Highlight people of color, diverse backgrounds, women & LGBTQ community. Our content will focus on diversity within media, ad tech, advertising and marketing. Providing insights through the lens of minorities.
Kenisha Pough, founder and CEO of Momentum and Co, a marketing and communications agency, discussed her diverse background and career journey. Born in Bermuda, she moved to Ecuador for missionary work and later to England. Her education includes degrees from Bermuda College, Temple University, and DeVry University. Kenisha emphasized the importance of servant leadership and adapting quickly in business. She integrates AI tools like GPT-3, Copy.ai, and Jasper.ai in her work. Kenisha advises aspiring entrepreneurs to approach business with an open mind and to focus on progress over perfection. She enjoys exploring the arts, particularly music, and can be reached via her website, LinkedIn, email, and Instagram. Timestamp: Introduction and Initial Setup 0:07 Kenisha's Background and Early Life 5:20 Transition to Marketing and Business 7:17 Leadership and Personal Insights 11:28 AI in Marketing and Business Growth 14:04 Daily Routine and Personal Interests 16:41 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs 24:01 Final Thoughts and Contact Information 24:15
Chris Contreras, Managing Director of Funding Supreme, discussed his journey from leaving a tech role to founding Funding Supreme, which surpassed $1 million in revenue in its first year. He highlighted the importance of separating personal and business finances, sharing his experience of securing a $40,000 American Express card for his previous venture. Chris emphasized the need for entrepreneurs to understand credit and financial management. He also mentioned the growth of his social following from 16,000 to over 118,000 in 18 months. Funding Supreme focuses on providing capital access to small businesses and plans to expand its services. Timestamp Introduction and Welcome 0:00 Chris Contreras' Journey and Business Ventures 1:06 Challenges and Solutions in Accessing Capital 2:39 Building a Social Following and Content Strategy 9:23 Working with New Founders and Client Relationships 12:19 Future Plans and Business Growth 16:06 Team Dynamics and Personal Life 17:09 Differences Between Executive Roles and Entrepreneurship 19:04 Advice on Managing Finances and Credit 22:26 Closing Remarks and Contact Information 24:26
Chico Bryant and Bill Hampton discussed their collaboration on the documentary "Unpunished," which explores the 2019 murder of Ronald Greene by the Louisiana State Police. The film, produced by Bryant's United Venture Productions, highlights the systemic corruption and cover-up involved. Hampton, who invested in the project, emphasized the need to address police immunity and qualified immunity. The documentary features interviews with Greene's family and the whistleblower, Carl Cavalier. They plan to screen the film at the Kansas City Film Festival on September 29. Bryant also shared his background in the music industry and his current role as a father and CEO. Timestamp Introduction and Podcast Format 0:02 Technical Setup and Introductions 1:42 Chico's Background and Career Journey 7:08 Bill Hampton's Business Ventures 10:08 Introduction to the Film Project 14:08 The Story of Ronald Green 25:30 Impact and Call to Action 32:16 Conclusion and Future Plans 34:40
Chad Hickey, founder and CEO of Givsly, discusses his journey from Arkansas to New York and the inception of Givsly, a company that aligns consumer and brand values through responsible advertising. Givsly has facilitated nearly $3 million in donations and emphasizes values-based marketing, which is crucial as 80% of consumers consider values when purchasing. Hickey highlights initiatives like "Season Without Swag" and the LA wildfire relief efforts, where Givsly mobilized 44 agency offices to donate supplies. He reflects on the challenges of founding a company, the importance of over-preparation, and the personal growth it entails. Timestamp: Chad Hickey's Background and Current Life 0:01 Introduction to Givsly 2:30 Examples of Givsly's Impact 5:07 Chad's Early Life and Career Journey 8:40 Challenges and Lessons Learned as a Founder 14:23 Future Vision and Excitement for Givsly 20:59 Personal Preferences and Final Thoughts 24:54 Contact Information and Closing Remarks 27:26
Simone Arthur, a spiritual advisor and founder of Sacred Conversations, shared her journey from Barbados to New York, where she attended City University and worked in tourism. She discovered her spiritual gift in her late 20s after attending a church in Brooklyn. Simone now offers readings, focusing on business and personal life guidance. She emphasizes the importance of connecting with ancestors for clarity and endurance. Simone hosts spiritual retreats in Barbados, aiming to help participants connect with their ancestors through workshops and rituals. She also plans a men's wellness retreat in Brooklyn. Simone's personal goals include peace and balance. Time Stamp Simone Arthur's Background and Journey 0:01 Adapting to Life in New York 1:56 Discovering Her Spiritual Gift 3:46 Challenges and Transformation 7:08 The Importance of Ancestors 7:47 Simone's Retreats and Workshops 15:41 Simone's Personal Goals and Future Plans 22:32 Simone's Wishes and Recommendations 26:12 Connecting with Simone 30:53
Nathalie Heywood Smith, owner of Heywood Smith Consulting and evangelist for POC Stock, discusses her journey from recruitment to consulting and her work with POC Stock. She emphasizes the importance of understanding human traits in hiring and breaking stereotypes. Nathalie highlights the need for diverse stories to combat stereotypes and improve inclusion. She shares insights on leadership changes, the role of allies, and the significance of building a supportive network. Nathalie recommends "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle for personal growth and advises entrepreneurs to focus on building a diverse network. She also enjoys cooking, particularly baking bread and exploring Indian cuisine. Timestamps Introduction and Background of Nathalie Heywood Smith 0:02 Core Values and Approach to Helping People 4:16 Challenges in Hiring and Stereotypes 9:28 Impact of Black History Month and POC Stock's Annual List 10:22 Changes in Leadership and Allies Over the Years 14:47 Book Recommendation and Advice for Entrepreneurs 19:43 Personal Interests and Curiosity 22:52 Final Thoughts and Contact Information 26:16
Kerel interviews Samina Bari, a CEO and board advisor, about her background and career journey. Samina, a first-generation American of Pakistani and Indian descent, discusses her upbringing in Staten Island, New York, and the cultural and identity conflicts she faced. She shares her career in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, her pivots to in-house roles and strategy advisory, and her recent book, "I Can, I Will, and I Did," which chronicles her life and challenges. Samina emphasizes the importance of empathy in leadership and advises others to believe in themselves and take risks. She also mentions her involvement in parent support groups and women's leadership initiatives. Timestamps Samina Bari's Background and Early Life 0:01 Impact of Upbringing on Career and Personal Life 6:00 Career Pivots and Lessons Learned 10:36 Personal Reflections and Advice 20:26 Final Thoughts and Contact Information 23:40
Perri Dash, co-host of the Wrist Check Podcast and co-founder of Super Niche, discusses his journey from growing up in the Bronx to his career in fashion and luxury. He highlights his passion for watches, particularly Tudor, and his experiences at Ralph Lauren and Watches of Switzerland. Perri shares the inception of the Wrist Check Podcast during COVID-19, its growth, and the launch of Super Niche, a media company focusing on luxury, art, and wine. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling and community in the watch world and his dedication to work-life harmony. Perri also touches on his personal life, including his two daughters and his evolving watch collection. Timestamps: Perry Dash's Introduction and Wrist Check 0:00 Perry's Background and Influences 2:39 Career Journey and Early Experiences 6:20 Starting the Risk Check Podcast 10:34 Super Niche and Expanding Content 14:59 Daily Routine and Personal Goals 26:05 Family and Legacy 29:48 Watch Collecting and Personal Favorites 33:02 Music and Inspirations 39:22 Connecting with the Audience 40:21
Nikki Carrido, VP of Marketing Strategy and Sponsorships at Museum of Pop Culture, discusses the museum's 25th anniversary, its focus on fashion, film, gaming, and music, and its new CEO's strategic plan. She highlights the recent "Contact High" exhibition celebrating hip hop's 50th anniversary. Carrido shares her background, including her Chinese American heritage, early career at Bank of America, and passion for diversity and inclusion. She emphasizes the difference between working in a large corporation and a cultural institution like MOPOP. Carrido also discusses her love for sports, particularly tennis, and her efforts to balance being a leader and maintaining personal connections. Timestamps: Introduction and Overview of MOPOP 0:00 Recent Exhibitions and Personal Preferences 2:00 Nikki's Background and Family Influence 4:18 Transition from Corporate to Museum Work 6:04 Sales and Marketing Skills 10:17 Diversity and Inclusion Passion 12:47 Challenges and Learning Experiences 14:14 Family Legacy and Values 16:16 Recommendations and Personal Growth 19:33 Closing Remarks and Contact Information 22:10
Sharon Mussalli, CEO of NowThis, discussed her journey and leadership strategies. She highlighted the evolution of NowThis into two streams: NowThis impact, focusing on social issues, and NowThis pop culture, addressing lifestyle entertainment. Mussalli emphasized the importance of a diverse board to stay relevant and innovative. She shared insights from her experience at Meta and founding Extra Crisp, a media rep firm. Mussalli stressed the value of direct communication, continuous improvement, and using one's identity as an asset. Timestamps Sharon Mussalli's Background and Current Role 0:00 Creating a Diverse Board and Episodic Content 3:02 Challenges and Strategies in Leadership 4:47 Founding Extra Crisp and Lessons from Rhode Island 7:29 Leadership Philosophies and Personal Growth 13:32 Inspiration and Personal Development 18:59 Educational Background and Business Insights 20:12 Balancing Work and Personal Life 23:53 Music and Personal Interests 31:01 Connecting with Sharon Mussalli 32:36
Maria Teresa Hernandez, Head of Supplier Diversity at Mirriad, discusses her journey and the unique aspects of Mirriad, a technology-driven company bridging brands into content through AI-powered media integrations. She highlights her efforts to prioritize diverse suppliers, including Black, Hispanic, Asian, and LGBTQ+ owned businesses. Maria shares her background, including her upbringing in Chicago, her mother's struggle with identity, and her research into Mexican American heritage. She emphasizes the importance of representation, empathy, and intentionality in leadership. Maria also reflects on her career, including her early sales roles and the impact of overcoming ovarian cancer on her life and career choices. Timestamps Introduction to Myriad and Maria Teresa Hernandez (0:00) Maria's Background and Family History (3:12) Impact of Upbringing on Parenting (5:52) Career Journey and Early Roles (11:09) Passion for Representation and Leadership (15:02) Personal Challenges and Achievements (19:25) Advice for Aspiring Professionals (23:18) Music Preferences and Final Thoughts (25:54)
Steve Jones, founder and CEO of POCstock, discusses his journey from Barbados to Brooklyn, highlighting the cultural shock and educational challenges he faced. He explains the inception of POCstock, a company addressing the lack of diverse stock images, and its mission to provide positive representations of people of color. Jones shares the challenges of raising seed funding, noting the difficulty for black founders, and emphasizes the importance of having the right team and systems. He also touches on balancing family life with business responsibilities and the significance of diverse teams in achieving business success. Timestamps: Steve Jones' Background and Early Life (0:00) Adjusting to American Culture and Education (1:34) Navigating Intelligence and Diversity in Education (4:02) Founding POC Stock and Addressing the Need for Diverse Images (5:49) Market Reception and Challenges (9:58) Accessibility and Inclusivity of POC Stock (11:41) Leadership and Building a Team (12:39) Raising Seed Funding as a Black Founder (17:14) Advantages of Having a Co-Founder (21:05) Balancing Family and Business (25:06) Music Preferences and Personal Interests (27:40) Connecting with Steve and POC Stock (28:46)
In episode 180, Erik and Kerel met with Jennifer Yepes-Blundell, co-founder and COO of Drafted, who discusses balancing her role as a mother, wife, and entrepreneur in Texas. She emphasizes the importance of being present for her children and maintaining her marriage. Jennifer shares her career journey, from being a collegiate athlete to founding Drafted, a media company targeting Latinas in sports. In 12 months, Drafted has built an audience of 30,000 and secured eight brand partnerships. Jennifer highlights the Latina fandom report, which shows Latinas' significant influence in sports. She also discusses the challenges of being a Latina female founder and the importance of representation and cultural identity. Timestamps: Jennifer Yepes Blundell's Personal Life and Balancing Family and Work 0:00 Jennifer's Career Journey and Founding Drafted 6:18 Understanding the Latina Fan Mindset 11:23 Misma Project and Cultural Identity 14:21 Challenges and Barriers as a Latina Woman Founder 18:59 Influence of Athletic Background on Parenting 24:09 Personal Growth and Overcoming Challenges 25:48 Recommended Books and Movies 26:22 Music Preferences and Connecting with the Audience 29:36 Final Thoughts and Contact Information 29:49
In episode 179, Erik and Kerel had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Marcus Collins, a renowned professor, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and chief strategy officer. Dr. Collins offered a fascinating look at how culture, human behavior, and marketing intersect. His journey, combined with his academic and professional experiences, gives him a unique perspective on how businesses can better understand and connect with people. His book, For the Culture, offers valuable insights for anyone looking to tap into the power of culture to influence behavior—whether in marketing, leadership, or everyday life. Timestamps 0:03 Dr. Collins shares that he grew up in Detroit, Michigan, describing it as a unique city with a mix of cultural influences from the South, West, and Midwest. 3:42 Dr. Collins describes his summers spent in Ann Arbor at a summer Engineering Academy at the University of Michigan, which influenced his decision to study engineering. 8:56 Dr. Collins emphasizes the importance of understanding humanity to improve marketing and engagement strategies. 23:17 Dr. Collins explains his motivation to teach, driven by his passion for behavioral sciences and the desire to share his knowledge with others. 25:09 Dr. Collins shares his experience of writing "For the Culture," his book on understanding culture and its impact on human behavior. 31:53 Dr. Collins provides information on how listeners can connect with him, including his social media handles and website.
