Today on Fast Frontiers host Tim Schigel speaks with James Norman, a general partner at Black Operator Ventures, a venture fund that specifically empowers the entrepreneurship of people of color. James takes listeners on a deep dive of his growth and trajectory from Hollywood to venture capital, lessons learned in leadership, and how important networking and nurturing relationships are to customer acquisition.

Key Takeaways:

• [00:09 - 00:58] Intro to James Norman and his venture projects
• [01:00 - 02:57] James' early life in Michigan and entrepreneurship inklings as a child
• [02:58 - 04:25] Building speaker systems for car audio
• [04:25 - 05:18] Transitioning from speaker systems to whole cars
• [05:18 - 07:58] Lessons learned doing private planning at Mitsubishi in LA
• [08:03 - 10:12] James' first tech company, Ubi, and lessons in leading
• [10:12 - 11:42] Growing his network and how NewME helped make connections
• [11:44 - 12:52] Heavy on product, heavy on execution
• [12:52 - 13:58] The stories we tell
• [14:04 - 15:42] How James realized his strength in building video platforms
• [15:44 - 18:09] Why diverse development teams are necessary, and navigating abrasive cultures as a person of color
• [18:10 - 20:55] The path to capital and realizations about next steps
• [20:55 - 23:12] Acquiring data and monetizing it with GroupFix and Pilotly
• [23:12 - 24:32] Working with Joe to build GroupFix and Pilotly
• [24:32 - 26:36] How Black Ops Ventures came about
• [26:36 - 28:13] Communicating better, and learning from icons like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk
• [28:14 - 28:57] Bias from investors and developing empathy
• [28:58 - 30:23] A golden opportunity to build a better resource for black founders
• [30:24 - 32:01] The Four Challenges for Venture Capital to Invest in Black Founders
• [32:01 - 34:01] Starting right now, and getting involved
• [34:04 - 35:06] Builders and leaders
• [35:06 - 36:42] Building relationships and holding yourself accountable to your identity as a leader
• [36:44 - 38:57] Customer acquisition and nurturing the relationship, and confidence in outcomes

On today's show, Tim Kight, CEO of Focus 3, stops by Fast Frontiers to talk to host Tim Schigel about growth mindsets, characteristics of people with fortitude, and all about his framework, E+R=O.

Key takeaways:

• [01:51 - 04:23] Mistakes are feedback, and a sign of innovating
• [04:28 - 06:23] Silicon Valley and failing fast, an opportunity to try again with greater insight
• [06:23 - 08:19] Defining leadership, understanding cause and effect, and coaching for success
• [08:53 - 13:50] The role of deep practice and Tim's E + R = O framework
• [13:51 - 16:20] Developing clarity and seeing better by asking 5 questions
• [16:41 - 18:08] Blame, Complain, Defend
• [18:10 - 21:47] Growth mindsets and commitment
• [21:50 - 23:14] Characteristics of the compelled
• [23:16 - 25:42] Teaching E + R = O to employees and producing better outcomes
• [25:45 - 26:16] ERO is not just about work
• [26:18 - 30:58] Understanding how finding the compelled and those with a similar ERO mindset relates to HR and recruiting
• [31:03 - 34:00] Recognizing the journey you're on and navigating uncharted territories

Bernadette Butler of Storytap sits down with Fast Frontiers host Tim Schigel to discuss the power of storytelling and connection. Bernadette is the CEO and Co-Founder of Storytap, and in this conversation discusses her path to creating the company, it's goals working with clients to help them gather stories from customers, and what her experience of bootstrapping the company has been like.

Key takeaways:

• [00:56 - 05:49] Benadette's background
• [05:50 - 07:09] The origin of StoryTap
• [07:11 - 09:04] Where Bernadette met her co-founder Sean Braacx
• [09:08 - 11:56] What StoryTap is, and the trends it is capturing
• [11:56 - 13:51] Text, video, and influencers impact on brands
• [13:53 - 15:48] Ownership of the brand and assets, repurposing content to amplify message
• [15:52 - 18:17] A renewed emphasis on text, and navigating fake BS
• [18:19 - 19:35] Exemplifying work through your own content and clients
• [19:36 - 20:37] Discussing working with KY and Durex, sex education
• [20:40 - 21:30] Stories and connection
• [21:32 - 22:21] Text reviews and getting what you get
• [22:24 - 23:09] Some of Bernadette's customers
• [23:12 - 23:53] An incredible melting pot society
• [24:02 - 25:00] What it is like running a startup in Vancouver
• [25:01 - 26:28] What is next for StoryTap
• [26:44 - 27:26] Next week's episode with Joseph Hanna