October 29, 2023 • 51 mins
Being a multi-hyphenate creative at heart, Adrienne Blanks has always balanced multiple projects at a time.
If you ask Adrienne, Nail Polish chose her and it ultimately became the vessel that steered her into business coaching after experiencing burnout in her very own creative venture. Adrienne has pushed the boundaries, and now she’s entering into a new era of purpose working with entrepreneurs to help find clarity and strategy in launching their business projects, so they are set up for success in the long run.
Topics Covered:
- The one way ticket to NY to pursue my dream career in media
- How unemployment forced me to pivot into entrepreneurship
- Acknowledging burnout and when it’s time to move on
- Embracing the numbers when you’re a creative
- Dismantling the lack of capital and access for minorities
- Working from an empty cup, learning to slow down and pour into myself
Guest Info:
- Adrienne's Website
- Brainstorm Sesh - Mindful Business Planning
Resources:
- Backstage Capital Catalyst Program
- News Article - Fearless Fund Legal Challenges
Follow Us:
Sponsors:
Thanks to Pamoja for supporting Diaries of a Modern Trailblazer
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Adrienne Blanks (00:00):
I know what it's like to work from an empty
(00:03):
cup or a cup that's notoverflowing, and I'm not doing
that no more.
I did it before.
It's not worth it.
Stephanie (00:13):
I am Stephanie Evans and this is Diaries of a Modern
Trailblazer.
Take note of the journey and beinspired to forge your own
amazing path.
I just want to kick it off andlearn more about who Ms.
(00:34):
Adrienne Blanks is.
So tell us more about yourbackground.
Like who you are, where you comefrom, and how you landed to
where you are today.
Adrienne Blanks (00:46):
Oh man, that's loaded.
Okay.
Well, I'm Adrienne Blanks.
A proud multi hyphenate,creative entrepreneur, a
business consultant, businesscoach, educator, friend.
I grew up in Missouri City,Texas.
It's like on the Southwest sideof Houston for those of you that
(01:06):
don't know.
And, I'm the daughter of a fineartist.
My dad is a fine artist, and hecoached track athletes,
football, basketball, lots ofdifferent sports, but his focus
was definitely on track.
Um, he has some Olympians underhis belt.
And my mother is more of theleft brain.
(01:30):
She has more of a corporatebackground, worked for a law
firm most of my life and they'reboth retired.
I am a sister.
I have an older sister and, I'man auntie.
And, you know, I am the productof my parents.
(01:50):
I literally have both that leftbrain, right brain thing going
on, and my left and right brainare constantly fighting each
other.
It's a battle that I've had towork with most of my life, which
makes me the multi hyphenatethat I am.
Stephanie (02:09):
I saw that you studied radio, television, and
film.
And seeing what it is you dotoday, what did you initially
think your career was going tolook like?
Because, you know, it's, It's alot for someone who's like 17 or
18 years old to determine whatit is they want to be when they
(02:30):
grow up.
I mean, today I'm still tryingto figure out who I want to be
and what I want to do when Igrow up.
So like, how did that start offfor you?
And like, when did things shift?
Adrienne Blanks (02:43):
So I guess at that time, I mean, let, we can,
we can go back a little bit.
I was a very creative child.
I always had a lot of creativeprojects going on at the same
time, which makes sense with mydad being an artist.
So I had access to a lot ofpaint and all kinds of different
mediums to be able to playaround with, and my mom says
(03:05):
that I constantly had projectsgoing on at the same time.
So I've always been very active.
I was in dance growing up, rantrack, played piano.
Um, didn't really get that greatat it, but I was like that girl
in coming to America where shewas like, I want to write my own
songs, produce my own songs.
I want to be a rock star.
(03:26):
I wanted to do it all.
And um, I don't know.
I used to just watch a lot ofmovies and MTV and BET and all
that.
And I was just inspired by thosemusic video shows where they
would, um, kind of show how tomake a music video.
I forget the name of the, of theshow.
It was a while ago, but...
Stephanie (03:46):
I remember that.
I don't remember the name of it.
Adrienne Blanks (03:49):
Seeing that made me want to work in radio,
TV, and film, or learn how tomake a music video or, um, be on
the radio, create a little radioshow or something.
And of course, this was allbefore podcasts and all the
access that we now have to, tomedia.
(04:09):
And producing things on our ownand yeah, I just decided that it
sounded fun and I wanted tolearn how to write a TV show or
make a, make a music video or belike Oprah, you know, be like
Oprah, become a VJ.
My, my imagination was wild.
(04:32):
So I just thought, okay, well,I'll learn how to do that.
And that's how I ended upbecoming a radio, TV and film
major.
And I'm a little superficial,but.
It's just, that's what it was.
Stephanie (04:44):
And with that, what did you decide to do afterwards?
Adrienne Blanks (04:49):
So when I graduated, I did not get picked
up by like a agent or anythinglike that.
I didn't really know what I wasgoing to do.
I ended up teaching, substituteteaching, and I worked on the
executive floor.
It was at Houston CommunityCollege and I ended up getting
to know a lot of the executiveleadership of HCC.
So I was working with the thewoman who was like the director
(05:14):
of communications.
I was actually a receptionistthere and they got to know me
and, you know, would ask mequestions like,"Why are you a
receptionist?" I'm like,"Oh,it's just a temporary job." And
then they gave me opportunitiesto kind of work, uh, with the
woman who was over PR and thingslike that.
And that was when I started, um,trying to put a plan together so
(05:36):
I could move to New York.
I knew I wanted to get to NewYork at some point, and I pretty
sure I wanted to get to New Yorkso that I could work for MTV
and...
Stephanie (05:45):
Why not?
Adrienne Blanks (05:46):
Yeah, because why not?
And, um, I told them that.
And so the lady who was over thecommunication, she was like,
okay, well, you, you can work onsome projects that we have.
So I would help her write likepress releases, or I would go
with her to different pressrelated things.
And they were just kind ofgetting me out there and, um,
(06:07):
letting me explore careeropportunities.
And then I saved up what Ithought was a bunch of money
and, decided to buy a one wayticket and move to New York, um,
so that I could just pursue somedreams.
You know, I just wanted to try,just give, give things a try.
Stephanie (06:30):
And that's what it takes to be bold enough to
pursue that dream.
A one way ticket to New YorkCity is a drastic change from
where you come from.
Adrienne Blanks (06:46):
Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking.
I wasn't being realistic, but Ithink that's what made things
work for me is that I didn'treally know.
And as much as people warned me,I was kind of like, well, I'm
got to figure it out, and I did,but, um, there was some painful
moments though.
Um, some, some interestinglessons I had to learn, but it's
(07:07):
all good.
The, the change was— I've beento New York a few times.
I had friends that lived therealready.
So, um, it wasn't a complete, acomplete shock, but it, it was
like, I think the second weekthat I was there, um, I think
someone had gotten shot orsomething and I heard the
(07:31):
gunshots, but I don't think Ihad really heard gunshots like
that outside of like a trackmeet.
Stephanie (07:35):
Yeah.
Adrienne Blanks (07:36):
And then we, I stepped outside, maybe.
A few minutes later, 30 minuteslater, and I see a body on the
ground, there's ambulance andstuff.
So that was when it hit me whereI was like, oh, shoot.
Um, I'm like in New York, I'maway from my family.
Somebody just got shot andthat's when it got real.
(08:01):
I think it would get real foranybody who, you know, didn't
really expect that to happenthat day.
So, um, so there was, it wasthat type of, um, adjustment
there.
And then the other adjustmentwas just really kind of, um,
(08:22):
wrapping my head around the factthat this is an expensive city
and I gotta, I gotta figure thisout.
I gotta figure this out.
I gotta make sure that I haveenough money to do what I need
to do, I need to kind of get aplan together.
Um, cause my no plan plan wasn'tgoing to work for too much
longer.
And yeah, so I just focused onjust working.
(08:43):
So I was kind of doing a lot oftemp jobs and stuff until I
actually got like my first airquote, real job.
And my mom really, uh,emphasized me getting a real job
and by a real job, I mean a jobwith benefits.
Steady income and not my liketemp jobs that I was doing so
(09:04):
that I could like try to, Idon't know, get some media
opportunity.
I don't know.
I don't really know what I waslooking for at the time, but I
had a vision and I was trying tomake it happen.
Stephanie (09:20):
How did you get into nail care and decide that this
is something that is worthpursuing?
Adrienne Blanks (09:29):
Well, I've always loved getting my nails
done.
So growing up, I couldn't reallywear makeup like in middle
school and stuff.
But my mom would let me go getmy nails done.
And so I would get like crazydesigns on my nails and I get
them long and all kinds ofstuff.
And it was my way of expressingmyself until I was like a
teenager to where I couldactually like wear makeup and
(09:50):
stuff like the other girls.
So I would always do, I'vealways done my own nails.
Um, and I found it relaxing.
Um, so, and, and because NewYork was expensive, that was one
of those expenses that I had tocut out, um, as I was kind of
transitioning and adjusting tothe city.
So I would do my own nails and,you know, I'd have, I would do
(10:12):
my friend's nails and not formoney, just cause I wanted to,
it was a fun way to kind of bondwith a friend and drink wine.
Um, you know, talk about what'sgoing on in life and, you know,
just kind of hang out.
Um, so that's something that Iwould do like maybe on the
(10:34):
evenings or weekends.
And yeah, I mean, I, I ended upworking at psychology press, the
New York times, and I worked atthe New York times and I thought
I had made it.
I was like, yay, dream job.
It's great.
It helped me.
Awesome.
And then, uh, they let us go.
So...
Stephanie (10:54):
What were you doing over there at the New York
Times?
Adrienne Blanks (10:56):
I was doing advertising sales.
Stephanie (10:58):
Okay.
Adrienne Blanks (10:59):
And I did not like it, but I liked working for
the New York Times.
It felt like a dream job.
I mean, even just to say it, itjust happened on my resume and
it was aligned with like mydegree, you know?
I had high hopes with that job.
And then it was like, strippedaway from me.
Stephanie (11:17):
And it was a real job too!
Adrienne Blanks (11:18):
It was a real job.
Like I finally got a real job,like my mama told me to.
And, and, um, it was, it washard.
Advertising sales was hard,especially the, the kind of
accounts that I had.
