Saying Goodbye to My Forest: Since moving to a small village in Denmark in 2021, I’ve cherished this small forest where I take walks. Unfortunately, this week, deforestation began, and I’m feeling a bit sad about the change in my surroundings. It’s a reminder that change is inevitable. This forest was always meant to be a production forest, eventually serving its purpose. 

Work Wins and Woes: This week, I caught up with three of our Fellows, finalized speaking engagements for our upcoming Silicon Valley Innovation Tour for HBCU Faculty (yea, it’s going to be dope!), and made a somewhat unsuccessful attempt to clean up our CRM. It really shouldn’t be that hard.

Podcast Spins: As I strategize the next stage of HBCUvc, I’ve been diving into some helpful podcasts. I listened to Swimming With Allocators interview with Jaclyn Freeman Hester and Supercluster’s interview with Susan Kimberlin. Jaclyn’s interview was a timely reminder of the dedication required when considering raising a fund. Fund lifecycles can span 10-15 years, and it’s crucial to truly commit to this long-term journey. Susan’s interview touched on creative fund fees, and there was a mention of evergreen funds—a concept I’ve always been curious about, especially when thinking about structures that better support entrepreneurs from historically excluded communities.

Spiritual Reflections: I spent time reading the book of Job in the bible this week. I’ve read the book many times. This time, the conversations between Job and his friends resonated a little more deeply. I’m also thinking about intentions and impact. I would say that Job’s friends were very well-intentioned. And I know a lot of well-intentioned people, as I am often well-intentioned. The key takeaway is how much Job’s friends lack context and relationship (with God). It was a powerful reminder for me of how I show up to support others. 

Escaping from Reality with Reality TV: I’ve been watching Love is Blind UK and Pop Star Academy. Don’t judge me. Who else is watching? Where’s the subthread for this?

Next Week, Bay Area Bound: I’m heading to the Bay Area next week and will be there for two weeks. Looking forward to reconnecting with colleagues and making new connections.