In episode 178, Erik and Kerel sit down with Grouchy Greg Watkins, Founder at AllHipHop.com, a trusted source for daily hip hop news, videos, rumors, entertainment, features and more founded in 1998 by Grouchy Greg and Chuck Creekmur. Greg was born in Albany, NY to a black father and white mother, who eventually moved their family to Delaware. There, Greg got deeper into music, the break dancing scene, and even deeper into the racial tensions of that time. After selling and handing out demo tapes, Greg decided to start his own record label out of Delaware and from that came AllHipHop.com. During this conversation, Greg gives many insights from his 28+ years of experience in the music, marketing, and advertising industry. He shares the advantages of having his business partner, Chuck Creekmur, who was a high school friend, from the very beginning, the one thing that has stayed consistent throughout any technological advances that has maintained and accelerated his success, teaching his sons and the next generations on how to make an impact, the ways in which he is still learning and growing as a person and business owner, and his take on the DEI movement and if it's actually creating change. Greg also shares a book and movie he's recently enjoyed and has learned a lot from, where he got his nickname Grouchy, his music rotation, and much more. Timestamps 0:47: Grouchy Greg Watkins shares how he's living his childhood dream, how he got into music at the young age of two, later got involved in break dancing, and the racial tension he felt and experienced in his home state of Delaware 8:04: The advantages of having a business partner early on and how to stay consistent and focused on one mission together 10:36: Greg gives his secrets to success in advertising, and marketing, what he's learned in the past 28 years in the business 13:38: What a good day looks like for Greg including keeping up with his two sons who are nine and five 15:02: Greg talks about the racial prejudice he and his family experienced, becoming aware of his race at a young age, growing up with an alcoholic father, who is now sober, being mixed race with a black father and white mother, and how hip hop saved him in a lot of ways 21:49: Lessons Greg teaches his kids about him and his journey, how he has changed throughout the years, and encouraging them towards the concept of STEAM - science, technology, engineering, arts and math. 25:25: What Greg encourages students about when he teaches or gives talks in regard to the marketing and advertising industry, music industry, and communications, and the ways they can truly make a difference 29:30: Something Greg wishes he were better at, and how he takes some inspiration from The Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort 30:50: Greg gives his first party perspective on DEI, promised funding to black owned businesses, and his journey in learning what it's like to own your own inventory and monetizing directly on your own 35:14: Greg talks about where he got the nickname “Grouchy” from and why he keeps it alive to this day 37:08: One book and one movie Greg thinks everyone should watch, one being a bibliography of a well-known business person, and the other, a movie released in 1969 covering racial topics in the advertising space 40:04: Music in Greg's rotation right now including what his children listen to, old music that he still listens to, and one album he always listens to in June 44:51: What's up next for AllHipHop and Grouchy Greg Watkins 46:57: How to stay in touch with Greg Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 177, Erik and Kerel talk with Cynthia Morgan Jenkins, Head of Supplier Diversity and Managing Partner at GroupM, the world's leading media investment company. Cynthia was born and raised in Long Island by two parents who grew up in the Deep South of North Carolina. She was a dancer through and through until one day she got injured and her mom pushed her to do something that wouldn't be affected by an injury like that. This was her start into media and advertising. Cynthia started her career as an intern in radio, then went into sales at the radio stations, getting her first job out of college working with Howard Stern, leading her to help start the first hip hop radio station in the country, eventually moving to BET where she stayed for ten years, and now at Group M. Cynthia also shares what her AKA sorority means to her, keys to great leadership, what gets her excited, advice she would give herself first starting out in her career, ways she's still growing and learning as a person and professional, and so much more. Timestamps 0:29: Cynthia Morgan Jenkins, Head of Supplier Diversity and Managing Partner at GroupM shares exactly what her role is, her responsibilities and how the role came available 2:10: Cynthia was raised in Long Island, a place she is so proud of, but feels a certain way about, she shares her family's heritage from the Deep South of North Carolina all the way to Long Island 5:26: The next place Cynthia would like to explore and to find connections to her culture 6:54: What Cynthia was pursuing before getting into media and advertising, the trials and tribulations she faced, including going against her mom's wishes, and how what she does now fulfills her in the same way 8:58: Self-proclaimed risk taker, Cynthia, shares the many other roles she's been in which were created for her to step into, getting into radio out of college, and launching the nation's first hip hop radio station 11:24: Cynthia's professional and personal learning experience at BET, where she worked for 10 years, the motto she kept there, and how that was the place she found her voice 14:03: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated is Cynthia's, her mother's, and now her daughter's sorority and she shares why that bond of sistership is so important and how she brings that to every part of her life and who she is 15:44: Cynthia's keys to leadership, knowing your why, being worthy of being followed, the ability to receive feedback and self-awareness 18:09: The types of stories that get Cynthia excited, her favorite color and what it means to her, and truly feeling a piece of art even if you don't understand it 100% 19:38: Advice Cynthia would give to herself today, which coincidentally is the mantra she has for herself right now, and how she deals with anxiety and overthinking 21:03: The one thing Cynthia wishes she were better at, how she discovered where her real opportunities came from, and how it's more about groups than parties nowadays 22:48: Music in Cynthia's rotation at the moment, including a song from West Side Boogie that reminds her of her mom, of motherhood, and hits close to home 26:33: How to connect with Cynthia on LinkedIn and Instagram Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 176, Kerel talks with sisters Carrie Bloxson, Chief DEI Officer at Hachette Book Group USA & UK, and Kolt Bloxson Pitts, Founding Executive Director at Miles Ahead Charter School. They discuss their family's upbringing as Carrie being the oldest of four and Kolt being the youngest, how their childhoods differed and the impacts of their experiences to do the work they do today. In their conversation Kolt shares why her son and his success was the main motivating factor creating and launching a tuition free Public Charter School and the 21st Century curriculum that prepares students to be real world ready. Carrie talks about DEI today in the corporate world, how it differs in the US versus internationally, and how she is dedicated to moving forward and making a difference because, in her eyes, there is no other way. The two sisters also share what their conversations consist of personally and professionally, what gets them both excited day to day, how they deal with imposter syndrome, anxiety, self-doubt, the music in their rotation right now and more. Timestamps 0:00: Intro 1:09: Carrie shares what her and Kolt's family upbringing was like, how it was completely different from one another, growing up with parents who were hippies 2:29: How Carrie got so into reading, watching black people on television, which wasn't prevalent where they lived, and how those experiences left an everlasting impact on her and part of the reason she's so passionate about DEI 4:29: Kolt shares her experience and relationship with Carrie growing up, how she praised her older sister, how she's passed that onto her son, playing ice hockey and how that influenced her values and way of going through life 6:57: Kolt expands on Miles Ahead Charter School, a tuition free Public Charter School, started by her and other members in 2019, the pivoting moment for her to launch the school, and the curriculum that allows students to be real world ready 12:11: The state of DEI today in the corporate world from Carrie's eyes, problems the industry faces in being the visionary while also taking concrete actions and what gives her hope for the future of DEI work' 16:55: What types of conversations Carrie and Kolt have as sisters (oldest and the youngest of four), including topics of horror movies and helping each other in their careers 18:52: What gets Carrie excited day to day, advocating for others, celebrating others, and investing time in the next generations who are the future of publishing 20:12: What gets Kolt excited, having a great laugh, small moments with children at school and watching them learn 21:30: Something Kolt wishes she were better at, how she deals with imposter syndrome and anxiety, and a great piece of advice that helps her understand how to circumvent life's challenges 23:03: How Carrie deals with performance anxiety, trying to figure out how to crush at being a mom and also at her job, and leaving the guilt behind when spending “too much” time on one thing 24:28: What is in Carrie's and Kolt's music rotation including the soundtrack from El Capitano, SZA, John Legend, and the down low on the Drake and Kendrick rap beef 27:12: How to connect with Carrie and Kolt online Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 175, Erik and Kerel talk with Anika Howard, President and Chief Executive Officer at Wondr Nation. Anika was born to two student activists in New Orleans and soon moved to Washington D.C. where it was safer and they could help more activists be protected while they worked to integrate schools and museums in the US. She fell in love with technology as a child because she felt like that was a place where the playing field was level, where if she learned about technology, she could succeed. She was put in a management accelerated program right out of college and went from intern to now being an executive, visionary, and leader. Anika talks about the work she's doing in gaming and tech, qualities leaders need to be successful, how her journey was influenced deeply by her parents and her upbringing, and what brought her to be CEO. Anika has been in gaming since before people even knew about it and she talks about being a key factor in educating people about these integrations, making the partnerships and experiences more fluid and fun, why sometimes being the first can be lonely and confusing, what she wants to be better at on a personal level, and so much more. Timestamps 0:34: Anika shares her story of being born in New Orleans and growing up in Washington D.C. to two student activists who helped integrate schools and museums at the time 2:04: Where Anika's passion and desire to work with technology came from, how her parents taught her and her 7 younger siblings that there are no limitations and what that continued to allow her to do with her life, interests, and career 3:33: Anika talks about Wondr Nation, an online gaming and entertainment company owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and how the Indian gaming industry in the US is equivalent to commercial gaming 5:17: The huge opportunity Anika had at the beginning of her career, right out of business school, to work with Caesars Entertainment, an accelerated management program, the experience she got, and why it prepared her for her first real job in the industry 7:30: The pivotal moment of Anika to become the CEO and how it was a build up of a lot of little tiny moments that made her right for that position, and what made her right for it 9:33: Being one of the first in the interactive gaming scene, Anika goes through what that time was like, watching the world start to embrace technology, and the things she was doing to advocate for that integration 12:47: How Anika went through her experience of high technological standpoints in history and a lot of changes and how she looks at those times now, and how she thinks about it as a CEO 15:40: Where Anika draws inspiration from including other leaders, conferences, new connections, reading, family, and friends 17:15: The book Anika thinks everyone should read, even a book she buys for her employees 17:49: What gets Anika excited, bringing together her team, building a company, her network and more 18:42: The two things Anika says leaders need, which one is the hardest to lead with, and how to navigate both 20:24: One of the most exciting times in Anika's career, seeing a shift in gaming for diversity and inclusion, and the importance of bringing people together for connection 22:26: Anika responds to a quote Erik presents saying “my brain works differently” and how growing up as the oldest of 8 probably had an impact on that 23:59: One thing Anika wishes she were better at 24:25: What is in Anika's music rotation including Nina Simone, Bob Marley, Kendrick Lamar's recent diss tracks, and more 25:28: How to get in touch with Anika on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 174, Erik and Kerel talk with Ashley Holmes, Head of Marketing at LUMA Partners. LUMA Partners is the leading investment bank focused on digital media and marketing, composed of bankers and also trusted strategic advisors who have been around the block a few times. As an only child to a single mother growing up in Queens, NY, Ashley learned a lot about responsibility, hard work, self-reliance and her biggest passion - theater. After getting a Theater Management degree she found herself leaning towards banking, but unfortunately the year happened to be 2008, the big banking crash. She started in retail marketing and eventually moved herself up to where she is now at LUMA. Ashley speaks on her career and the importance of self-sufficiency, taking ownership of projects, and leveraging team strengths. And especially after Covid, Ashley has learned how to set boundaries between work and life, so now she has more time to dip into her almost forgotten passion of theater and is now partaking in burlesque. She also shares struggles she's had in her work and life journey, the perceptions she's had changed from working with so many different people, advice for people who want to get into marketing and build their skills, the fun music she has in her rotation, and more. Timestamps 0:31: Ashley Holmes, Head of Marketing at LUMA Partners shares her experience of growing up in Queens as an only child to her single mother 1:31: LUMA Partners is an investment firm in digital media and marketing technology that cultivates relationships between leading companies in the space to facilitate M&A exits 2:26: Ashley shares insights on building relationships with powerhouses, including executives and industry leaders through research, active listening and tailored strategies 4:03: What Ashley wanted to do before marketing, getting a degree in Theater Arts Management with a desire to run her own theater, then moving into retail marketing, and bringing all of those passions and interests as closely together as possible 5:37: What a good day looks like to Ashley 7:03: Between planning domestic to intercontinental events an all in between, Ashley shares her most interesting lesson she's learned through that process, and how her team works by the way of “Baptism by fire” 10:03: Something Ashley has struggled with throughout her life and career where she needed guidance and support, how she has kept her head high through those difficult times, and a great tip from her boss and mentor 12:02: How Ashley perceives work-life balance, especially after Covid, jumping back into hobbies and passions of hers, and the importance of having goals even if they may keep you up til late at night or early in the morning 15:26: Ashley looks back on her younger self as a pure theater kid, the responsibilities of getting a job to support herself, the