What's Your Story‪?‬ Matt Story

Ashley Menzies Babatunde shares her background and early experiences as a multi-hyphenate and focused overachiever. From an early age, she had high expectations of herself and others, and her leadership skills were evident. She even wroter herself a letter outlining her goals that she has largely achieved so far. Ashley reflects on her time at Stanford for undergrad and Harvard for law school along with the importance of relationships and exploration. She discusses her transition into the work world as a paralegal and then as a lawyer, and how she had to pivot within her practice to find work that aligned with her personality and values. Ashley also shares her journey of self-discovery and the role of journaling and feedback from loved ones in guiding her career decisions. She discusses the power of storytelling and her podcast, 'No Straight Path,' where she explores the human stories behind success. Ashley walks us through her journey into podcasting, starting with her love for podcasts and finding positive ways to deal with failure. She talks about the loneliness she felt after failing the California bar exam and how storytelling helped her during that time. Ashley also discusses her decision to take a sabbatical and the importance of listening to your body. Ashley reflects on her superpowers of connection and inspiration, and how the podcast has become a source of joy in her life that allows her to do both.

You will learn:
It's ok to color outside the lines.The importance of living a life that is aligned to what you want from life. Exploring the power of regret in your decision making.
You can follow Ashley's story at:
LinkedIn / No Straight Path IG / Ashley IG / TikTok 
Follow the pod:
IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto
Follow my story:
Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

Jerri DeVard, founder and CEO of the Black Executive CMO Alliance (BECA), shares her background and journey to the Advertising Hall of Fame in this podcast episode. Jerri highlights her experience as an example of the role HBCUs play in shaping top talent and industry leaders. She talks about her transition into the corporate world and the importance of finding her voice early in her career. She shares her experience moving into the C-Suite and how what she enjoyed most about it. Jerri also discusses the significance of being a leader who inspires and supports others, and she offers advice for those aspiring to be in the C-suite and on corporate boards. Jerri discusses the inspiration behind creating BECA and their future plans, including expanding internationally and launching programs for vice presidents. She reflects on being inducted into the American Advertising Federation Hall of Fame and the responsibility of using her recognition to uplift others. 

You will learn:
As a leader, remember that your team's family members know your name and you have a reputation but it's up to you what that reputation is known as.To be a board member, you have to be really good at what you do and be recognized for that outside of your organization.To be a Hall of Famer, it's not just about the work you did for yourself but also what you did for others.
You can follow Jerri's story at:
BlackExec.com / BECA IG / BECA LinkedIN / Jerri IG
Follow the pod:
IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto
Follow my story:
Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

Deb Dutta, CEO of Criya, shares her journey as a female immigrant founder and the challenges she faced in the tech industry. She discusses her upbringing, the skills she developed, and her transition from a technical engineering role to product management. Deb also talks about the birth of Criya and how it helps individuals make stellar first impressions through AI technology. She emphasizes the importance of personal branding and the need to take control of how others perceive you. Deb shares her experience with Y Combinator and fundraising, highlighting the value of strategic partnerships and the supportive startup community. Deb discusses her journey of building a portfolio career and the importance of embracing multiple roles and interests. She shares how she managed to balance her full-time job with her side hustles and eventually transitioned into entrepreneurship. Deb also highlights the influence of her husband on her career growth and the value of having a supportive partner. She emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and staying curious, both personally and professionally. Deb reflects on the challenges of scaling a business and the need to constantly strive for growth.

You will learn:
When you get comfortable, you may be getting complacent which stops forward progress.Look for projects outside your day job that help you build new skills and grow your visibility.There is power in having a partner that is supportive for those days when you may not think you can reach your dreams.
You can follow Deb's story at:
Deb.Criya.ai



Follow the pod:
IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto
Follow my story:
Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

Jeremiah Owyang, investor and founder, shares his journey in the tech industry, from his upbringing to his passion for uncovering new technology trends and helping companies connect with customers. He discusses the importance of community and public speaking, as well as the impact of his AI event series, Llama Lounge. Jeremiah also emphasizes the significance of health and fitness in his life and the need to find balance in various aspects of life. He encourages listeners to embrace their own unique paths and prioritize their well-being.

You will learn:
The importance of getting out in front of the parade to leverage the momentum of a trend.Finding what you are inherently amazing at and then using it to differentiate yourself in the marketplace.Across industries, if you focus on taking care of the community, your business goals will be fine.
You can follow Jeremiah's story at:
Web-strategist.com / LinkedIn / Twitter
Follow the pod:
IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto
Follow my story:
Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

In this conversation, Jamien Sills, the founder and CEO of Herus Studios, shares his background and how his passion for shoes and design developed from a young age. He talks about the role of his community in supporting his journey and how he connected with shoe designers and mentors online before social media. Jamien then discusses his current project where he combines his love for footwear and sci-fi superhero films to create a unique storytelling and marketing approach. He explains how the shoes are integrated into the story and how the franchise will tell relatable stories of everyday heroes. Jamien also shares a personal moment of struggle and how he found inspiration to keep going and be heroic in his own life. In this conversation, Jamien emphasizes the importance of tapping into one's internal validation and being in integrity with oneself. Jamien also discusses his excitement about the possibilities of AI in the creative industry and how it can open doors for creatives. 

You will learn:
Taking the step to ask questions can help others know how they can help you.It's tough to start over especially as you progress through your journey but it's not impossible.You can still hit your wit's end and burnout even when you are following your passion but try to remember your why behind the passion.
You can follow Jamien's Story at:
Instagram / Facebook / HerusStudios.com
Follow the pod:
IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto
Follow my story:
Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

In this episode, La'Vista Jones shares her journey from a quiet child to a certified coach and podcast host. She discusses her love for conversations and her passion for helping others shift their mindset around work-life balance. La'Vista emphasizes the importance of self-care and finding joy in the work we do to avoid corporate burnout. She also highlights the impact of motherhood on her career and the value of authenticity in her personal brand. La'Vista's story is an inspiration for those seeking to prioritize their well-being while pursuing their professional goals.

You will learn:
1) The behaviors modeled by leaders set the tone for everyone in the organization.
2) You can design your business life to give you flexibility to be where you want to be for yourself and your family.
3) Your words have the power to change the world, especially on podcasts.

You can follow her story at:
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | LaVistaJones.com 
Follow the pod:
IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto
Follow my story:
Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/ IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory