Rich Lessons

Sevetri Wilson and Sheena Allen
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The Rich Lessons Podcast, hosted by Sevetri and Sheena, cuts through the noise with rich insights and real conversations about business, life, and everything in between—offering hard truths, valuable lessons, and stories still being written.

  1. 1D AGO

    The Truth About VC Funding for Black Women: Past, Present & Future

    Less than 1% of venture capital goes to Black women, but what's really behind that number, and what does it actually take to change it? In this episode, Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor get candid about the full picture of funding for Black women founders: from what banks and VCs are actually looking for, to why your pitch might be killing your deal before it starts, to why the current funding climate may be the toughest it's ever been. Both hosts have been on the other side of the table — as founders who've raised over $60M capital and as investors who've written checks — and they're not holding back. In this episode: Why less than 1% isn't just a systemic problem — and what founders can controlWhat banks vs. VCs are actually looking for (and where most founders fall short)The "audacity gap" in how Black women pitch — and how to close itWhy proximity to wealth and opportunity is half the battleThe Fearless Fund lawsuit and what it signals for the presentWhy the current job market is pushing Black women into entrepreneurship at the worst possible timeWho's still fighting for Black women in the funding space?An honest look at what the future holdsThis is the conversation happening everywhere right now, and this is the version that actually goes behind the headlines. Subscribe to Rich Lessons on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube, and leave a review.

    27 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Q1 2026 Broke Startup Funding Records — But the Headline Is Lying

    The fundraising headlines are misleading founders, and we are breaking it down. In Q1 2026, startups raised a record $297 billion — but $122 billion of that went to a single company: OpenAI. If you have been waiting for the market to turn around, this is the reality check you need before next week's full fundraising episode drops May 5th. Plus, we get into the headlines shaping culture and business this week: The Michael Jackson biopic opens to $217 million globally. Was that a surprise? We break down why international numbers tell a different story.Hollywood's biggest names — Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson, Jane Fonda — sign petitions against the Paramount and Warner Bros. merger. One family is about to own CBS, HBO, CNN, BET, Nickelodeon, DC Comics, and more. We call it what it is.Keith Lee brings his first food festival to New Orleans and immediately catches controversy over $70 tickets, a random lineup, and a Live Nation partnership that may have cost him the community buy-in he needed most.Rich Takes drops every week as a quick-hit segment from the Rich Lessons podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube so you never miss an episode. 🎙️ Next week on Rich Lessons: our deep dive on fundraising in 2026—what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what founders need to know now.

    19 min

  3. APR 23

    Tim Cook Steps Down, Tech Layoffs Are Back & Claude Is Killing the Vibe | Rich Takes

    From Tim Cook stepping down as CEO of Apple after 15 years to mass layoffs hitting Big Tech, media, and beyond, the future of work is changing faster than most people are ready for. Starting September 1, 2026, Tim Cook officially steps down as Apple CEO after 15 years, handing the reins to John Ternus, current SVP of Hardware. Was this a long time coming? Is Apple too stagnant to survive another decade without a Steve Jobs-level disruption and innovation? We're getting into all of it. Then, big tech layoffs are back, and this time they're spreading. Meta is cutting 10% of its workforce (~8,000 jobs). And it's no longer just a Silicon Valley problem. Disney, Sony, Warner Brothers, hospitality, finance, retail — nobody's safe. We also tackle the real question: will AI actually create new jobs, or is universal basic income closer than we want to admit? And Anthropic is out here testing limits — literally. Claude Design is making waves, Claude Code may be getting pulled from the $20/month Pro plan, and we're breaking down what that means for everyday builders and creators trying to keep up without breaking the bank. Plus: the gatekeeping debate is back, sparked by designer Law Roach — and we're not holding back. Topics covered: Tim Cook steps down + who's taking over AppleBig tech layoffs spreading beyond Silicon ValleyAI, job replacement & the universal basic income conversationClaude Design, Claude Code & Anthropic's pricing movesGatekeeping in business: good or bad?🎙️ New episodes of Rich Lessons drop every Tuesday. Rich Takes drops every Thursday. 📍 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & YouTube — search Rich Lessons

