“Our experiences, opinions and contributions are not only valid, they are incredibly critical to the success of business.”
How did we meet?
I met Imani years ago when she was first building out The Creative Collective community. I worked with a company at the time that hosted various community events and we partnered together to host several. I knew immediately that Imani was special and her vision was something that would continue to expand. It’s been amazing witnessing her growth.
IG: @ImaniImani, @theccnyc
Website: The Creative Collective NYC
IMANI ELLIS
Imani Ellis is the founder of The Creative Collective NYC, a community and creative agency dedicated to facilitating brave spaces for multicultural creatives. She is also the founder of CULTURECON, a conference dedicated to inspiring the next generation of world-changing doers. By day, Imani works on the Bravo and E! Entertainment Television communications team at NBCUniversal, spearheading press strategy on a variety of shows including Bravo's Emmy-Nominated "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen," "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," and more. She also works on key diversity and inclusion initiatives and manages social insight and strategy.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in technology?
A: I think the biggest opportunity is being our unapologetic selves at work and realizing how much that can change the face of the future. Our experiences, opinions and contributions are not only valid, they are incredibly critical to the success of business.
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: CultureCon was created to fill a void in the conference space. It began with me inviting some friends over to my apartment and has since parlayed into the fastest-growing conference for creatives. Instead of approaching one specific aspect of a person (like their career or their side hustle), CultureCon focuses on everything that makes young creatives thrive. There are courses on finance, marketing, collaboration and more. Building CultureCon has taught me the importance of teamwork and community. The impact I hope it has is one of true community collaboration and the importance of creating spaces specifically for creatives of color.
Q: What's one thing that you're looking forward to or working towards in 2020?
A: In 2020, I'm focusing on being present. I'm also excited to continue to provide innovative opportunities to our community and two CultureCon's!!
Check out Imani featured in Forbes: Meet Imani Ellis, The Visionary Behind The CultureCon Conference!
“Creating new narratives inside and outside of Black and Latino communities of what it means to be a successful entrepreneur is necessary.”
How did we meet?
I met Ivan at a Techstars event that we were both mentors at. His energy was something I was immediately drawn to and our shared experiences of being people of color navigating new spaces was something we spent hours talking about. I’m incredibly excited for what he’s doing with New Age and the founders they support.
Twitter: @NAVI_OLA, @newagecapital
Website: New Age Capital
IVAN ALO
Ivan Alo is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of New Age Capital, a thesis-driven seed stage venture capital firm that invests in technology and technology-enabled startups founded and led by Black and Latino entrepreneurs. A strong advocate of inclusive entrepreneurship and global innovation, he is passionate about the use of technology to make the world more accessible and beneficial for all. Ivan started a couple of ventures while in high school & post-college, was a portfolio manager of a multibillion dollar real estate fund, and is an early team member of real estate technology platform CNERGY. Ivan was also selected as a 2020 Forbes 30 under 30 featured honoree.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in technology?
A: My partner LaDante and I have this conversation often and it's honestly what has propelled us to where we are now. The biggest challenge is also the biggest opportunity from our perspective: creating new narratives inside and outside of Black and Latino communities of what it means to be a successful entrepreneur and making it clear to the world that we have earned and deserve a seat at the table, no permission needed. For us, this means being able to find, invest in, and nurture the best entrepreneurs from our communities so that they can leverage the resources needed to build world class businesses.
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: We began working on New Age Capital in late 2015 as the result of some of our experiences trying to raise venture capital funding for our fin-tech startup Lionshare, which we ended up putting to bed. When we learned that our experience was common among Black and Latino entrepreneurs and it was reflected in the data (less than 2% of total VC funding has ever been invested in these founders), we were driven to create a solution as we were already providing tangible feedback, guidance, and support to other founders. Before deciding to launch the firm to address this void and opportunity in the market, we spent about six months researching the history of venture capital, educating ourselves on the craft through reading blogs and books, and gaining insights from as many successful stakeholders in the VC ecosystem as possible. That strategy has been the driver of our progress to date. Ultimately, the impact we intend to have is to encourage others to embrace who they are and where they come from whilst using that uniqueness to forge their own path to add value to the world.
Q: What's one thing that you're looking forward to or working towards in 2020?
A: I'm looking forward to the launch of our new fund later this year which will allow us to become a significant investor and partner to world class Black and Latino founders raising seed rounds to excel their businesses.
Check out Ivan featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2020!