people in her life, mostly art-driven people, who inspired her, and how being self-reliant has gotten the world in a place where we've lost community with one another 20:26 Advice from Ashley for anyone who wants to get into marketing, movies she recommends for storytelling, humanity discrimination and struggles, and perspectives to change ones view of the world 25:26: What's in Ashley's music rotation right now including some Beyonce, musical theater favorites, a movie soundtrack and more 26:48: How to get in touch with Ashley Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 173, Erik and Kerel talk with return guest Lan Phan, Author of #DoThisDaily and CEO at community of SEVEN about her personal journey of writing a book about her life experiences of growing up in a family of Vietnamese refugees in California, working her way up to the C-suite at Fortune Magazine, eventually being laid off in the pandemic, and how through all of that she found success, happiness, and purpose in her life and work. In the corporate world, Lan was always a behind the scenes “doer,” an introvert. Since then, she has found her voice through building an audience totaling over 375,000 on LinkedIn and now serves people all over the world through her content, her book, and her company, community of SEVEN. Since she was 12 years old Lan had a dream of writing a book and in this episode she talks about her process, mindset, how her daughter and mother were massive inspirations for the idea and her friend's motivation helping her to finish it. Lan shares lessons she's learned specifically over the past few years including taking action despite fear, overcoming impostor syndrome by building confidence through consistency, why this was the perfect time in her life to write her book, and how it's so easy for comparison to keep us stuck. They also discuss why defining what matters and having a clear direction first is important to achieving happiness and success, and so much more. “If you look at my posts, some of them have a million impressions, like, 5, 600 comments. It's in the comment section where people are talking to each other, not to me. And that's where community lives. It's not about them following me, it's about them curating this community where they are both teachers and learners. It's not about collecting followers. It's about, how do you become of service to other people?” Timestamps 1:12: Reflecting on the rapid changes in the world since Lan Phan's last time on MRP, including the pandemic, layoffs, and social movements and also what the last straw was that motivated her to finish her new book #DoThisDaily 3:00: Lan shares her journey of writing a book, overcoming obstacles through perseverance and the importance of taking up space and owning one's voice as a role model for her daughter. 5:02: Lan emphasizes the importance of taking action despite fear and societal expectations, how writing daily helped her to overcome impostor syndrome and build confidence, and why this was the perfect time in her life to accomplish her goal since she was 12 years old of writing a book 8:46: Lan reflects on her motivation to write her book including her family upbringing as Vietnamese refugees in California, sacrifices made by her mother for the family, the desire to break generational curses and setting a positive example for her daughter and the next generation. 12:18: Lan speaks on personal growth looking different for everyone, growth happening even when you can't see it and how comparison keeps us stuck 14:42: Who #DoThisDaily was written for, the introverted doers, how readers can find success, happiness and purpose through self-expression and vulnerability, Lan's journey of finding and living her purpose, wanting to help more people and democratizing training and development by making knowledge accessible to all 19:06: Lan emphasizes the importance of defining what matters most to achieve happiness and create a clear direction in life, how mindset plays a crucial role in determining one's destiny, what consistency looks like, and taking care of one's health first and foremost 23:24: Lan's experience growing a community of over 375,000 on LinkedIn through intentionality and service and how she brings that to in-person events 28:18: Where to connect with Lan Phan Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 172, Kerel has a solo conversation with Afshan Nasseri, Founder & CEO at Aam Creative, a multicultural marketing agency which she founded in 2021. Afshan was born in Montreal, Canada to parents from India and Iran, eventually moving to a suburb of Boston, later returning to Montreal for university. Her upbringing in such a multicultural family, speaking multiple languages, brought on her passion for culture, pop culture, and marketing to diverse audiences making sure they're heard, celebrated and talked to. They talk more about the lessons Afshan learned from leaving college and joining the corporate world, to leaving, the pandemic happening, and the need for money to survive being a huge factor in starting her own company. Afshan speaks on what gets her so excited to be a CEO, working with diverse women all over the world, helping companies learn more about their diverse audiences, and using what she loves and she's good at to make a positive impact in the world. Timestamps 0:38: Afshan Nasseri, Founder & CEO at Aam Creative shares about growing up in a multicultural family with parents from India and Iran, speaking multiple languages, and the mix of cultural influences in her upbringing 2:11: Afshan reflects on her saying “create a life around your passions,” how her parents were open-minded and supportive without following traditional career paths, and her unconventional path to entrepreneurship which she is grateful for despite any hurdles 5:41: Aam Creative is a multicultural marketing agency, fully comprised of women of color, working on everything from branding to brand design, paid media, social media management and cultural consulting for larger entities 7:12: Afshan discusses her thoughts on the state of affairs in regards to marketing to diverse audiences, how it differs in different markets and parts of the world, and the lack of brand management with diverse audiences 10:41: The motivating factor for Afshan to share Aam Creative, starting with working in the skincare industry, possibly quitting prematurely, finding her niche in corporate roles and eventually infusing her knowledge of Indian culture into marketing efforts 14:43: After losing her job and dealing with the pandemic along with everyone else, Afshan faced a low point, but bounced back by focusing on learning and building her confidence 16:16: Afshan's favorite part about being a CEO, including working with women all around the work and presenting them with opportunities for growth and financial independence 17:36: What a typical day looks like for Afshan, what would make her day be a good day where she feels the impact of her work, socializes, and treats herself 18:57: Why cultural consulting is something that gets Afshan excited to do her work, and how it goes back to her upbringing, highlighting the importance of understanding diverse communities and their nuances 21:12: What book is on her nightstand, Afshan's love of history and why she thinks it's the best way to learn, a podcast that she can relate to and allows her to learn more about financial literacy 22:09: Advice for someone who wants to build a social following. 23:48: One thing Afshan wishes she were better at and how it would help at being a CEO 24:39: Afshan shares one special song that's in her rotation right now in the mix with mostly her favorite Indian music 25:18: How to connect with and follow Afshan Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 171, Erik and Kerel have a conversation with Crystal Foote, an Award-Winning Marketer, Author and DE&I Champion who is also the Founder of NMSDC and WBENC-certified Digital Culture Group and Head of Multicultural Solutions at Performance Marketing company Digital Remedy focused on Inclusive Advertising. Crystal was born in Oakland, CA, raised in Vallejo, moved to New York to start her career in advertising, working for companies like MEC, RGA, and Publicis before transitioning to tech companies like Exponential and Amobee. Crystal has an important passion project, her children's book “The Inclusivity Superheroes: A Tale of Diversity and Unity” which helps bring diversity, relatability and inclusion to both children and parents. Now living in Atlanta, Crystal sees different aspects of all the cities she's been a part of, her passion for positively influencing the world, maintaining a “work-life balance,” and continues to pass on the legacy of her family who has given their life to this country. In this episode, Crystal also reflects on their journey in the industry, shares advice she'd give to her younger self, highlighting perseverance, and they loosen it up with current music rotation jams. Timestamps 0:56: Crystal Foote, an award-winning marketer, author, AI champion, entrepreneur, and founder of Digital Culture Group shares what keeps her busy these day, and her upbringing into advertising 2:08: Growing up on the West coast, living on East coast and then in the South, Crystal shares which is her favorite, why, and what each has shown her personally and professionally 5:08: The Inclusivity Superheroes: A Tale of Diversity and Unity, a children's book Crystal wrote dedicated to creating a world where everyone feels valued and celebrated, and what kind of personal experiences drove her to create this 10:23: How Crystal views work-life balance, how she makes time in the day for everything she does, and the secret sauce she uses to make everything come together smoothly 12:39: What motivates and gets Crystal excited and one thing party trick she wishes she were better at 14:01: Crystal shares an amazing story of her great-great Uncle, an American war hero who gave his life to his country even when his country wasn't on his side due to racial segregation 16:46: The history of Crystal's family 18:33: Interesting lessons Crystal is passing onto her kids and sharing with her husband, including one she implements everyday 19:22: The sage advice older Crystal would give to her younger self starting out in her advertising career 21:10: What's in Crystal's music rotation while she's at work and also in the car - they're different! 23:15: Where to find Crystal's book - The Inclusivity Superheroes: A Tale of Diversity and Unity - and connect with her as well Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 170, Kerel flies solo and has a conversation with Kim "Kimfer" Flanery-Rye, Founder, Principal DEI and Culture Practitioner, owner of Inclusion Equals, a go-to resource for learning and growth around racism, sexism, ageism, ableism and beyond and also the new owner of The F Bomb Breakfast Club, a peer support community for women, femmes, and gentlethems who are company founders and business owners. Kimfer has a passion for philanthropy in many areas including youth, LGBTQIA, and the arts. Born in South Korea, adopted by a family from small farm town Iowa, Kimfer had an anything but easy childhood dealing with food scarcity and general insecurities about being different from everyone around her. Even though times were hard, she had a loving family along with more adopted siblings, learned a lot of skills that help her today and her early years have greatly influenced the work she does and invests in today. Kimfer believes greatly in servant leadership, ethical and authentic DEI practices and efforts, and gives importance to aligning investments with personal values for positive social impact. Timestamps 0:38: Intro to Kim "Kimfer" Flanery-Rye, Founder, Principal DEI and Culture Practitioner 1:14: Kimfer shares the story of her childhood, born in South Korea, adopted by a family from a small farm community in Iowa where she face insecurities related to food and abandonment 3:31: Kimfer credits her ability to navigate these early years to learning how to read the room quickly and avoid potentially harmful situations 4:27: How Kimfer's early years influences the work she does now, what it means to be a servant leader, and why philanthropy is so important to her, emphasizing the importance of lived experience and social justice 12:49: What is fascinating to watch for Kimfer in the DEI space, the pendulum swing coming back around, and making an impact on the people who want to see the change. 17:44: How Kimfer acquired the F Bomb Business Club, a peer support community to support women business owners in a safe space for peer support and networking 24:24: Advice for anyone listening who has been adopted or had a similar background of Kimfer's and how to move forward powerfully in life 25:58: The things Kimfer wishes she were better at - including playing guitar and her curiosity 27:10: Music in Kimfer's current rotation and getting into Korean rap 28:53: Getting in touch with Kimfer on social media Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 169, Erik and Kerel talk with Kristen V. Carter, Executive Producer, Podcaster and Speaker, about her current project Gospel Live, working with great names like Henry Louis Gates Jr., her 22 years in the entertainment industry, creating the brand “Trust Your Magic” and more. Kristen grew up with five generations of family in Newark, New Jersey, being the only child surrounded by adults, she learned the ABCs watching the Wheel of Fortune and keeps her family legacy going with the V. standing for “Victoria” as her middle name, which was her great great grandmother's and her mother's name. Kristen started out in the industry as a head writer for BET, worked on a literacy project near and dear to hear heart with Kevin Hart, a special project with Discovery+ and Tina Knowles, now Gospel Live, amongst many other projects working with Essence, Oprah Winfrey Network, Fox, Bravo, E!, Food Network, NBC, MTV, just to name a few. Kristen shares how passionate she is about her morning routine, her work, storytelling, sharing her experiences of freeing herself of debt as a freelancer, the good music that fills her days, and so much more. Timestamps 0:37: Kristen V. Carter shares with Erik, Kerel, and the listeners what it all means to be an executive producer, podcaster and speaker 1:54: As she has been in the business for 22 years, Kristen goes through her experiences starting out as a head writer for BET, working on a project with Kevin Hart, Discovery+ and Tina Knowles, and now Gospel Live, one project she works on currently 4:18: Kristen explains how she's always been a storyteller, from writing as a child, the questions she asks herself when telling a story and choosing a project to work on, and how she's brought storytelling into Gospel Live 6:01: Coming from deep roots in Georgia, to being born in New Jersey, Kristen lived with five generations of family, was named after her great great grandmother and her mom, and had a unique experience growing up as the only kid around a lot of adults 9:49: What Kristen is excited for in 2024 with Gospel Live, other projects, what her next phase is shaping up to be and the passion and ownership she's bringing to the year 12:14: How Kristen feels about being passionate about the work she does, how it's special, and how it ignites her 13:23: What a good day looks like for Kristen, including a morning routine, gratitude and intentions, setting boundaries, and more 14:20: Kristen shares about her brand “Trust Your Magic,” where she now offers workshops and more for people to learn how to trust their magic, why she started it, how it has grown, and what the future looks like 17:17: What it's like working with Henry Louis Gates Jr., a famous literary critic and scholar, the buzzing environment of Gospel Live at the historic Oasis Church in LA and how Kristen knew the special ways the location was right for the project 22:27: Erik asks Kristen what she thinks after hearing all of her projects and names that have been involved with the projects she's been on before - including Essence, Oprah Winfrey Network, Fox, Bravo, E!, Food Network, NBC, MTV and more 24:20: Advice Kristen V. Carter today would give to herself when she was just starting out in her career 25:32: What is in Kristen's music rotation right now, including some new music from Beyonce and the dance moves she's patiently waiting on 26:49: How to find and connect with Kristen V. Carter Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 