the trajectory of Kenya 233 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 9: specifically and specifically Nairobi. I'm based upon just being there 234 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 9: so much, knowing the government, knowing their focus, and I 235 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 9: understand the vision of the US partnership too, and just 236 00:10:54,240 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 9: the way that it's being kind of placed as a 237 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 9: Singapore of Africa. So from like a trade and economic hub, 238 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 9: all that made perfect sense. And then me and my brother, 239 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 9: we've always been focused on Africa and like we wanted 240 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 9: to be those conveners those conduits connecting African Americans in 241 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 9: this country to Africans on the continent because we believe 242 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 9: that we can never really realize our true potential if 243 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 9: we're not connected with all the amazing people across the continent. 244 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,079 Speaker 9: So those were two things, and then the third thing 245 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,680 Speaker 9: was we wanted to think outside the box. 246 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 10: It's easy to go to US. 247 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 9: Space like you know Detroit, or go to New York 248 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,439 Speaker 9: or go to Atlanta. It's not easy, but it's easier, 249 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 9: and I don't think the impact would have been as large. 250 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 9: And I think for us, we're all about impact, and 251 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 9: I think doing something and now creating what you brothers 252 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 9: are doing too. You're creating opportunity and you're facilitating communities 253 00:11:46,920 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 9: that people could never be a part of unless you 254 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 9: were all we're providing that facilitation. And so now us 255 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 9: opening the membership club in Nairobi, not only can our 256 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:58,960 Speaker 9: members probably experience something that could never have dreamed of experiencing, 257 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 9: but now we can introduce Nairobians to our members. And 258 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:04,959 Speaker 9: it's just a beautiful thing to be able to create 259 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 9: a space and facility community that you're actually not only 260 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,679 Speaker 9: driving change, you're driving pure impact. 261 00:12:11,840 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 6: So you also you put together the jew and teen 262 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 6: concert at the White House, right yep, last two years, Yeah, 263 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 6: we got invited to that. This ship we couldn't make it, 264 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 6: but all the pictures I saw on Instagram looked amazing. 265 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 4: So congratulations, thank you. 266 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:28,200 Speaker 6: What is the in the workings of putting something together 267 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 6: like that and how were you able to make that 268 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 6: connection with the government. 269 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:34,440 Speaker 10: Yeah. 270 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:36,840 Speaker 9: So we have an event production company at the Burns 271 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 9: Brothers called Style by the Burns Brothers that we do, 272 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 9: you know, events across the country. But we've always been 273 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,640 Speaker 9: very politically active. We did a lot within the Obama Foundation. 274 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 9: I think just being in Washington for twenty plus years 275 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 9: built friendships and built relationships and built network. So I 276 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 9: think number one, never overestimate the power of network, right, 277 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 9: and to make sure that you're building core relationships that 278 00:12:57,720 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 9: are genuine and based upon an equal goal kind of 279 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 9: give and take. And so when President Biden first did 280 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 9: his first Black History event at the White House right 281 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 9: at the kind of the middle of COVID, it was 282 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 9: actually the president's first event, and they wanted to do 283 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 9: something special, and so I pitched them on a club 284 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 9: quarantine from the East wing. This is when d Nice 285 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:21,559 Speaker 9: was like killing it. Still he's still killing it. And 286 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 9: D and I are very very close, and so I 287 00:13:23,240 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 9: pitched the White House. I pitched D and they're like, Yo, 288 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:28,439 Speaker 9: this is dope, and so we did a whole club 289 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 9: quarantine from the east wing of the White House in 290 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 9: February of twenty two, and the first lady came in 291 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 9: the club quarantine, the Vice President came the president. So 292 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:40,959 Speaker 9: it was just like this massive success, and it really 293 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,600 Speaker 9: introduced a White House to whole new audience and obviously 294 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 9: propelled d to even do even greater stuff. 295 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 10: And so that first touch point open opportunities. 296 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:54,680 Speaker 9: And so last I guess this is last April, one 297 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 9: of the senior advisors at the White House came up 298 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 9: to me at my membership club and she's like, Hey, 299 00:13:59,400 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 9: we're throwing out idea of doing a Juneteenth concert at 300 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 9: the White House. Would you be interested to help us 301 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 9: curate that experience? And so this is last year. Juneteenth 302 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 9: had just become a founder a federal holiday. This had 303 00:14:10,160 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 9: never been done before this year the White House, and 304 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 9: so I had a call with them on Monday. We 305 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 9: started talking concepts and I said, hey, it could be this, 306 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:18,800 Speaker 9: it could be that. And then a month and a 307 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,520 Speaker 9: half later, through teamanship, through a lot of hard work, 308 00:14:21,800 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 9: we produced the first. 309 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 10: Ever June teenth. 310 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 9: To get the White House June teen concert the White House, 311 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:27,720 Speaker 9: President Biden spoke d. P. Harris and there was a 312 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:29,840 Speaker 9: magical moment, and so that led to us doing it 313 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:33,440 Speaker 9: again this year and really creating something special. My brother 314 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 9: and I grew up in Texas and June teenth was 315 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 9: really a Texas holiday for the longest because that's when 316 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 9: slaves in Texas found out that they were free, a 317 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 9: year and a half after the Emancipacial Proclamation. And so 318 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 9: to do something that was so special to us for 319 00:14:46,280 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 9: so long and really bring it to such a national 320 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 9: and global scale, you can't help but be so thankful. 321 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:54,120 Speaker 7: Yeah, that's incredible. 322 00:14:54,640 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 5: We spoke, you know, a little bit upstairs about growing 323 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,240 Speaker 5: up in Texas, but I want to talk about brotherhood then. 324 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 5: Obviously we've experienced when creating Earn a Lisia and the 325 00:15:03,880 --> 00:15:06,360 Speaker 5: benefits of it. When most people tell you you shouldn't 326 00:15:06,400 --> 00:15:09,360 Speaker 5: work with family, talk about the relationship that you and 327 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 5: your brother have, how it's worked to your benefit and 328 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 5: maybe some challenges that you face right as may not 329 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 5: see go out on all your ideals, but you've created 330 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 5: something very special. 331 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 7: Talk about that. 332 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 10: Yeah. 333 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 9: Yeah, And my brother always says it so eloquently too. 334 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 9: You know, he's an older brother, right, So he's four 335 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 9: years older and so Nanni is our general manager at 336 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 9: HQDC House, so she knows how he can still be 337 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 9: a big brother. So he still bigs brothers me sometimes. 