Suggestions
Lisha Bell
Pausing for Inspiration | Ecosystem and Economic Operator | Reducing the Capital Gap | Helping Founders & Investors Navigate Venture Capital| Podcast Host: Sisters with Ventures | Power 100
I am my ancestors #goals. My great grandfather worked on the railroads to connect the south to the West. Here my family settled in the city of dreams, Los Angeles, from domestic helpers and cooks to entrepreneurs. In this city I became the first in my family to attend college at the University of Southern California and my life changed.
Exposed to the innovation of the .com movement, I moved to the San Francisco Bay area to start my career in tech. I built the earliest digital financial products like online banking, bill pay, digital wallets. From large fortune 100 companies to small startups, I’ve led global teams, built new products from the ground up, and innovated on existing capabilities.
After 20 years in tech, I have found my exact purpose. Connecting, building, liberating marginalized communities from financial oppression. I do this by building and investing in products that serve community needs. I value humanity and culture and work to elevate any ideas that power people. I use my super powers to bridge the capital divide.
Most importantly, I live to build a better world for my daughter.
Highlights
Some of you may have discovered Lateefah Simon for the first time this evening as she spoke at the DNC, but those of us in the bay area have been celebrating her for a long time.
We met many many moons ago at an event. She shared her story, one I never forgot about being a single mother, a widow, and struggling with the oppressive systems in this city. She was then a non profit leader organizing for women who fell victims to sex trafficking. We shared a few moments in Oakland together, and lost touch over the years.
Today she is on the ballot for Barbara Lee's seat in Congress and a shining force in the democratic party.
And in the extremely odd happenstances, she will be interviewing me on a panel next week in Oakland about Women of Color in Venture Capital. It will be an honor to reunite in this beautiful way.
Please grab a ticket, here is the link: https://lnkd.in/gbduxWaS
#dnc P.S. Captions please spell her name correctly!
I recently hit a major milestone, 5 years at PayPal! It's been such a ride from my days at Braintree, PayPal, and now PayPal Ventures. The most rewarding perk is that I now qualify for my sabbatical. I will get 4 weeks off this summer to rest and recharge. I am so grateful for this amazing benefit.
Now what should I do???
Ideas welcome
#sabbatical #anniversary #milestone

