The Achievement Index: Prioritize, Leverage, Execute

On this week's episode, Apollo Emeka is joined by Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, the president and CEO of The Center by Lendistry, a nonprofit organization who aims to impact small businesses in underserved communities by providing necessary business resources for success. Tunua has dedicated over two decades of her life to public service, leading impactful initiatives to build better communities.

Throughout the interview, Tunua emphasizes the vital role of leadership and provides insightful advice for those aspiring to enhance their careers. She discusses how leaders must stay grounded in the intent of their work, striving always to bring in fresh perspectives and ideas. For Tunua, the key to harmony among the different roles in life– from the professional realm to the personal– is identifying the overlap between them. By integrating different aspects of her life, she nurtures her values and fulfills her goals in each area. 

Lastly, Tunua confronts the common fear and doubt that can arise in one's journey. She empowers listeners to stand strong amid uncertainty, highlighting gratitude as an effective tool. By focusing on the assets and support they already have, individuals can confidently step forward in service to others. Thus, she invites listeners to lean into this mindset, taking one small step at a time towards their goals.

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Guest Bio

With a public service career spanning more than two decades, Tunua Thrash-Ntuk has led racial equity initiatives and billion-dollar governmental programs to build better communities for those in greatest need.

As a community development professional, she has championed equitable economic inclusion and programs centered on uplifting businesses owned by women, immigrants, and people of color to ensure the survival of diverse communities in Los Angeles. 

As California builds an unprecedented level of affordable housing to solve its housing crisis, Tunua led the effort around groundbreaking legislation, AB 2873 (Jones-Sawyer). Signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 13, 2022, AB 2873 will increase contracting to diverse-owned construction and professional services firms who are severely underrepresented in the industry. 

As President and CEO of The Center by Lendistry, Tunua centers diverse and ready to be served small businesses to ensure access to the resources, technical assistance, and economic opportunities needed for success. The Center’s work begins with small businesses but also encompasses the communities in which they do business by elevating affordable housing and other community development revitalization efforts. 

Before joining The Center, Tunua served as Executive Director of the Los Angeles Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC LA), where she oversaw efforts to forge resilient communities through neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, and small business empowerment. In 2020, Tunua led the partnership with the City and County of Los Angeles for the LA COVID-19 Regional Recovery Fund, equitably distributing

$100 million in grants to microenterprises, small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19. Prior to joining LISC, Tunua served as Executive Director of West Angeles Community Development Corporation – where she led the growth of a $150 million real estate portfolio. 

Tunua serves on the Long Beach Advisory Commission for Women and Girls (LBCWG) and on the board of Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH). She is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she earned her Master’s in City Planning as well as an alumna of UC Berkeley where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

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Guest PLE Score

• Prioritize - 52%
• Leverage - 28%
• Execute - 20%

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Guest Quote

“When you ask, ‘how do you overcome fear?’ I've decided is that, as I lean into gratitude, it is about making sure that I am giving to others while I am in that fear mode. So if I'm in fear mode, that means that there is some sort of service project, some sort of activity that I could be doing based on what I have that is grounding me at base camp: that team of people, that family, others who are supporting me. I have that, and I know others don't all have that. And if I have that, then there's no need for me to fear. I can continue to go out and take that next step, even if it's a small one, which can lead to a bigger one going forward.” – Tunua Thrash-Ntuk

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Time Stamps 

*(03:09) Tunua's Achievement Index

*(06:02) How to layer all your identities together succesfully

*(08:08) Leveraging technology in both your personal and professional lives

*(09:03) Overcoming the challenge of competing priorities

*(15:33) Why it's important to constantly keep your mind open

*(18:09) Living in what lights you up

*(22:45) Leaning on your convinctions

*(26:47) Where Tunua executes most in her life

*(29:36) Respect your team's time

*(31:53) Not letting fear take control of your life

*(37:45) Apollo’s Takeaways

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Links

• Find out YOUR Achievement Index
• Connect with Tunua Thrash-Ntuk on LinkedIn 
• Learn more about The Center by Lendistry
• Connect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Apollo Strategy Group

In this week’s episode, Apollo is joined by Colleen Wong, the VP of Development at Venture for America, a nonprofit organization that is devoted to building a future of entrepreneurship. With extensive experience in neuroscience, comparative religion, and social science research, Colleen has dedicated her career to supporting entrepreneurship and enterprises that align with socially conscious values. In the conversation, she sheds light on her career and the role leadership played in shaping it.

