1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: At both the beginning and end of the day. This 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: podcast is about helping you find your way as a 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: black person to wealth, generation of wealth, in fact, wealth 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,800 Speaker 1: that allows you to employ people, acquire assets, leave inheritances, 5 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 1: and liberal phenomenal life yourself. And we can't have a 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:24,439 Speaker 1: conversation about wealth in the black community without highlighting how 7 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: black women build it. As there's nuance it's different for 8 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: Black people to build wealth and it is for white people, 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 1: and it's different for Black women than it often is 10 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:37,919 Speaker 1: for black men. So today's conversation is one between more 11 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,480 Speaker 1: and the bond who see your at Bravity And she's 12 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: talking with Samantha Tweeting, the Black Economic Alliance Foundation, the 13 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: coalition of black leaders and aligned advocates who are committed 14 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:51,880 Speaker 1: to economic progress and prosperity in the Black community, and 15 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: the Trevia Smith Wilson, chief Marketing Equity Officer at Horizon Media, 16 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: which is the largest US media agency. Let's listen to 17 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: this conversation. So this is Samantha Tweetie um that she 18 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 1: is the first president of the b A Foundation. So 19 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: I'm gonna let you explain a little bit about b 20 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: A and b A Foundation so people know what's going on. Well, First, 21 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: thank you Morgan, thank you, Apporte, thank you, beautiful room. 22 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: It's so good to be here with you all today. 23 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 1: The Black Economic Alliance Foundation is focused on building generational 24 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 1: wealth for the Black community at large. We do it 25 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: through policy work, we do it through partnerships that cross 26 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 1: public private sectors. And what we're trying to do is 27 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: flip the infrastructure. We're all living within the current economic 28 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 1: infrastructure of this country that as we all know, has 29 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: been set up since the beginning to leave us behind. 30 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: And that's the most play way that I can talk 31 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: about it. And so what we're trying to do at 32 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: the b A Foundation is to figure out how we 33 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: build a new economic infrastructure, one that PRIORITIS has is 34 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: building black wealth. Amen, we can get a clap for 35 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: at you don't have to be shy. And next I 36 00:02:04,640 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 1: have lab Triette Smith Wilson Welcome, good to see you, 37 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: Thank you, and please introduce yourself. I am Latreviette Smith Wilson. 38 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: I am currently Chief Marketing and Equity Officer at Horizon Media, 39 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: which is the largest US media agency and the largest 40 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 1: independent in the world. So helping marketers drive business outcomes. 41 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: If you are familiar with media agencies and what they 42 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: do that is horizon. UM and I am in what 43 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 1: is an industry first role that is focused on bringing 44 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: and putting d E and I at the core of 45 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: the business. So rather than sitting it in HR as 46 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: it has historically set as an enterprise function, it is 47 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 1: in the marketing function under me, so that we can 48 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: actually show how it's driving business outcomes. So powerful, these 49 00:02:55,400 --> 00:03:00,799 Speaker 1: are two powerhouses right here. So for before we get 50 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: into it all and we're gonna talk about wealth, we're 51 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: going to talk about our own career journeys because we 52 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:09,560 Speaker 1: both have had quite the careers before your current roles today. UM, 53 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 1: what were your biggest takeaways from that incredible conversation with Ursula? 54 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,000 Speaker 1: There were so many, but what Yeah, what's sticking with 55 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,000 Speaker 1: me is basically, you can do what you want. You 56 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: can show up, you can sit at any table, and 57 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 1: you can do it in the way you want to. 58 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: But don't call yourself a black director, don't call yourself 59 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: a black CEO, don't call yourself a black foundation leader 60 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: if you're not about it for our people. And I 61 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 1: think that was so strong because it just gave all 62 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:41,000 Speaker 1: of us permission and in different times, in different spaces 63 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: to do different things, but also to note if you're 64 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: claiming it, then you have to be bringing the rest 65 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 1: of us along with you. That's right. We are at Blavity. 66 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: When we were first starting the company and we were 67 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 1: building out our team, we had this metric that we said, 68 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: is this person about it? About it? That was what 69 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 1: we said. You know, we've been sitting in a room. 70 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: We'll be like, Okay, they have the technical skills, yes, 71 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,880 Speaker 1: the chrismatic, can they leave people, etcetera, etcetera. And I'm like, okay, 72 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: but are they gonna be about it about it at 73 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 1: the end of the day. And some people were not 74 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: and they did not get the job. You know, that 75 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 1: X factor was really important that you were going to 76 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: bring other people with you along the way and that 77 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: you were motivated by that because we knew that this 78 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: job was a privilege. You know, the work that we 79 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,240 Speaker 1: all do is a privilege, and it's our responsibility to 80 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:28,720 Speaker 1: bring people with us to who much has given much 81 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: is required. That's it And that's one of the things 82 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,400 Speaker 1: I loved most And just how always shows up right. 83 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: She called it like I'm real right, but there's there's 84 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 1: something to that, and and she even said, you know, 85 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: if this is not you, don't try to be me, right. 