Welcome to Dreaming in Color, a show hosted by Christian Celeste Tate and Anum Qadir from The Bridgespan Group, that provides a space for social change leaders of color to reflect on how their life experiences, personal and professional, have prepared them to lead and drive the impact we all seek.

In this episode, we sit down with Arlan Hamilton, a trailblazing investor and founder of Backstage Capital and HireRunner.co. Arlan is also a serial entrepreneur, author, and prolific speaker.

In 2015 she started Backstage Capital to invest in founders who are people of color, women, and or LGBTQ. Since its inception, Backstage has raised nearly $30 million and invested in 200 startups led by underestimated founders.

Arlan also authored the book “It’s About Damn Time” chronicling her entrepreneurial journey, and hosts the popular podcast “Your First Million.” She is also the first, non-celebrity Black woman to grace the cover of Fast Company magazine. If that wasn’t enough, Arlan’s latest book, “Your First Million: Why You Don’t Have To Be Born Into A Legacy of Wealth To Leave One Behind.” is now available at any major book retailer.

Join us as Arlan details her triumphant ascent from homelessness to multi-millionaire venture capitalist and how being underestimated fueled her success.

This is Dreaming in Color.

Jump straight into:

(0:30) Introduction of Arlan Hamilton: Founder, Author, Speaker, and a trailblazing Venture Capitalist.

(2:21) From homelessness to venture capitalist - Arlan’s triumphant ascent to the top.

(4:33) How being an underestimated LGBTQ woman of color inspired her to help others like her get their ideas off the ground.

(13:23) Success as activism and the power of modeling success for others.

(13:45) The perks of believing in the underestimated and the ripple effects of how one tiny seed planted can flourish in unexpected ways.

(18:22) Advice to leaders: “be someone’s first yes.”

(21:49) Success vs. fulfillment. Defining what fulfillment looks like to you.

Episode Resources

• Keep up with Arlan on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram
• Read Arlan’s books, “It’s About Damn Time” and “Your First Million: Why You Don’t Have to Be Born Into A Legacy of Wealth to Leave One Behind.”
• Learn more about Backstage Capital and HireRunner.co
• Listen to Arlan’s podcast, “Your First Million”
• Email Arlan at arlan@backstagecaptial.com

Support Arlan’s portfolio companies