Dawn Dickson-Akpoghene is a serial entrepreneur and coach who is tired of the negative narrative in the media that does not acknowledge the successes of Black women entrepreneurs. She is our guest this week on The Founder’s Mind and had a wide-ranging conversation with Adam touching on race and gender in the tech industry, the future of crowdfunding, and the importance of perseverance and legacy.

After not achieving the funding she wanted in the realm of VC funding, Dawn set her sights on the brave new world of crowdfunding to great success. One of the key takeaways from Dawn’s story is how important it is to educate yourself thoroughly on any new industry you want to participate in. Listen for more of Dawn’s thoughts.

• (00:57) – Dawn’s tweet about Black women’s success
• (05:39) – Dawn’s family of entrepreneurs
• (12:22) – How Dawn came to launch her first business
• (19:22) – The challenge of team building
• (22:07) – What keeps Dawn driven
• (29:47) – How Dawn got into crowdfunding
• (32:46) – Dawn’s #1 advice to entrepreneurs
• (35:40) – Dawn’s perspective on failure
• (42:23) – Why you can’t compare your journey to others

Dawn W. Dickson is CEO of PopCom, an automated retail company that uses facial recognition, AI, and blockchain technology to help retailers collect valuable customer insights. The first CRM, data, and analytics software provider for unattended retail, PopCom has developed technology to make kiosks and vending machines intelligent through data and analytics at the point of purchase. As a serial entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience in marketing and business development, Dawn launched four successful cash flow positive companies since 2002.  Her most recent ventures include Flat Out of Heels and PopCom, after identifying a need to make vending machines more intelligent.  

The Founder's Mind is a podcast for entrepreneurs wanting to gain insights and tactics from founders of all kinds to learn, grow, and be better equipped to navigate the inherent challenges of entrepreneurship. The podcast is hosted by Adam Mutschler, a Leadership Coach and COO at The Kedar Group.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Founder’s Mind in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Rodney Williams is a serial entrepreneur because he’s an explorer. It wasn’t enough to change the game with his first company, LISNR. He is now disrupting the lending industry with his latest company, SoLo Funds. Rodney is our guest this week on The Founder’s Mind and shares his thoughts on the evolution of his leadership style and interests.

Listen to the episode as Rodney discusses his definition of winning, what it’s like being a Black founder, why he approaches problems with an explorer’s attitude, and why the words “I remember,” are the most powerful words an investor can say to an entrepreneur. 

• (01:45) – What is Rodney Williams cooking up right now?
• (04:00) – Having vision for market opportunities
• (07:14) – How SoLo Funds is helping communities
• (19:46) – How Rodney takes risks to create new businesses
• (29:39) – Rodney’s leadership evolution
• (32:34) – How Rodney defines winning
• (41:00) – First impressions and cultivating networks
• (46:49) – Rodney’s advice for new founders
• (51:07) - Connect with Rodney on Twitter or Instagram @rodneybwilliams

Rodney B. Williams is the Founder and CCO of LISNR and the Co-Founder and Chairman of SoLo Funds. He worked in brand management at Procter & Gamble and saw firsthand the constant struggle brands have connecting with consumers. By lowering the barrier for proximity-based marketing on mobile devices, LISNR is expanding the opportunity for marketers and brands to target messaging to consumers through relevant mobile connections. SoLo Funds is disrupting the lending industry by allowing for peer-to-peer lending.

The Founder's Mind is a podcast for entrepreneurs wanting to gain insights and tactics from founders of all kinds to learn, grow, and be better equipped to navigate the inherent challenges of entrepreneurship. The podcast is hosted by Adam Mutschler, a Leadership Coach and COO at The Kedar Group, and sponsored by Upside.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Founder’s Mind in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.

Podcast episode production by Dante32.

Our culture has internalized the idea that art is a career choice in which poverty is the standard. Reggie Black is an artist pushing back against this narrative using his art to call out companies that devalue artists and their work.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Reggie and Adam engage in a dialog of understanding regarding the intersection of trauma and mental health for Black people in America. Reggie also breaks down the business of art and discusses how institutions and lack of resources are the real gatekeepers preventing more artists of color from breaking through.

This interview was recorded live. To watch the interview, click here.

• [01:27] – Introducing Reggie Black
• [06:45] – The intersection of mental health and trauma for Black people
• [11:04] – The Mass Manipulation Series
• [16:39] – Time stamping human emotion
• [20:13] – Understanding the trauma of the Black experience
• [31:07] – Uncomfortable conversations and the dialog of understanding
• [33:56] – All Things Progressive, Reggie’s design firm
• [34:19] – Challenges faced by artists
• [40:25] – Dismantling the idea of the starving artist
• [44:20] – Unique challenges for Black artists
• [49:56] – Find Reggie on Instagram @iamreggieblack

Reggie Black is an international multimedia artist, designer, speaker, and Principal of All Things Progressive, a multidisciplinary design studio specializing in creative direction, identity, and branding.

A native of Washington D.C., Black has spent the last four years living and working throughout Asia. Intersecting hand type artistry, graphic design, typography, abstract paintings, travel and cultural juxtapositions; his work has been exhibited in several international exhibitions in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and domestically in D.C.

His art has evolved into graphic design commissions, environmental graphic design, identity creation, book cover design, branding, exhibition design, naming and nomenclature, creative direction, curation, product design, and documentary photography.

Black has presented talks at Apple, Advertising Week, TED, Pecha Kucha, Marble Print + Clay, and Resource Library addressing the importance of art, design, technology, mental health, transparency, vulnerability, and the human connection.

The Founder's Mind is a podcast for entrepreneurs wanting to gain insights and tactics from founders of all kinds to learn, grow, and be better equipped to navigate the inherent challenges of entrepreneurship. The podcast is hosted by Adam Mutschler, a Leadership Coach and COO at The Kedar Group.

If you'd like to receive new episodes as they're published, please subscribe to The Founder’s Mind in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review in Apple Podcasts. It really helps others find the show.

This podcast episode was produced by Dante32.