How They Did It Podcast

Dr. Amera McCoy is the CEO of her own consulting company, she has a PHD in philosophy from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and she worked at J.P. Morgan for 8 years, where she was Vice President of Vendor Management.

This week, Alec and Amera discuss her trajectory that got her where she is today, the obstacles for women of color in the business world, ways to stay positive and productive during the pandemic, and why getting a good night's sleep is so important when running a company.

Dr. Amera McCoy is the CEO of her own consulting company, she has a PHD in philosophy from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and she worked at J.P. Morgan for 8 years, where she was Vice President of Vendor Management.

This week, Alec and Amera discuss her trajectory that got her where she is today, the obstacles for women of color in the business world, ways to stay positive and productive during the pandemic, and why getting a good night's sleep is so important when running a company.

Tony Plasencia describes himself as a business developer, a Gen Z leader, and a relationship builder. He hails from East Oakland, and he studied Political Science and San Francisco State University while simultaneously beginning his career in the tech ecosystem. He gained an interest in tech while working at Uber and went on to work at 2 hyper-growth companies, get 2 start-ups off the ground, and co-found another company. His latest project is a platform called Diffusion, which has already been accepted into a startup incubator.

This week, Alec and Tony discuss Tony's latest project, how to continue making progress in your work, how to manage your professional and personal identities, what steps we need to take to achieve better cultural understanding as a nation; and useful messages in the music of Kanye West and Freddy Gibbs.

Meriame Berboucha is a PhD student in the Plasma Physics Group at Imperial College London, and she is currently based at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California. Her research lies in attempts to recreate the conditions found in space by heating materials with high-powered lasers.

This week, Meriame and Alec discuss her very interesting field of work, how she got to where she is today, and the state of diversity in scientific academic research.

Meriame Berboucha is a PhD student in the Plasma Physics Group at Imperial College London, and she is currently based at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California. Her research lies in attempts to recreate the conditions found in space by heating materials with high-powered lasers.

This week, Meriame and Alec discuss her very interesting field of work, how she got to where she is today, and the state of diversity in scientific academic research.

Paul Voge is the Co Founder and CEO of Aura Bora, a modern, all-natural and innovative beverage company that produces sparkling water made from herbs, fruits, and flowers. Paul and his wife Madeleine co-founded the company and they were soon featured on Shark Tank, where they received $200,000 in funding from Robert Herjavec.

This week Alec and Paul discuss Paul's past experience in venture capital, how he built his current company, why being on Shark Tank is so nerve-wracking, the evolution of America's diet, and the state of diversity in the food and beverage industry.

Paul Voge is the Co Founder and CEO of Aura Bora, a modern, all-natural and innovative beverage company that produces sparkling water made from herbs, fruits, and flowers. Paul and his wife, Madeleine co-founded the company and they were soon featured on Shark Tank, where they received $200,000 in funding from Robert Herjavec.

This week Paul and Alec discuss how Aura Bora came to be, Paul's past experience in venture capital, why being on Shark Tank is so nerve-wracking, the evolution of America's diet, and the state of diversity in the food and beverage industry.

Mariah Lichtenstern is a founding partner and managing director of DiverseCity Ventures, a firm that believes innovation thrives where diverse perspectives intersect. They focus on backing technology-enabled companies that have positive social, economic, or environmental impact, inclusive teams, and demonstrate high potential for outsized returns.

This week, Alec and Mariah discuss how she got to where she is today, how we can use our professional influence for positive social change, as well as how far social justice has come but there is still a long road ahead.

Mariah Lichtenstern is a founding partner and managing director of DiverseCity Ventures, a firm that believes innovation thrives where diverse perspectives intersect. They focus on backing technology-enabled companies that have positive social, economic, or environmental impact, inclusive teams, and demonstrate high potential for outsized returns.

This week, Alec and Mariah discuss how she got to where she is today, how we can use our professional influence for positive social change, as well as how far social justice has come but there is still a long road ahead.

Ulrich Musset is a founder and COO of Vauban, a company that is revolutionizing the way wealth containers and created and maintained. This week on How They Did It, Alec and Ulric discuss the ways Vauban has streamlined fund/SPV setup, how to promote diverse lending, and Ulric explains how his entrepreneurial journey began at age 12.

Ulric Musset is a founder and COO of Vauban, a company that is revolutionizing the way wealth containers and created and maintained. This week on How They Did It, Alec and Ulric discuss the ways Vauban has streamlined fund/SPV setup, how to promote diverse lending, and Ulric explains how his entrepreneurial journey began at age 12.

