In this episode of The Idealists. (formerly Grit & Grace), host and entrepreneur Melissa Kiguwa interviews Alisa Jacobs, a serial entrepreneur who co-founded and served as CEO of Queens Gaming Collective, a venture backed startup for women gamers, streamers, & competitors. Alisa also founded LOOP, a women-run marketing agency that executes across sports, music, fashion, spirits, gaming and tech for the likes of Sean "Diddy" Combs, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, The Kardashians, The Recording Academy, the NBA and NYFW.

During the episode, Alisa breaks down the new world order of NFTs, the Metaverse, and Web3. You might want to grab a pen and paper for this episode!

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In the episode:

- Alisa begins the episode by describing her thesis for her marketing firm, Loop Agency: that diversity and representation is lucrative for companies. She shares how she continues to prove her thesis by executing on projects for Lebron James, Sean “Diddy” Combs, DJ Khaled, and more.

- She then explains how Web3 is the next frontier of the internet.

- Alisa breaks down the opportunities in the Metaverse, in Crypto and in NFTs, while also sharing why it’s important for women to understand what these terms.

- At the end of the episode, Alisa shares why she stepped down from her venture backed startup and how she plans to support Web3 entrepreneurs moving forward.

Join the conversation about THE IDEALISTS. and break*through.

At our website: https://www.theidealistspodcast.co/
On Instagram: @theidealistspodcast_
On Twitter: @theidealistspod
Help us grow! Leave a review of the show on Apple or Spotify
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In this episode of The Idealists. (formerly Grit & Grace), host and entrepreneur Melissa Kiguwa interviews Torri Yates-Orr, an Emmy-nominated historian who co-hosts the podcast, “Skeleton Keys Pod” dedicated to unlocking the mysteries of mythology and history in pop culture.

If you’re a fan of “The 48 Laws of Power” by Robert Greene or “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu, this episode is for you. We’re breaking down archetypes of power... but the feminine edition.

During the show, Torri takes us into the fascinating world of feminine archetypes using examples in pop culture. If you are interested in the books mentioned during the episode, you can get a copy here:

“Cleopatra, A Life” by Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff: https://amzn.to/3qAwkND

“Women who Run with Wolves” by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes: https://amzn.to/3Fz6764

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In the episode:

- Torri begins the episode describing cultures that venerated the feminine through goddess worship. She also explains why modern day women may find language around feminine power uncomfortable.

- She then breaks down the infamous wild woman archetype and how wildness shows up in her own personal life.

- Torri explains the triple goddess archetype (maiden, mother, and crone), as well as, Jungian feminine archetypes (mother, maiden, lover, queen, huntress/ wild woman, wise woman, and mystic).

- Torri then breaks down the light and shadow aspects of these archetypes and what to watch out for when trying to find balance.

- She then offers advice on how to play with these different archetypes. She also shares the different archetypes she’s noticed in The Idealists guests.

Join the conversation about THE IDEALISTS. and break*through.

At our website: https://www.theidealistspodcast.co/
On Instagram: @theidealistspodcast_
On Twitter: @theidealistspod
Help us grow! Leave a review of the show on Apple or Spotify
Order a copy of the*journal

In this episode of The Idealists. (formerly Grit & Grace), host and entrepreneur Melissa Kiguwa interviews award-winning American television writer and producer, Melinda Hsu Taylor. Melinda is currently Executive Producer and show-runner of Nancy Drew and Tom Swift on the CW Network. She is well known for her work on the ABC series Lostwhere she was nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award for best drama series for her work on the fifth season of Lost, as well as a Primetime Emmy for the series' sixth and final season. She’s also worked as a writer on The Vampire Diaries, Vanished, Women's Murder Club, Falling Skies,  Touch, and The Gifted.

Melinda recommends reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and we highly recommend it. Get your copy here to get inspired, and start the new year off right: https://amzn.to/3qzaCtp

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In the episode:

- Melinda begins the episode by describing how the "mean genius" trope is overrated and why she believes it is possible to be kind and to do excellent work.

- Melinda then describes her childhood living as a Chinese immigrant in Maine and how sci-fi literature helped her feel cool about being “different.”

- She then shares how she runs a writer’s room and the ways her philosophy allows her writing team to hone in on the ideas they want to put out into the world.

- Melinda describes her early years as a film screenwriter and how she suffered in obscurity before becoming a television writer.

- Melinda then provides advice to upcoming writers on how to achieve longevity in the industry.

- She tells us how her audacious vision for her legacy is to change the culture of Hollywood from the inside.

Join the conversation about THE IDEALISTS. and break*through.

