Learn With Avthar

Learn with Avthar #7: Yaw Owusu-Boahen on No-Code, Career Hacks, Founder Lessons and Diversity & Inclusion in Tech

ABOUT YAW

Yaw is a Ghanian-born, American entrepreneur. He currently directs the Immerse Pre-Accelerator for BIPOC founders, as a leader of the founder inclusion team at Bubble, a company which makes a No-Code application building platform.

Previously, Yaw co-founded LMNS, an equal-opportunity hiring platform for digital marketers, and was a consultant at the prestigious Bain and Company. Yaw is a graduate of Princeton University, with a degree in Public Policy and International Relations.

KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YAW

Yaw's Website - https://yawob.me/

Yaw's Twitter: https://twitter.com/yawob_

Yaw's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yawowusuboahen/

Yaw's IG: https://www.instagram.com/freshprinceakeem/?hl=en

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Intro

2:42 - Yaw's journey from employee to founder

8:24 - Where does self-belief and conviction in our abilities come from?

15:11 - Exit strategies when leaving a company

25:33 - Finding value in your current position

29:00 - Creating an app for the New York Club scene

33:06 - Lessons from a two-time founder

37:33 - Problem-Founder-Fit

44:15 - The LMNS story

47:22 - The Hiring space is saturated

52:38 - Choosing a partner is the most important business decision you will ever make

55:10 - Entrepreneurship is not sexy

58:56 - Conviction investors vs Sheep investors

1:07:00 - Distribution and finding traction

1:20:12 - Diversity and Inclusion in the tech industry

1:24:16 - Accelerators, Pre-Accelerators and how they're bridging the diversity gap

1:30:12 - What is No-Code?

1:32:16 - How Bubble enables entrepreneurs to test their ideas faster

1:53:55 - Quickfire questions

1:58:03 - Tools, Resources and Frameworks from a two-time Founder

2:00:28 - Finding your Authentic Self

CONNECT WITH AVTHAR

Learn more and stay up to date at: https://avthar.com

Avthar's Weekly Wisdom: https://avthar.substack.com

Learn with Avthar Podcast: https://avthar.buzzsprout.com

Follow Avthar on Twitter: https://twitter.com/avthars

Learn with Avthar #6: Shamay Agaron - The Neuroscience of Wellness, Wearables, and the Brain-Body Connection

ABOUT SHAMAY

Shamay Agaron is a Princeton-trained neuroscience researcher and science communicator. He's also the author of Friday Brainstorm, a popular newsletter that makes neuroscience accessible and actionable to everyday people.

Friday brainstorm newsletter https://brainstorm.substack.com

Shamay's website: https://shamay.com

TIMESTAMPS

08:05 -Shamay's journey in neuroscience

14:01 - The (un)surprising link between food and mood

21:07 - Our environment's impact on our brains

33:52 - Forget lo-fi, listen to soundscapes

41:13 - Alternative wellness 49:20 - Gut-brain connection

54:48 - Consumerism and health

59:04 - Level up your health by BREATHING

1:03:41 - The double-edged sword of quantified personal data

1:36:50 - A Neuroscience Researcher's Top Book Recommendations

CONNECT WITH AVTHAR

Learn more and stay up to date at: https://avthar.com

Avthar's Weekly Wisdom: https://avthar.substack.com

Follow Avthar on Twitter: https://twitter.com/avthars

Learn with Avthar #5: Nic Voge

This episode is with the person I call the most for learning advice: Nic Voge.

I worked under Nic as a learning coach at Princeton University and he’s one of the most knowledgeable people I’ve ever met when it comes to learning and education in high performance, high intensity environments.

About Nic

Nic Voge holds a masters in Education focusing on learning and literacy. He’s worked with some of the worlds brightest students in the most demanding university environments, spending 10 years co-ordinating the study strategies program at University of California, Berkeley and 12 years at Princeton University, where he’s currently the Senior Associate Director of the McGraw Center for teaching at learning, where he oversees 180 tutors, graduate fellows, learning consultants and professional learning strategists.

Nic is also a published author, with his book "Life Beyond Grades: Designing Intrinsically Engaging College Courses” published by Cambridge University Press in 2017.

Episode Contents

• (2:37) How this learning and teaching expert found his strengths
• (8:29) What’s it like helping students at America’s best university?
• (17:44) Textbooks aren’t designed for students
• (23:31) Why “transfer” is the most value skill to learn
• (28:58) Learning coach vs tutor, Collaborative strategizing
• (40:48) Self worth theory and life beyond grades
• (47:58) How college changes your self image
• (51:51): Procrastination and Identity
• (1:00:00) Motivation Stacking
• (1:07:38) Can Extrinsic and Intrinsic rewards Coexist? 
• (1:11:18) Quickfire questions
• (1:20:05) Success is an internal experience
• (1:22:20) Why is college so hard
• (1:47:03) Closing gratitude and get in touch with Nic Voge

Connect with Nic

• LinkedIn
• Princeton University McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning
• Life Beyond Grades

Learn more and stay up to date at www.avthar.com

Learn with Avthar #4: Andrés Bronnimann

I was excited to invite Andrés Bronnimann onto the podcast to celebrate the release of his first feature-length documentary entitled, "The Universality of It All". The film focuses on the topics of human migration, climate change and social inequality.