168, Erik and Kerel talk with Willow Hill, the Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Scout Lab, a creative communications agency specializing in branding, communications, and campaigns that guide brands who are at their inflection points toward a future we want to live in, bringing together purpose and profit. Willow gives so much credit to the inspiration she gained from her mother, who had her at sixteen years old, and the impact her father had on her, leaving her with philosophies of American Indians, and how these experiences shaped her worldview in life and business. Willow shares her perspective on the importance of being purpose-driven, why she feels a responsibility as a woman in tech, and a part of the 1% of women-owned agencies, to shape how the culture shows up and help direct the collective imagination, and how she uses two Native American philosophies for her creativity and the impact she wants to leave. She shares her unique ideas on work-life balance, how she manages her time, what it truly takes to be a leader, tips on how to create an award-winning campaign (Scout Lab won the 2023 Digiday Award for Best B2B Branding Campaign), and more. Timestamps 0:34: Willow Hill, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Scout Lab explains what Scout Lab does, what's going on there currently, and what motivated them to invest in this opportunity 2:31: What has changed in the brands landscape since Scout Lab came about, focusing on being purpose driven 3:44: The journey Willow has taken being a woman in tech, a part of the 1% of women owned agencies, and her responsibility to continue showing up and shift the landscape 5:31: Willow shares where she grew up, why her mom is her inspiration and role model for determination, her dad being a civil rights activist for the American Indian Movement, and what those roots have taught her 7:32: Expanding on Native American philosophies, using the modality of the medicine wheel, the idea of seventh generation and how she uses them in life and in business 9:18: What it's like to be a founder and a new mother, seeing life out of a different lens, and how it has changed her perspectives 11:19: Erik asks Willow to share a profound philosophy and perspective she has around the idea of work-life balance, the “six day weekend” and ways to rethink the way we use our time 14:32: Willow's secret to managing her time, the catch to it, and the two keys to leadership that she thinks are really important 17:00: A few tips for brands on how to create an award winning campaign, such as Scout Lab's campaign that won the 2023 Digiday Award for Best B2B Branding Campaign 20:09: Where Willow draws inspiration from including travel and how it opens her eyes to different cultures and values 22:13: A motivating and empowering piece of advice for women who are thinking about starting an agency, and what Willow would tell herself when she was first starting out in her career 24:14: Willow shares what a good day looks like for her, how she feels on those days, and who she spends time with 24:55: The music in Willow's rotation right now and the songs on repeat 24:54: How to connect with Willow and Scout Lab Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 167, Kerel talks with Tony Tidbit, a business executive and Founder and Host of the Black Executive Perspective Podcast where Tony peels back the layers of intersectionality, systemic racism, and other challenging issues shrouding the experiences of Black professionals in America's corporate environment. Tony started his career in sales as an office manager at Amway, took a risk, moved jobs to a construction business with an acquaintance where he flourished, and then continued into the advertising industry where he has experience at AT&T, Xander, and Direct TV. Timestamps 00:55: Tony Tidbit, Founder and Host of the Black Executive Perspective podcast shares with the audience where he's from, how travel from his hometown has changed his perspectives and outlooks on the world 3:53: Currently VP of Sales and Client Partnerships at Direct TV, and being in the advertising industry for over 30 years, Tony tells us what he's most excited about and what has changed the most since he's started 6:10: Tony gives a great piece of advice not only for those in the advertising industry but for how to become a better and more successful individual throughout life in order to deliver value to others 7:14: A story of one moment in time that was pivotal to Tony's career, even when he was feeling like he was failing at something, he eventually realized he was preparing for something greater 15:22: Tony shares what he believes are qualities of good leaders, how to create relationships and be a good leader during these digital times, and being intentional 23:46: Tony talks about the Black Executive Perspective podcast which he started near after George Floyd, to talk about race and learn from different perspectives and allow a space for people to be vulnerable about controversial subjects 27:59: The biggest thing Tony has learned since starting his podcast that was something that even surprised him 29:33: How Tony stays focused, disciplined, balanced, what his morning routine is, the different ways he continues to learn, and what he is teaching his daughters as they grow up 33:53: The music Tony listens to, from classic rap and R&B to music that makes him think and changes perspectives 36:17: Where to find and connect with Tony Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 166, Erik and Kerel talk with Tricia Montalvo Timm, Board member, investor, DEI Leader and author of bestseller “Embrace the Power of You” about embracing and accepting yourself, achieving higher levels of success in work and life, and surrounding yourself with inspirational people. Tricia was born in Los Angeles to two immigrant parents, who she learned work ethic from, created deep family connections with and how she integrates those traits into her working career. Through growing up in a family that tried to assimilate to American culture in order to fit in and face less prejudices, Tricia eventually discovered that in order to achieve the success, happiness, and belonging she truly desired, she would have to embraces the things that made her different from the people around her - and even find that they have a lot more in common than first glance. Through her work and her book “Embrace the Power of You,” Tricia helps future and current leaders develop skills and empathy to break through any fears that may be stopping them from including and celebrating all of who they and others are. In her personal life, as well, she teaches her family and her children to take care of themselves so they can take care of the people around them. Tricia shares advice for those who may be struggling in their career, stories about her life where she has continued to find and embrace herself, and so much more. Timestamps 1:13: Tricia Montalvo Timm, Board member, investor, DEI Leader and author, along with being a spouse and mother of two, shares how she grew up, her experience having two immigrant parents who wanted the American Dream and how that impacted who she is today 3:26: Tricia explains how to know, become, and embrace the real you in order to achieve the success you desire, and her journey to getting there 5:30: How Tricia has shown up as a Latina woman and how it's changed through her professional career with herself and others around her 6:53: Tricia shares a story of when she started to truly embrace herself, her culture, background, interests, which mirrors very similar journeys of many people of color in the United States 9:48: What Tricia's book “Embrace the Power of You” is about, including being authentic, self-accepting, and also includes strategies and tips for two different types of readers 11:15: Tricia touches on the book “The Mirrored Door” by Ellen Taaffe which talks about how to rise to the next level of success and leadership and how some may be holding themselves back from reaching those places 13:25: Advice from Tricia for those who may be struggling in their career, how mentors and sponsors have helped her tremendously in different ways and why working hard isn't enough 15:43: How Tricia navigates having children, a professional career and the responsibility of taking care of herself as well to impact others around her in positive ways 18:40: What Tricia has learned from her parents that have helped her in life and career as well as qualities that are no longer helpful and that she is changing with her generation within her family 21:14: The places and people Tricia draws inspiration from in her life and career 22:15: The music in Tricia's rotation right now, what concerts she's been to recently, and why she loves Pink so much 23:53: Where to find and connect with Tricia Montalvo Timm Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 165, Erik and Kerel talk with Michael Roca, Executive Director, Elevate at Omnicom Media Group. In their conversation, Michael shares his story of growing up in Queens, New York, as the youngest of four boys and children of Guatemalan parents, how they assimilated to the Latin and American cultures, how he still stays connected with those roots and the lessons he's learned from his parents and family that he has passed on to his kids. Since 2006, Michael has been in the media industry and has seen a lot of changes in diversity, although more is to be made. He explains to us how businesses need to communicate with their diverse audiences in order to stay alive, hiring experts to help just like one would outsource any other expertise, and making real change through budgets, resources, and decisions. Timestamps :36: Michael Roca, Executive Director at Elevate at Omnicom Media Group, shares where he grew up in New York City, going to St. John's University and starting his career 2:18: Michael tells us what it was like growing up in Queens as a Guatemalan and assimilating into other Latin cultures, and he shares an interesting story about where his name came from and how 4:40: Why Michael's older brothers had a harder time acclimating to American culture than he and his other siblings did, how he has learned from that experience and brought those lessons into how he teaches his own kids to this day 6:35: The importance of honoring our ancestors and getting back to our roots 8:24: Erik shares his experience, being half Guatemalan, visiting his family there and learning lessons about his culture 10:12: Michael shares what he does as the Executive Director at Elevate, how culture around diversity has changed since he's been in the industry from 2006, the importance for a business to build a strong connection with diverse audiences and build it into their processes 13:21: The growth in multicultural audiences and needs and why businesses have died because they could not serve them, walking the walk in terms of hiring experts who can help businesses talk to those diverse audiences and one of Michael's favorite experiences working with State Farm 17:43: Making speaking to diverse audiences an intentional process that is built into your business rather than an “add-on” and making real change through budgets, resources and decisions 20:59: Michael talks about Cultural Practitioners at OMG and how they keep teams and clients accountable to their plans of diversity 22:34: The many places Michael draws inspiration from 24:55: Michael shares the idea of having his own Board of Directors, those he goes to for advice and vice versa, and how they help each other along their professional journeys 26:31: What excites Michael about the future of the media tech industry, along with some things he is cautious about 27:31: Some important lessons Michael has learned growing up that he passes on to others as well as his kids, and the importance of a “we” environment over a “me” environment 30:24: What Michael has learned from working with the generation coming up in workplaces, taking into account what they've been through, and the advice they've given him as well 32:54: Advice Michael would give to himself at the beginning of his career and one of his biggest regrets 34:24: What is in Michael's music rotation right now, including what music from his children slip into his playlists and how the world has really changed in terms of what music is not available and accepted worldwide 38:03: How to get in touch with Michael Roca Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 164, Kerel talks with Claudia Romo Edelman, Founder at We Are All Human, a non-profit organization that has a single purpose to remind people that we belong to the same human family. Claudia was born in Mexico City to two parents, both basketball players, she was surrounded by strong females, learned discipline and other successful traits, moved to Europe to work with the UN, and then eventually moved to America. For the first time in her life, she learned what Hispanic was, why people called her that and the ramifications of shame, embarrassment and other negative connotations that came from that. Since starting her career, Claudia has had a massive impact, not only on the Hispanic community, but also other minority communities in helping them uncover and use their authentic power. Claudia claims she is not an activist, but a factivist - a person who fights for societal change based on facts and data. She has discovered that groups historically known as the minority in the United States are transforming into the majority, why companies should pay attention to them and how much buying power they have, and how those in the Hispanic community can be a voice for their community as they move into senior positions at top corporations. Claudia has so many resources to help those in minority groups find their power and make a difference including her foundation, her A LA LATINA podcast, the Hispanic Leadership Summit, the Hispanic Star and more. Timestamps :34: Claudia Romo Edelman, Founder at We Are All Human shares her experience being born and growing up in Mexico to two professional basketball players, finishing college, moving to Europe and how her world changed after hearing she was “Hispanic” for the first time 1:53: How growing up with two parents who played basketball encouraged her to live with specific qualities and traits of successful and disciplined people 4:39: Why Claudia is so dedicated to create social change based on her experiences growing up and seeing the massive societal changes over her lifetime 6:14: Claudia shares where she gets her drive to carry out social change from, how she stays positive about the future where there are a lot of people who see a lot of negatives and get frustrated, and the one thing she stays true to to help her in her journey 9:22: Claudia's perspective of growing up learning six different languages, how she shifted parts of herself to change how others saw her, and why it's so important to feel pride to be different, to know multiple languages, and to be Hispanic or any other sort of “minority” 14:01: The purpose of the We Are All Human Foundation, using data to understand trends of hate and how to fight it, recognizing the power of the Hispanic community and how to use it by communicating with each other and staying true to it, and the creation of the Hispanic star symbol 18:04: Claudia talks about her A LA LATINA podcast, a playbook to succeed being your authentic self to help Latinas break the glass ceiling in representation in top corporations, as well as other minority groups 19:46: How Claudia approaches mentoring others, why it's important to be open to help, mentoring at large through her podcast, and creating the Hispanic Leadership Summit to gather leaders to help inspire, educate, empower and mobilize others in their community 22:44: Where Claudia draws inspiration from, flipping the script for others on using their authenticity and culture in their work, and how to make it work for you 25:44: What advice Claudia would give herself when she was first starting her career 27:37: Claudia's favorite sport 27:52: The one artist who is in Claudia's musical rotation who has inspired artists across genres in the past, now, and beyond 28:22: Where to find and connect with Claudia Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 163, Erik and Kerel talk with Doug Melville, a DEI executive and author of ‘Invisible Generals,' a story about America's first two black generals, a father and a son, who helped integrate the military, create and command the Tuskegee Airmen, and