VCs Off the Record with Gayle Jennings-O'Byrne

If you are like us, you are a huge fan of Showtime’s drama series “Billions” and secretly wish you were Bobby Axelrod or maybe you are a Chuck fan. We promise not to tell! Either way, you may be afraid of the SEC and a little confused about what they actually do. In this episode, we had the honor of chatting with Martha Miller, Director of the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation at the SEC. We discussed how she is making the SEC a “hip” and very helpful place for small businesses and new investors alike in her role as Director of the SEC’s newest office. Entrepreneurs, investors, and allies - listen up as this is one of the best episodes yet!

Have you ever wondered what makes a successful Venture Capitalist? Or how the relationship really works between a VC and an entrepreneur? Being a VC isn't just having billions and power suits. It’s all about the people! In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Stefanie Thomas from the Impact America Fund (IAF), about the importance of building relationships and the value of the VC/founder partnership.  As a member of IAF, Stefanie has emerged as a voice of “Black Women VCs” (Fast Company). She works at the intersection of founder diversity, technology for impact, and the deployment of capital within untapped markets. Her vast array of experience will leave both investors and founders wanting more!

On this week’s podcast, we are joined by one of our very own WOCstar founders and companies that we’ve invested in, Jessica O. Matthews. Check out an honest discussion about her journey and training to be an inventor, venture-backed entrepreneur, and a fabulous unapologetic black woman. Learn how her team is using focus, resilience and grit to make energy accessible to all. Ms. Matthews’ many accomplishments include: two degrees from Harvard, 11 patents and a Harvard Foundation Scientist of the Year award. All this has led to her transforming our daily lives society in a big way as an inventor and CEO of Uncharted Power, a full-scale renewable energy company.

We are back with Katherine Klein, Vice Dean of Wharton Social Impact for another fascinating episode! Join us as we dig deeper into the psychology behind “selection bias” and how that has impacted not only hiring practices in business but the world of venture capital. We chatted with Katherine about her work at Wharton and how we all need to “get a little uncomfortable” with ourselves if we are going to make any sustainable progress in this movement. We never have enough time with Katherine but this episode has us very excited and hopeful about the work she’s doing! Listen now!

Join us as we sit down with Katherine Klein, Vice Dean of Wharton Social Impact (WSII) for an interview you won’t want to miss! In her unique position as Vice Dean at one of the nation’s leading business schools, Dr. Klein leads WSII’s research on the goals, structure, management and financial performance of impact investing, private equity and venture capital. She is literally shaping WSII’s vision and strategy, research, partnerships, and, in turn, the future of the investment world. We sit down with Dr. Klein to discuss how she envisions the “new normal” and the impact this will have on, not only universities, but the business world and investing in general. This interview was so good we had to break it into two episodes! You don’t want to miss it!

As the President of National Urban League, former Mayor of New Orleans and a Louisiana State Senator, Marc Morial has become one of the leading voices in the battle for jobs, education, housing and voting rights equity. We invited Mr. Morial to discuss how we can use the current pandemic and state of race relations to transform the way we operate as Americans.

To quote Mr. Morial, “this is not gonna be changed with a single move, or a single swipe, a single switch, one bill, or just one or two initiatives on the ballot. It is gonna take a long term, sustained effort to do it because the racial wealth gap has been in the making since 1619. This is an opportunity for transformation.”

We will discuss how economic justice and social justice are necessary for real change, and that begins with putting our dollars behind more than just the movement. Change begins NOW! So listen up for how we can all make a difference!

Join us as we chat with Shila Nieves Burney, Founder & Managing Partner at ZANE Venture Fund about how to smartly build your company and invest wisely in the evolving markets.

The founder of Zane Venture Fund’s first introduction to venture capital was not ideal. Weeks before trying to invest in a fintech startups,  her daughter was hit by a bullet when mother and daughter were innocently caught up in gun violence. Zane sustained non-life-threatening injuries and it would have been understandable if Burney decided to quit. Instead, she dug in deeper. She has recently launched a 12-week pre-capital program for diverse teams called Zane Access. In this episode, we dive into how founders can leverage the current times to find their passion and change the way they do business. Whether you are an entrepreneur or an investor, this episode will leave you with a new way to think about how you do business!

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In this episode, we sit down with Kimberly Marshall of Goldman Sachs and Black Angels Miami to discuss how we can all impact the world by funding, building and advising companies, products and teams that we can believe in. Through her work with Goldman Sachs and Black Angels Miami, Kimberly invests in and advises high growth companies, with particular interest and experience in transportation & logistics, future of work, consumer FinTech and underrepresented minority entrepreneurs and investors. She shares how and why she makes her investment decisions and the best practices for growing your portfolio both personally and professionally in today’s busy universe. Make sure you have a pen and paper ready as this is one episode you won’t want to miss!

Join this episode of “VCs off The Record” as we sit down with Harry Alford, Co-Founder of the venture development firm, humble ventures. Harry founded humble ventures to support diverse entrepreneurs and drive innovation opportunities for industry leaders. Whether in venture capital, education, or sports, Harry's career has always centered around inclusion. We chatted with Harry about his investment philosophy which focuses on innovation capabilities versus market strategy. He shares his belief that consulting and programming generate deal flow which can lead to profit. This episode is full of some fabulous nuggets and advice to use not only when investing but in how you look at the world. Listen now!

Join us as we sit down with one of our trusted WOCStar advisors and esteemed mentors, Nathalie Molina Niño to discuss builder capitalism and investing in this ever-changing world. Molina Niño is an entrepreneur, builder capitalist (at O³) and tech globalization veteran focused on high-growth businesses that benefit women and the planet. She is the author of LEAPFROG, The New Revolution for Women Entrepreneurs (Penguin Random House, Tarcher Perigee) and serves as a Venture Partner at Connectivity Capital Partners. She shares with us tips she has learned along the way in becoming a successful author, teacher, and now builder capitalist. We get real with Nathalie on how to tackle gender bias to being a successful “operator” and raising “smartly.” Trust us when we say, you won’t want this episode to end so sit back and enjoy!