“ I’m working on shining a light on dads being active members in their household while they’re building their companies or careers. ”
How did we meet?
I actually met Harold through one of my mentors, Jeff, after an impromptu dinner invite that Harold happened to be at. We spent the evening talking all things startups, identity, and life and since then, I’ve been proud to be an advocate for him and what he’s building, both with his business and his family.
Twitter: @OneBandwagonFan
Website: Bandwagon
HAROLD HUGHES
Harold Hughes is the Founder and CEO of BandwagonFanClub, Inc. He is a Clemson University alumnus and takes pride in his role as a contributor and supporter in the startup ecosystem as he serves as a mentor for founders (primarily Black founders and women) while also being transparent about his own journey. He is an advisor to Heirlum (a social memory company creating the augmented remembrance space) as well as an angel investor most notably with Partake Foods, the Jay-Z backed CPG company making allergy-friendly, healthy snacks. Harold and his wife, Tiffany, relocated to Austin in 2019 with their son, Carter.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in technology?
A: I believe the biggest challenge is the difficulty in creating a community of people to inspire you and hold you accountable. It's often a lonely journey when building a tech company and aside from social media a lot of us may not see folks who look like us in our respective industries. That said, I think that the biggest opportunity is in creating our own PayPal Mafia. While I don't think there will ever be a single early-stage company that has 8-10 PoC and women that go on to have the type of impact that the PayPal Mafia has had, I do believe that by having more founders connecting and supporting one another, we can witness a revolutionary impact in the next 10-15 years.
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: In the beginning, I really focused on educating myself about the market and talking to my customers. I approached my craft inquisitively and made sure to put myself in a position to be an expert. In doing that, I have learned that it's really hard to tell the difference between the experts and the folks who simply want to come across as an expert. As a person who was seeking the knowledge, that meant it was hard to discern where I should be going to learn but now that I'm farther along, it means that I have an obligation to be honest and transparent about what I have learned as well as how I have learned it. That is the type of impact that I want to have - I want people to lead with collaboration and transparency with one another.
Q: What's one thing that you're looking forward to or working towards in 2020?
A: One thing that I'm working on in 2020 is really shining a light on dads being active members in their household while they're building their companies or careers. I often see successful women asked how they balance the work/career with obligations at home and I rarely see men asked that same question. As the father of a 3-year old, it's important for me to emphasize the importance of our role in our children's lives at an early age.
“I know this because I’ve sat in boardrooms with white editors who are actively trying to recruit writers of color. The question still remains, is this a genuine effort to become an ally or are they only trying to check a box?”
How did we meet?
I met Pauleanna a few years ago when I was in a previous role. The company I was with hired her as a contractor and as soon as I met her, I knew she was someone that I wanted to surround myself around. The way she runs her life (and her business) is incredibly intentional and I admire that about her.
IG: @pauleannareid
Website: Personal Website
PAULEANNA REID
Pauleanna Reid is a journalist, two-time author, and celebrity ghostwriter. A purpose-driven leader with a storied career, Pauleanna is currently a Senior Contributor at ForbesWomen, a Contributor at Business Insider, and a consultant with various publications to help recruit minority journalists. When she’s not reporting or editing her script, Pauleanna is ghostwriting books, keynote speeches and op-eds for celebrities, CEOs, pro athletes and politicians. She helps high-profile leaders and doers who are shaping the future turn their personal stories into powerful brand assets.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in journalism?
A: The biggest opportunity that currently exists as a minority working in journalism is the importance of our perspective. Now more than ever, it is evident that our voice is needed to diversify existing narratives that have only been delivered through one lens for years. Especially in the world of entrepreneurship, national business publications desperately seek personal experiences and POV from minority female founders. I know this because I've sat in boardrooms with white editors who are actively trying to recruit writers of color. The question still remains, is this a genuine effort to become an ally or are they only trying to check a box?
The biggest challenge we face is that everyone thinks they're a journalist. There are far too many keyboard warriors and it's difficult to identify which platforms host information we can actually trust.
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: As a child, writing was a way to escape and express myself. But I wasn’t a great student. I didn’t learn like my classmates, and I fell behind in school. So, when I said I wanted to be a writer, both my parents and teachers told me to be more “realistic.” I ended up in a college program that didn’t fulfill me, and I sunk into deep depression and crippling anxiety that nearly cost me my life. In my early twenties, a time when most people are flourishing and discovering their vision, I was a depressed college drop-out with a spotty high school transcript, an unhealthy amount of self-doubt and fear, and the heavy burden of other people’s expectations and limitations. I turned my whole life into a classroom designed just for me, reading books, watching videos, and obsessively studying the lives of entrepreneurs, writers, and other inspiring figures to learn from their wins and losses.
