Access and Opportunity
by Morgan Stanley
Inspiring change through informed and inclusive innovation. On Access & Opportunity, host Carla Harris, Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, explores the lived experiences of the people who face systemic inequities and sits down with founders, investors, developers, activists, and educators who are building a more equitable future today.
Episodes
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Pivoting Your Playbook (Encore)
We’re continuing to bring you the “Best of” Access & Opportunity by revisiting my 2021 conversation with NBA champion turned investor, Andre Iguodala. Andre isn’t just a four-time NBA champ and Finals MVP—he’s the master of the pivot, a key playbook for Access & Opportunity. While cementing his...
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Becoming Self-Made (Encore)
Today, we’re continuing to bring you the “Best of” Access & Opportunity by revisiting one of our favorite conversations, with Nely Galán. Nely embodies the ethos of Access & Opportunity. She’s a savvy woman of color in business who’s written her own story by betting on herself time and again —...
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The Snowball Effect of Student Debt (Encore)
Today, we’re revisiting our 2021 conversation with educator Betsy Mayotte to discuss how having the right information at the right time can make navigating the student financing industry more manageable. But first we'll hear from Farrukh Siddiqui, an entrepreneur whose company uses income share...
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Closing the Women's Sports Pay Gap (Encore)
Today, we’re revisiting Carla's 2022 conversation with Kara Nortman, a venture capitalist who started a National Women's Soccer League team, to make a playbook for all women’s sports leagues to win by. But first we'll hear from WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike, President of the Women’s National…
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Reaching Back to Help the Next Generation (Encore)
On this 2021 episode, we’re talking about the importance of reaching back to help others on their business journey and how alternative sources of investment can help women of color take their companies to the next level. We hear from Maya Penn, founder and CEO of Maya’s Ideas, a slow fashion…
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Empowering Latina Innovators in Fashion & Retail
Latino Americans’ purchasing power hit $3.4 trillion in 2021, according to a report from the Latino Donor Collaborative, and is expected to account for over one-third of growth in apparel spending in the next five years, according to the 2021 Claritas Hispanic Market Report. With Nielsen noting...
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Broadening Access to Mental Health Care for Ethnically Diverse Students
Rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among college students are at an all-time high. And while students of all backgrounds face similar levels of mental health challenges, ethnically diverse students are far less likely to seek treatment. That gap is due to factors including lack of...
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Creating Equity in the Music Industry
With advances in technology, the music industry is changing faster than ever. Streaming services add more than 100,000 new songs every day. In this environment, artists’ ability to market and distribute their own work brings a lot of opportunity. But the influx of new music also means more...
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Diversifying the Pilot Pipeline
A 2022 analysis issued by consulting firm Oliver Wyman found a shortfall of 8,000 pilots in North America, or 11% of the total workforce. That gap is estimated to grow to nearly 30,000 by the end of the decade. In their pursuits to staff up and meet new hiring goals, there is an opportunity for...
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Who Gets to Make Video Games?
On this episode, we discuss the lack of representation in the video game industry, from the stories that get told in games to the people who get to make them. While gamers of color are more active than their white counterparts, they still only make up about 13% of the gaming development industry,...
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Black Women Entrepreneurs: Creating an Ecosystem
American entrepreneurship had been on a 40-year decline. But 2020 is the year that turned around; entrepreneurship is on the rise once again. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, aspiring entrepreneurs filed paperwork to start 5.4 million new businesses in 2021. This recent surge in...
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Black Women Entrepreneurs: Putting Community First
According to a 2021 report in the Harvard Business Review, 17% of Black women are in the process of starting or running new businesses, compared to 10% of white women and 15% of white men. For this special two-part “Black Women Entrepreneurship” series, Access and Opportunity is on the road in...
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Leading to Execute: Mielle Organics’ Monique Rodriguez
An extreme funding gap exists for Black female entrepreneurs who, in 2021, received merely 0.34% of the total venture capital spent in the U.S. in the first half of the year, according to Crunchbase. And while more concerted efforts to diversify capital allocation have come out of these jarring...
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Narrowing the Disability Employment Gap
The barriers to entering and staying in the workforce are complex for disabled people, and magnified for disabled people with additional marginalized identities. This results in long term impacts to their household wealth: in the United States, the median net worth among households with adult...
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Building Credit for Immigrants
A recent survey commissioned by Nova Credit found that nearly half of immigrants said a U.S. credit card is hard to obtain. Without a credit card or any type of credit history to their name, immigrants are likely to find themselves identified as “credit invisible” and unable to establish their...
