♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> Crossley: WELCOME TO "BASIC BLACK."

SOME OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR BROADCAST AND OTHERS OF YOU ARE JOINING US ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS.

I'M CALLIE CROSSLEY, HOST OF "UNDER THE RADAR," 89.7.

TONIGHT: MENTORING NEW LEADERS.

WE, LIKE YOU, ARE DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.ùAND ARE TAKING PRECAUTIONS.

WE ARE WORKING WITH LIMITED STAFF AND OUR GUESTS ARE JOINING US REMOTELY.

MENTORSHIP AND MONEY, THE TWO BIGGEST OBSTACLES FACING ENTREPRENEURS OF COLOR.

LEADERS WHO ARE BIPOC-- BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR-- HAVE LONG HAD TO NAVIGATE ON THEIR OWN TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND INCLUSION.

BUT THINGS ARE CHANGING, AS CORPORATIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS PLEDGE LEADERSHIP EXPERTISE AND FUNDING IN NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS.

CAN THE HIGH-LEVEL SUPPORT HELP OVERCOME STRUCTURAL RACISM?

AND WHAT DOES CAREER SUCCESS FOR THESE FEW TOP DIRECTORS AND OWNERS MEAN FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

JOINING US REMOTELY: COLETTE PHILLIPS, PRESIDENT, C.P.C.

GLOBAL AND FOUNDER OF THE GET KONNECTED OR G.K. FUND; MICHAEL OMENAZU, VICE PRESIDENT, VISIBLE HANDS, A VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FIRM; DR. SHAKENNA WILLIAMS, FOUNDING DIRECTOR BLACK WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CENTER FOR WOMEN'S ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP AT BABSON COLLEGE; AND ANDRES HOLDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE BOSTON CHILDREN'S CHORUS AND A SPONSOR IN THE NETWORK FOR ARTS ADMINISTRATORS OF COLOR, BOSTON.

WELCOME TO YOU ALL.

I'M STARTING WITH YOU MICHAEL, BECAUSE I THINK THE THREAD IS MENTORSHIP THROUGH ALL OF YOU BUT YOU'RE APPROACHING IT DIFFERENTLY.

SO HOW DOES VISIBLE HANDS YOUR VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM APPROACH MENTORSHIP?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> YEAH, THAT PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN OUR UNIQUE AND DICTIVE APPROACH.

MOST TALENTED FOUNDERS AND THOSE TYPICALLY FROM OVERLOOKED BACKGROUNDS OR DEMOGRAPHICS, MENTORING PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN PLAYING EXPERTISE, THERE THOSE DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS WHETHER WOMEN OR BLACK INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF COLOR AS YOU MENTIONED LATER, LATINX, LGBTQIX, POSITION THAT UNIQUELY POSITIONS THOSE FOUNDERS, FROM THE EXPERIENCES OF THOSE WHO PROCEEDED THE FOUNDERS WHO ARE NOW GOING THROUGH THIS STAGE OR THROUGH THIS ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY.

>> Crossley: NOW VISIBLE HANDS IS BOTH A MENTORSHIP AND A VENTURE CAPITAL FIRM.

EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS SO PEOPLE CAN PUT THAT IN THE CONTEXT.

>> YES, SO AS A FUND WE MAKE INVESTMENTS THAT COME OUT OF OUR FELLOWSHIP.

AND DURING THE FLOACH WE PROVIDE A HIGH LEVEL OF CONSEE AIR SUPPORT CUSTOMIZED FOR EACH OF THE FOUNDERS, TO ALLOW THEM TO ESCALATE OR GROW THEIR BUSINESSES.

SO WHETHER THAT'S PUTTING TOGETHER A LANDING PAGE TO DRAW IN CUSTOMERS OR WHETHER THAT'S WORKING TO BUILD RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER FOUNDERS WE WORK IN THE FELLOWSHIP TO BUILD UP THEIR INVESTMENT, TO BECOME STRONG FOUNDERS FOR US, RECOGNIZING THE SYSTEMIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT THAT LEFT.

WE ARE ABLE TO DIVERSIFY THE SPONSORSHIP OF TECH COMPANIES DOING SO.

>> Crossley: OKAY, COLETTE, EXPLAIN THE G. CMPLET FUND AND HOW THE MENTORSHIP THROUGH IT?

