In this episode of Breaking Precedent, host Leah Solivan dives into the extraordinary journey of Alejandra Campoverdi, an award-winning author and trailblazer who has navigated the complexities of social mobility and the emotional toll of being a first-generation achiever. Alejandra's memoir, "First Gen," offers a poignant and relatable account of what it means to be a trailblazer, resonating with readers across various demographics. Alejandra shares her experiences with vulnerability and empathy, highlighting the dual rejection faced by first-generation achievers, her role in the Obama White House, and her non-profit : The First Gen Fund.
Guest Bio and Links:
Alejandra Campoverdi is a nationally recognized women’s health advocate, an award-winning author of First Gen: A Memoir, a groundbreaking account of her journey as a first-generation college graduate and professional. Alejandra served as the White House Deputy Director of Hispanic Media during the Obama administration and is the founder of the First Gen Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support to first-generation students.
Resources:
Show Notes:
- (0:00) Intro
- (0:30) Leah introduces guest, Alejandra Campoverdi
- (2:00) Happy Book Birthday to First Gen by Alejandra Campoverdi
- (4:30) The inspiration behind first gen
- (9:30) Leah reads a snippet from First Gen
- (11:30) Supporting the next generation and balancing personal and professional life
- (15:45) The pain of losing friendships
- (17:30) The emotional toll of being a first gen
- (20:30) Invisible inheritances and emotional imprints
- (22:15) How Alejandra found the courage to break cycles
- (25:00) The immigrant story and risk-taking
- (27:15) Joining the Obama campaign
- (30:35) “I’d rather fail than have regret.”
- (33:45) The concept of "blindfolded cliff jumping" in taking risks
- (39:45) The impact of Angela Bassett's words
- (44:00) The importance of self protection
- (52:00) The White House - embodying the entire experience
- (56:45) Benefits of long term mentorship and support
- (59:00) The easter eggs in Alejandra's book
- (1:03:30) Alejandra - Precedent breaker, setter or maintainer
- (1:05:35) “It is a special soul that is born into a family line to change the direction. To change the cycles, to break the cycles, to set a precedent, to break a precedent.”
- (1:07:00) Hopes for the nex generation
- (1:09:30 First Gen Scholarship Fund
---
Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.
Connect with Leah:
What is Breaking Precedent?
Welcome to Breaking Precedent, the podcast that dives deep into the stories of trailblazers, innovators, and game-changers who are redefining societal precedents. Join us as we sit down with extraordinary individuals who are pushing the boundaries of social norms, challenging precedents, and setting new ones in their fields. Whether it’s in technology, art, social justice, or beyond, Breaking Precedent is your source of inspiration for understanding how precedents are broken and new paths are forged.