338 00:15:32,440 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 9: So I think that's one of the challenges. But I 339 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,080 Speaker 9: think what he always says and speaks about, which is 340 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 9: so brilliant, is he's known me all my life and 341 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 9: I've known him all my life. And so it's like 342 00:15:43,200 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 9: a great team, like you know, you know, to pass 343 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 9: the ball based upon their skill set, or to play 344 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,200 Speaker 9: defense when they are kind of lacking in defense, because 345 00:15:52,200 --> 00:15:55,200 Speaker 9: I think you know each other's kind of motions and 346 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 9: how you move so well, and you know the level 347 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 9: of expertise one person brings and how they can ultimately 348 00:16:01,080 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 9: support the whole. And so as us as we've grown business, 349 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:08,560 Speaker 9: we've really been focused on being accountable to one another, 350 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 9: being honest with one another, sometimes being brutally honest with 351 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 9: one another, because I think as long as you place 352 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 9: the focus on the whole and not the individual, then 353 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 9: everything's going to work out in your favor. And my 354 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 9: brother comes from a military background. He went to West Point, 355 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 9: served the military for thirteen years, and we always talked 356 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 9: about in the military, there's like this pyramid of priorities, right, 357 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 9: the pyramid priorities is number one, your country, number one, 358 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 9: the president, number two, your country number three, your unit 359 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 9: number two, your squad, number three, your platoon. 360 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 10: Whatever it is. 361 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:45,320 Speaker 9: But in corporate America, there's a pivot of that priority, 362 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:48,720 Speaker 9: right because oftentimes the commitment is to the individual as 363 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 9: opposed to the organization. And we've really framed everything we've 364 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 9: done from a cultural standpoint across all of our organizations, 365 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 9: putting the organization the priority and the individual not. And 366 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 9: so I think using that from a cultural approach is too. 367 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 9: Change like our dynamic, can change our brotherhood, and change 368 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 9: like the business as well. 369 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 6: So to have a social club we have one in 370 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,679 Speaker 6: DC and your opening one in Kenya. What is the 371 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 6: business model that actually did a thriving business? Because I 372 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,160 Speaker 6: know soul House, I think is struggling a few other 373 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 6: businesses similar have kind of struggled post COVID. So what 374 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 6: makes your situation unique and what what are some things 375 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,720 Speaker 6: that you've implemented to kind of beat that curve of 376 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:34,159 Speaker 6: other similar type of businesses that have helped fold on 377 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 6: hard times. 378 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:38,240 Speaker 9: Yeah, So, I mean we're very specific about our demographic 379 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 9: and who we're focused on engaging, and it's definitely you know, 380 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 9: black professionals who are really built around impacting community and 381 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 9: so knowing your market and being very specific to your market, 382 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 9: that's been helpful for us. I think the diversity of 383 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,880 Speaker 9: like offerings. Obviously, at our core, we're a membership club, 384 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 9: so it's membership monthly or annual dues. But because of 385 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:00,600 Speaker 9: our location in Washington, we've been very very for I 386 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:02,560 Speaker 9: don't know folks who are familiar with DC, but we 387 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 9: have the building that's six hundred f Street right across 388 00:18:05,359 --> 00:18:08,200 Speaker 9: from the Capitol One Arena, and so from a private 389 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:12,439 Speaker 9: event standpoint, we do up sort of like fifteen to 390 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 9: twenty private events a month, and so from a revenue standpoint, 391 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 9: that's been substantially helpful to supplement the membership revenue too. 392 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:21,760 Speaker 10: And we were. 393 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:25,160 Speaker 9: Somewhat intentional around the building that we took over its 394 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 9: multi level right, so you can have a member event, 395 00:18:29,240 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 9: member kind of activation, but do private events on different 396 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:34,240 Speaker 9: levels as well, so it provides a lot of different 397 00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 9: use cases for the space. And we're taken over the 398 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 9: bottom level of that building to open our restaurant because 399 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:44,640 Speaker 9: we were learning that as members left, as private events left, 400 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:46,800 Speaker 9: they were going to other bars and restaurants to eat, 401 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 9: and we're like, we want to control the attendee experience. 402 00:18:50,440 --> 00:18:53,919 Speaker 9: And so just learning what gaps exist and basically pivoting 403 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 9: to kind of fill those gaps. It's kind of led 404 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 9: to the success of the organization and we're still learning, 405 00:18:58,320 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 9: so it's definitely out the perfect process. 406 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 7: So you have a social house. It seems very intentional 407 00:19:03,640 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 7: and probably makes a lot of sense to have a 408 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 7: social network talk to us about HQ Global something that 409 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 7: they should be looking forward to coming at the end 410 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 7: of this year. 411 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:15,040 Speaker 9: Yeah, yeah, yeah, So this is and I didn't even 412 00:19:15,040 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 9: share that in my opening, but this is probably one 413 00:19:16,720 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 9: of the most exciting things that we have coming online. 414 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:22,280 Speaker 9: So we've been building for the last seven months basically 415 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 9: our own IP. Think of it as like a Facebook 416 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:30,360 Speaker 9: for black professionals around the world. And so we're launching 417 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 9: this concept called the HQ Global Network this fall, where 418 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,639 Speaker 9: we have a goal of connecting one million black professionals 419 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,440 Speaker 9: in an online virtual community across the world by twenty 420 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 9: twenty six. 421 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 10: I think as this. 422 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,160 Speaker 7: Hold on, hold on, we should be clapping for that. 423 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 7: That's like six flaps, Hi, John, Yeah, I ap. 424 00:19:48,760 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 9: Proceed, Yeah, because I think to your point, Bro, I 425 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,920 Speaker 9: think there's power in the house concept, but there's really 426 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 9: power in the global community concepts. I think as the 427 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 9: world becomes more flat, people travel more, people become more connected. 428 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:02,320 Speaker 9: I think we need global community, specifically for black people. 429 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 9: I think what we find most troublesome is when we travel, 430 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 9: it's hard to like find your tribe right, and so 431 00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:10,880 Speaker 9: how can we create a space where you know where 432 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:14,960 Speaker 9: your tribe is? And so we are launching this fall 433 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 9: and one hundred cities around the world, from Singapore. 434 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 10: To Metaying to. 435 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,199 Speaker 9: Add Us in Ethiopia to Detroit, Michigan, And we are 436 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 9: having ambassadors in all these cities around the world, and 437 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 9: we will have communities that will actually be in person, 438 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:36,080 Speaker 9: but through this virtual platform, we'll be able to convene, 439 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 9: we'll be able to network, we'll be able to collaborate. 440 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,919 Speaker 9: Because I think, again, as I mentioned earlier, the reason 441 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,520 Speaker 9: we're successful, I'm sure the bros can attest to the 442 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 9: reason they're successful is the power of their network and 443 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 9: the ability to reach people. So if you're able to 444 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 9: create a space and facilitate community around the world, I 445 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:54,879 Speaker 9: think it's endless opportunity. 446 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 4: So you have to start stax tartups clubing. 447 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 6: As far as a technology component that's related to the 448 00:21:02,119 --> 00:21:05,680 Speaker 6: physical component, right, kind of similar, but in a way 449 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 6: a little different. Is the idea to have a physical 450 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 6: location in every one of the major cities that you 451 00:21:13,119 --> 00:21:14,439 Speaker 6: have with the app. 452 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 9: No, I think the physical location model, to your point earlier, 453 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,639 Speaker 9: is a challenging model because real estate's expensive, right. I 454 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 9: think it's hard to maintain that level of real estate, 455 00:21:23,040 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 9: and I know soul houses having challenges of that too. 456 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 9: I think you create space for people to ultimately build 457 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 9: communities communities themselves, and so we're just facilitating communities and 458 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 9: the people themselves or building communities, and so I don't 459 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 9: think you need a physical house to do that. I mean, 460 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:41,320 Speaker 9: while we might open some additional physical houses based upon 461 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 9: kind of the. 462 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 10: Model we're working through, there's no intention. 