#BHM ‘Black Entrepreneurial Excellence: The Highs, Lows, The Lessons & Legacy
31 October 2020
31 October 2020
#BHM ‘Black Entrepreneurial Excellence: The Highs, Lows, The Lessons & Legacy
Series Overview:
One of the outcomes of Covid-19 has been the increased need for financial knowledge, wealth building and scaling businesses, so they generate more revenue and solidify their profitability.
There are many Black UK-based entrepreneurs who have been successful long before Covid and have been able to pivot and thrive during these difficult times. This fortitude comes from implementing sound business practices, having access to mentors and developing a growth mindset.
Nene from VINE Creatives and I have worked with many entrepreneurs and have found that it’s one thing to want to grow and expand a business, it’s quite another to seek out the knowledge of how to actually do it. Acquiring the knowledge needed to increase sales, market share, or secure investment capital, requires both strategic thought and operational know-how.
Meeting of Minds and VINE Creatives would like to simplify the process for budding and established black owned/led companies, with the right tools and resources that entrepreneurs need to succeed. One of these tools is first-hand accounts from successful Black entrepreneurs.
The idea for this project was conceived pre-Covid, involving a face2face interview, hosted in a venue of your choice. We wanted to film a behind-the-scenes ‘day-in-the life’ documentary, but the pandemic thwarted our plans!
Instead, for Black History Month, we want to discover the books and podcasts that have left an indelible mark on you (preferably from a Black author/host), that has positively contributed to your mindset and subsequent success.
Interview with Ezechi Britton
Q1. Please share a literary work and/or podcast that has been instrumental to shaping your thinking as an entrepreneur?
A1. I have quite a few:
Brick by Brick: The Lego Story
The Hard Thing About Hard Things
The Twenty Minute VC podcast is also very good
Q2. If success is the habit of learning from failures, what has been the biggest lesson you’ve learnt?
A2. You never get it right the first time so what you think you are creating won’t be what you end up with. Learn to embrace this uncertainty and be ready to pivot around it. Change is a constant not an aberration. The best way to do this is through early and rapid iteration. If you make this the cornerstone of your approach then uncertainty, change even failure all become part of your growth strategy not an impediment to success.
Q3. If there is one business practice that you wish you’d applied sooner, what would it be?
A3. Get your product out in the open and into the hands of customers/clients as quickly as possible. Secrecy is overrated and for most startups is actively harmful to your chance of success.
Q4. What is the biggest misconception people have about your business or line of work?
A4. As a tech founder, people underestimate how much time, effort and personal risk goes into launching a startup.
Q5. RESOLVE. RESILIENCE. RESISTANCE. What do these words mean to you, and how do you want your contribution to the world of business to be remembered?
A5. These are the attributes that you need to keep going on any journey. As a founder of any business you will be tested on all 3 of these attributes
- The resolve to keep going even when things are uncertain
- The resilience to keep going even though things are difficult
- The resistance to keep going even though you experience setbacks
If you can embody those 3 attributes the rest comes down to time. You will get there eventually!
About Ezechi Britton
A tech founder and investor with over 15 years’ experience in FinTech. Ez’s journey has taken him from Software Developer to CTO to Tech Founder and Venture Capital
Ez is the Co-Founder of Code Untapped, a digital skills accelerator that helps companies find innovative product solutions by giving them access to diverse and underrepresented technologists through their innovation labs events.
He is currently a Founding Member, Principal and CTO in Residence at Impact X Capital Partners LLP a venture fund focused on supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs.
He is also a former Co-Founder of Neyber a multi-award-winning Fintech firm.
Stay Connected
Follower Ez on Twitter and check out his profile on LinkedIn