Originate, Motivate, Innovate

CHAPTER 3Be Authentic and Build Your Brand

As I was writing this book I asked new and old friends if they feel like they've seen the softer, more feminine side of me or just the more hard‐core, hard driving, less emotional, detached side of me. This question was on my mind because I was thinking about my brand, particularly across my social media accounts. My content is about educating women on the world of venture capital, sharing my wins, and helping Black and Brown business owners learn from my journey as a successful entrepreneur. It's also, of course, about using these platforms to create and engage my community. Friends that have known me personally for years as well as newer friends overwhelmingly told me that they predominantly view me as a “boss babe” or as being “hard‐core.” The people closest to me view me in the same way as those who only know me through my content online. They know me as a business owner on her grind that doesn't take smack from anyone and knows how to play with the big dogs. This aspect of me is conventionally viewed as masculine in our culture. But while the people closer to me have seen the softer, more vulnerable side, they can't see past my brand when I ask them how they view me. This is a testament to the success of the way I've built my brand. My brand is so strong and intentional that even people who personally know me view me through the lens of my brand persona. Even when my friends see me vulnerable or more conventionally feminine, my ...