Acknowledging her strengths in leveraging resources, Colleen agreed with her Achievement Assessment results which highlighted that she seldom executes tasks directly but rather mobilizes others to get tasks done. She stated that her strong leverage mindset enables her to tap into various knowledge bases and create robust solutions.

Colleen emphasizes the importance of practicing a collaborative approach to leadership. Using concrete examples from her professional life, she outlines her strategies for bringing stakeholders from various sectors together to achieve common goals. This approach not only ensures all stakeholder voices are heard but also addresses competing priorities efficiently and effectively. Colleen firmly believes in sharing stories and experiences as a crucial component in fostering meaningful connections and collaborations.

In spite of facing grim realities in her quest for social impact, Colleen shares her thoughts on maintaining focus and motivation. She acknowledges that achieving change isn’t easy and requires determination, resilience, and a robust support system. Though goals may not always be met and challenges abound, she advises leaders to be realistic and grounded in their approach, yet unafraid to dream big.

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Guest Bio

Born and raised in San Francisco, Colleen was initially allergic to, but not immune to the tech and startup fever that infiltrated the city. It wasn’t until she participated in a traveling hackathon as an adult that she realized the power of business as a vehicle for scaling change and social transformation.

Prior to joining VFA, Colleen led programs and partnerships at various organizations focused on supporting entrepreneurship including the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Endeavor Global, StartupBus, and the American Sustainable Business Network. She has also worn multiple hats with social enterprises, think tanks, and corporate social responsibility programs including research, communications, business development, and strategy for IBM Blockchain, JP Morgan Chase Advancing Black Pathways, ConsenSys, SAP Next-Gen, Mercy Corps, Amnesty International, New America, Ascena Retail Group, Johnson & Johnson, and ViiV Healthcare.

With a unique interdisciplinary background in neuroscience, comparative religion, and social science research, she is insatiably curious about what drives behavior, always seeking to uncover data-informed, actionable insights. She believes in harnessing the power of holistic storytelling, inclusive strategy, and stakeholder engagement to steer private and public sector organizations towards socially conscious values and practices.

During her free time, she enjoys writing, hiking, gardening, urban exploration, and bringing people from all backgrounds together through food and shared experiences. A first-generation Burmese American, she hopes to raise capital for an early-stage fund and venture studio in Southeast Asia.

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Guest PLE Score

• Leverage - 64%
• Prioritize - 32%
• Execute - 4%

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Guest Quote

“Staying focused in this work requires a lot of grit and perseverance. I tell my colleagues and peers in this space to not burn out, and to continue doing the best that we can. At the end of the day, we feel good that we're doing because we have tried our best, and that's what keeps me going in this space.” – Colleen Wong

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Time Stamps 

*(03:25) Colleen's Achievement Index

*(05:06) Conducting the perfect amount of research

*(07:46) How to unite stakeholders reaching for opposing goals

*(13:53) Executing through others

*(15:56) Why you should focus on your North Star

*(19:24) Maintaining motivation in tough times

*(21:39) How to solve Big, Wicked Problems

*(29:25) Why don't people share their stories?

*(31:44) Apollo’s Takeaways

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Links

• Find out YOUR Achievement Index
• Connect with Colleen Wong on LinkedIn 
• Learn more about Venture for America
• Connect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Apollo Strategy Group

In today’s episode, Apollo engages in a conversation with Olivia Brooks Allan, Executive Vice President at Landmark Ventures. The discussion revolves around important topics such as leadership, team building, and the significance of embracing one's authentic self in the professional realm. Olivia emphasizes the value of recognizing and harnessing the unique superpowers of each of her team members, fostering a safe environment for open communication, and delivering feedback with empathy to promote growth and development.

Olivia also shares insights on the role of caregiving in shaping her leadership style and the importance of balancing head and heart in decision-making and prioritization. Emphasizing the importance of reflecting on accomplishments and celebrating them, Olivia stresses the value of data-driven decision-making in strategic planning and goal setting.

Overall, the interview showcases Olivia Brooks Allan's perspective on effective leadership, team dynamics, and the blending of personal and professional aspects of life. Her insights offer valuable lessons for aspiring leaders seeking to build strong teams, support individual growth, and navigate the complexities of modern professional environments.