86 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: So I think so often we we feel as though 87 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 1: we have to assume other personalities right to succeed, or 88 00:04:52,600 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: we say, okay, this is how this person did it, 89 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: and that has to be the recipe, right, that has 90 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: to be the map to get there. And really the 91 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: map to get there is what you saw sitting in 92 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: the seat when she said, if this doesn't work for you, 93 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: don't do it right, just be you. When there's something 94 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: in that that is so you know, we hear all 95 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 1: the time authenticity, authenticity, authenticity. Okay, what does it really mean? 96 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: In a world right where we're told right, we're pushed 97 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: often to be something else. And I think that was 98 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: just one of my biggest I was like, yes, please, 99 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 1: can we get more of that? It is be you. 100 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: You don't have to be Ursula, you don't have to 101 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: be La Tribe yet. You don't have to be Samantha, 102 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,080 Speaker 1: you don't have to be Morgan, be you, and and 103 00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 1: I promise you it'll be more than enough. Absolutely. So 104 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,400 Speaker 1: let's start with wealth. This is a conversation about um 105 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: black women not being rich but being wealthy. What does 106 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:55,240 Speaker 1: wealth mean to both of you? I'm sure it's financial security, 107 00:05:55,720 --> 00:06:02,080 Speaker 1: it's generational wealth. It is the ability to wake up 108 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:04,240 Speaker 1: in the morning and to do what we want to 109 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: do and not what we have to do right, um 110 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:13,480 Speaker 1: and and for me, the generational wealth pieces is the 111 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 1: biggest That's what I'm working for right now. Right. It 112 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: has so little to do with the individual sitting here 113 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: or the immediacy of oh oh I can know m. 114 00:06:26,760 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: My thinking is real different now, um and I wish 115 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: I had the benefit of the knowledge that I have 116 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: now in my mid twenties versus my late forties, right, 117 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:46,840 Speaker 1: and so having the opportunity and the benefit to hear 118 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: from people like us and so many more who are 119 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: awakened right to what it really means, to to why 120 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: we have had the plight that we have had, and 121 00:06:57,279 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: what we have to do to change it going forward 122 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 1: to ensure rich means nothing right. Wealth is the goal, 123 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: So yes, all of it. I think for me, it's 124 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,240 Speaker 1: really about that agency piece. It is the agency to 125 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: do what you and your family need and want. And 126 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: I think one of the biggest problems is that still 127 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: when folks think about wealth and let's be real. Particularly 128 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:30,000 Speaker 1: when they think about black wealth, black women wealth, they're 129 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: thinking about vacation houses, right, They're thinking about fancy cars, 130 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,240 Speaker 1: And when it comes to our community, they're thinking about 131 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 1: things that they don't think are good. And so long 132 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 1: as we allow that to stay as the definition of wealth, 133 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: we're just going to be adding to the uphill battle 134 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 1: that we're fighting. We need to be really clear when 135 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: we talk about wealth. We're talking and it's simplest terms 136 00:07:53,960 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: about owning more than you owe. How can that be 137 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: something that's still is the exception instead of the rule 138 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: for any community in this country in how can that 139 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:11,760 Speaker 1: be the case? So I think a part of this 140 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: is in our conversations with each other, because even there 141 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: is necessary. But certainly anytime we're talking to anybody who 142 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: has the influence and the power to make systemic change, 143 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: what we have to be saying is, let me spend 144 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: twenty seconds on what I mean by wealth. Right, It's 145 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: being able to buy at home and pass it on 146 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,800 Speaker 1: to your kids. Right, Maybe start a business where you 147 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: can hire folks from your community, pay them well. And 148 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: let's just not pause when we say wealth, because we 149 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: know the pictures that are in folks heads when we 150 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:45,560 Speaker 1: do that, especially when we talk about it for us, 151 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: and we need to change those pictures if we're going 152 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 1: to change the way that people are prioritizing generational wealth 153 00:08:52,559 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: building and what is right for our community. Absolutely, okay, 154 00:08:57,760 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: So walk us through your career and the work that 155 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: you've done to get to where you are at b 156 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: a foundation. So I'm going to just make a bunch 157 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: of assumption assumptions here, But I would assume that, like 158 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: many of you, you know, in my house, education was 159 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 1: it and it wasn't just it for us. I mean, 160 00:09:14,120 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 1: that was the legacy of our family. My grandmother left 161 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 1: home and put herself through college when she was sixteen, 162 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: went on to get married, have five kids, raised those kids, 163 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:26,120 Speaker 1: and then go back to law school, and then spend 164 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,480 Speaker 1: her legal career litigating to make the school system in 165 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: Philadelphia more just right for kids who look like us. 166 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 1: And so it just was the expectation and such. It 167 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: was so rooted in all of us that education was 168 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: path to liberation and freedom for black folks. And I 169 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: spent much of my career fighting for that, you know. 170 00:09:47,280 --> 00:09:49,839 Speaker 1: I went off and went to law school and litigated 171 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: to make the school system more fair I opened a school, 172 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:56,199 