>> MENTORSHIP IS REALLY IMPORTANT PARTICULARLY FOR BIPOC, PRO FORMAS AND BUSINESS OWNERS.

SO MANY TIMES WITH YOUNG BIPOC PROFESSIONALS, YOUNG BIPOC ENTREPRENEURS, WHAT IS MISSING, THE MISSING LINK IS BOTH MENTORSHIP AND MONEY, AND WHAT MENTORSHIP DOES, IT GIVES YOU ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY.

BECAUSE MENTORS CAN OPEN DOORS FOR YOU.

MENTORS CAN HELP TO LIFT YOU UP.

MENTORS CAN BE SPONSORS IN THE SENSE THAT THEY CAN ADVOCATE FOR YOU.

AND MENTORSHIP, I CAN TELL YOU JUST FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE, IS ABSOLUTELY KEY AND CRITICAL TO BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS.

SO WE PROVIDE THAT.

WE HAVE A MENTOR NETWORK OF CEOS AND C SUITE EXECUTIVES WHO GIVE OF THEIR TIME AND TALENT TO HELP NURTURE AND MENTOR THESE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS, AND PROFESSIONALS OF COLOR.

>> Crossley: NOW, DR. SHAKENNA, FROM YOUR STANDPOINT AT BABSON WHERE YOU'RE HEADING THESE ENTREPRENEURIAL CENTERS, YOU CAN SEE QUITE DEFINITIVELY THAT MENTORSHIP IS LIKE ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD.

AND SO WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF MENTORSHIP AS YOU'VE SEEN THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS THAT YOU RUN THERE, PARTICULARLY THE ONE THAT IS FOCUSED ON BLACK WOMEN THAT ARE KEY TO SUPPORT?

>> RIGHT.

SO WE REALLY COIN OUR MENTORSHIP AND OUR MENTORS AS OUR SECRET SAUCE TO OUR PROGRAMS, IT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN OUR BLACK WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THAT WE MATCH OUR PARTICIPANTS WITH SOMEONE THAT LOOKS LIKE THEM AND HAS BEEN IN A SIMILAR JOURNEY.

SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T WORK OUT WE CAN FEEL THAT A GOOD MENTOR CAN DEFINITELY SHARE OF THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE AND SERVE AS A COACH AND ADVISORY OR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER.

WE PRIZE OURSELVES PARTICULARLY AND BE WELL THAT WE REALLY WORK WITH THOSE THAT HAVE MADE IT BUT ABLE TO SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES THAT THEY GO THROUGH WITH GROWING AND SCALING THEIR BUSINESSES.

>> Crossley: AND OVER YOU ANDRES, YOU CAME TO BOFD TO TAKE ON THIS NEW JOB WHICH YOU SAID YOU SCROANT DONE WITHOUT MUCH SUPPORT FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND BECAME INVOLVED IN THIS NETWORK OF ARTS ADMINISTRATORS OF COLOR.

SO HOW DOES THAT WORK AND HOW ARE YOU FIT BE INTO THE MENTORSHIP MODE THERE?

ABSOLUTELY.

THE NETWORK OF ARTS AND MENTORSHIP GREW FROM A VERY SMALL PEOPLE THAT TOOK THAT FIRST STEP AND NOW A GROUP MUCH OVER 400 ADMINISTRATORS OF COLOR WORK IN THE ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT SECTOR.

IT IS A VERY STRONG GROUP.

THE SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM IS AN INITIATIVE OF THAT GROUP, FOCUSING ON APOOL OF INDIVIDUALS, I'M ONE OF FIVE SPONSORS AND THERE ARE FIVE MENTORS IN THE POOL AND WE ARE EACH PARTNERED UP WITH YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THEIR CAREER.

WE ARE TOGETHER CREATING PEER TO PEER LEARNING EXPERIENCES, WE ARE DOING ONE OR ONE VISITS AND COACHING THAT WE ARE TAKING PART OF DEPENDING ON WHO WE ARE PAIRED WITH.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT IS THIS REALLY STRONG LEARNING NETWORK AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND TO CONTINUE TO CREATE THE CHANGE THAT WE ALL WISH TO SEE IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR WHICH IS OPENING DOORS FOR MORE PRESENTATION AND MORE VISIBILITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND REALLY TO OPEN THE ARMS OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR FOR OUR COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

>> Crossley: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE WHEN THERE IS NO MENTORSHIP?