463 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:46,360 Speaker 9: To open physical houses and all those locations, but really 464 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 9: create a medium for people to come together and build 465 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:49,120 Speaker 9: community around the world. 466 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 4: It's essentially like link LinkedIn kind of but. 467 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 10: Even even bigger than LinkedIn. 468 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 9: Not saying bigger than LinkedIn that's a bold statement, but 469 00:21:55,359 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 9: even different than LinkedIn in the sense that like you 470 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:01,520 Speaker 9: will be able to if you're we're coming to Baltimore 471 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 9: from Again, I say, coming from attis the theopia. 472 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 10: You already have that. 473 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:11,479 Speaker 9: HQ community in Baltimore that you're already talking with, But 474 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 9: it's not framed in a professional network, our work network 475 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:19,120 Speaker 9: like LinkedIn. It's kind of framed in like building core 476 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 9: genuine relationships, whether it be social, whether it be professional, 477 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 9: whether it be philanthropic, whether it be social impact driven. 478 00:22:25,040 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 9: It's really building genuine relationships with people who are like mine, 479 00:22:28,359 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 9: that share the same values and really are your tribe. 480 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:32,840 Speaker 9: Because I think as I travel and I'm sure you 481 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:35,200 Speaker 9: guys can attest to it too, there's so many people 482 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:37,680 Speaker 9: around the world that share the same values who are 483 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:39,840 Speaker 9: just not connected, and so what if there was a 484 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 9: way to connect all of us. And I think as 485 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 9: we think this through the political climate that's taking place 486 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 9: in the United States right now, I think we're going 487 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 9: to need a global community for black. 488 00:22:48,680 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 10: People to really be able to find refuge. 489 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 9: And so I think we weren't even building this based 490 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:55,439 Speaker 9: upon kind of the chaos that's happening now, but I 491 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 9: think it will definitely fill a need based upon some 492 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 9: of these outcomes that we're seeing right now. One more 493 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,919 Speaker 9: question so did you raise money for that? So this 494 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:06,439 Speaker 9: is what I really want to get into. And this 495 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:07,879 Speaker 9: is my brother said, you got to make sure you 496 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:12,000 Speaker 9: talk about this point. And so even the challenge of 497 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 9: being a successful black entrepreneur, you still face a capital challenge, right, 498 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 9: It was so shocking to us. My brother was the 499 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 9: CEO of a fortune five hundred company. I was a 500 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 9: partner at a law firm. It was the first black 501 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:28,280 Speaker 9: partner my law firm. But we still face challenges getting 502 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 9: access to capital. And so to answer your question, my 503 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 9: brother and I funded all of our businesses by ourselves. 504 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 9: We've never taken money, which is I think is. 505 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 7: A thing to thanks bro. 506 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 6: Yeah yeah, yeah, but no, that that is commendable, but 507 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 6: it's also troubles troublesome. 508 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:51,880 Speaker 9: Yeah yeah, I think it's commendable, but it's not. I'm 509 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 9: not saying it to be a pat on the back. 510 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 9: I'm saying it to be that's an inherent problem, right 511 00:23:59,320 --> 00:24:03,200 Speaker 9: because these issues don't happen to the majority, they don't 512 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,679 Speaker 9: happen to other communities, right, So I think it's specific 513 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:07,919 Speaker 9: to communities of color that face these challenges. And so 514 00:24:08,480 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 9: I'm like, damn, I'm like doing everything I can to 515 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 9: really show that we have done everything from a business perspective, 516 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 9: but we still have challenges. And so to answer your question, no, 517 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 9: we've not taken any real debt. We've never taken like 518 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 9: any investors. We really leverage money from one business to 519 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:28,639 Speaker 9: go the other. But that's not scalable. You can't scale 520 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:31,119 Speaker 9: a business globally like that, right, And so I think 521 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:34,440 Speaker 9: it's conversations like this, networks like these brothers are established 522 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:37,680 Speaker 9: and that really provide access to resources that you need 523 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 9: to grow and scale a business, because I think it's 524 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 9: one thing that's talked about starting the business and there's 525 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:45,240 Speaker 9: a completely different thing talking about scaling the business. And 526 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,320 Speaker 9: as we think globally, we need to think how can 527 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 9: we get more resource to support the mission and the 528 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:52,120 Speaker 9: impact we're trying to make. 529 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:54,160 Speaker 5: Yeah, one of the things they told us early on 530 00:24:54,640 --> 00:24:58,199 Speaker 5: through the journey, same thing everything we've done, we've self funded. 531 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,800 Speaker 5: It was you don't get money or try to get 532 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 5: loan money out or get money loan to you because 533 00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 5: you needed, You get it because you want to scale. 534 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 5: Another thing we were taught was like, hey, maybe it's 535 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 5: the approach. And so I wonder as you go through 536 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:17,240 Speaker 5: these things when after you evaluate, then you obviously want 537 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 5: to scale. 538 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,800 Speaker 7: What is the approach does it change now for you? 539 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:23,600 Speaker 5: Or what are some of the tips for somebody who's 540 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,120 Speaker 5: actually thinking, I want to start a business. I need 541 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 5: to get fun in if you're facing challenges, What am 542 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:30,000 Speaker 5: I going to look like? What are some tips that 543 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 5: I can use when I approach to go about money 544 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 5: being loan to my business? 545 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 10: Yeah? I mean, definitely do your diligence, do your research. 546 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 9: I think there's definitely different types of funds and grants 547 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,840 Speaker 9: and different programs out there that can be supportive, for sure, 548 00:25:45,880 --> 00:25:48,639 Speaker 9: And so I'm not saying things don't exist. I think 549 00:25:48,840 --> 00:25:52,520 Speaker 9: ultimately what it really comes down to is your network. 550 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 9: Some of these cats who don't always look like us, 551 00:25:57,680 --> 00:26:02,119 Speaker 9: they're good opportunities just because they're Bob's son, right, And 552 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 9: I think we need to be better about supporting each 553 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:11,520 Speaker 9: other to ultimately create community and spaces that we can 554 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 9: ultimately have global success from a business perspective. And so 555 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 9: I think being in spaces like this where you're meeting people, 556 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:21,920 Speaker 9: opportunities can be afforded to you. I think that's where 557 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 9: the magic happens. In addition to the other resources that 558 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 9: exist online, you know, traditional financing, venture financing, things like 559 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:31,239 Speaker 9: that that are specific to people that look like us 560 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:33,560 Speaker 9: as well. But I think being in spaces where you're 561 00:26:33,560 --> 00:26:37,440 Speaker 9: aultually cultivated relationships that can lead to those type of resources, 562 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,960 Speaker 9: and just being in spaces that you have the information 563 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:44,200 Speaker 9: knowledge is a power, right, So I think it's continuing 564 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 9: to be in spaces that you can elevate your thought process, 565 00:26:47,359 --> 00:26:50,480 Speaker 9: elevate your relationships, and continue to kind of like drive 566 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 9: for whatever type of adventure you're looking to do. 567 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 6: So, I know you work with the government on a 568 00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,840 Speaker 6: certain level, and I'm sure you have relationships with the 569 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 6: government and can you and probably other places in Africa 570 00:27:02,080 --> 00:27:04,200 Speaker 6: this problem as far as access to capital. We spoke 571 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 6: with the Vice president about and it's a heated election season, right, 572 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,880 Speaker 6: So what role do you think the government should play 573 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 6: in this or have some level of accountability so people 574 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:19,360 Speaker 6: can actually hold their elected officials accountable. 