Minority Report Podcast

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

In episode 142, Erik and Kerel talk with Abdul Rastagar, GTM Leader, marketing author, and career coach. Abdul hosts a quick 5 minute LinkedIn podcast called Up Your Game where he interviews marketing executives to give career advice for those who are looking to get into the marketing field. He has also written a book called Up Your Game based off of the many interviews he’s completed. Growing up in many different places in his childhood - from Afghanistan and throughout Europe - Abdul eventually made it to the US and now resides in California. He received his degree in organic chemistry and became a pharmaceutical scientist until realizing that he wanted to do something else, something that he would love. He bridged the gap between pharmaceuticals and marketing and made it fully over to the technology marketing field and fell in love with the ways of thinking and fast paced environment. Abdul shares his unique perspective of being an uncommon person in the United States and how he was met with kindness and empathy from the most unexpecting people. He also offers his experience on how to best jump career paths, why he has been called for more balance in his personal and professional life and he gives advice for people who are looking to get into the marketing field whether right out of college or as a career transition. “The other thing that really inspires me is the idea of helping people. I like to think that success, my measure of success, is not how much I know or accomplish, it's how much knowledge I can pass on to other people.” Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rastagar/ Up Your Game: The Definitive Guide to Acing Your Marketing Job Interview: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VHKZG3S/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk Timestamps: :30: Abdul Rastagar, GTM leader, marketing author, and career coach, shares the many different places he moved around to and grew up in 1:49: How moving around to so many different places and being introduced to so many different people has shaped and defined Abdul and his perspective and outlook 4:49: Moments where Abdul was impacted by the kindness of humans around him during really dark times as he lived the US 6:40: Abdul shares the inspiration he got to create his podcast and book, Up Your Game, which provides people with career and marketing advice 9:15: The journey Abdul took from studying organic chemistry and becoming a medicinal chemist to moving into marketing and why he loves it so much 11:12: The biggest thing Abdul has learned since being in marketing and what marketers are missing and how they can do better to serve their customers 12:31: How Abdul bridged the gap going from chemistry to marketing and the mindsets he had to let go of in the transition 15:51: What is currently inspiring Abdul in his personal and professional life 18:11: The importance of mentors in Abdul’s life and what he learned from others as he continued to gather mentors for himself 20:02: What books Abdul is reading these days 20:51: Career advice for those who are looking to get into the marketing field and those who are interested in switching careers and go into marketing 23:02: Abdul’s top three apps he uses on his phone to stay connected with others and stay informed 24:03: The best way to stay in touch with Abdul Rastagar Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 141, Erik and Kerel have a conversation with Jeff Lindor, Founder and CEO at The Gentlemen’s Factory Inc. based out of Brooklyn, NY. Gentleman's Factory is a community and a movement bringing men, black men specifically, together for entrepreneurial programming, executive series’, and physical spaces to work together, build, and move the world. Jeff was born in Haiti and grew up in Brooklyn, NY from the age of three. Even after having a successful career and family at the age of 29, Jeff felt he was being called to create a bigger impact. This pushed him to leave his high paying job and go full force into entrepreneurship. Jeff shares the massive impact the Gentlemen’s Factory is having on the Brooklyn community through members investing in themselves and their surroundings by giving them a stake in their community’s real estate, working with black-owned businesses, developers, and banks. He is also excited about the Gentlemen’s Factory podcast where he shares his experience as an entrepreneur in hopes to bring information to those who are entrepreneurs or aspiring, as well. Timestamps: :28: Jeff Lindor, Founder and CEO at The Gentlemen’s Factory Inc. shares what The Gentlemen’s Factory is currently doing in their community 2:41: Jeff explains what makes specific communities so special and how The Gentlemen’s Factory focuses on everyone’s needs 4:34: Jeff’s background