For disadvantaged groups like women and people of color, achieving career success can be much more difficult than for others. Workplace representation among these groups is also a major issue in areas such as technology and electronic money.
That’s why Lisa Skeete Tatum, Founder and CEO of Landit, is dedicated to promoting the success of women and diverse groups in the workplace, and supporting companies in the retain talented employees from a variety of backgrounds. Former entrepreneur and venture capitalist uses her extensive knowledge of career pathing to create personalized “books” for other women looking to advance their careers their.
By providing personalized career plans to individuals and businesses, Landit customers can more effectively achieve their business goals. Furthermore, Landit corporate customers have seen significant success with their dev tools, which, according to their website, includes a 120% increase in mobility, a 200% increase in company engagement and 125% increase in employee retention.
Success brought a village
According to Tatum, these achievements would not have been possible without her “dream team” that includes not only her professional advisory board but also her family.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the people who believed in me…the people who saw something in me and took the chance, the people who helped me see the things I even saw in me. didn’t even know it was possible,” she told CNBC Make It. “I come from a long line of people who have come before and who are committed to making things happen for other people. And it was my mother who said ‘you can go out there and start that company.'”
Tatum says her parents encouraged her to take risks, which are essential to building a successful brand or company.
Challenges of entrepreneurship
Even with her previous experience as a venture capitalist, Tatum says funding and raising capital is a challenge for her. Black women face undue difficulty in accessing capital to start a business. As of July 2021, Black female startup founders only receive 0.34% of total venture capital spent in the US
“Business is tough for anyone. But there are additional layers that come in when you’re a founder of color. And of course, finances come first,” she said. “You can’t grow unless you have the resources. You can’t hire people. You can’t invest in technology. So it’s still challenging; however, I was able to surround myself with challenges.” great sponsors and angel investors believed in what we did. But the road was very, very painful.”
Another hurdle that Tatum calls “difficult for every founder” is hiring the right talent. She says that, for founders of color, staying true to your vision is crucial.
“There are many factors when you consider the people that you want to bring into the culture that you want to create. We are a microcosm of society. So you have to be aware of that when you’re building. I think it has special challenges for founders of color, which means you have to approach it differently. You have to feel comfortable with the word no. You have to be firm, no. your swings and your vision and your commitment to what you’re doing.”
Be your own best advocate
The two-time ivy federation alum is no stranger to changing career paths, as she’s a trained chemical engineer. However, Tatum says the key to her success is being her own best advocate.
“You have to own and direct your career and advocate for yourself, or no one will do it for you,” she explains. “You have to know your values, your skills, and your goals. And when you have those concentric or concentric circles of opportunities, use them to advance your cause. We should be purposeful about it. that, as well as about the projects that we have.”
For founders and budding entrepreneurs, Tatum advises “protect your brand, like your career depends on it, because it’s 30% of what it takes to succeed.”
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