Ascend Ventures Tech

Hello Linkedin! I'm back with Day 4 of my weekly 'mini series' revisiting some of my favorite speeches from the past. Today I'm resharing perhaps my FAVORITE speech of all times from the 2019 TEDx San Francisco conference. 👉🏾"Nourishing the Fertile Ground: Black Girl Genius Thrives in Safe Spaces" This speech is extra special for me for a few reasons 💫 📌This speech interrogates how we must nurture 'Black girl genius' in safe spaces interwoven with the stories of how I created Black Girls Code. The speech underscores the importance of cultivating such spaces, not only to address the current disparities in STEM but to empower future generations of innovators and leaders. 📌I discuss the notion of failure as it applies to women and girls and how the "risks" of failures are not the same for us especially for Black women. I talk about the profound disparities in how failure is experienced and navigated for Black women and girls. While some may view failure as a stepping stone to greater opportunities, for many it poses a daunting barrier to their aspirations. An early precursor to my theories around the #BlackGirlBossParadox... 📌Most dear to me is that I did this speech with my daughter Kai M. and I think she steals the show. 😄 This speech is a love letter to my daughter Kai, to the thousands of Black girl geniuses who walked through the doors of Black Girls CODE, and to the girl I was 30+ years ago, navigating the complexities of identity and ambition, and to the woman and leader I am now; resilient, steadfast, and as Shirley said "unbought and unbossed". Onward! Hope you love this one as much as I do! Link to speech: https://lnkd.in/gEaSnC7f P.S. This TedX talk has insanely low views compared to my first one which I think is criminal. It really is the better one! IMHO 😆

#TBT It's been a busy day of doctor's visits and health checkups but I couldn't let the day pass without posting my next in the series of my walk down memory lane in my journey as a public speaker and innovator. ✨ For me, public speaking is more than just delivering a message—it's about sparking meaningful conversations and challenging perspectives. Today, I'm reflecting on a speech where I tackled the topic of biases and blind spots in collaboration. We all have biases and blind spots, unconsciously affecting the way we collaborate with others. In this talk I gave at the Adobe 99U conference back in 2015, I share how pervasive these biases are in our society and how that hampers our careers and our culture and the steps we can take to confront and overcome them. A bit of backstory here 🍮 -> When Scott Belsky approached me to speak at 99U he really challenged me to go deeper in terms of my content, approach, and delivery. I ALWAYS appreciate a gentle push. 😆 Of all of the MANY speeches I've given over the years this is the one I most want to revisit and...go deeper with. I think I only scratched the surface on this topic and yet these discussions have both evolved and never been more relevant. There are so many nuggets in this one. Hope it resonates for you. It's still one of my favs. Watch the full speech here: https://lnkd.in/gFmhEScP

A few years ago, I stumbled across a post from a trusted and admired business colleague about her experience as a fellow with an organization called the Material Change Institute, a fellowship program in the venture industry. I've long harbored mixed feelings about the VC industry, especially regarding its benefits for those from marginalized communities—and, truthfully, I still do. Yet, I took a chance and reached out to the founder Eve Blossom to chat and learn more about the program. From that day forward, I began a learning journey that I do not regret. Being selected to become a member of the org's 3rd cohort of this 12-month immersive fellowship has been a transformative experience for me and all of my fellow cohort mates. It's tangibly deepened our understanding of investment and introduced us to some of the most innovative present and future leaders in the venture capital industry such as Ayori ‘Selfpreneur’ Selassie, David Hornik, Josh Levine ⚡️, Alpen Sheth, Ph.D., and so many more. I can say for certain this program has opened up the possibility for new career pathways for me, enriched by the immersive nature of the program. Some of current angel investment and LP opportunities came BECAUSE of participating in this program (check out the companies on my profile ;-)). For anyone passionate about understanding the venture industry in a supportive, dynamic environment, and is curious about navigating its complexities while exploring potential career paths, this is your calling. Just do it! You can learn more and apply for the upcoming cohort here: https://lnkd.in/gMguFVSQ #MaterialChangeInstitute #FellowshipProgram #VentureCapital