growing up and how he got so involved with his Brooklyn Haitian community and how that experience has built who he is today 7:39: Jeff talks about the podcast he recently launched, The Gentlemen’s Factory Podcast 9:10: What Jeff loves about being a Founder and a CEO 10:14: What excites Jeff the most about where Gentlemen’s Factory is going and what they are doing 12:56: Advice Jeff would give to his younger self 15:25: The people, family, friends, community that has helped Jeff in his evolution into who he is today 17:28: The mindset of an entrepreneur and the risks Jeff has taken in his entrepreneurial journey 21:00: The group talks about EatOkra, a black-owned restaurant business directory and the impact it’s making in communities all over 23:02: What people can do to be a part of the Gentlemen’s Factory 24:30: The three apps Jeff uses on a regular basis and how he became a Golden State Warriors fan coming from Haiti and Brooklyn 27:40: Where you can find Jeff and connect with him

In episode 140, Kerel and Erik have a conversation with Katie Kern, Agency Partner at Media Frenzy Global. Media Frenzy Global works primarily with tech companies, from midsize to enterprise sized companies, working on brand development, public relations programs, and also content marketing. Katie, also known as Ekaette, is a big sports lover and has moved from companies such as Nike and Reebok to now helping Atlanta as they go through a major tech boom. She was very inspired by her mother who was always a curious person and her father who was a Black Panther, constantly in the forefront and shaking things up. After having trouble finding work after graduation, Katie decided to change her name from Ekaette to Katie. She uses her story to help her mentees in making sure they stay authentic and take part in shaping the tech industry and beyond. Katie shares what an exciting time it is to be in Atlanta, as it influences everything, working with challenger brands to really make a difference and change the culture in the community, especially in sports, which is something Katie loves, and also the hard work companies need to take on to create progress in diverse hiring and culture. “You really do have the power and it really just takes someone being brave and saying this is what we're going to dedicate ourselves and do and pushing that forward. Action speaks louder than words. And that's the expectation that all these agencies, these major brands, just do what you say you're going to do.” Timestamps :32: Katie Kern, Agency Partner at Media Frenzy Global, shares her early life before she got into the PR and marketing world 2:50: Where Katie got her pioneering spirit that led her to uproot herself from small town Augusta, GA and go away on her own for college and work 6:17: Katie shares about Media Frenzy Global and the work they’re doing in Atlanta 7:31: Why working with “challenger brands” at Media Frenzy Global excites Katie so much 10:55: The A Pledge and holding companies accountable with their DEI efforts and progress 12:19: The sad truth about progress being made in the U.S. with DEI and hiring diverse and high-level teams 13:47: The actions companies need to make in hiring in order to move forward 15:46: How Katie was influenced in the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion by her father who was a part of the Black Panthers 18:38: Katie shares about her experience of being a mentor and what it means to her 22:53: Where Katie is drawing inspiration from these days, including books on Audible and Netflix documentaries 24:46: The top 3 apps Katie uses on her phone and who she thinks is going to win the NBA finals 25:52: Where to find and connect with Katie Kern

In episode 139 Kerel speaks with Rob Richardson, Founder at Disrupt Art, a company that aims to curate an interactive space on Web3 for artists, collectors, and activists to revolutionize the impact of art. Rob’s love of activism comes from his parents - his father who was very involved in both the labor movement as well as the Civil Rights Movement and his mother who was the founder of a restaurant. After being told by his 8th grade teacher that college wasn’t a path he was going to be able to follow, his mother said otherwise and Rob went on to study at the University of Cincinnati. There he also started the school’s first chapter of the NAACP and went on to become more involved in politics and public service and eventually moved into the Web3 space founding Disrupt Art. In this talk, Rob speaks on the importance of the ownership of platforms, for artists, especially brown and black artists to be fairly compensated for their art, and the massive opportunity people have now more than ever to build and cultivate a community online in a way that they see fit. “This is the opportunity. This is the time to build. And if we want to have a better way