BECAUSE I AM SHOCKED WHEN YOU TELL ME THERE IS 400 ARTS ADMINISTRATORS OF COLOR NOW.

WOULD I HAVE THOUGHT THERE WAS A VERY TINY GROUP, MUCH SMALLER THAN THAT.

SO THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THERE, THAT WOULD HAVE HELPED TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS.

ASIDE FROM THE PEOPLES TALENT AND ABILITY AND SCHOOLING AND ALL THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT WAS A MYTH THAT WE WERE SEEKING TO DISPEL WITH A CREATION OF THIS GROUP.

FOR US CREATING THESE MENTORSHIP APPLIANCE IS KEY TO CREATING NOT ONLY THE SKILLS BUT THE ACCESS AND THE TURNLT FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THESE CAREERS AND THESE PLACES BEFORE US.

THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR HAS MANY PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTIONS THAT TEND TO HAVE THE MOST RESOURCE, THE MOST CAPACITY, THE BIGGER STAFFS, SO WHEN SOME OF US GET TO ENTER THESE SPACES, WE GET TO LEARN IF WAYS THAT ORGANIZATIONS LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR OR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SERVING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR PREDOMINANTLY WE MIGHT NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CERTAIN FUNDERS.

WE MIGHT NOT HAVE ACCESS TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE IN OUR FUNDRAISING STAFF.

SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY KEY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TREADED THOSE WATERS TO ACTUALLY GET BACK TO OPEN THE DOOR AND SAY YOU COME ON IN AND REALLY TO CREATE A PIPELINE FOR PEOPLE IN THEIR EARLIER STAGES OF THEIR CAREER TO BE ABLE TO ASPIRE TO LEADERSHIP ROLES LIKE I HAVE AT BOSTON CHILDREN'S CHORUS.

>> Crossley: MICHAEL WHAT YOU HAVE SAID, ANDRES IS TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL CAPITAL, THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE BARRIERS, THERE'S MONEY, THERE'S THE MENTORSHIP BUT THE SOCIAL CAPITAL PIECE CAN BE AS UNDERMINING FOR YOUNG LEADERS, ENTREPRENEURS OR HIGH LEVEL ARTS ADMINISTRATORS LIKE ANDRES, TO REALLY GET A FOOTHOLD IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ARENAS.

>> EXACTLY SPOT ON.

YOU NAMED THREE BARRIERS THAT WE WORK TO ADDRESS.

AND A LOT OF THE RESOURCES THAT FOCUSED ON THE FIRST THREE THAT YOU MENTIONED AROUND FINANCIAL CAPITAL, RIGHT, ENSURING THAT THE DOLLARS FLOW AS WELL AS AROUND, YOU KNOW, INSPIRATION OR SOCIAL CAPITAL, THE CONNECTIONS IN FACILITATING RELATIONSHIPS AND THE THIRD PART, INSPIRATION CAPITAL, SEEING PEOPLE WHO PRECEDED YOU IN THIS COLLECTIVE THREAD YOU HAVE SEEN FROM ALL OF THE ANCESTRAL WISDOM, ALL THOSE THREE TOGETHER FORMULATE THE CONDITION, UNDERSTANDING WHAT OTHER FOLKS HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS, LOOK LIKE ME, MY BACKGROUND IN PARTICULAR WHO I CAN DRAW UPON, TO DRAW THAT ACCESS.

AS WELL AS THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, RECOGNIZING THE DIFFICULTIES IN SOCIAL ASPECTS IN ISOLATING ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WITH THE SUCCESS, INSPIRATION AND FINANCIAL CAPITAL, ALL OF THOSE CONVERGING AND SETTLING UP ENTREPRENEURS FOR SUCCESS.

>> Crossley: COLETTE YOU FOUNT ABOUT DOING THIS, WAY BAY BACK IN 2019, BUT COVID ACTUALLY PUSHED YOU BECAUSE WHAT DID YOU SEE THAT WAS HAPPENING THAT WAS VERY CONCERNING?

