loader from loading.io

Diversifying The Financial Services Industry with Choir

Mission Driven Business

Release Date: 01/24/2023

The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 84: Improving Financial Security for the LGBTQ+ Community with Debt Free Guys David and John Auten-Schneider show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 84: Improving Financial Security for the LGBTQ+ Community with Debt Free Guys David and John Auten-Schneider

Mission Driven Business

Brian Thompson chats with Queer Money podcast hosts and Debt Free Guys founders David and John Auten-Schneider. David and John have more than a decade of experience helping the queer community thrive financially through their podcast, website, and emails. On the episode, they discuss the importance of being intentional with how you choose to grow and engage with your audience. They also open up about some setbacks they’ve experienced as entrepreneurs and tips they’ve learned in their decade-long entrepreneurial journey. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses have a purpose beyond...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 83: Braving Discomfort to Live Your Purpose with Channyn Lynne Parker show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 83: Braving Discomfort to Live Your Purpose with Channyn Lynne Parker

Mission Driven Business

Brian Thompson chats with human rights advocate and Brave Space Alliance CEO Channyn Lynne Parker. Channyn is a public speaker whose accolades include the inaugural Trans100 award, Henrietta Lacks award, and Equality Illinois Freedom Award. As CEO of Brave Space Alliance, Channyn shepherds the first Black-led, trans-led TLGBQ+ center on the south side of Chicago. On the episode, Channyn shares her journey to becoming the CEO of Brave Space Alliance and the significance of finding alignment in life. She also reveals why the nursery rhyme “Row, Row, Row  Your Boat” is deeper than you...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 82: Creating a Thriving Private Social Network with Shadé Akande show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 82: Creating a Thriving Private Social Network with Shadé Akande

Mission Driven Business

Brian Thompson chats with Shadé Akande, founder and CEO of ONE X LEAGUE, a private social league for Black and Afro-Latina women executives and founders. With more than 18 years of global HR experience at companies like Google and Walmart, Shadé shares her journey of creating a community during that pandemic that blossomed into ONE X LEAGUE. Tune in to hear how a series of brunches sparked the idea for a business all about building relationships and how the transformative power of feedback made ONE X LEAGUE the social network it is today. Episode Highlights  Mission-driven businesses...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 81: How To Use Instagram to Amplify Your Mission and Engage Your Audience show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 81: How To Use Instagram to Amplify Your Mission and Engage Your Audience

Mission Driven Business

Instagram is more than just a social media platform. It has evolved into a visual storytelling hub where businesses can connect deeply with their audience among the more than 1 billion monthly active users on the platform. On this special episode, Brian delves into the intricacies of marketing on Instagram. Whether you’re just starting out looking to enhance your online presence, this episode will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to leverage Instagram effectively. Episode Highlights Outline your engagement strategy. Instagram provides a unique platform for you to showcase your...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 80: Transforming Lives and AI with Wendy Gonzalez show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 80: Transforming Lives and AI with Wendy Gonzalez

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with tech trailblazer and Sama CEO Wendy Gonzalez. Sama is a mission-driven Certified B Corp that seeks to raise the standards for both machine learning and global working conditions. The company’s innovative approach to ethically sourcing and training tech talent has lifted more than 68,000 people out of poverty since 2008. On the episode, Wendy dives deep into Sama’s unique for-profit business structure, including reserving a Board of Directors seat for its non-profit on its non-profit roots. She also touts the importance of conviction and self-awareness when building and...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 79: Niching Down with Hugo E. Gomez show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 79: Niching Down with Hugo E. Gomez

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with entrepreneur and Hispanic marketing leader Hugo E. Gomez. As the founder of HispanicMarketing.com, Hugo helps U.S. businesses connect with the Hispanic market. On the episode, Hugo discusses the importance of niching down for marketing and creating personal branding on social media. He also shares the lessons learned on his journey from an employee to self-employed, including embracing uncertainty and trusting himself to figure things out. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses seek win-wins. HispanicMarketing.com is composed of four sub-brands -- Abogados NOW, Doctores...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 78: Debunking Overnight Success with John Driscoll show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 78: Debunking Overnight Success with John Driscoll

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with entrepreneur and mobile app pioneer John Driscoll. As the co-founder and CEO of Naked Development, John and his team are rewriting the rules of mobile app development, raising the bar for innovation and creativity. John shares invaluable insights on the courage, patience, and perseverance needed to navigate the unpredictable to succeed in business. He also debunks the myth of overnight success. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses pick their fight. John believes you shouldn’t start a business unless you have a mission because having a true mission is like picking a...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 77: Master Your Mid-Year Business Review In 3 Easy Steps show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 77: Master Your Mid-Year Business Review In 3 Easy Steps

