Black Wealth and Hellness

Black Wealth & Hellness

When my team and I sat down last month to talk about our perspective on Black History Month, the theme for this year is “Health and Wellness.” However, when I looked down at my notes and I’d written “Wealth and Hellness.” Let’s play with that.

As a Black woman who continues to fight the odds, it’s really crystal clear. Health and Wellness so goes beyond the obvious physical and functional. For me, Wealth is Wellness takes on a life force all its own. For me, it’s all about taking care of my family and ensuring that my legacy is empowered to succeed.

Difference — A Poor Family versus a Poor Race

One of my investors recently connected me with Nate Parker — actor, director, producer, and entrepreneur. He’s had some controversy which I imagine has caused him to reflect deeply. Anyhow, in our first conversation, he said something to me that shook me… “it’s very different to imagine success when you’re from a poor family versus a poor race.” Wow! One feels circumstantial, the other feels systemic. One can be escaped, the other is a boiling caldron.

The recent numbers show hope — Black Wealth.

I think of this as economic sovereignty — this goes beyond being self-governing, this is about creating and seizing power, this is about creating multi-generational wealth and influence. This is about access to the same resources and opportunities. As a Black woman, this is asking a lot. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about.

Give me a challenge and game on. Born to one tough mama and with plenty of grit and determination to go around, I chose a tough path. After getting my MBA, I entered the tech world. And yes, you are correct there were not too many Black and brown women anywhere to be seen. Note to self — there are rules I have to learn if I want to succeed — rules that are spoken and those that are not. I did the work and then some. I actually made a name for myself in the rarified Stepford-like community aka Silicon Valley. I love Silicon Valley and I am who I am because of it.

Smack dab in the middle of a very successful career, I decided I had no choice but to focus on Wealth and Wellness for not only myself but others — my reason for being became clear — I had to pay it forward. The statistics were right there. Only 2% of venture capital funds were being invested in diverse and female founders. So, I launched Growth Warrior, a school for other Black, brown and diverse entrepreneurs who might have a huge idea but had no access to the unfortunately unwritten rule book on how to make it.

With Growth Warrior, I met and mentored so many great founders. I found myself just itching to get in the game. Thus the start of Growth Warrior Capital, a new kind of Venture Capital Fund that actually does more than write checks. Our mission is to empower diverse and female founders to create their own economic sovereignty. Our model turns the traditional one on its very head. We start with conditioning, providing these warriors in the making with the tangible and intangible tools they need — everything from how to fund their companies to how to navigate board rooms filled with people who did not look, act or think like them. We connect them to people who can actually help them and we provide the capital they need to transform their visions into reality.

It is my personal and professional mission to have a meaningful impact on the Wealth is Wellness of as many Black (brown, LGBTQIA, women) entrepreneurs as we possibly can. The doctor will see you now.