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Displaced Entrepreneurs: Supporting New Beginnings Away from Home
Around the world, over 80 million individuals are displaced according to the UN Refugee Agency, with many forced to flee their homes for prolonged periods of time due to protracted internal crises. While emergency aid may provide for their immediate basic needs, it in no way supports their…
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Closing the Women’s Sports Pay Gap
In May of 2022, the U.S. Soccer Federation agreed to a landmark deal awarding equal pay for the women and men of the US National Soccer teams. On this episode, we look at what this move means for other women’s leagues charting the same course towards equity in pay and beyond. First, we hear from...
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Real Estate Investing for All
In America, real estate investment has been the primary way for people to build wealth that they can sustain and pass down to their children. But the vast majority of those who get a piece of the real estate pie are white men. Real estate investment has a long history of systemic inequity due in...
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Empowering Tribes in the Fight Against Climate Change
Indigenous voices have been left out of the conversation around climate change, even though they are among the first to face the direct consequences of global warming due to their interconnectedness with the environment and its resources. On this episode, we hear from Indigenous leaders working…
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Bringing Fresh, Healthy Food to Food Deserts
Too many people in the U.S., particularly those from communities of color, live in geographic areas that have little to no access to an affordable and adequate supply of healthy and fresh whole foods. Unequal access to quality food has ripple effects across health, performance in school, and...
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Breaking Down Gatekeeping in the World of Publishing
Between the authors landing 6 figure deals to the editors sourcing new talent: the publishing industry in America is much whiter than the general population. While some progress has been made since the #PublishingPaidMe movement of June 2020, there is still a long way to go to make the publishing...
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Creating a Circular Economy
On this episode, we’re exploring the potential of the circular economy. First, we hear from Kenyan entrepreneur Nzambi Matee about how she’s tackling the plastic waste problem in Nairobi through Gjenge Makers, her company that creates alternative building products out of the typically disposed of...
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Host to Host: A Conversation with Sonari Glinton
On this special episode, Carla Harris sits down with journalist and fellow Morgan Stanley podcast host Sonari Glinton to discuss their careers, the roles they play in fostering opportunity and their experiences around equity in the economic landscape....
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Amplifying Asian American Voices
On this episode, we’re talking about the push for more representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in entertainment. First, we hear from musician Charlene Kaye, also known as KAYE, about how the lack of Asian American artists she had to look up to growing up forced her to shy away…
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Reducing Recidivism
On this episode, we’re talking about America’s high rate of recidivism – with nearly 80% of those incarcerated returning to prison after five years – and what can be done to reduce this figure. First, we hear from Marcus Bullock, the founder and CEO of tech company Flikshop, about the obstacles…
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Buying Black: Reinvesting in Community
Money circulates nearly an unlimited number of times in white neighborhoods, but only once in African-American communities, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth. On this episode, we ask: how can we keep the Black dollar circulating in Black communities for longer? First, we hear from...
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Bridging the Digital Divide
According to the U.S. Census, roughly one in ten homes in America lack a broadband internet connection, and the city of Brownsville, Texas tops the list of least connected cities in the country. On this episode, we’ll learn from two people on the frontlines in the battle against this digital...
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William Heard: Diversifying Asset Management
More than half of asset managers still believe that hiring diverse teams comes at the cost of higher returns, despite data showing otherwise. On this episode, host Carla Harris speaks to Heard Capital founder and CEO William Heard as he shares his journey to become a successful Black hedge fund...
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Closing the Adventure Gap
On this episode, we learn about how one woman is working to foster economic equity in the outdoors and how supporting founders of color will improve the outdoor industry for everyone. We hear from founder Patricia Cameron about her nonprofit, Blackpackers, which aims to address the gap in...
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The Snowball Effect of Student Debt (Encore)
As of 2021, $1.7 trillion in student loan debt is collectively owed by 45 million borrowers. On this episode, we learn about the size and scope of the student debt crisis and how borrowers, educators and policy makers can help stem this growing figure. We hear from entrepreneur Farrukh Siddiqui...
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Fractional Ownership: From Sneakers to Jets
On this episode, we learn about alternatives to traditional investments that provides access to new groups of investors. We hear from Gerome Sapp, a former NFL player who conceived of Rares, a platform that makes investment more accessible by allowing his fellow sneakerheads to buy and sell…
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Building Black Generational Wealth
On this episode, we’re continuing the conversation about the wealth gap through the lens of the Black financial experience. We hear from Eddie Slaughter, a legacy farmer based in Buena Vista, Georgia, who spent thirty plus years fighting the USDA to keep ownership of property that had been in his...
