It was around this time that I began to explore how I could become more involved in my own local government. I didn’t realize how much this would have on my mental health, but the lack of agency that I had and the inability to see my impact on a real level made it all more exhausting. Part of the emotional rollercoaster was dedicating so much of my community service work to national causes. This collective work felt good despite the fact that I (like many people) was put on an emotional rollercoaster. It felt like I had regained some sense of community activism in my life too. Writing letters to Senators, signing petitions, and wearing pussy hats became normalized.
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I remember a rush of interest from friends and colleagues on how to impact national elections. I didn’t make time for this again if I’m honest until 2016 when he-who-shall-not-be-named was elected President. It wasn’t so easy when I transitioned into the private sector in 2014. Working in the government and nonprofit sectors made this easy to do. As I grew up, to address this part of my identity I conflated my work and my community service. Whether that was volunteering as a liturgist at my church, delivering meals via meals on wheels, running behind my mom as she raised money so other kids in San Diego could get scholarships to college, I was always involved in my community. Growing up, community work was always on my schedule. I’m so excited to reimagine what is possible for myself once more. I was so inspired by them! The founders who I get the privilege of working with are putting their livelihoods on the line to build new institutions that serve the communities they care the most about. Once I started leading my own deals and working directly with founders who I admire, the flicker in my belly officially transitioned to a flame. The movement gave me so much hope and pushed me to think critically about what I wanted in my venture career again. The stronghold that the old (white) boys club had on the venture ecosystem is loosening. Additionally, since 2015, the barrier to entry in venture has continued to fall – thanks to organizations like Carta, Angellist, Flow, Allocate, Recast, Raise, Bridge, Coolwater, Strut and others – and I am watching new entrants do things their own way. From the first $1B Black owned fund to the largest woman founded firm, the world is changing in front of my eyes and the “ no limits” mantra is truer than ever before. Getting a front row seat to this radical shift has been a privilege. White women, Latinx people and Black people are launching a new generation of new funds, and every few months it seems, a new barrier is broken. The reckoning that venture underwent that year and in the years since cannot be understated.
Scared that I couldn’t build the type of fund that I wanted to authentically, scared that I would make a mistake, scared that it was all too much for me to take on. What I realize now, was that as I uncovered the complexities required to start a fund, I got scared about what wanting more for myself would cost. I initially said that it would be within 2 years of my venture career, then 2 years became 3, 3 became 4 and eventually the itch to start something of my own dulled into a feeling that most days I could forget, if I didn’t think about it too much. Back then, I told everyone who would listen that I was intent on starting my own fund one day. The goal is to make it easier for the next person to achieve and grow.Ĭhanging the face of entrepreneurship requires much more than just deploying capital to diverse founders.Those who met me when I got my start in venture almost 6 years ago, probably remember the bright eyed bushy tailed Sydney. When it comes to equity & inclusion - providing resources everyone can access is the only way to create scalable impact (no gatekeeping over here!).
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Leading the charge on this thought leadership piece has been such a full circle moment.
I'm proud to share the Harlem Capital Syllabus - a VC Resource Guide that goes 0-100 on all things venture. When I joined the venture capital industry, I knew little to nothing about this side of finance - safe to say, I had to learn the ropes pretty quickly to be effective as a Chief of Staff & Investor!
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