Book Review
In her new book, Originate, Motivate, Innovate: 7 Steps to Building a Billion Dollar Network, entrepreneur Shelly Omilâdé Bell delivers an honest and engaging discussion of how to think differently about getting your business funded as a female entrepreneur of color. She demonstrates how to overcome intimidation and imposter syndrome to chart a new and exciting path.
In Originate, Motivate, Innovate: 7 Steps to Building a Billion Dollar Network, entrepreneur Shelly Omilâdé Bell shares the mindsets, tools, tactics, and strategies you need to succeed in a venture capital environment that is largely designed by―and for―white males. You’ll learn how to apply your own unique story and background and prioritize valuable relationships to create your own pathway to a fully funded business. You’ll also discover:
An acknowledgment and highlighting of those obstacles that remain in place and stand in the way of women of color in business
How to break through those obstacles while doing things your own way
Strategies for achieving your next goal, whether that’s building a business or creating social impact
You’ll peek inside rooms filled with high-powered CEOs running some of the world’s most well-known brands and discover the mindset shifts, tools, and tactics you need to succeed in the world of venture capital. You’ll learn how to access the capital you need for your new or growing business in a system of finance dominated by―and designed for―white males.
Originate, Motivate, Innovate isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula for success. Instead, the author explains how you can find a framework for investment and funding that works for your company and for a person in your unique circumstances. You’ll focus on creating a one-of-a-kind process, using your authentic story and by prioritizing valuable relationships, and then do everything your own way.
This book acknowledges and highlights the obstacles that women of color face in the world of venture capital and at the intersection of race, gender, and (some-times) sexual orientation. It reveals how one of those women broke those barriers and accessed investment, as well as how you can think differently about funding and join her in her success.
An essential and insightful resource for entrepreneurs, founders, and other business leaders of color, Originate, Motivate, Innovate is the no-nonsense, hands-on book that professional women of color have been waiting for.
Author Quotes
A billion dollar network equals a multimillion dollar company.
How do you enter rooms as the only person that looks like and sounds like you? How do you navigate the rooms where you may not be easily accepted and welcomed as you are? Originate, Motivate, Innovate shows you how to defy intimidation and chart your own path.
Originate, Motivate, Innovate isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula for success. Instead, you can find a framework for investment and funding that works for your company and for a person in your unique circumstances.
About the author
Shelly Omilâdè Bell known as “Omi” is a Serial Entrepreneur and Computer Scientist with a background in performance poetry, K-12 Education, and IP Strategy. She was named one of the Top 100 Powerful Women in Business by Entrepreneur Mag, Entrepreneur of the Year by Technically DC, and acknowledged as a Rising Brand Star by Adweek. Omi is the Founder/ CEO of Black Girl Ventures (BGV). Omi launched BGV from a living room in a house in Southeast DC to a multimillion-dollar game-changing social impact vehicle by using the power of social capital. BGV has held more than 50 programs and funded over 300 Black/Brown women-owned companies across the US, and directly impacted over 20,000 people across 64 countries. BGV has raised more than $1 million for 600-plus participants. Omi has been featured in Forbes, on Yahoo Finance, Good morning America, Fox Business, and more.
Why LoA loves it…
Getting your business funded for growth is always a challenge, and especially for women entrepreneurs. But if the access to growth capital and investment game is to change, we have to build the right investment story and framework for funding that works for investors and banks. We need to change our mindset as well as that of the funders, and to do that, we need to access and use all the right tools, advice and information at our disposal. Shelle Omilâdè Bell’s book is one of those tools, and in an easy to read and access format, she provides insights and information to help prepare for that investment journey ahead. A worthwhile read for any woman entrepreneur in growth mode. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa