Sari Houston

I’ve been listening to Scott Galloway through my gateway Karaswisher for longer than I can remember now. He is insightful and I often find his views mirror my own. I am excited to read this book and get my kids to read it too. He has truly helped me understand how to think about AI and the future and how to think about Story Telling in a way that makes sense. If you get a chance, check out the #PivotPodcast.

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Despite the DEI myths being circulated, investing in women of color is the best economic decision an organization can make. Your ROI is golden and the innovation, creativity and energy that comes with a significant increase in your bottom line is unmatched. Goldman Sachs is getting it right and other organizations in the corporate and nonprofit space should take note. #diversityequityandinclusion #leadership #nonprofits #economy #corporatesocialresponsibility

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Freedom to Learn #MicDrop Moment: Sylvia Cyrus, Executive Director of The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), shares activation tips to mobilize communities because “this is not just happening in Florida, it’s happening across the nation…if it’s not us who, if it’s not now, when?” https://lnkd.in/e8N7rsa8  #FreedomToLearn #FreedomSummer2024 

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Unpopular opinion: I think integration was one of the worst things that happened to the Black community. 400+ years of slavery and we’re still living in a modern version of Jim Crow. We are not wanted. They do not want us to thrive in their environments and yet whenever we build our own things so we can support ourselves, they kill that too (Tulsa, Rosewood, Oscarville, Seneca Village, etc.) So what does it say about an environment that won’t accept you and won’t let you go? Where do we go from here? It’s giving pearls before swine every time we enter a glass cliff situation and I’m tired of wondering where we would be if we weren’t continuously wasting our best talents on trying to prove we belong in a system that clearly is not built for us to survive (much less thrive). There will never be a voluntary wealth transfer. Yes, I know that hurts to read, but honest question — what incentive does a ruling class that was built by (and has never atoned for) theft, slavery, brute force, and intentional inequality have for making this equitable? Who desires diminishing their money and power, especially when it serves to keep a status of domination? The system is not designed to let us build that wealth within their systems either. So where do we go from here? It breaks my heart every single time I see a sister or brother achieve a level of success only to see the follow up story of how they’re no longer part of that company due to a glass cliff situation. I just wrote about my own experiences in this type of situation where you’re either brought in to fail, or not given the tools needed to support your work and then dismissed. Aren’t you tired? We deserve safety, success, and power too.

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"Unapologetically Leading: The Black Women's Mixtape" is more than a platform, it’s a vibe and a community where we celebrate the stories and journeys of Black women leaders. Through centering their narratives, we aim to inspire connections and uplift voices that are often overlooked or stereotypically defined. "Unapologetically Leading" amplifies Black women by giving them space to take center stage and own their narratives and how they are shown to the world. Why the play on the word mixtape? Because we hope to curate an authentic and transparent look at their experiences, perspectives, and insights, noting that each narrative will be different, similar to the diverse tracks on your favorite album/mixtape. Ultimately, "Unapologetically Leading: The Black Women's Mixtape" isn't just about sharing stories; it's about reclaiming agency, and redefining what it means to lead unapologetically as a Black woman in today's world. If you are interested in sharing your story either through writing a piece or by being interviewed fill out the form below and share it with your network 💜 EDIT: This will close tomorrow at noon. #BlackWomenLeaders #CenteringBlackVoices #RedefiningLeadership #Leadership #Storytelling

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Hey Garry Johnson III, right on time. I'm not a frequent coffee drinker but have been thinking of getting a bit into it and was looking for a Black-owned brand to support so...kismet. I just bought that 1871 😋 ☕️ Coffee Description: "HBCU Fun Fact: Established in 1871, this historic institution is renowned for its legacy as the first land-grant historically Black university. With a steadfast commitment to academic excellence, social progress, and leadership development, the university empowers students to effect lasting change in their communities and beyond. Coffee Description: A very complex medium-dark roast of bright full flavor African grown coffees. Enjoy hints of toffee, caramel, chocolate, raisins, green apples, red fruits and even hints of cherries and black currant with a soft floral finish. Coffee cherries are often processed by hand at the home of the farmers after being hand picked. Quality standards are high and farmers adhere to these strict standards with environmentally friendly processing, washing the beans and leaving in the sun to dry, then hand sorting and packaging." Read full description and more about BVU here: https://lnkd.in/gVr6qHd8 Question for devoted java drinkers: Is it true if you brew whole beans instead of ground coffee ☕️, you get a richer taste? 🤔 What's your favorite way to consume coffee? Also support this brotha please.

