Andre Iguodala: Pivoting Your Playbook

02/20/21 • 33 min

Carla speaks with investor and three-time NBA champion Andre Iguodala about becoming a venture partner at the Catalyst Fund, which focuses on investing in companies founded by African American, Hispanic and women entrepreneurs.

Andre Iguodala, best known as a three-time NBA champion, is now a venture partner at the Catalyst Fund. Iguodala has leveraged his success in the league to build a prominent career investing in the technology sector, and his work with the Catalyst Fund focuses on supporting startups with founders from diverse, underfunded backgrounds. In this episode, Iguodala takes us back to how he got started in investing, the importance of surrounding yourself with smart, experienced people and how his work with the Catalyst Fund is helping African American, Hispanic and women entrepreneurs secure funding they need for growth and more innovation.

https://www.morganstanley.com/what-we-do/inclusive-innovation-and-opportunity

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The guest speakers are neither employees nor affiliated with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. (“Morgan Stanley”). The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and figures contained herein has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information or data contained in this podcast.

This podcast does not provide individually tailored investment advice and is not a solicitation of any offer to buy or sell any security or other financial instrument or to participate in any trading strategy. It has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it.

https://www.morganstanley.com/what-we-do/inclusive-innovation-and-opportunity

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Previous Episode

Chris Lyons: Where Tech Meets Culture

Carla speaks with investor Chris Lyons, head of the Cultural Leadership Fund at Andreesen Horowitz, a fund that connects Black cultural leaders as Limited Partners to new technology companies, and benefiting organizations working for a greater African Americans presence in tech.

Chris Lyons is the head of the Cultural Leadership Fund at Andreessen Horowitz, a D.C.-based fund created to connect Black cultural leaders with tech companies while elevating African American creators in the tech industry. Chris began his career as an audio engineer, but found himself catching the startup bug when he started PictureMenu in 2010. He eventually moved to Silicon Valley through the NewMe accelerator. Since then, he has been all-in on the startup world, eventually taking on the role of investor. In this episode, Chris takes us through his journey in the technology industry and how he continues to advocate for increased African-American and diverse representation in tech. Come on and join us for the ride.

https://www.morganstanley.com/what-we-do/inclusive-innovation-and-opportunity

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Next Episode

Edith Dorsen & Reggie Van Lee: Redefine Your Comfort Zone

Edith Dorsen is the founder and Managing Director of the Womens VC Fund, which focuses on investing in companies with diverse leadership. Joining her is Reggie Van Lee, an early believer and advisor to the Fund, as well as the Chief Transformation Officer of the Carlyle Group. Together they work towards fostering equity in the venture capital industry. In this episode, they discuss the inspiration behind the Fund, the challenges they faced early on to persuade skeptics of the value in diversity and the Fund’s plans for the future. Come on and join us for the ride.

Check out the HBR article "Institutional Investors Must Help Close the Race and Gender Gaps in Venture Capital" co-authored by Reggie Van Lee and Ilene H. Lang.

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https://www.morganstanley.com/what-we-do/inclusive-innovation-and-opportunity

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