575 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 4: At at least the very least. 576 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:24,520 Speaker 6: Ask questions because I think that the government doesn't solve 577 00:27:24,560 --> 00:27:27,639 Speaker 6: the problem, but it can help the problem in a 578 00:27:27,680 --> 00:27:30,639 Speaker 6: certain way. So how do you think the government plays 579 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:32,160 Speaker 6: a role in access to capital? 580 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 4: Conversation? 581 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:35,720 Speaker 9: Yeah, I mean a lot of funds are public funds 582 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 9: right for some of the things that we're talking about, 583 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:41,000 Speaker 9: And so I think your state, your local, your federal 584 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:44,280 Speaker 9: kind of government officials are critical because they're allocating the 585 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 9: dollars that go to support small businesses, they're allocating the 586 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:50,800 Speaker 9: dollars that support community run businesses, and so I think 587 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 9: they're incritically important because they ultimately make the decisions. And 588 00:27:54,840 --> 00:27:57,560 Speaker 9: so I think it's right to hold your public and 589 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 9: elected officials accountable, but I think aten times we don't. 590 00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:05,200 Speaker 5: This episode is brought to you by P and C Bank. 591 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:08,359 Speaker 5: A lot of people think podcasts about work are boring, 592 00:28:08,560 --> 00:28:12,440 Speaker 5: and sure they definitely can be, but understanding of professionals 593 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:15,760 Speaker 5: routine shows us how they achieve their success little by little, 594 00:28:16,119 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 5: day after day. It's like banking with P and C Bank. 595 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:23,040 Speaker 5: It might seem boring to save, plan and make calculated 596 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:26,159 Speaker 5: decisions with your bank, but keeping your money boring is 597 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:29,560 Speaker 5: what helps you live or more happily fulfilled life. P 598 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:34,480 Speaker 5: and C Bank Brilliantly Boring since eighteen sixty five. Brilliantly 599 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:37,159 Speaker 5: Boring since eighteen sixty five is a service mark of 600 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 5: the PNC Financial Service Group, Inc. P and C Bank 601 00:28:40,840 --> 00:28:43,520 Speaker 5: National Association member fdic. 602 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:46,440 Speaker 9: Ernest. 603 00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:46,840 Speaker 7: What's up. 604 00:28:46,920 --> 00:28:49,400 Speaker 5: You ever walk into a small business and everything just 605 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:52,720 Speaker 5: works like The checkout is fast, the receipts are digital, 606 00:28:53,240 --> 00:28:56,240 Speaker 5: tipping is a breeze, and you're out the door before 607 00:28:56,240 --> 00:29:00,400 Speaker 5: the line even builds. Odds are they're using Square. We 608 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 5: love supporting businesses that run on Square because it just 609 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:06,360 Speaker 5: feels seamless. Whether it's a local coffee shop, a vendor 610 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 5: at a pop up market, or even one of our 611 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:12,400 Speaker 5: merch partners, Square makes it easy for them to take payments, 612 00:29:12,600 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 5: manage inventory, and run their business with confidence, all from 613 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 5: one simple system. If you're a business owner or even 614 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:23,440 Speaker 5: just thinking about launching something soon, Square is hands down 615 00:29:23,480 --> 00:29:26,520 Speaker 5: one of the best tools out there to help you start, run, 616 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 5: and grow. It's not just about payments, it's about giving 617 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:32,760 Speaker 5: you time back so you can focus on what matters 618 00:29:32,800 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 5: most ready. To see how Square can transform your business, 619 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:40,960 Speaker 5: visit Square dot com backslash, go backslash eyl to learn 620 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 5: more that Square dot com backslash, go backslash eyl, don't wait, 621 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 5: don't hesitate. Let's Square handle the back end so you 622 00:29:49,320 --> 00:29:51,000 Speaker 5: can keep pushing your vision forward. 623 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:56,880 Speaker 1: An illegal alien from Guatemala charged with raping a child 624 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 1: in Massachusetts. An MS thirteen gang member from Salvador accused 625 00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 1: of murdering a Texas man of Venezuelan charged with filming 626 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:09,400 Speaker 1: and selling child pornography in Michigan. These are just some 627 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:13,400 Speaker 1: of the heinous migrant criminals caught because of President Donald J. 628 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 2: Trump's leadership. 629 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: I'm Christy Noman, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. 630 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:22,400 Speaker 1: Under President Trump, attempted illegal border crossings are at the 631 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:27,240 Speaker 1: lowest levels ever recorded, and over one hundred thousand illegal aliens. 632 00:30:26,800 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 2: Have been arrested. 633 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 1: If you are here illegally, your next you will be 634 00:30:31,520 --> 00:30:34,920 Speaker 1: fine nearly one thousand dollars a day, imprisoned and. 635 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 2: Deported, you will never return. 636 00:30:37,360 --> 00:30:40,360 Speaker 1: But if you register using our CBP home app and 637 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 1: leave now, you could be allowed to return legally. 638 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:45,960 Speaker 2: Do what's right. Leave now. 639 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 1: Under President Trump, America's laws, border and families will. 640 00:30:50,440 --> 00:30:53,280 Speaker 3: Be protected sponsored by the United States Department of Homeland Security. 641 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 9: Always know who they are, right, I think we know 642 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,280 Speaker 9: the President, we know the Vice president. We know maybe 643 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:01,360 Speaker 9: our governor, maybe our mayor. But those folks are obviously 644 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:03,760 Speaker 9: vitally important. But the folks are actually making the decisions 645 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 9: of the city councilors, you're ian A and c REP. 646 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:11,840 Speaker 9: They're folks within your district of operation and ultimately have 647 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:14,440 Speaker 9: grant funding, have access to capital that you might not 648 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 9: know of. And so I think the diligence is on 649 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:20,680 Speaker 9: you as an entrepreneur as well to make sure you're 650 00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 9: understanding who those people are. You have knowledge of who 651 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:26,080 Speaker 9: they are, and you're doing your own outreach. I don't 652 00:31:26,120 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 9: think I don't think there's an expectation they're going to 653 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:31,400 Speaker 9: come to you and just give you a windfall, right, 654 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:35,160 Speaker 9: And I think sometimes there's a misnomer that there's some 655 00:31:35,240 --> 00:31:37,760 Speaker 9: innate obligation they have to you, and they do as 656 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:40,560 Speaker 9: you're their constituents. But I think as a business owner, 657 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 9: you have to be driving your business forward and do 658 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:44,240 Speaker 9: whatever you can to build those relationships. 659 00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:47,200 Speaker 6: But then also is very important because does everybody know 660 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 6: who Don Peebles is. Yes, Yeah, he's from right up 661 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:54,400 Speaker 6: the road in DC, and he's almost a billionaire. I 662 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:56,560 Speaker 6: think he's worth for like seven hundred eight hundred million dollars. 663 00:31:56,880 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 6: He's most successful black real estate developed in American history. 664 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:03,160 Speaker 6: If you talk to him, he always credits his success 665 00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 6: to one person, because anybody know who that one person 666 00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 6: is Mayor Marion Barry, and when he was in office, 667 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 6: he had an initiative that I think it was like 668 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 6: thirty percent of all contract and had to go to 669 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 6: black developers. So he was a young developer, he ain't 670 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,600 Speaker 6: have any money. Long story short, the mayor gave him 671 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 6: his start, and most major cities in America have black mayors, right, 672 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:26,719 Speaker 6: So when we was having a conversation, he was like, 673 00:32:27,520 --> 00:32:31,800 Speaker 6: everybody's focused on Trump Biden, but mayors have a lot 674 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:35,600 Speaker 6: of responsibility as far as economic empowerment and different things 675 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:38,719 Speaker 6: of that nature as well. So you're right, you have 676 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:42,760 Speaker 6: to be focused on the local officials. But I think 677 00:32:42,800 --> 00:32:46,280 Speaker 6: the private public partnership is something that's not talked about 678 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:50,800 Speaker 6: enough because if a mayor essentially created a black billionaire, 679 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:54,320 Speaker 6: there's only like ten of them in America, then more 680 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:58,800 Speaker 6: wealth can be generated with the help from elected officials, 681 00:32:58,800 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 6: I think. 