The Achievement Index: Prioritize, Leverage, Execute

Tunua Thrash-Ntuk: Overcoming Fear by Living in What Lights You Up

On this week's episode, Apollo Emeka is joined by Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, the president and CEO of The Center by Lendistry, a nonprofit organization who aims to impact small businesses in underserved communities by providing necessary business resources for success. Tunua has dedicated over two decades of her life to public service, leading impactful initiatives to build better communities.Throughout the interview, Tunua emphasizes the vital role of leadership and provides insightful advice for those aspiring to enhance their careers. She discusses how leaders must stay grounded in the intent of their work, striving always to bring in fresh perspectives and ideas. For Tunua, the key to harmony among the different roles in life– from the professional realm to the personal– is identifying the overlap between them. By integrating different aspects of her life, she nurtures her values and fulfills her goals in each area. Lastly, Tunua confronts the common fear and doubt that can arise in one's journey. She empowers listeners to stand strong amid uncertainty, highlighting gratitude as an effective tool. By focusing on the assets and support they already have, individuals can confidently step forward in service to others. Thus, she invites listeners to lean into this mindset, taking one small step at a time towards their goals.—Guest BioWith a public service career spanning more than two decades, Tunua Thrash-Ntuk has led racial equity initiatives and billion-dollar governmental programs to build better communities for those in greatest need.As a community development professional, she has championed equitable economic inclusion and programs centered on uplifting businesses owned by women, immigrants, and people of color to ensure the survival of diverse communities in Los Angeles. As California builds an unprecedented level of affordable housing to solve its housing crisis, Tunua led the effort around groundbreaking legislation, AB 2873 (Jones-Sawyer). Signed into law by Governor Newsom on September 13, 2022, AB 2873 will increase contracting to diverse-owned construction and professional services firms who are severely underrepresented in the industry. As President and CEO of The Center by Lendistry, Tunua centers diverse and ready to be served small businesses to ensure access to the resources, technical assistance, and economic opportunities needed for success. The Center’s work begins with small businesses but also encompasses the communities in which they do business by elevating affordable housing and other community development revitalization efforts. Before joining The Center, Tunua served as Executive Director of the Los Angeles Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC LA), where she oversaw efforts to forge resilient communities through neighborhood revitalization, affordable housing, and small business empowerment. In 2020, Tunua led the partnership with the City and County of Los Angeles for the LA COVID-19 Regional Recovery Fund, equitably distributing$100 million in grants to microenterprises, small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19. Prior to joining LISC, Tunua served as Executive Director of West Angeles Community Development Corporation – where she led the growth of a $150 million real estate portfolio. Tunua serves on the Long Beach Advisory Commission for Women and Girls (LBCWG) and on the board of Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH). She is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she earned her Master’s in City Planning as well as an alumna of UC Berkeley where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.—Guest PLE ScorePrioritize - 52%Leverage - 28%Execute - 20%—Guest Quote“When you ask, ‘how do you overcome fear?’ I've decided is that, as I lean into gratitude, it is about making sure that I am giving to others while I am in that fear mode. So if I'm in fear mode, that means that there is some sort of service project, some sort of activity that I could be doing based on what I have that is grounding me at base camp: that team of people, that family, others who are supporting me. I have that, and I know others don't all have that. And if I have that, then there's no need for me to fear. I can continue to go out and take that next step, even if it's a small one, which can lead to a bigger one going forward.” – Tunua Thrash-Ntuk—Time Stamps *(03:09) Tunua's Achievement Index*(06:02) How to layer all your identities together succesfully*(08:08) Leveraging technology in both your personal and professional lives*(09:03) Overcoming the challenge of competing priorities*(15:33) Why it's important to constantly keep your mind open*(18:09) Living in what lights you up*(22:45) Leaning on your convinctions*(26:47) Where Tunua executes most in her life*(29:36) Respect your team's time*(31:53) Not letting fear take control of your life*(37:45) Apollo’s Takeaways—LinksFind out YOUR Achievement IndexConnect with Tunua Thrash-Ntuk on LinkedIn Learn more about The Center by LendistryConnect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedInLearn more about Apollo Strategy Group

