Kevin Williams was born and raised in inner-City LA, and in the mid-80s and 90s, the city was as advertised; full of trouble that knew how to find you. Facing down that trouble gives you an edge. “Escaping” that trouble to private schools in nicer neighborhoods gives you more of an edge because you’re different. But having an edge can be an amazing resource if you know how to wield it. This episode gives you a glimpse into a man that has done the hard work of going from the West Coast to West Point, and beyond.

“If Diversity is being invited to the party, and Inclusion is being asked to dance, then Belonging is feeling safe to dance like no one is watching.” Courtney Schroeder is a Diversity and Inclusion Manager at General Mills that brings a unique and robust set of skills to the table. He’s a former CPA having worked for Deloitte, and landed at General Mills helping to lead some of their most iconic brands. But it was his work with their African-American Employee Resource Group, and his 20 year history of being involved in social justice work, that compelled him to make his move from Marketing to Diversity and Inclusion. This brotha is a force of nature, and in this episode you get a glimpse into his true brilliance, as it’s applied to this fight against the systemic oppression of Black folks.

“How can we help?” The murder of George Floyd (RIP) was the match that sparked protests all across the world. It laid bare the ongoing systemic oppression of Black folks, and has inspired folks to make change. Police murdering and brutalizing Black people isn’t news to us, but something about this murder has landed differently for our White allies. And that has manifested itself in mass outpouring of texts, emails, and phone calls from White folks to their Black friends wanting to know how to help. This episode offers tangible, meaningful ways for White folks to help end systemic racism.

Lemu Coker is that dude that knows everyone. And of everyone that knows Lemu, no one has a bad word to say about him. It’s not surprising to know that he has a deep love of movies, given he has lived his life like he’s acting out the part of the most interesting man in the world; long before the corny Dos Equis cat. From the North End of Hartford, Connecticut, to Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and back to Bed Stuy Brooklyn, Lemu has blazed a trail that we all can learn from. There’s the family and community that you have, and the goals you want to achieve. Everything else is just background noise as you write the script of your life.

Michael Essien is a complex thinker that’s on a mission to serve. His ministry happens to be Education. Born just two years after his family arrived in LA from the sticks of Arkansas, he lived his life between two worlds; one world being the South LA streets he played in, and the Southern Baptist roof he lived under. In part 2 of our conversation with Michael, we explore his approach to Community Schooling, and how he leads to create positive outcomes for students, parents, and faculty.

Michael Essien is a complex thinker that’s on a mission to serve. His ministry happens to be Education. Born just two years after his family arrived in LA from the sticks of Arkansas, he lived his life between two worlds; one world being the South LA streets he played in, and the Southern Baptist roof he lived under. In part 1 of my conversation with Michael, we explore the “making of the man.”

Husband. Father. Christian. NFL Player. Super Bowl Champion. Marketing Executive. Friend. These are all part of a long list of achievements in Martin Nance’s life; and he takes none of them for granted. Since a little kid, he has had an amazing work ethic, instilled in him by his parents, reinforced by his sisters, and refined both in the classroom and on the playing field. This work ethic, this will to win, carried Martin to Miami of Ohio to play college ball, then later to the NFL. And when his playing career was cut short, he was able to pivot and earn his MBA from the University of Michigan. With all that life experience, he now helps run the iconic Gatorade brand.

BJ’s story is an account of figuring out where you want to go, realizing there isn’t a beaten path for you to follow, then taking what you have to go over, under, or through whatever is standing in your way. His story stresses the importance of realizing that when you do step up to the next level in anything, like attending Yale University, you are going to have to work harder than you did at the previous level. Growth happens beyond your comfort zone.

As a marketing executive for CLIF Bar, having previously worked major corporations like Clorox and Starbucks, I’ve had a lot of success in my career. But as a Black man, I’ve had to fight harder than most. So I’m here to introduce BOOTSTRAPS, a new series that highlights journeys of successful Black men, in their own words, to give hope to other brothas out there trying to thrive.