    17 min

  4. APR 21

    Why Hard Work Isn’t Enough in Corporate America (And What Actually Gets You Promoted)

    In this episode of Rich Lessons, we sit down with powerhouse executive Deb Grant—GE's first Black female corporate officer, former president of the GE Foundation (overseeing a $130M budget), board director, and CEO of Corporate Playbook—to decode what actually moves the needle and what it really takes to succeed in corporate America and beyond—and it's not just “working harder.” From becoming GE’s first Black female corporate officer to advising top executives and sitting on public boards, Deb shares the unfiltered truth about corporate power, board access, and strategic visibility that nobody puts in a LinkedIn post. We dive into:• Why hard work alone won’t get you promoted• The critical difference between mentors vs. sponsors (and why it changes everything)• How to get on corporate boards and build real influence• The importance of visibility, relationships, and executive presence• How Black women can navigate corporate spaces, funding gaps, and leadership barriers• The unwritten rules of career growth no one teaches you This conversation is a masterclass for entrepreneurs, professionals, and anyone looking to strategically level up their career. Key takeaway: It’s not just who you know. It’s who speaks your name in the room.

    55 min

  5. APR 17

    Is Emma Grede Right About Working From Home? + WNBA Draft Reactions | Rich Takes

    Emma Grede said working from home is hurting women's careers, and Sheena and Sevetri have thoughts.  This week on Rich Takes, we break down why we mostly agree, who works from home actually works for, and the hard truth that if you're not exceptional and you're not an expert, the person showing up in the office is getting the promotion, the relationship, and the job security when layoffs hit.  Plus, the WNBA Draft had us glued to our screens. Azzi Fudd goes first overall, reunites with Paige Bueckers, South Carolina’s Raven Johnson finally gets her flowers, and UCLA makes history. Women's basketball is in a completely different era, and we are here for it. And in a surprising shift, some investors are starting to move away from AI-first companies and back toward human-centered businesses. What does that mean for founders building right now? We get into it. Don't miss our new Rich Lessons episode dropping April 21st, all about corporate boards through the lens of an incredible Black woman. And if you haven't checked out last week's vibe coding episode yet, go listen now. Topics: Emma Grede | Work From Home | Remote Work | Office Culture | Layoffs | Job Market | WNBA Draft | Azzi Fudd | Paige Bueckers | Raven Johnson | UCLA | AI Investing | Entrepreneurship | Women in Business

    16 min

  6. APR 14

    Vibe Coding: The Honest Truth About Building a Business Without Writing a Single Line of Code

    Vibe coding is everywhere, but is it actually changing who can build a tech company, or is it just giving everyone a very polished prototype?Sevetri and Sheena are back with a conversation about the AI-powered development trend taking over the startup world. They break down what vibe coding actually is, who it's for, and — as two tech founders who've built and scaled companies — what the headlines aren't telling you.In this episode:→ What vibe coding really means (and why it's not the same as shipping a product)→ Why Apple is pulling vibe-coded apps from the App Store — and what that signals→ How a friend used Lovable to build a startup and still had to hire a CTO→ The non-technical founder reality check: can you vibe code your way to 7 figures?→ Claude Code vs. Lovable vs. Replit — which platform should you actually start with?→ AI layoffs: genuine disruption or corporate cover for cutting costs?→ The data center problem nobody wants to talk about while they're using ChatGPT→ Why Sheena thinks we're giving AI too much credit too soon, and why Sevetri pushes backWhether you're a founder ready to ship your first MVP, a non-technical entrepreneur trying to compete, or just someone trying to make sense of the AI wave, this episode gives you the real framework, not the hype.Follow Rich Lessons on Instagram, YouTube, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.#VibeCoding #AITools #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship #RichLessons #ClaudeAI #Lovable #TechFounders #AIForEntrepreneurs

    35 min

  7. APR 9

    AI Unicorn or Scam? $1.8B Startup, NCAA Chaos & The “Copy-Paste” AI Problem | Rich Takes

