Discover the unique strengths and importance of generalists in our modern, interconnected world. This article explores the defining characteristics of generalists, their role in innovation, and how their broad skill sets and pattern recognition abilities make them invaluable in diverse team dynamics. Learn why being a generalist is not just about having a range of interests, but about synthesizing these interests into powerful insights and solutions. Embrace the superpower of generalists and understand how they complement specialists in driving progress and creativity.

Uncover the raw truths of entrepreneurship in my latest blog post, inspired by a thought-provoking podcast episode featuring Alexis Bunten of JumpScale. Dive into the unfiltered realities of startup life, challenge societal norms, and explore the transformative journey of decolonizing your life and business. Join the conversation, share your insights, and let's navigate the path to genuine success together. Read now and embrace the power of authenticity and meaningful dialogue in entrepreneurship.

I delve deep into the intricacies of intersectionality in the tech industry. From sharing personal narratives to unveiling stark statistics, I uncover the challenges faced by entrepreneurs existing at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities. It's not just about diversity; it's about authenticity, transparency, and the power of amplified voices. Join me in the revolution. Read, share, and amplify. Together, we will reshape the tech landscape for a more inclusive future.

In 2013, I stumbled into the startup world, unintentionally stepping into a complex journey of entrepreneurship. Little did I know, my accidental entry would expose me to both the highs of innovation and the lows of inappropriate behavior. I've shared a deeply personal experience in my latest blog post, shedding light on the challenges faced by entrepreneurs, especially women, and minorities, in the startup realm. This story, along with powerful statistics from the VC Human Capital Survey, underscores the urgent need for change in the industry.

As much as I’m allergic to desk jobs and in love with the unpredictability of event-based work and travel, I like one thing to be the same every day: my morning routine. It’s a seamless part of my life that remains consistent during chaotic travel and keeps me grounded amidst whatever comes at me throughout the day. 

We showed up at Oromo Cafe in Chicago with no idea what would happen. The whole affair involved a lot of risk -- risk in saying that we’re doing this tour (ambitiously planning to cover seven cities in seven days), risk in actually hitting the road, risk in involving the cafe owners and asking them to stay open late for us with no guarantee that they’d profit, risk in asking Jason Walsmith to drive six hours when he could’ve ended up playing to an empty room. 

The flip side of that risk is how powerful it was to see it come together. Even if only one person showed up and left with more confidence in their sense of self, it would’ve been a success. We had twelve people who gathered in the cafe to push back against the status quo and they all reached out afterwards to express how grateful they were for the space that we created. 

I’ve had a great time quitting in my career. You might see leaving a job as a failure to fulfill a commitment, an inability to tough it out or make it work with your employer. When I attach my self-worth to productivity in the context of ticking off boxes assigned by someone else, it’s freeing to finally get outside that and take pride in something more meaningful. For me, quitting means creating space for my passions and making a decision out of trust in myself instead of fear.

My role as an event producer is to translate between different parties. The key is making sure everyone’s on the same page about the “why,” and understanding how everyone’s “why” is a little different. If we’re all clear on the mission of the event, and I as the producer understand everyone’s motivations and investments, I can act as a mediator who knows the context behind certain actions and figure out how to best move forward in service of our greater “why”. I’m also guided by the “why” of people who will attend the event, to ensure that I’m serving participants’ needs as best I can.

If you’re reading this and thinking, “I’m ready to break up with the fear that holds me back from chasing what I really want to do… but I’m not sure what that is,” think about the things you’re interested in that you tell yourself you don’t have the time to pursue. Start with the basics, not with a job title – do you like the outdoors, do you like going to concerts? Connect the dots backwards and see how you became interested in those things. Try taking a step forward with your interest. If you don’t like it, pause (something we’ve been told we aren’t allowed to do) and decide whether you want to keep going or try something else. Be okay with the process of figuring out who you are and what you love. It’s not about checking the administrative boxes to get a degree so you can get a certain job. It’s about tapping into the things you do that make time fly. 

Conversations with children push you to dig deep and get at the essence of what you’re doing. Making them care requires you to appeal to their humanity in its simplest form. I believe that to truly understand something, you must be able to explain it to a child.

The way we use these labels to assign value to people is a profoundly broken system. I don’t believe that I’m more or less important than others because of certain skills, but our paychecks tell a different story. I didn’t make a cent off the immense manual labor and planning that it took to rig out my van and navigate the country alone, which I think is more valuable than the work I was paid a lot to do for a tech company because I learned and grew so much. 

Whose definition of success are you reaching for? 

I don’t want to orient myself to someone else’s comfort level. I share about my life as a queer woman and a parent, even if sometimes it’s met with coldness or uncomfortable questions, because I want to give others the feeling of joy and safety I get when people like me are represented. 

Tour management is a one-of-a-kind, high-energy and high-pressure job that’s kept a little bit under wraps. I want to share with you about what I do and what I’ve learned criss-crossing the States again and again in a bus with a bunch of uniquely awesome people.

It’s problem solving, logistics, teamwork, and communication. Tour managers are masters of empathy, adaptability, staying calm under pressure, and advocating for themselves and their crew. I get to flex all my strengths and use them to make something really special for the audience and the artist. Every night I’m connecting with so many people through music, and I end the tour having built relationships with people all across the country.

What I want is for us to re-orient ourselves towards an ethic of care. Eliminate the transactional talk, the gamification of business connections, the bullshit.