682 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 10: One hundred percent. 683 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:03,680 Speaker 9: But I think that was based upon the relationship too, right, 684 00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 9: And so I think the public private partnership is critically important. 685 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:10,560 Speaker 9: But I think mister Peoples was very genuine intentional about 686 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:12,080 Speaker 9: really building relationship with the mayor. 687 00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:15,680 Speaker 4: Was in charity, like yeah, he exactly, Yeah, put in position. 688 00:33:15,360 --> 00:33:16,479 Speaker 10: Put your wealth in position. 689 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:18,640 Speaker 9: Yeah, yeah, yeah, And actually I have a real quick 690 00:33:18,680 --> 00:33:21,240 Speaker 9: down people story too, and I think he's and he 691 00:33:21,280 --> 00:33:23,200 Speaker 9: doesn't know me, and we met just one time. I'll 692 00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:26,240 Speaker 9: never forget. We met about fifteen years ago at his house. 693 00:33:26,320 --> 00:33:28,680 Speaker 9: He was doing some event and I met him. I said, you, 694 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:31,480 Speaker 9: mister Peoples. You know I'm a lawyer. I'm a young lawyer. 695 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:33,600 Speaker 9: But I you know, ultimately when they get into real 696 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:36,400 Speaker 9: estate one day, and maybe even entrepreneurship one day, and 697 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 9: he's like, give me your give me your card, I'll 698 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:39,760 Speaker 9: never forget it. 699 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:41,240 Speaker 10: That following week, I got. 700 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:43,880 Speaker 9: His book sent to my office in a whole page 701 00:33:43,920 --> 00:33:48,040 Speaker 9: inscription telling me about to continue the dream, continue the work, 702 00:33:48,400 --> 00:33:51,360 Speaker 9: and you'll continue to be successful, and some other things too. 703 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:54,840 Speaker 10: But I think that level of care still stays in 704 00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:55,200 Speaker 10: my head. 705 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:56,960 Speaker 9: And I'm glad you mentioned him because he's such a 706 00:33:56,960 --> 00:33:59,160 Speaker 9: solid brother and he's doing amazing things. But I think 707 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:02,640 Speaker 9: those moments, I always say there's few moments in life 708 00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:04,560 Speaker 9: that really matter, and that was a moment it really 709 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:08,359 Speaker 9: mattered that helped me change the trajectory of how I thought, 710 00:34:08,360 --> 00:34:10,880 Speaker 9: from like a business standpoint, I could be achieved. 711 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:14,520 Speaker 7: When you went over your portfolio as you came out. 712 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 5: I'm looking seven different businesses and industries and obviously we 713 00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:21,360 Speaker 5: talked about HQ and we talked about the social network, 714 00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:24,720 Speaker 5: but you also mentioned a global call center where twenty 715 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:29,680 Speaker 5: one thousand Africans are employed. In the age of automation, 716 00:34:29,800 --> 00:34:32,360 Speaker 5: we always talk about AI. I wonder how does it 717 00:34:32,400 --> 00:34:34,640 Speaker 5: affect the business. Is this something that you look at 718 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 5: in terms of business or are you looking to employ 719 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:40,320 Speaker 5: more people and go against the grain of technology. 720 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:42,880 Speaker 7: How do you view that for the call center business. 721 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:44,879 Speaker 10: Yeah, that's a great question. That's something we talk about 722 00:34:44,880 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 10: all the time. 723 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:48,680 Speaker 9: So obviously AI is super important, so we incorporate technology 724 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:52,600 Speaker 9: and all of our operations, but I think what's unique 725 00:34:52,719 --> 00:35:00,920 Speaker 9: to an African is empathy, compassion, understanding, and sometimes you 726 00:35:01,000 --> 00:35:05,000 Speaker 9: cannot replace that with the robot, right are with technology 727 00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:08,440 Speaker 9: with AI. And so we talk to clients, especially American companies, 728 00:35:08,440 --> 00:35:10,480 Speaker 9: even some companies in Europe and across. 729 00:35:10,880 --> 00:35:13,600 Speaker 10: Other kind of geos as well. 730 00:35:14,680 --> 00:35:18,600 Speaker 9: These are people that have been served such a raw deal, 731 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:23,799 Speaker 9: but they have such an empathetic, opportunistic personality that they 732 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:25,960 Speaker 9: believed in, like every opportunity is something that should be 733 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:29,879 Speaker 9: really grateful for and so calls that are very challenging 734 00:35:30,160 --> 00:35:33,200 Speaker 9: that need a level of empathy understanding, those are the 735 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:35,319 Speaker 9: type of clients we take. And so AI is not 736 00:35:35,440 --> 00:35:37,920 Speaker 9: going to kind of take over our business because I 737 00:35:37,960 --> 00:35:39,120 Speaker 9: think at the end of the day, you still need 738 00:35:39,160 --> 00:35:42,720 Speaker 9: empathetic people. When you're playing gets delayed, your playing gets canceled, 739 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:45,239 Speaker 9: you're stranding the airport, you need someone to empathize with you. 740 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:47,479 Speaker 9: And so that's really what we train. We need people 741 00:35:47,520 --> 00:35:51,080 Speaker 9: to be compassionate, understanding, but also proactive and smart and 742 00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:54,319 Speaker 9: intelligent as well. And so I think that's unique to 743 00:35:54,360 --> 00:35:56,880 Speaker 9: Africa a lot, right, and I think that's what is 744 00:35:57,320 --> 00:35:59,200 Speaker 9: kind of our driving force, and I think that's how 745 00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 9: we've been able to go across the continent. 746 00:36:02,000 --> 00:36:04,799 Speaker 5: That's incredible. Now I'm looking at the businesses again. We 747 00:36:04,840 --> 00:36:08,400 Speaker 5: got the call center, we got that hospitality. Let's talk 748 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:10,960 Speaker 5: about the restaurant business. That's something that obviously a lot 749 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:13,440 Speaker 5: of people in our community either try to thrive they 750 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:17,600 Speaker 5: don't have aspirations to thrive inside that a challenging business. Nonetheless, 751 00:36:18,239 --> 00:36:20,279 Speaker 5: talk about some of the things that you face and 752 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:22,000 Speaker 5: the goals for the restaurant. 753 00:36:22,040 --> 00:36:23,640 Speaker 7: Is it kata would that say it's. 754 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:24,720 Speaker 10: Called Kata Kata. 755 00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:27,480 Speaker 9: So it's an Asian fusion top us and kind of 756 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:31,719 Speaker 9: cocktail restaurant. And so the interesting genesis of the restaurant. 757 00:36:31,239 --> 00:36:34,719 Speaker 10: Was my brother. Well, with all of our. 758 00:36:34,640 --> 00:36:38,319 Speaker 9: Businesses, we saw gaps and we filled gaps right, so 759 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:40,759 Speaker 9: they just weren't like some random businesses we started. We 760 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:43,560 Speaker 9: wanted to ultimately control the supply chain, and so why 761 00:36:43,560 --> 00:36:48,520 Speaker 9: would we have a marketing company And then when a 762 00:36:48,560 --> 00:36:50,920 Speaker 9: client needed events, weird outsourceding the event company. 763 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 10: So we started an event company. 764 00:36:52,040 --> 00:36:54,799 Speaker 9: Why would we have a diversity company that didn't also 765 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 9: have like a wellness component, because a clients needed wellness, 766 00:36:57,120 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 9: and so we grew organically based on identifying needs. And 767 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:05,319 Speaker 9: the story of Tata was the first floor of our 768 00:37:05,360 --> 00:37:09,960 Speaker 9: building became available about nine months ago, and I remember 769 00:37:10,600 --> 00:37:12,319 Speaker 9: one of the local bars told me. 770 00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:13,520 Speaker 10: He's like, yo JB. 771 00:37:14,239 --> 00:37:19,080 Speaker 9: Every guy, time you guys have events, we do crazy numbers. 772 00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:21,160 Speaker 10: I'm like, well, why are we. 773 00:37:21,239 --> 00:37:25,160 Speaker 9: Pushing all this business to all these other places where 774 00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:29,480 Speaker 9: we are actually convening people and then ultimately, right or wrong, 775 00:37:29,480 --> 00:37:31,040 Speaker 9: we want everybody in the community to do well. But 776 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:33,600 Speaker 9: I was like, we need to actually continue to control 777 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:37,440 Speaker 9: that member, that guest experience and so it was like 778 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:40,080 Speaker 9: a no brainer with that opportunity to open the restaurant 779 00:37:40,160 --> 00:37:44,680 Speaker 9: because now we can really guide the guest across the 780 00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:46,520 Speaker 9: whole experience and they don't. 781 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:47,120 Speaker 10: Have to go anywhere else. 782 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:49,360 Speaker 7: One stop shop, one stop shop. 783 00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:54,000 Speaker 6: The call center thing is interesting though, because so somebody 784 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:57,600 Speaker 6: just sent me I just got educated on this artificial 785 00:37:57,600 --> 00:38:01,560 Speaker 6: intelligence that responds to people like cold calling, right, And 786 00:38:02,120 --> 00:38:04,960 Speaker 6: I was just testing it out, and it's kind of 787 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:09,800 Speaker 6: scary because I feel like it's really good in answering questions. 