So there was a little bit ofrelief when I got laid off, but
then it was like, uh, uh, ohshit too, because this city is
(11:42):
expensive.
Stephanie (11:42):
Right?
How are these bills going to getpaid?
Adrienne Blanks (11:44):
How am I going to pay these bills?
So it was during that layoffwhere I kind of, um, to just
bring some peace to myself, Iwould do my nails, doing my
nails kind of forced me to beable to sit still and just kind
of focus and think, and I woulddo friends nails and then they
knew I was unemployed so theywould pay me.
(12:06):
Um, and I had, uh, would jokewith them like, yeah, I'm gonna
start me a business and call it,call it, get your nails did.
And it was just kind of a joke.
I wasn't even really thinking ofdoing that.
So maybe a year later, um,started working again.
(12:27):
Some random fashion job that Ihad, um, in the middle of the
night while I was sleeping.
I kind of woke up in the middleof the night, and I had this,
you know, let's just say it wasGod that woke me up and told me
to purchase getyournailsdid.
com and then grab all the socialmedia handles for it.
(12:49):
And, you know, I'm listening,I'm like, am I going to start a
nail polish line?
Like, yeah, I'm like, how, how,how am I going to do this?
So I've always loved, you know,I've always loved beauty
products.
I've always loved gettinggroomed and, you know, get my
hair done.
Nails done, all that stuff.
Get my nails did.
(13:10):
But, um, I never thought that Iwould start a nail polish line.
Nail polish chose me.
I didn't really choose it.
And once I took that leap, Ipurchased the domain, then I had
to kind of get going.
Stephanie (13:27):
Right?
It's like, okay, this ishappening.
It's real.
Adrienne Blanks (13:31):
Yeah, it's real.
So I didn't, I didn't initiallystart out, um, with the products
just yet.
I was just kind of like beingthis nail tech at, pop up shops.
I forget one part.
I'm forgetting one thing.
The biggest thing during thisunemployment season, I actually
(13:52):
did file for unemployment in NewYork state and I, I actually
read the book that came with thewhole, um, the paperwork.
And I read that if you, um, endup enrolling in like a trade
school or something like that,it'll extend your unemployment.
And I was trying to figure outwhat I was going to do after I
was done with, you know,advertising at The Times.
(14:15):
And I didn't really know whatelse I wanted to do.
And so I was like, well, I'mgonna go to beauty school.
I'll learn a trade that way.
I'll, I'll always have a job.
Like I'll always be able to dosome nails if I want to.
Um, and ended up having thisopportunity to go to nail school
for free, by talking to thedirector about my work
(14:39):
experience, my experienceworking in, you know, media, and
just other things that I haddone and they needed help with
their social media presence andthings like that.
Then they wanted to have a blogfor their school and stuff, so I
helped them with that and inexchange, I went to nail school
(15:00):
and I got my Nail Tech license.
First just started out as a nailtech.
A friend of mine, she had atrunk show, um, which we now
know is like pop up shops.
And she asked me, she was like,"Hey, can you have a booth at my
trunk show and offer, you know,complimentary manicures or
(15:21):
whatever." And I was like, okay.
So I grabbed up all the nailpolish that I had.
I asked my friends for theirnail polishes.
Mm-Hmm.
I made it look cute at my littletable and I was doing like mini
manicures.
I might've charged$5 for them.
I can't really remember, butpeople either tipped me or paid
(15:41):
me something.
And I thought it was incrediblyinteresting that people
literally kept asking me if thenail polishes that I had at the
table were mine, like if theywere my line and I thought they
were crazy because I'm like,don't you clearly see that this
says OPI, it says Essie, it sayswhatever, no, these are not my
(16:05):
nail polishes.
They're like, Oh, I thought thiswas yours.
And I was like, really, I'mreally supposed to start my own
nail polish line?
Like, I mean, I don't, this issurprising me.
Yeah.
And so it was, it was me kind ofgetting this, I don't know,
divine message.
And actual people thinking thatthis big time nail polish brand
(16:31):
was mine.
Brands that are already in thebeauty store.
It was nuts to me.
So I just started doing researchon manufacturing and then that's
kind of where it got started.
Stephanie (16:45):
That's really, really cool.
And one of the things that, youknow, caught my attention as you
were talking about it was reallyhow you were able to utilize
your skill set that you learn.
Like what you were learning inschool and what you were doing
straight out of undergrad, likethat PR skill set helped you
(17:10):
pivot to learn a new skill setthat would further traject as an
entrepreneur in creating yourown nail brand.
You've got some really coolpress features out there.
Just throw out a few of them sopeople know.
Adrienne Blanks (17:27):
Yeah.
So I mean, Essence, Harper'sBazaar, USA Today.
Um, I'm missing some Women'sHealth.
There was a lot.
I, I, I didn't, I didn't knowthat it was going to happen that
fast and, and not only that I,I, on the inside, I felt a
(17:51):
little unprepared, but then Ihad to get it together, shake
off that, that feeling and justlean into it.
I was very surprised by that,even though I knew it was going
to happen.
I just didn't know it was goingto happen that fast.
Stephanie (18:07):
Right.
You always got to be prepared toreceive those blessings.
Adrienne Blanks (18:11):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Stephanie (18:14):
And with that, what was the biggest obstacle you
encountered?
Adrienne Blanks (18:21):
So, internal and external obstacles.
I'll be transparent.
Internally, was me believingthat it was happening and, um,
processing that.
Not that I didn't believe inmyself, I just, as it was
happening, I, sometimes I felt alittle unprepared, you know, I
(18:45):
didn't know if I was like sayingthe right things at certain
meetings that were happening.
Um, so there was that part.
Sometimes I didn't know if I wasunderstanding exactly what they
were telling me, which is why Itried to keep myself educated a
lot, taking, you know, whateverfree business classes I could
take, um, working with the, uh,SBA, things like that, so I,
(19:10):
whenever I felt those littleinsecurities, then that's when I
would say, okay, let me go talkto somebody at the local
entrepreneurship center orwhatever so that I don't feel
this, um, like insecurityanymore.
Stephanie (19:23):
Yeah.
Adrienne Blanks (19:24):
So that was like an internal kind of
challenge.
And then external with money.
You know, it is not just becauseyou do your first run and you,
you know, saved up some money orwhatever to get your first, um,
production run going, you stillgot to have some more money to
do other things.
So it was me constantly tryingto figure out how to fund this
(19:46):
thing.
Put some sort of presentationtogether to pitch to whoever I
needed to just try to find somemoney.
Stephanie (19:55):
Yeah.
Cause there's, there's alwaysthe operational costs that
people don't see happening inthe back end.
Adrienne Blanks (20:04):
Like all the way down to like post it notes,
tape like these things that youdon't think of.
Stephanie (20:11):
And it all adds up, it's just like, how did I end up
spending this much money thismonth?
But yeah, I know, earlier in theconversation, when you were
talking about what you're doingtoday, you didn't mention that
you're doing Get Your Nails Did.
(20:31):
You're doing something else.
How did you make that decisionthat it was time to move on and
move forward and focus onsomething different?
What was the pivot?
Adrienne Blanks (20:43):
The same way the decision was made for me to
do it, it happened the same wayfor me to transition out of it,
except that I didn't really wantto transition out of it.
And at the same time I did.
I was burnt out.
Like I had been doing this, mycareer kind of in just nails and
beauty started in about 2010,the line starting in 2012, it
(21:06):
got real in like 2014 and thenfrom about 2014 to 2020, it was
on and popping, but I, I cameout the block sprinting.
Right.
Like...
Stephanie (21:19):
And that's quite some time.
Adrienne Blanks (21:20):
Yeah.
Stephanie (21:21):
At one point, didn't you have a physical presence?
Like you had an actual, nailsalon.
Adrienne Blanks (21:28):
Yes, I did.
So I had a salon.
Um, it was, uh, it was kind oflike a pop up salon.
It was only open on theweekends, Friday through Sunday.
And it was a partnership with,uh, a boutique in Brooklyn.
And, um, it was, that waspretty, that was really cool.
So for that partnership startedout with me.
(21:50):
Uh, creating like a doublebranded, uh, collection with
them.
And it was their own collection.
The name of the store is MarcheRue Dix.
Um, really great store in CrownHeights, Brooklyn.
So we started out, I believe wedid a collection of 15 colors
that were going to beexclusively sold in their store
(22:12):
and that did well.
And then the owner came to meand wanted to talk to me about
having a.
A salon in her store that Iwould run.
And, we worked out that deal andrelationship, did that, and the
first day that the salonlaunched.
(22:34):
I mean, I think I even plannedthe salon.
My business plan for the salonwas probably even stronger and
better than the product line.
Because one, I knew more too, atthat point, I had a job where I
was teaching business planwriting.
So not only was I learningstuff, I learned, and then I
taught other people too.
So my, my planning was strongerthan at that point.
(22:58):
Became a more seasonedentrepreneur, you know?
Yeah.
Um, at that point, I think itwas what, six or eight years in
the game at this point.
So, the first day of the launch,my nail tech didn't show up.
She did not show up.
I think I had like 25 people.
Stephanie (23:15):
Oh my gosh.
Adrienne Blanks (23:17):
And even though I am a licensed nail technician,
I was a licensed nail technicianfor, uh, a season, like a
reason, a season one, because Ineeded to make some money for a
little while.
And two, because I wanted tolearn a little bit more about
the beauty industry practically.
And I had a great opportunity todo it, but I didn't really plan
on being like a nail technician.
Stephanie (23:39):
Yeah in practice.
Adrienne Blanks (23:40):
So I ended up having to do like 25 people's
nails that day back to back.
Some things went well, somethings didn't.
Fortunately, people gave me alot of grace that day, and you
know, it wasn't necessarilytheir business or their fault
that the contractor that I hireddidn't show up.
So I had to step in and do whatI needed to do.
(24:02):
And because of that, I neededsome time to find a replacement.
I mean, she literally bailed onme the morning of.
Having to, like, do my day joband that job on the weekends
until I was able to find areplacement.
Stephanie (24:17):
How long did that take?
Adrienne Blanks (24:18):
It took, like, probably two months.
It took a while.
In 2019, I decided I had to letsomething go.
Something needed to be taken offmy plate.
I worked out a deal to kind oftransition out of the salon and
moved into more of a consultingrole over the salon, which is
(24:41):
how I started doing consultingwork.
