Kirk Zambetti’s Post

Highlighting Black excellence this #BlackHistoryMonth 🌟 Brian Brackeen is General Partner of Lightship Capital, an Endeavor Midwest board member, and much more! In our interview with Brian, he discusses Lightship’s impact, his Endeavor experience, Black Tech Week, and his commitment to supporting underrepresented founders. From turning bias into profit to shaping the future of Black tech, Brian embodies leadership and determination. Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/gDuuAk2F

Calling all Entrepreneurs, Founders, and Business Leaders:

It's back to school time for sure! Since DECA Inc. is the largest Career and Technical Student Organization for students interested in business-related careers, it's only fitting that this year's campaign is #BeTheOne. The essence of the campaign allows everyone to consider how they will #BeTheOne - whether it's simply raising your hand to say yes, stepping up as a project leader, a chapter leader or an association leader, or becoming an ICDC competitive event champion. Discover how DECA is different, and how our members will strive to #BeTheOne this year. https://lnkd.in/g-AKWu_D Association for Career and Technical Education Advance CTE

Partnerships are everything

It's a special #MentorMonday because it is #MLK Day *and* we are socked in with snow like nobody's business. Last week, I said thanks for the mentorship relationship with Evetty Satterfield, M.S.W., and just as I was hitting "post" I thought about the person that connected us -- Brandon Bruce. I've known Brandon long before H·A ThirtyOne. In fact, we met when we were both working inside the academy. He was one of those great minds always willing to try something new and test an alternative idea. When it came time for me to consider taking the entrepreneur route with H·A ThirtyOne, Brandon was one of the first people I turned to for advice and thoughtful counsel. Keen questions, encouragement, and that same attitude of "let's give it a try!" helped me take the leap. It was one of Brandon's many engagements with the Knoxville Entrepreneur Center, supporting the 100Knoxville program (https://100knoxville.com/) that provided the opportunity to meet Evetty. Her business, Advancing Lives, LLC was working in education, and so was H·A ThirtyOne, so of course I wanted to meet her. And our relationship bloomed from there. Brandon's easy openness, quick ability to put energy behind an idea, and his consistent encouragement to simply say, "why not?" and walk a few miles down new paths (or ride his bike, as the case may be) have stuck with me. Some new adventures will be a success. Some will be valuable in other ways. But being open, trying, and giving new ideas a chance...those are the lessons to keep in constant practice. Thank you, Brandon! #highered, #entrepreneurship #cycling #newideas #marketing #communications #collegesanduniversities #mentorship

Look for some familiar faces in this video from Turner Industries. 👀 Start at 4:24 to catch a group of our entrepreneurship majors who visited CEO Stephen Toups (BS Finance ’88, MBA ’90) during their latest Louisiana Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Program of Study trip. What an excellent opportunity to learn about the company and gain meaningful insights. https://bit.ly/3L60F00

Insightful advice in this Q&A on entrepreneurship and overcoming barriers to achieve success.

Learn more about Juan Barraza and his work in this conversation with Black & Brown Founders

Check out this talk!

Embracing the Competitive Spirit for Collaborative Innovation: Lessons from the Wright Brothers On this Wright Wednesday, we're inspired by the remarkable story of Orville and Wilbur Wright. Their journey wasn't merely about individual triumphs but about leveraging their competitive spirit to fuel mutual innovation and success. 'Athletes, competitors, brothers in flight...'—their legacy is a powerful testament to the synergy of competition and collaboration. As professionals, the Wright brothers' story encourages us to look beyond the surface of rivalry, finding opportunities for growth and achievement in collaboration. In the spirit of the Six of Wands, let's acknowledge and celebrate the victories and advancements we achieve through collective effort and shared visions. How have you experienced the transformative power of channeling competitive energy into collaborative success within your industry or team? Share your insights and stories of partnership propelling progress. #WrightWednesday #InnovationThroughCollaboration #ProfessionalGrowth" These posts across platforms weave together the narratives of competition, innovation, and collaboration inspired by the Wright brothers, tying in with the themes of victory and recognition from the Six of Wands. They invite your audience to reflect on and share their own experiences, fostering engagement and community.