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Guest Bio

Olivia Brooks Allan is the Executive Vice President at Landmark Ventures, a leading strategic and financial advisory firm offering a unique combination of venture development and global investment banking services. She is responsible for the success of all aspects of Landmark’s events business including leading an experienced group of event directors and production staff, thereby shaping the vision for all elements of year-round events including partnerships, production, marketing, communications, programming, operations, logistics, growth, and ongoing innovations. 

Previously, Olivia has been a successful leader within corporations with recognizable brands including American Express, Gartner, Four Seasons, The Peninsula, and Taj Hotels, and more recently with Mastercard. Throughout the past 19 years, she has focused on business development, management, marketing, and public relations. As an independent consultant to the events industry, Olivia developed and executed high-end event projects for corporations and individuals. 

Olivia is recognized as a leader who creates long-term and mutually beneficial relationships between clients and service providers. Her signature management style is delivering impactful results by energetically guiding her team in an environment where they flourish professionally. Olivia was the recipient of The President’s Club Award of Achievement twice during her tenure at American Express.

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Guest PLE Score

• Prioritize - 60%
• Leverage - 32%
• Execute - 8%

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Guest Quote

“I think we have a responsibility as leaders to understand: ‘What are the superpowers I need? Do I have too many of one? Do I have too little of another?’ And then really watching your team to see if they're moving into a different space of their career and helping them to figure out where they can use their superpowers best.” - Olivia Brooks Allan

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Time Stamps 

*(3:05) Olivia's Achievement Index

*(4:28) What's on Olivia's mind

*(9:07) Looking just over the horizon when identifying business goals

*(11:43) When the world pivoted in 2020

*(15:06) How Olivia's team maintained all their clients during the pandemic

*(18:44) Everyone has their own superpower

*(21:50) Lessons from being a caregiver

*(26:41) Why you need to set aside your ego 

*(32:46) Delivering effective feedback with empathy

*(37:09) Matters of the head vs matters of the heart

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Links

• Find out YOUR Achievement Index
• Connect with Olivia Brooks Allan on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Landmark Ventures
• Connect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Apollo Strategy Group

On today’s episode, Apollo sits down with Navid Alipour, Co-Founder & CEO of AI Med Global, and the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Analytics Ventures. AI Med Global is a roll-up of two companies Navid co-founded, CureMetrix and CureMatch. And Analytics Ventures is a fund dedicated to the inception of new ventures harnessing innovations in Artificial Intelligence.

Navid is Apollo’s first guest to score 0 points in Execute on the PLE test, and scores slightly higher in Leverage than prioritize, which aligns with his role as a business leader who leverages the expertise of others to drive innovations in AI and healthcare. The conversation focuses on Navid's work in the healthcare industry and the impact he is making through AI and precision medicine. 

Throughout the interview, there is an underlying theme of perseverance and tenacity in the face of challenges and setbacks. Navid's accomplishments, including FDA clearance and CPT code recognition, highlight the impact his companies, CureMetrics and CureMatch, are making in prolonging lives and improving healthcare outcomes. He credits the success of his companies to the combination of his operational and business expertise and the domain expertise of his team, including renowned oncologist Dr. Rizal Kurzrock. The conversation also touches on the balance between confidence and humility in leadership, as well as the need for continuous learning and adaptation.

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Guest Bio

Navid Alipour is the Co-Founder & CEO of AI Med Global, and the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Analytics Ventures. AI Med Global is a roll-up of two companies Navid co-founded: CureMetrix and CureMatch. Analytics Ventures is a fund dedicated to the inception of new ventures harnessing innovations in Artificial Intelligence.

Navid serves on the Board of Tech San Diego, helping build a thriving ecosystem in San Diego. He is on the Board of CureMetrix, CureMatch, DynamAI, and AlphaTrAI. You can also see him as a panelist, judge, speaker, and moderator at various forums such as UCSD, USD, SDSU, CyberHive, MIT Forum, RSNA, U.S. News STEM Conference, and CONNECT.

