Women Rising in Finance & Leadership

Intro: Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta, Georgia. It’s time for High Velocity Radio.

Lee Kantor: Lee Kantor here. Another episode of High Velocity Radio and this is gonna be a good one. Today we have award winning investor, podcaster, corporate leader, author, and founder of Dream Big Ventures, Staci LaToison. Welcome.

Staci LaToison: Hi. Thank you Lee. Happy to be here and excited to share a little bit about what I’ve been doing in my mission with your audience.

Lee Kantor: Well, I’m excited to learn more. So tell us a little bit about Dream Big Ventures. How are you serving folks?

Staci LaToison: You know, I I’m a single mom of two and had a corporate career at Chevron for 22 years, which, you know, I’m very grateful I learned so much and grew and oh my gosh, the amazing opportunities that I had. I was an expat and in China for five years and in Angola, Africa. So my family and I, we got a chance to travel and see the world. And I was managing billion dollar budgets and managing global teams. So I mean, it was incredible. But what I realized is, man, you know, after all this time, I’m always telling my children to chase their dreams. I said, why am I not doing the same? So in 2021, I started Dream Big Ventures, especially after learning that only 2% of VC venture capital funds are going to women and underrepresented founders. And I think actually it’s even less than that now, unfortunately. But I was like, you know, I’ve always been a person that I don’t like to talk, I do, I take action, and I’ve always been very like very, very passionate about equality, especially as a woman and, you know, working in a male dominated industry. So I decided to go out here and start investing in women and underrepresented businesses. So I’m an investor in five different venture capital funds, which are either women led or, you know, investing in women founders like portfolio. Um, Angels Investors Fund is for Latino startups. And I also invested in a women owned bank in Houston called agility Bank, a women owned winery and vineyard and a luxury boutique hotel in California. So these are just missions that, you know, I can wake up every day living in my purpose. I know that I am really Elevating our community because we’re often underestimated and overlooked. And, you know, I have a now, my daughter is 13 years old. And I mean, nothing is more important than being a role model for her so that she can see that anything is possible.

Lee Kantor: So now is your work primarily just looking for your next investment, or do you provide kind of a community or an incubator for these up and coming emerging companies that you’re even considering?

Staci LaToison: Yeah. So it’s a little bit of all of it. It’s really just grown. It started off as just investing, and then my contacts and my network is just so invaluable. It’s a treasure and it’s global. So it’s kind of also turned into how to support other women entrepreneurs and corporate leaders. You know, women who’ve I’ve been in their shoes. And you know, the reason why I started my podcast? Her Money Moves, is because, you know, if you see her, you can be her. And I never saw. So I’m Puerto Rican and Cuban. I had never seen a Latina in the C-suite at Chevron and in most oil companies. And then like then I look abroad and it’s in most industries, you know, even in the beauty industry is male dominated. Isn’t that crazy? And so, um, yeah, my my podcast, Her Money Moves, I interview women CEOs and business leaders and corporate directors just so that like my daughter and this, you know, this new generation and, you know, all of the women can see these very accomplished, incredible powerhouse women who are trailblazers, but they also share strategies and they share the challenges that they went through. And so, um, I’m very, very proud and passionate about the podcast. And then that turned into also summits, because then people who are, you know, engaged in the podcast, they want to meet in person, they want to meet the women who I’ve interviewed on the podcast. And so we had our second annual summit this past September in Houston. And, you know, even had the CEO of crumble and, um, you know, the founder and CEO of Nopalera and many other women who I’ve, um, interviewed on the podcast. And, I mean, it was the energy was just incredible. And, and it’s really, really proud to have my parents there and have my children there. And, um, and to be able to share this, that kind of, um, environment, you know, with so many people and so many women.

Lee Kantor: Now, um, as you build your community, are you focusing on women who want to be entrepreneurs. Are you focusing on women who want to kind of, uh, climb the corporate ladder? Which, uh, who who is, you know, kind of the avatar for your ideal community member.