I realized ooh, I like thisbetter.
It was more calm on my spiritand, um, Um, you know, being the
child that was very creative,that had a lot of projects going
on I'm still that adult.
And that's me.
I'm a visionary.
I have a creative mind, but Ialso have that, that left brain
(25:06):
mind.
Stephanie (25:06):
Right.
Adrienne Blanks (25:06):
You know, and I do have a lot of strategy, and
I've embraced that side ofmyself a little bit more.
I find it makes sense to me tokind of move into this space now
because I have a ton of ideas,and can I execute them all?
No, but there are some peoplethat probably need my ideas and
(25:30):
I'm happy to get paid to sharemy ideas so that you can thrive
because I can't keep all thisinformation in my mind.
It drives me crazy.
I've seen people soar with someof the knowledge that I've
shared with them, insight oradvice that I've shared with
them.
And I've been constantly told,you need to get paid for this.
Stephanie (25:52):
You certainly should.
Adrienne Blanks (25:54):
So now, I just taking all of my experience from
the, having a nail product line,having a salon, working in
economic development as abusiness counselor and an
instructor.
I've also co- founded a beautyed tech startup as well.
I was brought on to be on thatteam.
(26:15):
And that's when I startedlearning a bit about the venture
capital space, cause we wereseeking VC funds.
So that was another aspect ofentrepreneurship that I was
learning.
So I've learned about the VCstuff in that way from the
entrepreneur's perspective, andthen also getting funding in
other ways.
I funded my business throughsmall business loans.
(26:37):
I had zero interest loans.
I was able to find those sourcesof money.
Stephanie (26:42):
Girl, tell me about that.
Adrienne Blanks (26:44):
And I successfully paid them back.
Like people are scared of loansfor some reason.
I think it's because studentloans, student loans has us, we
have PTSD.
Stephanie (26:56):
If you had to sum up what it is you do, how would you
describe that in one or twosentences?
Adrienne Blanks (27:06):
I help people find clarity and strategy to
launch their business projects.
Stephanie (27:11):
I love that.
Adrienne Blanks (27:14):
Simply, that's what I do.
Stephanie (27:17):
And what do you call this business?
Adrienne Blanks (27:19):
So my business coaching and consulting business
is called Brainstorm Sesh.
And I call it that becausethat's what happens when I have
these conversations with people.
Before I formalize my consultingwork, we sit and talk and they
would tell me kind of like theirproblem and I was like, just
have a brainstorm session aboutit.
(27:41):
And then they tell me everythingand all I need to do is just
really hear it.
And, and I know what to do.
It's a combination of intuitionand practical experience that
I've had.
I've been doing this for a longtime as an entrepreneur, as a
educator and business counselorconsultant.
I've consulted lots of differenttypes of businesses from a food
(28:05):
truck to someone with a nailsalon.
There's been a lot, hundreds.
Sometimes the solutions that I'mable to think of are simple and
easy.
Some of them are a little morecomplex.
Those I find kind of fun becauseI get to stretch my mind and, do
a little bit of research andfigure out what they need to do.
But I usually can point peoplein the right direction and they
(28:26):
find some sort of success.
I help them figure that out.
Like is profit or an increase inrevenue the most important thing
right now?
You know, it could be that youneed to streamline your
workflows.
It could be that you need tofind a better manufacturer.
Their minimum order quantitiesare not that great.
Why are you still working withthem?
(28:47):
You know, so it, it depends.
And sometimes people want acookie cutter solution.
My role is to create a customsolution for them.
Stephanie (28:58):
Right?
Because it's not astraightforward path ever in
building something from theground up.
Adrienne Blanks (29:06):
And I'm a prime example.
Stephanie (29:10):
Yeah.
Um, so.
You know, I, I feel like a lotof people have these ideas of
what they want to start, whatthey want to launch, what they
want to build.
And it's easier said than doneto just tell someone to start by
(29:37):
starting.
What advice would you give tosomebody who's just, who's
trying to really hit the groundrunning, but they don't know
what to do next?
Adrienne Blanks (29:54):
I preach a lot about writing business plans,
and I know that business plansare kind of, you know, in some
people's minds, archaic andoutdated.
I disagree.
If you're trying to seek VCfunds, they don't necessarily
need to see your business plan.
But if you're trying to get asmall business loan, they
typically want to see yourbusiness plan.
(30:14):
You also really need it foryourself to literally figure out
your roadmap for the business.
What do you need to get started?
Okay, you need to go if it'smanufacturing products, you need
to go and research differentmanufacturers of that product
and find out all of your costsand you need a place to put that
(30:36):
information.
You can put that in yourbusiness plan, you know, it's
important to, you know, talk topeople who are doing what you
want to do people who are opento talk about it.
I know a lot of folks don't wantto share their trade secrets and
stuff.
And I get that too, but youknow, the way that you, uh, the
(31:00):
way that you can kind of findthat safe space to ask those
questions is to go to the smallbusiness administration in your,
in your area, the chamber ofcommerce in your area.
And there's all kinds of chamberof commerce.
There's the Black chamber ofcommerce, the Latino chamber of
commerce, the Women's chamber ofcommerce.
And they're out there and youcan go to those, those, you can
(31:21):
sign up for their mailing listand know when they have their,
their workshops and classes.
You can start out with the freeones, right?
But at some point you're gonnahave to put some skin in the
game.
You're gonna have to pay for aclass or pay for a coach, or pay
to go to a conference orsomething so that you can get
more information.
(31:42):
I think info gathering is reallygood in the beginning.
And we got YouTube as well.
You can...
Stephanie (31:48):
Info gathering is good, period.
No matter where you are.
Adrienne Blanks (31:52):
I'm constantly info gathering.
I was talking to you earlierabout my audible library.
I've got 12 badges.
I'm constantly listening tothese books, or ordered a book
from Amazon, or something.
I'm constantly learning, I mighthave a little bit of information
overload, but that's anotherstory.
I think point planning,planning, and I didn't, and I
was one of those people when Ifirst started out, cause again,
(32:15):
I'm a creative first, a creativemind first.
I just wanted to make.
I just wanted to create andmake.
I was forced to become more of astrategist, become more of a
business planner.
I was forced to embrace thenumbers.
Somebody who did not likenumbers.
(32:36):
Someone who intentionallymajored in a major that had
nothing to do with numbers.
So I didn't have to do...
Stephanie (32:42):
You don't want to avoid it.
Adrienne Blanks (32:44):
And guess what I ended up having to do?
Stephanie (32:46):
What was that?
Adrienne Blanks (32:48):
When I became a small business counselor, I had
to teach entrepreneurialfinance.
Stephanie (32:58):
Yeah, that's way on the opposite end of the spectrum
Adrienne Blanks (33:02):
Completely.
I did not and I was so nervousand intimidated.
I was like, what if someone hasa question that is about math,
and I got to answer it.
You know what I mean?
I did not want to teach it, butI needed a job.
You know, once I got my mindright, that job was a strategic
part of my plan because I'mlike, entrepreneurship is my
thing now.
And working in this role, notonly do I get to learn by
(33:25):
teaching others.
And God is like, yeah, so yougotta wrap your mind around this
money.
You gotta wrap your mind aroundthese finances.
You can't be scared of it.
And that's when I reallystarted, um, diving deep into
learning more about profit andloss statements, cash flow
statements, balance sheets, allthat kind of stuff, things that
(33:47):
I avoided.
I was even able to avoid allthat in graduate school.
I didn't even have to do allthat in grad school.
I know a lot of entrepreneurs,especially the creatives, and I
love creatives for this reason,because we try to avoid stuff.
We want to focus on making andcreating and it's like, all
right, but if you want to makemoney, you gotta make yourself
(34:08):
learn about, um, you know,financial statements and
documents.
Stephanie (34:14):
Most definitely.
And then you also have to have aplan, because how are you
supposed to move forward withouta plan?
Got it.
Like, you're just going to bestagnant if you're just doing.
Adrienne Blanks (34:24):
Yeah, and then you get caught up in that, that
hustle mindset and that grindculture, and that doesn't do
anything but make you end uphaving to work and burn out days
a week with three weeks and burnout and you're irritable.
And I'm like, that's just me,but...
Stephanie (34:41):
But it's a real case scenario for a lot of people,
unfortunately.
Adrienne Blanks (34:47):
Yeah.
So I encourage entrepreneursemphasis on creatives or
creative minded people toembrace the numbers and embrace
the planning process.
And if you have a hard time withthat, come talk to me.
My goal is to get people to,mindfully business plan.
(35:12):
So I call what I do mindfulbusiness planning, because I
want people to consider what isgoing on in their life right
now, think about their vision,think about how they feel in
their mind, their body and theirspirit.
I like to take that holisticapproach and we really think
about what's going on, thinkabout your timeline and you
(35:37):
know, we come up with arealistic plan.
Sometimes that realistic plan isnot what they want to hear, but
it is the best strategy so thatthey can still have a business
10 years from now.
Stephanie (35:51):
I love that.
And mindful business planning isso important because, you know,
everything looks and seems sofast paced.
What we see on social media,what we see across media
channels, period, when they'retalking about success in
(36:12):
business, success in thesebrands or whatever, it seems
like it happened overnight.
But, we do need to set realisticexpectations and pace ourselves
for this journey.
Because...
Adrienne Blanks (36:30):
It's a journey.
Stephanie (36:31):
Yeah.
Adrienne Blanks (36:31):
It's a journey.
It's a rollercoaster ride.
It's everything.
I mean, I don't have...
I didn't...
I wasn't fortunate enough tohave the, the linear path with
anything that I've done, whichI've had to embrace that.
It's not that I wasn't smartenough or anything, it is just I
was put on a path that was notcompletely laid out.
(36:53):
Which is interesting that yourpodcast is called Diaries of a
Modern Trailblazer, because itis.
It's trailblazing, it's blazingyour own trail, and I've
literally had to do that.
So I'm here for those who are,who are blazing their own trail
and they need a little support.
Stephanie (37:10):
Exactly.
Adrienne Blanks (37:11):
It is not easy.
I did a lot of it by myself.
Stephanie (37:14):
Yeah.
I mean, but that's the beauty oflife.
It's not a linear path, period.
But anyway, you were talkingabout getting in touch with you.
How do people get in touch withyou?
Adrienne Blanks (37:26):
So you can find me at adrianblanks.
com or brainstormsesh.
com.
