Founding Chezie, the realities of being an entrepreneur, and leveraging ERGs throughout your career to reach your goals with Dumebi Egbuna

In this episode, Lola speaks with Dumebi Egbuna, the Co-Founder of Chezie, a platform designed to empower ERG leaders and DEI teams to efficiently manage and grow their groups.    Driven by her experience leading IBM's Black ERG, Dumebi recognizes the profound impact ERGs have on both the experiences of minorities in the workplace and the success of organizations as a whole. As a Black woman, she is deeply passionate about amplifying the voices of underrepresented people, particularly in traditionally inaccessible spaces like higher education and corporate America.   In this episode, we discuss:   The journey of founding tech platform, Chezie Common roadblocks and the realities of being an entrepreneur Advantages to keeping your day job while pursuing your side hustle How failure can be a good thing and knowing when to pivot Leveraging ERG’s in your career to reach your goals The process of funding and what you need to know if you want to start your own business Choosing a business partner that complements your skills    Connect with Dumebi:  Website: www.chezie.co  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dumebi-egbuna/    Connect with Lola: Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/428192995622965  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lolaaadeyemopm/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immigrantsincorporate/  Apply to be on the podcast: shorturl.at/dnyEO      More about Thriving in Intersectionality Podcast:   Welcome to the “Thriving in Intersectionality” podcast. A podcast created to help you learn from professionals in the workplace who have multiple intersectional identities; from ethnic minorities, veterans transitioning into the workforce, individuals with disabilities, parents, and so many more.    Hosted by Lola Adeyemo, who is the CEO of EQI Mindset and the founder of the nonprofit Immigrants in Corporate Inc, her mission is to work with organizations to build more inclusive workplaces.   This podcast was built to amplify the voices of leaders and immigrants in the corporate workplace and to give insights and guidance so people can move past their “barriers” and advance in their professional careers.   Through interviews and solo episodes, Lola will examine this global world of work. We hope that you can learn a thing or two from our guests, who have a range of experiences and stories to share. Join Lola as we meet new people who are successfully navigating the corporate space.   For more information and additional resources, please visit www.immigrantsincorporate.org and www.eqimindset.com  Send us Fan MailSupport the showThank you for listening to Thriving in Intersectionality with Dr. Lola Adeyemo.This podcast explores how identity, lived experience, and leadership intersect in today's workplace and beyond. Through conversations with leaders, founders, educators, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, we uncover stories and insights that help people thrive across the many intersections of their lives.💬 Have a thought about this episode? Send a Fan Mail message directly through Buzzsprout. I'd love to hear what resonated with you.❤️ If you find value in these conversations, consider becoming a supporter of the show. Your support helps us continue amplifying diverse voices, meaningful stories, and leadership insights from across industries and experiences.⭐ Follow, share, rate, and review the podcast to help others discover these conversations.📬 Continue the conversation - read the companion reflections on Substack🌍 Immigrants and first-generation professionals can join our free community at:www.immigrantsincorporate.orgConnect with Host Dr. Lola Adeyemo on LinkedIn.Keep thriving in your intersections. Your story matters.