Technically Speaking with Harrison Wheeler Harrison Wheeler

I'm excited to welcome Arlan Hamilton to our show. Arlan is a trailblazer in the venture capital world, focusing on helping underrepresented founders. She has a deep passion for both the business and personal aspects of her work, and she's here to share her incredible journey and insights with us.
Summary
In our conversation, Arlan opens up about her love for "General Hospital" and how her personal challenges, including overcoming homelessness and addiction, have shaped her mission in venture capital. She also dives into her latest book, "Your First Million," providing practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Key Takeaways
* Arlan is dedicated to diversifying the entrepreneurial world by supporting founders who often get overlooked.
* Her book, "Your First Million," is a must-read for entrepreneurs, packed with strategies on navigating the business landscape.
* Arlan's story is a powerful reminder that personal struggles can fuel a mission to create positive change.
* For entrepreneurs, it's vital to have a clear vision that aims to benefit more than just oneself.
* Preparation and self-funding are crucial steps before seeking external investment.
Let's dive into the details of our chat and learn more from Arlan's experiences and wisdom.
Notable Quotes
* "I only do what I want to do. I figured out those boundaries, so don't feel sorry for me."
* "It's the fact that I can still bounce back."
* "There's no question here. And again, it goes back to who else is it affecting if it plays out?"
* "We have so much agency of our own lives. And it's hard for me... but because of the way that I built Backstage and because of the things I've been through, I know firsthand how much of our own power we have."
Resources
* Arlan Hamilton's Book: "Your First Million"
* Arlan Hamilton’s Podcast: "Your First Million"
* Event Mention: Your First Million Live in LA, April 9-12 yourfirstmillionlive.com
Arlan Hamilton's journey is a testament to the boundless potential within each entrepreneur, serving as a beacon for those striving to carve their own paths in business and beyond. Don't miss out on the full breadth of wisdom shared in this episode—listen now and be part of the conversation that's shaping the future of innovation and inclusivity.


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Krislam Chin, a designer and educator based in West LA, shares her journey in the design industry and her passion for teaching. She discusses the importance of travel for creative individuals and the need for designers to experience the world. Her studio, Hello World Studio, aims to provide opportunities for emerging designers. She emphasizes the importance of not defining success based on external factors and encourages emerging designers always to acknowledge opportunities.
Key Takeaways:
Learn the importance of travel for creative individuals to gain new perspectives and experiencesUnderstand why designers should have the experience to stay relevant in the industryDiscover how her studio, Hello World Studio, aims to provide opportunities for emerging designersExplain the responsibility of Millennials to prepare the field for future design workforce and what we all can learn from Gen ZFind out Krislam’s success tips for emerging designers




Quotes:
"If you stay in one place for too long, you just need to see different things, be with other people." - Krislam Chin"Success is what you determine what success is." - Krislam Chin"Never let the world define what success looks like to you." - Krislam Chin

Timestamps:
(02:27) Introduction to Krislam Chin, how she met Harrison, and the benefits of traveling to creative individuals
(04:53) How she achieved her ultimate dream of being submerged in education as a student, educator, and studio owner
(07:04) The interplay between teaching and being a student running a studio and the importance of providing experience for emerging designers
(10:41) Acknowledging the challenges and responsibilities of students, making dreams come true for emerging designers and companies through Hello World Studio, and her motivation to move to Downtown LA
(15:25) What we can learn from Gen Z, reflecting on the stress and toxic culture in design, and the responsibility of Millennials to prepare the field for future design workforce
(24:48) From What If to Why Not: Success Tips for Emerging Designers 
(31:01) Why the individual, not external factors, define success
(34:12) How she radically accepted herself as a fun teacher using rubber duckies
(37:44) How to get in touch with Krislam and collaboration with small businesses
(38:48) Her appreciation for the podcast and community-building efforts


About The Guest:
Krislam Chin is a designer and educator based in West LA. With a passion for teaching, she has pursued a career in graphic design and recently launched Hello World Studio. She is dedicated to providing opportunities for emerging designers and helping them gain the experience they need to succeed in the industry.