beyond. Doug grew up with a majority mixed race family, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, went to Syracuse University, majored in marketing, worked with public figures such as Britney Spears, Quincy Jones, Charlamagne Tha God to name a few and eventually found himself in DEI. Doug shares his family story, why it's so important to own your own family's story, becoming a powerful networker and communicator, what it was like to grow up mixed race in different communities, committing to helping people be seen, getting his book published by Simon and Schuster, the current state of the DEI space, advice for global DEI officers, where he draws inspiration, and so much more. “Sometimes the skills that we pick up, negotiation, communication, storytelling, are actually the things that are going to change the way these companies operate, and the outcomes.” Timestamps :34: Doug Melville, a DEI executive and author of ‘Invisible Generals,' shares where he grew up, going to Syracuse University, and his first job riding around in Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobiles and doing PR 2:37: Doug's perspective on going to and staying in one industry vs. exploring different industries, working with Britney Spears, Quincy Jones, Tommy and Andy Hilfiger, the importance of networking and what defines success or failure 9:15: What it felt like for Doug to grow up mixed race, gaining experience in both rich and primarily black cities, and how that's helped him in business and his career 11:56: Doug explains his family story, how he got to learn about his family's history, being pushed to write his book ‘Invisible Generals,' and making a commitment as chief diversity officer to help ensure companies don't keep people invisible 16:16: After receiving feedback regarding happy hours at his work, Doug and his CEO at the time, Rob, started a talk show in the lobby bringing celebrities, public figures, and more in order to, rather than serve alcohol, serve education, in addition, having Charlamagne Tha God, who eventually helped Rob get his book published 22:04: Doug's thoughts on the current state of DEI and executives in the space including how he believes structures have not been set up over the past few years to create the space for diversity programs and initiatives to be effective 28:42: What makes an effective global DEI officer, what they need to know in order to be successful 32:28: What Doug has learned from living in Geneva, Switzerland the past two years as a global DEI officer 35:21: Where Doug draws inspiration from, including many of his mentors, and those who come in pairs, like father and son 37:14: What's in Doug's music rotation right now, including a lot of hip hop 38:22: Where to buy Doug's book ‘Invisible Generals' and also attend events and booking signings 42:13: Where to connect with Doug on LinkedIn and Instagram Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 162, Erik and Kerel talk with NoorJehan Tourte, Group SVP, Strategic Planner at Area 23, a healthcare advertising agency about growing up in the Mojave Desert with her Indian family and community, moving to LA proper at 15, and being exposed to so many more people and cultures which really influenced how she lives her life and works today. Following in her brother's footsteps of being on track to go to med school, NoorJehan eventually figured out that going to business school to get her MBA was a much more exciting path. From starting out in advertising in the Pharma space at Pfizer, to eventually getting into marketing at Area 23, NoorJehan has learned quite a bit. She shares a mission of her own about getting women really excited about failure, being a part of the Sports Illustrated Swim Search competition, a story about falling off a couch on her birthday and how she made that a win, the cycles of female friendships, great advice that she's given and passed along to the listeners, and so much more. Timestamps :37: NoorJehan Tourte, Group SVP, Strategic Planner at Area 23, shares where she's currently located, where her roots are and where she went to college 2:18: NoorJehan explores the transition at 15 years old from her Indian community in the Mojave Desert to proper LA and being introduced to even more cultures 3:34: What NoorJehan has learned from having a foot and experience in so many different communities and how she has built and evolved her identity because of that 6:34: What Area 23 is, their scope of responsibilities and clients 8:27: The intentional decisions by NoorJehan behind working in Pharma, at Pfizer, and getting into marketing and advertising, where she was initially going, and the internship that made her want to be on the business side of healthcare 14:18: NoorJehan shares her mission about helping women get really excited about failure and learning in a world where so many women pressure themselves to be perfect 17:43: NoorJehan tells a story that illustrates how she has fallen or failed and picked herself back up to make it mean something 20:21: What NoorJehan learned about the other women through the Sports Illustrated Swim Search competition and how it allowed her to be more authentic and create valuable female friendships out of it 23:00: How female friendships evolve through different life phases, why being sensitive isn't a bad thing at all, how NoorJehan views feedback, and what to remind yourself of when something doesn't go your way 27:10: Where NoorJehan draws inspiration from, including some great advice she was given from the person who inspired her to get into strategy 28:30: The advice NoorJehan would give her her younger self just starting out in the workforce 29:38: What is in NoorJehan's music rotation including a nonstop playlist, and what her music reminds her of 30:45: How to stay in touch with NoorJehan Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 161, Erik and Kerel talk with Maria Morukian, CEO at MSM Global Consulting, a company offering a unique approach to organizational culture change by empowering organizations to achieve greater success through embracing equity, diversity and inclusivity. They talk about Maria's multicultural upbringing, how that has inspired and impacted her work in the DEI space today, lessons and stories from her life and work, the premise of MSM Global Consulting and how they partner and collaborate with clients to do the real work, not the performative DEI work. Maria shares so many powerful stories and examples of the work and challenges that come up in DEI. Stories range from people practicing expansion, companies not understanding the actual work they need to do rather than surface level, pointing at leadership to blame, and how all of us “coming to the table” isn't the inclusive act many think it is. She also tells us what keeps her up at night, what she's grateful for right now, and what's made her laugh lately - questions asked from her idea of Compassionate Leadership. Timestamps :35: Maria Morukian, CEO at MSM Global Consulting shares her family's past with fleeing, immigrating from Europe to Cuba, her growing up speaking spanish in Detroit, and her experience seeing racial segregation and cultural differences all around her 3:53: How Maria's past with ties to Cuba, Istanbul, the Caribbean, having a multilingual and eclectic family has influenced her work in DEI today 6:38: One of the biggest lessons learned by Maria and how to find balance in the work of DEI 8:03: How Maria balances differences of opinions, experiences and more within DEI and how she sees whether a company is really there to learn or if it's a performative stance 9:50: What MSM Global Consulting is based on, how they partner and collaborate with clients, and what work they do in the entire process 12:07: How MSM Global Consulting measures DEI initiatives of items such as belonging and inclusion on a tangible level and how companies can start telling themselves the wrong story 16:29: Maria explains the importance of belonging, how to cultivate culture in organizations for belonging to be felt, and why the data is important 18:39: A topic that was brought up in Maria's TED Talk, practicing expansion, is explained, how our human nature is to gravitate to others like us and becoming aware of that, and what it means to truly be inclusive 22:13: Maria shares a powerful story about two US veterans having very different opinions on a polarizing topic while still being able to relate on the shared veteran status, an excellent example of practicing expansion 26:40: Where the future of DEI is going, why it's a fascinating time to be in the work, stay in it and to build a future that has never existed before 29:37: Advice for those who want to make a difference in DEI in their organization but get a lot of pushback, growing our allyship, and expanding out of our networks 30:26: Erik asks Maria a few questions to check-in in regards to being a compassionate leader, an idea by Maria, and for this one, she shares what's made her laugh recently 33:46: Maria is asked what's she's grateful for today and shares what types of friendships are important 34:53: Maria is asked what keeps her up at night, the polarization in our world, and what will happen if we continue on this path 36:30: Maria shares what advice she'd give to herself 20 years ago 37:08: What is in Maria's music rotation right now including digging into some 90's hip hop 38:34: Where to find Maria, her podcast “Culture Stew,” see more about MSM Global Consulting, and her book “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Trainers: Fostering DEI in the Workplace” Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 160, Erik and Kerel talk with Lynne D. Johnson, Content Director at AdMonsters, about her childhood - born and raised in New York to her mom and dad. Her dad who was in the military taught her discipline, made her make her bed a certain way, her grandmother made her and her siblings polish silver, and other ways that made Lynne the woman and professional she is today. Lynne shares the importance of community, what she's looking forward to most in the ad tech industry in 2024, some bold predictions about audio ads, and the current state of diversity in the ad tech industry. Lynne also tells us where she goes to learn about fresh new ideas and topics in the ad tech industry, how she leans on her service to others being her biggest accomplishment, learning to be more of herself, and advice she would give her younger self. “I'm here as a service. [...] And I don't know if I'm a service leader, per se, but when I think of my accomplishments, I think of how I served other people.” Timestamps :35: A big thank you for Kerel and Erik for Lynne D. Johnson's support of Minority Report Podcast since the beginning 2:08: Lynne D. Johnson, Content Director at AdMonsters, shares her experience growing up in New York with her parents, extended family and grandmother 3:24: A closer look into Lynne's experience living in an extended and multigenerational family home from having chores to having dinner together every night, to going to church every Sunday 7:28: Why community is so important to Lynne personally and with her work at AdMonsters 8:15: Why building community is so vital and why no one is self-made 10:56: What Lynne is looking forward to most in the ad tech industry for 2024 13:40: Lynne's perspective on the current state of diversity in the ad tech industry 19:04: What Lynne reads and follows to learn from others and also to help the people who follow and learn from her 22:25: Lynne's accomplishments that she's most proud of - it may not be what you think 24:29: Who Lynne has learned from and been mentored by throughout her career 27:07: Advice Lynne today would give Lynne back in the era of Web 1.0 28:36: What is in Lynne's music rotation right now plus a few bars from her favorite song at the moment that ties into how she lives her life 30:04: Ways to stay in touch with Lynne over Twitter (X), Instagram, and LinkedIn Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 159, Erik and Kerel talk with Shalita Grant, Founder and CEO of Four Naturals Hair, a company designed to care for type 4 hair, about her upbringing, how it made her tough and resilient, eventually taking her to a full ride at Juilliard at 17, going on to Broadway and nominated for a Tony, to becoming a series regular on NCIS: New Orleans. She also shares her on-set experience of her hair becoming more and more dry and abused by ill-equipped hairstylists eventually leading to leaving her TV show, and how that has brought her business Four Naturals Hair to fruition. Shalita shares how she researched, experimented, and saw incredible results from the plant ingredients and practices she gathered from India and North Africa and has made it her mission to help those with type 4 hair. Four Naturals Hair is all about education, being yourself, and improving the lives of Black women, men and children's lives with their hair. “At the end of the day, if you want a better life, you have to do stuff to get it. And you have to be open to opportunities, and you have to be ready. And it is unfair, because you never know when the opportunity is coming. But that's life, baby, like use what you got.” Timestamps :30: Shalita Grant, Founder and CEO of Four Naturals Hair, shares about her childhood, child of teenage parents, moving around to different towns, locations, and families, and a mention of a Tony nomination for her time on Broadway 2:23: Shalita tells her experience living in multi-generational homes, having teenage parents, how she grew up faster than a lot of kids around her, and getting into Juilliard 5:29: She dives deeper into her experience up to Juilliard, the story about getting kicked out of school and eventually taken to her audition, and her choice between Juillard, NYC, and University of the Arts 10:38: Shalita shares her time at Juilliard, the intensity, how things changed when she was there, and how it prepared her for real life 13:10: Her biggest lesson attending Juillard 15:02: Going from Juilliard to moving to LA, auditioning over 100 times, and joining the television show, NCIS: New Orleans 17:25: Shalita's reaction to being a Tony nominee 18:52: Her grandmother's experience with hair growing up, how her hair became a limitation as an actor, and her journey to eventually leaving NCIS because of the issues 25:11: Shalita shares her frustration with quitting NCIS due to her hair limitation, but realizing it was the right decision for her 27:41: Her journey between leaving NCIS, experimenting with her hair, seeing what others were doing, finding plants that helped her hair become undeniably curly and healthy, to starting Four Naturals Hair and stepping into being an entrepreneur 36:22: The type of work-life balance Shalita keeps with herself and her partner 39:19: Similarities and differences between acting and entrepreneurship or owning your own business 40:22: What's in Shalita's music rotation right now 43:25: What's in Kerel's and Erik's music rotation right now and Kerel's classic new vinyls 46:14: How to stay in touch with Shalita and Four Naturals Hair Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 158, Erik and Kerel talk with Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at Carta, for her second time as a guest on MRP, about her new book coming out October 3rd, “Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace” and her podcast, “Brown Table Talk” with friend and co-host, Dee C. Marshall. Mita dives into the firsthand experiences she's had with prejudice in the workplace, being rejected from many agents for her writing before recently being picked up by Wiley and the lessons she's learned along the way. Mita also shares her intentions for talking to leaders within organizations, what it means to be a leader, and questions leaders need to be asking themselves within the workplace. She gives her perspective as to the lessons we have learned as a society as well as organizations over the pandemic and how we can use those lessons to move forward in a more diverse, inclusive and successful way for all. Mita also gives us the inside scoop on what's in her music rotation right now and even how that really fits hand in hand with her professional career. Timestamps 1:06: What has changed between now and when Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity, and Impact at Carta, was first on MRP for episode 57 2:09: Mita shares about her upcoming book “Reimagine Inclusion: Debunking 13 Myths to Transform Your Workplace” 3:29: Mita's firsthand experiences with the myths she covers in her books including topics of raises, money, women, and more 6:11: Mita's history with writing five novels previously and getting rejected by many agents 6:58: The lessons Mita has learned from writing so many books and being rejected so many times 8:41: Mita talks about her podcast “Brown Table Talk” with fellow friend Dee C. Marshall, how it came to fruition, how they've built a community through that platform, receiving a book deal from the podcast and more 12:36: How Mita and Dee come up with topics for “Brown Table Talk” and receiving messages from the community with topics to incorporate into the show 13:53: Why Mita is intentional in talking to leaders within organizations through her writing, podcast, and content 16:39: Big lessons Mita has learned or observed from companies because of the pandemic including sense of control, work from home or the office, productivity, and more and how the workforce is changing because of it 19:54: What Mita has seen change and improve as far as DEI and leadership over the last couple of years and why companies need to pay attention and authentically understand multicultural consumers 22:12: What music is in Mita's rotation right now 23:27: Mita's book and where you can find it Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