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Guest PLE Score

• Prioritize - 32%
• Leverage - 60%
• Execute - 8%

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Guest Quote

“My family came from Iran. I was six years old when we came here. And when you come from a place where your life is on the line, you almost have a different perspective. It's almost in your DNA that your life was at risk, and so everything else is easy to a degree. So you have to have that level of, you know, ‘I'm gonna do this even though there's a thousand and one reasons that I should fail.’” - Navil Alipour

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Time Stamps 

*(4:06) Navid’s Achievement Index

*(8:37) AI and Leverage

*(14:57) Being an entrepreneur is delusional

*(16:33) Finding confidence in your team

*(19:00) Why Navid is invested in healthcare

*(28:13) Making the whole greater than the sum of it’s parts

*(32:42) Why you should look for unsuspecting founders

*(42:29) Get a second opinion

*(45:27) Apollo’s Takeaways

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Links

• Find out YOUR Achievement Index
• Connect with Navid Alipour on LinkedIn
• Learn more about AI Med Global
• Learn more about Analytics Ventures
• Connect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Apollo Strategy Group

On the show today, Apollo speaks with Devin Nash, Vice President of Brand & Experience at Underscore VC. Underscore is an early-stage, Boston-based VC Firm backing bold entrepreneurs with an aligned community designed to fit each startup's unique needs.

Devin is the driving force behind the Underscore brand, from strategy and creative to communications and founder products. The epitome of a community builder, Devin is also a passionate champion of Underscore’s ESG efforts, continually pushing the Underscore Core Community to strive for more, with a particular emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Devin was shocked by her own results on the PLE test, scoring highest in Prioritize, and lowest in Execute. She chats with Apollo about her “get stuff done” attitude, how she first discovered her passion for VC, the methods she and her team employ in order to build a committed community, and what she hopes for in the future of impact investing.  

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Guest Bio

Devin Nash is the Marketing Director at Underscore VC, an early-stage, Boston-based VC Firm backing bold entrepreneurs with an aligned community designed to fit each startup's unique needs.

Fueled by purpose and her belief that entrepreneurship can change the world for good, she is a Board Member and Ecosystem Advisory Committee Co-Chair for Visible Hands and previously served as a Board Member of the VC Platform Global Community and held the role of North America Managing Ambassador for One Young World. 

When Devin isn’t actively improving the world, she can be found improving her home through jaw-dropping DIY projects, decorating cakes (funfetti only, non-negotiable), and listening to “How I Built This.”

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Guest PLE Score

• Prioritize - 54%
• Leverage - 44%
• Execute - 4%

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Guest Quote

“I am the person that is generally onboarding our founders, and I'm very intentional about asking: ‘What are the reasons that you selected us?’ What I hear time and time again is that number one, it's our people. And number two, it's this opportunity to engage with the core community, both from the advisor perspective, but also from the pool of talent that they get access to as a result.” - Devin Nash

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Time Stamps 

*(3:24) Devin’s Achievement Index

*(5:58) A bit about Underscore VC

*(14:53) How Devin grows her local ecosystem

*(16:54) Underscore’s Core Partner Makeup

*(23:21) Navigating the transition from Execution to Leverage

*(24:26) Rewriting your mission statements

*(29:08) Building diversity from the ground up

*(31:33) How to take the next leap in your career

*(36:36) Building culture at your firm

*(37:44) Apollo’s Takeaways

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Links

• Find out YOUR Achievement Index
• Connect with Devin Nash on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Underscore VC
• Connect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Apollo Strategy Group

On the show today, Apollo is joined by Julieta Moradei, Managing Partner of the recently launched Overlay Capital Build. Build is a consultancy working to accelerate the adoption of critical digital transformation technologies in the arena of construction and housing.

While most executives often score high in Prioritize on the PLE assessment, Julieta is Apollo’s first guest to score overwhelmingly high in Leverage. She guides us through her professional journey, highlighting her ability to automate organized work systems early in her career as an engineer.

As Julieta molds Overlay Capital Build, she tackles the question: “How can we shelter the 3 billion people who don't have adequate housing, by 2030?” Through optimizing the end-to-end value chain, reducing environmental impact, and implementing new technologies during the entire construction cycle, Julieta describes how she’s leaned into her Leverage orientation to re-imagine our built environment on earth.

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Guest Bio

Julieta Moradei is a structural engineer and architect turned social entrepreneur and venture capitalist, investing in early-stage startups and mitigating the biggest barriers in the built environment.

Julieta is the managing partner of the recently launched Overlay Capital Build, part of the asset manager Overlay Capital. Build is a consultancy working to accelerate the adoption of critical digital transformation technologies in the built environment by connecting innovative technologies with adopters.