I was also curious about what he learned from making the film, as well as his creative and entrepreneurial processes he picked up as an independent filmmaker with 30+ productions in 25+ countries.

About Andrés:
Andrés Bronnimann was raised in Costa Rica, by a Swiss father and Mexican mother. He's a graduate of United World College Costa Rica and was a Davis Scholar at Ringling College of Art and Design, in Florida, USA, where he earned a degree in film and business.

Andrés' filmmaking portfolio is as diverse as his personal background, having worked for both social causes and large brands looking for an edgier media profile. His clients have ranged from Red Bull and Land Rover, to Projects for Peace. While pursuing freelance projects for other organizations, he also helped start an independent ad-agency, 'BE Latinoamérica', where he was CEO.

Throughout his film career, he has traveled to more than 30 countries, creating music videos, web series and commercials for numerous brands, artists and organizations. Andrés has worn many hats in the film production pipeline, having been a producer, writer, manager and creative. "The Universality of it All" is his debut film, nearly two years in the making, where he was the only crew member.

In the podcast we cover:

• Andrés' Hero's Journey about how he became a filmmaker
• The tragic backstory and inspiration behind "The Universality of It All"
• How your life is a film, with you as both director and main character
• The importance of patience and perseverance as an independent filmmaker
• The financial and emotional hardships that came with filming, producing, and promoting an independent film
• The business of creative endeavors: How to find your audience and serve unmet needs
• Avoiding the rabbit hole of research
• Connecting macro and micro world issues
• Respecting the ugly side of life
• The intangible value of authenticity and gratitude
• How can we measure the social impact of media?

Connect with Andrés Bronnimann

• BronniTV
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Learn more and stay up to date at www.avthar.com

Every creative has a unique perspective. It's the framework through which they perceive and act to bring their artistic vision into reality. With a clear underlying understanding of how they see the world, their art becomes clearer to themselves and others.

In this clip, Andrés makes insightful observations about the entrepreneurship of creativity, purpose-driven creation the critical role of marketing in the digital age, as well as the importance of finding your audience.

Clip from Learn with Avthar Ep #4 with Andrés Bronniman and Avthar Sewrathan. Learn more and stay up to date at www.avthar.com

With any project, company, or piece of art, it is an incredible challenge to untangle your self-worth from what you've produced and the success it has achieved. Why would someone endeavor to do something that makes them feel more vulnerable than ever?

In this clip, guest Andrés Bronniman openly discusses his personal challenges with the creative process— self-doubt, comparison, and loneliness. It's an inside look at the creative's journey and the vulnerability that independent pursuits produce.

Clip from Learn with Avthar Ep #4 with Andrés Bronniman and Avthar Sewrathan. Learn more and stay up to date at www.avthar.com

We've all been told to be grateful when we've complained about the food on offer at the dining table. However, how often do we voluntarily take the time to feel grateful for what we do have?

Avthar and guest Andrés Bronniman discuss the importance of shifting your perspective in order to see your life and environment from a place of gratitude. "Comparison is the thief of joy" and "the grass is greener on the other side"— we have heard these phrases a million times, but for good reason. Let these two remind you of the value of gratitude using lessons from their own entrepreneurial and artistic endeavors.

Clip from Learn with Avthar Ep #4 with Andrés Bronniman and Avthar Sewrathan.
Learn more and stay up to date at www.avthar.com

Many successful people feel that their achievements can be attributed to their work ethic and uncompromising commitment to their plan A. However, how often do we hear from those that didn't succeed in achieving their initial dreams?

In this clip, Avthar and Andrés Bronniman discuss the value of having a backup plan in order to reduce anxiety and allow a healthy distance between your self-worth and your success as an entrepreneur. It is easier to go all in and commit your full self to something when you know that failure is not going to be the end of the world.

Clip from Learn with Avthar Ep #4 with Andrés Bronniman and Avthar Sewrathan.
Learn more and stay up to date at www.avthar.com

The comfort zone is a dangerous place for us homo sapiens. As the world suffers from the consequences of conformity and groupthink, the value of entrepreneurial and creative endeavors are becoming starkly clear. We can either innovate or perish.

In this clip, Andrés Bronniman and Avthar connect over their mutual struggles and sense of meaning in committing to their own ventures rather than the beaten path of the 9-5.

Clip from Learn with Avthar Ep #4 with Andrés Bronniman and Avthar Sewrathan.

Learn more and stay up to date at www.avthar.com

Yes, the starving artist narrative is getting old. However, it doesn't make it any less true. 

Let Andrés Bronniman, a Costa Rican filmmaker, tell you about the financial and emotional struggles he faced on the way to developing and releasing his latest feature film, "The Universality of It All".

Clip from Learn with Avthar Ep #4 with Andrés Bronniman and Avthar Sewrathan.

Learn more and stay up to date at www.avthar.com