Akinwole Garrett (Aki) is an accomplished senior strategy and business development executive with over fifteen years of data driven corporate development, business development, strategy and management experience at the intersection of technology, media and telecommunications. He sits on the Fuqua Minority Alumni Advisory Board at Duke University, the Board of Trustees of The Shipley School and is a founding General Partner of Sankofa Family Ventures, a family office committed to investing in Black and Brown VC fund managers.
Aki talks about his journey from growing up in South Philly to becoming a media executive at Revolt TV. He talks about the importance of maintaining this order: God, family, then work; this in turn will lead to success,
Time on this planet is short - do things that give meaning to your life!
๐ซ Old friends who were in a fellowship program with Core Leadership New York 15 years ago.
01:09๐ฆ๐พ Aki was born and raised in a big family of educators in South Philadelphia: from public to private school and changes in his trajectory.
02:10๐ Having 30 first cousins: growing up with role models and having accountability training by his brother.
06:14โถ๏ธ Soaking in all opportunities and figuring out who he is.
09:10๐ College parties and having fun: finance and accounting and undergrad who worked for Wall Street and Bear Stearns.
11:49๐จ๐พโ๐ผ Being on Wall Street during the financial crisis: getting back to business school, however, banking took a toll on his health.
13:59๐ Getting married and getting to media: changing life-style and moving from NY to North Carolina.
16:00โจ God, family, and work are Akiโs priorities: providence and the divine order when everything falls into place.
20:26๐ Children are Godโs children: kids are blessings and spirits parents need to nurture in the specific relationship.
24:38๐คฉ โI'm so much more important to my children, and so much more important to God, than I am to any job.โ
27:40๐งธ Akiโs oldest daughter is just like him, the middle daughter is like his grandma, and the son is a confident ball of energy.
29:28๐ฆธ๐พโโ๏ธ Every superpower comes with edges and shadow: kids are a reflection of you.
35:56๐ซ The Shipley School commencement speech: being a free and happy child with a safe place to fail and chase his dreams.
37:33๐ฏ Circles that help you during life: Core people Aki always can count on.
41:55๐ Akiโs RONdering: staying urgent - the time on this planet is short, so do stuff that gives meaning to your life.
48:00โ๐พ Revolt wants to change the narrative for Black and brown people globally: Mercy Street entertainment.
50:15Links