What's Your Story?

In this conversation, Elaine Montilla shares her inspiring journey from a shy girl in the Dominican Republic to a successful CTO and advocate for women in tech. She discusses the importance of community support, overcoming challenges, and navigating microaggressions in the workplace. Elaine emphasizes the significance of authenticity, personal growth, and the responsibility to uplift others. She a...

In this conversation, Russell L. Edmond shares his journey from a small desert town in California to becoming a prominent figure in the hospitality industry. He discusses the influence of his upbringing, the lessons learned from sports, and the twists and turns of his career, including his experiences as a general manager and his transition to entrepreneurship. Russell also highlights the importan...

In this conversation, Dane C. Hawkins shares his journey from a challenging childhood in Washington, D.C. to becoming a successful engineer and author. He discusses the impact of his upbringing, the importance of community, and how his experiences shaped his identity and aspirations. Dane reflects on his education at an HBCU, the challenges of balancing a career with his passion for writing, and t...

Jourdan Brunson, founder of kinkofa, shares his journey as a genealogist and entrepreneur. He discusses his childhood curiosity and love for storytelling, his early career aspirations, and the pivotal moments that led him to start his own company. Jourdan emphasizes the importance of following your passion, finding the intersection between work and personal interests, and seeking out opportunities...

Craig Robinson, a former C-suite executive, shares his journey from growing up in Atlanta to living life on his terms as a board director and advisor. He emphasizes the importance of embracing one's inner child and being curious. Growing up in Atlanta, surrounded by Black Excellence, fostered his ability to dream and remain optimistic. He attended MIT and later Harvard Business School where h...

Dilan Gomih, a well-being founder, shares her journey of prioritizing health and fitness in her life and how it led her to start her own company, Dilagence . She emphasizes the importance of incorporating movement into daily life and finding joy in fitness to reach all of your goals. Dilan also discusses the influence of her parents and community on her outlook on what could be possible in life. S...

Alexandria Butler, aka Lexi B, accidentally landed in Silicon Valley but that hasn't stopped her from making an impact at a number of globally recognized tech companies like Airbnb, Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft. As an accomplished storyteller, she believes that anyone can be a storyteller and recommends reading stories from skilled storytellers to learn how to tell impactful stories. Lexi...

Zach Nunn, CEO of Living Corporate, shares his story and how he prioritizes workplace fairness and creating space for honest conversations about navigating the world of work. He walks through his personal journey of growing up in a small town in Georgia and the influence of his single mother on his values and aspirations. Zach discusses the changing landscape of work, emphasizing the need for bett...

Victor Simmons, a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging expert, shares his story of growing up in a military family and his journey to becoming a leader in the hospitality industry. He discusses the importance of building relationships and problem-solving in his career. Victor also emphasizes the significance of DEI in the workplace and how it leads to better business outcomes. He shares his...

Gautam Mukunda has collected some of the highest regarded titles at the most prestigious organizations that you could ask for in a career. Yet his plan all along has been to collect the most diverse collection of experiences. He's always enjoyed learning new things and set out on a mission to ensure that the world also learned something through him. His path has taken him from professor to au...

William Flippin Jr. shares his background and childhood experiences that led him to a mission of empowering people from the chess board to the property market. He discusses how his upbringing in Atlanta and being the oldest child and grandchild shaped him. He also talks about the importance of having multiple streams of income that allow him to follow his interests. William highlights how he devel...

Cuy Sheffield, the Head of Crypto at Visa, shares his background and journey into the world of crypto. Growing up in rural Ohio, basketball became his passion and a way to find his own identity and confidence. He attended Pomona College in California, where he discovered his interest in entrepreneurship and technology. After joining TrialPay, a startup in the mobile app advertising ecosystem, he d...

