Finding Purpose & Being Inspired to Build Diversity with Kevin Withane

Getting out of the topic and into the age of action... "It's just more... like I use the thing, like, you know Weinstein's? These are all Weinsteins. I can't have it. What if one of these people were my daughter?" - Kevin Withane (Want to read a full written for reading transcript version of this episode? Download it here.) Who is Kevin Withane? Meet Kevin, the Founder and Managing Partner of Diversity X. Diversity X is a community and venture capital firm that supports underestimated founders who are solving real-world problems and making a positive impact in their communities and the world. He has worked around the world over the last two decades, including at private practice law firms, quasi-governmental organisations, SMEs, and most recently at a FTSE 250 company. Kevin is a passionate advocate for building a sustainable world and for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Listen to this fascinating conversation in which I, Sope, learn more about Kevin's journey and the work that Diversity X is doing to support underestimated founders in the tech industry. What is 'Diversity X'? Diversity X is a community and venture capital firm that aims to support underrepresented founders and start ups. The firm focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion and is committed to investing in companies that are working on solving real-world problems and making a positive impact in their communities and the world. Under Kevin's leadership, 'Diversity X' believes in the power of diverse teams to drive innovation and create sustainable solutions. They provide not only financial support but also mentorship, resources, and connections to help these founders succeed. They also actively engage with the community and create a space for conversations around diversity and inclusion in the start-up ecosystem. This episode features another lawyer inspired by "LA Law"! "I used to be found sneaking down the stairs to watch it while my parents were watching it. It looked glamorous. It looked cool!" Listen to learn of the other iconic TV lawyers that Kevin wanted to follow in the footsteps of when he was a younger man! Key leadership learning moments (timestamps) 01m43s: Young Kevin and his fortune with friends. 06m00s: Kevin's entrepreneurial origins with shampoo and penny sweets. 11m16s: Kevin Withane's inspiration for getting into law. 19m48s: Life and work after corporate. 34m06s: The idea behind 'Diversity X' 39m52s: Walking the talk and being intentional. 45m56s: Challenges of building the community 54m50s: The importance of family? 57m52s: How Kevin Withane defines leadership? Kevin's links: Twitter LinkedIn Substack newsletter Follow the podcast If you've just stumbled across this podcast episode by chance, please do click here to follow it so you never miss a future episode. If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the below links. Connect with Me Website Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Email: [email protected] I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything Connect with SopeWebsite | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedInDid you find this helpful? If you like this episode, please leave a review or share it with someone who could benefit from listening.  We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at [email protected]