Disruption Now

John Hope Bryant is a prominent entrepreneur, author, and philanthropist known for his economic empowerment and financial literacy work. He founded Operation HOPE in 1992 following the Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles, with a mission to provide economic education and resources to underserved communities. Since its inception, Operation HOPE has served over 4 million individuals and directed nearly $4 billion in economic activity into disenfranchised areas. The organization focuses on improving credit scores, facilitating homeownership, and supporting Black entrepreneurs through various initiatives.Numerous U.S. presidents have recognized Bryant’s work. He has received several prestigious awards, including the Legacy Leadership Award from Hyatt Hotels and the Outstanding Voice Award from the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Additionally, he is known for co-founding the Financial Literacy for All initiative and the 1 Million Black Businesses initiative, which has significantly impacted Black-owned businesses across A

Step into the digital arena with John Cavanaugh, a renowned digital privacy and safety expert, on this episode of "Encrypting Freedom." Uncover the hidden pitfalls in your digital practices and learn how to fortify your data against the encroaching eyes of AI technologies. John doesn't just outline the problems; he arms you with robust, actionable strategies to take control of your digital identity.This episode isn't just about listening—it's about engaging. Discover resources, communities, and tools that will empower you to join the vanguard of digital defenders. "Encrypting Freedom: AI & The Data Battle" isn't just a conversation—it's a call to action. Tune in to transform your understanding and approach to digital privacy in the age of AI.Website https://bit.ly/2VUO9sfApply to get on the Podcast https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr?typeform-source=disruptionnow.comFacebook https://bit.ly/303IU8jInstagram https://bit.ly/2YOLl26Twitter https://bit.ly/2KfLaTfWebsite https://bit.ly/2VUO9sf

Join Rob Richardson on this episode of Disruption Now as he sits down with Adam Kahn, Chief Creative Director at Grey Midwest, for a riveting discussion on artificial intelligence and its impact on the creative world. Together, they unpack whether AI is a looming threat or a transformative catalyst for creators.In this episode:Discover the Revolutionary Tools: Learn about the innovative AI technologies that are reshaping creativity, from automating mundane tasks to opening up new avenues for artistic expression.Explore the Ethical Frontier: Adam Kahn sheds light on the ethical dilemmas and challenges facing creators as AI becomes more pervasive in the arts. What are the implications for privacy, authenticity, and artistic integrity?Hear Real-World Insights: Gain insights from the front lines of a top creative agency. How is Grey Midwest navigating the integration of AI in their projects? What strategies are they implementing to ensure AI complements rather than replaces human creativity?Website https://bit.ly

In this episode of "Disruption Now," I interview entrepreneur Pete Blackshaw, who shares his pioneering journey of using AI to protect brands. Blackshaw discusses how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the industry, providing a glimpse into the future and practical insights on how businesses can harness this technology for brand protection. He highlights the necessity for companies to adapt and the transformative potential of AI in managing brand integrity. This episode is essential listening for business leaders and marketers keen to effectively navigate the intersection of AI and brand management.

John Johnson is the founder of a small studio. He works with Niantic Labs, which brought us Pokemon Go. Learn how he launched a multi-million dollar design studio and shifted his career from architect to entrepreneur. We also delve into his recent scare with cancer and how it has shaped his perspective as a father and business owner. Things to Learn: - How faith guides his entrepreneurial experience - How to deal with the struggle of entrepreneurship - How cancer gave him a new perspective. Learn more about John Johnson here https://www.asmallstudio.com/ DISRUPTION NOW LINKSApply to get on the Disruption Podcast: https://form.typeform.com/to/Ir6Agmzr.Watch the episode: https://disruptionnow.com/Listen to the podcast episode: https://share.transistor.fm/s/2a8ba3d3

Should we ban TikTok? Is it really as dangerous as some say, or is it just a strawman argument to distract us? Listen to our discussion. Let's hear from James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana.

Group Black is dramatically transforming the face of media ownership and investment. Kerel Cooper is President of Advertising at Group Black, where he leads Group Black's revenue operations, revenue strategy and planning, and insights teams.What You Will LearnWhy Black Creators are underpaid for the value they bringWhy equitable distribution of Advertising Dollars mattersHow to Thrive as a Black Corporate LeaderABOUT Kerel CooperKerel Cooper is President of Advertising at Group Black, where he leads Group Black's revenue operations, revenue strategy and planning, and insights teams. He works closely with the executive team to deliver seamless client and customer experiences. Cooper is an award-winning executive with over 20 years of digital media experience building Advertising Operations, Account Management, and Marketing teams. Before joining Group Black, Cooper was the Chief Marketing Officer at LiveIntent, where he led teams that managed campaigns for key publishers and advertisers. He is the co-founder a

