Podcasting pioneers and geniuses, Michael and Lauryn Bostick, always provide their audience with the “tangible” tips and guests we all could use for educating ourselves. Whether that be health and wellness like how to improve your sleep quality and the science behind it all, or comprehending your relationships, or debating controversies like new media and parenting and routines, or the power of investing, there is a slew of knowledge you can hear from not only the couple and business partners, but other experts or celebrities who jump in week to week.
This week, we listened to the episode featuring the bright Kira Jackson- who needs all the rounds of applause for her delivery on such a dense topic.
Talking about investments, the sequential ways to raise money depending on your status, and how to find investors that align with your goals for the company (both short and long term), she reveals how easy it can be when your company is transparent in its mission.
Seventy-percent of funds go towards women-driven products and ideas. But, that comes with many men debating where and where not to put their money.
Being the “other”, as the young business woman puts it in her interview, is difficult enough and adding the age factor causes other misconceptions. But, as a woman herself, she knows what this largely targeted population of fellow females like and wish for in today’s society.
“I feel very lucky. I work for a very masculine fund, but my team understands the importance and the value of having someone different, unique, and unique perspective in the room.”
What she aims to do in this industry that shines through the most is increasing diversity of thought: how to bring in and embrace different ideas through representation of all perspectives. Understanding your potential in your specialty and what you wake up every day to do is when the job becomes more loved than the money.
“Money is important, but it is not the driving force.”
Looking at it from the founder point-of-view, Jackson unleashes a whole new trunk to stand tall in, and that is the fact that you are bringing these investors something they do not have. “Ask the question. You’re bringing them something that they could not have otherwise. You’re bringing them an opportunity to grow their LP’s money and their own returns.”
Ask away! Be brutally honest in what you need, and you will likely get through to the person you need who will financially alter your situation for the better.
In the space, she is consistently facing trivial encounters with seasoned male investors who work by the old rules they grew up with in the industry. Breaking through to those counterparts is not always the easiest task, but she does it with a sort of power that comes with being a knowledgeable female.
Admiring competitors is more than healthy she talks about, also including companies to do so with like CrunchBase. “Reverse engineer your list,” she provides the next steps, “Then reach out to those funds and say ‘I know you invested in this business…’.” Doing the outreach is where to start, with angels not institutions is also a piece of what we learned.
Kira Jackson can be heard more on her episode of The Skinny Confidential podcast.