In this episode of QueerHustle, Michelle sits down with activist, author, speaker and serial entrepreneur, Brooklyn Wright. Brooklyn is an enterprising, passionate community builder who has founded and sustained two companies as well as helped over two hundred creatives and entrepreneurs build, brand and advertise their enterprises. Today, Michelle and Brooklyn discuss the power of money, addressing privilege and having tough conversations. They talk about why money has historically been such a taboo topic, the importance of investing and the value of failing quickly and often.

What We Covered:

00:43 – Introducing today’s guest, Brooklyn Wright, who joins the show to talk about their background as a serial entrepreneur, financial literacy and money mindset

06:12 – Brooklyn talks about understanding the power of money and how to wield that awesome power

12:28 – Brooklyn provides their thoughts on privilege and those who are uncomfortable with power

16:43 – Michelle takes a moment to thank today’s sponsor, BGSD Strategies

17:04 – Brooklyn talks about unpacking the tough conversations in order to enact actual change

18:14 – The stigma surrounding money and why it’s historically been a taboo topic

20:56 –Understanding and charging what you’re worth as an entrepreneur

24:18 – Brooklyn speaks to the work they’re doing with young people regarding financial literacy

26:53 – Brooklyn talks about the importance of investing, taking risks and failing

Tweetable Quotes:

“Most folks don’t know the difference between a liability and an asset. And investing in your education, your business, your clients, your employees, etc., they’re all actually assets. And that’s key. I think that’s a great point for people to understand.” (05:00) (Brooklyn)

“I’ve always had power. I think the thing is, especially for queer people, we do not like to admit that we’ve had power.” (07:03) (Brooklyn)

“We don’t change any of this if you’re not able to look yourself in the mirror and say, ‘Oh snap, I’ve had some privilege.’” (13:33) (Brooklyn)

“I wanted to have real impact on the world. I didn’t want to just be sitting in my living room, typing on my computer and screaming at folks about what they should or should not be doing. I wanted to see change in my neighborhood and my community.” (17:41) (Brooklyn)

“It’s been very cool for rich people to talk about money together. It has been uncool for anyone else to do so. Just that change in dynamic, I know for a fact changes who has control over their life and who doesn’t.” (20:24) (Brooklyn)

“A lot of it for me is wanting to make folks really understand how investments work in our society. Your investments are what are gonna make you wealthy or rich or financially free; it’s not your job or your entrepreneurship.” (26:53) (Brooklyn)

“I encourage people to fail, to fail quickly, to fail often and to know that that’s where success is.” (29:44) (Brooklyn)

Links Mentioned:

Brooklyn’s LinkedIn

Michelle’s Website

Queer Hustle Facebook Group

BGSD Strategies Website

In this episode of QueerHustle, Roberto sits down with entrepreneur and champion of empowering BIPOC, queer and female founders, Danya Abutaleb. Danya is the CEO of Pip, an organization that harnesses the power of dialogue to assist companies in actualizing the diverse and inclusive culture they've always sought. Today, Roberto and Danya talk about their shared experience growing up as a queer person in the same conservative Virginia town. Danya discusses the importance of fostering diversity and the vision they have for the future of Pip. Danya talks about their entrepreneurial journey and the importance of doing work that aligns with your soul.

What We Covered:

00:56 – Introducing today’s guest, Danya Abutaleb, who discusses the work they are doing at Pip Collective

07:51 – Danya’s vision for the future of Pip

09:53 – Roberto and Danya talk about how the plight of queer people has been diminished throughout the years

15:22 – Roberto and Danya share their experiences growing up in the very conservative town of Culpeper, Virginia

18:24 – Michelle takes a moment to thank today’s sponsor, BGSD Strategies

20:53 – Roberto opens up about his collegiate experience and how he developed confidence in his sexuality

25:57 – Danya takes the audience through their entrepreneurial journey

36:15 – How being a queer Muslim has impacted Danya in their businesses and advice Danya would give to aspiring queer entrepreneurs

Tweetable Quotes:

“Pip was born, and now I can say that my soul has been cleansed, has been regalvinized in pursuing all that I care about and all that matters to me. And I’m doing it with an incredible team and I couldn’t be happier.” (05:35) (Danya)

“For me, as a person who is not white, I had trouble figuring out what white guilt feels like and figuring out why someone could say just say, ‘Oh, I don’t see color’ and think that is more equitable than acknowledging our differences and acknowledging the real ramifications and consequences of our individualized upbringings and identities.” (06:51) (Danya)

“What we do at Pip is we start to acknowledge the spheres of power people have and hold and we look at how can we start transforming those and look at it as an anti-oppressive framework rather than solely an anti-racist or anti-homophobic framework.” (11:38) (Danya)

“I feel like we wouldn’t be in this business or space unless we were optimists at heart, because we are investing in the future. And we are investing in the hope that the next generation and the generation thereafter will continue understanding what it means to be human.” (24:37) (Danya)

“As someone who considers myself a very futuristic thinker, the one phrase that I despise above many others is, ‘that’s the way we’ve always done it.’” (34:11) (Danya)

Links Mentioned:

Danya’s LinkedIn

Danya’s Website

Michelle’s Website 

Queer Hustle Facebook Group

BGSD Strategies Website