to close the income gap, this is not a panacea, but this is a big tool that will provide opportunities to build wealth and build communities in a way that's never been possible.” Timestamps: :38: Rob Richardson, Founder at Disrupt Art shares what Disrupt Art is and why it was founded 3:30: Rob talks about where he’s from and how that impacted his engagement in activism 5:30: Where Rob’s spark of activism came from 6:33: Rob breaks down blockchains, Web3, NFTs, smart contracts and benefits of secondary sale rights 10:30: Why it’s important for black and brown people to be involved in Web3 and newer technologies 14:51: Resources to use for education on Web3, NFTs, smart contracts, and more 16:01: Rob shares why he loves being a founder and the new and exciting opportunities Web3 is bringing 19:39: Where Rob draws inspiration from and the opportunity of setting our own destiny 20:26: A story of perseverance and the importance of telling our own stories and not being held to default systems 24:01: The three apps Rob uses to stay active in Web3 and a secure way to communicate about all things tech 25:18: Elon Musk buying Twitter, the importance of ownership of platforms, and being educated about Web3 28:04: Where to find Rob and Disrupt Art

In episode 138 Kerel and Erik sit down with Phil Schraeder, the CEO at GumGum, a company that empowers advertisers to deliver creative advertising campaigns without the use of personal data. Phil grew up as the middle child in Illinois, stayed close to home through college at Northwestern University, and started his career at KPMG. He didn’t feel he could be open and express himself in ways that he wanted in that environment so he took the opportunity to move to Los Angeles to find himself and explore who he is. Out West, Phil started working in the accounting sector of the movie industry, which made him much more comfortable, he found connections and eventually moved into the tech space. In this conversation, Phil talks about his experience of his 10 years so far at GumGum, how they are addressing privacy in the online space, creating a workplace culture that is accepting and open to feedback, and bringing authenticity to digital environments. “With all the exciting things we're doing, it's really, how do we bring the authenticity to those digital environments? How do we use technology to be really smart about what's going on? All the images, the text, the audio, use all of that stuff, don't use the personal data, and then help advertisers find the right message to reach me.” Phil Schraeder on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-schraeder-a971855/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/philschraeder GumGum: https://www.gumgum.com/ Timestamps: 1:31: Phil shares his experience growing up in the suburbs of Chicago and how being the middle child provided him a lot of freedom 3:22: Erik asks about Phil’s partner and the crazy story about how they got to know each other and now have been together for 17 years 4:54: Phil talks about some of the formative experiences he had as a kid realizing that he couldn’t play dress up with girl’s clothes and how that has impacted him today 7:55: How those early experiences has formed Phil’s approach to leadership 11:07: The exciting things going on at GumGum in the marketplace and in the workplace 16:08: Why Phil has been with GumGum for 10 years and the challenges he has faced in his different positions 19:19: Phil’s career path from KPMG to accounting for the movie industry to eventually moving into different positions in the tech space 23:52: How Phil dealt with moments of discrimination in the workplace as a gay man 30:38: The shifts in DEI being made in the ad tech industry and how important it is to keep it progressing rather than letting it be a moment in time 33:49: The many places Phil draws inspiration from, including Gen-Z and the LGBTQIA community 37:20: The three apps Phil uses the most on a daily basis for running, shopping, and news Follow Us: Newsletter: bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 137 Kerel and Erik discuss DEI with the founder at The Courage Collective, Daniel Oppong. Coming from immigrant parents from Ghana, West Africa, Daniel has always been an adventurer, achievement-oriented, and overall determined person, which has helped him tremendously in his career. He found himself working at a company out of college for over 5 years, felt unfulfilled, and totally rethought his priorities and what he really valued. That was when he jumped in the tech space working for only $10/hour, even with having a lot of experience and a master’s degree, but it didn’t matter because it was a great fit as they aligned with his values. In the discussion, Daniel talks about The Courage Collective and how they are helping transform the employee experience, all the way from recruiting