Porter Braswell — Building the Future of Leadership (EP.216)
May 16, 2024
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Porter Braswell, CEO of 2045 Studio, discusses empowering professionals of color, building trust in communities, lessons from Magic Johnson's mentorship, and the importance of human capital. He shares insights on networking, partnerships, and the value of inclusive spaces in fostering leadership impact.
2045 Studio prioritizes member engagement through relationship building and community trust.
Community involvement drives business success and shapes offerings with low internal headcount.
Hiring individuals with an athlete mentality fosters teamwork, resilience, and productivity in the workplace.
Deep dives
The Mission of 2045 Studio and Its Vision for a Diverse Workforce
2045 Studio aims to create workforce diversity reflective of changing demographics by retaining employees of color. They focus on inclusive executive coaching, creating a community of future leaders of color within organizations, and fostering ally networks. Their mission is to build a workforce that stays attuned to demographic shifts, thereby ensuring relevance by 2045.
Engaging Members through Expectation Setting and Relationship Building
2045 Studio prioritizes member engagement by setting clear expectations for active participation. They normalize member interactions, encouraging introductions and relationship building through activities like councils, dinners, fireside chats, and social events. By fostering relationship-building opportunities, such as breaking bread and facilitating organic connections, trust is cultivated among members.
Challenges and Insights in Managing Diverse Business Operations
Managing multiple businesses within 2045 Studio has proven to be a significant challenge, especially with physical space operations alongside B2C and B2B models. The insight gained highlights the importance of community engagement over dedicated spaces, leading to a shift towards leveraging existing club infrastructure for future expansions. This strategic move aims to simplify operations, reduce complexity, and facilitate smoother scalability globally.
Leveraging Community Engagement for Business Success
The podcast episode highlights the significance of community engagement in driving business success. It emphasizes the power of community involvement in shaping the business's direction and offerings. By relying on community members for programming and support, the business can maintain a low internal headcount while fostering a sense of ownership among community participants. The podcast stresses the value of community-driven initiatives in enhancing the overall business experience and ensuring a win-win situation for all involved parties.
Embracing Athlete Mentality in Hiring Practices
The episode discusses the benefits of hiring individuals with an athlete mentality, regardless of their sports background. This mentality encompasses traits like teamwork, competitiveness, resilience, and a strong work ethic. The podcast highlights the value that athletes bring to the workplace and how their skill set translates into diverse roles effectively. By recognizing and leveraging these qualities in hiring practices, companies can cultivate a productive and dynamic workforce that excels in various capacities and fosters a collaborative environment.
Porter Braswell is the Founder and CEO of 2045 Studio, an exclusive network for accomplished professionals of color.
Porter is also the Co-founder and Executive Chairman of the career advancement platform Jopwell, the host of the Harvard Business Review podcast Race at Work, and the author of two books, including 2019’s Let Them See You.
Porter joins the show to discuss how 2045 Studio is harnessing community to empower professionals of color to succeed, how to establish trust within a community, what he learned from Magic Johnson’s mentorship, and MUCH more!