Colleen Wong: Fostering Harmony and Empowering Others

In this week’s episode, Apollo is joined by Colleen Wong, the VP of Development at Venture for America, a nonprofit organization that is devoted to building a future of entrepreneurship. With extensive experience in neuroscience, comparative religion, and social science research, Colleen has dedicated her career to supporting entrepreneurship and enterprises that align with socially conscious values. In the conversation, she sheds light on her career and the role leadership played in shaping it.Acknowledging her strengths in leveraging resources, Colleen agreed with her Achievement Assessment results which highlighted that she seldom executes tasks directly but rather mobilizes others to get tasks done. She stated that her strong leverage mindset enables her to tap into various knowledge bases and create robust solutions.Colleen emphasizes the importance of practicing a collaborative approach to leadership. Using concrete examples from her professional life, she outlines her strategies for bringing stakeholders from various sectors together to achieve common goals. This approach not only ensures all stakeholder voices are heard but also addresses competing priorities efficiently and effectively. Colleen firmly believes in sharing stories and experiences as a crucial component in fostering meaningful connections and collaborations.In spite of facing grim realities in her quest for social impact, Colleen shares her thoughts on maintaining focus and motivation. She acknowledges that achieving change isn’t easy and requires determination, resilience, and a robust support system. Though goals may not always be met and challenges abound, she advises leaders to be realistic and grounded in their approach, yet unafraid to dream big.—Guest BioBorn and raised in San Francisco, Colleen was initially allergic to, but not immune to the tech and startup fever that infiltrated the city. It wasn’t until she participated in a traveling hackathon as an adult that she realized the power of business as a vehicle for scaling change and social transformation.Prior to joining VFA, Colleen led programs and partnerships at various organizations focused on supporting entrepreneurship including the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Endeavor Global, StartupBus, and the American Sustainable Business Network. She has also worn multiple hats with social enterprises, think tanks, and corporate social responsibility programs including research, communications, business development, and strategy for IBM Blockchain, JP Morgan Chase Advancing Black Pathways, ConsenSys, SAP Next-Gen, Mercy Corps, Amnesty International, New America, Ascena Retail Group, Johnson & Johnson, and ViiV Healthcare.With a unique interdisciplinary background in neuroscience, comparative religion, and social science research, she is insatiably curious about what drives behavior, always seeking to uncover data-informed, actionable insights. She believes in harnessing the power of holistic storytelling, inclusive strategy, and stakeholder engagement to steer private and public sector organizations towards socially conscious values and practices.During her free time, she enjoys writing, hiking, gardening, urban exploration, and bringing people from all backgrounds together through food and shared experiences. A first-generation Burmese American, she hopes to raise capital for an early-stage fund and venture studio in Southeast Asia.—Guest PLE ScoreLeverage - 64%Prioritize - 32%Execute - 4%—Guest Quote“Staying focused in this work requires a lot of grit and perseverance. I tell my colleagues and peers in this space to not burn out, and to continue doing the best that we can. At the end of the day, we feel good that we're doing because we have tried our best, and that's what keeps me going in this space.” – Colleen Wong—Time Stamps *(03:25) Colleen's Achievement Index*(05:06) Conducting the perfect amount of research*(07:46) How to unite stakeholders reaching for opposing goals*(13:53) Executing through others*(15:56) Why you should focus on your North Star*(19:24) Maintaining motivation in tough times*(21:39) How to solve Big, Wicked Problems*(29:25) Why don't people share their stories?*(31:44) Apollo’s Takeaways—LinksFind out YOUR Achievement IndexConnect with Colleen Wong on LinkedIn Learn more about Venture for AmericaConnect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedInLearn more about Apollo Strategy Group

Olivia Brooks Allan: Generating Business Results by Leading with the Head and the Heart