Speaker 1: all girls school. I became an executive, you know, at 173 00:09:56,240 --> 00:10:00,040 Speaker 1: a big organization that was building school serving kids. It 174 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: is from the lowest income communities across the Northeast who 175 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:06,560 Speaker 1: were graduating from four year colleges right at rates that 176 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:09,360 Speaker 1: were as high as kids from the highest income households 177 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: across the country. But the data kept slapping me in 178 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: the face, because what the data tells us is that 179 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 1: to date, right our average black college graduates are earning 180 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:24,599 Speaker 1: less and amassing less wealth than our average white Americans 181 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: who dropped out of high school. So something is wrong 182 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: in how we are approaching fixing the problem. And it's 183 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: not just about what we earn and about how much 184 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 1: wealth we have. It's about every aspect of our well being, 185 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:43,679 Speaker 1: in our livelihoods. Right in the city we're in right now, 186 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: one of the wealthiest in the country. Black women eight 187 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:50,599 Speaker 1: times more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy 188 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: related causes than white women. But again same trend. Black 189 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: women who have graduated from college more likely to die 190 00:11:00,760 --> 00:11:03,800 Speaker 1: than white women or women of any race who have 191 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 1: not graduated from high school. So what that says to 192 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: me is we can't keep expecting to educate our way 193 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: out of this. All right, it won't work. It won't work. 194 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:20,439 Speaker 1: That's a tough reality for many of us, it is, 195 00:11:20,679 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: and so Black Economic Alliance Foundation, what we're trying to 196 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: do is say, you got to be laser focused on 197 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: asking the question around wealth building. You can't look at 198 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: all the other pieces and expect it to get us there, 199 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: because with the data tells us is that if you 200 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:36,920 Speaker 1: apply a solution across everyone in this country, it's going 201 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: to keep leaving us behind. Also though, and this is 202 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: the harder part. I gotta be honest. I got a 203 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:44,400 Speaker 1: six year old daughter named Stokely, I got a three 204 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: and a half son named Ever. Guess what what do 205 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:50,480 Speaker 1: I clap for them for their school work? Right? What 206 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 1: do I talk to them about college? Right? It is 207 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 1: so ingrained in us that that is how we as 208 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 1: individuals and we as a community you're gonna thrive. And 209 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:01,040 Speaker 1: so what I'm trying to also do is figure out, 210 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:03,840 Speaker 1: as a mama, how do I change that for my 211 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: kids so they see the world and have that leg 212 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: up to know that that can't be It's necessary, but 213 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: it's not sufficient. How did they know that from the start? 214 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: Mm hmmm, Well, we can come back to that. That 215 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 1: was a lot. Vitrio. Well, no, I wanted because you 216 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,640 Speaker 1: are from the on the private side, right, and I 217 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 1: think that your career, um, you know, you've advocated for 218 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: black women consistently through your career sun Dial and as ventures, 219 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: and so walk us through your career choices as well. Absolutely. 220 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:40,960 Speaker 1: Um So I always say that if someone in any time, 221 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:42,559 Speaker 1: I'm asked, you know, how did you get here? I 222 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: did not have a roadmap, right, There was nothing that 223 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,240 Speaker 1: said I'm going to make this choice and this choice 224 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: and this choice to get here. What I've always done 225 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:59,040 Speaker 1: is follow my purpose first and then my passion. Right. 226 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:03,640 Speaker 1: So I actually started my career in journalism, and in 227 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:07,000 Speaker 1: the late nineties when this noble profession that I thought 228 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: was there to serve others and tell the stories of 229 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: those untold, right, was really about sensationalism and sweeps and 230 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 1: everything that I was seeing in the news room at 231 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: the time, I just decided, I have to be able 232 00:13:19,640 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 1: to look at myself in the mirror when I wake 233 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 1: up in the morning and I'm not feeling this, right, 234 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 1: So what is it? What's next for me? And I said, Okay, 235 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:32,880 Speaker 1: there's a skill set that I have right strategists, communicator, 236 00:13:33,480 --> 00:13:37,280 Speaker 1: maybe I'll try this agency pr thing, and I thought 237 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: I'd be back in the newsroom in six months because 238 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: there is nothing about me that was appealing to go 239 00:13:42,640 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: to a nine to five right, So not necessarily an entrepreneur, 240 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 1: but always had quite the entrepreneurial spirit and joined an 241 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 1: agency that thankfully also was rooted in entrepreneurialism. It was 242 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: the largest private agency, it's actually the largest our agency 243 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: now in the world, and I was able to follow 244 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 1: my purpose and my passion there right. So it was 245 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: in corporate for a while. Then I built up what 246 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 1: they were then calling the Diversity Solutions multicultural practice. But 247 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: for me, it was always about how do I use 248 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 1: what I have to serve the community that I love, 249 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: and that's really the place in the center in which 250 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: I sit. UM went on heading Global Diversity and Inclusion 251 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: for American Express. Um father passed, decided I was taking 252 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 1: a sabbatical, started a consulting company, did that for a 253 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: couple of years, and then joined friends of mine at 254 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 1: Sundial Brands if you're familiar also the makers of Shame moisture, 255 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: and I joined about six months before we did our 256 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: first p deal