- 18 hours ago
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00:00So next up to the stage, a discussion about black women entrepreneurship and the announcement
00:14of a new grant to a local New Orleans winner.
00:18So here to take the lead is e-correspondent, the co-host of Nightly Pop, and the first
00:23plus-sized black woman to create a line exclusively for Macy's, Ms. Nina Parker.
00:30And as we said, this is about entrepreneurship.
00:33She knows what she's talking about.
00:34She's going to come out and bring out her panelists as well.
00:37Oh, I hear you, Fred.
00:40Okay, let me be professional, y'all.
00:42You know we at Essence Fest.
00:43I got to keep it together.
00:45I'm so excited for you guys to be in here tonight.
00:48MasterCard really brought us together because of the commitment that we have made and the
00:53impact that is happening right now with black women and the businesses that we want to
00:57continue to support.
00:59Black women entrepreneurship is so important, and I think that's why Essence Fest is so key
01:04to have the next discussion that we're going to have because we want to make sure that you
01:08guys have the tools, the education, the resources, the mentorship, and the funding because we know
01:16you need the funding to make it happen.
01:18And that's why Stryver's Initiative is so important because they provide that and grants
01:22to inspire and help support these black businesses.
01:26So I'm here to say that we're all here to celebrate it, and I'm so excited for this conversation.
01:30So I want to get right into it, you guys.
01:32I have two lovely ladies who are going to be joining me today.
01:35So I want to have Arian Simone and Glo Antanamo join me on the stage.
01:40You ladies look beautiful.
01:49Thank you so much for joining us.
01:51Now, before we get started, I want to have them offer you read a bio, but today I'm going
01:56to have them introduce themselves.
01:58And first, we'll start with you, Arian Simone.
02:00Why don't you tell these people all of the fabulous things about yourself?
02:03I'm Arian Simone.
02:05I serve as CEO and co-founder of the Fearless Fund, which is the first venture capital fund
02:10that is built by women of color for women of color.
02:14Yes.
02:15I don't think y'all heard her.
02:17Go ahead and say the last part again, sis.
02:19The first venture capital fund that is built by women of color for women of color.
02:23And she's also a lady of Delta Sigma Theta.
02:25Yes.
02:26Hello, everyone.
02:30My name is Glo Antanamo, and I'm the founder of the Social Educators Academy, which helps
02:35female entrepreneurs use social media to make a difference and a living online.
02:39Thank you so much, Glo.
02:41You guys, we're going to start in a place where I think a lot of people want to know,
02:45which is where do I get started?
02:46I have a business.
02:48I have something that I really believe in.
02:49I have this idea, and I really don't know where to get started.
02:53I think most of the reason we see successful people is because they have an infinite amount
02:58of resources.
02:59But, of course, we know in black and brown communities, and specifically with black women,
03:03a lot of times resources may not be available or we may not know about them.
03:08Glo, let me start with you.
03:09What stands out to you the most when you were thinking about getting started?
03:14When you look back, what was one of your biggest challenges?
03:17Yeah.
03:18So I did not have the money to start my business.
03:21So my first career, I was a travel blogger.
03:24So I've been to over 90 countries across six continents.
03:27And for me, I was just like, how do I make this work when all my money is going towards
03:32creating the content to establish myself as a travel brand?
03:35So what I love right now is that there's so many resources that democratize access to
03:40basic information.
03:42Before, all we had was YouTube to figure things out.
03:45But I think so many people now are coaches, and they're willing to share their blueprint.
03:48There was a lot of scarcity back then because people thought that, well, if I'm going to
03:53be the travel blogger, I want to be the only one.
03:55And now I think there's so much abundance, and a lot of us are, like, sharing our resources
03:59and our blueprint, talking about our journey, and having that abundance mindset.
04:03So that was the biggest thing.
04:05The other thing I want to say is I would get so caught up in what the next thing I should
04:10do is.
04:11I'm like, okay, I'm trying to build my brand.
04:12I'm trying to get this going.
04:14But clarity comes in motion.
04:16A lot of times we stay stuck, trying to wait for an answer to land on our lap.
04:20But even if you make the wrong step, you're moving, and you learn from your mistakes.
04:25So if you're waiting for an answer, you're waiting for the next step of what to do, start
04:29doing something, creating content, reaching, pitching people.
04:32The very first hotel that I pitched, they told me the hardest no I've ever heard.
04:37And still kept going, still kept going, you know, still kept pitching.
04:41So just keep going.
04:42That's such a great answer, and I think that's a great response, too, that, you know, every
04:47step is a step.
04:48Even if it goes back a little bit.
04:49Did you find, Arian, that you may have had some setbacks at the beginning of, like, when
04:54you're laughing, so I know that means there was some.
04:58Like, what stuck out to you the most that you felt like was a challenge that you wished someone
05:02could have warned you about?
05:03A lot of things.
05:05Can I say something to what she just said about basically momentum?