Erik and Kerel recap podcast and industry highlights from the first half of 2023. Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 157, Erik and Kerel talk with Karna Crawford, Global Chief Marketing Officer at Marqeta, the world's first modern card issuing platform. Karna was born in DC, raised in Indianapolis, moved to Atlanta, and eventually found herself at Tulane University studying biomedical engineering and switching to marketing. Growing up watching her mom work as a paralegal, a steady, solid, job, she knew she wanted to do anything but that, which is why the fast paced marketing work excited her so much. She has gone on to work for JP Morgan, Coca Cola, Miller, Coors, Ford, Motor Company, Verizon, and more. Karna shares what challenges Marqeta is currently facing, along with the major impact they're creating in the world, why she chose to work there and why culture was such an important part of her decision. She takes us through her journey of how she figured out what she wanted to do with her life, her mentors who helped so much, helpful advice she has been given and also advice for those who are going into marketing. Karna also talks about what excites her about the future of marketing, where she draws inspiration from, and most importantly - what's in her music rotation right now. “Be curious and listen and learn everything that you can. Even when you've mastered something, find something else to learn, something else to be curious about, because you never know where that will take you, as well as how well it will position you for influence in whatever situation you may find yourself in.” Timestamps :29: Karna Crawford, shares about her fresh start as Global Chief Marketing Officer at Marqeta, what they do and the unique challenges they face 4:16: Karna talks about why she decided to go to Marqeta, why the culture highly impacted her decision, and how she asks the right questions in her interviews to get a good idea of their culture 7:27: Karna shares about her childhood days, why she changed from majoring in biomedical engineering to marketing, and how she got her first job in marketing 11:56: The importance of having a mentor alongside you for your career path and how her goals have changed over the years 17:17: Two of the best pieces of advice Karna has received 19:16: What excites Karna about the future of marketing including culture, social media, and data 21:23: Where Karna draws inspiration from and how the younger generations help with today's marketing 23:22 Three pieces of advice for someone who's starting their career in marketing 28:05: What songs are in Karna's music rotation right now 30:32: How to find Karna on LinkedIn Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 156, Erik and Kerel talk with Ayanna Lott-Pollard, Executive Director at Resilient Coders, whose mission is social justice through economic empowerment through educating black and brown folks from low income communities to become software engineers. Ayanna is West Philadelphia, born and raised, just like her parents, is the oldest of 4 siblings, and graduated from the school of Communications and Theater at Temple University. From there, her career path has been nonlinear to say the least, getting opportunities to work in advertising, healthcare, government, including a stint at the White House, operations and now tech adjacent. Ayanna talks about how her nonlinear career path came from following her heart, how life has directed her to places, organizations, and opportunities in which she deeply cares for, and why she loves learning and where she has developed her growth mindself. She also goes into the current landscape of technology, AI, automation, the importance of skills and diversity at the table, having a vision for yourself, and more. “It's essential that these organizations, these multibillion dollar organizations and some of the smaller ones as well, that they become inclusive. And it's not just because like I said, it's an ethical, it's a moral issue, it's because we're creating technologies, we're creating opportunities, we're reinventing what this world will look like. And in order for that to be equitable, we need everybody. We need more people at the table.” Timestamps 1:24: Ayanna Lott-Pollard, Executive Director at Resilient Coders, shares Resilient Coders' inception, mission, and more details of what the 20 week bootcamp entails 4:34: Just like Will from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Ayanna shares that she was born and raised in West Philadelphia as well as getting into her family history, path to college and nonlinear career path 6:51: Why Ayanna's career path has been untraditional and how life has directed her to certain places and organizations based on her life experiences 8:08: What drives Ayanna's passion for continued learning, growing, and education for herself 9:59: Ayanna explains why skills are the new degree requirement, how automation and AI is impacting both workers and employers, and the future of tech jobs 12:23: The ethical and financial importance of decreasing the risk of discriminatory design in tech by putting diverse people in designer roles and have a seat at the table 18:11: What excites Ayanna about the future of technology and the impact Resilient Coders is creating for entire generations 20:13: The importance of Resilient Coders alumni 22:50: What inspires Ayanna to develop teams and be a transformational leader and what purpose means to her 26:02: The best piece of advice Ayanna has ever received 27:27: Ayanna's current music rotation, including a Philly playlist, gospel, and a wide range of other music 28:26: Erik, Kerel, and Ayanna chat about and share their love for the TV show Bel Air and why it's really important and its focus on black excellence 30:20 Where you can connect with Ayanna and find more information about Resilient Coders Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 155, Erik and Kerel talk with Karen Vega, Vice President, Audience Impact & Intelligence at Paramount Advertising, a branch of Paramount, a company that develops strategic and collaborative solutions that connect their partners to their diverse, passionate fan base. Karen was born in Colombia, migrated to the states at 13 years old and always had the dream of working in entertainment. Her mother, who was a writer, was in love with the industry and was really formative to Karen eventually working in it. She eventually went to LaSalle University and Seton Hall University to major in communications and minor in Hispanic studies. She has worked at major companies including iHeart, Billboard, FTI Consulting, Viacom, and Viacom CBS. Karen shares about her experience as an immigrant, how she got started in communications and advertising, why she loves working with Paramount and has just passed her eight year work anniversary. She also talks about what is important to her as a working professional - networking, continuing education, mentoring, sharing the narrative of LatinX, work-life balance, and more. “With a big company, you see so much change happen. It can be daunting for people. But I would say it has really fit me and benefited me and my personality because I like change. I see opportunity in change. And so when change happens I actually lean in. I observe, but I lean in. And I think that's been really helpful to my career and my development as a professional within Paramount.” Timestamps :44: Karen Vega, Vice President of Audience Impact & Intelligence at Paramount Advertising, shares where she's working from, where she grew up, when she immigrated to the United States and her meaningful trips home 3:11: Karen talks about her experience coming to America and memories that mean a lot to her around that time 6:24: How Karen got started in her career of communications and advertising, how her mom played a major role, going to college in Philly and eventually making it back to New York City 8:54: Why Karen loves working at Paramount and how it fits her personality 11:02: Karen's take on career growth and development and how important networking and continuing education is for a working professional 13:17: Advice Karen would give her younger self in her career 15:26: Karen shares how she advocates for LatinX representation and opportunity in the advertising space and why it's important to shift the narrative 20:27: Karen talks about a negative personal experience she's had with people who lost empathy for others 23:53: How Karen likes mentoring and why it's so important for her to mentor others 26:50: Karen shares about her experience with life-balance, the boundaries she sets, and how she works with a hybrid model 30:42: What is on Karen's music playlist right now 32:24: Where to find and connect with Karen Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 154, Erik and Kerel talk with Tenisha Griggs, VP, Head of Global Media at Terminus, a company that combines intent and web-engagement data with industry-leading b2b digital advertising capabilities to build brand awareness. Tenisha is originally from Detroit, Michigan but made her way to Atlanta with a full ride to Georgia Tech for track while studying business management and she has stayed in the city since then. Growing up as an athlete as well as her parents becoming entrepreneurs helped her build characteristics to help her in the business world today working at places such as AT&T and other telecom companies. Tenisha shares her experience of going from a student-athlete to being competitive in the business world, strong qualities she has adopted from her hard working parents, what she loves about Atlanta, and how she pushes herself to try new things. She also talks about her seven year old son who she co-wrote a book with during the pandemic and was featured on Fox News, how important it is to make time for him, why she requires a work life balance, how she has grown in her career and personal life to where she can advocate for herself, the one main place she from which she draws inspiration, and so much more. Timestamps :58: Tenisha Griggs, VP, Head of Global Media at Terminus shares the experience she had recently being nominated for Advertiser of the Year at the AdExchanger Awards 2:03: Tenisha explains Terminus and what they do 3:03: Tenshia tells about her childhood, growing up in Detroit, getting a full ride to LSU and Georgia Tech, and being the middle child 3:53: The unique experience Tenisha had leaving home and being a student-athlete in college 4:55: How athletics helped Tenshia establish herself in the business world, what she learned from that experience, and how she's had to be aware of her competitiveness 6:44: A few things she learned from her parents who were entrepreneurs and followed their dreams 8:14: Tenisha's feelings about Detroit vs. Atlanta and why Atlanta will probably stay her home for a while 9:43: Tenshia shares her career journey going from studying business management in college, to taking an internship at Def Jam, moving to telecom sales, marketing, eventually ending up at AT&T, leaving at the merger and joining Terminus 13:11: Why Tenshia has been so unafraid to try new things, how she has utilized her transferable skills for new positions, and advocating for herself 15:43: Some of the things Tenshia loves about her role today as VP, Head of Global Media at Terminus 16:41: Tenshia shares about her seven year old son, the notes he leaves her when she's in work meetings, the rocks they paint, and how it has been a learning experience for communication and building a relationship with her son 19:12: Tenisha talks about the book her and her son wrote together during the pandemic, one of her most proud moments, and how they were also featured on Fox News 21:14: Some things Tenisha and her son has learned as she has started working from home due to the pandemic 22:23: How Tenisha prioritizes work life balance and how she has learned to advocate for that, not just as a bonus, but as a requirement 24:19: Experiences Tenshia has had with discrimination, the lessons she's learned and how she overcame those times 27:49: The importance of having many mentors in your life, being a mentor, and also why Tenisha no longer fears competition 31:29: Tenisha touches on where she gets inspiration from, including her faith 32:34: What is in Tenisha's music rotation these days 33:54: How to contact Tenisha for tips, questions, life advice, whatever Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 153 live from AdMonsters PubForum Miami, Erik and Kerel talk with Chris Contreras, Chief Customer Officer at MNTN. Chris was first born American after his parents moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic. He comes from a long line of well-acclaimed family members, his father who taught himself English and practiced medicine, a mother who was an architect, and his grandmother who was the first female to run a bank in the Dominican Republic. Chris deciding between medicine and business eventually chose finance and has worked at Univision, NBC, Snap, and more Global Customer Success organizations. Chris not only works full-time at MNTN but also has a lot of outside obligations including founding an angel fund, a mentorship program through MNTN, as well as a mentorship program in the CS sector, and mentoring VPs and SVPs. He believes that DEI is not something to be promoted as a time-based initiative, but something that is weaved into a workplace and leadership. Chris shares soft and hard skills employees need to have stepping into leadership positions, the importance of mentorship and why future leaders need to get clarity on their weaknesses to figure out a great balance for themselves, their team, and their company. “I think communication is such a valuable component. As you move up in your career, the clarity, the succinctness of which you provide feedback, and just general guidance to a customer and internal constituent becomes even more and more important, because the time that you have with senior leaders is very limited.” Timestamps :33: Chris Contreras, Chief Customer Officer at MNTN, shares his career background with Univision, NBC, Spap, currently MNTN, and other startups 1:25: Chris talks about his family history, being the middle child of three boys, his family coming from the Dominican Republic, and him being a first born American 2:37: Chris shares about how he is a servant leader after being a part of a bad leadership experience, what it takes to move from junior roles to leadership roles, and how he's carved his own path 4:55: The best advice Chris has received from his mentor, fellow servant leader, Charlie Echeverry who was the CRO for Univision Digital 6:24: An example of how Chris has seen the impact of leadership and how great teams have helped companies thrive 8:55: Chris shares the training program MNTN has for new employees who may not have ad tech experience and why it's so important for those people to be involved in the evolution of building and growing the onboarding experience 11:30: Chris talkies about the two pieces about his leadership style and how he brings inclusivity to his companies 11:51: How Chris focuses on making sure there are opportunities for people who are behind him