and that was bringing Bain on in 257 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen. UM from that continue to grow the company scale, 258 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 1: expand Africa Nigeria. We were kind of the growth of 259 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 1: that company in five four years was phenomenal. A lot 260 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: of you know the story UM, but what was it 261 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:17,480 Speaker 1: that drove us right? That was the story of when 262 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: you are serving and of service and building community, right, 263 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:26,640 Speaker 1: you you can sell any we were making soap, in lotion, 264 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: in shampoo, in conditioner, right, but there's this amazing community 265 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: of people that we were in service to who rallied 266 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:41,000 Speaker 1: around us, right, and so everything from you know, UM 267 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:45,280 Speaker 1: co ops in in Ghana who you know through the 268 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: work that we were doing with them and producing the shape, 269 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: but are we're able to to start their own micro 270 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 1: lending right within their communities, to bring running water in, 271 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: to send you know, an education right for their girls, 272 00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 1: to all of these things. But it was rooted, right, 273 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,240 Speaker 1: if you see a threat, it's rooted in passion and 274 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:07,200 Speaker 1: in purpose. And so following the seal of of sund 275 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 1: Out to Uni Leaver, we started another company called Essence Ventures, 276 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: used that to acquire Essence UM and I spent the 277 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: last four years helping to stand essence Again, this is 278 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: about community, right, This is about serving us. This is 279 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 1: what is the content that we need? It's not just 280 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 1: the products that we need. What is it that we 281 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: need as a community to be feel okay? Right, and 282 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:34,760 Speaker 1: not just to survive, but but to thrive. And so 283 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,960 Speaker 1: that is what I have spent my career, in all 284 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: of its various iterations doing because that is my my center, right, 285 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 1: that is the place and every decision that I make. 286 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: Can I really make impact? Here's impact and its people 287 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:54,040 Speaker 1: And it's especially that at this point, right, Like, if 288 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: I can't make impact and it's not with people who 289 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 1: I believe believe in what I'm doing, I'm not interested. 290 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: Fast forward to Horizon right, very different um than Sundial 291 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: in essence and essence ventures, but with people who I 292 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:14,680 Speaker 1: believe believe in what I'm doing and who are going 293 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: to allow me to take the fullness of what my 294 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:22,679 Speaker 1: experience has been to impact, right, not just their agency 295 00:17:23,000 --> 00:17:25,920 Speaker 1: but an industry. How do you feel like you had 296 00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: to convince people that it was important for your role 297 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,040 Speaker 1: to exist because the role didn't necessarily exist before you 298 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 1: were there. No, So they were separately looking for CMO 299 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 1: and a cdo and they had called me about the 300 00:17:37,680 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 1: CMO role and after learning about my background, said you know, hey, 301 00:17:41,119 --> 00:17:43,160 Speaker 1: are you interested in the CDO role? And I told 302 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:47,199 Speaker 1: them no. And I said no because you know, we 303 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 1: always say the definition of insanity is doing the same 304 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: thing over and over and expecting a different result. And 305 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:55,199 Speaker 1: I said, if you look at the trajectory of of 306 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:59,120 Speaker 1: D and I, over the last thirty years, companies right 307 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: have been doing the same thing right and then question 308 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: why there's not the return that they thought or why 309 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 1: this didn't happen and stuff. Then it becomes a failure 310 00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: and so there's less investment in there versus saying, maybe 311 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:16,360 Speaker 1: we're just going about this the wrong way, right. And 312 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 1: so I wrote a whole kind of um uh, my 313 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: hypothesis on what it should be and what the role 314 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 1: should be, and I really I was like, I think 315 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: I probably just stalked myself out of a job. Uh. 316 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: And I was okay with it though, because again, I 317 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: only want to be someplace where I feel I can 318 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: make the impact. And they came back and they were like, 319 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:41,439 Speaker 1: if you are willing to do what we are willing 320 00:18:41,560 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: to do it with you, Oh wow, that's beautiful. I 321 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 1: want to talk a little bit about passion and purpose. 322 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:49,320 Speaker 1: You know, many of us, you know, we all went 323 00:18:49,359 --> 00:18:52,119 Speaker 1: through a pandemic. Um for a lot of us, we 324 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: probably thought more and more about the work that we 325 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,520 Speaker 1: do because of that. And um, how many of you 326 00:18:57,560 --> 00:19:02,119 Speaker 1: all switched jobs sometime in the last two years. Yeah, 327 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: keep your hand up if it was because you wanted 328 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: to feel more connected to the work that you did 329 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:13,600 Speaker 1: every day and get paid more. Right. Also that I 330 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 1: cannot raise my hand, but I wanted to say that 331 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:21,520 Speaker 1: because I think that a lot of us, especially Black women, 332 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: we want to feel good about the work that we 333 00:19:23,880 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: do every single day. It's not just about having a 334 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,119 Speaker 1: job and collecting the check and then going home. Every day. 335 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:33,119 Speaker 1: We throw our hearts into it. And so I wanted 336 00:19:33,119 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 1: you to share some advice with those women in the 337 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: room who are in their early thirties who are balancing 338 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: a lot, maybe some life decisions, some family decisions, um, 339 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:46,680 Speaker 1: and also still are very committed to living their life 340 00:19:46,720 --> 00:19:48,919 Speaker 1: and purpose in the work that they do every single day. 341 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,840 Speaker 1: What advice would you share to her? So, I think 342 00:19:53,040 --> 00:19:55,439 Speaker 1: one of the things that we have the opportunity to 343 00:19:55,560 --> 00:20:00,119 Speaker 1: do in this moment is to redefine some of the 344 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: pieces that we have been forced to run away from. So, 345 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:09,760 Speaker 1: for example, this idea of being strong right in so 346 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: many places that has been used to malign us. But 347 00:20:15,960 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: let me tell you now, I am committed to when 348 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: my daughter is our age, Yes, I'm I'm taking the 349 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 1: hour on this our age right, that she's not running 350 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 1: away from strong black woman because strength is power, it's beauty, right. 