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Reaching Back to Help the Next Generation
On this episode, we’re talking about the importance of reaching back to help others on their business journey and how alternative sources of investment can help women of color take their companies to the next level. We hear from Maya Penn, founder and CEO of Maya’s Ideas, a slow fashion brand she...
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Community First: Building Latinx Wealth
Rita Soledad Fernandez Paulino and Beatriz Acevedo on how they work to inspire others in the Latinx community to improve their financial literacy. On this episode, we’re tackling the wealth gap from the perspective of two Latina founders who are flipping the script around finance in their...
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Dhani Jones: The Road of Intention
Dhani Jones is currently the Chairman and Co-Founder of Qey Capital Partners, a strategic consultancy firm that helps companies find investments. After an eleven year career in the NFL and starting several ventures of his own, Dhani helped launch the Hillman Accelerator, which focuses on…
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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...
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Andre Iguodala: Pivoting Your Playbook
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...
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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…
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Shawn Springs: From Idea to Impact
Carla speaks with entrepreneur and former NFL cornerback Shawn Springs, founder and CEO of Windpact, a company focusing on impact protection across industries, including sports, automotive, and the military applications. Shawn Springs is the founder and CEO of technology company Windpact, a…
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Ana Flores: Power Through Community
Carla speaks with media entrepreneur Ana Flores, founder and CEO of #WeAllGrow Latina Network, a community that has elevated the voices and stories of Latinas for the past 10 years. Ana Flores is the creator of the first and largest community of Latina digital influencers, and is among the only…
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Morgan DeBaun: For Us, By Us
Carla speaks with media entrepreneur Morgan DeBaun, Founder and CEO of Blavity, a voice for Black millennials in the media and marketing landscape, about staying true to your vision as you grow and evolve. Morgan DeBaun is one of the first African-American women to raise over $1 million in…
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Sanjay Sharma: Remixing the Mainstream From the Margins
From immigrant kid, with a love of movies, to media entrepreneur, with a deep connection to the hip-hop community, Sanjay Sharma's professional journey has taken him across the American legal, tech and media landscapes. Carla welcomes him, on this first episode of a new season of Access &...
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Season 7 - Coming soon!
Welcome back for Season 7 of Access & Opportunity! We're staying focused on the challenges faced by women and multicultural-led businesses in accessing capital, and the overlooked opportunities they represent for investors. This season we’re speaking to influencers in the sports, media and...
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Finding a Voice in Venture
On this episode of Access & Opportunity, we welcome investor Soraya Darabi. A former serial entrepreneur, Soraya is a founder and General Partner at Trail Mix Ventures, an early-stage investment firm focused on the future of living well. We are also joined by Sarah Sheehan, the co-founder and COO...
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Articulating Our 'Why'
Guest host Ian Folau turns the tables on Carla and her co-head in the Multicultural Innovation Lab, Alice Vilma, asking why they do the work they do to level the funding landscape for women and multicultural entrepreneurs. Ian brings his perspective as a founder, a graduate of the Multicultural...
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Deciding on Diversity—and the Bottom Line
Carla speaks with VC Miriam Rivera, founder of Ulu Ventures, and Ritu Narayan, co-founder of Zūm, a new kind of ride service for kids aimed at families and schools. They discuss their journeys and how a consistent model of decision-making can lead to better choices, help level the playing field,...
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Building a Fund that Feeds the Soul
On this episode of Access and Opportunity, we welcome investor Mallun Yen, partner and founder of Operator Collective. Operator Collective is a disruptive new approach to venture capital which brings senior operating leaders from diverse backgrounds together with founders of startup companies. We...
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Opening the Door for a New Set of Angels
On this episode of Access and Opportunity we welcome investor Natalia Oberti Noguera, founder and CEO of Pipeline Angels. Pipeline is changing the face of angel investing by lowering the barriers to entry and bringing more non-traditional investors into the angel ecosystem, providing capital for...
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Shared Values Help VCs, Founders Stay Agile
On this episode of Access and Opportunity, we welcome investor Jesse Draper, founding partner of Halogen Ventures. With Halogen Ventures, Jesse has committed to investing in early stage consumer technology startups that have a woman as a member of the founding team. We also hear from one of those...
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Keeping It Black: 'Cultural Competence' Is Key
Welcome to Access and Opportunity, Season 6. This season, we are looking at the relationships behind the deal. We'll be talking to women venture capitalists who are working to change the funding landscape and a founder of one of their portfolio companies. In this episode, we welcome venture...
About this show
Inspiring change through informed and inclusive innovation. On Access & Opportunity, host Carla Harris, Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, explores the lived experiences of the people who face systemic inequities and sits down with founders, investors, developers, activists, and educators who are building a more equitable future today.
Hosted by
Morgan Stanley
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