Tiffany Dufu

A few days ago I was crying in an airport bathroom. My company, The Cru, was an SVB customer and the collapse of the bank created a crisis for our business and for me personally. In my moment of distress I decided to do the only thing that always works in helping me to solve hard problems in my life: I asked for help. But this time it was terrifying because I had to do it publicly by posting a video on LinkedIn, with no makeup or perfectly edited talking points. It felt like the most vulnerable act I’ve ever taken. Here’s what happened next:

The video went viral.
The Cru’s crowdfunding campaign, which I asked everyone to contribute to, skyrocketed.
Inbound requests from HR and DEI leaders who wanted to partner with The Cru to retain their women poured in.
And the media further amplified my biggest message: Not every tech entrepreneur is Mark Zuckerberg. We are regular Americans with mortgages to pay, visions to execute, and we need the hard earned money in our bank accounts to do it.

I’m happy to report that The Cru has secured access to our funds, which is now in a Bank of America account. 🎉

Here are two things I know for sure:

1)The universe conspires to buoy people who ask for help.
2)If you want something you’ve never had before, you’ll have to do something you’ve never done before in order to get it.

I can’t thank you enough for all of the love and support I’ve experienced since I posted that video. If you shared my post with your network, share this one too so they know I’m ok! 
Finally, if you haven’t done so already please contribute to our campaign by clicking here: republic.com/the-cru.

Invest in The Cru. Make Women's History.

#womenshistorymonth #startups #findyourcru

I have thrilling news to share. After building The Cru for the past five years I’ve sold it to my sister founder Cate Luzio at Luminary. If you’d like to know more about the deal, check out the Inc. exclusive bit.ly/486Yxzo. I learned A LOT along the way. Here are my reflections after founding, growing and exiting a startup:

#1 You’re more qualified than you think. In 2018, I didn’t have the typical resume to start a tech company. I’m an author, public speaker, and social impact executive. I can write a bestselling book but not one line of code. I can fundraise for nonprofits, but knew little about startup fundraising, acquisition funnels or sales pipelines. The qualification I did have was an obsession with solving a problem for the women I’m on the planet to serve. I grew The Cru into a robust platform for matching thousands of women into accountability circles and built the largest dataset of women’s goals. I also raised $5M, although Black female startup founders receive less than 1% of venture capital. The next time you want to throw your hand in the ring, but doubt you have what it takes, know that relentlessness can get you pretty far.
 
#2 Just do the next thing. There are two types of people in the world: people who talk about it and people who make it happen. The “make it happen” people don’t worry about future decisions. The “talk about it” people get so consumed by the what ifs they never take the actions that create options. When I posted my first video on social media inviting women to join The Cru I offered a 20-minute interview for every applicant. It wasn’t until hundreds of women started applying that I scrambled to determine how I would logistically conduct the interviews. Target your day-to-day energy on the next rung with faith that you’ll ultimately climb to the top of the ladder.
 
#3 Know when it’s time to pass the baton. Companies are like relay races. They require different athletes at different stages. I’m the women’s leadership expert and evangelist who leveraged my following to get The Cru off the ground. My friend Cate Luzio is the banker turned entrepreneur who will take The Cru to profitable heights. Leaders I respect build beyond their tenure. I’ve learned how to transition gracefully from two of the most innovative builders I know: Marie C. Wilson and Reshma Saujani. What leg are you running in your company as an entrepreneur or employee? Do you have the right conditioning for your position? Have you held on to it for too long out of fear for what’s next? The world needs less people who create brands and more people who create legacies. What will your longest-lasting impact be?
 
Thank you to every team member, investor, and advisor of The Cru and to every member – I’m still here for you. Special shout out to Kojo Dufu for picking up the balls I drop in pursuit of my passion.

P.S. I’m saving what’s next for me for a future post. You all know my life’s work is advancing women and girls, so it won’t be a shocker.

I’m really really trying to get serious work done but Beyoncé just dropped a new album and all I can honestly do is dance to it on loop. I’ve already sent a message to my team giving them permission to take a “Renaissance Friday.” Ever since I was a little girl music has been my serenity. I recently channeled my teenage self for my dear friend’s 50th (Happy Birthday Margaret!). My tank features a shot of me at sweet sixteen along with the top songs that were released and inspired me that year including Madonna’s “Vogue” and Indigo Girls’ “Closer To Fine.”
 
If I had to make a tank for this year, Beyoncé's “Cozy” would be on it. She launches the first verse with triumph over adversity: Dancin' in the mirror/kiss my scars/Because I love what they made. Then the chorus is a homage to the groundedness of a woman who’s been around the block a few times: Comfortable in my skin/cozy with who I am. I wish for each of you the freedom that comes with recognizing your power and deploying it to create impact in the world. What’s a song that inspires you to be your best self? Share it so I can add it to my playlist. Then close your laptop, and dance.
#musicislife #love #inspiration #freedom

I’m one of those counterintuitive feminists that love men opening doors, rap music, and Barbie. I’ll never forget the Christmas I finally got my first one - a brown ballerina Barbie with an afro and a wide nose. Many years later I learned that my mom had bought a generic doll she felt reflected my identity and painstakingly replaced it with the blond doll that came in the original packaging so that I would feel I had an actual Barbie. I added more figurines over time and stored them in boxes I would carry to my friends’ houses so that we could create imaginary worlds together.

Barbie emerged back into my life a decade ago when I ran a national women’s leadership organization called The White House Project. We trained women to run for political office and one of our partnerships was with Mattel to produce President Barbie. Our founder, marie wilson, felt that girls should aspire to something greater than living in a dream house with Ken. One of my most proud professional accomplishments was convincing the doll maker to finally design President Barbie with shoes that would allow her to remain upright. As Marie would often quip, “The leader of the free world should be able to stand on her own two feet.”

All of this to say that, of course, I was first in line to see the new Barbie movie and I encourage all of you to go - especially if you have no affection for the doll or the franchise or patriarchy or misogyny or capitalism. I don’t like spoilers so I’ll just say that you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I also encourage you to at least buy a ticket to support Greta Gerwig, the Academy Award nominated director. We need more blockbusters directed by women to pave the way for others.

Loved this interview with Issa Rae, who plays President Barbie in the film. Please share your own Barbie memories.

https://lnkd.in/ehw-RW69

#TiffanysFinds