At our website: https://www.theidealistspodcast.co/
On Instagram: @theidealistspodcast_
On Twitter: @theidealistspod
Help us grow! Leave a review of the show on Apple or Spotify
Order a copy of the*journal

In this episode of The Idealists. (formerly Grit & Grace), host and entrepreneur Melissa Kiguwa interviews Dr. Alexis Petra. Alexis received her MD from University of Pittsburgh, is board-certified in Emergency Medicine, and is licensed in more than 25 states in the united states. For the past 20 years, she's been personally and professionally involved in the transgender community. In 2020, Alexis founded Trans Clinique a practice that provides hormone replacement therapy, letters of referral and trans life coaching via telemedicine. It currently serves over 500 transgender and non-binary individuals.

Transitioning from an emergency room doctor to a startup founder is brave, and in this episode she shares her highs and lows dealing with investors and the reasons she's opted to self-fund... at least for now.

Join the conversation about THE IDEALISTS. and break*through.

At our website: https://www.theidealistspodcast.co/
On Instagram: @theidealistspodcast_
On Twitter: @theidealistspod
Help us grow! Leave a review of the show on Apple or Spotify
Order a copy of the*journal

In this episode of The Idealists. (formerly Grit & Grace), host and entrepreneur Melissa Kiguwa interviews Dawn Dickson, a serial entrepreneur and inventor with over 20 years of experience in technology entrepreneurship, marketing and business development. She has founded five successful companies and since 2017, Dawn has raised over $1M from venture capital and angel investors and she has raised over $4.5M via equity crowdfunding.

In this episode, she shares why she believes equity crowdfunding is a better alternative to venture capital.

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In the episode:

- Dawn begins the episode describing the difference between institutional investors and equity crowdfunding.

- She describes her experience raising $1M through venture capital and why she decided VC money does not work for her.

- She then shares how she built her current business (valued at $32m) and how she has leveraged her network and community to grow the business.

- Dawn ends the episode with practical advice for listeners who may be interested in launching their own equity crowdfund campaign.

Join the conversation about THE IDEALISTS. and break*through.

At our website: https://www.theidealistspodcast.co/
On Instagram: @theidealistspodcast_
On Twitter: @theidealistspod
Help us grow! Leave a review of the show on Apple or Spotify
Order a copy of the*journal

About Episode:

In this episode of The Idealists. (formerly Grit & Grace), host and entrepreneur Melissa Kiguwa interviews Fariel Salahuddin, the founder and CEO of UpTrade, a bartering service that enables rural communities in Pakistan to exchange livestock for solar-powered water pumps and solar home systems. Over 40% of Pakistan lives off the grid and without lights in their homes and electricity to pump water, women can spend up to four hours a day fetching water from distant wells.

The BBC calls UpTrade a solution for the desert and after listening to this conversation, you'll understand why. Fariel is both a 2021 TED fellow and a 2019 finalist with Cartier's Women's Initiative.

In this episode, this World Bank consultant turned self-described goat herder shares her vision for an inclusive economy that values more than just fiat currency.

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In the episode:

- Fariel begins the conversation describing how UpTrade works and the ways she gets off-grid, rural communities to opt into bartering their goats for solar water pumps and solar home systems.

- She then shares what inspired her to start UpTrade and how her model is based on community and self agency versus traditional charity focused interventions.

- Fariel then describes her vision for tech-enabled marketplaces that are not bound by fiat currency.

- Fariel ends the episode sharing her vision for rural, unbanked communities to be able to participate in the mainstream economy using the resources they have.

Join the conversation about THE IDEALISTS. and break*through.

At our website: https://www.theidealistspodcast.co/
On Instagram: @theidealistspodcast_
On Twitter: @theidealistspod
Help us grow! Leave a review of the show on Apple or Spotify
Order a copy of the*journal

In this episode of The Idealists. (formerly Grit & Grace), host and entrepreneur Melissa Kiguwa interviews Olayemi Keri, one of the foremost Women in Technology in Nigeria. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Heckerbella, a Technology Business Transformation company, and while her list of accolades and titles runs long, she is especially committed to Rising Tide Africa which she cofounded in 2018. Rising Tide Africa is a women’s movement of women angel investors harnessing their power, network, passion and capital to positively impact and actively create a New Africa. Yemi also sits on the board and is the Director of the Lagos Angel Network. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for Nigeria's Climate Innovation Centre and is a member of the Science and Technology Policy Commission of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group. 

In this episode, Yemi gives us an amazing breakdown of Nigeria's investment ecosystem and what the climate is like for women entrepreneurs.

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In the episode:

- Yemi shares how her and her co-founder founded Rising Tide Africa to introduce investment as an asset class to Nigerian women.

- She then describes the gaps she saw in the general angel investment space which led to a lack of funding for women entrepreneurs.

- Yemi describes how she and her co-founder have grown Rising Tide Africa with an emphasis on intentional and structured mentorship.

- She then describes the difference between the older generation and younger generation of women entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

- Yemi ends the episode sharing her goals to shift the funding landscape so that women entrepreneurs in Africa can thrive.

Join the conversation about THE IDEALISTS. and break*through.