Connect with Krislam Chin:
Website
Hello World Studio
LinkedIn


Referenced Links:
Michael Dahms
Two Backpacks Book




What's Next:
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We will be diving into the fascinating story of the rise and fall of InVision. In this episode, join host Harrison Wheeler and special guest Jay Demetillo as they take you on a journey through the history of InVision and discuss the impact it had on the design industry. They explore the evolution of design tools, from the days of Photoshop and Dreamweaver to the emergence of Sketch and the game-changing introduction of InVision. Join us as we reminisce about the challenges designers faced, the joy of collaborative work, and the race to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving design tool landscape.
About The Guest(s):
Jay Demetillo is a design practitioner with extensive experience in the industry. He has traveled the world giving talks on design and has a deep understanding of the importance of inclusive design and bringing value to design through business.
Key Takeaways:
InVision was a disruptive design tool that gained popularity in 2014-2015 with its cloud-based sharing and commenting features.InVision failed to keep up with competitors like Sketch and Figma due to a lack of updates and communication.Invision's collaborative tool, Freehand tool was acquired by Miro in 2023.Invsion announced their termination of services by end of the 2024 calendar year.
Show notes:
00:00 Introduction and Birthday Celebration
00:29 The Rise and Fall of InVision
02:04 The Evolution of Design Tools
02:23 The Emergence of Collaborative Work
02:51 Insights and Anecdotes
03:52 Jay's World Tour and Talks
06:39 The Rise and Fall of Envision: A Discussion
10:10 The Challenges of Designing for Multiple Devices
11:39 The Emergence of Sketch
17:01 The Role of Zeppelin in the Design Process
18:13 Discussing Envision's Early Days
18:41 Introduction to Envision's Features
20:22 The Impact on User Testing
22:14 Marketing and Community Engagement
24:30 Investment and Funding
25:17 Product Updates and Innovations
27:32 The Downfall of InVision Studio
33:17 Reflecting on InVision's Missteps
35:10 Final Thoughts on InVision's Journey


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Chris Do, a personal branding coach and host of The Futur podcast, discusses the importance of personal branding and standing out in a changing market. He emphasizes the need to show up authentically and express your unique perspective and the value of thought leadership and writing in building your personal brand. He also shares his experience with coaching and the benefits of investing in mentorship. He encourages listeners to start now and act toward their goals, reminding them that their future selves will thank them.
Key Takeaways:
Gain insight into Chris' fascination with luxury goods and brandsInvestigate AI's impact on design and explore alternative approachesIdentify his most notable 20-year career projectsUncover the essence of personal branding and authentic representationLeverage social media to enhance your personal brandDevelop an audience through engaging writingImplement a two-step product development approachUnderstand different learning styles and apply knowledge effectivelyOvercome development plateaus by applying learned skillsReceive his high-level advice: What he would do differently if he could travel back in time


Quotes:
"People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it." - Simon Sinek"Your CV are your qualifications, but what perspective do you bring? What about your cultural currency?" - Chris Do"Every decision you make has a consequence. Otherwise, there's no point to have a lens or perspective on this." - Chris Do"Develop in public, iterate as you go. Your audience is bought in, and you have great use case and feedback." - Chris Do"Start now. Your future self will thank you for it." - Chris Do

Timestamps:
(03:01) Introduction to Chris Do
(04:17) Icebreaker: Why he's currently obsessed with luxury goods and brands
(07:57) Icebreaker: How AI replaces designers and why it's essential to shift and explore options
(08:54) Icebreaker: The 2 projects that stood out in his 20-year career
(12:19) What it means to show up and brand yourself
(15:01) How your social media presence can either make or break your personal brand
(20:16) Building an audience through writing
(22:46) Product development in 2 steps
(25:41) The 2 types of learners, why it's essential to apply what you've learned, and how to navigate plateaus through development
(29:41) What he would do if he could travel back in time


About The Guest:
Chris Do is a personal branding coach, renowned designer, and the host of the successful podcast The FuWhat'sth Chris Do. He is also the CEO and Founder of The Futur, a platform providing creative professionals education and resources. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, he has worked on various projects, including music videos and 360 campaigns. He is passionate about helping individuals and businesses build their personal brands and achieve success in their creative endeavors.


