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I had the honor of attending last year’s @Forbes u30 conference in detroit as an under30 scholar.
i learned a lot about being underestimated, conducting myself as a young professional, and left feeling really encouraged about the direction we’re moving in...[a thread]
i learned a lot about being underestimated, conducting myself as a young professional, and left feeling really encouraged about the direction we’re moving in...[a thread]
before i start:
i wanted to give a special thank you to @SDSULavinCenter for covering my travel & lodging to this event, and @Forbes for sponsoring all of the under30 scholar tickets to this conference. i wouldn't have been able to attend without their generosity.
i wanted to give a special thank you to @SDSULavinCenter for covering my travel & lodging to this event, and @Forbes for sponsoring all of the under30 scholar tickets to this conference. i wouldn't have been able to attend without their generosity.
1/ venues have a lot to do with the impact of an event.
the 2019 forbes under30 conference was held in the detroit masonic template - an ornate building with split levels, secret barber shops, and ballrooms. the gravitas of the venue added a special feeling to this gathering
the 2019 forbes under30 conference was held in the detroit masonic template - an ornate building with split levels, secret barber shops, and ballrooms. the gravitas of the venue added a special feeling to this gathering
2/ my three main takeaways:
- invest in underrepresented founders
- invest in yourself and your self-care
- everyone suffers from impostor syndrome. being radically transparent about your journey helps lessen this for others pursuing similar paths
- invest in underrepresented founders
- invest in yourself and your self-care
- everyone suffers from impostor syndrome. being radically transparent about your journey helps lessen this for others pursuing similar paths
3/ I'll be sharing specific highlights from the following conversations I attended - spanning incredible founders, investors, community builders, and more...
4/ a comment from actress & detroit blows cofounder @SophiaBush, on the gender wealth disparity:
“When women get wealthy, they get approached to donate - which decreases their wealth. When men get wealthy, they get approached to invest - which compounds their wealth.”
“When women get wealthy, they get approached to donate - which decreases their wealth. When men get wealthy, they get approached to invest - which compounds their wealth.”
5/ from detroit blows cofounder #NiaBatts on encouraging us to expand our hyphens:
“We’re living in a multi-hyphenate era now; you grow your business as you grow your hyphens, as you grow yourself. ”
“We’re living in a multi-hyphenate era now; you grow your business as you grow your hyphens, as you grow yourself. ”
6/ from @TaraReed_ , the CEO of @appswithoutcode, on founding a business based on YOUR wants:
"Structure your business how you want - don’t give into the hustle-every-waking-moment, grind-hard Gary Vee model - build the company you want to build”
"Structure your business how you want - don’t give into the hustle-every-waking-moment, grind-hard Gary Vee model - build the company you want to build”
7/ from @jenisicecreams:
“ Stay true to your values - we once recalled 265 tons of ice cream bc there was trace amounts of contamination, and bc we stayed true to our core value of quality, the community and other ice cream makers supported us until we were back on our feet. ”
“ Stay true to your values - we once recalled 265 tons of ice cream bc there was trace amounts of contamination, and bc we stayed true to our core value of quality, the community and other ice cream makers supported us until we were back on our feet. ”
8/ from nyt-best selling finance author @NicoleLapin:
"Like on an airplane - put on your oxygen mask before helping others. Building independent financial stability is key to bringing it to others in your circle & your business...You can’t take a Series A to your landlord."
"Like on an airplane - put on your oxygen mask before helping others. Building independent financial stability is key to bringing it to others in your circle & your business...You can’t take a Series A to your landlord."
9/ at the personal wellness panel, #AshleyEdwards recommended a reflective exercise:
“Here’s an exercise: journal about what a perfect day looks like in ten years. Evaluate your life now based on that - what are small changes you can make NOW to make your life more like that?”
“Here’s an exercise: journal about what a perfect day looks like in ten years. Evaluate your life now based on that - what are small changes you can make NOW to make your life more like that?”
10/ Ann Yang left the company she cofounded to recover from depression and commented:
"Far too often, we decouple our personal and professional lives - I took a stand against that by being radically transparent about why I left my company."
"Far too often, we decouple our personal and professional lives - I took a stand against that by being radically transparent about why I left my company."
11/ one of my fave talks was given by @ChrisLyons: working at the cheesecake factory, to founding PictureMenu, to @bhorowitz 's chief of staff, to GP of @a16z cultural leadership fund.