351 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:35,479 Speaker 1: And so in this moment, what I'm thinking a lot about, 352 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,880 Speaker 1: and hope we're all thinking about, is there was this 353 00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,679 Speaker 1: you know, there was this crack. COVID brought the country 354 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:45,199 Speaker 1: to its knees, right, COVID brought the Black community doubly 355 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 1: to our knees. Right. COVID just crushed black businesses. But 356 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: are other folks in here from Bedstide living in bedste right, 357 00:20:56,040 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: Tompkins Avenue, Tompkins Avenue in Bedsta right, Okay. As the 358 00:21:01,680 --> 00:21:05,960 Speaker 1: community has gentrified, Tompkins Avenue has continued to flourish as 359 00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: this gorgeous, vibrant right business community led by black people, 360 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 1: led by black women. What happened in when COVID wiped 361 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: out of black businesses by April, the women right, the 362 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:29,680 Speaker 1: black women of Tompkins Avenue banded together, work collectively, called 363 00:21:29,680 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: each other and said, here's how you get those loans, 364 00:21:32,400 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: coached one another through the loans, helped each other figure 365 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 1: out how to change their businesses. Oh, you make clothes, 366 00:21:37,240 --> 00:21:39,959 Speaker 1: let's talk about making masks. We gotta figure out how 367 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:43,840 Speaker 1: to be outside. Let's get creative about outdoor seating. Right 368 00:21:43,960 --> 00:21:48,440 Speaker 1: and fast forward. Now, Tompkins Avenue is thriving. Now if 369 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: we think about that and what it means for each 370 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:53,679 Speaker 1: of us, look at the data and look at what 371 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:58,200 Speaker 1: people think women behave act, work at home, at play, 372 00:21:58,240 --> 00:22:02,480 Speaker 1: more collaboratively in our at a collaboration is seen as weak. Right, 373 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:05,359 Speaker 1: it's go at it alone, right, be at the front 374 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: of the pack, be the one individual who came up 375 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: with the idea, right, which so often is associated with 376 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 1: men and is more male behavior. Data shows right, that's 377 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,800 Speaker 1: seen its strength. What is Tompkin happens Tompkins Avenue prove? Right? 378 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 1: Is there a stronger definition of strength than what happened there? 379 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:26,120 Speaker 1: And so, just as we're all moving into new jobs, 380 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,520 Speaker 1: or new roles within jobs, or just new ways of 381 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: thinking ourselves in the work, I would just push all 382 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 1: of us to think about how instead of needing to 383 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 1: run away from some of those things. We can lean 384 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:39,320 Speaker 1: into redefining it, but we have to do it together. 385 00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: So when after this there's like a happy hour and 386 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: a DJ right, okay, so right, we know people are 387 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:47,240 Speaker 1: gonna ask who are you? To each other? Wait, we're 388 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: gonna go, We're gonna ask what do you do? Right? 389 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:51,680 Speaker 1: We know, especially post COVID, a lot of us ask 390 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:56,000 Speaker 1: how are you? Let's all also ask what do you need? Yes, 391 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: and let me tell you what I need? How can 392 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 1: I and how can you help me? And let's not 393 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 1: see that as anything other than strength. That is not weakness, 394 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: That is strength. Beautiful. So in my early thirties, what 395 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: I wish someone had stressed for me was self care, 396 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: and I just I have this thing now, right. I 397 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 1: actually repeat it to myself almost on a daily basis. 398 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,200 Speaker 1: Self care is not selfish, right, It's just in my head. 399 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 1: Self care is not selfish. Self care is not selfish. 400 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:39,959 Speaker 1: Self care does not mean that I'm going, you know, 401 00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:44,200 Speaker 1: any less hard. It doesn't mean that I'm any less committed. 402 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:47,440 Speaker 1: But there is as hard as we go and as 403 00:23:47,520 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: much as we pour right into other things and other 404 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,919 Speaker 1: people and even the goals that we are striving for 405 00:23:55,680 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: it's so critical to maintain your center. It's so critical, 406 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: um because it's so easy to lose, and it's so 407 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: easy to get off balance, right, and you can't be 408 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 1: your best, and you can't show up in the way 409 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 1: that it is that you want to show up, in 410 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:18,160 Speaker 1: the way that it is that you need to show 411 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:22,640 Speaker 1: up to win. And often it becomes the last thing. 412 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 1: Right again, Black women, that's what we do right for 413 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 1: ourselves last, And somehow it's a badge of honor. It's not, 414 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:35,199 Speaker 1: it's not, it's not. I wish someone had told me 415 00:24:35,240 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 1: that fifteen years ago, right, ecstatic at this point that 416 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:44,439 Speaker 1: I learned it, because now that I have, there's no 417 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 1: going back, right. But I think that is critical. And 418 00:24:48,560 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: the other part would probably be that you have a vision, right, 419 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 1: whatever it is, whether it's your founder, CEO, whether it's 420 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:01,040 Speaker 1: your leadership at another company, what effort If you have 421 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 1: a vision, and it's okay if other people can't see 422 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:12,200 Speaker 1: your vision, even our families, right, Like I'm as close 423 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:14,919 Speaker 1: as they come. Like my family we ride or die, like, 424 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:19,280 Speaker 1: we go hard for each other. But it's okay that 425 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 1: all of them don't understand my vision. Even sometimes my husband. 