788 00:38:09,800 --> 00:38:12,000 Speaker 6: And the thing about the AI is that it gets 789 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:15,480 Speaker 6: more intelligent by the day. So even what you're saying 790 00:38:15,480 --> 00:38:18,680 Speaker 6: as far as it not having emotional intelligence, but that's 791 00:38:18,719 --> 00:38:21,239 Speaker 6: like the next level of AI, right, the programming to 792 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:23,759 Speaker 6: have like a high level of emotional intelligence, just like 793 00:38:23,800 --> 00:38:25,200 Speaker 6: it has general intelligence. 794 00:38:25,239 --> 00:38:28,680 Speaker 4: So at some point in time, the AI is going 795 00:38:28,719 --> 00:38:29,759 Speaker 4: to be able to do that. Right. 796 00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:34,040 Speaker 6: So for you as a business owner, that's beneficial because 797 00:38:34,080 --> 00:38:37,319 Speaker 6: you save money, But it's also scary because it's like, 798 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:40,960 Speaker 6: that's twenty one thousand people just in your company that's unemployed, right, 799 00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:47,200 Speaker 6: So how do you see the future of like just 800 00:38:47,280 --> 00:38:52,400 Speaker 6: business in general, with so many jobs eventually will be 801 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:55,000 Speaker 6: replaced by AI. There's no way around it, right, Like, 802 00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:59,400 Speaker 6: what is your thought process on that kind of looking 803 00:38:59,440 --> 00:39:00,160 Speaker 6: in the future. 804 00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:03,960 Speaker 9: Yeah, well, I think it's something we've seen for the 805 00:39:04,040 --> 00:39:07,440 Speaker 9: last multiple decades, right with the expansion of technology. I 806 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:08,719 Speaker 9: don't think this is going to be any different. I 807 00:39:08,719 --> 00:39:11,759 Speaker 9: think technology ultimately, why it might take away jobs, it 808 00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:15,080 Speaker 9: also creates jobs, and it creates opportunities. I think as 809 00:39:15,200 --> 00:39:18,239 Speaker 9: business owners and we think about talking about wealth and 810 00:39:18,280 --> 00:39:21,880 Speaker 9: even specific to call center, I think you always have 811 00:39:21,960 --> 00:39:24,040 Speaker 9: to pivot, You always have to adapt, You always have 812 00:39:24,120 --> 00:39:27,120 Speaker 9: to come up with new ways to support your business 813 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:30,200 Speaker 9: based upon technology and how it evolves. But I think 814 00:39:30,520 --> 00:39:34,080 Speaker 9: we've been good about understanding things and getting ahead of things, 815 00:39:34,080 --> 00:39:36,840 Speaker 9: and so yes, clearly it's going to affect kind of 816 00:39:37,400 --> 00:39:39,960 Speaker 9: some needs and we'll just have to pift and adjust. 817 00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:43,640 Speaker 9: But it also might create more opportunities for employment too, right, 818 00:39:43,640 --> 00:39:45,399 Speaker 9: And so we just never know. But we also want 819 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:48,799 Speaker 9: to stay ahead of things and really focused on not 820 00:39:49,000 --> 00:39:52,239 Speaker 9: how is technology going to take things away, but how 821 00:39:52,360 --> 00:39:55,040 Speaker 9: is technology going to provide more opportunities. 822 00:39:55,760 --> 00:39:57,960 Speaker 5: Before we get out of I definitely want to talk 823 00:39:57,960 --> 00:39:59,799 Speaker 5: about we talk about the businesses, but I know something 824 00:39:59,800 --> 00:40:02,880 Speaker 5: that's near and dear to you is giving back. So 825 00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:06,040 Speaker 5: philanthropy is something that's obviously part of the portfolio. I 826 00:40:06,080 --> 00:40:09,000 Speaker 5: saw the foundation and correct me if I'm wrong. Icon to, 827 00:40:09,120 --> 00:40:10,759 Speaker 5: I can, icon to, I can. 828 00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:11,080 Speaker 4: Yep. 829 00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:12,680 Speaker 7: The title is fire. 830 00:40:13,120 --> 00:40:14,000 Speaker 10: Thank you, Thank you. 831 00:40:14,400 --> 00:40:16,759 Speaker 5: Talk about the work that you're doing there and the 832 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:17,400 Speaker 5: origin of it. 833 00:40:18,120 --> 00:40:20,839 Speaker 10: Yeah, no, thank you. See, these brothers came relper well, 834 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:21,720 Speaker 10: well well prepared. 835 00:40:21,800 --> 00:40:21,920 Speaker 8: Man. 836 00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:24,640 Speaker 9: I forgot to even mention that. So I mean we've 837 00:40:24,680 --> 00:40:28,600 Speaker 9: done this a few times. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I believe that, man, y'all, 838 00:40:28,760 --> 00:40:33,239 Speaker 9: your reputation precedes you. So we grew up in a 839 00:40:33,360 --> 00:40:37,640 Speaker 9: house with a mother that was a successful pediatrician, but 840 00:40:37,680 --> 00:40:40,960 Speaker 9: at her core she was a community activist and community advocate, 841 00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:47,160 Speaker 9: and so we learned early on, while entrepreneurship and wealth 842 00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:49,480 Speaker 9: is all important, but if you're not giving back to 843 00:40:49,480 --> 00:40:51,759 Speaker 9: your community, then what are you really leaving behind? And 844 00:40:51,800 --> 00:40:55,960 Speaker 9: so we've always moved even before launching our businesses, through 845 00:40:55,960 --> 00:40:58,799 Speaker 9: a lens of advocacy. And so the genesis of our 846 00:40:58,840 --> 00:41:02,640 Speaker 9: foundation was about ten years ago. We had launched some 847 00:41:02,680 --> 00:41:05,920 Speaker 9: mentorship programs back home in San Antonio because we just 848 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:10,920 Speaker 9: saw the need and so we just believed in giving back, 849 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:14,560 Speaker 9: and so Visa through another platform, which is a celebrity 850 00:41:14,560 --> 00:41:16,719 Speaker 9: speaker series platform called icon Talks. We were able to 851 00:41:16,760 --> 00:41:20,480 Speaker 9: like mobilize community, get celebrities involved to support the foundation work. 852 00:41:20,480 --> 00:41:24,760 Speaker 9: But at its core, we wanted to suprive provide mentorship programs, 853 00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:28,200 Speaker 9: empowerment program for kids that looked like us, because oftentimes 854 00:41:28,239 --> 00:41:30,319 Speaker 9: those kids don't have exposure. And so the genesis was 855 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:33,120 Speaker 9: just innate to who we were as people, just to 856 00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:35,880 Speaker 9: understand that too much is given, much is required, and 857 00:41:35,920 --> 00:41:37,759 Speaker 9: we believed in the importance to give him back. And 858 00:41:37,800 --> 00:41:40,960 Speaker 9: so now our mentorship programs across schools in Texas were 859 00:41:40,960 --> 00:41:44,080 Speaker 9: across six schools across the state of Texas, and we 860 00:41:44,120 --> 00:41:46,360 Speaker 9: wanted to stay in Texas because that's where we're from 861 00:41:46,480 --> 00:41:48,120 Speaker 9: and that's where we saw the need and that's where 862 00:41:48,120 --> 00:41:51,840 Speaker 9: we were exposed to the need throughout our whole upbringing. 863 00:41:51,880 --> 00:41:53,560 Speaker 9: And so we're super proud of that work. And I'm 864 00:41:53,560 --> 00:41:57,440 Speaker 9: sorry I didn't mention that before, but see brother reminded me, 865 00:41:57,480 --> 00:41:58,239 Speaker 9: so I appreciate you. 866 00:41:58,719 --> 00:42:00,600 Speaker 6: So how are you able to multi to Y know, 867 00:42:00,680 --> 00:42:03,799 Speaker 6: as far as having so many different verticals, so many 868 00:42:03,840 --> 00:42:07,680 Speaker 6: different businesses, A lot of people burn themselves out or 869 00:42:08,120 --> 00:42:11,920 Speaker 6: they spread themselves too thin. So how are you able 870 00:42:11,960 --> 00:42:14,240 Speaker 6: to stay on top and make sure that every business 871 00:42:14,280 --> 00:42:15,240 Speaker 6: is running optimal? 872 00:42:16,239 --> 00:42:18,360 Speaker 9: No, that's a great question. Every day isn't easy. But 873 00:42:18,440 --> 00:42:21,360 Speaker 9: I think team, I think team is everything. I think 874 00:42:22,040 --> 00:42:25,400 Speaker 9: you can never grow a successful business by yourself. I 875 00:42:25,440 --> 00:42:27,040 Speaker 9: think you have to rely on people. You have to 876 00:42:27,040 --> 00:42:29,440 Speaker 9: invest in people, and you have to allow people to 877 00:42:29,560 --> 00:42:32,480 Speaker 9: do what they do best. And so again I keep 878 00:42:32,480 --> 00:42:35,080 Speaker 9: pointing out edge, you're no manager Nanny from HQDC House, 879 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:37,239 Speaker 9: she's the best at what she does and right, so 880 00:42:37,280 --> 00:42:39,640 Speaker 9: I think it's a testament to people. I think it's 881 00:42:39,640 --> 00:42:41,640 Speaker 9: also a testament to understanding who you are and how 882 00:42:41,640 --> 00:42:43,480 Speaker 9: you operate as a business owner. Right, I know what 883 00:42:43,520 --> 00:42:45,680 Speaker 9: I do well and I know what I don't do well, 884 00:42:45,760 --> 00:42:48,120 Speaker 9: and so staying out the mess of things that you 885 00:42:48,120 --> 00:42:49,839 Speaker 9: don't do well, So I think that can ultimate lead 886 00:42:49,880 --> 00:42:53,880 Speaker 9: to chaos. And I think again, for us, our journey 887 00:42:53,960 --> 00:42:59,920 Speaker 9: has been very pragmatic, very practical, very intentional, based upon needs, 888 00:43:00,360 --> 00:43:04,240 Speaker 9: and so I think that's allowed us to grow strategically 889 00:43:04,520 --> 00:43:09,520 Speaker 9: without growing in like an elogical way. But again it's 890 00:43:09,520 --> 00:43:13,000 Speaker 9: not easy. I mean I always say, man, the level 891 00:43:13,040 --> 00:43:18,239 Speaker 9: of decision fatigue guy on a daily basis is freaking massive. Right, 892 00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:21,040 Speaker 9: You're making two hundred, three hundred decisions in one day. 893 00:43:21,080 --> 00:43:23,799 Speaker 9: You're on calls in Nairobi, then you're at a call 894 00:43:23,880 --> 00:43:26,640 Speaker 9: for HQ, then you're doing an event at the White House. 895 00:43:26,680 --> 00:43:29,400 Speaker 9: And so the level of kind of multitasking, I'm not 896 00:43:29,480 --> 00:43:32,280 Speaker 9: gonna lie, it can be. It can be over taxing 897 00:43:32,320 --> 00:43:33,880 Speaker 9: at time. But I think that's when you have to 898 00:43:34,040 --> 00:43:37,360 Speaker 9: take a step back, really really focus on your mental health, 899 00:43:37,800 --> 00:43:41,759 Speaker 9: really focus on taking time to really reflect, be appreciative, 900 00:43:42,200 --> 00:43:45,879 Speaker 9: and then sometimes just say hey, I can't do it today, Bro, 901 00:43:46,360 --> 00:43:48,200 Speaker 9: you gotta just take You got to step in for me. 902 00:43:48,239 --> 00:43:49,960 Speaker 10: Man, I gotta take a I gotta take a day. 903 00:43:50,480 --> 00:43:50,640 Speaker 4: Right. 904 00:43:50,680 --> 00:43:51,520 Speaker 10: I think that's okay. 905 00:43:51,640 --> 00:43:55,000 Speaker 9: And one of the panelists in the conversation upstairs said 906 00:43:55,040 --> 00:43:59,040 Speaker 9: earlier a former football player, Ray Rice from the Baltimore Ravens. 