after he leaves his company 14:46: How Chris has navigated two important parts of his career, his ability to manage and his ability to build a pipeline behind him for others to take his role 16:44: Chris shares how leaders can allow their careers to move forward without getting boxed into a specific role 18:48: Chris's experience with moving into leadership positions, this mistakes that were made, and how he has learned to develop employees to take over in leadership positions 21:11: Important soft and hard skills to have moving into leadership positions 21:53: Chris talks about the importance of mentorship in leadership and why people should reach out to possible mentors no matter if they think they will say yes or not 24:45: Where Chris draws inspiration from 25:21: One piece of advice for anyone who's looking to level up into a new leadership position 27:03: What is on Chris's music rotation these days including 27:21: Where listeners can connect with Chris and MNTN Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 152, Erik and Kerel talk with Jessica Lee-Wen, Chief Marketing Officer at Thrive FP, a company focused on investing in real estate while also doing good in the community. Jessica was first generation-born Canadian, born to her mom and dad who are both from China who met in Vancouver and had her and her brother. Her mother, a pharmacist commuting two hours everyday for work, taught her a lot about having a strong work ethic, and her father really showed her a nurturing side as he managed restaurants that her family owned. Jessica got interested in marketing after watching the movie “What Women Want” and dove into really understanding people, helping them feel like they belong and creating a community. Jessica shares how she started the Casoro Group Education Foundation which focuses on closing the generational wealth gap and increasing diversity in the real estate industry through education, experience, and opportunities. She gives her biggest advice to people looking to get into the marketing industry and how she approaches mentoring others and cultivating relationships. Jessica touches on her experience with discrimination in the marketing world including sexism and how she overcomes that and also how she draws inspiration from stories of resilience and grit. “I think one of the things that I always encourage is, ask questions. So much to the point where I establish, like, every time we meet, or every time we're in a meeting with other people, I'm expecting you to ask me, or ask the group, at least two or three questions, mandatory. It could be, you know, "What is that term that was used? What does that mean?" Whatever that question is. So I think as mentors, we should be encouraging and creating an environment where the mentees feel comfortable asking questions.” Timestamps :32: Jessica Lee-Wen, Chief Marketing Officer at Thrive FP, shares what she means by “a CMO using her powers for good” and “better homes for better lives” 1:51: What makes Thrive FP unique 2:39: Jessica tells us where she grew up, what her mother and father did, and how her experience was much different from Western cultured children and even those of Chinese culture 5:12: How Jessica's mother and father inspired her to be who she is today and embracing Western culture 6:53: Jessica shares how the Casoro Group Education Foundation came to life over the pandemic, learning more about the inequalities in the US and being a solution to the array of problems people were and are facing 11:07: Why Jessica and the Casoro Group focuses on multifamily real estate investments, building community within them, and cultivating a real home for people that provides real life value 14:01: How Jessica got into marketing and the Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt movie that really inspired her 15:30: Jessica provides tips and ideas on how to create a more inclusive and diverse space in the marketing industry, the importance of relationships, and internships with a DEI focus 17:06: Personal experiences when Jessica has felt different and has faced discrimination, especially as a woman 19:25: What kinds of wisdom and knowledge Jessica passes on to her mentees 21:02: The types of stories and media Jessica draws inspiration from 21:44: Jessica's advice for anyone who's looking to enter the marketing field 22:33: What is in Jessica's music rotation and the top three apps she uses on a daily basis for inspiration and guilty pleasures 24:23 How to connect with Jessica and the Casoro Group Education Foundation Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 151, Erik and Kerel talk with Luis Romero, Senior Vice President and Head of Sales North America at The Guardian US, the world's leading liberal site in information and news. Luis grew up in New York City to two parents who immigrated from Ecuador. They often had various family members staying with them, in addition to his younger brother and sister, which taught him the importance of family and influenced his leadership style later in life. He has worked at companies such as NBC Universal, Univision, CATS Media, Media Nine Group and other tremendous brands and organizations leading multicultural and sales divisions. Luis shares the work he and his colleagues are doing at The Guardian, how his experiences at previous jobs have taught him so much about business, different cultures, and the ways to market to specific people in the marketplace over various platforms. He talks about the changes that are currently being made in the marketplace as far as diversity and budgets and he gives advice for anyone who is looking to get into sales in the digital media space. “If you're naturally curious, asking questions about anything is a great skill set to have as a salesperson. I think the better salespeople are just naturally curious. They're just going to ask questions, and not just because they have a script. Of course, you have to ask all those questions, but it's really just learning about someone's business and what makes them tick.” Timestamps :36: Luis Romero, Senior Vice President and Head of Sales North America at The Guardian US, shares about his upbringing in New York City with his parents immigrating from Ecuador and other various family members 6:40: How Luis was led to working at The Guardian, what they do, who they represent, and what they stand for 12:29: Luis talks about how his upbringing has formed the ways in which he thinks now in his work at The Guardian and in previous positions 15:34: Luis' experience being a father of three, including a newborn, how he balances life and work, and how the pandemic has given him an opportunity to be more present 18:26: Luis shares his unique time working at companies like NBC Universal, Univision, Cats Media Group, Group Nine Media and leading their roles in multicultural sales 26:36: Luis' thoughts on how the marketplace and different brands are making space and moving around budgets to incorporate different cultures in their sales and marketing strategies 31:05: Where Luis draws his inspiration from 32:12: Advice for those who are thinking about a career in sales or entering the digital media space 34:37: Luis talks about his success, how he gives a lot of credit to it all starting at home with his family 35:37: Luis' top three apps and the wide range of music he's listening to these days 38:22: Where to reach Luis and connect Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 150, Erik and Kerel talk with Justin Barton, SVP of Digital Strategy & Partnerships at Black Enterprise, a digital resource for black entrepreneurs, black-owned businesses, and career, tech, and money content for black people. Justin was born in Brooklyn, NY to his mother and father who were both educators in New York. He eventually went on to Hofstra University to get his BA in Business Administration and got his MBA at Long Island University. Justin has been working in the media industry for about 18 years now and his repertoire includes Viacom, iHeartMedia, MTV News, and Daily Mail. Justin stresses the importance of companies using black owned media to reach black viewers as well as increasing the number of diversity hires in the workplace and media environment. He shares the different types of black stories they're writing and sharing at Black Enterprise - lifestyle, local, financial, and more. Justin also talks through his career journey of climbing up the ladder from analyst to eventually SVP and what it took to get him there including skills, networking and experience. “Don't stay somewhere where you're not appreciated, don't stay somewhere where your opinions aren't taken seriously” Timestamps :37: Justin Barton, SVP of Digital Strategy & Partnerships at Black Enterprise shares his experience growing up in New York and where he got his education 1:35: Justin talks about his mother and father, both originally from Brooklyn and educators 3:16: Justin shares his experience at his first job out of college in Finance and then eventually moving to media at Disney ABC television 4:37: What is going on at Black Enterprise, including how the pandemic affected the company, and how they've had a meteoric rise in the past 3 years 7:12: Justin talks about how his career has been affected by him being a black man and one of the things that has kept him in the right place at the right time with the right people 10:19: What the “board list” at Black Enterprise is, how it has helped black people get onto executive boards and C-suite positions, and their commitment to get people of color in more of those types of roles 13:35: The effort and commitment to push more advertising dollars to diverse people and agencies and educating others on black media in general 16:12: Justin talks about the importance of getting black content out to people from a trusted source 17:35: What it takes to have a great career in media 22:20: How networking is so important to developing professional and personal relationships in your industry, especially media specific 24:09: Justin shares his top 3 apps that help keep him informed and entertained 26:16: How to connect with Justin Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 149, Kerel Cooper talks with Detavio Samuels, CEO at REVOLT, a Black-owned and operated multimedia platform servicing content 24/7 across digital, linear, and live media channels. Detavio shares his excitement with the changes he witnessed at The REVOLT Summit held in September 2022 in Atlanta, GA, the impact being made on black culture by the black community, and how he feels his passion is the thing that makes him the most dangerous than anyone else in the space. He also shares his thoughts on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the media space and how more work has to be done to credit black creators for their work, how REVOLT is shifting the narrative for black people, not just in the United States, but the entire black diaspora, and where he draws inspiration from, including the one and only Sean Combs. “I always say that I'm not the smartest, I don't have to be the brightest, but in this role, and in this space, I'm one of the most dangerous. And I'm dangerous because of everything you just said, because I'm aligned with my passions, I'm aligned with my purpose, I'm aligned with my mission, I'm doing all the things that feed my soul.” Timestamps :47: Detavio Samuels, CEO at REVOLT, talks about The Revolt Summit in September 2022, bringing the next generation of future leaders together and strengthening the REVOLT brand around black culture 2:40: Why REVOLT moved to Atlanta, how Atlanta is the black mecca for all things black culture, and being able to create more opportunities for the black community 4:14: Detavio's family life growing up in Boulder, Colorado, to his mother whose family is from Chicago and who helped cultivate his faith and his father who is Jamaican, born in Costa Rica, who was immersed in black culture 6:05: Detavio shares his college journey starting at Duke University, his favorite Duke basketball player, his goals of being an executive, pledging to Kappa Alpha Psi, and discovering marketing which was the thing that set his soul on fire 9:26: Detavio's start at Johnson & Johnson, while creating a company on the side and figuring out what to do with his career 10:09: The importance of following the footsteps of people who are in the position you want to be in, studying the anomalies and how Detavio used that strategy while in college and moving into his career 11:50: How Detavio moved to REVOLT, coming from Johnson & Johnson, GlobalHue, and getting into the media game to create content that people wanted to watch 13:17: Detavio's journey from starting as COO at REVOLT and moving to CEO 14:27: How Detavio feels about being the face of the REVOLT brand, the challenges he faces internally and externally 16:26: The part of being CEO at REVOLT that Detavio enjoys the most and how his passion for the work he does makes him more dangerous than anyone else in the space 17:59: Detavio's thoughts on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the media space, how there has been movement, but still so much more ground to cover, and closing the gap between what black culture creates and how much they get credit and paid 21:43: What's exciting Detavio at REVOLT right now, the change that is being created, shifting the narrative for black people all over the world by building the world's largest, most powerful black storytelling engine 23:42: Where Detavio draws inspiration from, his first interview with Sean Combs, and the importance of being able to be yourself wherever you're working 26:12: Detavio's top three apps he uses to chat with people all over the world, help him create content for Instagram, and to help him unwind 28:49: How to find Detavio and REVOLT on social media Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 148, Erik and Kerel talk with Guy Griggs, Vice President of National Sales at The New York Times. Guy was born and raised in Long Island, New York, went to school at James Madison University in Virginia, moved back to NY after graduation and hasn't left. His parents, both educators, cared very deeply about his education which has provided him the right tools for his career and showed him the value of focus and hard work. Right out of college, Guy started working at Bloomberg in the finance department then to sales, moved to Adwalker to get into advertising, then to CNN, The Washington Post, and is currently at the New York Times. Guy shares different aspects of his experience moving through his media and advertising career such as the importance and necessity of networking, leaving workplaces if they are not inclusive and supportive, and finding a mentor or sponsors who you can emulate and learn valuable lessons from. He talks about his experience with being the “different” one in many rooms he's stepped into as well as feeling imposter syndrome, how he has become a better leader and mentor to others, and the value he places on the transparency of diversity, equity, and inclusion in his workplace. “I feel like you follow people and when you're with people who are supportive, and accepting and inclusive, that's where you're going to do your best work, that's where your mind is going to expand. And I would encourage people, if they're not feeling comfortable in the workplace, then leave. There are a million other jobs, we work way too much and way too hard to be confined to a place where we're unhappy or we're not feeling valued.” Timestamps: :47: Guy Griggs, Vice President of National Sales at The New York Times, shares where he grew up and was raised, where he went to college, and where he stays currently 2:03: We learn more about Guy's experience at James Madison University, the beauty of the campus and community, and some run ins that came up as a new face in the area 4:04: Guy talks about his parents who were both educators, how that shaped his childhood in school and how it has become useful in his career path now 5:34: Guy shares where he started off in his career right out of college, making a lateral move to do what he really wanted, which was advertising and where he is now; Bloomberg, Adwalker, CNN, The Washington Post, The New York Times 10:55: The importance of networking in the media and advertising industry and how Guy used his network to work at all these different companies 12:03: Guy breaks down the difference between being an individual salesperson and a sales leader of a team 16:34: How Guy has used his mentors