Young and Profiting (YAP) with Hala Taha

Morgan DeBaun: Your Startup Survival Kit, from VC Funding to Leadership | E263

Dec 25, 2023

Morgan DeBaun, co-founder of Blavity, shares her journey of building a media empire, the challenges of being an outsider in Silicon Valley, fundraising tips, the importance of diversity in the workplace, and investing in personal development.

01:00:40

Episode guests

Morgan DeBaun

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Access and opportunity are key in Silicon Valley beyond hard work, emphasizing the importance of connections and resources.

Media platforms play a critical role in empowering underrepresented communities by providing accurate and timely information to break cycles of inequality.

Diversity and inclusion at all levels of a company have a significant impact on decision-making and overall success, highlighting the need for diverse perspectives in the tech industry.

Deep dives

Building a successful media empire for black culture and millennials

Morgan DeBahn, founder and CEO of Blavity Incorporated, shares her journey as a black female entrepreneur and the challenges she faced in the tech industry. She discusses the importance of access and opportunity in Silicon Valley, highlighting the need to go beyond hard work and understand the power of connections and resources. Morgan emphasizes the role of media platforms in providing accurate and timely information to underrepresented communities, enabling them to break cycles of inequality. She also explores the significance of diversity and inclusion at all levels of a company, emphasizing the impact it has on decision-making and overall success.

Introduction

2min

Building a Media Empire: Reflections and Lessons

16min

Sponsors: MasterClass and Shopify

6min

Fundraising and Finding Social Impact Investors

12min

Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

9min

Meal Kit and Dog Food Delivery Ads and Importance of Cross-Training

5min

Investing in Personal Development

14min

When 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed in his home state of Missouri in 2014, Morgan DeBaun was working at a technology company in Silicon Valley. Unhappy with her job and dismayed about the media coverage of the story, she decided to change course. She co-founded Blavity, which became a leading digital media company for Black culture and millennials. Morgan has succeeded despite steep odds to forge an incredibly successful portfolio of companies. In today’s episode, she is going to share with us how she built an influential media empire and give us some pointers on how to navigate some of the most challenging parts of founding a company.

Morgan DeBaun is a serial entrepreneur, executive, and corporate advisor. She is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of Blavity Inc., a leading digital media company for Black culture and millennials. Morgan also acts as an advisor to influential global brands and companies including PepsiCo., American Airlines, CES, and other businesses.

In this episode, Hala and Morgan will discuss:

- Why hard work is not enough

- Being an outsider in Silicon Valley

- How to pitch a VC firm

- How to enlist your donors for help

- The right amount of equity to give away in a startup

- Talent acquisition and diversity in the tech space

- Advising Pepsi and American Airlines

- The virtues of anonymous employee surveys

- Balancing entrepreneurship with personal relationships

- And other topics…

Morgan DeBaun is a serial entrepreneur, executive, and corporate advisor. She is the founder, CEO and Chairman of Blavity Inc., a leading digital media company for Black culture and millennials. Through her work at Blavity, Morgan has grown the company into a market leader for Black media, reaching millions of readers through a growing brand portfolio that includes: Blavity News, 21Ninety, AfroTech, Travel Noire, Shadow & Act, and Blavity TV. Morgan also acts as an advisor to influential global brands and companies including PepsiCo., American Airlines, CES, and other businesses. She also hosts The Journey podcast, a weekly podcast that delves into the captivating stories of purpose-driven achievers on their quest to live their best lives and has her own newsletter, The Journey Newsletter, which gives advice on building a sustainable and scalable career and life.

Resources Mentioned:

Morgan’s Website: https://www.morgandebaun.com/

Morgan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgandebaun/

Morgan’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgandebaun

Morgan’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorganDeBaun

Morgan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgandebaun/

Morgan’s Podcast, The Journey: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-journey-with-morgan-debaun/id1687058364

Morgan’s Company, Blavity: https://blavity.com/

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Use code ‘podcast’ for 30% off at yapmedia.io/course.

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