“If you ever feel like you don’t belong in the room you’re in -
YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT ROOM”
“If you ever feel like you don’t belong in the room you’re in -
YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT ROOM”
12/ @serenawilliams was one of our keynote speakers - graceful, funny, sharp. it was amazing to hear her speak about her endeavors as an athlete, fashion designer, investor, and mother.
13/ Most panels were moderated by Forbes editors - but Shop Talk was different, moderated by @iWroteTheHustle & @SebastianWho, set in a barbershop.
Sebas cofounded the Social Club, a Detroit barbershop, to give people a place to belong & speak candidly about their experiences
Sebas cofounded the Social Club, a Detroit barbershop, to give people a place to belong & speak candidly about their experiences
14/ From @DaveSalvant, CEO & cofounder of Squire, a barbershop mgmt & PoS software co:
“Traction beats everything. Investors hate to miss out on a good thing - just make sure they’re aligned with your values. Due diligence is a two-way street.”
*recently raised a series B!!
“Traction beats everything. Investors hate to miss out on a good thing - just make sure they’re aligned with your values. Due diligence is a two-way street.”
*recently raised a series B!!
15/ From @EllisIslandTea (who just partnered with Kevin Har - congrats Nailah!) on dealing with tough situations and letting your success speak:
“Sometimes, you can’t be radically transparent - you just have to suck it up, put your head down, and keep working on your business.”
“Sometimes, you can’t be radically transparent - you just have to suck it up, put your head down, and keep working on your business.”
16/ from @TheCMIYC, the first Black woman to travel to all 195 countries and an influencer, on dealing with luxury brands who paid her less than white influencers:
“Aspiration is great but confidence is key. Own your value and be specific about what you bring to the table”
“Aspiration is great but confidence is key. Own your value and be specific about what you bring to the table”
17/ from @JohnHenryStyle, investor & entrepreneur, on role models:
"I’m not looking up[for role models]; I’m looking around - these are the people that are in the trenches with me today and that will be at the top with me in 10, 20 years.”
"I’m not looking up[for role models]; I’m looking around - these are the people that are in the trenches with me today and that will be at the top with me in 10, 20 years.”
18/ @JohnHenryStyle spoke about how different asset classes can better suit diff entrepreneurs
“Different asset classes[small biz loans, growth equity, venture capital] behave differently. It’s all about figuring out that code of behavior and what applies best to your business.”
“Different asset classes[small biz loans, growth equity, venture capital] behave differently. It’s all about figuring out that code of behavior and what applies best to your business.”
19/ from @delane, ceo of playVS
“Don’t hire people with deep expertise in the space; hire people with deep domain experience & tremendous leaders - they’ll revitalize your efforts with a cross-disciplinary approach. If you’re the smartest person in the room - you’re in trouble.”
“Don’t hire people with deep expertise in the space; hire people with deep domain experience & tremendous leaders - they’ll revitalize your efforts with a cross-disciplinary approach. If you’re the smartest person in the room - you’re in trouble.”
20/ from @Shavone, the first Black woman to be hired at both instagram and twitter comm teams:
“Don’t have a scarcity mindset - the pie is just as big as you make it. Also, give back every step of the way and you will receive back every step of the way.”
“Don’t have a scarcity mindset - the pie is just as big as you make it. Also, give back every step of the way and you will receive back every step of the way.”
21/ detroit has endured incredibly dark times, and the resiliency i felt there was so inspiring. here's the award-winning detroit children's choir singing andra day's rise up, which garnered a full standing ovation from the crowd:
22/ the closing keynote was given by @QuavoStuntin - one of his most impactful quotes for me was:
“The difference between cash and equity is the difference between being rich and being wealthy.”
“The difference between cash and equity is the difference between being rich and being wealthy.”
23/ the last audience question @QuavoStuntin took was from @JohnHenryStyle - he asked what advice Quavo would share with his younger self. Here’s his answer:
I share this thread because I found this presentation tonight in my google drive and the lessons I’ve taken from it have been so helpful this past year.
I wanted to share the energy and hope I felt in those halls and in the community I found there. https://paigefinndoherty.com/2019/11/09/my-takeaways-from-the-2019-forbes-under-30-summit/
I wanted to share the energy and hope I felt in those halls and in the community I found there. https://paigefinndoherty.com/2019/11/09/my-takeaways-from-the-2019-forbes-under-30-summit/