They both lead to me.
Stephanie (37:34):
Amazing.
I think this is a goodtransition to talk about venture
capital since you were talkingabout finances and all that.
I was really excited to see thatyou were participating in
Backstage Capital's Catalystcohort.
But first off, give us somecontext about Backstage Capital
(37:55):
and, this program you've beenparticipating in.
Adrienne Blanks (37:58):
Yeah, so Backstage Capital is a, venture
firm that was started by ArlanHamilton.
She provides venture capital forfounders that are under
represented, and she has createda apprenticeship program called
Backstage Catalyst.
(38:19):
And that is a program that I amin and backstage catalyst is, a
program for underestimated,under invested, under
represented mostly BIPOC whoare, interested in learning more
about venture capital, becomingeither a venture capitalist,
becoming an angel investor, orjust simply want to just learn
(38:41):
more about the space.
Maybe you just want to work fora firm and you don't have like
that traditional background.
And I definitely don't have thattraditional background.
I didn't go to business school,like formal business school like
that.
But I've learned a lot aboutseeking just funding in general,
whether it's through smallbusiness loans or, VC funds or
angel funds.
(39:02):
I've sought VC funds fromanother startup that I was a
part of.
And I wanted to learn throughthat experience where we were
seeking VC funds.
This was before backstagecapital existed, or maybe the
type of business that we hadwasn't a part of backstage is
like investment thesis at thetime.
(39:22):
This was before Fearless Fundhad their fund.
What we had was like a ed techstartup.
At the time, it wasn't a lot ofpeople investing in ed tech,
because ed tech, it's not ashigh growth as like somebody
creating an app like Uber orsomething like that.
So we were more of an impacttype of, um, company.
So we were seeking investmentfrom impact investors, but some
(39:44):
of them wanted to focus more onlike agricultural sustainability
and things like that.
So we just had a hard time, but,uh...
Stephanie (39:54):
That world of venture capital is very interesting
because the funds, they, theyobviously cater towards specific
types of businesses that theywant to invest in and have that
knowledge around.
So there's so many out there.
Adrienne Blanks (40:15):
So there's so many out there, but those of us
getting funded and by us, Imean, you know, Black Folks,
Women, People of Color, Latinx,just everybody who's basically
not a White Male.
Stephanie (40:25):
Yeah.
Adrienne Blanks (40:26):
You know, we've had a hard time, seeking those
funds.
I mean, it's like less than 2percent, especially Women, Women
of Color, Black Women.
Latino W omen, we're not reallygetting those funds.
And, it's for a number ofreasons.
One of those reasons is that outof all the VC firms that are out
there, even the people who workfor the firms, the operators of
(40:49):
those firms, we're not reallyrepresented right there.
So they don't have to thinkabout our businesses in that
way, because, I mean, why?
You know.
And then the other thing is,some of us may not be ready.
You know, we might not beinvestor ready yet to get those
funds.
And some of us are not investorready because, the knowledge is
(41:13):
not being shared.
So my goal of being in thisprogram in the Backstage
Catalyst program is to learnmore about how I can contribute
to creating more equitableopportunities for entrepreneurs,
especially, Women, Black Women,Women of Color, you know.
(41:34):
So we're learning a lot abouthow to structure our investment
thesis and, um, learning how toreview pitch decks and what to
look out for.
It's opening up a lot for me inmy mind, because I've been on
the other side of the table.
I've been the entrepreneur thatwas with my co founder, pitching
and being at these meetings, andthen go in and present our, you
(41:58):
know, our newly revised deck andstuff.
And then they go, well, well,it's, you gotta do this.
And it's constantly, it's likethis goalpost constantly being
moved and we're dressed up andlooking fabulous.
And our, our deck is likegorgeous.
And then you see these otherguys with like hoodies on and
they got a napkin business planand then they're getting 250,
(42:21):
000.
And it's like.
That 250 is only going to be adrop in the bucket for them.
You know, 250 can do for us,like we can, we can thrive.
And so, I believe that Iexperienced all this so that I
can be in this position now tofigure out a way to change it.
(42:42):
Do I have that answer right now?
No.
The way that I'm contributing tothis space is through the
consulting and coaching workthat I'm doing now, to help
these entrepreneurs become moreinvestor ready, even in the
early stages.
So that they can at least knowwhat they're working toward.
To also educate them to let themknow that VC isn't the only
(43:05):
route to go.
You don't have to do that.
You can, you can do it anotherway.
And if you listen to me, youcan, you might not have to seek
funds from anybody.
You might be able to reallyjust...
Stephanie (43:16):
Keep all that equity.
Adrienne Blanks (43:17):
Yeah.
So, um, You know, I'm still, I'mstill kind of figuring out what
I want to do with this, but Iknow that I'm in the program for
a reason.
I'm just being a sponge, I'msoaking it all up and I am, I'm
sharing and doing my best toimplement what I'm learning so
far.
(43:38):
And you know, we'll see what Igot going on.
I'm a visionary.
I got a lot of ideas and plans,so.
Stephanie (43:43):
Yeah, that's really exciting.
And, you know, like, justhearing the type of impact that
you want to drive in this space,and the facts, the numbers
around non white males seekingfunding in the VC space is so
(44:06):
astounding.
But, yet, there are lawsuitsbeing placed against us for
trying to combat that.
I just wanted to hear yourthoughts on, you know, you
mentioned Fearless Fund, andthey're currently working
through lawsuits against them,because they're giving out, is
(44:29):
it grants to Black Women ownedbusinesses.
Adrienne Blanks (44:36):
Oh, it's so unfortunate, because I feel like
the Fearless Fund is being usedright now as an example, like a
threat, like a warning to therest of us or to the rest of the
other funds that are trying todo something similar.
It's a threat also to eventhings that are beyond, um,
(44:57):
funding sources like Fearless.
They're coming after Fearlessright now.
But they, I think they're goingto come after or attempt to,
this is trying to lay thefoundation to try to wipe out
any opportunity to fund anyentity that is supporting Black
(45:21):
and Brown folks, all the waydown to HBCUs.
And I know we're not going tohave that, but they're trying to
kind of lay this interestingfoundation down that is
incredibly insensitive.
I don't know, it's kind of nutsfor lack of a better word.
It seems insane to me, to try todo that, especially when, you
(45:46):
know, historically, the groupsthat you're going after, there's
a ceiling that they created.
Stephanie (45:53):
And Black Women represent less than 1% of VC
funding.
Adrienne Blanks (45:58):
Less than 1%
Stephanie (46:00):
Which is bizarre.
Adrienne Blanks (46:02):
So the facts are out there and it's like, why
would you even want to fightthat?
There's enough money to goaround.
It literally is.
So, there's the Fearless Fundwhere this is happening, but I
think they're also going after,Hello Alice, which, is another,
yeah, because...
Stephanie (46:20):
it's focused on women.
Adrienne Blanks (46:21):
Yeah, it's focused on women and they do
have a fund.
One of their grant programs thatfocuses on Black Women, I
believe.
Either they focus on Black Womenor it's Women of Color.
I'm not sure how they labeledit.
But, they're coming after themtoo.
And it's extremely unfortunate Ithink people just need to be
aware of what's going on andknow that it's not just about
(46:45):
these two organizations.
This can be happening to otherthings that we believe in.
Stephanie (46:52):
Yeah.
Well, outside of this industry.
Adrienne Blanks (46:56):
Something's got to change and, you know, I can't
just sit back and just let ithappen.
Stephanie (47:02):
Exactly.
Adrienne Blanks (47:03):
So, I'm happy to pivot more into this
direction that feels morepurposeful.
Stephanie (47:11):
Definitely excited to see what's on the horizon for
you.
And I just, I love thisconversation.
I love talking about this stuff.
Adrienne Blanks (47:22):
Everything that I've done, like when I look back
on everything, it's like I'vebeen able to do a lot of things
with, with, you know, radio,podcasting, TV, through, through
what I've done.
So it's like my degree, youknow, was not in vain.
Stephanie (47:39):
Exactly.
And I'm sure you'll be doingmore.
In the space, you know, as youcan, as you continue to grow up
and figure out what it is thatyou want to do.
Right?
So I like to, you know, wrap upthe podcast around reflection.
(48:03):
And one of the questions that Ihave for you, because there's
been so many transitionalmoments that you've talked
about, um, how have you changedthe most over this past year?
Adrienne Blanks (48:19):
I learned how to take my time.
This has been a change overSince 2020, I'd say slowing
down, taking my time.
Like I mentioned before, cameout the block sprinting.
I was a sprinter, you know, so Iwas used to kind of like, diving
(48:39):
in and just, you know, goingfull throttle.
Now, I sit back and I thinkabout stuff.
Sometimes I'll take three daysto sit and think about something
before I respond or, say yes.
So yeah, just taking my time.
(49:00):
That's been really important forme.
Stephanie (49:01):
Yeah.
Adrienne Blanks (49:03):
Even in the mornings You know waking up a
little bit earlier so I can havea slow morning.
Stephanie (49:07):
I'm trying to do that.
Adrienne Blanks (49:09):
I'm not the 5 a.
m.
Girl, but you know I'll I'll getup a little earlier than I
normally would so that I canliterally take my time make my
tea.
I love my tea time in themorning.
Even at night, slowing thingsdown, cutting the TV off,
turning the lights down alittle.
I have my own little turn downservice, you know?
Stephanie (49:30):
Yes.
Adrienne Blanks (49:31):
So taking my time.
Stephanie (49:34):
And also just taking your time allows you to pour
into yourself.
Adrienne Blanks (49:40):
Yes.
I know what it's like to workfrom an empty cup or a cup
that's not overflowing, and I'mnot doing that no more.
I did it before.
It's not worth it.
Stephanie (49:53):
I love to hear that.
Adrienne Blanks (49:55):
It's not worth it.
Stephanie (49:57):
In hindsight, what advice do you wish the younger
version of yourself knew?
Adrienne Blanks (50:05):
Speaking of Arlan Hamilton, she has a
podcast called, Your FirstMillion and she interviewed
Danielle Leslie, and Daniellesaid something that, that
resonated with me.
Um, and I'm going to paraphraseand probably butcher exactly
what she said, but what I gotfrom it was that I don't have to
determine my value by thesuccess or health of my business
(50:29):
and you know, for the longest I,I did.