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In the last few Connecting Black Women sessions, there were several participants who expressed interest in working on issues related to Black Maternal Health. Tagging a few of you below. Here's what I would like my network to do: 1. If you are interested in working on Black maternal health, please comment "I'm interested" below. 2. If you are ALREADY working on issues related to Black maternal health, please share information on your work and how folks can support you. Thanks all! Learn more about Connecting Black Women here: https://lnkd.in/g-aGrWJY Legacy Consulting Group, LLC

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Since its inception, Hip Hop has been characterized by moments. From ODB telling the world "Wu Tang is for the children", to the artist then know as Kanye West telling the US "George Bush doesn't care about black people", to many more. This artform has time and again driven where urban culture goes. Funny thing is though, hip hop within itself goes through "renaissance" moments. These are often depicted in the rap battles pitting 2 artists in a clash for supremacy, relevance and bragging rights. Fuelled by "beef", which is a term for a disagreement, misunderstanding or friction between 2 or more artists, battles resolved on "wax" (strictly through music) using "diss tracks" have helped move the culture forward creatively and commercially. if you want to find out more about that, simply search for "BEEF 1 - 3" on YouTube, and you'll get a rundown of all the legendary battles that have taken place over the years. What interests me in this discussion is the fact that often, the clash between 2 rappers falls along the lines of "Keeping real" vs "selling out". Basically "Passion" vs "Gain". ...Got a call and lost my train of thought... In life, just like in rap, we get to a point where we have to choose money or passion. We have day-jobs which involve tasks that we learn. There is a difference between being innately good at something and learning to be efficient at something. That difference is what separates the happy and motivated from the mundane and bored. Finding the love for everyday tasks involves finding out why you're doing those tasks, why beyond a paycheck. Have you found it? let's talk about it in the comments. Oh and Kendrick Lamar is the perfect representation of love and passion, and the pursuance of perfection. He loves hip hop so much he went to war with Drake for the sake of what he believes the culture to be. Public opinion says he won (within the rules of engagement of hip hop battles), and held a celebratory concert in LA yesterday, uniting opposing gangs (The Bloods and The Crips). A true example of using your innate talent to get paid, and to change lives. Peace!

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Discover strategies for success in toxic work environments. '#1 Best Seller: I'm Not Yelling' provides a blueprint for empowering Black women in the workplace. Get your copy and redefine workplace culture. #BlackWomenInBusiness

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The prevailing advice of “work twice as hard to get twice as far” has woven itself into the fabric of Black women’s professional journeys, shaping not only their careers but their lives. Instituting change means that organizations need to examine how they are perpetuating unrealistic standards as both expectations and messaging. At the same time, Black women who prioritize self-care and challenging societal narratives can pave the way for a more sustainable future for themselves. It is a collective journey toward embracing authenticity, challenging perfectionism, and redefining success to create workplaces where all individuals can thrive. https://lnkd.in/gJbe3tMr

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Have you ever wished for a place where you can: 📣Learn the skills that truly matter for excelling at your job? 📣Stay current with the latest trends and developments in the project world? 📣Test your ideas and share your challenges in a supportive environment? 📣Connect with people who not only understand the obstacles you face but also cheer you on to succeed? We did too. That’s why we created Black Women in Projects.🙋🏾‍♀️ We are here to be your go-to resource for everything from practical skills to motivational support, specifically tailored for women who work as Project Managers, Business Analysts, PMO, Programme Managers, Scrum Masters and Delivery Managers. 🌟 Follow our page for regular updates and insights that help you grow and thrive in your career. Let’s succeed together! #BlackWomenInProjects #CareerGrowth #ProjectManagement #WomenEmpowerment

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The 2024 federal budget brings great news for tech education! Black Boys Code has reached an impressive 5,564 Black youth through CanCode 3, bridging digital divides and creating opportunities. We hope to continue our work in empowering youth with digital skills and are eager to receive funding through CanCode 4. The budget also includes $50 million over five years to establish an AI Safety Institute of Canada, ensuring responsible AI development and deployment. Black Boys Code, has been running AI and machine learning programs for over three years (even before ChatGPT became popular) We hope to expand our work in this area as possible funding recipients through CanCode 4. Discover below an infographic showcasing Black Boys Code's impact. This visual representation underscores how the federal budget's support directly translates into transformative tech education for our youth. #Budget2024 #CanCode #AISafety #TechEducation #Innovation #BlackExcellence