907 00:43:59,040 --> 00:44:03,080 Speaker 9: He said he wants his legacy to be that black 908 00:44:03,120 --> 00:44:07,920 Speaker 9: men specifically can be vulnerable and say they need help. 909 00:44:08,640 --> 00:44:12,879 Speaker 9: And so I think that is what I've taken from 910 00:44:13,200 --> 00:44:15,359 Speaker 9: kind of a critical piece for today and the time 911 00:44:15,400 --> 00:44:18,520 Speaker 9: moving in my life is just sometimes when it becomes overtaxing, 912 00:44:18,600 --> 00:44:21,920 Speaker 9: sometimes when it looks like the world is ending and 913 00:44:21,960 --> 00:44:24,799 Speaker 9: you're so overcome with anxiety and so much going on 914 00:44:24,880 --> 00:44:27,239 Speaker 9: in so many pieces, take a step back and that 915 00:44:27,360 --> 00:44:28,759 Speaker 9: those moments just ask for help. 916 00:44:29,160 --> 00:44:29,960 Speaker 7: Yeah, I want to. 917 00:44:29,960 --> 00:44:32,200 Speaker 5: As I'm listening to you talk, you know, we always 918 00:44:32,400 --> 00:44:34,600 Speaker 5: tend to ask people what's the five to ten year 919 00:44:34,760 --> 00:44:38,160 Speaker 5: vision or the goal? Is that your approach or is 920 00:44:38,200 --> 00:44:40,280 Speaker 5: it because you're feeling needs? 921 00:44:40,360 --> 00:44:41,680 Speaker 7: Is it a day to day thing? Right? 922 00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:43,600 Speaker 5: There could be a need that comes up next month. 923 00:44:44,120 --> 00:44:46,520 Speaker 5: We have to fulfill that. So in terms of like 924 00:44:46,520 --> 00:44:49,759 Speaker 5: people always ask you, have you earned your leisure? Like, nah, 925 00:44:49,800 --> 00:44:52,200 Speaker 5: there's still so much to go. How do you approach this? 926 00:44:52,280 --> 00:44:56,040 Speaker 5: Is it long term goals or it's need based? As 927 00:44:56,080 --> 00:44:57,640 Speaker 5: it comes, we'll approach it and see if we can 928 00:44:57,719 --> 00:44:58,040 Speaker 5: take it on. 929 00:44:58,840 --> 00:45:00,239 Speaker 10: Yeah, So I think it's a little bit of both. 930 00:45:00,440 --> 00:45:00,680 Speaker 4: Right. 931 00:45:00,760 --> 00:45:04,560 Speaker 9: So at the micro level, it's we identify gaps and 932 00:45:04,600 --> 00:45:07,600 Speaker 9: try to fill them, right, but not be reckless and 933 00:45:07,680 --> 00:45:11,400 Speaker 9: kind of not intentional about or strategic about it. But 934 00:45:11,600 --> 00:45:14,880 Speaker 9: we pivot daily, which you have to pivot, right, But 935 00:45:14,960 --> 00:45:17,600 Speaker 9: we are identifying gaps that need to be filled. But 936 00:45:17,680 --> 00:45:20,719 Speaker 9: at the macro level, I think we're truly stepping into 937 00:45:20,760 --> 00:45:23,560 Speaker 9: our purpose now, and our purpose from like a business 938 00:45:23,600 --> 00:45:28,080 Speaker 9: standpoint is really to change the circumstances, the narrative. 939 00:45:27,880 --> 00:45:29,720 Speaker 10: And the opportunities for black people around the world. 940 00:45:30,200 --> 00:45:33,720 Speaker 9: And so I'm so, so so focused on that purpose 941 00:45:33,760 --> 00:45:36,920 Speaker 9: now and that's core to who we are. And so 942 00:45:37,560 --> 00:45:39,759 Speaker 9: while a gap might exist that we need to fill, 943 00:45:39,760 --> 00:45:41,600 Speaker 9: but if it's not innate to that purpose, we won't 944 00:45:41,640 --> 00:45:43,319 Speaker 9: work on that right And so now as we do 945 00:45:43,360 --> 00:45:45,879 Speaker 9: work in Africa, we're launching this global network, we see 946 00:45:45,920 --> 00:45:48,640 Speaker 9: our vision even clearer, we see our goals even clearer, 947 00:45:48,640 --> 00:45:52,080 Speaker 9: but they're so macro. But the micro kind of things 948 00:45:52,080 --> 00:45:53,839 Speaker 9: we do on the daily basis, they have to be 949 00:45:53,880 --> 00:45:56,279 Speaker 9: moorking towards to micro. But when you say five year, 950 00:45:56,400 --> 00:46:00,520 Speaker 9: ten year, fifteen year plan, we've done those exercises, we've 951 00:46:00,760 --> 00:46:05,040 Speaker 9: been successful because if we've been able to identify things, 952 00:46:05,320 --> 00:46:09,960 Speaker 9: pivot and modify our businesses to support the times that 953 00:46:10,000 --> 00:46:14,359 Speaker 9: we're in. I think sometimes, don't get me wrong, KPIs objectives, 954 00:46:14,440 --> 00:46:17,279 Speaker 9: all those things are super important goals, but I think 955 00:46:17,320 --> 00:46:19,600 Speaker 9: sometimes when you're not looking at the present and too 956 00:46:19,680 --> 00:46:22,360 Speaker 9: focused on the future, you can miss things. And so 957 00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:24,359 Speaker 9: we want to maintain focus on the future, but also 958 00:46:24,680 --> 00:46:29,840 Speaker 9: be actively actively changing things in the president to support 959 00:46:30,320 --> 00:46:30,840 Speaker 9: the business. 960 00:46:31,360 --> 00:46:33,560 Speaker 4: So my last question is leadership. 961 00:46:35,080 --> 00:46:37,879 Speaker 6: How what lessons have you learned and what advice could 962 00:46:37,920 --> 00:46:41,080 Speaker 6: you give the entrepreneurs as far as being a leader 963 00:46:41,480 --> 00:46:43,120 Speaker 6: and managing people? 964 00:46:44,080 --> 00:46:44,440 Speaker 10: Yeah? 965 00:46:44,680 --> 00:46:45,239 Speaker 4: Yeah, So. 966 00:46:47,239 --> 00:46:52,920 Speaker 9: Generally speaking, the most important not even generally speaking, transparently speaking, 967 00:46:52,960 --> 00:46:56,920 Speaker 9: the most important thing about a business are your people. 968 00:46:57,840 --> 00:47:00,759 Speaker 9: Without your people, there is no business, right. And so, 969 00:47:01,760 --> 00:47:06,440 Speaker 9: how do you create a culture that encourages innovation, that 970 00:47:06,600 --> 00:47:11,920 Speaker 9: encourages proactivity, that encourages accountability, that encourages teammanship, that encourages 971 00:47:13,480 --> 00:47:18,319 Speaker 9: people working towards kind of one common goal. And I 972 00:47:18,360 --> 00:47:20,600 Speaker 9: think a lot of that leadership has come from my brother. 973 00:47:20,800 --> 00:47:23,520 Speaker 9: My brother again served the military for thirteen years, and 974 00:47:23,560 --> 00:47:26,680 Speaker 9: I think using that framework, those leadership principles from West 975 00:47:26,719 --> 00:47:30,640 Speaker 9: Point really have been invaluable. And then also just so 976 00:47:30,719 --> 00:47:32,719 Speaker 9: you all know, I come from a military background to 977 00:47:32,760 --> 00:47:34,880 Speaker 9: go to military college, but I went to military school 978 00:47:34,880 --> 00:47:37,400 Speaker 9: from second to twelfth grade. Ask my mom why she 979 00:47:37,440 --> 00:47:39,120 Speaker 9: sent me the military school at second grade. I know 980 00:47:39,160 --> 00:47:42,520 Speaker 9: you even do that, but that taught me those principles too, 981 00:47:42,560 --> 00:47:44,840 Speaker 9: of like teammanship, of like core value. And so I 982 00:47:44,840 --> 00:47:49,160 Speaker 9: think for us, it's investing in people, understanding that culture 983 00:47:49,239 --> 00:47:52,560 Speaker 9: is important, and ultimately allowing people to be people. 984 00:47:52,600 --> 00:47:54,719 Speaker 10: People make mistakes, right, And then. 985 00:47:54,640 --> 00:47:57,040 Speaker 9: Also I think not everybody is the right fit for 986 00:47:57,080 --> 00:48:00,440 Speaker 9: your organization, and so I always leave with. 987 00:48:00,360 --> 00:48:01,200 Speaker 10: The heart of compassion. 988 00:48:01,360 --> 00:48:03,719 Speaker 9: My brother leads with like an iron fist sometimes, and 989 00:48:03,760 --> 00:48:05,600 Speaker 9: so I think it's important to have that level of 990 00:48:05,640 --> 00:48:09,480 Speaker 9: combination across like the owners, because you can't always be 991 00:48:09,600 --> 00:48:09,959 Speaker 9: the heart. 992 00:48:10,239 --> 00:48:13,280 Speaker 10: Sometimes you need to be kind of the harder feature 993 00:48:13,280 --> 00:48:13,680 Speaker 10: as well. 994 00:48:14,480 --> 00:48:16,960 Speaker 5: I'm glad you said the word mistake because on my mind, 995 00:48:17,000 --> 00:48:20,640 Speaker 5: I'm thinking to myself, think about your biggest financial mistake. 996 00:48:21,480 --> 00:48:25,160 Speaker 5: Right then, I also want you to think about the 997 00:48:25,200 --> 00:48:27,400 Speaker 5: biggest lesson you learned from that mistake. 998 00:48:29,920 --> 00:48:35,160 Speaker 9: Yeah, that's a great question. Our biggest financial mistake? 999 00:48:36,360 --> 00:48:36,600 Speaker 10: Wow? 1000 00:48:36,640 --> 00:48:39,719 Speaker 9: Okay, so I think our biggest financial mistake and this 1001 00:48:39,880 --> 00:48:42,440 Speaker 9: is something recent. I'm not going to obviously mention the 1002 00:48:42,520 --> 00:48:47,800 Speaker 9: names specifically, but it was entering into and this sounds 1003 00:48:47,880 --> 00:48:51,400 Speaker 9: crazy coming from a lawyer right now, entering into a 1004 00:48:51,520 --> 00:48:56,799 Speaker 9: partnership with someone that you believed in the nobility of 1005 00:48:56,840 --> 00:48:59,160 Speaker 9: the mission and of the purpose, but you didn't necessarily 1006 00:48:59,239 --> 00:49:02,800 Speaker 9: paper it right because you believed it was a bigger 1007 00:49:02,840 --> 00:49:05,520 Speaker 9: calling and you believe that they were on the same page, 1008 00:49:05,520 --> 00:49:07,239 Speaker 9: and you believe that it was a common mission that 1009 00:49:07,239 --> 00:49:08,680 Speaker 9: you all want to do the same thing and make 1010 00:49:08,719 --> 00:49:11,560 Speaker 9: it work, but you didn't paper the transaction appropriately, so 1011 00:49:11,640 --> 00:49:15,520 Speaker 9: you put money into it without having the legal eaese 1012 00:49:15,560 --> 00:49:19,759 Speaker 9: in place, and so that was a horrible decision coming 1013 00:49:19,760 --> 00:49:21,920 Speaker 9: from a lawyer, but there was guided by who we 1014 00:49:22,000 --> 00:49:24,320 Speaker 9: thought we were working with and we were doing something 1015 00:49:24,360 --> 00:49:29,360 Speaker 9: that was noble. But the lesson from that is, even 1016 00:49:29,400 --> 00:49:32,880 Speaker 9: in the most noble of endeavors, you think this person 1017 00:49:33,160 --> 00:49:38,000 Speaker 9: was ordained by Jesus Christ himself, you need to paper 1018 00:49:38,040 --> 00:49:42,480 Speaker 9: these transactions and believe in framing a business like a 1019 00:49:42,520 --> 00:49:44,800 Speaker 9: business should be framed, and not taking risks of or 1020 00:49:44,840 --> 00:49:48,880 Speaker 9: unnecessary because ultimately, even in the best of situations, it 1021 00:49:48,960 --> 00:49:50,480 Speaker 9: can sometimes be the worst. 1022 00:49:51,080 --> 00:49:56,120 Speaker 4: So no handshake agreements, well no, not a fan of that. 1023 00:49:56,440 --> 00:49:58,080 Speaker 7: No paper bag ones either. 1024 00:49:58,239 --> 00:50:03,520 Speaker 9: No man a teen year practitioner to make that mistake 1025 00:50:03,600 --> 00:50:04,479 Speaker 9: like six months ago. 1026 00:50:04,520 --> 00:50:07,040 Speaker 10: It's just it's bananas have us to the best of us. 1027 00:50:07,520 --> 00:50:12,320 Speaker 6: So, okay, you're a trained lawyer, right, that doesn't always 1028 00:50:12,360 --> 00:50:15,120 Speaker 6: relate to entrepreneurship. A lot of times that's like being 1029 00:50:15,120 --> 00:50:19,120 Speaker 6: a doctor. Like you, you're skilled in something, but a 1030 00:50:19,160 --> 00:50:20,759 Speaker 6: lot of times that doesn't mean that you're going to 1031 00:50:20,760 --> 00:50:23,359 Speaker 6: be a great business owner. So how did you make 1032 00:50:23,440 --> 00:50:28,799 Speaker 6: that transition in your mind to be an entrepreneur when 1033 00:50:28,840 --> 00:50:31,400 Speaker 6: you went to school and you were on the pathway 1034 00:50:31,480 --> 00:50:32,799 Speaker 6: and just working law. 1035 00:50:33,920 --> 00:50:34,120 Speaker 4: Yeah. 1036 00:50:34,239 --> 00:50:36,240 Speaker 10: No, it's a completely different shift in mindset. 1037 00:50:36,239 --> 00:50:38,160 Speaker 9: But I think it's also a lot of compromary skill 1038 00:50:38,239 --> 00:50:40,560 Speaker 9: sets that are applicable to both industries. I think it's 1039 00:50:40,600 --> 00:50:43,040 Speaker 9: attention of detail. I think it's accountability. I think it's 1040 00:50:43,080 --> 00:50:47,520 Speaker 9: people skills. I think it's a lot of showmanship. I mean, 1041 00:50:47,520 --> 00:50:49,640 Speaker 9: to be an entrepreneur, you got to be charismatic, you 1042 00:50:49,680 --> 00:50:51,440 Speaker 9: got to talk to people, you got to ask people 1043 00:50:51,440 --> 00:50:53,000 Speaker 9: for things, you got to be genuine, you got to 1044 00:50:53,000 --> 00:50:55,600 Speaker 9: be connected. And so I think I was a litigator 1045 00:50:55,680 --> 00:50:57,400 Speaker 9: for the first five years of my practice, and the 1046 00:50:57,400 --> 00:50:59,920 Speaker 9: theatrics of being in the courtroom teach you that you 1047 00:51:00,280 --> 00:51:03,720 Speaker 9: have to connect with people on different levels and connect 1048 00:51:03,719 --> 00:51:05,680 Speaker 9: with different types of people. And so I think a 1049 00:51:05,680 --> 00:51:09,160 Speaker 9: lot of those skills are very applicable to the entrepreneurship space. 