The impact I'd like to make is to help others see beyond the limits of their circumstance. I hope that the way I deliver my art, my words and live my life teaches others to let their passion guide them.. Second, to commit to becoming a better writer by studying the footprints of the writers they admire and consistently work on their craft. Third, to remember that your journey as a writer, and the challenges you face, will be unlike anyone else’s, but trust your instincts and believe in yourself and you’ll achieve any goal you set. It took me four years to write my novel. It took me even longer to hit my peak in my journalism career. Stay in your lane and don’t get distracted or discouraged by other people’s progress.
Q: What's one thing that you're looking forward to or working towards in 2020?
A: I'm focused on two goals this year: The first is to grow my ghostwriting agency; penning books and speeches for celebrities, athletes and politicians. I am so passionate about helping the leaders and doers who are shaping the future turn their personal stories into powerful brand assets. The second is to get into the classroom more often. Over the last few years, I've been guest lecturing at colleges and universities. A dream of mine is to land a part-time teaching role. Often times, these curriculums are so outdated and I like to bring enthusiasm and real-world experience to young adults. I dropped out of college (best decision, ever!) but I want students to know that a combination of book and street smarts will help them go the distance.
Check out Pauleanna’s Forbes column for FORBESWOMEN!
“As a Black man, I have a community behind me that, at the core, is rooting for my success because it leads to more success for people who look just like me.
”
How did we meet?
I met Ofo when he was in the infancy stages of his business and he was a large advocate for me during my career transition. It’s been a remarkable experience seeing how far he’s come and what he’s been able to accomplish.
IG: @chief_ofo, @wylcommunity
Website: Whose Your Landlord
OFO EZEUGWU
Ofo Ezeugwu is Founder and CEO of WhoseYourLandlord, "The MVP of Landlord Review Sites," according to ApartmentTherapy.com. He graduated from Temple University, where he was the VP of the student body and also the youngest alumni convocation speaker in the school's history. He was recently recognized as a Disruptive and Innovative Entrepreneur by NBCUniversal and New York On Tech, was named the Young Professional of the Year by the African American Chamber of Commerce, is a Techstars' Risingstar, one of BET's #30Under30, and a Black Enterprise: Modern Man. His work has been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, Newsweek, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Blavity, The New York Post, and more. Ofo is also a professional actor and model who's walked in NYFW (5x), been featured on the Today Show (7x), and worked with ESPN (2x), Nike, Alfani, and Starbucks.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in technology?
A: I’d say the biggest challenge is establishing trust at your company, both internally and externally. As a POC in the business environment, there are stigmas we strive to shake off every single day. Internally, you hope to hire the best people, in an equitable, way who are ready to lean in and build with you. Unfortunately, due to race, comfort, and age, it can be hard to earn the trust of your team so they feel inspired to work with you on a daily basis. This applies externally as well. Customers and onlookers tend to be more skeptical about the viability of your business. You're looked at as being “lucky” a bunch of times over, versus being a consistent and reputable builder. This heavily impacts investment conversations, who's willing to partner with you, and how people perceive the value you bring to the table.
But, the biggest opportunity is getting to break down these barriers. The cultural support we receive is widely felt, unlike for many white, male founders. As a Black man, I have a community behind me that, at the core, is rooting for my success because it leads to more success for people who look just like me. Tapping into that emotional equity is incredibly powerful.
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: During my senior year at Temple University, I was the VP of the student body. During our campaign, one of the issues students kept bringing up were ones they were having with housing. For frame of reference, Temple grew from being a commuter school for much of its history, to becoming a powerhouse in Philly with 40k students calling the university home. This led to a massive need for increased housing and an influx of community relations hiccups and sub-par land-lords. I felt that there had to be a way renters could review their landlords before signing a lease, and that’s where the concept for WYL.co was born. It took two more years to become a real, incorporated business, but it inspired me to build a more transparent community. I want to mediate the historical asymmetrical relationship that's existed between residents and landlords.
Q: What's one thing that you're looking forward to or working towards in 2020?
A: Generating more revenue and driving more impact. All of the pieces are finally in place for us to become a powerhouse company in 2020. I feel it and my team does too. The more money we can generate, the more impact we can create for he communities we're building in. By the end of the year, I’d like us to be national because we're doing meaningful and necessary work.
