What if access to technology is one of the biggest barriers standing between families and opportunity?

In this episode of Conversations Beyond the Brand™, Tashana Thompson sits down with Richard Hicks, CEO and President of Inspiredu, for a powerful conversation about digital equity, nonprofit leadership, community impact, and what it really means to serve people well.

Richard leads Inspiredu, an Atlanta-based nonprofit dedicated to bridging the digital divide through technology access, digital skills training, broadband support, and education for underserved communities. But beyond the work, Richard shares the heart behind his leadership — his family legacy, his rural roots, his faith, his belief in relationship-building, and why true leadership is rooted in service.

Together, Tashana and Richard talk about the real-life impact of technology access, the fear many families still feel around digital tools and AI, and why nonprofits must build trust, relationships, and community in order to survive and grow.

In this conversation, they discuss:

▸ Why technology access is now a basic need

▸ How the digital divide affects families, students, adults, and seniors

▸ Why relationship building matters in nonprofit sustainability

▸ The difference between fundraising and “friend raising”

▸ How fear and misinformation can keep people disconnected

▸ Why AI conversations need both safety and possibility

▸ What selfless leadership looks like in real life

▸ How legacy, family, faith, and community shaped Richard’s work

This episode is for nonprofit leaders, mission-driven founders, community builders, educators, and anyone who believes that leadership should be rooted in service, relationships, and real impact.

Connect with Richard Hicks:

Website: https://www.iuatl.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-inspiredu/ 

Connect with Tashana Thompson and Beyond Business Solutions:

Podcast home: https://beyondsolutions.biz/podcast/

Website: https://beyondsolutions.biz/

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

Conversations Beyond the Brand™ is a podcast hosted by Tashana Thompson that goes beneath the surface of leadership, business, purpose, and personal growth. Each episode explores the real stories, relationships, and experiences that shape the people behind the work they do.

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