Abner Mason is an entrepreneur who previously spent 12 years leading multimillion-dollar economic development and behavioral science programs. He is the founder/CEO of Consejo Sano, the only patient engagement and care navigation solution designated to help clients activate their multicultural patient populations to better engage with the healthcare system. This week, Abner explains how his company is working to bring the US healthcare system into the modern age, why the VC community has to change to enable funding for women and people an people of color, and also how we can turn our failures into success.

Abner Mason is an entrepreneur who previously spent 12 years leading multimillion-dollar economic development and behavioral science programs. He is the founder/CEO of Consejo Sano, the only patient engagement and care navigation solution designated to help clients activate their multicultural patient populations to better engage with the healthcare system. This week, Abner explains how his company is working to bring the US healthcare system into the modern age, why the VC community has to change to enable funding for women and people an people of color, and also how we can turn our failures into success.

Hello and welcome to the "How They Did It" business podcast. I'm your host Alec Taylor and founder of DiverseVC. In Part 1 of today's we have Erica Duignan Minnihan, the founder and managing partner of 1000 Angels, a private venture investment network for selected accredited investors, family offices, and venture funds. She is also the founding partner of Reign Ventures, a seed stage venture fund that invests in technology and tech-enabled businesses. Erica earned her BA in Business Economics from UCLA, and an MBA in finance, with honors, from Columbia Business School. She has been an active investor and advisor to early-stage  companies for 14 years. Thank you for listening! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/diversevc/support

Hello and welcome to the "How They Did It" business podcast. I'm your host Alec Taylor and founder of DiverseVC. In Part 1 of today's we have Erica Duignan Minnihan, the founder and managing partner of 1000 Angels, a private venture investment network for selected accredited investors, family offices, and venture funds. She is also the founding partner of Reign Ventures, a seed-stage venture fund that invests in technology and tech-enabled businesses. Erica earned her BA in Business Economics from UCLA, and an MBA in finance, with honors, from Columbia Business School. She has been an active investor and advisor to early-stage companies for 14 years. 

Thank you for listening! 

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/diversevc/support

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

In Part 2 of today’s podcast we are back with Sergio Paluch, the Founder of Beta Boom, a company that specializes in investing exclusively in startups at pre-seed stage led by diverse, generally overlooked founders; particularly immigrants, women, and people of color. Beta Boom works to help the startups succeed and reduce time-to-exit with daily coaching and support from product, marketing, sales, and fundraising experts. Sergio has an extensive history working for and founding multiple companies in the VC industry.

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

In Part 1 of today’s podcast we have Sergio Paluch, the Founder of Beta Boom, a company that specializes in investing exclusively in startups at pre-seed stage led by diverse, generally overlooked founders; particularly immigrants, women, and people of color. Beta Boom works to help the startups succeed and reduce time-to-exit with daily coaching and support from product, marketing, sales, and fundraising experts. Sergio has an extensive history working for and founding multiple companies in the VC industry.

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

In Part 2 of today’s podcast we are back with Scott Glasgow, the founder of FinMango, a global non-profit using data, tech, and advocacy to solve the financial exclusion problem around the world. In addition to running FinMango, Scott serves as a board member at ZIM, a student-run, silicon valley backed zero interest micro-finance organization at Santa Clara University. Scott speaks to large audiences all around the globe and is a 2x TEDx speaker. He has spoken at over 100 high schools, universities, and conferences (including student body presentations at Pepperdine and Vanderbilt University).

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

In Part 1 of today’s podcast we have Scott Glasgow, the founder of FinMango, a global non-profit using data, tech, and advocacy to solve the financial exclusion problem around the world. In addition to running FinMango, Scott serves as a board member at ZIM, a student-run, silicon valley backed zero interest micro-finance organization at Santa Clara University. Scott speaks to large audiences all around the globe and is a 2x TEDx speaker. He has spoken at over 100 high schools, universities, and conferences (including student body presentations at Pepperdine and Vanderbilt University).