>> WELL, WHAT WAS VERY CONCERNING TO ME IS THAT THERE WERE ALL THESE YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS, WHO HAD BEEN IN AK SELL RAWTED PROGRAMS LIKE E FOR ALL, AND -- ACCELERATED PROGRAMS LIKE E FOR ALL AND OTHERS, AND THEY WERE BASICALLY COMING OUT WITH NO SUPPORT, NO ACCESS, NO EXPOSURE, AND RECOGNIZING THAT WE WERE GOING TO LOSE THE NEXT GENERATION OF BIPOC ENTREPRENEURS IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GIVE THEM EXPOSURE, GIVE THEM CAPITAL, GIVE THEM MENTORSHIP, ACCESS, OPPORTUNITY.

AND SO WE SORT OF SAID, WE HAVE TO DO THIS.

THIS IS A CRITICAL INFLECTION TIME.

I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ACCESS TO MENTORSHIP.

AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THEIR OWN BUSINESS FOR THREE DECADES, I WANTED TO HAVE AS PART OF MY LEGACY SOMETHING THAT COULD BE SUSTAINED.

AND THAT'S WHY WE SORT OF WENT ON AND JUST EXPONENTIALLY RAISED OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS WITHIN A PERIOD OF NINE MONTHS.

BECAUSE THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPANIES AND FOUNDATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE THAT, WITH THE MEASURE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD, WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

>> Crossley: YOUR GRANTS ARE $10,000, PHYSICAL, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BECAUSE YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY HONING ON A CERTAIN SIZE BUSINESS.

>> RIGHT.

>> Crossley: THAT'S TRUE AND ILSO WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING TO THEM AS A MENTORSHIP, AS YOU'RE HANDING THEM OVER THE CHECK.

WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE THICK YOU'RE SAYING TO THESE SMALL COMPANIES THAT ARE TRYING TO GET OFF THE GROUND?

>> THE NUMBER ONE THING IS WE HAVE YOUR BACK.

YOU KNOW, TO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOMEONE AND ORGANIZATION, GROUP THAT IS THERE FOR YOU, TO OPEN DOORS, I CAN ALREADY TELL YOU THAT THE SIX ENTREPRENEURS THAT WE FUND CEDED SIX MONTHS AGO, WE ALREADY STARTED TO OPEN DOORS FOR THEM TO HELP TO AMPLIFY AND ELEVATE THEM, SOMETHING SO MANY ENTREPRENEURS SUFFER FROM, THEY DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, THEY DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS IS AH AND WE ARE GIVING THEM LITERALLY PRO BONO SUPPORT AND WE ARE OPENING DOORS TO PEOPLE WHO CAN MENTOR THEM AND HELP GET THEM TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

SO THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE SAY TO THEM IS WE HAVE YOU.

WE WANT YOU TO GO OUT AND BE SUCCESSFUL AND NOT BE WORRYING ABOUT, CAN I MEET PAYROLL, CAN I MARKET MYSELF, WE'LL HELP YOU AND WE WILL ALSO GIVE YOU ACCESS TO FUNDING WHERE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR WHOLE COMPANY, BUT THAT YOU CAN HAVE FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU GROUNDED AND FEELING -- BE ABLE TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.

>> Crossley: SO DR. SHAKENNA, OF COURSE BABSON'S WELL-KNOWN IN THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD FOR ITS BUSINESS ACUMEN, EXPERTISE AND THE PEOPLE IT SENDS OUT INTO THE WORLD.

SO YOU HAVE YOUR HANDS ON ALL KINDS OF ALUM WHO CAN BRING THE KINDS OF EXPERTISE THAT THE COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS YOU WROTE LIKE TO HELP WHO ARE BIPOC RIGHT TO THE DOOR.

AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE OFFERING THE FOLKS IN YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP GROUPS.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW, IS THE SAME QUESTION I ASKED COLETTE, WHAT IS ONE OF THE KEY THINGS YOU TRY OGET ACROSS TO YOUR GROUP AS YOU'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO BE ABLE TO PRESENT THEMSELVES, TO KNOW HOW TO OUTREACH, GET THEIR FINANCES IN ORDER, ALL THAT.

>> RIGHT.

AS I SAID, BABSON IS KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, I'M A PROUD BABSON ALUM, UNDERGRAD, WHAT WE IN OUR PROGRAMS OFFER UNDER THE WOMEN'S CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP IS DEFINITELY THE SISTERHOOD.