In today’s episode, Apollo engages in a conversation with Olivia Brooks Allan, Executive Vice President at Landmark Ventures. The discussion revolves around important topics such as leadership, team building, and the significance of embracing one's authentic self in the professional realm. Olivia emphasizes the value of recognizing and harnessing the unique superpowers of each of her team members, fostering a safe environment for open communication, and delivering feedback with empathy to promote growth and development.Olivia also shares insights on the role of caregiving in shaping her leadership style and the importance of balancing head and heart in decision-making and prioritization. Emphasizing the importance of reflecting on accomplishments and celebrating them, Olivia stresses the value of data-driven decision-making in strategic planning and goal setting.Overall, the interview showcases Olivia Brooks Allan's perspective on effective leadership, team dynamics, and the blending of personal and professional aspects of life. Her insights offer valuable lessons for aspiring leaders seeking to build strong teams, support individual growth, and navigate the complexities of modern professional environments.—Guest BioOlivia Brooks Allan is the Executive Vice President at Landmark Ventures, a leading strategic and financial advisory firm offering a unique combination of venture development and global investment banking services. She is responsible for the success of all aspects of Landmark’s events business including leading an experienced group of event directors and production staff, thereby shaping the vision for all elements of year-round events including partnerships, production, marketing, communications, programming, operations, logistics, growth, and ongoing innovations. Previously, Olivia has been a successful leader within corporations with recognizable brands including American Express, Gartner, Four Seasons, The Peninsula, and Taj Hotels, and more recently with Mastercard. Throughout the past 19 years, she has focused on business development, management, marketing, and public relations. As an independent consultant to the events industry, Olivia developed and executed high-end event projects for corporations and individuals. Olivia is recognized as a leader who creates long-term and mutually beneficial relationships between clients and service providers. Her signature management style is delivering impactful results by energetically guiding her team in an environment where they flourish professionally. Olivia was the recipient of The President’s Club Award of Achievement twice during her tenure at American Express.—Guest PLE ScorePrioritize - 60%Leverage - 32%Execute - 8%—Guest Quote“I think we have a responsibility as leaders to understand: ‘What are the superpowers I need? Do I have too many of one? Do I have too little of another?’ And then really watching your team to see if they're moving into a different space of their career and helping them to figure out where they can use their superpowers best.” - Olivia Brooks Allan—Time Stamps *(3:05) Olivia's Achievement Index*(4:28) What's on Olivia's mind*(9:07) Looking just over the horizon when identifying business goals*(11:43) When the world pivoted in 2020*(15:06) How Olivia's team maintained all their clients during the pandemic*(18:44) Everyone has their own superpower*(21:50) Lessons from being a caregiver*(26:41) Why you need to set aside your ego *(32:46) Delivering effective feedback with empathy*(37:09) Matters of the head vs matters of the heart—LinksFind out YOUR Achievement IndexConnect with Olivia Brooks Allan on LinkedInLearn more about Landmark VenturesConnect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedInLearn more about Apollo Strategy Group

