Blackstone Products’ Post

It’s been a whirlwind the last two weeks… and I feel like I haven’t even caught my breath. Today, I needed to get inspired. To get out of my routine. So, I asked my partner to come with me to drop off my daughter to her dad’s, then head to the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego. The quietness. The open spaces. The artwork. And all of it by the water in La Jolla. I try my best to be well-rounded. To not work all the time, when that’s my inclination. So, in between calls for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses - NYC, and launching my Kickstarter for “How to Disappoint Your Parents in 10 Shameless Steps,” I also: - took my daughter to celebrate her friend’s bday, who’s really like a little sister - went to celebrate Hilary Cocalis’s rebrand for Sipwell Wine Co. at their launch party! - went to San Diego Innovation Week at the Padres Stadium - met with my new business venture partners for NiceTiger - took my daughter to jiujitsu and tennis lessons and therapy - worked out with my trainer - and so much more I love my life. I love the people in it. I love my work. And, I definitely love my daughter. But sometimes, I also realize that I haven’t acknowledged to myself that I’ve maxed out. So tonight, I told my partner that I simply needed to go home. Sleep in my own bed. Be quiet. With my own energy. (I also didn’t say it quite so clearly, because I’m human.) You’re not always going to get it right. But maybe the small steps you take every day can get you closer to where you want to be. And, maybe try to remember to celebrate a little along the way. I’m trying to do the same. ❤️ With love, Judy #womenfounders #aanhpi #divorcedmom #womeninbusiness #divorcedmomlife #aapi #woc #bipoc #womenentrepreneurs #mindsetcoach

Community if there were EVER a time when I needed your help, it would be TODAY 🙏🏾 One year ago I made a bold decision to make a career pivot from the bedside to VC. Although I have initially leaned heavily on my healthcare experience to impact digital health and MedTech companies, I have also been intentional about not only being the change but also being a champion for blsck representation and finding ways to help other Black individuals (whether active investors or emerging) mobilize capital and make venture capital more inclusive. The role you see below is my DREAM ROLE! If you have ever 1) engaged with me, 2) been driven to sign up to receive my content 3)been inspired by my engagement (whether in person or online), or 3) simply know me and have seen my journey in the last year Please write one (1) sentence as to why I would be a great fit and tag Robert Gordon IV with BLCK VC I have never done things outside the box until I started this journey and now that's how I am about doing things. I was inspired by Jeanine Suah to put myself out there and ask for help to get what I want in life! Thank you in advance to anyone who helps. I will not forget it. #venturecapital #blackinvestors #blckvc

As the clock strikes midnight, we stand hand in hand, my partner and best friend, at the donut drop, embracing the sweet promises of the New Year. 🕰🎉 Together, we envision a future where success intertwines with every venture, especially in our cherished company, Streamline IT Solutions. 🚀💻 This journey extends beyond the boardroom, as we aspire to uplift our community, bridging the realms of business and social impact. 🌐💙 In the tapestry of resolutions, we weave threads of innovation, compassion, and growth, determined to create ripples of positive change. 🌱✨ The donuts fall, symbolizing not just the passage of time but the opportunities that descend with each moment. 🍩✨ Here's to late-night strategy sessions and early morning breakthroughs, to challenges embraced and triumphs celebrated. 🌅🚀 May our endeavors not only elevate our company but also contribute to the collective prosperity of our community. 🤝🏙 #NewYearNewBeginnings #PartnerInSuccess #BestFriendGoals #DonutDropDelight #StreamlineITSolutions #InnovationNation #CommunityFirst #SuccessJourney #EmbracingChange #TogetherWeThrive #BusinessAndBeyond #PassionProject #DreamBigWorkHard #ImpactfulLeadership #ChasingDreams #FutureFocused #TimelessBond #PositiveRipples #SweetSuccess #StrategicVisions #BeyondTheBoardroom

I was thinking about the CPG landscape and what could I do to make it better for founders and consumers. Here is what I came up with, please add any I missed in the comments: ➡️ Foster diversity - need more founders and investors that don’t look like me. ➡️ Provide honest feedback on products and services. Wasting years on a bad idea is worse than losing money. ➡️ Take time each week to network with new founders and young people to help them along. ➡️ Point out inequities that I see in the CPG space. ➡️ Highlight food industry issues that need solving and white spaces that exist for founders to fill. ➡️ Support brands with outstanding products that are making the food system better!

Women of the Channel asked me what advice I would give my younger self. Check out some of these fantastic answers from inspiring women! ❓What advice would you give your younger self today if you could? 🤔

Today we celebrate Stuart Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer at Vested.   Stuart has been active in StartupExperts since 2023, and we are excited for all of the things that we can learn from Stuart’s extensive experience working in the start-up world.  We asked a few questions to learn more about Stuart, and here are some highlights! 1) What are you most excited about in 2024? "I'm excited to expand workflow automation by leveraging integrations to streamline administrative tasks, accelerate operations, reduce errors, and gain efficiency insights that will optimize internal processes and client services." 2) Why did you become a StartupExperts Member, and how has the community influenced you professionally? "I joined StartupExperts to connect with a community of like-minded professionals encountering similar learning curves and business challenges. As leaders of small but mighty teams, we often have to figure things out on our own. While self-sufficiency has merits, I believe we can grow faster by exchanging ideas and lending each other support."

Sequoia is focusing a huge amount of energy on allowing our clients to gain a true understanding of their people costs. I've represented PEOs for 15+ years and while it's important to get this selection correct, the cost difference between one's options is really trivial when compared to getting your organization's compensation and equity strategy wrong. This is why I'm really excited for the work we are doing and the tools that I now can offer my clients. Come check it out! #finance #cfo #financeleaders #peoplespend #peopleleaders #humanresources #startups #investment #boardroom

Cheers to the visionaries, risk-takers, and game-changers! May their legacy inspire us to continue pushing boundaries and making a mark. Happy Founders Day!!! #FoundersDay #foundersday2024

In just 25 days, Allegiance will be celebrating a monumental milestone - our 25th anniversary! Over the last quarter-century, we've embarked on a journey filled with invaluable lessons, growth, and transformation. As we count down to 1 March, we're thrilled to share the 25 lessons that have shaped our journey and mission. Lesson 1: Discovering Our Why There was a defining moment in our history when we discovered the reason for our existence. This revelation has been the driving force behind everything we do. It's not about the products; it's about unlocking true value for advisors and enabling them to help their clients find deeper meaning. Our massive transformative purpose was crystalized: To empower advisers to guide their clients toward discovering, achieving, and living remarkable lives. This purpose drives us forward, inspiring every action we take and every decision we make. -Kobus Barnard (CEO) Stay tuned as we unveil more lessons learned on this incredible journey. Here's to enabling more remarkable lives, one lesson at a time. #Allegiance25 #EmpoweringAdvisors #RemarkableLives #CountdownTo25

What core values guide your vision for the future? Let's dive into our dreams and discover the principles that fuel our personal visions, as we celebrate Founders' Day tomorrow and beyond. #DreamNoLittleDreams