Before joining Overlay Capital, Julieta was also a founding member and partner of Home Team Ventures, where she launched, fundraised, and managed operations of the venture fund investing in early-stage startups. She brought breakthrough technology to the world's largest, but least innovative industries: construction and housing.

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Guest PLE Score

• Prioritize - 32%
• Leverage - 60%
• Execute - 8%

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Guest Quote

“How do you leverage technology to make things easier? I'm not the kind of person that likes to hike up that mountain by myself. I never think that I'll be the smartest person in the room to do that. I wanna bring in the other mountaineers, that could do with me. When you're a VC, you're not an expert in one thing necessarily. Usually, you have a high-level understanding of a lot of different things and trends, and then you invest in those “geniuses”. You're investing in those people that will be actually creating this path, championing them, being optimistic, and helping them when you know there's barriers.”  - Julieta Moradei

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Time Stamps 

*(3:22) Julieta's Achievement Index

*(6:29) Julieta’s early career problem-solving as an engineer

*(12:04) Flipping your execute role into a prioritize and leverage experience

*(18:57) Innovating the “built environment” to address “the missing middle”

*(24:09) Introducing Overlay Capital Build

*(29:35) Can we repurpose the built environment to solve the housing crisis?

*(42:08) Apollo’s Takeaways

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Links

• Find out YOUR Achievement Index
• Connect with Julieta Moradei on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Overlay Build
• Connect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Apollo Strategy Group

On today’s episode of The Achievement Index, Apollo is joined by Drew Glover, Founding Parter of Fiat Growth and General Partner at Fiat Ventures. Fiat Growth is a full-service growth marketing consultancy, which specializes in revenue-led, data-backed customer acquisition and user engagement and retention. Fiat Ventures is an emerging VC focused on supporting and growing the next generation of market leading early-stage companies in the Fintech space.

Drew has years of experience scaling marketplace development and growth in the world of startups, and he has an incredible knack for curiosity and competition. With a relatively rounded PLE score of 48% Prioritize, 32% Leverage, and 20% execute, Drew shares that while he does think of himself as a good delegator, once he finds that he has a strong vision, he ensures that his voice is there supporting that vision throughout it’s evolution. 

Apollo explores why Drew thinks of himself as three feet deep and a mile wide, and the ways he’s used that wide range of knowledge to his advantage throughout his career. Drew also talks about how his upbringing impacted his life, particularly when it comes to finding comfort in the uncomfortable. There a plethora of great lessons and advice offered in this episode, so be sure to keep an ear out for it all as you look towards your next mountain. 

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Guest Bio

Drew Glover is Founding Partner of Fiat Growth and General Partner at Fiat Ventures. After taking a backdoor into the VC ecosystem, Drew is no stranger to the world of growth, technology, and marketing. From his time at Steady where he led marketplace development and growth to Namely, Fjord, and Portal A, he navigated the ins and outs of Go-to-Market strategies and user acquisition. Today Drew works closely with companies like Bestow Life Insurance, Copper Bank and Lemonade on how to provide award winning products, services and acquisition strategies.

Raised in East Oakland, Drew has an unconventional background for a venture capital investor as you will hear. His father worked at a housing non-profit and his mother was a teacher. In 2019, he co-founded Fiat Growth, a consulting firm for growth-stage brands in industries from fintech to e-commerce. With Fiat Growth’s success, Drew followed the path he laid and started Fiat Ventures, a venture capital firm he co-founded in 2021 with partner Alex Harris and Marcos Fernandez. They raised $15 million for their first fund and now have $25 million in total assets under their management.

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Guest PLE Score

• Prioritize - 48%
• Leverage - 32%
• Execute - 20%

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Guest Quote

“I am a 37 year old individual. There are some things you're just never gonna change about me. And I know I have to continue practicing the things that I don't love to ensure that they're an ingredient into the main course.” - Drew Glover

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Time Stamps 

*(3:20) Drew's Achievement Index

*(8:02) Why you need to know your vision better than anyone else

*(12:28) How to optimize your curiosity

*(18:12) Adding forcing functions to your daily life

*(22:37) Drew's background

*(25:05) Finding comfort in the uncomfortable

*(30:11) Striking balance between structure and flexibility

*(42:40) Apollo’s Takeaways

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Links

• Find out YOUR Achievement Index
• Connect with Drew Glover on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Fiat Ventures
• Connect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Apollo Strategy Group

On today’s episode, Apollo sits down with Alfred Fraijo, founder and partner of the Somos Group, an entirely BIPOC-led multidisciplinary group, committed to broadening equity goals and advancing the value and expertise of people and communities that have been historically underserved and undervalued.