1050 00:51:09,920 --> 00:51:15,400 Speaker 9: But again, I leaned on my brother from his kind 1051 00:51:15,440 --> 00:51:18,319 Speaker 9: of corporate experience to bring those corporate chops. I'd never 1052 00:51:18,360 --> 00:51:21,759 Speaker 9: been in the boardroom. I've been like in a courtroom. 1053 00:51:21,920 --> 00:51:25,040 Speaker 9: That's different than the boardroom. Right, I had never been 1054 00:51:25,040 --> 00:51:28,239 Speaker 9: in spaces where big money deals are talked about. But 1055 00:51:28,320 --> 00:51:30,480 Speaker 9: my brother was the CEO of City Bank, and so 1056 00:51:30,560 --> 00:51:32,880 Speaker 9: he worked in finance. He knew those spaces and so 1057 00:51:33,840 --> 00:51:36,120 Speaker 9: and the level of detail he kind of moves with, 1058 00:51:36,560 --> 00:51:38,839 Speaker 9: and the pragmatism that he moves with. The two kind 1059 00:51:38,880 --> 00:51:42,439 Speaker 9: of provided that that structure that we needed. And again 1060 00:51:42,480 --> 00:51:46,399 Speaker 9: talking about complimentary skill sets like I'm the people guy, right, 1061 00:51:46,440 --> 00:51:47,879 Speaker 9: I knew why I was the people guy. 1062 00:51:48,000 --> 00:51:48,120 Speaker 7: Right. 1063 00:51:48,200 --> 00:51:51,839 Speaker 9: I know I can help with BD, I can drive engagement, 1064 00:51:51,920 --> 00:51:56,279 Speaker 9: I have relationships, and so again, understanding my skills kill 1065 00:51:56,280 --> 00:51:59,359 Speaker 9: sket understanding Hillski's skill set and making sure that we're 1066 00:51:59,400 --> 00:52:04,200 Speaker 9: complimenting not only our partnership, but the business was critically important. 1067 00:52:04,280 --> 00:52:06,800 Speaker 10: And that didn't happen overnight. That didn't help it overnight. 1068 00:52:06,840 --> 00:52:07,520 Speaker 10: It took time. 1069 00:52:07,719 --> 00:52:12,680 Speaker 9: It took honest conversations. My mam always says, I talked 1070 00:52:12,680 --> 00:52:14,440 Speaker 9: to my brother maybe and not even to test this, 1071 00:52:14,600 --> 00:52:19,200 Speaker 9: maybe nobs twenty five times and not like twenty five minutes, 1072 00:52:19,239 --> 00:52:21,920 Speaker 9: like twenty five times throughout the day because we're constantly strategizing. 1073 00:52:22,000 --> 00:52:23,560 Speaker 10: I'm sure you guys are the same, and. 1074 00:52:23,520 --> 00:52:27,000 Speaker 9: So I think understanding your partner and understanding the business 1075 00:52:27,040 --> 00:52:30,040 Speaker 9: and ultimately trying to leverage each other's skill sets to 1076 00:52:30,120 --> 00:52:33,200 Speaker 9: grow the business is important. But it's being accountable and 1077 00:52:33,280 --> 00:52:35,239 Speaker 9: understanding where gaps exist and continuing to. 1078 00:52:35,160 --> 00:52:41,600 Speaker 7: Grow absolutely strap it up for that that's really I 1079 00:52:41,640 --> 00:52:42,200 Speaker 7: want to call. 1080 00:52:42,760 --> 00:52:45,120 Speaker 5: I want to Raven and Anthony's stand up really quickly. 1081 00:52:45,239 --> 00:52:47,520 Speaker 5: Could y'all stand up? Can y'all stand up? 1082 00:52:48,000 --> 00:52:51,200 Speaker 7: Let's grab it up for them? 1083 00:52:51,280 --> 00:52:52,640 Speaker 5: And John, I want to talk to you about the 1084 00:52:52,680 --> 00:52:56,319 Speaker 5: time when obviously when we see a well somebody, are 1085 00:52:56,320 --> 00:52:56,960 Speaker 5: they standing up? 1086 00:52:57,600 --> 00:52:57,920 Speaker 4: I not. 1087 00:52:57,920 --> 00:53:00,680 Speaker 5: I want to acknowledge them because well, what we're seeing 1088 00:53:00,719 --> 00:53:02,960 Speaker 5: here had to sit back down and not yet, and 1089 00:53:03,000 --> 00:53:05,200 Speaker 5: that's awkward if you give somebody instructions. Oh no, no, 1090 00:53:05,200 --> 00:53:06,839 Speaker 5: I just want them to stand up because I want 1091 00:53:06,840 --> 00:53:09,000 Speaker 5: them to be acknowledged in this moment, because what we're 1092 00:53:09,239 --> 00:53:11,960 Speaker 5: in the midst of is a financial revolution, and we're 1093 00:53:12,000 --> 00:53:16,120 Speaker 5: seeing it happen at this level. Right, We're seeing a 1094 00:53:16,200 --> 00:53:19,440 Speaker 5: couple work together, We're seeing them call on black men 1095 00:53:19,520 --> 00:53:20,160 Speaker 5: to work together. 1096 00:53:20,360 --> 00:53:23,480 Speaker 7: We're seeing it. But we've also seen been in spaces 1097 00:53:23,480 --> 00:53:24,879 Speaker 7: where at the highest level we. 1098 00:53:24,760 --> 00:53:27,960 Speaker 5: Don't see people working together. Right, are wealthiest, orry elite 1099 00:53:28,000 --> 00:53:31,000 Speaker 5: don't work together as much. I want you to take 1100 00:53:31,040 --> 00:53:32,839 Speaker 5: a moment. What do you think about the time way 1101 00:53:32,920 --> 00:53:36,279 Speaker 5: in terms of this financial movement as you see it 1102 00:53:36,320 --> 00:53:39,280 Speaker 5: as an entrepreneur now in this space? Is this something 1103 00:53:39,440 --> 00:53:41,640 Speaker 5: and what are the characteristics that we need to keep 1104 00:53:41,920 --> 00:53:44,080 Speaker 5: to have this going? Thank out the standing. 1105 00:53:44,520 --> 00:53:46,839 Speaker 10: Yes, definitely around the applause. Thank you guys so much. 1106 00:53:49,000 --> 00:53:51,920 Speaker 9: I mean, to be honest, we need more people like you, 1107 00:53:52,560 --> 00:53:55,400 Speaker 9: and you need corporate you and you who are actually 1108 00:53:55,440 --> 00:53:59,000 Speaker 9: creating spaces for us to come together. I'm so excited 1109 00:53:59,040 --> 00:54:02,560 Speaker 9: what you guys have done because you created something that's 1110 00:54:02,560 --> 00:54:03,560 Speaker 9: never been done before. 1111 00:54:03,920 --> 00:54:05,400 Speaker 10: I think you're creating. 1112 00:54:05,120 --> 00:54:08,759 Speaker 9: Genuine conversations for people to learn, to gather insights, to 1113 00:54:08,840 --> 00:54:12,600 Speaker 9: build relationships, to share resources that had never been done 1114 00:54:12,640 --> 00:54:14,680 Speaker 9: at the scale you guys are doing in our communities. 1115 00:54:14,920 --> 00:54:17,040 Speaker 9: And so I applaud you all for all the work 1116 00:54:17,040 --> 00:54:21,439 Speaker 9: that you all are doing. Yeah, I think it's I mean, 1117 00:54:22,320 --> 00:54:25,880 Speaker 9: it's unbelievable and I know you all probably get the 1118 00:54:25,880 --> 00:54:27,799 Speaker 9: accolades and people say thank you so much, but I 1119 00:54:27,840 --> 00:54:31,160 Speaker 9: don't know if you truly realize the impact that you 1120 00:54:31,200 --> 00:54:34,560 Speaker 9: guys are making around the globe right in providing inspiration 1121 00:54:35,440 --> 00:54:40,480 Speaker 9: in providing exposure and opportunity for people. That's a reward 1122 00:54:40,680 --> 00:54:42,759 Speaker 9: that cannot be overstated. So I just want to say 1123 00:54:42,760 --> 00:54:47,600 Speaker 9: thank you guys, and then likewise to you all. I 1124 00:54:47,719 --> 00:54:50,640 Speaker 9: think I think about wealth and two different approaches. I think, 1125 00:54:50,680 --> 00:54:54,520 Speaker 9: obviously you think about wealth and the traditional monetary aspects 1126 00:54:54,520 --> 00:54:56,640 Speaker 9: of wealth, but I think what you all are doing 1127 00:54:57,480 --> 00:54:59,800 Speaker 9: is bigger than that. I think you all are approaching 1128 00:55:00,160 --> 00:55:04,000 Speaker 9: from a mindset, and I think wealth really is a mindset, 1129 00:55:04,080 --> 00:55:07,200 Speaker 9: and I think the words have been used all day around, 1130 00:55:07,840 --> 00:55:11,920 Speaker 9: leading from an abundance mindset, leading from a community mindset, 1131 00:55:12,000 --> 00:55:15,799 Speaker 9: leading from a collective action mindset. But I think ultimately 1132 00:55:15,840 --> 00:55:19,480 Speaker 9: that all is encompass and leading from like a wealth mindset, 1133 00:55:19,760 --> 00:55:23,720 Speaker 9: and the wealth mindset is working together, building together, building partnerships. 1134 00:55:24,040 --> 00:55:26,800 Speaker 10: What I've felt the most joy from. 1135 00:55:26,600 --> 00:55:32,920 Speaker 9: Today is is the genuine excitement to build together. And 1136 00:55:32,960 --> 00:55:35,319 Speaker 9: that's something you don't feel very often. And so I 1137 00:55:35,400 --> 00:55:38,920 Speaker 9: think to be in spaces that we can be in 1138 00:55:39,040 --> 00:55:42,439 Speaker 9: where we're fostering relationships and growing together, I think that's 1139 00:55:42,440 --> 00:55:46,480 Speaker 9: going to ultimately rectify some of the situations where folks 1140 00:55:46,480 --> 00:55:48,560 Speaker 9: are not doing that. I think as we continue to 1141 00:55:48,600 --> 00:55:51,879 Speaker 9: facilitate community, we continue to hold more events like this 1142 00:55:52,280 --> 00:55:55,359 Speaker 9: and build relationships. I think that's going to change an 1143 00:55:55,360 --> 00:55:58,160 Speaker 9: aerative for our people. And so again I applaud both 1144 00:55:58,200 --> 00:55:59,919 Speaker 9: of you all for doing all the great work you're doing. 1145 00:56:03,200 --> 00:56:06,520 Speaker 6: What's one last word you can leave, you know, any entrepreneur, 1146 00:56:06,680 --> 00:56:08,680 Speaker 6: aspiring entrepreneur. 1147 00:56:08,239 --> 00:56:12,919 Speaker 9: With one last word, And it's a word in kind 1148 00:56:12,960 --> 00:56:16,640 Speaker 9: of an approach I've always mentioned in every conversation I give. 1149 00:56:16,840 --> 00:56:19,320 Speaker 10: I say, never stop dreaming. 1150 00:56:19,920 --> 00:56:20,160 Speaker 4: Right. 1151 00:56:20,200 --> 00:56:23,080 Speaker 9: As an entrepreneur, you have to be a dreamer. And 1152 00:56:23,239 --> 00:56:27,239 Speaker 9: I dream a new dream every single day, right, And 1153 00:56:27,320 --> 00:56:30,200 Speaker 9: I think those dreams can ultimately become goals, they can 1154 00:56:30,239 --> 00:56:33,399 Speaker 9: become objective, they become things that you ultimately put into motion. 1155 00:56:34,120 --> 00:56:37,759 Speaker 9: But being a dreamer is critically important to entrepreneurship. And 1156 00:56:37,840 --> 00:56:42,640 Speaker 9: say never let anybody distinguish or extinguish your dream. 1157 00:56:42,960 --> 00:56:43,120 Speaker 4: Right. 1158 00:56:43,239 --> 00:56:46,279 Speaker 9: And so but I think a dream without action will 1159 00:56:46,280 --> 00:56:50,319 Speaker 9: come without any type of actual come into fruition. So 1160 00:56:50,360 --> 00:56:53,160 Speaker 9: I think, continue to dream, put action behind it, put 1161 00:56:53,160 --> 00:56:53,920 Speaker 9: team behind it. 1162 00:56:54,080 --> 00:56:54,879 Speaker 10: It will all work out. 1163 00:56:55,840 --> 00:56:57,200 Speaker 4: Make some noise, ladies and gentlemen. 1164 00:56:57,280 --> 00:56:58,879 Speaker 7: Ladies and gentlemen appreciate it. 1165 00:56:59,040 --> 00:57:03,680 Speaker 1: Tom Byrne, an illegal alien from Guatemala charged with raping 1166 00:57:03,680 --> 00:57:07,120 Speaker 1: a child in Massachusetts. An MS thirteen gang member from 1167 00:57:07,160 --> 00:57:11,560 Speaker 1: Al Salvador accused of murdering a Texas man of Venezuelan 1168 00:57:11,920 --> 00:57:15,919 Speaker 1: charged with filming and selling child pornography in Michigan. These 1169 00:57:15,960 --> 00:57:19,640 Speaker 1: are just some of the heinous migrant criminals caught because 1170 00:57:19,640 --> 00:57:20,640 Speaker 1: of President Donald J. 1171 00:57:20,720 --> 00:57:21,680 Speaker 2: Trump's leadership. 1172 00:57:21,960 --> 00:57:25,560 Speaker 1: I'm Christy Noman, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. 1173 00:57:25,880 --> 00:57:29,680 Speaker 1: Under President Trump, attempted illegal border crossings are at the 1174 00:57:29,720 --> 00:57:34,400 Speaker 1: lowest levels ever recorded, and over one hundred thousand illegal aliens. 1175 00:57:34,040 --> 00:57:34,880 Speaker 2: Have been arrested. 1176 00:57:35,160 --> 00:57:38,720 Speaker 1: If you are here illegally, your next you will be 1177 00:57:38,760 --> 00:57:42,640 Speaker 1: fined nearly one thousand dollars a day, imprisoned, and deported. 1178 00:57:43,080 --> 00:57:44,280 Speaker 2: You will never return. 1179 00:57:44,600 --> 00:57:47,600 Speaker 1: But if you register using our CBP home app and 1180 00:57:47,720 --> 00:57:50,600 Speaker 1: leave now, you could be allowed to return legally. 1181 00:57:50,960 --> 00:57:53,200 Speaker 2: Do what's right. Leave now. 1182 00:57:53,520 --> 00:57:58,320 Speaker 1: Under President Trump, America's laws, border and families will be protected. 1183 00:57:58,400 --> 00:58:00,520 Speaker 3: Sponsored by the United States Department of Home Insecurity,