GETTING THESE INDIVIDUALS TO UNDERSTAND THEMSELVES FIRST, WHAT KIND OF INDIVIDUALS THEY ARE, WHAT KINDS OF SKILLS THEY NEED TO LEARN AND FROM THERE UNDERSTAND BUSINESS FUNDAMENTALS.

SO THE BLACK WOMEN ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WE START OFF WITH A SYMPOSIUM.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP YOURSELF WHOLE, BETTER YOURSELF AS YOU GO THROUGH THIS ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY.

THEN WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING TOGETHER.

WE TALK ABOUT MENTORSHIP BUT MOST IMPORTANT IS HOW DO WE WORK TOGETHER AS BLACK WOMEN AND THEN THE NEXT STEP IS HOW TO CREATE THIS INCLUSIVE TWRORK.

SO IT'S -- NETWORK.

IT'S GREAT FOR US TO WORK TOGETHER AND BE IN OUR COMMUNITIES BUT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY MENTORS.

THERE IS ANOTHER TERM CALLED SPONSORS THAT ARE GOING TO OPEN UP THEIR RESOURCES TO US, TO INCREASE OUR ACCESS AND GROW OUR BUSINESSES.

AND THE NEXT PART ABOUT IT IS HOW DO WE ENROLL OTHERS INTO OUR JOURNEY?

AND THEN THE NEXT PART OF SIT WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE UP OR LOSE?

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY MONEY.

IT'S TIME AND REPUTATION.

SO WE PREPARE ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS TO REALLY BE NOVEL ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE WILLING TO GIVE, AND WHAT DO THEY NEED TO LEARN AND BE REALLY TRUE THEMSELVES AND WE PROVIDE AND CONNECT THE DOTLE FOR THEM AND WE GIVE THEM ALL THE -- THE DOTS FOR THEM AND GIVE THEM ALL THE BEST THAT BABSON HAS TO OFFER, HELPING THEM WITH THEIR PITCH DECK.

SO THIS IS BEEN AN HONOR THE REALLY LAUNCH THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE WE CAN TAKE THE BEST OF THE BEST AND PUT A LITTLE BLACK GIRL MAGIC ON IT AS WELL.

>> Crossley: ANDRES, WHAT ARE SPECIFICALLY THE KINDS OF THINGS YOU'RE DEALING WITH AS YOU INTERACT WITH YOURMEN YOURMEN MENTEE?

>> HAVE TO SHORTEN IT.

WITH MY SPONSOR, THERE IS A RECOHESION WITH THE WAY MY MENTEE HIS NAME IS CAMERON, WHAT HE IS TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH IN HIS WORK AND HE LISTENS TO ME AND WIRE KIND OF LISTENING TO EACH OTHER.

THE SPONSOR SPONSEE RELATIONSHIP, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MENTOR MENTE RVETION EXPERIENCE, WORKING WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS ONE TO THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT THE ENTIRETY OF THE SECTOR AND CREATING THAT PIPELINE MOVING UPWARD.

THE RICHEST OPPORTUNITIES I'VE TAKEN PART OF HAS BEEN THESE LEARNING HUBS WE GOT TOGETHER WITH ONE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS WHO IS A MEMBER OF NAC AND HE WALKED US THROUGH HIS PARTICULAR ORGANIZATIONS, P&L, AND SAID LET'S CREATE A BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR WITH AN ANTIRACIST LENS.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT DECISION WOULD WE MAKE?

AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE ONE YEAR OF EXPERIENCE AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN OUR FIELD WORKING TOGETHER TO CREATE A P&L IN A WAY THAT WE CAN ALL FEEL PROUD OF THAT CREATES A CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE.

THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THAT WE'RE MEETING ON A MONTHLY BASIS DISCUSSING MANY DIFFERENT TOPICS TO CREATE A RICH FABRIC OF COMMON UNDERSTANDING AND LEARNING.

>> Crossley: TO UNDERSCORE, IF PEOPLE ARE LISTENING TO THIS AND SAYING, IT SOUNDS LIKE ANY KIND OF LEADERSHIP, THE EDGE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IS YOU ARE MENTORING AGAINST A SYSTEM OF STRUCTURAL RACISM.