Navid Alipour: Going All In On Unlikely Co-Founders and Teammates

On today’s episode, Apollo sits down with Navid Alipour, Co-Founder & CEO of AI Med Global, and the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Analytics Ventures. AI Med Global is a roll-up of two companies Navid co-founded, CureMetrix and CureMatch. And Analytics Ventures is a fund dedicated to the inception of new ventures harnessing innovations in Artificial Intelligence.Navid is Apollo’s first guest to score 0 points in Execute on the PLE test, and scores slightly higher in Leverage than prioritize, which aligns with his role as a business leader who leverages the expertise of others to drive innovations in AI and healthcare. The conversation focuses on Navid's work in the healthcare industry and the impact he is making through AI and precision medicine. Throughout the interview, there is an underlying theme of perseverance and tenacity in the face of challenges and setbacks. Navid's accomplishments, including FDA clearance and CPT code recognition, highlight the impact his companies, CureMetrics and CureMatch, are making in prolonging lives and improving healthcare outcomes. He credits the success of his companies to the combination of his operational and business expertise and the domain expertise of his team, including renowned oncologist Dr. Rizal Kurzrock. The conversation also touches on the balance between confidence and humility in leadership, as well as the need for continuous learning and adaptation.—Guest BioNavid Alipour is the Co-Founder & CEO of AI Med Global, and the Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Analytics Ventures. AI Med Global is a roll-up of two companies Navid co-founded: CureMetrix and CureMatch. Analytics Ventures is a fund dedicated to the inception of new ventures harnessing innovations in Artificial Intelligence.Navid serves on the Board of Tech San Diego, helping build a thriving ecosystem in San Diego. He is on the Board of CureMetrix, CureMatch, DynamAI, and AlphaTrAI. You can also see him as a panelist, judge, speaker, and moderator at various forums such as UCSD, USD, SDSU, CyberHive, MIT Forum, RSNA, U.S. News STEM Conference, and CONNECT.—Guest PLE ScorePrioritize - 32%Leverage - 60%Execute - 8%—Guest Quote“My family came from Iran. I was six years old when we came here. And when you come from a place where your life is on the line, you almost have a different perspective. It's almost in your DNA that your life was at risk, and so everything else is easy to a degree. So you have to have that level of, you know, ‘I'm gonna do this even though there's a thousand and one reasons that I should fail.’” - Navil Alipour—Time Stamps *(4:06) Navid’s Achievement Index*(8:37) AI and Leverage*(14:57) Being an entrepreneur is delusional*(16:33) Finding confidence in your team*(19:00) Why Navid is invested in healthcare*(28:13) Making the whole greater than the sum of it’s parts*(32:42) Why you should look for unsuspecting founders*(42:29) Get a second opinion*(45:27) Apollo’s Takeaways—LinksFind out YOUR Achievement IndexConnect with Navid Alipour on LinkedInLearn more about AI Med GlobalLearn more about Analytics VenturesConnect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedInLearn more about Apollo Strategy Group

Devin Nash: Making People Bigger Heroes in Their Own Story

On the show today, Apollo speaks with Devin Nash, Vice President of Brand & Experience at Underscore VC. Underscore is an early-stage, Boston-based VC Firm backing bold entrepreneurs with an aligned community designed to fit each startup's unique needs.Devin is the driving force behind the Underscore brand, from strategy and creative to communications and founder products. The epitome of a community builder, Devin is also a passionate champion of Underscore’s ESG efforts, continually pushing the Underscore Core Community to strive for more, with a particular emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion.Devin was shocked by her own results on the PLE test, scoring highest in Prioritize, and lowest in Execute. She chats with Apollo about her “get stuff done” attitude, how she first discovered her passion for VC, the methods she and her team employ in order to build a committed community, and what she hopes for in the future of impact investing.  —Guest BioDevin Nash is the Marketing Director at Underscore VC, an early-stage, Boston-based VC Firm backing bold entrepreneurs with an aligned community designed to fit each startup's unique needs.Fueled by purpose and her belief that entrepreneurship can change the world for good, she is a Board Member and Ecosystem Advisory Committee Co-Chair for Visible Hands and previously served as a Board Member of the VC Platform Global Community and held the role of North America Managing Ambassador for One Young World. When Devin isn’t actively improving the world, she can be found improving her home through jaw-dropping DIY projects, decorating cakes (funfetti only, non-negotiable), and listening to “How I Built This.”—Guest PLE ScorePrioritize - 54%Leverage - 44%Execute - 4%—Guest Quote“I am the person that is generally onboarding our founders, and I'm very intentional about asking: ‘What are the reasons that you selected us?’ What I hear time and time again is that number one, it's our people. And number two, it's this opportunity to engage with the core community, both from the advisor perspective, but also from the pool of talent that they get access to as a result.” - Devin Nash—Time Stamps *(3:24) Devin’s Achievement Index*(5:58) A bit about Underscore VC*(14:53) How Devin grows her local ecosystem*(16:54) Underscore’s Core Partner Makeup*(23:21) Navigating the transition from Execution to Leverage*(24:26) Rewriting your mission statements*(29:08) Building diversity from the ground up*(31:33) How to take the next leap in your career*(36:36) Building culture at your firm*(37:44) Apollo’s Takeaways—LinksFind out YOUR Achievement IndexConnect with Devin Nash on LinkedInLearn more about Underscore VCConnect with Dr. Apollo Emeka on LinkedInLearn more about Apollo Strategy Group