At our website: https://www.theidealistspodcast.co/
On Instagram: @theidealistspodcast_
On Twitter: @theidealistspod
Help us grow! Leave a review of the show on Apple or Spotify
Order a copy of the*journal

In this episode of The Idealists. (formerly Grit & Grace), host and entrepreneur Melissa Kiguwa interviews Jenn Harper, founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty, a Canadian, Indigenous-owned beauty brand that gained popularity after being on the hit show, Dragons Den. And excitingly, on November 6th, Cheekbone Beauty products will be available in Sephora. So make sure to support and pick up a Warrior Woman Lipstick on Sephora's website because as anyone listening to this podcast knows— our money and patronage matter.

In this episode, Jenn shares her deeply personal reasons for building a business that helps indigenous youth see themselves and their beauty.

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In the episode:

- Jenn begins by describing the different worlds she inhabits and how they collide in her mission to make indigenous youth feel seen.

- She then goes on to describe what fuels her and the emotional work she has had to do. She explores her childhood and how her consistent desire to be seen as worthy continues to propel her today. She also vulnerably shares how her sobriety allows her to thrive.

- Jenn shares her familial history starting with her grandmother's experience in Residential Boarding Schools where many indigenous children in North America were sent between the early 19th century through the mid-20th centuries.

- Jenn ends the episode sharing her goals to expand her brand and her hopes for indigenous youth.

Join the conversation about THE IDEALISTS. and break*through.

At our website: https://www.theidealistspodcast.co/
On Instagram: @theidealistspodcast_
On Twitter: @theidealistspod
Help us grow! Leave a review of the show on Apple or Spotify
Order a copy of the*journal

In this episode of The Idealists. (formerly Grit & Grace), host and entrepreneur Melissa Kiguwa interviews Charlotte Luzuka and Lee Zuks, two of the four co-founders of Dazzle Angels, South Africa's first female-focused angel fund. They chose their name because a group of Zebras is called a Dazzle and after you hear how they describe the potential of African entrepreneurs, you'll understand why they root for Zebras instead of Silicon Valley Unicorns. In this episode, Charlie and Lee share how, from the ground up, they are building South Africa's women's angel investment ecosystem. 

*Note: The article mentioned in the podcast refers to wives in Botswana being given the right to own property alongside their husbands (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-botswana-women-landrights-trfn/botswana-opts-to-make-land-owners-of-wives-with-new-law-idUSKBN2682XF) 

Also, African solo women founders have raised 0.3% of funds raised on the continent. All-female founding teams 0.4%. This excludes mixed teams with female co-founders (https://thebigdeal.substack.com/p/of-men-and-men)

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In the episode: 

- Lee begins the episode by describing the South African investment ecosystem and why her and her three co-founders founded Dazzle Angels. 

- Charlie and Lee then provide their investment thesis and why Dazzle Angels seeks to invest in zebras instead of unicorns. 

- Charlie shares what a Minimum Viable Investment Framework is and how they are using it to grow their portfolio. 

- Charlie and Lee break down the founders' learning curve and the infrastructural gaps they notice entrepreneurs face as they try to scale. 

- Charlie and Lee end the episode explaining why owning assets is a major tool for women to achieve self-sufficiency. They also describe their vision for a Pan-African women angel investor ecosystem.

Join the conversation about THE IDEALISTS. and break*through.

At our website: https://www.theidealistspodcast.co/
On Instagram: @theidealistspodcast_
On Twitter: @theidealistspod
Help us grow! Leave a review of the show on Apple or Spotify
Order a copy of the*journal

In this episode of The Idealists. (formerly Grit & Grace), host and entrepreneur Melissa Kiguwa interviews Dr. Silvia Mah, the founder and Chairwoman of Stella Labs, an accelerator for women-owned businesses. Silvia is also the founding member of Stella Angels, a female angel investment group, and a founding partner of Ad Astra Ventures, a fund that invests in female founders who are redefining the future of business. In this episode, she breaks down how she is cultivating the next generation of women angel investors.

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In the episode:

- Silvia begins the episode by explaining her investment thesis and the types of businesses she invests in.

- She then shares the details of a company in her portfolio that exited earlier this year.

- She also describes the investment boot camp she hosts for new and current angel investors and venture capitalists to neutralize bias during the founder screening process.

- Silvia goes on to share how she coaches and prepares underrepresented entrepreneurs to neutralize biases in front of investors and during pitch competitions.

- She then details she validates traction when an underrepresented founder does not have strong revenue.

- Silvia ends the episode explaining why she wakes up every day to nurture and grow the women's investment space.

Join the conversation about THE IDEALISTS. and break*through.

At our website: https://www.theidealistspodcast.co/
On Instagram: @theidealistspodcast_
On Twitter: @theidealistspod
Help us grow! Leave a review of the show on Apple or Spotify
Order a copy of the*journal