How I Built Resilience: Live with Morgan DeBaun

Resilience

Morgan DeBaun, founder of Blavity, exemplifies resilience in business leadership, especially during challenging times. She shares how her team navigated the emotional toll of the pandemic, economic crisis, and social justice movements, highlighting the importance of support from co-founders and team members. Morgan emphasizes the need for leaders to listen more and challenge their assumptions, fostering growth and reflection in both personal and professional spheres 1 2.

I think for me as a leader, to listen more, I mean, I'm always learning and I'm always growing.

--- Morgan DeBaun

Her approach underscores the significance of resilience in maintaining a positive outlook despite the difficulties faced by her company and community 3.

   

Funding

Morgan discusses the complexities of funding strategies for Black entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of understanding venture funding models. She advises entrepreneurs to focus on scaling their business models and generating revenue before seeking venture capital, as this can demonstrate traction to potential investors 4. Morgan reflects on her own experiences, noting the challenges of venture funding, such as the pressure to exit and the scrutiny involved 5.

Raising money and venture funding, getting venture funding is very difficult, and it's something that I think increasingly has become more and more accessible to the black community.

--- Morgan DeBaun

Her insights highlight the need for careful consideration of funding options and the potential trade-offs involved.

   

Empowerment

Morgan's initiatives to empower Black entrepreneurs focus on providing resources and education through programs like Work Smart. She aims to bridge the gap in entrepreneurship by offering group calls and master classes, helping small business owners access tools like Google Analytics and SEO 6. Morgan's entrepreneurial spirit, evident since childhood, drives her to challenge rules and bring others along in her journey 7.

I started my worksmart program because I was getting so many questions from entrepreneurs, and I personally could not, one to one, advise everyone.

--- Morgan DeBaun

Her efforts are geared towards fostering a resurgence in Black entrepreneurship and supporting small businesses in overcoming financial and operational challenges.