Mission Driven Business

On this special episode, Brian dives into the all-important mid-year business review. Whether you’re navigating the early stages of entrepreneurship or deep into running a medium-sized business, the mid-year business review is the perfect opportunity to take stock of your progress so you can stay on track toward your goals. Learn why the mid-year review is essential, what key areas to focus on, and three practical steps to conduct a thorough assessment. Episode Highlights 1. Revisit your mission, vision, and values. Your mission statement is the heartbeat of your business, articulating its...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 76: Finding Your Golden Threads with Elizabeth Jetton show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 76: Finding Your Golden Threads with Elizabeth Jetton

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with financial planner-turned-business coach Elizabeth Jetton, M.Ed., CFP. Elizabeth has made igniting passion a throughline of her career, evolving from the first female stockbroker in Atlanta to founding a financial planning firm and now working as a business coach and teacher. On the episode, Elizabeth gets to the heart of what makes a mission-driven business successful. She dives deep into how to identify your unique gifts and utilize them to create a business that serves your needs and makes an impact. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses reflect their owners’ golden...

info_outline
The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 75: Building A Vision-Driven Business with Cara Bedford show art The Mission Driven Business Podcast Episode 75: Building A Vision-Driven Business with Cara Bedford

Mission Driven Business

Brian chats with marketing expert Cara Bedford. As the founder and CEO of Infinite Marketing, Cara leverages the global talent economy to drive impactful campaigns for mid-to-large-sized businesses, startups, and Fortune 500 companies. On the episode, Cara shares why having a clear vision for a business can create an authentic, cohesive brand narrative. She also stresses the importance of clear communication, effective delegation, and asking the right questions. Episode Highlights Mission-driven businesses are vision-driven businesses. When Cara thinks about mission-driven businesses, she...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Brian chats with Sonya Dreizler and Liv Gagnon, the co-founders of Choir, a business dedicated to lifting the voices of people of color, women, and non-binary professionals in industries historically represented by white men. Sonya and Liv share why they started with a focus on the financial services industry. They also discuss how they’ve adapted to meet the needs of their customers while staying true to their company’s mission.

Episode Highlights

Mission-driven businesses look inward and outward.

Like other guests on the podcast, Liv defines a mission-driven business as one that balances doing good with making a financial impact for those involved with the business. Sonya expanded on that definition by noting that mission-driven businesses can also apply their mission within the company itself. At Choir, that means not only helping other companies diversify people speaking at conferences and in the media but also hiring internal professionals and contractors from diverse backgrounds.

“What’s the mission you’re accomplishing with the business, and what are you doing inside of the business as well?” Sonya asked.

“The financial impact is going to go back to people who have been underpaid, underserved,” Liv added.

Being aware of a problem is powerful.

Part of Choir’s mission is to use data to make organizers aware of how conferences lack diversity. A recent analysis by the company showed that men of color, in particular, are lacking in the financial services conference circuit. It’s a data point that may be surprising but is a good starting point for change.

“Just knowing and understanding the challenge makes next year a lot easier to increase representation — not just for representation’s sake but to make it a more interesting event and draw more people,” Sonya said.

Successful businesses adapt.

Liv and Sonya set out to connect professionals from underrepresented backgrounds with conference circuits and media. But how they’re achieving that aim has already changed a few times based on client needs. For instance, the platform they had initially wanted to build, Voices, got pushed back to launch the Choir certification first. They also iterated their pricing structure for Choir based on client feedback.

“You become so much more emotionally tied to your ideas and your business model, so it is a challenge every time you have to pivot because you’ve put so much heart into it,” Liv said.

“People have a lot of opinions about what we’re doing,” Sonya added. “We have changed things because of people’s suggestions and made what we offer better, and we’ve also looked at feedback and said, ‘It doesn’t fit with our mission.’”

Resources + Links

About Brian and the Mission Driven Business Podcast 

Brian Thompson, JD/CFP, is a tax attorney and certified financial planner who specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. The Mission Driven Business podcast was born out of his passion for helping social entrepreneurs create businesses with purpose and profit.

On the podcast, Brian talks with diverse entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Listeners hear stories of experiences, strength, and hope and get practical advice to help them build businesses that might just change the world, too.