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Social connection is a cornerstone of well-being, but navigating social settings can be challenging for individuals with disabilities. Today's post explores the power of inclusion & offers strategies for creating welcoming communities. Let us break down barriers & celebrate the power of human connection for all! #accessibility #disability #inclusion #education #healthcare: https://lnkd.in/gQVM9F-4

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😒😒We have so far to go… I can’t wrap my head around this… at all. I got the opportunity to be part of a discussion with the Fearless Fund during SXSW and the fight that they have been made to fight for successfully doing what the start up world has claimed to want for several years is 🤯. Over the past 5-7 years there has been a huge push for DEI and making entrepreneurship attainable for underrepresented founders. I have been an “underrepresented founder” participant in several different programs that 🎯this specific space and I am grateful for the ones that have been beneficial in growing TRS. But let’s cut the 🐂. More often than not these programs are run by large predominantly white male led organizations that are exploiting the same people they claimed to be helping. Programs that are many times way more about the optics and after being accepted their is very little to no value for the participants, however the orgs get the metrics and 💵 to show how much they are focusing on “DEI and “under represented” even profiting off these founder stories or closing large deals because of them with no trickle down to the founders and no concern for if it’s helping or harming. I could keep going but u get the point. These orgs have been praised for years for the BS “programs” they created to further line their OWN pockets. **There are also good legit programs I’m not saying they are all bad- many have helped us- but the fact still remains many haven’t- But when Fearless Fund actually creates a program that does all these things we’ve been claiming to want for years now- (with little to no movement in the actual success of these underrepresented founders). Now it’s an issue and you can’t do that. Sounds to me like the diversity was just never actually wanted. Sounds to me like the old white men got scared when they saw a legit pathway for companies and founders far better then them to get a chance to compete with them as robust vc backed companies. Now DEI is unfair? Unconstitutional?! But there’s nothing wrong with the fact that less than 1% of VC funding goes to black founders and 0.39% went to women of color founders in 2022. And let’s not forget black women founders on average provide better investment returns than white women or man led companies. Anyways I post this ask how can we help? What can we be doing to stand up and say we aren’t going to accept this. To stand with fearless fund and support them? I’m sure their are orgs and people already doing this- I’d love to know how I can help! Funding is unfair it’s part of the game - maybe not unfair but it’s not the best ideas are the ones that get the funding they need- that’s just what it is and always has been- but it’s unconstitutional to have a $20,000 grant for black women? Clearly any real movement towards leveling the playing field scares the shit out of those that have always held the wealth and power- Like i said in the beginning we have so far to go.

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Following the success of my "Build, Launch, Scale" series, I’m thrilled to announce a new initiative, "Financial Gems." This series is crafted to further support black professionals and other underrepresented groups, with an emphasis on doctors, lawyers, and business owners. Our first episode tackles a major hurdle—managing substantial student loans. In our community, it's not uncommon for doctors and lawyers to face student loans ranging between $350,000 and $500,000. I know how overwhelming this can feel. Don't let debt define your future—discover how to approach it with confidence in the video below.

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TANTVSTUDIOS and Nigerian Center are partnering up to advance inclusion and social justice for underserved and underrepresented African immigrant communities, elevate the #NigerianAmerican culture and increase access to critical resources for Nigerians living in the U.S. The collaboration between both organization aims to highlight the rich heritage of Nigerian Americans while providing information about essential services to new community members. African immigrant and #diaspora communities are not adequately represented, reached, nor uplifted in U.S. news media coverage. News #media outlets often overlook the individuality and diversity within Black narratives, treating the Black experience as monolithic and undifferentiated. As a result, entire communities are left out of the conversation on the issues that most affect their lives, leading to lower levels of #voting and #civicengagement, deeper polarization, and a lack of access to #economicopportunities. Adedayo Fashanu CEO, TANTV and Gbenga Ogunjimi Executive Director, Nigerian Center share their thoughts on the partnership Learn more about the partnership on TANTV: https://lnkd.in/esgMsXGc

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