to post work, the holistic approach they bring to companies and making sure they are only partnering with companies who are truly invested in DEI and not just wanting to check off boxes. “The companies that have been great partners for us, they're allocating resources, they have a committee that's focused on the work or they have someone who's leading the work. It's not just one person's responsibility, but it's now a value of the organization. And not just in words, but in action.” The Courage Collective: https://thecouragecollective.co/ Boundless: https://boundlessfellows.co/ Daniel Oppong on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-oppong/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_danielo5/ Timestamps: 0:28: Daniel Oppong talks about his upbringing, education, career path and one very special and meaningful part of his life, his parents 1:57: Why Daniel felt more comfortable at a particular startup just because he saw someone who worked there who looked like him and he could relate to 3:42: How Daniel has developed his adventurousness and courage throughout his life 5:57: What The Courage Collective is, how special it is to Daniel, and what they’re doing to set standards for DEI 8:01: How companies transform using DEI, what that looks like, and how companies do it successfully 9:45: The timeline for companies making changes and how to tell which companies are in it for the long haul or just for good PR 13:05: Using measurement in DEI, what to measure, how to measure, and why it’s so important 16:26: The difference between culture fit and culture add 19:06: The importance of inclusion as it fits into DEI 20:42: How Daniel has dealt with discrimination in the past and what thoughts and questions have come up in his head as a result 24:39: The mentors Daniel has connected and collaborated with over the years and how they helped him build his superpowers and get to where he is today 28:11: The top 3 apps Daniel Oppong uses everyday that keeps him entertained and educated in efficient ways Follow Us: Newsletter: http://bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: http://bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: http://bit.ly/2QLfEQc

In episode 136 Kerel and Erik talk with Avantha Arachchi, Chief Operating Officer at A-Frame Brands, about catering to marginalized markets and trailblazing for up and coming brands. Avantha describes herself as a perfect blend of her parents with her dad being an electrical engineer and her mom, a fashion designer which has helped her become multifaceted and dynamic in whatever situation. As a transgender woman, Avantha shares her unique perspective as to how equality and privilege work in the business world and how she still needs to be good allies to people whose experiences she doesn't understand. In the conversation, Avantha talks about her work at A-Frame of getting rid of the one-size-fits-all model and catering to specific markets and needs, how one’s skills developed in a certain market may be very useful and transferable to other markets, and the importance of building relationships with people you work with who support you and not only listen to you, but encourage your input. “There's this idea of a one-size-fits-all model and it doesn't help everyone equally. It's a very old way of doing things. And so our models [at A-Frame Brands] focus more on being able to create those products for the people who need them and the people who deserve them.” A-Frame Brands Avantha Arachchi on LinkedIn Instagram @beautynbullets Timestamps: 0:07: Minority Report Podcast introduction with Avantha Arachchi, Chief Operating Officer at A-Frame Brands 0:55: Avantha shares her background growing up with her siblings and how that helped her become multifaceted and dynamic 4:07: What is going on at A-Frame Brands and how they are helping launch brands who cater to mis- and underrepresented groups in the market 5:41: Avantha’s unique career path starting in academia studying psychology, to a wedding planner, to a talent advisor, and now working in a start-up 11:54: How Avantha’s journey as a trans woman has shaped her experiences and the way it has informed her about diversity and inclusion, specifically to how it works in the business world 13:40: Advice for someone who feels like they don’t have resources available to them in the form of a mentor, how to find those who will encourage you to do your best, and help with any imposter syndrome 17:17: Where Avantha draws inspiration from 17:53: Advice Avantha would give her younger self as she was starting in the business world 18:37: The top three apps Avantha uses on a daily basis, how they feed her curiosity and help her find the next new thing Follow Us: Newsletter: http://bitly.com/2QLEY8U Linkedin: http://bit.ly/2ZZUBxG Twitter: http://bit.ly/2Qp0SzK Instagram: http://bit.ly/2QLfEQc