Joshua Ogundu is an advocate of equity, as he believes that it starts with everyone. The common belief that most successful startup founders began their journey from poverty and worked their way up to the top creates unrealistic expectations and makes true equity harder to achieve. Joshua Ogundu explains why this narrative needs to stop and suggests ways to launch a venture capital-backed company, even if you don't have a head start.What You Will LearnHow you can get outside of your bubble and innovateWhy Silicon Valley embraces the poverty narrative How to find your zone of geniusAbout Joshua With over 9 years of experience in product management for both web and mobile platforms, he has established himself in the consumer software industry. His areas of expertise include Product Management, Networking, and Teamwork. Joshua has a strong entrepreneurship background, completing his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Economics from Michigan State University and a Masters from USC.Twitter https://x.com/joshuaogundu?s=21&

"THE WORLD IS CHANGING FAST, but it doesn't have to be scary." Iliana Oris Valiente (IOV) is an optimist for the future of tech and society. IOV wants to encourage humans to live happy, healthy, and purposefully designed lives in a world of endless possibilities. She believes the key is to embrace the ever-shifting technological trends and chaos, actively shape the future, and thrive together. #disruptionow #digitalnomad #globaltrendsWhat You Will LearnCurrent Global Trends in TechThe Future of Digital NomadsHow to Succeed as a Woman of Color in Corporate AmericaABOUT Iliana Oris ValienteIliana Oris Valiente, CPA, CA, is a corporate executive, board member, author, public speaker, and been featured in various media outlets, including TV, radio, and print (Bloomberg, CBC, etc).Currently, a Managing Director and the Head of Innovation at Accenture Canada, she works with senior executives and boards of Fortune500 companies to support their strategic transformation journeys, from idea to scaled execution. She lea

Kalista Zackhariyas isn't just envisioning a social media future centered on genuine human interactions – she's crafting it. As the dynamic CEO of SparkSeeker, she's pioneering the way.Learn more at https://sparkseeker.com/

Meet Aswad Thomas, the indomitable Alliance for Safety and Justice Vice President. Once on the cusp of a glittering professional basketball career, a devastating gunshot wound forever altered his destiny. Yet, the injustice didn't end there. In his darkest hour, he was wrongfully labeled a criminal by the system that should have protected him. His is a tale of survival, rebirth, resilience, and redemption.Today, Aswad stands tall, channeling his experiences and passion into transformative change. He's on a relentless mission: to overhaul a flawed system, ensuring no one else suffers the way he did.Learn about the Alliance For Safety and Justice: https://asj.allianceforsafetyandjustice.org/

As innovations surge forward, so do the questions about A.I.'s inner workings. Our guest on Disruption Now is Javier Viaña Pérez, the co-founder of Rezon.ai and a Postdoctoral Associate at the MIT Kavli Institute of Astrophysics and Space Research. His Ph.D. research revolved around the conception of novel transparent algorithms that provide accurate predictions and human-understandable justifications of the results.Reason.ai primarily focuses on comprehending the decision-making process of AI systems, providing the much-needed transparency that is currently lacking.For enthusiasts, skeptics, and everyone in between, this is your gateway to understanding A.I. like never before. Tune in and uncover the story behind the code.

In 2020, over 2 million people were employed by the justice system, with an annual expenditure of a staggering 300 billion dollars in the United States alone. But what has all this investment achieved for victims of crimes? Our guest, Lenore Anderson, is co-founder of the Alliance For Safety and Justice and author of the eye-opening book, "In Their Names: The Untold Story of Mass Incarceration and Victims' Rights."What You will learnHow the militarization of local policing destroys trust and safety How media narratives shape public perception and policyHow victim protection is not a priority.How you can create change.Learn from real victims and survivors of the system. Learn More about In Their Names by Lenore AndersonLearn about Alliance For Safety and Justice

Cessiah Lopez is an Affiliate of the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy.She is a serial entrepreneur & web3 degen with proven experiences in growing small businesses & creating digital products that elevate self-improvement.Holding an LLM from the University of East Anglia, her thesis focused on the applicability of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) to modern e-commerce. She has since worked as an Operations and Strategist for crypto and web3-based projects and is a recent ex-Founder at Entrepreneur First.She has a broad range of experiences spanning multiple industries, such as construction, recruitment, law, diplomacy, blockchain, and real estate. Her work lies at the intersection of law, web3, and startups, where she emphasizes the importance of social impact and mobility. Now, she is a Crypto Research Fellow for VentureESG, working to make ESG a standard part of due diligence for VCs in the web3 space.As a polymath, her creative pursuit

Diamond Doll is a highly skilled leader who excels at problem-solving and generating effective solutions. Her experience at Microsoft and Juul Labs demonstrates her commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and social responsibility in the workplace. As the founder of NFT CLT, she has taken her expertise and passion for Web3 education and onboarding to the next level, advising organizations on their transition to this exciting new field. She is a trusted community builder who plans educational events and conferences, hosts Twitter spaces, and moderates panels across the country. Her impressive educational background includes a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California, where she received numerous awards and accolades for her leadership and achievements.