AND THAT HAS A SPECIFIC KIND OF TAKE AND ALSO INSIGHT FROM THE MENTOR TO BE ABLE TO GUIDE YOUR MENTEES THROUGH THAT PATH.

THIS IS GOING TO BRING ME TO ANOTHER QUESTION I WANT YOU ALL TO ANSWER, YOU HAVE TO BE MENTOR READY.

I'LL START WITH YOU ANDRES, WHAT DO YOU SAY TO YOUR PEOPLE ABOUT BEING MENTOR-READY TO BE READY TO SEVEN WHAT YOU HAVE -- TO ACCEPT WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY AND UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE OFFERING THEM A VERY SOPHISTICATED AND INFORMED PERSPECTIVE?

>> I THINK FOR ME IT'S TWO THINGS.

IT'S AN AIR OF CONFIDENCE, AND A REAL CLEAR APPROACH TO HUMILITY.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO THRIVE IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF, THAT'S REALLY WHERE IT STARTS.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ALL THE ANSWER IS AND THAT MANY OF US ARE CHARTING PATHS THAT JUST HAVEN'T BEEN WALKED ABOUT.

AND THAT'S OKAY.

SO WHAT I TALK ABOUT THIS PEER LEARNING COMMUNITY THAT'S MY APPROACH TO IT AND I COME TO IT WITH HUMILITY AND SPIRIT AND THE FEAR OF ALL TIME LEARNING.

AX I GOING TO RAISE IT UP AND ASK OTHER PEOPLE TO HELP ME LEARN HOW TO BETTER DO NEXT TIME, 100%.

>> Crossley: MICHAEL HOW DO YOU TELL PEOPLE TO GET MENTOR READY?

>> I KNOW THAT STRUCTURALLY, DOES A LOT OF THIS WORK AND PARTICULARLY POSITIONING OUR PARTICIPANTS TO UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE VALUE OF MAN OR THING AND OPENING THEMSELVES UP TO IT.

BECAUSE OF OUR APPROACH IN RECOGNIZING THE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS IN THE FORM OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL BECAUSE OF THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP, BECAUSE OF SYSTEMIC RACISM, FOLKS WHO COME TO OUR PROGRAM UNDERSTAND THOSE CRITICAL OBJECTIVES OR CRITICAL BARRIERS THROUGH THE JOURNEY AND CHOOSE US SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE OF OUR UNIQUE POSITIONING AND OUR EXPERTISE THROUGH MENTORING.

AND THROUGH THAT THAT CRAITH A REALLY PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR MENTORS AND MENTE RVETIONS BECAUSE THEY SEE A RELATIONSHIP AND ABILITY -- ONCE FOLKS HAVE THAT MACRO-UNDERSTANDING AND HOW IT INFORMS OUR WORK AND THE WORK WE DO IN PROVIDING AN INVESTMENT UP FRONT TO EVEN PARTICIPATE IN THE FELLOWSHIP AND THAT IS PART OF THE SUITE OF RESOURCES THAT ARE REALLY VALUABLE FOR THEM AS ENTREPRENEURS IN ADDITION TO MENTORING REALLY POSITIONS THEM TO BENEFIT FROM IT.

>> Crossley: COLETTE YOU ARE NODDING YOUR HEAD VIGOROUSLY.

GO AHEAD.

>> MICHAEL JUST SAID, THE OTHER THING I SAY TO MENTEES AND TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING MENTORSHIP, LIFE BEGINS AT THE END OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

YOU PUSH YOURSELF OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND ALSO, TO NOT REJECT A POTENTIAL MENTOR, BECAUSE HE OR SHE MAY NOT LOOK LIKE YOU, THEY MAY NOT BE IF YOU ARE A WOMAN, YOU CAN BE MENTORED BY A MAN.

IF YOU BLACK OR LATINX OR ASIAN, YOU CAN BE MEN TOWARD BY A WHITE MENTOR.

AND THERE ARE LOTS OF ALLIES OUT THERE, WHO WANT TO STEP UP AND WANT TO BE HELPFUL.

SO BE OPEN AND RECEPTIVE TO THAT.