426 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:25,119 Speaker 1: I will be like hey, I and he's like, but 427 00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:28,160 Speaker 1: I don't understand, Like this is good, And I'm like, yeah, 428 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:30,480 Speaker 1: this is good. But the vision, right, if you think 429 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: this is good? Way to use the vision? Right? And 430 00:25:33,320 --> 00:25:35,040 Speaker 1: if I thought for a time I was like, there's 431 00:25:35,080 --> 00:25:37,159 Speaker 1: something wrong with me? Like am I just asking for 432 00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:39,840 Speaker 1: too much? Like? Is it? Am I just not you know, 433 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:45,720 Speaker 1: I consider myself a grateful person, right, I live in gratitude. 434 00:25:46,359 --> 00:25:49,199 Speaker 1: But am I just not satisfy them? That's not it? 435 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 1: Because the vision that God gave me, he's not given 436 00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:54,159 Speaker 1: to anybody else. And I'm okay with that, So be 437 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:57,120 Speaker 1: good with the vision that He gave you. We get 438 00:25:57,119 --> 00:26:02,399 Speaker 1: a hand clos So I'm looking at the clock and 439 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:04,560 Speaker 1: it says one minute left. So and I didn't go 440 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 1: to any of my questions. Um, so I'm gonna do 441 00:26:07,680 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 1: the last question on my card and then we're gonna 442 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:15,000 Speaker 1: open up to questions from you all. So what do 443 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 1: you want to see in the next ten years in 444 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: terms of changes in black women's wealth and health and 445 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 1: financial empowerment? So as a starting place, we need to 446 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 1: be at a point where the investment matches the talent, 447 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:37,960 Speaker 1: drive excellence of black women. Right, We're we're coming out 448 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:42,080 Speaker 1: of COVID and black business ownership thirty percent higher than 449 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:45,960 Speaker 1: pre pandemic rates, led by black women. New study out 450 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 1: this week. Point four percent. Let's pausive. That's less than 451 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,159 Speaker 1: half of a percent, right, A venture capital investment in 452 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:59,199 Speaker 1: when everyone was russiing to support black folks, less than 453 00:26:59,240 --> 00:27:04,359 Speaker 1: half a percent went to black women. Yes, so it's 454 00:27:04,400 --> 00:27:08,200 Speaker 1: not surprising at all. It's also something we need to 455 00:27:08,240 --> 00:27:10,520 Speaker 1: say out loud and to think about because we are 456 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:13,920 Speaker 1: in post times and that is what the data tells us. 457 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 1: We have to flip the entire infrastructure. We have to 458 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 1: say that we are going to talk explicitly and directly 459 00:27:22,800 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: about wealth when we are talking about anything that we 460 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:28,119 Speaker 1: need to change in this society, and we have to 461 00:27:28,160 --> 00:27:31,440 Speaker 1: match the investment with the talent. The one thing I 462 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: want to say, because I know is our last question is, 463 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: you know, basically the real answer should just be Whateversla 464 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:38,040 Speaker 1: Burns would do, That's what we all should do, and 465 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 1: like that's let's be clear, but we also need to 466 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:45,360 Speaker 1: recognize it's hard. Like we're all sitting in here right 467 00:27:45,359 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: saying be yourself, purpose, self care, right, balance, come in 468 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:54,400 Speaker 1: take others with you, right, bringing you be a boat 469 00:27:54,440 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 1: about it, right, bring the multiplier effects, and none of 470 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:00,159 Speaker 1: us can pretend that that's not hard. And to what 471 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: I carry with me. My grandfather he was in World 472 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:06,560 Speaker 1: War two. He went and he enlisted. Like he he 473 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:10,320 Speaker 1: went from running sit ins at the Walgreens counter when 474 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:14,480 Speaker 1: he was in Springfield, Illinois, twenty years old, right to 475 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:18,719 Speaker 1: war because he believed in this country. Now. He was 476 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,399 Speaker 1: one of those warriors who's going in and fighting with 477 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 1: the double V right in his pocket, the double V 478 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:26,159 Speaker 1: that said we're gonna be victorious abroad and warri are 479 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:29,640 Speaker 1: going to be victorious in beating racial terror at home. 480 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:32,639 Speaker 1: He got wounded in Italy. He went to the hospital, 481 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 1: he saw they had a blood drive. He tried to 482 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 1: give blood to contribute, and they would not take his blood, 483 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:43,000 Speaker 1: not because he was sick, not because he had been, 484 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: you know, out in the battlefield, because he was black. Now, 485 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: the only remarkable thing about that story is what he 486 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 1: would say when he told it to us. He would 487 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:55,560 Speaker 1: say that and list a host of other stories quite similar, 488 00:28:55,560 --> 00:29:00,840 Speaker 1: and he'd say, that's what made my resolve stronger. And 489 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:02,640 Speaker 1: I think we have to remember that we are in 490 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:05,040 Speaker 1: this new place, in this moment in time, and we 491 00:29:05,120 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: need to embrace hashtag what would Ursula Burns do? Right, 492 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 1: But we also can't pretend that it's not hard, and 493 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,000 Speaker 1: we have to be able to have those conversations with 494 00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:17,240 Speaker 1: our community and with each other about yes, that happened 495 00:29:17,240 --> 00:29:20,560 Speaker 1: to you. Yes he said that, Yes she did that. 496 00:29:21,000 --> 00:29:23,040 Speaker 1: Yes I saw their face that you were right, and 497 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:25,480 Speaker 1: how you read that. It needs to still make our 498 00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 1: resolves stronger. Yeah, I think for me over the next 499 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:40,560 Speaker 1: ten years, right, I could offer, um, you know, some 500 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 1: grandiose you know, into racism, right, all of these things, right. Um, 501 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:55,479 Speaker 1: What I hope to see in Earnest is us step 502 00:29:55,520 --> 00:30:01,840 Speaker 1: into our power as we never have. Something happened in 503 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:05,920 Speaker 1: a lot of things happen in right. But I really 504 00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:08,880 Speaker 1: believe there there was a shift, or at least I 505 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: cannot not believe right that a shift didn't happen. Isn't happening. Um, 506 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:19,479 Speaker 1: I keep saying that we can't go through the things 507 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: that we've been through and come out the same, and 508 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:27,600 Speaker 1: we shouldn't. Right for us, what I'm hoping that means 509 00:30:27,880 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 1: is a recognition and realization not only of our power 510 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:37,720 Speaker 1: but of our value. Right, because it really does start there, 511 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: um and how we truly do have to lock arms 512 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: literally and figuratively, right, because sometimes it's just locking arms 513 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: to keep each other, you know, held up and standing. 514 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 1: Other times it's using the resources that I have to 515 00:30:56,640 --> 00:30:59,120 Speaker 1: put you onto whatever it is that you want to do. 516 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:04,800 Speaker 1: But there is is there is a palpable power that 517 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:08,960 Speaker 1: we have in that collaboration that we don't see as 518 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:12,000 Speaker 1: much in our community as right because again, you know, 519 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 1: we all know the history because it's the competition we 520 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 1: bring each other down. Um that collaboration. There's something there, 521 00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:23,320 Speaker 1: the spirit of it. There's a something there that I 522 00:31:23,440 --> 00:31:28,000 Speaker 1: believe if we just if we nourish it right, if 523 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: we nurture it, what we will see happen in business 524 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:35,760 Speaker 1: in our communities and what this generational wealth actually looks 525 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:39,600 Speaker 1: like and being able to begin to experience in mass 526 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 1: that's what will change for us in our communities. Beautiful. 527 00:31:45,480 --> 00:31:52,280 Speaker 1: I love these visions for us. All Right, We have 528 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:56,560 Speaker 1: some questions. Do I see ouh, Mike? Maybe I'll give 529 00:31:56,600 --> 00:32:13,520 Speaker 1: my Mike will has got me? Hello, ladies. My name 530 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:16,640 Speaker 1: is Monica Monique, and I'm a fashion designer and I've 531 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,440 Speaker 1: been in the retail industry for about seventeen years, on 532 00:32:19,600 --> 00:32:22,120 Speaker 1: my brand for fourteen years, and had my clothing store 533 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:24,920 Speaker 1: for seven years. In the pandemic, just like you said, 534 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:28,880 Speaker 1: I kind of my specialty was evening where gowns, weddings, 535 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:36,440 Speaker 1: specialty suits, all those things. Though, see you I need 536 00:32:36,480 --> 00:32:40,400 Speaker 1: one bus. We're lucky, so you know I needed a 537 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:44,320 Speaker 1: Ladybugs suit. Um. But yeah, So in the pandemic, I 538 00:32:44,360 --> 00:32:47,640 Speaker 1: had to pivot and I started developing an app where 539 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:50,880 Speaker 1: it's basically like door Dash but for retail stores, where 540 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:53,400 Speaker 1: it's called shop Mo and Mo's about M A U 541 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 1: X and basically you find local retail stories through the app. 542 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:00,120 Speaker 1: You shopped their collection and get it delivered or or 543 00:33:00,160 --> 00:33:03,680 Speaker 1: you can pick up and and we're launched in this summer. 544 00:33:04,360 --> 00:33:07,440 Speaker 1: But the difficulty I'm having with investors is them saying 545 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:10,719 Speaker 1: it's too soon for me to invest in the amount 546 00:33:10,720 --> 00:33:14,760 Speaker 1: of money that I'm asking for or valuing my company 547 00:33:15,120 --> 00:33:18,400 Speaker 1: or the concept with the amount of money that I 548 00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,880 Speaker 1: feel like I would need to compete with the other company. 549 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:25,920 Speaker 1: How much are you raising? I want to raise five thousand. Oh, 550 00:33:25,960 --> 00:33:27,720 Speaker 1: that's not too much, And I don't feel like that's 551 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 1: too much. I don't know, like that's too much. But 552 00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:36,240 Speaker 1: a lot of the people that I'm speaking to are saying, like, oh, well, 553 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:38,680 Speaker 1: this is your first tech tech company, even though retail 554 00:33:38,760 --> 00:33:41,160 Speaker 1: is what I've been doing for a long time. How 555 00:33:41,160 --> 00:33:44,600 Speaker 1: do I secure and ask for the investment that I 556 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:47,760 Speaker 1: feel I need to actually give myself some leeway to succeed. 557 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:53,800 Speaker 1: So I have this conversation with every single person in 558 00:33:53,800 --> 00:33:56,640 Speaker 1: this room. Seriously, this is where it starts. Right, Look, 559 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:58,959 Speaker 1: we know the problem. The problem is that we all 560 00:33:59,000 --> 00:34:02,680 Speaker 1: are expected to raise end some family money because venture capitalists, 561 00:34:02,680 --> 00:34:05,400 Speaker 1: despite the fact that risky investments is the whole name 562 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: of their game, right, they look at this room and 563 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:10,319 Speaker 1: they say, oh, that's too much risk, right. And then 564 00:34:10,360 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 1: we also know that we are just barred in so 565 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:15,480 Speaker 1: many ways from traditional commercial lending. Right, So it is 566 00:34:15,520 --> 00:34:17,360 Speaker 1: that it's the burden we bear, right. And then we 567 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:19,560 Speaker 1: don't come from communities of wealth, and so friends and 568 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:21,319 Speaker 1: family money is really hard to raise, right. So that's 569 00:34:21,360 --> 00:34:24,800 Speaker 1: the whole issue. So I'm not saying again it's not easy, 570 00:34:24,880 --> 00:34:27,600 Speaker 1: but you got to say that to every single person here, 571 00:34:27,600 --> 00:34:29,440 Speaker 1: because you saw Morgan's reaction wor It's like, oh, that's 572 00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: not that much money, right, We can get that, We 573 00:34:31,680 --> 00:34:33,959 Speaker 1: can get that done right. But again it goes back 574 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,200 Speaker 1: to we got to ask ask everybody you know. And 575 00:34:36,239 --> 00:34:38,600 Speaker 1: if you see somebody who doesn't look like us who's 576 00:34:38,640 --> 00:34:40,200 Speaker 1: raising all that money, we need to go ask them 577 00:34:40,239 --> 00:34:43,600 Speaker 1: too exactly what those intent secrets are that we aren't 578 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:46,440 Speaker 1: talking about. Right. So my point here is these things 579 00:34:46,560 --> 00:34:49,239 Speaker 1: are hard, they're not impossible. We got to change the 580 00:34:49,239 --> 00:34:51,440 Speaker 1: system so they're no longer hard. But until we do, 581 00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:54,799 Speaker 1: and as we do, this is the room. Walk around. Hi, 582 00:34:54,960 --> 00:34:57,239 Speaker 1: this is who I am. What do you need? Right? 583 00:34:57,560 --> 00:34:59,200 Speaker 1: This is high This is who I am. This is 584 00:34:59,239 --> 00:35:02,160 Speaker 1: what I need. Get the question. Hold on one second. 585 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:04,520 Speaker 1: Will I think we might have some angel investors and 586 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:06,839 Speaker 1: investors in the room. Give me a big hand raise 587 00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:10,959 Speaker 1: if you've an angel invested before in this room. Yeah, 588 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:12,279 Speaker 1: we got a couple of people in the room. There 589 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:16,760 Speaker 1: you go, so we'll start here. Awesome. Um, Hi everyone, 590 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:19,680 Speaker 1: my name is Rebecca Gordon. I'm from Brooklyn, New York, 591 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:23,799 Speaker 1: off of Tompkins Avenue. Saw that story is right for me. Um. 592 00:35:23,840 --> 00:35:27,560 Speaker 1: I actually graduated Northwestern School of Law in the pandemic 593 00:35:27,880 --> 00:35:31,720 Speaker 1: and thank you, cool blood, I got honors, Thank you. 594 00:35:32,200 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 1: I worked for that. UM. But like many people during 595 00:35:36,160 --> 00:35:39,040 Speaker 1: the pandemic, it just shifted the world upside down. So 596 00:35:39,120 --> 00:35:42,240 Speaker 1: I had a whole vision of my graduation, and graduations canceled. 