You can apply, you can insert,you can remove the health or
success of my business and addyour job, like whatever that
thing is for you.
If somebody would have kind oflike expressed that to me when I
was younger, I, I think it wouldhave benefited me.
(50:50):
I've always been anoverachiever, always been very
ambitious and there's nothingwrong with it, but my success is
not, my value is not tied tothat.
Absolutely.
You know?
(51:14):
Thanks, Stephanie.
Stephanie (51:20):
And that's a wrap.
So own it and make moves.
One day, I want to share yourjourney on this podcast.
I know what it's like to work from an empty
(00:03):
cup or a cup that's notoverflowing, and I'm not doing
that no more.
I did it before.
It's not worth it.
Stephanie (00:13):
I am Stephanie Evans and this is Diaries of a Modern
Trailblazer.
Take note of the journey and beinspired to forge your own
amazing path.
I just want to kick it off andlearn more about who Ms.
(00:34):
Adrienne Blanks is.
So tell us more about yourbackground.
Like who you are, where you comefrom, and how you landed to
where you are today.
Adrienne Blanks (00:46):
Oh man, that's loaded.
Okay.
Well, I'm Adrienne Blanks.
A proud multi hyphenate,creative entrepreneur, a
business consultant, businesscoach, educator, friend.
I grew up in Missouri City,Texas.
It's like on the Southwest sideof Houston for those of you that
(01:06):
don't know.
And, I'm the daughter of a fineartist.
My dad is a fine artist, and hecoached track athletes,
football, basketball, lots ofdifferent sports, but his focus
was definitely on track.
Um, he has some Olympians underhis belt.
And my mother is more of theleft brain.
(01:30):
She has more of a corporatebackground, worked for a law
firm most of my life and they'reboth retired.
I am a sister.
I have an older sister and, I'man auntie.
And, you know, I am the productof my parents.
(01:50):
I literally have both that leftbrain, right brain thing going
on, and my left and right brainare constantly fighting each
other.
It's a battle that I've had towork with most of my life, which
makes me the multi hyphenatethat I am.
Stephanie (02:09):
I saw that you studied radio, television, and
film.
And seeing what it is you dotoday, what did you initially
think your career was going tolook like?
Because, you know, it's, It's alot for someone who's like 17 or
18 years old to determine whatit is they want to be when they
(02:30):
grow up.
I mean, today I'm still tryingto figure out who I want to be
and what I want to do when Igrow up.
So like, how did that start offfor you?
And like, when did things shift?
Adrienne Blanks (02:43):
So I guess at that time, I mean, let, we can,
we can go back a little bit.
I was a very creative child.
I always had a lot of creativeprojects going on at the same
time, which makes sense with mydad being an artist.
So I had access to a lot ofpaint and all kinds of different
mediums to be able to playaround with, and my mom says
(03:05):
that I constantly had projectsgoing on at the same time.
So I've always been very active.
I was in dance growing up, rantrack, played piano.
Um, didn't really get that greatat it, but I was like that girl
in coming to America where shewas like, I want to write my own
songs, produce my own songs.
I want to be a rock star.
(03:26):
I wanted to do it all.
And um, I don't know.
I used to just watch a lot ofmovies and MTV and BET and all
that.
And I was just inspired by thosemusic video shows where they
would, um, kind of show how tomake a music video.
I forget the name of the, of theshow.
It was a while ago, but...
Stephanie (03:46):
I remember that.
I don't remember the name of it.
Adrienne Blanks (03:49):
Seeing that made me want to work in radio,
TV, and film, or learn how tomake a music video or, um, be on
the radio, create a little radioshow or something.
And of course, this was allbefore podcasts and all the
access that we now have to, tomedia.
(04:09):
And producing things on our ownand yeah, I just decided that it
sounded fun and I wanted tolearn how to write a TV show or
make a, make a music video or belike Oprah, you know, be like
Oprah, become a VJ.
My, my imagination was wild.
(04:32):
So I just thought, okay, well,I'll learn how to do that.
And that's how I ended upbecoming a radio, TV and film
major.
And I'm a little superficial,but.
It's just, that's what it was.
Stephanie (04:44):
And with that, what did you decide to do afterwards?
Adrienne Blanks (04:49):
So when I graduated, I did not get picked
up by like a agent or anythinglike that.
I didn't really know what I wasgoing to do.
I ended up teaching, substituteteaching, and I worked on the
executive floor.
It was at Houston CommunityCollege and I ended up getting
to know a lot of the executiveleadership of HCC.
So I was working with the thewoman who was like the director
(05:14):
of communications.
I was actually a receptionistthere and they got to know me
and, you know, would ask mequestions like,"Why are you a
receptionist?" I'm like,"Oh,it's just a temporary job." And
then they gave me opportunitiesto kind of work, uh, with the
woman who was over PR and thingslike that.
And that was when I started, um,trying to put a plan together so
(05:36):
I could move to New York.
I knew I wanted to get to NewYork at some point, and I pretty
sure I wanted to get to New Yorkso that I could work for MTV
and...
Stephanie (05:45):
Why not?
Adrienne Blanks (05:46):
Yeah, because why not?
And, um, I told them that.
And so the lady who was over thecommunication, she was like,
okay, well, you, you can work onsome projects that we have.
So I would help her write likepress releases, or I would go
with her to different pressrelated things.
And they were just kind ofgetting me out there and, um,
(06:07):
letting me explore careeropportunities.
And then I saved up what Ithought was a bunch of money
and, decided to buy a one wayticket and move to New York, um,
so that I could just pursue somedreams.
You know, I just wanted to try,just give, give things a try.
Stephanie (06:30):
And that's what it takes to be bold enough to
pursue that dream.
A one way ticket to New YorkCity is a drastic change from
where you come from.
Adrienne Blanks (06:46):
Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking.
I wasn't being realistic, but Ithink that's what made things
work for me is that I didn'treally know.
And as much as people warned me,I was kind of like, well, I'm
got to figure it out, and I did,but, um, there was some painful
moments though.
Um, some, some interestinglessons I had to learn, but it's
(07:07):
all good.
The, the change was— I've beento New York a few times.
I had friends that lived therealready.
So, um, it wasn't a complete, acomplete shock, but it, it was
like, I think the second weekthat I was there, um, I think
someone had gotten shot orsomething and I heard the
(07:31):
gunshots, but I don't think Ihad really heard gunshots like
that outside of like a trackmeet.
Stephanie (07:35):
Yeah.
Adrienne Blanks (07:36):
And then we, I stepped outside, maybe.
A few minutes later, 30 minuteslater, and I see a body on the
ground, there's ambulance andstuff.
So that was when it hit me whereI was like, oh, shoot.
Um, I'm like in New York, I'maway from my family.
Somebody just got shot andthat's when it got real.
(08:01):
I think it would get real foranybody who, you know, didn't
really expect that to happenthat day.
So, um, so there was, it wasthat type of, um, adjustment
there.
And then the other adjustmentwas just really kind of, um,
(08:22):
wrapping my head around the factthat this is an expensive city
and I gotta, I gotta figure thisout.
I gotta figure this out.
I gotta make sure that I haveenough money to do what I need
to do, I need to kind of get aplan together.
Um, cause my no plan plan wasn'tgoing to work for too much
longer.
And yeah, so I just focused onjust working.
(08:43):
So I was kind of doing a lot oftemp jobs and stuff until I
actually got like my first airquote, real job.
And my mom really, uh,emphasized me getting a real job
and by a real job, I mean a jobwith benefits.
Steady income and not my liketemp jobs that I was doing so
(09:04):
that I could like try to, Idon't know, get some media
opportunity.
I don't know.
I don't really know what I waslooking for at the time, but I
had a vision and I was trying tomake it happen.
Stephanie (09:20):
How did you get into nail care and decide that this
is something that is worthpursuing?
Adrienne Blanks (09:29):
Well, I've always loved getting my nails
done.
So growing up, I couldn't reallywear makeup like in middle
school and stuff.
But my mom would let me go getmy nails done.
And so I would get like crazydesigns on my nails and I get
them long and all kinds ofstuff.
And it was my way of expressingmyself until I was like a
teenager to where I couldactually like wear makeup and
(09:50):
stuff like the other girls.
So I would always do, I'vealways done my own nails.
Um, and I found it relaxing.
Um, so, and, and because NewYork was expensive, that was one
of those expenses that I had tocut out, um, as I was kind of
transitioning and adjusting tothe city.
So I would do my own nails and,you know, I'd have, I would do
(10:12):
my friend's nails and not formoney, just cause I wanted to,
it was a fun way to kind of bondwith a friend and drink wine.
Um, you know, talk about what'sgoing on in life and, you know,
just kind of hang out.
Um, so that's something that Iwould do like maybe on the
(10:34):
evenings or weekends.
And yeah, I mean, I, I ended upworking at psychology press, the
New York times, and I worked atthe New York times and I thought
I had made it.
I was like, yay, dream job.
It's great.
It helped me.
Awesome.
And then, uh, they let us go.
So...
Stephanie (10:54):
What were you doing over there at the New York
Times?
Adrienne Blanks (10:56):
I was doing advertising sales.
Stephanie (10:58):
Okay.
Adrienne Blanks (10:59):
And I did not like it, but I liked working for
the New York Times.
It felt like a dream job.
I mean, even just to say it, itjust happened on my resume and
it was aligned with like mydegree, you know?
I had high hopes with that job.
And then it was like, strippedaway from me.
Stephanie (11:17):
And it was a real job too!
Adrienne Blanks (11:18):
It was a real job.
Like I finally got a real job,like my mama told me to.
And, and, um, it was, it washard.
Advertising sales was hard,especially the, the kind of
accounts that I had.
So there was a little bit ofrelief when I got laid off, but
then it was like, uh, uh, ohshit too, because this city is
(11:42):
expensive.
Stephanie (11:42):
Right?
How are these bills going to getpaid?
Adrienne Blanks (11:44):
How am I going to pay these bills?
So it was during that layoffwhere I kind of, um, to just
bring some peace to myself, Iwould do my nails, doing my
nails kind of forced me to beable to sit still and just kind
of focus and think, and I woulddo friends nails and then they
knew I was unemployed so theywould pay me.
(12:06):
Um, and I had, uh, would jokewith them like, yeah, I'm gonna
start me a business and call it,call it, get your nails did.