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

In Part 2 of today’s podcast we have Dr. Tye Caldwell and Courtney Caldwell, co-founders of ShearShare, the largest provider of on-demand salon and barbershop space rentals in the market. The ShearShare app gives licensed beauty and barbering professionals the freedom and flexibility to rent workspace by the day in cities all over the world, while salon and barbershop owners make money on unused space! Prior to ShearShare, Tye and Courtney owned and operated an award-winning salon in Dallas, Texas, which was the genesis behind ShearShare. Dr. Tye serves on the Advisory Boards for multiple beauty schools and is a frequent guest lecturer at barber colleges and hairstyling institutes around the globe. His #1 best-selling book, ‘Mentored by Failure: A 5-point Guide to Long-Term Success in the Beauty & Style Industry’, is often used for continuing education curriculum. Courtney recently received an honorary doctorate degree from Miracle University, and is the 33rd African-American female to raise $1 million in venture funding!

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

In Part 1 of today’s podcast we have Dr. Tye Caldwell and Courtney Caldwell, co-founders of ShearShare, the largest provider of on-demand salon and barbershop space rentals in the market. The ShearShare app gives licensed beauty and barbering professionals the freedom and flexibility to rent workspace by the day in cities all over the world, while salon and barbershop owners make money on unused space! Prior to ShearShare, Tye and Courtney owned and operated an award-winning salon in Dallas, Texas, which was the genesis behind ShearShare. Dr. Tye serves on the Advisory Boards for multiple beauty schools and is a frequent guest lecturer at barber colleges and hairstyling institutes around the globe. His #1 best-selling book, ‘Mentored by Failure: A 5-point Guide to Long-Term Success in the Beauty & Style Industry’, is often used for continuing education curriculum. Courtney recently received an honorary doctorate degree from Miracle University, and is the 33rd African-American female to raise $1 million in venture funding!

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

In Part 2 of today’s podcast we have Erin Papworth. Erin is an entrepreneur who previously spent 12 years leading multi-million dollar economic development and behavioral science programs with the United Nations, United States Government, and Johns Hopkins University. She is the founder and CEO of Nav.it, the first app to take lessons learned from behavioral-health apps and apply those proven strategies to achieve financial health for financially coping and struggling consumers. Erin brings her behavioral science background to the financial technology and services industry to shift the narrative around money and increase the financial health of the millennial generation.

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

In Part 1 of today’s podcast we have Erin Papworth. Erin is an entrepreneur who previously spent 12 years leading multi-million dollar economic development and behavioral science programs with the United Nations, United States Government, and Johns Hopkins University. She is the founder and CEO of Nav.it, the first app to take lessons learned from behavioral-health apps and apply those proven strategies to achieve financial health for financially coping and struggling consumers. Erin brings her behavioral science background to the financial technology and services industry to shift the narrative around money and increase the financial health of the millennial generation.

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

In Part 2 of today’s podcast we have Justin Gordon, the founder of Just Go Grind and the host of the Just Go Grind Podcast, a daily show with more than 200 episodes featuring interviews with entrepreneurs and investors! Justin received his MBA from USC in 2020, and is working hard to achieve his goal of helping one billion people in his lifetime!

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

In Part 1 of today’s podcast we have Justin Gordon, the founder of Just Go Grind and the host of the Just Go Grind Podcast, a daily show with more than 200 episodes featuring interviews with entrepreneurs and investors! Justin received his MBA from USC in 2020, and is working hard to achieve his goal of helping one billion people in his lifetime!

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

On part 2 of today's podcast we have Colin Mahar, a content creation entrepreneur based in New York City! When graduating from Tulane University and succeeding in the real estate business wasn’t enough, Colin followed his passion and established Mahar Copy. Mahar Copy is a content creation business that assists companies in content production, strategic planning, web development, and so on. Colin has all the tools, knowledge, and passion to truly make an impact in the business world!

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

On part 1 of today's podcast we have Colin Mahar, a content creation entrepreneur based in New York City! When graduating from Tulane University and succeeding in the real estate business wasn’t enough, Colin followed his passion and established Mahar Copy. Mahar Copy is a content creation business that assists companies in content production, strategic planning, web development, and so on. Colin has all the tools, knowledge, and passion to truly make an impact in the business world!

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

On Part 2 of today’s podcast we have SkillShare’s influencer marketing lead Ethan Mantel. Ethan has been in the startup marketing world for over 7 years, starting his career at Movie Pass before transitioning over to Skillshare as the second member of the marketing team. The company has grown to over 12 million members and 100+ employees! Today, Ethan’s focus has been on scaling influencer and creator marketing on YouTube.

