My Biggest Takeaways from Inbound 19

She Breaks Thru

Hello and welcome to Season 2 of She Breaks Thru podcast! We are excited to begin this new season with a bang. Today's episode is a solo episode where I share my biggest takeaways from Inbound 2019. This is an event you must attend!

I was selected to be a speaker and it was my first time there. There were 26 000 people in the audience and 250 speakers. Among those speakers, there was Alexis Ohanian ( Serena Williams' husband), Chip and Joanna Gaines, Bryan Stevenson, Elizabeth Gilbert, Katie Couric, Dharmesh Shah and so many more. There were so many takeaways from Inbound 2019.The first thing that impressed me was how well organized it was. 26 000 + people and we never ran out of food! That was impressive.

Dharmesh Shah, Co-founder of HubSpot and Inbound shared an impressive story of how his journey has been since starting HubSpot and Inbound. He shared how you can face your fears and define your destiny. One of the things that stood out for me was when he shared on fear of commitment. Dharmesh never learned how to swim until he reached a certain age. When he eventually did learn how to swim, he just went all in. he also shared on how he tried so hard to change his Indian accent just so he could fit in. He eventually realized that he was never going to fit in and later realized that his accent will work to his advantage. A lot of us always try to change ourselves to fit in. This could be your accent, your body, the way you look or talk. This reminds me of when my daughter was young. She did not like the way she looked, from her curves to her lips. When the Kardashians made curves and big lips popular, it changed my daughter's perspective. She finally became comfortable with her looks. I don't believe that we need Kim Kardashian should accept the different traits we have. It is important to redefine the look of things. This is another lesson I learned from Dharmesh Shah.

Another person who made an impact in my life is Arlan Hamilton, an angel investor. She is the founder and managing partner of Backstage Capital. The first black woman to own a big successful investment company. She talked about how hard it was for her when she started out and trying to fit in. Despite all her challenges, being a gay African American woman starting out in the industry. Usually, when you imagine an investor, you picture a tall handsome caucasian man wearing a suit. Arlan has redefined what an investor is, what an investor looks like. As you build your business or empire, what are you going to redefine? If Arlan had not redefined what an investor looks like we would not be where we are. If Dharmesh had not redefined what a successful business owner looks like we would not be here. They did not use their challenges and circumstances as excuses. Don't take your challenges as using them as an excuse. Both Arlan and Dharmesh faced a lot of challenges but they faced their fears and overcome their challenges.

Another person who left a huge impression on me is Bryan Stevenson. He is a lawyer, social justice activist, founder/executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, and a clinical professor at New York University School of Law. He has faced a lot of negativity in his life and career. He is changing the world and the way people see things. One time when he went to court, a guard did not allow him to go in because he believed Bryan did not look like a lawyer. Bryan did not let challenges bring him down, instead, he is changing things and starting a movement. He is fighting for equal justice and although it has not been easy he is fighting for what he believes in. What do you believe in that is so true that you are willing to fight for it? What do you stand for? What are you willing to stand by? You can start a movement and it's up to you, choose to believe. You start a movement by going out there and make a change. Have your own category and start your own moment.

That is really my biggest takeaways from Inbound 2019. I am so excited for Season 2 so subscribe and invite your friends to subscribe too. Leave a review on our podcast and we will send a gift your way. We have an awesome season instore for you! I know you will enjoy it. Let's grow together, let's be empowered together. See you next week on an awesome episode with Heather Dominick.