Staci LaToison: Oh, it’s it’s both of those things because, I mean, that’s that’s me, right? I mean, 22 years, I was a corporate leader climbing up the ladder and so many things that I didn’t know and didn’t realize until I left and became an entrepreneur. And even just learning about money and investing that I didn’t know. I mean, I would just go to the bank and, uh, do you know, deposit money and withdraw money and never understood how important it is to have a relationship with your banker like I do now that I’m an entrepreneur. So, um, and I didn’t I never knew that I could invest in venture capital and that I could multifamily unit homes, and I could invest in a winery and storage units and just all these things, you know, because I wasn’t exposed to it. So that’s what I’m doing is, you know, opening up the door and just bringing awareness to women who, you know, corporate leaders, women who are entrepreneurs, um, single women, single mothers, you know, anybody who wants to join.

Lee Kantor: And then when you’re having these conversations with the leaders of companies that are led by women, what are some of the things you’ve learned that you might be able to share today? What are some do’s and don’ts when you’re building a, you know, a firm from nothing?

Staci LaToison: Oh, how much time do you have, Lee?

Lee Kantor: All the time in the world for you?

Staci LaToison: Wow. You know, I have interviewed women who sold their businesses for $1 billion. You know, for me, the biggest lesson in that was that to learn their story, that, you know, they didn’t come from a well-to-do background. Um, they really put their their heart in their hustle every single day. And, uh, and that it takes time. I think that’s the biggest, the biggest lesson that I have learned as an entrepreneur, um, you know, always been very an overachiever. And I want things now and done right away and, um, you know, and, and big visionary. But it actually, you know, it’s a marathon. It’s not a race. And especially if you want a company that is going to be sustainable. Um, you know, it’s it’s like it’s baby steps every single day growing your team. Um, but, you know, continuing to stay focused on sales, how important that is without revenue and profit, you know, you really don’t have a business, um, you know, being a good leader and just continuing to believe in yourself because you’re going to get so many no’s. So you have to stay resilient and know that no means next opportunity.

Lee Kantor: Now let’s talk a little bit. You mentioned it briefly. Kind of the financial side, the money side, the revenue side. Um. Was that kind of the impetus, um, for you to write your new book, Money Moves? Did you want to really make sure that that message got out there and that that there’s a real understanding that you have to get this component right if you want to grow anything?

Staci LaToison: Lee, I wrote this book because financial literacy is lacking in our communities. It’s not in our it’s not in the curriculum in our schools. It’s we don’t talk about it with our families at home. And yet every single day of our lives, we have to make a financial decision. So this book is a tool to equip the general population because there are some gatekeepers. There’s lots there’s people who work in finance who know how to navigate very well, but the majority of the population doesn’t. And that’s why so many people are living paycheck to paycheck and they are struggling and, you know, having to rent their entire lives, having to work their entire lives with no retirement, no savings. So this is my my mission and my gift to the world to give some tips and raise awareness. And I believe this book should be in everyone’s hands. Every student, you know, college students, they go on campus and they’re just, hey, fill out this credit card application. You can get free money without any training, without any education behind it to let them know, like what they’re getting into. And then they end up graduating with debt, you know, and feeling ashamed about it. So and this is to help fix that, to build confidence, financial confidence. Because, you know, we need to know it. We know so many other things. You know in school they teach us geometry and algebra and like when do we ever use that. But every single day of our lives we have to make a financial decision. So this is to help normalize money talks. We should be talking about it with our kids. We should be talking about it with your partners. You should be talking about it with your friends. Um, so that’s what that was the impetus for me writing Money Moves.

Lee Kantor: Yeah. I think it’s such a disservice that they don’t teach the power of compounding when it comes to finance, uh, at a very early age. So, so people understand that that is going to pay off the sooner you start getting that habit ingrained into your lifestyle? Yes, the bigger impact that’s going to have future you is going to never be mad at present. You. If you’re investing in the future because of the power of compounding.

Staci LaToison: Absolutely. Future you is going to be so grateful. Thank you for passing on those new shoes or that Starbucks coffee and that, you know, and thank you for instead investing it because, wow, it has multiplied beyond your imagination because you made smart money moves.