THE PREFERENCE OF COURSE WOULD BE TO BE MEN TOWARD BY SOMEONE WHO HAS -- MENTORED BY SOMEONE WHO HAS WALKED THE PATH WHO CAN HELP YOU SORT OF NAVIGATE.

BUT NEVER TURN DOWN AN OPEN OPPORTUNITY SO REALITY HAVE A MENTOR.

SOMEBODY -- REALLY HAVE A MENTOR.

SOMEBODY WHO IS WILLING TO PUT THEMSELVES ON THE LINE AND SUPPORT AND HELP YOU.

TAKE THE RISK.

OR PUSH YOURSELF OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE.

>> Crossley: DR. SHAKENNA YOU HAVE BEEN VERY CLEAR THAT THIS IS A TWO WAY STREET.

SO HOW DO YOU TELL YOUR FOLK TO GET MENTOR-READY?

>> YEAH, I DEFINITELY, I TELL MY MENTORS AND ALSO MENSEE THES TO REALLY GET TRANSPARENT, TO IT'S ALMOST LIKE DATING.

JUMPING INTO A RELATIONSHIP, YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE YOUR COMMONALITIES, SOMETHING THAT IS OFF THE TOPIC OF WHAT YOU WANT TO BE MENTORED ON OR BE A MENTOR WITH.

AND THEN THE NEXT STEP IS COMING PREPARED.

IF YOUR MENTOR IS TELLING YOU TO RESEARCH SOMETHING FOR YOUR NEXT MEETING WITH THEM, BE READY.

THIS IS THEIR TIME THEY'RE GIVING UP.

MAJORITIES OF TIME MENTORS ARE VOLUNTEERING THEIR TIMES AND SHARING AND POURING INTO YOU.

AND JUST BEING COMMITTED FROM YOUR END AND COMING READY.

THEY'RE WILLING TO INVEST MORE OF THEIR TIME AND RESOURCES WITH YOU.

>> Crossley: ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MADE SO CLEAR ANDRES AND EVERYTHING YOU WERE SAYING TO THE PRODUCERS IS THAT THERE WAS NO WAY YOU COULD HAVE GOTTEN TO WHERE YOU ARE WITHOUT SOME HELP.

AND IS THAT JUST IN GENERAL, OR YOU KNOW BECAUSE BEING A MERN OF COLOR IN -- A PERSON OF COLOR IN ONE OF THESE FIELDS THAT NOT VERY MANY FOLKS ARE IN WHO LOOK LIKE YOU, THERE JUST HAD TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, SHOWING YOU THE WAY.

THERE HAD TO BE.

OR YOU JUST WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT.

>> I THINK THERE'S TWO COMPONENTS OF IT.

I THINK THERE WERE PEOPLE THAT INVESTED THEIR TIME AND ENERGY AND EFFORT IN ME TO ACTUALLY GET ME TO SEE THINGS I COULDN'T SEE MYSELF.

DO YOU HAVE THE SMARTS, DO YOU HAVE THE SKILLS DO YOU HAVE THE TALENT, CAN YOU DO THE JOB, YES, 100%.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING FOR YOU LACK MUCH A BETTER WORD SPONSOR YOU AND ACTUALLY PUT THEIR REPUTATION ON THE LINE ON YOUR BEHALF WHO OPEN THE DOOR AND SAY THIS PERSON IS WORTH THEIR WEIGHT IN GOLD, WHATEVER OTHER ASSET YOU WANT TO PICK TODAY, YOU OUGHT TO LISTEN TO WHAT THIS PERSON OUGHT TO SAY.

YOU OUGHT TO ACTUALLY INVEST IN THIS PERSON, PUSH THIS PERSON FORWARD.

I THINK THOSE TWO THINGS WERE REALLY PRESENT IN MY CAREER AND I WAS REALLY FORTUNATE.

AND LIKE COLETTE, IT WASN'T JUST ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THERE WERE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WHITE ALLIES, THEY SEE SOMETHING IN YOU OR I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO GO OUT ON THE LIMB AND BE SURE YOU GET THIS NEXT STEP.

>> Crossley: THAT'S A GOOD PLACE TO END THE SHOW.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.

I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME, THAT IS THE END OF THE BROADCAST.

NOW STAY WITH US AS WE CONTINUE OUR CONVERSATION ON OUR DIGITAL PLATFORMS, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org ♪