And it was just kind of a joke.
I wasn't even really thinking ofdoing that.
So maybe a year later, um,started working again.
(12:27):
Some random fashion job that Ihad, um, in the middle of the
night while I was sleeping.
I kind of woke up in the middleof the night, and I had this,
you know, let's just say it wasGod that woke me up and told me
to purchase getyournailsdid.
com and then grab all the socialmedia handles for it.
(12:49):
And, you know, I'm listening,I'm like, am I going to start a
nail polish line?
Like, yeah, I'm like, how, how,how am I going to do this?
So I've always loved, you know,I've always loved beauty
products.
I've always loved gettinggroomed and, you know, get my
hair done.
Nails done, all that stuff.
Get my nails did.
(13:10):
But, um, I never thought that Iwould start a nail polish line.
Nail polish chose me.
I didn't really choose it.
And once I took that leap, Ipurchased the domain, then I had
to kind of get going.
Stephanie (13:27):
Right?
It's like, okay, this ishappening.
It's real.
Adrienne Blanks (13:31):
Yeah, it's real.
So I didn't, I didn't initiallystart out, um, with the products
just yet.
I was just kind of like beingthis nail tech at, pop up shops.
I forget one part.
I'm forgetting one thing.
The biggest thing during thisunemployment season, I actually
(13:52):
did file for unemployment in NewYork state and I, I actually
read the book that came with thewhole, um, the paperwork.
And I read that if you, um, endup enrolling in like a trade
school or something like that,it'll extend your unemployment.
And I was trying to figure outwhat I was going to do after I
was done with, you know,advertising at The Times.
(14:15):
And I didn't really know whatelse I wanted to do.
And so I was like, well, I'mgonna go to beauty school.
I'll learn a trade that way.
I'll, I'll always have a job.
Like I'll always be able to dosome nails if I want to.
Um, and ended up having thisopportunity to go to nail school
for free, by talking to thedirector about my work
(14:39):
experience, my experienceworking in, you know, media, and
just other things that I haddone and they needed help with
their social media presence andthings like that.
Then they wanted to have a blogfor their school and stuff, so I
helped them with that and inexchange, I went to nail school
(15:00):
and I got my Nail Tech license.
First just started out as a nailtech.
A friend of mine, she had atrunk show, um, which we now
know is like pop up shops.
And she asked me, she was like,"Hey, can you have a booth at my
trunk show and offer, you know,complimentary manicures or
(15:21):
whatever." And I was like, okay.
So I grabbed up all the nailpolish that I had.
I asked my friends for theirnail polishes.
Mm-Hmm.
I made it look cute at my littletable and I was doing like mini
manicures.
I might've charged$5 for them.
I can't really remember, butpeople either tipped me or paid
(15:41):
me something.
And I thought it was incrediblyinteresting that people
literally kept asking me if thenail polishes that I had at the
table were mine, like if theywere my line and I thought they
were crazy because I'm like,don't you clearly see that this
says OPI, it says Essie, it sayswhatever, no, these are not my
(16:05):
nail polishes.
They're like, Oh, I thought thiswas yours.
And I was like, really, I'mreally supposed to start my own
nail polish line?
Like, I mean, I don't, this issurprising me.
Yeah.
And so it was, it was me kind ofgetting this, I don't know,
divine message.
And actual people thinking thatthis big time nail polish brand
(16:31):
was mine.
Brands that are already in thebeauty store.
It was nuts to me.
So I just started doing researchon manufacturing and then that's
kind of where it got started.
Stephanie (16:45):
That's really, really cool.
And one of the things that, youknow, caught my attention as you
were talking about it was reallyhow you were able to utilize
your skill set that you learn.
Like what you were learning inschool and what you were doing
straight out of undergrad, likethat PR skill set helped you
(17:10):
pivot to learn a new skill setthat would further traject as an
entrepreneur in creating yourown nail brand.
You've got some really coolpress features out there.
Just throw out a few of them sopeople know.
Adrienne Blanks (17:27):
Yeah.
So I mean, Essence, Harper'sBazaar, USA Today.
Um, I'm missing some Women'sHealth.
There was a lot.
I, I, I didn't, I didn't knowthat it was going to happen that
fast and, and not only that I,I, on the inside, I felt a
(17:51):
little unprepared, but then Ihad to get it together, shake
off that, that feeling and justlean into it.
I was very surprised by that,even though I knew it was going
to happen.
I just didn't know it was goingto happen that fast.
Stephanie (18:07):
Right.
You always got to be prepared toreceive those blessings.
Adrienne Blanks (18:11):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Stephanie (18:14):
And with that, what was the biggest obstacle you
encountered?
Adrienne Blanks (18:21):
So, internal and external obstacles.
I'll be transparent.
Internally, was me believingthat it was happening and, um,
processing that.
Not that I didn't believe inmyself, I just, as it was
happening, I, sometimes I felt alittle unprepared, you know, I
(18:45):
didn't know if I was like sayingthe right things at certain
meetings that were happening.
Um, so there was that part.
Sometimes I didn't know if I wasunderstanding exactly what they
were telling me, which is why Itried to keep myself educated a
lot, taking, you know, whateverfree business classes I could
take, um, working with the, uh,SBA, things like that, so I,
(19:10):
whenever I felt those littleinsecurities, then that's when I
would say, okay, let me go talkto somebody at the local
entrepreneurship center orwhatever so that I don't feel
this, um, like insecurityanymore.
Stephanie (19:23):
Yeah.
Adrienne Blanks (19:24):
So that was like an internal kind of
challenge.
And then external with money.
You know, it is not just becauseyou do your first run and you,
you know, saved up some money orwhatever to get your first, um,
production run going, you stillgot to have some more money to
do other things.
So it was me constantly tryingto figure out how to fund this
(19:46):
thing.
Put some sort of presentationtogether to pitch to whoever I
needed to just try to find somemoney.
Stephanie (19:55):
Yeah.
Cause there's, there's alwaysthe operational costs that
people don't see happening inthe back end.
Adrienne Blanks (20:04):
Like all the way down to like post it notes,
tape like these things that youdon't think of.
Stephanie (20:11):
And it all adds up, it's just like, how did I end up
spending this much money thismonth?
But yeah, I know, earlier in theconversation, when you were
talking about what you're doingtoday, you didn't mention that
you're doing Get Your Nails Did.
(20:31):
You're doing something else.
How did you make that decisionthat it was time to move on and
move forward and focus onsomething different?
What was the pivot?
Adrienne Blanks (20:43):
The same way the decision was made for me to
do it, it happened the same wayfor me to transition out of it,
except that I didn't really wantto transition out of it.
And at the same time I did.
I was burnt out.
Like I had been doing this, mycareer kind of in just nails and
beauty started in about 2010,the line starting in 2012, it
(21:06):
got real in like 2014 and thenfrom about 2014 to 2020, it was
on and popping, but I, I cameout the block sprinting.
Right.
Like...
Stephanie (21:19):
And that's quite some time.
Adrienne Blanks (21:20):
Yeah.
Stephanie (21:21):
At one point, didn't you have a physical presence?
Like you had an actual, nailsalon.
Adrienne Blanks (21:28):
Yes, I did.
So I had a salon.
Um, it was, uh, it was kind oflike a pop up salon.
It was only open on theweekends, Friday through Sunday.
And it was a partnership with,uh, a boutique in Brooklyn.
And, um, it was, that waspretty, that was really cool.
So for that partnership startedout with me.
(21:50):
Uh, creating like a doublebranded, uh, collection with
them.
And it was their own collection.
The name of the store is MarcheRue Dix.
Um, really great store in CrownHeights, Brooklyn.
So we started out, I believe wedid a collection of 15 colors
that were going to beexclusively sold in their store
(22:12):
and that did well.
And then the owner came to meand wanted to talk to me about
having a.
A salon in her store that Iwould run.
And, we worked out that deal andrelationship, did that, and the
first day that the salonlaunched.
(22:34):
I mean, I think I even plannedthe salon.
My business plan for the salonwas probably even stronger and
better than the product line.
Because one, I knew more too, atthat point, I had a job where I
was teaching business planwriting.
So not only was I learningstuff, I learned, and then I
taught other people too.
So my, my planning was strongerthan at that point.
(22:58):
Became a more seasonedentrepreneur, you know?
Yeah.
Um, at that point, I think itwas what, six or eight years in
the game at this point.
So, the first day of the launch,my nail tech didn't show up.
She did not show up.
I think I had like 25 people.
Stephanie (23:15):
Oh my gosh.
Adrienne Blanks (23:17):
And even though I am a licensed nail technician,
I was a licensed nail technicianfor, uh, a season, like a
reason, a season one, because Ineeded to make some money for a
little while.
And two, because I wanted tolearn a little bit more about
the beauty industry practically.
And I had a great opportunity todo it, but I didn't really plan
on being like a nail technician.
Stephanie (23:39):
Yeah in practice.
Adrienne Blanks (23:40):
So I ended up having to do like 25 people's
nails that day back to back.
Some things went well, somethings didn't.
Fortunately, people gave me alot of grace that day, and you
know, it wasn't necessarilytheir business or their fault
that the contractor that I hireddidn't show up.
So I had to step in and do whatI needed to do.
(24:02):
And because of that, I neededsome time to find a replacement.
I mean, she literally bailed onme the morning of.
Having to, like, do my day joband that job on the weekends
until I was able to find areplacement.
Stephanie (24:17):
How long did that take?
Adrienne Blanks (24:18):
It took, like, probably two months.
It took a while.
In 2019, I decided I had to letsomething go.
Something needed to be taken offmy plate.
I worked out a deal to kind oftransition out of the salon and
moved into more of a consultingrole over the salon, which is
(24:41):
how I started doing consultingwork.
I realized ooh, I like thisbetter.
It was more calm on my spiritand, um, Um, you know, being the
child that was very creative,that had a lot of projects going
on I'm still that adult.
And that's me.
I'm a visionary.
I have a creative mind, but Ialso have that, that left brain
(25:06):
mind.
Stephanie (25:06):
Right.
Adrienne Blanks (25:06):
You know, and I do have a lot of strategy, and
I've embraced that side ofmyself a little bit more.
I find it makes sense to me tokind of move into this space now
because I have a ton of ideas,and can I execute them all?