Lee Kantor: Now, um, you mentioned that some of the ways that you serve your community are through writing this book, obviously through your podcast, through the summit, um, and investing in emerging, uh, companies. How do people typically kind of plug into the community? Is it is it first through the podcast and then they kind of see all the other things? Or is there do you do things like in person, uh, Person where you’re based on a regular basis or have kind of virtual meetups, like how do you kind of get create the engagement amongst your community members?

Staci LaToison: Yeah. So the Her Money Move summit, we held it in Houston the last two years in person, and I’m going to be bringing it on the road, um, taking it to New York and LA. Um, and, um, you know, so we can reach where our audience is, um, and also going to universities. So I’ve been doing a lot of in-person book signings with different organizations. Um, you know, for like Latina Equal Pay Day, I, we did a golf outing with a lot of Latina, um, associates. And so that was amazing. Um, I’m also on the board of Angela’s investors, and we have quarterly investor summits. So, you know, I’m usually there to, um, either hosting and recording the podcast or hosting, you know, a book signing. Um. Oh, and then in August, um, the C.J. Stroud Foundation. So the Texans quarterback, C.J. Stroud, he has a foundation that because his mom, you know, was a single mom and oh my God, their family is so amazing. So, so amazing. Um, and I interviewed her on the podcast, but I spoke at the event and each of the single mothers who were there got a copy of the Money Moves book. So I’ve been working with various organizations to ensure that their, um, community gets a copy.

Lee Kantor: Now, um, if there’s a woman owned business, uh, that’s looking for funding, how do they even get on your radar?

Staci LaToison: Well, they can send me an email. They can go to my website and there’s an intake form. So my website is Staci. Com. Um, I also have the Dream Big Ventures LLC. Com. Um, you know, they can also subscribe to the podcast. Um, they can order the book online at Amazon. And now it’s also available on Kindle.

Lee Kantor: So there’s ways for them. So you’re open to having conversations with any, um, business owner.

Staci LaToison: Absolutely.

Lee Kantor: So like they can have an idea on a napkin at that stage. Or are you looking for ones that already have some traction or are already generating some revenue?

Staci LaToison: I mean, I’m always looking for traction. You know, that you’ve you’ve got. Yes, always. Traction comes first. However, I’m also a very, very generous, um, with my time and want to help others who do have just that idea on the napkin. And, and I’m often available for many, many, many women, um, who just want to run an idea by me, you know, to help them, help guide them, or connect them with someone else that can help them at this stage or with their particular thesis.

Lee Kantor: And the and the companies you work with, are they in a specific industry or niche or. I know your background’s in oil and gas. Is that kind of where you’re looking or are you kind of industry agnostic? What what types of companies are you most interested in?

Staci LaToison: Um, I have been so like I said, I’m in the five funds that I’ve invested in. It varies. One of them with Mendoza Ventures, they are cybersecurity, AI and uh, and fintech. Um, with angel investors, it’s all it’s agnostic. Um, well, it’s most of them are all seed stage. So that’s that’s what I’ve been investing in so far. Um, and as far as Dream Big Ventures been looking at energy, um, in health tech since that’s kind of a big for for Houston. And kind of my background is more in the energy.

Lee Kantor: So what do you need more of? How can we help you?

Staci LaToison: Yeah, I mean, just getting the word out. The more, uh, getting organizations to reach out, um, to sponsor a bulk order of the books so that we can ensure that we equip students and universities, single mothers, domestic violence victims, you know, nonprofits with the book, um, young professionals, I mean, you name it. And everyone can benefit from from the book. Um, and also subscribing to the podcast, there’s, you know, it’s free. It’s on YouTube and Spotify and anyone can learn and grow just from tuning in.

Lee Kantor: And then they can learn more about everything at your website. Uh, Stacey? Stacey. I l a t I o n.com.

Staci LaToison: That’s correct.

Lee Kantor: Well, Stacey, thank you so much for sharing your story today. You’re doing such important work and we appreciate you.

Staci LaToison: Thank you so much, Lee. It has been a pleasure and I appreciate your invitation and this opportunity. I hope to meet you in person one day.

Lee Kantor: Yeah, it might be sooner than you think. All right. This is Lee Kantor. We’ll see you all next time on High Velocity Radio.