Micro bio of my guest today:
Erika Brodnock is a serial tech entrepreneur from London, and currently the CEO of Kami, a digital companion for parents throughout their parenting journey. She is also part of the core team at Extend Ventures, which aims to democratise access to Venture Capital, especially for entrepreneurs and talent from disadvantaged communities. She is a visiting research fellow at King’s College and will start her PhD at University College London in September this year. Hence, Erika is a top dog in both hands-on problem-solving and academic rigour.
What you will hear and learn in this episode:
In this episode Erika makes the compelling case to invest more into diverse communities and talent from disadvantaged minorities, especially after COVID-19 – not just because it’s morally the right thing to do, but also because this would lead to more economic growth – and higher returns to investors.
Some context for this interview and conversation:
Erika and I go back seven years, when I experienced her as Erika a force of nature during my time at Wayra, Telefonica’s start-up accelerator. The timing of our conversation couldn’t have been any more relevant, as we discuss black lives matter, white male privilege and unsconscious bias – all from a business perspective. You will notice how I unintentionally reveal my own blindspots with regards to these matters…and that’s ok…because change can only ever start with yourself, and in the here-and-now. Therefore, I am glad that Erika called me out, because I don’t want to go back to that kind of normal.
And that’s one of my main intents to do this podcast: to have important conversations that move us forwards, because conversation is the only tool we have to create a new and better normal. My aim is to give people a mixture of confidence and hope for the future paired with some vulnerability and humility. I transformed myself a tiny bit in the process of producing this episode with Erika. I hope that the result you are about to listen helps you find your own micro-shifts on your journey to a better version of yourself.
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikabrodnock/
www.usekami.com
a chat bot for parents & parents-to-be
https://karismakidz.co.uk
Get your free WORKING FROM HOME WITH THE KIDS SURVIVAL GUIDE
https://www.extend.vc
Democratising access to finance
https://www.kauffmanfellows.org/journal_posts/the-pipeline-myth-ethnicity-fund-managers
Deconstructing the Pipeline Myth and the Case for More Diverse Fund Managers
https://nestforfounders.com
The Nest: the future of entrepreneurial education for all, from anywhere
https://www.wayra.uk
Telefonica's start-up accelerator network whose London Academy was started-up under the leadership of Simon Devonshire & scaled-up under the leadership of Gary Stewart
UNCONSCIOUS BIAS
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/02/unconscious-bias-what-is-it-and-can-it-be-eliminated
great starting point
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html
The Harvard test itself
https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/3/7/14637626/implicit-association-test-racism
https://digest.bps.org.uk/2018/12/05/psychologys-favourite-tool-for-measuring-implicit-bias-is-still-mired-in-controversy/
For a complete picture: 2 articles on he efficacy of the IAT test - don't use this as an EXCUSE to not do them or distract from your results, they are most likely still "true" in essence albeit "inaccurate" scientifically
https://www.theotherbox.org
An award-winning diversity and inclusion company educating businesses on bias
https://www.davidmcqueen.co.uk/journal/podcast-race-the-last-taboo
David is a