Minority Report Podcast

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