The Shavaughn B Podcast Shavaughn Baker

There are a lot of misconceptions about raising venture capital, as well as "unspoken truths" that founders learn the hard way. From how taxing the overall process of fundraising is, to how funds are actually distributed to startup companies.

Product Managers are the glue that manages the research, design, testing, and go-to-market strategy of a product, software, or service., Recruiting Product Managers is just the beginning. Developing their skills for career growth is another. Here’s a guide on how to get it right from the start. I'm sharing tips for attracting and retaining talent as well as strategies on how you can leverage your onboarding process to build and grow your teams.

If you ever wondered "What exactly is traction" and how to communicate this to investors, or simply wanted a better understanding of what traction is, and how it works, this episode is for you! I'm breaking down the different ways founders can implement traction to find product-market-fit. Hint, it's not as complicated as you think! 

In this episode of The Shavaughn B Podcast, we sit down and talk with Social Entrepreneur Rahwa Neguse. Rahwa is an Executive Director of Healthy Black Families, Inc. a Berkeley, California based non-profit organization that educates, engage and advocates for holistic growth and development of diverse Black individuals and families. Rahwa recently launched Gereb Living, a holistic health and healing wellness company. Gereb Living empowers people to live their best full life of health wellness and vitality. A life where people are balanced emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. For Rahwa, building a wellness company goes beyond health and lifestyle. We unpack topics that range from the lack of positive trends in Black health to key indicators that are driven by social development, economic programs and policy changes.

Building a business around community is no easy task. Starting an online bookstore requires an in-depth knowledge of e-commerce business models, creating a personal brand, and developing relationships with authors and distributors.
Founder, Isis Asare has built one of the fastest growing, digital literary spaces in the U.S. centered around Black literature. The brand even made it to OprahMag.com’s Black-owned bookstore list.
Sistah Scifi is more than just an online bookstore, it is a community. Isis has managed to build an incredibly unique brand that pays homage to the likes of American Science Fiction author Octavia Butler, including comics such as Vagrant Queen by Magdelene Visaggio and Jason Smith.
Sistah Scifi is the perfect balance between escapism, community and Black literature. Book enthusiasts who have a deepen appreciation for afro futurism, mysticism, science fiction, magical realism, and horror can share, congregate, and discuss their favorite genres and authors.
In this episode of The Shavaughn B Podcast, Isis lays out the steps she has taken to grow the Sistah Scifi brand in this $10 Billion a year industry.

Small businesses are the bedrock of American communities, accounting for 99 percent of all business establishments. The health pandemic rocked economies to their core, as a result some small businesses partially or permanently shut their doors. Black businesses were hit the worse, with 440,000 closures. With a comprehensive resiliency strategy, we could save our local economies. Shavaughn B discusses an expanded focus for stabilizing and the restoration of Black owned businesses.