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

On Part 1 of today’s podcast we have SkillShare’s influencer marketing lead Ethan Mantel. Ethan has been in the startup marketing world for over 7 years, starting his career at Movie Pass before transitioning over to Skillshare as the second member of the marketing team. The company has grown to over 12 million members and 100+ employees! Today, Ethan’s focus has been on scaling influencer and creator marketing on YouTube.

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

On Part 2 of today’s podcast we have Stephanie Benedetto: a corporate attorney turned fashion, tech, and sustainability entrepreneur. Stephanie is the co-founder of Queen of Raw, a marketplace to buy and sell unused textiles, keeping them out of landfills, and turning pollution into profit.

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” Business podcast! I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

On Part 1 of today’s podcast we have Stephanie Benedetto: a corporate attorney turned fashion, tech, and sustainability entrepreneur! Stephanie is the co-founder of Queen of Raw, a marketplace to buy and sell unused textiles, keeping them out of landfills, and turning pollution into profit!

Thank you for listening!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” business podcast. I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

On Part 2 of today’s podcast, we have Nigel Hammett, the founder of the professional development business “Resume Plug”, which helps fight the disparities of minorities and women in the work force. Nigel is also an avid investor, who used his financial intelligence to pay off a mountain of student loans, buy his first car, and move to his dream city of Miami! In addition, Nigel spends time teaching others and giving back to his community, and working a full time job at Facebook.

Thank you for listening to the “How They Did It” business podcast!

Hello and welcome to the “How They Did It” business podcast. I’m your host Alec Taylor, founder of DiverseVC.

On Part 1 of today’s podcast, we have Nigel Hammett, the founder of the professional development business “Resume Plug”, which helps fight the disparities of minorities and women in the work force. Nigel is also an avid investor, who used his financial intelligence to pay off a mountain of student loans, buy his first car, and move to his dream city of Miami! In addition, Nigel spends time teaching others and giving back to his community, and working a full time job at Facebook.

Thank you for listening to the “How They Did It” business podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On part 2 of today's podcast, we have Justin Liang, the founder, and CEO of VR startup Inspace. Its software simulates architectural designs to help building professionals perfect their work before construction and avoid costly mistakes. Liang says more than 3,000 professionals use the software, including property consulting firms CBRE, JLL, and Knight Frank. In 2017, the same year Inspace was launched, the startup won the Australia and New Zealand leg of the startup competition Create@Alibaba Cloud, which is organized by Alibaba's cloud computing arm.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On part 1 of today's podcast, we have Justin Liang, the founder, and CEO of VR startup Inspace. Its software simulates architectural designs to help building professionals perfect their work before construction and avoid costly mistakes. Liang says more than 3,000 professionals use the software, including property consulting firms CBRE, JLL, and Knight Frank. In 2017, the same year Inspace was launched, the startup won the Australia and New Zealand leg of the startup competition Create@Alibaba Cloud, which is organized by Alibaba's cloud computing arm.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On Part 2 of today's podcast, we have May Liu. May Liu is the Principal Medical Research Scientist at Intuitive Surgical. Since high school, she has pursued a career that applies technology to solve medical challenges. May joined Intuitive in 2010, and her research focuses on technology applications to help surgical teams learn to use the da Vinci Surgical System. She is inspired by the discovery that results from thoughtful inquiry and is constantly looking for solutions and ways in which teams can freely explore questions and ideas.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On Part 1 of today's podcast, we have May Liu. May Liu is the Principal Medical Research Scientist at Intuitive Surgical. Since high school, she has pursued a career that applies technology to solve medical challenges. May joined Intuitive in 2010, and her research focuses on technology applications to help surgical teams learn to use the da Vinci Surgical System. She is inspired by the discovery that results from thoughtful inquiry and is constantly looking for solutions and ways in which teams can freely explore questions and ideas. 

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On part 2 of today's podcast we have Luigi Aieta who delivers exceptional real estate consulting to achieve the best investment for his clients. His connections span the globe as he was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and later moved to Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to graduating with a Finance degree from the University of San Francisco, Luigi worked with Flat Hunter, the leading property finder in Paris. He also studied entrepreneurship at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to augment his education.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On part 1 of today's podcast we have Luigi Aieta who delivers exceptional real estate consulting to achieve the best investment for his clients. His connections span the globe as he was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and later moved to Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to graduating with a Finance degree from the University of San Francisco, Luigi worked with Flat Hunter, the leading property finder in Paris. He also studied entrepreneurship at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to augment his education.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On today's Part 2 Podcast we will Akinyi Ochieng. She leads marketing at Nova Credit, a fast-growing financial technology company that has raised $70m in funding to date in support of its vision of a world beyond borders. Prior to Nova Credit, she managed communications at WorldRemit, the leading digital remittance company. Akinyi is a passionate advocate for technology in emerging markets and a champion of African innovation. She's written for the World Economic Forum, Forbes, CNBC and more on business, culture and politics.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On today's Part 1 Podcast we will Akinyi Ochieng. She leads marketing at Nova Credit, a fast-growing financial technology company that has raised $70m in funding to date in support of its vision of a world beyond borders. Prior to Nova Credit, she managed communications at WorldRemit, the leading digital remittance company. Akinyi is a passionate advocate for technology in emerging markets and a champion of African innovation. She's written for the World Economic Forum, Forbes, CNBC and more on business, culture and politics.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

Today we have Francesca Pinzone. Francesca is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of online allied health services provider, Umbo. She is passionate about bringing health services to families in rural communities and removing social inequalities. Francesca is also one of the Summer 2020 Nasdaq Milestone Maker Entrepreneurs working on COVID-19 solutions.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

Today we have Dr. Hari Sundram! Dr. Sundram is a serial entrepreneur who has previously launched two companies that have collectively raised over 800 million dollars and created more than 6 billion dollars in enterprise value by tackling problems in the health insurance, and medical device arena while attracting some of the biggest names in healthcare. He now hopes to transform all of premium creation and underwriting in the largest cause of individual bankruptcy in the US - group healthcare.

Currently, Dr. Sundram is the founder and CEO of Verikai, an applied data company leveraging a novel machine learning informed modeling platform to capture variance from regression in the insurance and financial services market. He is Chairman of the Board at Anagram (a consumer claiming platform for out of network benefits), strategic advisor to QMedic (two-way PERs device for MA and Medicaid members) and Constant Therapy (stroke therapy platform acquired by West Medical), and an active early-stage investor and mentor in all things data-driven.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On Part 2 of today's podcast, we have Peter Njongwe who is focused on building habit-forming products. He's an Entrepreneur, behavioral designer, and product manager. Right now, he's the founder and behavioral designer of Lapis Health. A platform in health tech focused on benefiting and improving behaviors for individuals who want to recover from heart disease. His background is in computer information systems, with a minor in entrepreneurship. He worked as an IT consultant, software developer, and product manager. He is originally from Canada and is an executive in residence at Connection Silicon Valley.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On Part 1 of today's podcast, we have Peter Njongwe who is focused on building habit-forming products. He's an Entrepreneur, behavioral designer, and product manager. Right now, he's the founder and behavioral designer of Lapis Health. A platform in health tech focused on benefiting and improving behaviors for individuals who want to recover from heart disease. His background is in computer information systems, with a minor in entrepreneurship. He worked as an IT consultant, software developer, and product manager. He is originally from Canada and is an executive in residence at Connection Silicon Valley. 

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On Part 2 of today's podcast, we have Chris Hedrick! Before founding NextStep, Hedrick served as CEO of Kepler, an innovative online/offline university program in Rwanda, and CEO of Intrepid Learning, a venture capital-backed learning technology, and outsourcing company. He previously served as Science and Technology Advisor to the Governor of Washington state. He was also the first employee of the Gates Library Foundation, the precursor organization of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and managed national philanthropic programs for Microsoft. ‍ He has a deep background in public health, leading an Africa-wide malaria prevention program, working as country director for the largest Peace Corps program in the world, and serving on the board of PATH, the global health non-profit. A graduate of Stanford University, Hedrick was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!

Hello and welcome to the Diverse VC business podcast where social is the new capital. I’m your host Alec Taylor, the Founder of Diverse VC.

On Part 1 of today's podcast, we have Chris Hedrick! Before founding NextStep, Hedrick served as CEO of Kepler, an innovative online/offline university program in Rwanda, and CEO of Intrepid Learning, a venture capital-backed learning technology, and outsourcing company. He previously served as Science and Technology Advisor to the Governor of Washington state. He was also the first employee of the Gates Library Foundation, the precursor organization of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and managed national philanthropic programs for Microsoft. ‍ He has a deep background in public health, leading an Africa-wide malaria prevention program, working as country director for the largest Peace Corps program in the world, and serving on the board of PATH, the global health non-profit. A graduate of Stanford University, Hedrick was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University.

Thanks for listening to the DiverseVC Business Podcast!