    This week on Rich Takes, we’re breaking down the headlines shaping culture, business, and the future of entrepreneurship—and some of them are wild. From a controversial $1.8B AI-powered startup raising eyebrows, to the evolving reality of college sports money + transfer chaos, to a growing backlash against “copy-paste AI” design, this episode is packed with unfiltered takes you won’t hear anywhere else. Here’s what we’re getting into: 🧠 The rise of the 2-person AI unicorn—genius or scam? Two brothers. A $20,000 investment. $1.8 billion in revenue and zero outside investors. Sheena and Sevetri break down the rise of Medvi, the AI-powered telehealth company that The New York Times calls the first true AI-built unicorn, and why Business Insider isn't buying the hype.💰 Can you really build a billion-dollar company with no investors + AI tools?🏀 NCAA madness: transfer portal chaos (including 1,000+ athletes), NIL money, and what it means long-term🎤 Concert culture, resale madness & why everyone is suddenly on tour (including Jay Z and Ye) ⚠️ The growing problem with AI: why everything is starting to look the same. As vibe coding and AI-generated design flood the internet, everyday consumers are starting to notice that everything looks the same. Is AI killing brand identity for founders and entrepreneurs?💭 Do you need delusion (or narcissism?) to become wildly successful?🧾 Billionaires then vs. now—who’s actually creating impact?Plus, quick hits on culture, sports (Angel Reese's impact on WNBA ticket sales and South Carolina’s loss in the NCAAW championship game), and what’s really driving attention (and money) right now. If you're an entrepreneur, creator, or just trying to understand where things are headed, this is your weekly reality check. 🎙️ Rich Takes is the quick-hit segment from Rich Lessons—short, sharp, and straight to the point. 🎙️ New Rich Lessons episode dropping April 14th — subscribe so you don't miss it. Tap in, subscribe, and stay ahead.

    24 min

  8. MAR 19

    Oscars 2026 Reactions, Jamal Bryant Thought He Was Ending the Target Boycott & Mr. Tendernism's Top Food Cities | Rich Takes

    Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor are back with a fresh Rich Takes covering the Oscars, the Target boycott drama (over or no?), and a food city ranking that has New Orleans sitting exactly where it belongs. First up: the 2026 Oscars. Sinners took home wins, but was it enough? Sevetri breaks down why she woke up the next morning still processing how the night played out, why Sean Baker's Best Supporting Actor win made sense, and a shoutout to prior Rich Lessons guest Takema Robinson and the team behind The Perfect Neighbor documentary for their Oscar nomination. Then, Jamal Bryant declared the Target boycott over. The internet said absolutely not. Sheena and Sevetri unpack who actually started the boycott, why his announcement backfired immediately, whether Black consumers are still holding the line, and the moment Sheena almost broke for a limited Target fashion drop. To close it out: viral food personality Walter Johnson, known as Mr. Tendernism, ranked his top cities for food — and New Orleans came in at number one. Sheena and Sevetri react to the full list, let the secret out about the Delta Mississippi food scene, weigh in on the Kansas City surprise, and Sheena shares her 2026 mission to find the best gumbo in New Orleans. Topics covered: 2026 Oscars reactions | Sinners | Best Supporting ActorThe Perfect Neighbor documentary | Oscar nominationTarget boycott | Jamal Bryant | Black consumer activismMr. Tendernism | Walter Johnson top food citiesNew Orleans food scene | Delta Mississippi | Kansas City BBQBest gumbo in New Orleans | Keith Lee New Orleans festival🎙️ Rich Takes is a quick-hit mini episode from the Rich Lessons podcast, hosted by Sheena Allen and Sevetri Wilson Taylor. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

    11 min
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4.9
out of 5
32 Ratings

About

The Rich Lessons Podcast, hosted by Sevetri and Sheena, cuts through the noise with rich insights and real conversations about business, life, and everything in between—offering hard truths, valuable lessons, and stories still being written.

Information

  • Creator
    Sevetri Wilson and Sheena Allen
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sevetri Wilson and Sheena Allen
  • Show Website
    Rich Lessons

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