Alfred’s Prioritize score sits at 60%, with Leverage and Execute sharing the other 40%. Alfred recounts his early days as a lawyer and how he’s grown his Leverage skills over the years. 

He praises the mentors who have guided him along the way (including Apollo!) and offers sage advice for those looking to be a change-maker in the professional world. From curing imposter syndrome, to being authentic, to translating desires for humankind into action, Apollo and Alfred get to the roots of why they works hard to foster the communities around them.

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Guest Bio

Alfred Fraijo Jr. is a distinguished figure in the realm of land-use transactions, boasting a wealth of expertise garnered from his work with public, private, and nonprofit developers, as well as multi-national corporations, both domestically and internationally. Alfred has notably contributed his adept counsel to a diverse array of complex housing and mixed-use development initiatives spanning across California. His advisory prowess extends to pioneering urban renewal projects within inner-city environments and nascent markets, exemplifying his commitment to social equity. Alfred's mastery encompasses the intricate domains of project permitting, financing strategies for affordable housing ventures, and the orchestration of mixed-income housing developments.

His depth of knowledge extends to a myriad of legislative frameworks, including the Subdivision Map Act, California Community Redevelopment Law, the California Environmental Quality Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, CERCLA, RCRA, California Superfund Law, and the Polanco Redevelopment Act. Alfred's collaborative approach shines through in his work, as he collaborates closely with clients and consultants alike to conduct meticulous due diligence reviews of land-use matters. Armed with a bachelor’s degree from the prestigious Harvard University and a J.D. from Loyola Law School, Alfred Fraijo Jr. stands as an exemplar in the dynamic intersection of real estate, land-use, and environmental law.

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Guest PLE Score

• Prioritize - 60%
• Leverage - 24%
• Execute - 16%

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Guest Quote

“My work is about building better communities, building more resilient communities.  My work is about unlocking the potential of under-resourced, under-invested communities, the kind of communities that I grew up in.

I grew up poor in Boyle Heights. I grew up outside of the margins of opportunity and wealth and power. And so as a professional, my mission in life has been to undo that. It is both a system change process, and it's also a process for creating new strategies and new tools, right? 

You can't break down the master's house with the master's tools. You've gotta come up with new ones. And so for me, it was really important to be able to build a team, build an organization that was oriented towards systemic change.” - Alfred Fraijo

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Time Stamps 

*(3:00) Intro

*(4:45) Alfred’s Achievement Index

*(8:08) How to grow a prioritize mindset

*(18:18) Working the system from the inside

*(24:05) All of Alfred’s “Firsts”

*(25:56) What everyone can do to help the fuuture

*(34:49) Parting advice for others wanting to launch their ideas

*(48:08) Apollo’s Takeaways

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Links

• Find out YOUR Achievement Index
• Connect with Alfred Fraijo on LinkedIn
• Learn more about The Somos Group
• Connect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Apollo Strategy Group

On today’s episode, Apollo chats with Adrian Mendoza, Founder & General Partner of Mendoza Ventures, the first Latinx VC Fund on the East Coast. Focused on fintech, AI, and cybersecurity, Adrian is dedicated to diversity when making investment decisions. 80% of their portfolio consists of startups led by immigrants, people of color, and women.

Scoring with a majority in Prioritize and Leverage, Apollo and Adrian discuss how his working style has changed through his success. Adrian, once purely an executor while starting Mendoza Ventures, describes his transition into a leader by “firing” himself from unscalable tasks he would have previously done himself. 

While advising his early stage portfolio companies, Adrian aims to create a memorable experience: bringing around a plush dog with the firm's logo on it to every investor meeting. He stresses to Apollo the importance of telling your story and describing your vision, so that others from similar communities can follow in those footsteps.

Side note - If you were interested in taking a look at the art of Adrian's brother, Angel Mendoza, here is the link to his website. 

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Guest Bio

Adrian Mendoza is an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, Founder & General Partner of Mendoza Ventures, the first Latinx VC Fund on the East Coast. Founded in 2016 by Adrian and his wife Senofer, Mendoza Ventures has raised two funds, and is in the process of its third as we speak.