05:10People are attracted to momentum.
05:12Even if you create your own momentum, people will see what you are doing, and they will
05:17gravitate towards it.
05:18And I heard a wise person once say that procrastination is your arrogant way of thinking you're in
05:23control of time.
05:25So momentum is just very important.
05:26I didn't know who was going to church today.
05:28It's just very important just to keep moving, and then things, the world moves out its way
05:35for people who know where they're going.
05:36Yeah.
05:37So as you keep moving, God is going to support you.
05:41And I've always said, I always felt like when I had a dream or I had something that I wanted
05:45to execute, I felt like if I made one step, then I would be blessed with two.
05:53Mm-hmm.
05:54And so sometimes it's just as important as making a step and showing God, the universe,
05:59that I'm actually doing something about it as opposed to just wishing for it.
06:03Now, you asked me about setbacks.
06:05Yes.
06:07I have probably 1,000 stories.
06:10I lived out of my car for about seven months after college, moved to L.A. with the job,
06:16got laid off.
06:17I've seen plenty of all the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
06:21One thing I can say, even from my very first business that I had when I was a student at Florida
06:25and in the university, rattlers in the house, I will say this, there were times when I thought
06:37that I was failing, but now that I'm more mature, when I look back at the business, I
06:41wasn't failing.
06:42I just wasn't patient.
06:43So you don't know the time in which things are going to manifest in a very big way for
06:47you, but you have to be patient through the process and you have to trust the process.
06:52You're also in a unique position as well because you get to actually talk to women every day
06:59and inspire them.
07:02Do you see a commonality of something that you find that is a challenge with these women
07:07or something that you always continue to have your conversations about?
07:12Well, as she even stated before, the biggest challenge anybody of color has is the lack
07:18of access to capital.
07:19That just is what it is.
07:22The numbers stated, I mean, we can't argue the facts.
07:27Black women are at receiving 0.0006% of venture capital funds in the tech space.
07:33Women of color under a percent as a whole.
07:35We can't argue the facts.
07:36So just seeing the lack of distribution and access to capital, that's one.
07:41There's a lack of access to resources, just the ecosystem as a whole.
07:44I work in venture capital, and typically if a white male comes out of, like, an Ivy League
07:49school, he goes to his friends and family, what they call a friends and family round.
07:55Yep.
07:56They get these checks of $25,000, $50,000, $100,000.
07:59They go to pitch to the big VCs over in Silicon Valley.
08:03But if somebody of color goes over there to pitch, they say, well, what happened to your
08:07friends and family round?
08:08And they're like, well, I don't have friends and family that have $25,000, $100,000 checks
08:14just to hand.
08:14They're like, well, go get some momentum in that area first, then come to us.
08:17So just the lack of access to the ecosystem as a whole is somewhat problematic, too.
08:25And just to go off of that, because I want to also try to provide some type of avenue of
08:30solution, where do we go from that?
08:33If you don't have the funding, what are options for you to at least get there, get in that
08:39same arena to compete with these people who are already starting with six figures?
08:43I agree.
08:44A couple things.
08:46I won't even put it just on the people.
08:49I would like to even challenge all of the affluent African-Americans to step up and to become
08:55investors, angel investors, and more active in the space.
09:00The investors in the space is 80% white male.
09:04It's just not a lack of diversity in the investments.
09:07It's a lack of diversity of investors.
09:09So if we want more black and brown checks cut, we need more black and brown people cutting
09:13checks.
09:13So for those who are able, we definitely want to participate more in this so that we can
09:20be a part of this.
09:21That's phenomenal.
09:23And sometimes those statistics are what we need to really make it real for us.
09:28And also to make it realistic, because I think oftentimes when you're black, you're often
09:33made to feel like you're overreacting.
09:35Like, no, you don't have these challenges.
09:36But to hear these statistics, that's real.
09:39And as they say, numbers don't lie.
09:41Glow, I want to talk to you because you're a content creator.
09:44But content creators, especially black content creators, are having their own set of challenges,
09:49especially with just not only diversity, but being credited properly.
09:54We've seen things happen on social media where things are taken from black creators.
09:58And then all of a sudden, it's a trend that people can capitalize on.
10:01Are you finding these same type of challenges in that arena as well?
10:06Yeah, you know, it's so frustrating because I started telling my story on the internet when
10:12I was 11 years old.
10:14There was a platform called Xanga.
10:15Does anyone by chance remember Xanga?
10:17This is like 20 years ago, pre-social media, pre-influencer marketing, of course.
10:23So I got really comfortable putting myself out there and telling my story.
10:27But when I started to experience people stealing from me, because I was getting those reps in.
10:32I think of content creation as like lifting weights.
10:34So, of course, you're going to the gym for the first time.
10:37You're not going to get the 45-pounders.
10:39You're going to do the five-pound reps first.
10:41And you're going to be flexing that muscle and getting better and stronger at that skill.
