In this episode, Kristine Michie sits down with entrepreneur, activist, and change-maker Kat Gabrielle, a powerhouse in funding and supporting marginalized founders. Through personal stories, including a traumatic but transformative experience with racial violence, Kat shares how she embraced radical visibility and built The Well Work, a platform connecting Black women and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs to crucial funding resources. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating systemic barriers in entrepreneurship, seeking sustainable funding, or looking for inspiration on how to turn adversity into impact—all while keeping play and joy at the center of the journey.
Key Takeaways:
- Imposter syndrome, coined in the 1970s, did not account for systemic challenges faced by marginalized groups, making it an incomplete framework for understanding self-doubt.
- Black women start more businesses in the U.S. than any other demographic, yet their businesses struggle to sustain due to systemic funding disparities.
- Aggregating funding resources and making them accessible to marginalized entrepreneurs can significantly improve business sustainability and growth.
- Visibility and radical authenticity are essential strategies for navigating industries that often exclude underrepresented voices.
- A direct connection between venture capital firms and diverse founders can help bridge the funding gap that disproportionately affects Black women and LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.
- Sustaining a business requires more than just funding—it also involves education on financial literacy, networking, and understanding different funding routes.
- Rest, play, and joy are necessary tools for maintaining resilience in the face of challenges, preventing burnout, and fostering creativity.
- The impact of social change work is magnified when imagination and innovation are prioritized over merely reacting to existing structures.
- Empathy gaps in corporate and social structures make it crucial to build communities where marginalized professionals feel seen, supported, and funded.
"I have to be as radical as possible, because if I’m not, I give people the space to not see me." — Kat Gabrielle
"We've all been colonized to think a certain way, and if we allow ourselves to dive deep into our imagination, we can create the world we want instead of just reacting to the world we
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