No, but there are some peoplethat probably need my ideas and
(25:30):
I'm happy to get paid to sharemy ideas so that you can thrive
because I can't keep all thisinformation in my mind.
It drives me crazy.
I've seen people soar with someof the knowledge that I've
shared with them, insight oradvice that I've shared with
them.
And I've been constantly told,you need to get paid for this.
Stephanie (25:52):
You certainly should.
Adrienne Blanks (25:54):
So now, I just taking all of my experience from
the, having a nail product line,having a salon, working in
economic development as abusiness counselor and an
instructor.
I've also co- founded a beautyed tech startup as well.
I was brought on to be on thatteam.
(26:15):
And that's when I startedlearning a bit about the venture
capital space, cause we wereseeking VC funds.
So that was another aspect ofentrepreneurship that I was
learning.
So I've learned about the VCstuff in that way from the
entrepreneur's perspective, andthen also getting funding in
other ways.
I funded my business throughsmall business loans.
(26:37):
I had zero interest loans.
I was able to find those sourcesof money.
Stephanie (26:42):
Girl, tell me about that.
Adrienne Blanks (26:44):
And I successfully paid them back.
Like people are scared of loansfor some reason.
I think it's because studentloans, student loans has us, we
have PTSD.
Stephanie (26:56):
If you had to sum up what it is you do, how would you
describe that in one or twosentences?
Adrienne Blanks (27:06):
I help people find clarity and strategy to
launch their business projects.
Stephanie (27:11):
I love that.
Adrienne Blanks (27:14):
Simply, that's what I do.
Stephanie (27:17):
And what do you call this business?
Adrienne Blanks (27:19):
So my business coaching and consulting business
is called Brainstorm Sesh.
And I call it that becausethat's what happens when I have
these conversations with people.
Before I formalize my consultingwork, we sit and talk and they
would tell me kind of like theirproblem and I was like, just
have a brainstorm session aboutit.
(27:41):
And then they tell me everythingand all I need to do is just
really hear it.
And, and I know what to do.
It's a combination of intuitionand practical experience that
I've had.
I've been doing this for a longtime as an entrepreneur, as a
educator and business counselorconsultant.
I've consulted lots of differenttypes of businesses from a food
(28:05):
truck to someone with a nailsalon.
There's been a lot, hundreds.
Sometimes the solutions that I'mable to think of are simple and
easy.
Some of them are a little morecomplex.
Those I find kind of fun becauseI get to stretch my mind and, do
a little bit of research andfigure out what they need to do.
But I usually can point peoplein the right direction and they
(28:26):
find some sort of success.
I help them figure that out.
Like is profit or an increase inrevenue the most important thing
right now?
You know, it could be that youneed to streamline your
workflows.
It could be that you need tofind a better manufacturer.
Their minimum order quantitiesare not that great.
Why are you still working withthem?
(28:47):
You know, so it, it depends.
And sometimes people want acookie cutter solution.
My role is to create a customsolution for them.
Stephanie (28:58):
Right?
Because it's not astraightforward path ever in
building something from theground up.
Adrienne Blanks (29:06):
And I'm a prime example.
Stephanie (29:10):
Yeah.
Um, so.
You know, I, I feel like a lotof people have these ideas of
what they want to start, whatthey want to launch, what they
want to build.
And it's easier said than doneto just tell someone to start by
(29:37):
starting.
What advice would you give tosomebody who's just, who's
trying to really hit the groundrunning, but they don't know
what to do next?
Adrienne Blanks (29:54):
I preach a lot about writing business plans,
and I know that business plansare kind of, you know, in some
people's minds, archaic andoutdated.
I disagree.
If you're trying to seek VCfunds, they don't necessarily
need to see your business plan.
But if you're trying to get asmall business loan, they
typically want to see yourbusiness plan.
(30:14):
You also really need it foryourself to literally figure out
your roadmap for the business.
What do you need to get started?
Okay, you need to go if it'smanufacturing products, you need
to go and research differentmanufacturers of that product
and find out all of your costsand you need a place to put that
(30:36):
information.
You can put that in yourbusiness plan, you know, it's
important to, you know, talk topeople who are doing what you
want to do people who are opento talk about it.
I know a lot of folks don't wantto share their trade secrets and
stuff.
And I get that too, but youknow, the way that you, uh, the
(31:00):
way that you can kind of findthat safe space to ask those
questions is to go to the smallbusiness administration in your,
in your area, the chamber ofcommerce in your area.
And there's all kinds of chamberof commerce.
There's the Black chamber ofcommerce, the Latino chamber of
commerce, the Women's chamber ofcommerce.
And they're out there and youcan go to those, those, you can
(31:21):
sign up for their mailing listand know when they have their,
their workshops and classes.
You can start out with the freeones, right?
But at some point you're gonnahave to put some skin in the
game.
You're gonna have to pay for aclass or pay for a coach, or pay
to go to a conference orsomething so that you can get
more information.
(31:42):
I think info gathering is reallygood in the beginning.
And we got YouTube as well.
You can...
Stephanie (31:48):
Info gathering is good, period.
No matter where you are.
Adrienne Blanks (31:52):
I'm constantly info gathering.
I was talking to you earlierabout my audible library.
I've got 12 badges.
I'm constantly listening tothese books, or ordered a book
from Amazon, or something.
I'm constantly learning, I mighthave a little bit of information
overload, but that's anotherstory.
I think point planning,planning, and I didn't, and I
was one of those people when Ifirst started out, cause again,
(32:15):
I'm a creative first, a creativemind first.
I just wanted to make.
I just wanted to create andmake.
I was forced to become more of astrategist, become more of a
business planner.
I was forced to embrace thenumbers.
Somebody who did not likenumbers.
(32:36):
Someone who intentionallymajored in a major that had
nothing to do with numbers.
So I didn't have to do...
Stephanie (32:42):
You don't want to avoid it.
Adrienne Blanks (32:44):
And guess what I ended up having to do?
Stephanie (32:46):
What was that?
Adrienne Blanks (32:48):
When I became a small business counselor, I had
to teach entrepreneurialfinance.
Stephanie (32:58):
Yeah, that's way on the opposite end of the spectrum
Adrienne Blanks (33:02):
Completely.
I did not and I was so nervousand intimidated.
I was like, what if someone hasa question that is about math,
and I got to answer it.
You know what I mean?
I did not want to teach it, butI needed a job.
You know, once I got my mindright, that job was a strategic
part of my plan because I'mlike, entrepreneurship is my
thing now.
And working in this role, notonly do I get to learn by
(33:25):
teaching others.
And God is like, yeah, so yougotta wrap your mind around this
money.
You gotta wrap your mind aroundthese finances.
You can't be scared of it.
And that's when I reallystarted, um, diving deep into
learning more about profit andloss statements, cash flow
statements, balance sheets, allthat kind of stuff, things that
(33:47):
I avoided.
I was even able to avoid allthat in graduate school.
I didn't even have to do allthat in grad school.
I know a lot of entrepreneurs,especially the creatives, and I
love creatives for this reason,because we try to avoid stuff.
We want to focus on making andcreating and it's like, all
right, but if you want to makemoney, you gotta make yourself
(34:08):
learn about, um, you know,financial statements and
documents.
Stephanie (34:14):
Most definitely.
And then you also have to have aplan, because how are you
supposed to move forward withouta plan?
Got it.
Like, you're just going to bestagnant if you're just doing.
Adrienne Blanks (34:24):
Yeah, and then you get caught up in that, that
hustle mindset and that grindculture, and that doesn't do
anything but make you end uphaving to work and burn out days
a week with three weeks and burnout and you're irritable.
And I'm like, that's just me,but...
Stephanie (34:41):
But it's a real case scenario for a lot of people,
unfortunately.
Adrienne Blanks (34:47):
Yeah.
So I encourage entrepreneursemphasis on creatives or
creative minded people toembrace the numbers and embrace
the planning process.
And if you have a hard time withthat, come talk to me.
My goal is to get people to,mindfully business plan.
(35:12):
So I call what I do mindfulbusiness planning, because I
want people to consider what isgoing on in their life right
now, think about their vision,think about how they feel in
their mind, their body and theirspirit.
I like to take that holisticapproach and we really think
about what's going on, thinkabout your timeline and you
(35:37):
know, we come up with arealistic plan.
Sometimes that realistic plan isnot what they want to hear, but
it is the best strategy so thatthey can still have a business
10 years from now.
Stephanie (35:51):
I love that.
And mindful business planning isso important because, you know,
everything looks and seems sofast paced.
What we see on social media,what we see across media
channels, period, when they'retalking about success in
(36:12):
business, success in thesebrands or whatever, it seems
like it happened overnight.
But, we do need to set realisticexpectations and pace ourselves
for this journey.
Because...
Adrienne Blanks (36:30):
It's a journey.
Stephanie (36:31):
Yeah.
Adrienne Blanks (36:31):
It's a journey.
It's a rollercoaster ride.
It's everything.
I mean, I don't have...
I didn't...
I wasn't fortunate enough tohave the, the linear path with
anything that I've done, whichI've had to embrace that.
It's not that I wasn't smartenough or anything, it is just I
was put on a path that was notcompletely laid out.
(36:53):
Which is interesting that yourpodcast is called Diaries of a
Modern Trailblazer, because itis.
It's trailblazing, it's blazingyour own trail, and I've
literally had to do that.
So I'm here for those who are,who are blazing their own trail
and they need a little support.
Stephanie (37:10):
Exactly.
Adrienne Blanks (37:11):
It is not easy.
I did a lot of it by myself.
Stephanie (37:14):
Yeah.
I mean, but that's the beauty oflife.
It's not a linear path, period.
But anyway, you were talkingabout getting in touch with you.
How do people get in touch withyou?
Adrienne Blanks (37:26):
So you can find me at adrianblanks.
com or brainstormsesh.
com.
They both lead to me.
Stephanie (37:34):
Amazing.
I think this is a goodtransition to talk about venture
capital since you were talkingabout finances and all that.
I was really excited to see thatyou were participating in
Backstage Capital's Catalystcohort.
But first off, give us somecontext about Backstage Capital
(37:55):
and, this program you've beenparticipating in.
Adrienne Blanks (37:58):
Yeah, so Backstage Capital is a, venture
firm that was started by ArlanHamilton.
She provides venture capital forfounders that are under
represented, and she has createda apprenticeship program called
Backstage Catalyst.