10:46And so I had been flexing that muscle of content creation for a decade before Instagram even came about.
10:51And once Instagram came about, it took me a year to get on the platform.
10:55I then started going to brands and pitching, like, let me start your Instagram for you.
11:00Let me show you the benefit.
11:01Like, here's my account.
11:03Let me run your Instagram for you and show you the power of just social media marketing.
11:08They're like, what's Instagram?
11:09Why would we use that?
11:10That's for kids.
11:11And, like, you know, 11 years later, like, no business is not on Instagram.
11:16Right.
11:16So, it's interesting having seen trends come and go.
11:20One thing that has stayed is I call it cornerstone content.
11:26Social media to me is like junk food.
11:28But when you think of a blog, a YouTube, a podcast, that's like wholesome, wholesome food, like salads and nutritional food.
11:36So, use social media mindfully.
11:39Like, yes, follow the trends and sometimes the gimmicks to get those new audience members.
11:44But use a blog, a podcast, or a YouTube channel for the longevity, for the cornerstone content, for SEO optimization.
11:52And one thing as well that I want to remind content creators, when you're, like, struggling to go viral or you're struggling to find your thing, try it all.
12:01I love being a multi-hyphenate.
12:04I love being multi-passionate.
12:05I love having seven different labels that I could wear depending on the day of the week, depending on who's asking.
12:12I could be a speaker.
12:13I could be a retreat host.
12:14I could be, you know, a coach, online educator, graphic designer, filmmaker.
12:18I love it all.
12:20And that's what my unique proposition value add is.
12:23So, when someone's seeking me out, they're knowing that they're getting three jobs from one person.
12:27So, the more skill sets you add to your repertoire, the more valuable you become.
12:32And people can't replicate that.
12:33And then you learn what your strengths are, what people gravitate to.
12:37And then you're able to really cultivate around that.
12:40I know we have to wrap up soon.
12:41But I really quickly wanted to ask you both if everyone could take one thing away from the advice and the things that you guys have learned.
12:49What would you share with everyone here?
12:52One thing, I would say, there's the FOCUS acronym.
13:03Follow one course until success.
13:05Focus.
13:06Follow one course until success.
13:08I think we try to try too many things at the same time and we get frustrated by it not working out.
13:14We follow, you know, ten different coaches, ten different marketing gurus.
13:17And we're trying to hodgepodge all of their formulas and blueprints.
13:21Follow the one person who's not only successful, but they're living the lifestyle that you desire.
13:26If they're a, like, I'm the kind of person, I don't want a big team.
13:29I love being a lifestyle entrepreneur.
13:31I love taking three months to go to Bali and just chill whenever I want.
13:35Like, that's, for me, that's success.
13:38So, figure out someone living the lifestyle that you want and follow their path.
13:42Because not everyone is successful in the way you want success.
13:45Yeah.
13:47Mine is quick.
13:49Stay on it until it manifests.
13:51Don't give up.
13:53And I love that.
13:54You guys, listen, someone that didn't give up, we want to talk about really quickly because we have a special presentation prepared.
14:02And, Arian, I want to give you a moment because I know there is a grant to give to a black business.
14:08Yes, there is.
14:08Do I have to go to the podium or can I do this here?
14:10You can do it here if you'd like.
14:12I think we have a, I think we have a prop for you that's, that's coming out, too.
14:16Woo!
14:16Woo!
14:17I'd like to take a minute, you guys, to share with you all about the initiative that MasterCard and the Fearless Fund have with our Strivers Grant Program.
14:26We have gone around to seven different cities.
14:29Salam!
14:29Awarding grants to black female entrepreneurs.
14:34You guys, this is important because you heard about the stats earlier.
14:38That's why these partnerships are vital in the success of giving more access to capital.
14:44Right now, in the global macroeconomic climate of just high interest rates, inflation, and everything else going on, these grants are needed.
14:54Yes.
14:55I'm pretty sure you all have received text messages saying that, oh, we have capital for your business.
14:59These microloans are very aggressive and they're predatory.
15:03So you need grants in the space also to help keep your business going.
15:07So we are here today to present a $10,000 check to Ambria Washington of Washington Building Services right here in New Orleans, Louisiana.
15:22Apply for those grants, you guys.
15:25Yes.
15:26Congratulations.
15:29Look, you guys, we are so excited to be able to share this, to bless and bless others, and sometimes you're blessing with information, but when it's fun, it's even better.
15:39So, listen, I'm so excited about this.
15:42The Fearless Strivers New Orleans Grant is going to Ambria, and you guys make sure that you are checking out all of your resources.
15:48Go to MasterCard, check out the Strivers Initiative.
15:49In addition to grants and funding, they're also providing mentorship.
15:53So make sure you check that out.
15:55There are so many resources available to us, and we know that you get wealthy by a wealth of information.
16:00Thank you guys so much for joining us.
16:06You
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