Check out Ofo featured in Forbes: Multicultural Renters From Brooklyn To Lagos Just Got A New Advocate!
“Podcasting has taught me the power of our voices and the power of people. Being able to use my voice and natural passions to connect with others has been an absolutely priceless experience. ”
How did we meet?
I met Corey back when we both worked at the same company. Corey has such a vibrant and welcoming presence that we immediately clicked and it’s brought me great joy seeing him use his voice to highlight others.
IG: @coreycambridge
Website: Personal Website
COREY CAMBRIDGE
Corey Cambridge is a Virginia-born creative currently residing in New York City. In his early career as a rapper and songwriter, he opened up acts such as J. Cole, Wale, N.E.R.D., Kid Cudi and more; garnering over 2 million YouTube views along the way. In 2017, Corey launched Giant Umbrella, a content company and podcast network. His flagship podcast program, Silent Giants, celebrates the stories of the creative superstars that have shaped our contemporary landscape. In 2018 Corey launched his second podcast Other People’s Podcast, which highlights well-known podcasters and the dope shows they’ve created.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in technology?
A: Being a minority is my super power. The biggest challenge is having the powers that be understand the value of our voice. It's my goal to show them that you need out of the box people to bring out of the box ideas!
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: I actually accidentally stumbled into podcasting. A friend told me that I would be good at it and helped me get my show started. Once I started I couldn't shake it off. Podcasting has taught me the power of our voices and the power of people. Being able to use my voice and natural passions to connect with others has been an absolutely priceless experience.
Q: What's one thing that you're looking forward to or working towards in 2020?
A: I am very excited for 2020. This year I will be launching both my podcasts 'OPP' and 'Silent Giants' as TV shows and working on building the OPP website which will be launching in Spring 2020.
“My biggest opportunity is that my ethnicity and background give me an advantage and platform to share the story of my people while proving to everyone else that we, and I, deserve several seats at the table.”
How did we meet?
I met Corey when he joined Adobe earlier this year. Our teams work closely together and it’s been exciting to not only see another person of color have a voice in the room but to learn from him and his approach to product, both through a management and development perspective.
IG: @chobberoni, @goji_nyc
Website: Goji Studios
COREY HOBBS
Corey Hobbs is a Senior Product Manager at Adobe and the Founder of Goji Studios. At Adobe, Corey is focused on the creative cloud ecosystem and marketplace services. As founder of Goji Studios, a luxury fashion house based out of NYC, his core focus is on designing, manufacturing, and delivering premium outerwear to his global customer base. Corey has a keen eye for design and process which he believes is core to his role at Adobe and even more critical as a business owner.
Q: In your opinion, what's the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity in being a minority working in technology?
A: I feel the the biggest challenge is that I’m often the only person in the room that looks like me. It is often the base layer of alienation in the workplace and blindly coerces others to believe that we may not have much in common. People fear what they may not know. I also see this as my biggest opportunity as my ethnicity and background give me an advantage and platform to share the story of my people while proving to everyone else that we, and I, deserve several seats at the table.
Q: How did you begin working on your craft and what has it taught you? Additionally, what type of impact do you want to create through your craft?
A: Product Management: I’ve always been a person who wanted to lead on all of the details of a project. Given my background in computer engineering, it’s often easy to relate with the other folks on my team(s) — which are usually engineers. Also, one I took a leap of faith and dabbled in Business Development and Solutions Engineering for a little while it helped understand the full scope of how a business works. I’ve intentionally taken roles in the past that forced me to stretch myself and forced me to think outside of the bounds of what I was taught in school. I believe Product Management, at scale, is about balancing ambiguity. Once you learn to position yourself, lines begin to straighten out.
Product Development (Fashion): Building a full collection in fashion and accessories is barely any different that building a full set of features for a new product in technology. It all breaks down to the same types of components and processes. As long as you have a plan it usually works out. You’re still focused on design, usability, requirements, timelines, product testing, user testing, and all things under the umbrella of “product management”.
The one note I’ll make about fashion that is vastly different from technology — manufacturing clothing at scale is 100x harder than scaling tech infrastructure.
Q: What's one thing that you're looking forward to or working towards in 2020?
A: The big theme for 2020 is “NOW”. I’m taking that literally and metaphorically. It really means moving with intention and with dispatch. I’m really excited about the process and growth that I have ahead.