(38:19):
And that is a program that I amin and backstage catalyst is, a
program for underestimated,under invested, under
represented mostly BIPOC whoare, interested in learning more
about venture capital, becomingeither a venture capitalist,
becoming an angel investor, orjust simply want to just learn
(38:41):
more about the space.
Maybe you just want to work fora firm and you don't have like
that traditional background.
And I definitely don't have thattraditional background.
I didn't go to business school,like formal business school like
that.
But I've learned a lot aboutseeking just funding in general,
whether it's through smallbusiness loans or, VC funds or
angel funds.
(39:02):
I've sought VC funds fromanother startup that I was a
part of.
And I wanted to learn throughthat experience where we were
seeking VC funds.
This was before backstagecapital existed, or maybe the
type of business that we hadwasn't a part of backstage is
like investment thesis at thetime.
(39:22):
This was before Fearless Fundhad their fund.
What we had was like a ed techstartup.
At the time, it wasn't a lot ofpeople investing in ed tech,
because ed tech, it's not ashigh growth as like somebody
creating an app like Uber orsomething like that.
So we were more of an impacttype of, um, company.
So we were seeking investmentfrom impact investors, but some
(39:44):
of them wanted to focus more onlike agricultural sustainability
and things like that.
So we just had a hard time, but,uh...
Stephanie (39:54):
That world of venture capital is very interesting
because the funds, they, theyobviously cater towards specific
types of businesses that theywant to invest in and have that
knowledge around.
So there's so many out there.
Adrienne Blanks (40:15):
So there's so many out there, but those of us
getting funded and by us, Imean, you know, Black Folks,
Women, People of Color, Latinx,just everybody who's basically
not a White Male.
Stephanie (40:25):
Yeah.
Adrienne Blanks (40:26):
You know, we've had a hard time, seeking those
funds.
I mean, it's like less than 2percent, especially Women, Women
of Color, Black Women.
Latino W omen, we're not reallygetting those funds.
And, it's for a number ofreasons.
One of those reasons is that outof all the VC firms that are out
there, even the people who workfor the firms, the operators of
(40:49):
those firms, we're not reallyrepresented right there.
So they don't have to thinkabout our businesses in that
way, because, I mean, why?
You know.
And then the other thing is,some of us may not be ready.
You know, we might not beinvestor ready yet to get those
funds.
And some of us are not investorready because, the knowledge is
(41:13):
not being shared.
So my goal of being in thisprogram in the Backstage
Catalyst program is to learnmore about how I can contribute
to creating more equitableopportunities for entrepreneurs,
especially, Women, Black Women,Women of Color, you know.
(41:34):
So we're learning a lot abouthow to structure our investment
thesis and, um, learning how toreview pitch decks and what to
look out for.
It's opening up a lot for me inmy mind, because I've been on
the other side of the table.
I've been the entrepreneur thatwas with my co founder, pitching
and being at these meetings, andthen go in and present our, you
(41:58):
know, our newly revised deck andstuff.
And then they go, well, well,it's, you gotta do this.
And it's constantly, it's likethis goalpost constantly being
moved and we're dressed up andlooking fabulous.
And our, our deck is likegorgeous.
And then you see these otherguys with like hoodies on and
they got a napkin business planand then they're getting 250,
(42:21):
000.
And it's like.
That 250 is only going to be adrop in the bucket for them.
You know, 250 can do for us,like we can, we can thrive.
And so, I believe that Iexperienced all this so that I
can be in this position now tofigure out a way to change it.
(42:42):
Do I have that answer right now?
No.
The way that I'm contributing tothis space is through the
consulting and coaching workthat I'm doing now, to help
these entrepreneurs become moreinvestor ready, even in the
early stages.
So that they can at least knowwhat they're working toward.
To also educate them to let themknow that VC isn't the only
(43:05):
route to go.
You don't have to do that.
You can, you can do it anotherway.
And if you listen to me, youcan, you might not have to seek
funds from anybody.
You might be able to reallyjust...
Stephanie (43:16):
Keep all that equity.
Adrienne Blanks (43:17):
Yeah.
So, um, You know, I'm still, I'mstill kind of figuring out what
I want to do with this, but Iknow that I'm in the program for
a reason.
I'm just being a sponge, I'msoaking it all up and I am, I'm
sharing and doing my best toimplement what I'm learning so
far.
(43:38):
And you know, we'll see what Igot going on.
I'm a visionary.
I got a lot of ideas and plans,so.
Stephanie (43:43):
Yeah, that's really exciting.
And, you know, like, justhearing the type of impact that
you want to drive in this space,and the facts, the numbers
around non white males seekingfunding in the VC space is so
(44:06):
astounding.
But, yet, there are lawsuitsbeing placed against us for
trying to combat that.
I just wanted to hear yourthoughts on, you know, you
mentioned Fearless Fund, andthey're currently working
through lawsuits against them,because they're giving out, is
(44:29):
it grants to Black Women ownedbusinesses.
Adrienne Blanks (44:36):
Oh, it's so unfortunate, because I feel like
the Fearless Fund is being usedright now as an example, like a
threat, like a warning to therest of us or to the rest of the
other funds that are trying todo something similar.
It's a threat also to eventhings that are beyond, um,
(44:57):
funding sources like Fearless.
They're coming after Fearlessright now.
But they, I think they're goingto come after or attempt to,
this is trying to lay thefoundation to try to wipe out
any opportunity to fund anyentity that is supporting Black
(45:21):
and Brown folks, all the waydown to HBCUs.
And I know we're not going tohave that, but they're trying to
kind of lay this interestingfoundation down that is
incredibly insensitive.
I don't know, it's kind of nutsfor lack of a better word.
It seems insane to me, to try todo that, especially when, you
(45:46):
know, historically, the groupsthat you're going after, there's
a ceiling that they created.
Stephanie (45:53):
And Black Women represent less than 1% of VC
funding.
Adrienne Blanks (45:58):
Less than 1%
Stephanie (46:00):
Which is bizarre.
Adrienne Blanks (46:02):
So the facts are out there and it's like, why
would you even want to fightthat?
There's enough money to goaround.
It literally is.
So, there's the Fearless Fundwhere this is happening, but I
think they're also going after,Hello Alice, which, is another,
yeah, because...
Stephanie (46:20):
it's focused on women.
Adrienne Blanks (46:21):
Yeah, it's focused on women and they do
have a fund.
One of their grant programs thatfocuses on Black Women, I
believe.
Either they focus on Black Womenor it's Women of Color.
I'm not sure how they labeledit.
But, they're coming after themtoo.
And it's extremely unfortunate Ithink people just need to be
aware of what's going on andknow that it's not just about
(46:45):
these two organizations.
This can be happening to otherthings that we believe in.
Stephanie (46:52):
Yeah.
Well, outside of this industry.
Adrienne Blanks (46:56):
Something's got to change and, you know, I can't
just sit back and just let ithappen.
Stephanie (47:02):
Exactly.
Adrienne Blanks (47:03):
So, I'm happy to pivot more into this
direction that feels morepurposeful.
Stephanie (47:11):
Definitely excited to see what's on the horizon for
you.
And I just, I love thisconversation.
I love talking about this stuff.
Adrienne Blanks (47:22):
Everything that I've done, like when I look back
on everything, it's like I'vebeen able to do a lot of things
with, with, you know, radio,podcasting, TV, through, through
what I've done.
So it's like my degree, youknow, was not in vain.
Stephanie (47:39):
Exactly.
And I'm sure you'll be doingmore.
In the space, you know, as youcan, as you continue to grow up
and figure out what it is thatyou want to do.
Right?
So I like to, you know, wrap upthe podcast around reflection.
(48:03):
And one of the questions that Ihave for you, because there's
been so many transitionalmoments that you've talked
about, um, how have you changedthe most over this past year?
Adrienne Blanks (48:19):
I learned how to take my time.
This has been a change overSince 2020, I'd say slowing
down, taking my time.
Like I mentioned before, cameout the block sprinting.
I was a sprinter, you know, so Iwas used to kind of like, diving
(48:39):
in and just, you know, goingfull throttle.
Now, I sit back and I thinkabout stuff.
Sometimes I'll take three daysto sit and think about something
before I respond or, say yes.
So yeah, just taking my time.
(49:00):
That's been really important forme.
Stephanie (49:01):
Yeah.
Adrienne Blanks (49:03):
Even in the mornings You know waking up a
little bit earlier so I can havea slow morning.
Stephanie (49:07):
I'm trying to do that.
Adrienne Blanks (49:09):
I'm not the 5 a.
m.
Girl, but you know I'll I'll getup a little earlier than I
normally would so that I canliterally take my time make my
tea.
I love my tea time in themorning.
Even at night, slowing thingsdown, cutting the TV off,
turning the lights down alittle.
I have my own little turn downservice, you know?
Stephanie (49:30):
Yes.
Adrienne Blanks (49:31):
So taking my time.
Stephanie (49:34):
And also just taking your time allows you to pour
into yourself.
Adrienne Blanks (49:40):
Yes.
I know what it's like to workfrom an empty cup or a cup
that's not overflowing, and I'mnot doing that no more.
I did it before.
It's not worth it.
Stephanie (49:53):
I love to hear that.
Adrienne Blanks (49:55):
It's not worth it.
Stephanie (49:57):
In hindsight, what advice do you wish the younger
version of yourself knew?
Adrienne Blanks (50:05):
Speaking of Arlan Hamilton, she has a
podcast called, Your FirstMillion and she interviewed
Danielle Leslie, and Daniellesaid something that, that
resonated with me.
Um, and I'm going to paraphraseand probably butcher exactly
what she said, but what I gotfrom it was that I don't have to
determine my value by thesuccess or health of my business
(50:29):
and you know, for the longest I,I did.
You can apply, you can insert,you can remove the health or
success of my business and addyour job, like whatever that
thing is for you.
If somebody would have kind oflike expressed that to me when I
was younger, I, I think it wouldhave benefited me.
(50:50):
I've always been anoverachiever, always been very
ambitious and there's nothingwrong with it, but my success is
not, my value is not tied tothat.
Absolutely.
You know?
(51:14):
Thanks, Stephanie.
Stephanie (51:20):
And that's a wrap.
So own it and make moves.
One day, I want to share yourjourney on this podcast.
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