and sponsors to help him become better in his jobs and how he has passed those strategies along to his mentees as well 20:13: What leading by example means to Guy and how he looks at people in his life who lead by example and emulates them; ie. The NYT CEO, Meredith Kopit Levien 23:34: Guy on imposter syndrome and how he deals with feelings of being judged walking into a room or in a meeting and becoming a good leader through those times 29:07: The importance of DEI at The NYT and at any workplace to make sure the employees feel included and the workplace is diverse with different backgrounds and thoughts to create better outcomes 31:00: The number one app Guy uses on his phones to share his life and tell stories 31:48: Guy's love of music, the Apple music app, Beyonce, and the fun ways he uses Venmo in his life and with friends 33:37: Guy shares his favorite book on his bookshelf behind him and how he acquired so many books 36:04: Where you can find Guy on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and email Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 147, Erik and Kerel talk with Mary Myers, Author of African Born: An American Story. Mary was born in Ethiopia and had multiple scholarship opportunities that brought her to the United States right after high school graduation. With no connections, no family or friends, and no roadmap, she sought out the freedom that she once craved back home. She eventually went on to work for Amazon, Dow, and Bank Of America, just to name a few. While facing multiple hardships, Mary decided to take a break from work and found herself writing. This writing turned into her first book, half memoir, half self-help, African Born: An American Story which is filled with real life stories and poetry. Mary shares her experience as a young girl in Ethiopia who was about to go onto study Civil Engineering, but found a way out through a scholarship and a little fish in a big pond in the United States. She shares how she wanted so badly to create her own path, experience freedom, and be more available to the opportunities that she was seeking. Mary has advice for those who want to write a book, what she goes over in her book, and what made her write it in the first place. “If you can effectively tell your story, and understand how the skill you're building and the background you have fits into what this company is trying to solve, I think that would make you a really good candidate.” Timestamps: :29: Mary Myers, Author of African Born: An American Story, talks about where she grew up and her journey to the United States 2:33: Mary shares why she was so focused on leaving Ethiopia for the U.S. and finding the freedom she was seeking 4:03: The path that Mary would have taken if she had stayed in Ethiopia 6:15: Mary talks about her book, African Born: An American Story, how that came about, the passion to tell her story, and the struggles she was facing at the time of writing it 8:05: Mary breaks down what being bold means to her and what questions she asks herself to make sure she is staying her true self 9:28: How Mary started her career path in the U.S. after coming over with no contacts or connections and no roadmap guiding her where to go 11:35: The two things Mary tries to pass onto people she works with within leadership, DEI in tech, and strategy to help in their careers 13:05: What Mary is going to do when she goes back to her home of Ethiopia after moving away 13 years ago 14:39: The places Mary draws inspiration from, including conversations and books 15:21: Advice for anyone who wants to write a book 16:28: The top three apps Mary uses for entertainment, education and inspiration 17:00: Where to find Mary Myers and how to buy her book African Born: An American Story Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 146, Erik and Kerel talk with Miki Reynolds, CEO at Grid110, a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles that provides free entrepreneurship programs to early stage founders. Miki was born and raised in the Bay Area, Alameda, with her mom, who is Japanese and her dad, who is Caucasian American. Growing up mixed, Miki never really explored her multicultural identity until she went to college at UCLA and found more people who were exploring their identities there. She has worked in tech her whole career, co-founded Grid110 with 6 other people and eventually stepped into the role of the Executive Director a few years in, then moving to CEO about a year and a half ago. Miki shares the work that's happening at Grid110 including working with almost 250 companies so far, 70% led by women and 74% led by founders of color. She also talks about her work life blend and how what she does outside of work sometimes looks similar to what she does inside of work - being on the advisory board for Women in STEM LA and South by Southwest, to name a couple. Miki shares how she has faced imposter syndrome, a couple ways on how to overcome it, how to become a possibility model to show others what's possible, and what Grid110 looks for in founders before they consider working with them. On imposter syndrome: “I think it's just reminding yourself that if something like that comes up, you were invited to that table. That there was a reason that you were chosen, that this is being presented to you and that is they want to hear your voice, your perspective. And you have one. I think it's just to have confidence in that and to figure out what is it that I want to say? And how do I want to share it?” Timestamps :46: Miki Reynolds, CEO and Co-Founder of Grid110 shares what Grid110 is and what is happening there these days 2:15: Miki talks about where she's from, where her parents are from, her experience growing up as mixed (Japanese and white) and how she didn't really find community until college 6:00: How Miki's mom's experiences have influenced how Miki lives her life 8:01: Miki tells Erik and Kerel about the work she's doing outside of Grid110, including being on the advisory boards for Women in STEM LA and South by Southwest 10:57: The biggest thing Miki has learned from being a co-founder and CEO of Grid110 and the journey she went on to step into the CEO role 15:45: The most rewarding part of working at Grid110 and working with the entrepreneurs and business owners there 18:46: The specific criteria Miki and Grid110 looks for when working with companies or founders in their cohort programs 21:15: What excites Miki the most about the future of Grid110 including expanding their reach to other cities outside of Los Angeles 25:06: How Miki has dealt with imposter syndrome and two things she's learned over the years on how to overcome it 27:53: The idea of “possibility models” and how you can be a possibility model for others to show them what's possible 29:44: Miki shares her concept about T3, the triple T threat 31:05: The top three apps Miki uses on her phone to stay socially active and physically active 34:23: How to get in touch with Miki and with Grid110 Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 145, Erik and Kerel talk with Armond Davis, Founder & Managing Partner at The Paragon Group, an investment group that focuses on minority and women-owned businesses. Growing up in St. Louis to a family of educators, Armond has always had a thirst for learning and knew he wanted to be a businessman at 7 years old after a “take your kid to work day” at his mother's tall office building. He earned an MBA in Finance and another MBA in commercial real estate investment and eventually blended his love for investments and operating businesses in 2006. After people telling him his education was inferior, almost going bankrupt, and making a lot of mistakes, he realized his journey from investments to business owner and back to investments was all meant to be. Armond shares the mindset he has and that he looks for in founders who he wants to invest in, his thesis that minorities and women will outperform anyone else at anytime, the importance an abundance mindset plays in investing and business, how he takes his losses or other people's criticisms and uses them as fuel, and the value and priority he puts on community and mentorship. “When you understand why you're doing something, then it's much more difficult to get knocked off your path. And once you've identified what your purpose is, what your reason for being here is, then you can commit to that. And when you move within that purpose, the universe rewards you.” Timestamps: :43: Armond Davis, Founder & Managing Partner at The Paragon Group, shares how The Paragon came to be and his first M&A deal, which was a big learning lesson 2:44: Armond talks about his family background of educators and how he knew he wanted to be a businessman at 7 years old 4:22: Armond shares his investment thesis, the importance of an abundance mindset, and how to use money as a tool 7:52: How to create and cultivate a mindset of abundance 10:05: Armond shares why he is so passionate about his purpose, his thoughts on the recent social movements and how minorities and women can get one step ahead to get sustained dollars 16:21: Why Armond puts so much importance on mentorship and community 19:50: Armond gives credit to his alma mater, Florida A&M University for instilling confidence in him and shares a story of a challenging conversation he had with an employer 24:23: The superpower of empathy 25:51: Where Armond draws his inspiration from, what TV shows he watches, and why it's a skill to draw inspiration from anywhere 29:28: What Armond is looking forward to next with The Paragon Group 30:47: The three apps Armond uses on his phone to stay connected, informed, and engaged 32:42: How to reach Armond Davis Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 144, Erik and Kerel talk with Crystal Shaniece Roman, Owner at The Black Latina Movement, a theater and film production company in New York City. Crystal grew up in New York City and was born to Jamaican and Puerto Rican parents. At a very young age she fell in love with acting and the arts in general and then continued on to become an actor. As she continued in her career, due to her being biracial and not fitting into the one race box everyone wanted to cast from, she wasn't getting many roles. She decided to start making her own work and that was when The Black Latina Movement started. Other than being the Founder and CEO, she has now written, produced and directed. Crystal shares the changes being created through The Black Latina Movement by traveling to different universities and opening up others' perspectives about her and others' cultures, the forward progress that's being made in the movie industry through the power of people and community, and a very important lesson Crystal has learned about herself since running her own business. “A lot of the time, especially with algorithms and Instagram, people will feel like they have to just jump into different things just to stay relevant. Like, "Oh, I'm doing this one thing and this isn't working for me. And I'm going to do this. And I'm going to do that." You have to stay firm in what your passion is because tides will change and fades go in and out, but if you falter and you don't stay firm and you don't stay disciplined, it's very easy to lose it.” Timestamps :38: Crystal Roman, Owner at The Black Latina Movement, tells us about her experience growing up with Jamaican and Puerto Rican parents in the boroughs of New York City 3:16: Kerel asks Crystal which side of the family's food is better - Jamaican or Puerto Rican 4:03: Crystal shares about The Black Latina Movement, a theater and film production company in New York City and how it became what it is today 6:08: Crystal's perspective on what has inspired change in the movie industry to feature more diverse voices and shows 8:09: How the pandemic and social and civil unrest has impacted The Black Latina Movement and the positive change that has come from sharing their perspectives with others 10:19: Crystal talks about how she got into acting 10:54: Crystal shares how times have changed with actors and artists and the lessons she's learned from when she was actively acting to how to adapt to the landscape these days 12:14: The impact Crystal's parents made on her to be an artist and a person of culture 13:25: One important thing Crystal has learned about herself since she has started running her own business 14:42: The future of The Black Latina Movement, including touring universities, different cities, more on the digital spaces and upcoming shows 17:19: Where Crystal is finding inspiration these days 18:52: Crystal shares a few of her favorite actors 20:02: The three apps Crystal uses the most to stay connected 20:54: Where you can find Crystal Shaniece Roman and The Black Latina Movement Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
In episode 143, Erik and Kerel talk with Nicolet Gatewood, Executive Director at BLAC (Building Leaders and Creators), a twelve-week, paid internship for creative thinkers that takes place at independent ad agencies across the country. Nicolet was born in Boston, but grew up in many different places after her parents split. Her mom, who is white, moved to Arizona and her dad, who is black, took Nicolet on the road a lot as he was a touring musician, based in Brooklyn. Growing up biracial, seeing a lot of diversity, and also a lot of racism, fueled Nicolet's passion to pursue Black Studies in college. She went on to work in cultural equity for a decade and stepped into the advertising space just a few years ago. Nicolet shares the tremendous work that's going on at BLAC, the opportunities that are opening up for the interns in the program and agencies in getting such needed and available talent. She has realized that what she learns and gains from the interns is just as important as what she's teaching them. And she opens up about the impact her parents have made in her life from showing her what hard work looks like to having the confidence and audacity to lead a life based on passion, as well as her many, countless mentors she's had throughout her life. “If you're able to attract young, diverse talent, but you're losing them within three years, it's not a problem of the talent, it's a problem of your organization. How are you supporting them, investing in them, allowing them to grow? Is it equitable and fair? These are systems. You have to transform your systems. And most importantly, the way to affect real change, as we all know, is leadership.” BLAC: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blac-internship-program/ Nicolet Gatewood on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolet-gatewood/ Timestamps :36: Nicolet Gatewood, Executive Director at BLAC shares her experience growing up with her mom in Arizona and her dad in Brooklyn, New York 2:58: Nicolet talks about being biracial in a predominantly white town in Arizona with her mom and touring with her dad, a musician, and surrounded by alot of civil rights and anti-apartheid activists 4:32: Nicolet looks back at how different her parents' experiences were with raising a biracial child 6:42: Nicolet explains into the BLAC internship program (Building Leaders and Creators) and it has opened up so many opportunities for great talent 10:41: The problem with the advertising industry isn't a lack of available and diverse talent, it's a lack of opportunities 13:05: How Nicolet was introduced to BLAC, why she was so moved and impressed by previous interns, and the fact that it is absurd to expect that employees turn off their identity while at work 16:13: Why we should start calling out microaggressions, understand that we all have things to learn, and create psychologically safer environments for all groups of people 18:36: Nicolet says she may be foolishly optimistic, but she believes the industry is heading in the right direction, but the step to take now is to make real change 22:34: What Nicolet is most excited about the future of BLAC 25:09: Where Nicolet stays connected online, who she follows in the DEI advertising space 27:21: Mentors Nicolet has had throughout her life, including her parents, college professors former bosses, her current boss, and the interns she works with at BLAC 27:49: Some of the founding agencies and others that currently work with BLAC 32:39: Nicolet's favorite apps she uses to stay connected, entertained, and informed 33:43: Ways to reach Nicolet and the team at BLAC Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc
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