Connect with Chris Do:
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
Twitter
Podcast


Referenced Links:


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Adekunle Oduye, a Design Engineer at Plaid, discusses his journey from art to design to engineering and how he became a design engineer. He emphasizes the importance of understanding both design and code and communicating and collaborating effectively. He also talks about his podcast, "Code & Pixels," which aims to provide practical guidance and insights for those interested in design engineering. He encourages listeners to try new things and not be afraid to fail to learn and grow. 
Key Takeaways:
Discover the importance of understanding design and code to bridge the gap between the two disciplinesUnderstand why design engineers should be comfortable with ambiguity, project management skills, and excellent communication and collaborationLearn the power of trying new things and not being afraid to fail to learn and innovate
Quotes:
"I think for me, it's always, you're going to learn best by doing. That's how I learned, I was like, all right, I'm going to build this thing. I have no clue. I'm going to build it, but I'm just going to figure it out." - Adekunle Oduye"Don't be afraid to try new things. You're going to try things and it's going to be frustrating and you're going to feel down about yourself. But I think that's like anything, it's like you're going to suck at first." - Adekunle OduyeTimestamps:
(01:20) Introduction to Adekunle Oduye and his experience in design and engineering
(01:54) Icebreaker: His current obsession with going to museums
(03:23) Icebreaker: His interest in incorporating AI into his work
(05:29) Icebreaker: His preference for lo-fi hip-hop music while working
(06:54) His background in art and transition to design and engineering
(11:32) Evaluating the role of a design engineer based on project needs
(15:28) Core competencies of a design engineer: ambiguity, project management, communication
(21:05) "Code & Pixels Podcast and its impact
(24:58) His upcoming speaking engagements
(26:31) Why you should try new things and not be afraid to fail
About The Guest:
Adekunle Oduye, a design engineer at Plaid, is based in Brooklyn, New York. With a background in art and design, Adekunle has a unique perspective on the intersection of design and engineering. He is passionate about using AI in his work and constantly explores ways to leverage it in design systems. He is also the co-host of the podcast "Code & Pixels," where he discusses various topics related to design engineering.
Connect with Adekunle Oduye:
Website
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
Code & Pixels




Referenced Links:
That Conference
Converge US




What's Next:
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Kendall "Boo Boo" Howse, a Senior Designer, Illustrator, and Musician, discusses his design journey, which started with creating artwork for his music projects that eventually led to him freelancing full-time. He shares his passion for Dungeons & Dragons and its evolution to becoming a more inclusive and cooperative game. He emphasizes the importance of community and inclusivity in design and shares his experiences advocating for diversity and equity in the tech industry. He also encourages slow progress and reevaluation of solutions to create meaningful change.
Key Takeaways:
Experience cooperative storytelling and communication through Dungeons & DragonsFollow his journey from creating band merchandise to becoming a full-time freelancer and eventually joining the tech industryExplore his commitment to creating inclusive spaces and advocating for marginalized communities within the Bay Area Black Designers communityLearn about community, collaboration, allyship, and systemic change from his perspectiveReflect on the challenges and opportunities of working in the tech industry as a designer and on the need for progress and meaningful action
Quotes:
"If I believe that I am to do this alone, if I believe that the best ideas available to me are already in my head, I am doomed to fail." - Kendall "Boo Boo" Howse"In alternative spaces, we have the power to set our own rules and create new realities." - Kendall "Boo Boo" Howse"Every once in a while, we need to take stock and see if there has actually been progress forward." - Kendall "Boo Boo" HowseTimestamps:
(01:28) Introduction of the multi-talented Kendall "Boo Boo" Howse
(02:24) Icebreaker: How playing Dungeons & Dragons impacts him as a designer
(06:31) The history of his nickname "Boo Boo" and why he sought out alternative culture as a kid
(10:02) Feeling isolated after the Murder of George Floyd, the transformation of his music from despair and frustration to hope and encouragement, and the self-made CEO myth
(17:39) His path into design, freelancing, and how he almost lost his home
(24:03) ERGs and Bay Area Black Designers: His career in tech and inclusion
(26:29) The importance of allyship to get through marginalization and isolation and how to make a meaningful impact in the workplace
(31:04) How to measure systemic change and the importance of knowing the differences between no progress, slow progress, and false progress
(32:21) Ways to get in touch with Kendall
About The Guest:
Kendall "Boo Boo" Howse is a Senior Designer, Illustrator, and Musician based in Oakland, California. With a background in DIY punk rock bands, he developed a passion for design and visual communication. He has freelanced for various clients and worked in-house at CoreOS, later acquired by Red Hat and IBM. He also actively promotes diversity and inclusion in the tech industry by helping companies form ERGs, co-chairing Bay Area Black Designers, and facilitating Frame Shift Consulting.
Connect with Kendall "Boo Boo" Howse:
Email
Instagram


Referenced Links:
Dungeons & Dragons
Mass Arrest
Zulu


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