Larry Brinker Jr. is an award-winning entrepreneur, impact investor, and mentor. He serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of Brinker, a group of family-owned and operated commercial construction service companies responsible for over $4 billion in construction projects, which plays a critical role in the transformation and revitalization of Detroit. He also serves as the CEO of the Brinker Family Asset Management Company. Before being named Chief Executive Officer and tasked with leading the executive team and driving the future progress of the Brinker portfolio of construction services companies, Larry Brinker Jr. served as President of Brinker and played a crucial role in the company’s development. On the philanthropic side, Brinker Jr. has established multiple scholarships, including a COVID-19 Legacy Survivor Scholarship fund. A proud alumnus of the University of Michigan, Brinker Jr. received the African American Alumni Council’s “Five Under Ten” award, which recognizes graduates for their prof

Mark is the CEO, co-founder, and chairman of Direct Digital Holdings, a Houston-based and founded adtech company that brings state-of-the-art buy-side and sell-side advertising platforms for clients (specializing in middle-sized markets) under one umbrella. Mark can speak to Direct Digital Holdings’ (DDH) success story and how he and the company are disrupting the adtech industry for companies in these markets, and how DDH is pioneering the space as a smaller but fast-growing player that also focuses on serving under-represented constituencies (gender, race, sexual orientation) and those often overlooked or marginalized in the ad space. Additionally, DDH is seeing record growth despite the market’s downward trends, which Mark can discuss alongside upcoming trends/shifts he expects for 2023 in the context of the national and local economy.

Tyra joined the Ohio Justice & Policy Center team as a paralegal in Jan. 2018. After several months of successful outreach on OJPC’s behalf, Tyra’s role adapted to better describe her gifts and passion: She became OJPC’s first Community Outreach Strategy Specialist.Before joining OJPC, Tyra spent 23 years incarcerated for murder and robbery, crimes she did not commit.Tyra used her time in prison constructively to educate herself.  A sixth grade dropout, Tyra eventually earn her GED, obtained a steam engineer’s license, became a certified tutor and completed a paralegal training program.On Christmas Day, 2017, Tyra was released from prison. She joined the OJPC staff full-time only weeks later.In her role, Tyra advocates on behalf of OJPC and does outreach work to educate children about the importance of staying in school and avoiding drug use. Tyra also hopes to create a program to provide support to people returning to the community after incarceration.

Dr. Topeka K. Sam spent time in federal prison and, upon her release, vowed to fight on behalf of the women she left behind. Topeka founded The Ladies of Hope Ministries, whose EPIC Vision is to End Poverty and Incarceration of women and girls globally. She was among the first to publicly highlight Ms. Alice Marie Johnson’s story and fight for her freedom, first during the Obama Administration’s historic clemency effort and then again during the Trump Administration’s tenure. President Trump commuted Ms. Alice’s sentence in 2018. Erin Haney, Policy Director at REFORM Alliance and Senior Counsel at #cut50 

MNTN (pronounced Mountain) built the first-of-its-kind, self-serve software for buying connected TV that puts performance first. The MNTN platform makes it easy for brands to buy connected TV ads across the top 150 streaming networks like Discovery+, ESPN, CNN, Hulu, PlutoTV and more. Intuitive Self-Service Platform: MNTN’s platform makes it easy to buy, manage, optimize and measure your CTV campaigns. Simply select your target, input your KPI goals, upload your creative and watch our AI-driven automated technology deliver unprecedented results in real time. Premium Inventory: MNTN gives brands access to premium inventory across the top 150 streaming networks like Discovery+, CNN, ESPN, Hulu, PlutoTV and more. Every ad is non-skippable and delivered exclusively on the TV. MNTN acquired Maximum Effort Marketing (Ryan Reynold’s creative marketing agency) in June 2021. MNTN is ad tech’s fastest-growing performance TV platform, and Maximum Effort, is one of the rising stars of the creative world. MNTN believes th