597 00:35:42,560 --> 00:35:44,279 Speaker 1: I was like, wait a second, I'm creative. So I 598 00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:47,320 Speaker 1: designed my whole virtual graduation by myself and did everything 599 00:35:47,360 --> 00:35:50,879 Speaker 1: production and music artists, all that stuff. Um. But one 600 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: thing about law school. They farmed you right into law firms. 601 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:55,560 Speaker 1: Worked at a law firm for two years, made good money, 602 00:35:55,600 --> 00:36:00,160 Speaker 1: but was like eating at my soul, and finally decided to, um, 603 00:36:00,320 --> 00:36:03,680 Speaker 1: just put into my company, which is digital marketing media, 604 00:36:03,760 --> 00:36:07,080 Speaker 1: a brand management in our business, and legal advisement. UM. 605 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:09,680 Speaker 1: So my question to you is for those who are 606 00:36:09,719 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: in seasons of transition and pivoting, what are some of 607 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:15,799 Speaker 1: the markers you consider when you're about to make that 608 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:19,680 Speaker 1: next business move or that next transition. What are the 609 00:36:19,719 --> 00:36:25,520 Speaker 1: markets you're looking for as you're forecasting your next move? Okay, 610 00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:30,239 Speaker 1: that one I'm trying. I'm going through. Um, this is 611 00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:36,120 Speaker 1: gonna sound well, I don't know my gut. I will 612 00:36:36,280 --> 00:36:42,239 Speaker 1: tell you, UM, I know things here oftentimes before I 613 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:45,160 Speaker 1: know them here. So I'm gonna start there right Because 614 00:36:45,200 --> 00:36:49,440 Speaker 1: sometimes we don't listen to this and we will intellectualize, 615 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:52,880 Speaker 1: rationalize everything, and you know it's what I call paper 616 00:36:52,920 --> 00:36:59,040 Speaker 1: perfect in real life crazy. Right, So this for me 617 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,440 Speaker 1: is where it's arts. And then there's kind of the 618 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:05,960 Speaker 1: analysis right of the things that So it's is this 619 00:37:06,160 --> 00:37:12,160 Speaker 1: getting me closer right to where I want to be? Right? 620 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:15,680 Speaker 1: So for me, my want to be is it's I'm 621 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:19,759 Speaker 1: of service. I believe that's my purpose. Right. Is this 622 00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:22,560 Speaker 1: brooting you and centering you and your purpose or is 623 00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:27,440 Speaker 1: it taking you from that? Right? If it is, I 624 00:37:27,600 --> 00:37:30,279 Speaker 1: want to be of service to my commute, is this 625 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:33,840 Speaker 1: helping with that? What? And I can't answer that what 626 00:37:34,080 --> 00:37:36,400 Speaker 1: for you? But I'm just saying some of the questions 627 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:40,359 Speaker 1: to ask, um, I'm gonna throw one back at you 628 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:42,399 Speaker 1: really quickly. Do you feel like you know what your 629 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:48,680 Speaker 1: purpose is? Okay, boom? That's it if it's getting you 630 00:37:48,760 --> 00:37:55,399 Speaker 1: closer there? And if it's not. They're always pivots, right, 631 00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:59,399 Speaker 1: we pivot and everything. And in that pivot, I think 632 00:37:59,440 --> 00:38:00,919 Speaker 1: one of the other things I want to make sure 633 00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:05,080 Speaker 1: the stresses. We often sit so long and I don't 634 00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:08,080 Speaker 1: want to make the wrong decision, right, what if I fail? 635 00:38:08,239 --> 00:38:12,000 Speaker 1: What if this? Like it's called we're human? Right, the 636 00:38:12,040 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 1: best of us don't get it right all the time. 637 00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:19,120 Speaker 1: Fail fast, learned, pivot right, but stay centered because whatever 638 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:21,560 Speaker 1: that purpose in that north star that's guiding you, as 639 00:38:21,600 --> 00:38:25,000 Speaker 1: long as you focus on that, I promise you the 640 00:38:25,120 --> 00:38:29,359 Speaker 1: individual steps and pivots they'll fall into place because you're 641 00:38:29,360 --> 00:38:32,120 Speaker 1: looking there and you know that the path. You know 642 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:34,200 Speaker 1: what the path is to get you there. Right. You 643 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:36,400 Speaker 1: might not be able to map it out, but you 644 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:40,799 Speaker 1: do know the steps when they're in front of you. Absolutely. 645 00:38:41,719 --> 00:38:48,080 Speaker 1: Next question right here, this is our last question. Hello, greetings, um, 646 00:38:48,120 --> 00:38:52,879 Speaker 1: Siva Morrigan And before I say anything else, I would 647 00:38:52,920 --> 00:38:55,479 Speaker 1: like to thank you sisters. But what do you guys 648 00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:59,759 Speaker 1: are doing right now? Um? I really wasn't sure if 649 00:38:59,800 --> 00:39:03,520 Speaker 1: I should attend AFRO Tech or not because I was 650 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:08,720 Speaker 1: separating from the corporate world. Um. I'm currently a sales 651 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:13,320 Speaker 1: force developer for a Healthy, Healthy and Health I t UM. 652 00:39:13,360 --> 00:39:17,680 Speaker 1: But I did start my own LLLC Nano Tree LLLC 653 00:39:18,040 --> 00:39:22,879 Speaker 1: as a health coach. My masters is from Georgetown and biophysics, 654 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:30,600 Speaker 1: and I did not want to go the medical route anymore. Latrevia, latrevia, latrevia. 655 00:39:31,120 --> 00:39:34,880 Speaker 1: I see you and I'm very grateful that you're on 656 00:39:34,960 --> 00:39:41,919 Speaker 1: the stage walking in my purpose and finding exactly what 657 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:46,400 Speaker 1: am I supposed to do for the corporate world. And 658 00:39:46,920 --> 00:39:51,480 Speaker 1: that's why I was worried about attending afro Tech conference, 659 00:39:51,719 --> 00:39:57,160 Speaker 1: because I do feel like a lot of black wealth 660 00:39:57,280 --> 00:40:02,279 Speaker 1: and black important people means your corporate and that's I 661 00:40:02,400 --> 00:40:05,640 Speaker 1: want to find a way that I can still be 662 00:40:05,840 --> 00:40:09,880 Speaker 1: impactful to the community very much, very much stay in 663 00:40:09,920 --> 00:40:13,759 Speaker 1: my purpose as a health coach and self care like 664 00:40:13,840 --> 00:40:18,400 Speaker 1: you've mentioned, but I still will like to be find 665 00:40:18,440 --> 00:40:22,680 Speaker 1: a way to be financially stable and make that difference 666 00:40:23,120 --> 00:40:27,640 Speaker 1: if I if it's possible for someone like us to 667 00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:33,680 Speaker 1: still stay in our purpose while in that place beautiful, 668 00:40:35,080 --> 00:40:37,920 Speaker 1: we see you, We see you, and it is possible. 669 00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:42,000 Speaker 1: You have three examples here and so many more in 670 00:40:42,040 --> 00:40:56,000 Speaker 1: this road Ye Black Tech, Green Money is the production 671 00:40:56,040 --> 00:40:59,560 Speaker 1: of Black atiafro Tech, Black Effect Podcast Network and I 672 00:40:59,680 --> 00:41:02,320 Speaker 1: Hurt Media, and it's produced by Morgan Dabon and me 673 00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:07,000 Speaker 1: Will Lucas, with additional productions supported by Love Beata Merissa Lewis. 674 00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:10,839 Speaker 1: Special thank you to Michael Davis, Jermain Hall, ne Van 675 00:41:10,880 --> 00:41:14,080 Speaker 1: neces Serrano. Learn more about my guests and other technics 676 00:41:14,520 --> 00:41:18,360 Speaker 1: innovators at afrotech dot com. Enjoy your black tech, green money. 677 00:41:18,960 --> 00:41:22,400 Speaker 1: It was a five star raping on iTunes. Go get 678 00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:24,560 Speaker 1: your money. He's in love.