Focused on fintech, AI, and cybersecurity, Adrian is dedicated to diversity when making investment decisions. 80% of their portfolio consists of startups led by immigrants, people of color, and women. Through their first two funds, they’ve invested in 13 companies including Listo and Wabbi.

A forward-thinker with a proven track record, Adrian combines his deep-rooted industry knowledge with a keen sense of market trends, enabling him to make impactful investments that shape the future of technology. Adrian and Senofer made Axios’ list of the five most influential people in Boston 2022, and were named to the Boston Business Journals Power 50 Movement Makers. Beyond his role as a successful entrepreneur, Adrian is a sought-after speaker, mentor, and advocate for fostering a culture of innovation, appearing on CNBC multiple times last year. 

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Guest PLE Score

• Prioritize - 52%
• Leverage - 32%
• Execute - 14%

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Guest Quote

“I don't care what people think of me. I just go and I do it. Because if I can do it, whether I fail or succeed, I'm laying the groundwork for the next person to walk behind me. If I'm making the path in the snow up Everest, I'm literally clearing the way for the next 10 people that are like, ‘Hey, I'm gonna follow him and we are gonna succeed together.’” - Adrian Mendoza

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Time Stamps 

*(2:47)  Intro

*(5:15) Adrian’s Achievement Index

*(8:24) Getting people to believe in your story

*(16:10) The Mascot of Mendoza Ventures

*(29:44) Why Bank of America is anchoring Mendoza Ventures' Third Fund 

*(34:06) Representation in VC funding 

*(42:49) Apollo’s Takeaways

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Links

• Find out YOUR Achievement Index
• Connect with Adrian Mendoza on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Mendoza Ventures
• Check out Angel Mendoza's Art
• Connect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Apollo Strategy Group

Coming to this week’s show is Carrie Colbert, Founding and General Partner of Curate Capital, a venture capital fund accelerating the success of female-founded consumer brands. The idea of Curate was born following Carrie’s early “retirement” from the oil and gas industry, where Carrie amassed over 80k online followers and began investing in women-owned businesses she discovered online. 

With their first fund closing in the summer of 2022, Carrie and her team exceeded their goal by over 50% with a $15 million dollar raise. Behind her success is a Prioritization score of 44% and an even split between Leverage and Execute, each at 28%. 

Apollo explores why Carrie made the decision to leave the oil and gas industry, and how to cope with different seasons of life impacting your personal and professional lives. You’ll hear some pretty amazing statistics about the founders Carrie is investing in, and why you should always lead with your authentic self when moving to break barriers. 

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Guest Bio

Growing up in a small town in the Texas panhandle, “venture capitalist” is probably not what Carrie Colbert would have answered if someone had asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Nonetheless the twists and turns of her career and life have led her to her current role as Founder and General Partner of Curate Capital, a fund that invests in businesses by women for women. 

Graduating with her MBA and petroleum engineering degrees from the University of Texas, Carrie quickly rose in the ranks at Hilcorp, the largest privately owned oil and natural gas producer in the U.S. So quickly, in fact, that she was able to “retire” at age 38, right at the dawn of the influencer age, where she amassed an Instagram following of over 80,000 and experienced a flood of female founders in her inbox with brilliant business concepts just needing a savvy investor’s support. 

When she saw 10x returns and more opportunity than she had personal capital, she launched Curate in 2021 and raised $15 million from primarily women, overshooting her goal by 50%. She’s been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, TechCrunch, PaperCity Magazine, and is a sought after speaker and podcast guest.

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Guest PLE Score

• Prioritize - 44%
• Leverage - 28%
• Execute - 28%

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Guest Quote

“I think it's important to remember that different seasons of life can look different. But it's important to remember that nothing is forever, right? We have the ability to morph and change and grow and adjust, as needed and as warranted by different seasons of life.” - Carrie Colbert

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Time Stamps 

*(3:20) Parenting and Investing

*(8:02) Carrie's Achievement Index

*(12:28) How Carrie got to where she is today

*(18:12) Going from engineering to strategic planning

*(22:37) How Carrie first entered VC

*(25:05) Choosing your mission based on the tools you already possess

*(30:11) Carrie's advice for staying authentic

*(35:40) Finding your ecosystem

*(42:40) Apollo’s Takeaways

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Links

• Find out YOUR Achievement Index
• Connect with Carrie Colbert on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Curate Capital
• Connect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Apollo Strategy Group