On this week's episode, we celebrate Father's Day as Matt sits down with his dad, Ken Davenport, to hear his story. Ken shares his story of growing up in Detroit, his curiosity as a child, and his journey into the corporate world. He discusses his experiences building a career in data processing and IT, the challenges he faced as technology evolved, and the importance of work-life balanc...

Charles Thompson shares his journey from a competitive kid with dreams of the NFL to his transition into the professional world of sales, emphasizing the role of community, mentorship, and the power of storytelling. He discusses the impact of LinkedIn on his career and the importance of personal branding and consistency in content creation. The conversation explores the importance of building a co...

Devo Harris, a Grammy award-winning producer and founder of Adventr, shares his journey from the world of music to the fast paced tech industry. As a Army brat, he grew up moving around a lot, which has influenced his work style and approach team building. Devo co-founded G.O.O.D. Music with his cousin, Kanye West, and was responsible for bringing John Legend onto the label. However, he realized h...

In this conversation, Matt Story interviews Mengistu Tad Tilahun, a global executive with over 25 years of experience in technology and the payments industry. They discuss his background, journey in the corporate world, and role at Visa. Tad emphasizes the importance of curiosity, taking risks, and adding value in one's career. He also highlights the need for self-advocacy and authenticity in...

In this episode, Matt takes a moment to celebrate Mother's Day and reflect on the impact his mom had on his life. He shares three important lessons he learned from her: the power of keeping your word, the importance of being a supportive fan, and the value of hard work and impact. Matt encourages listeners to share their own stories about the moms in their lives and emphasizes the power of st...

Ashley Menzies Babatunde shares her background and early experiences as a multi-hyphenate and focused overachiever. From an early age, she had high expectations of herself and others, and her leadership skills were evident. She even wroter herself a letter outlining her goals that she has largely achieved so far. Ashley reflects on her time at Stanford for undergrad and Harvard for law school alon...

Jerri DeVard, founder and CEO of the Black Executive CMO Alliance (BECA), shares her background and journey to the Advertising Hall of Fame in this podcast episode. Jerri highlights her experience as an example of the role HBCUs play in shaping top talent and industry leaders. She talks about her transition into the corporate world and the importance of finding her voice early in her career. She s...

Deb Dutta, CEO of Criya, shares her journey as a female immigrant founder and the challenges she faced in the tech industry. She discusses her upbringing, the skills she developed, and her transition from a technical engineering role to product management. Deb also talks about the birth of Criya and how it helps individuals make stellar first impressions through AI technology. She emphasizes the i...

Jeremiah Owyang, investor and founder, shares his journey in the tech industry, from his upbringing to his passion for uncovering new technology trends and helping companies connect with customers. He discusses the importance of community and public speaking, as well as the impact of his AI event series, Llama Lounge. Jeremiah also emphasizes the significance of health and fitness in his life and...

In this conversation, Jamien Sills, the founder and CEO of Herus Studios, shares his background and how his passion for shoes and design developed from a young age. He talks about the role of his community in supporting his journey and how he connected with shoe designers and mentors online before social media. Jamien then discusses his current project where he combines his love for footwear and s...

In this episode, La'Vista Jones shares her journey from a quiet child to a certified coach and podcast host. She discusses her love for conversations and her passion for helping others shift their mindset around work-life balance. La'Vista emphasizes the importance of self-care and finding joy in the work we do to avoid corporate burnout. She also highlights the impact of motherhood on h...

Elaine Lou Cartas, a trauma-informed career and leadership coach, shares her journey from feeling the pressure of fulfilling the American dream as a first-generation immigrant to redefining her own version of success. In her pursuit of success, she recognized the privilege she collected of having choices in her journey. She emphasizes the importance of asking for help and getting a coach to naviga...

Dee Hall shares her journey from a precocious child to a successful marketing leader with over 20 years of experience. She discusses her childhood, college experience at Spelman, and her career at IBM. Dee also talks about the importance of culture, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace. She emphasizes the power of connection and being authentic in the workplace. Dee offers...