We are celebrating LA tech week, and we had a remarkable event showcasing the unwavering confidence of women of color. The event was hosted by our esteemed dual guests, who recognized the lack of representation for women of color in their fields. Determined to address this disparity, they embarked on launching an initiative during LA Tech Week, which was a success. In this episode, Monica Dean and La Keisha share their inspiration to establish a coalition movement and dedicated space for women of color. They also emphasize the significance of understanding the needs of the ecosystem, which enabled them to organize a highly impactful event for fundraising, deal-making, and fostering meaningful connections.  

Monica is the managing director at Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business and brings over 25 years of experience in this field. As a half-Latina woman, her greatest fulfillment stems from creating spaces and supporting people of color in wealth creation. On the other hand, La Keisha is the general partner and co-founder of Emmeline Ventures, an early-stage VC fund dedicated to investing in game-changing female founders, femtech, and sustainability.

Tune in!

Key Highlights from the Show

[00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guests; Monica and La Keisha

[03:25] What Monica and La Keisha have been doing and the initiative they launched 

[07:11] Monica and La Keisha's experience in the event with black women doing the work

[14:01] What to expect next from the women of color coalition

[15:46] Creating additive and materially beneficial events for our fundraising and deals

[17:19] Understanding what the ecosystem needs to create an impact

[16:00] Monica and La Keisha parting words about their collective movement 

[21:01] How to reach out and connect with Monica and La Keisha 

[21:45] Wrap-up and end of the show

Notable Quotes 

• Knowing what women of color value, what they give, and what they get is vital to creating a space that supports them.

• Understanding what the ecosystem needs will enable us to create truly beneficial events for fundraising, deal-making, and structuring deals. 

Lets Connect

Monica & La Keisha

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-dean-b3ab963/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lnlpierre/

Lisha Bell

Website: https://www.lishabell.com/

Angel Syndicate Website: www.blxvc.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootedcali/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/belllism

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