It excites me beyond words to forge paths for change-makers dedicated to leaving a lasting social impact. Every day, I'm reached by a plethora of messages from innovators seeking guidance. While I can't respond to each individually (although I do try! 😉 ), my mission has evolved, leading me to offer personalized 1:1 coaching calls on Intro for those ready to transform the world! From my initial steps founding Black Girls Code, igniting a coding passion in over 100k students across the US and South Africa, to my current role as the founder and CEO of Ascend Ventures Tech and the Black Innovation Lab—investing in tech-driven societal change and equity—I live to uplift the underrepresented and spark community transformation. This journey has taught me invaluable lessons and triumphs, all of which I'm eager to pass on to you. Are you ready to: ✔️ Build impactful, sustainable organizations? ✔️ Cultivate a resonant brand voice? ✔️ Foster strong, empowering communities? ✔️ Craft pitch decks that captivate and convince? ✔️ Navigate leadership challenges with grace? ✔️ Advance confidently in your career journey? Join me on Intro, where I share the stage with esteemed experts like Netta Jenkins CEO, Aerodei, Jaclyn Johnson, and Minda Harts, to dive deep into these areas and more. Let's get to it! Book your spot now: intro.co/kimberlybryant 🌟Comment “Interested” and I’ll select 1 person for a free 15 min call. Let's ignite real change, together. 🌟

Last week as the news of Dr. Claudine Gay's resignation from @Harvard reverberated, I found myself enveloped in a profound sense of déjà vu. My heart ached, not just for her, but for all of us who have walked this labyrinth of leadership as Black women. My latest op-ed for the The Emancipator via the Boston Globe delves deep into this shared journey of resilience and resistance, a narrative I've termed the 'Black Girlboss Paradox.' This piece is raw and personal. FULL STOP. It is an unfiltered expression of the collective pain, frustration, and indomitable spirit of Black women leaders. It's a testament to our unacknowledged labor, the overlooked adversities we navigate, and the relentless scrutiny we endure. It's an intimate glimpse into the silent battles behind our public victories and the urgent need for systemic reform. This concept of the 'Black Girlboss Paradox' is not just some catchy phrase or novel concept for me; it's the very real lived experience of myself and SO MANY other Black women whose triumphs are minimized and challenges magnified. This op-ed is my a rallying cry for awareness, empathy, and action. As Black women I recognize we spend an inordinate amount of time trying to save ourselves and others and so little trying to save each other. But I feel down deep in my bones that we can no longer afford to be silent spectators to the systemic diminishment of Black women's leadership. So with that I invite you to immerse yourself in the narrative, feel the pulse of its urgency, and embrace its call to action. Together, let's dismantle the structures that bind us and forge a future where the next generation of Black women can ascend without the disproportionate challenges that have long been our shadow. Read, reflect, and join the movement for change. The time is now. Please share and comment. Biggest gratitude to my coaches and editors from The OpEd Project and Equality Now and of course the most brilliant Jamil Smith chief editor from the The Emancipator for the gentle push to go deeper on this one. #GRATITUDE #BlackGirlbossParadox Read the full op-ed from the link in comments.

It was an honor to be part of The Futurist presented by @ATT Rising Future Makers, a series connecting HBCU students with industry leaders. 🌐✨ This was a very special and heartwarming moment for me to reconnect with student Cadence Patrick and we discussed the future of Black Women in #STEM and what the future might hold for the next generation of innovators. This meeting brought me to tears (literally) and was a full circle moment for us both. Special treat to be able to surprise Cadence with this scholarship at the end! Check out our episode at: Globalgrind.com/HBCULove ✨ #DreamInBlack #ConnectingChangesEverything #stem #womenempoweringwomen #womenchangemakers #womenintech