Product Manager, Content Creator, Investor and trusted advisor to diverse investors and startups.

From a young age, Andy realised he could not be simply categorised as a creative. Nearly ten years ago, he co-founded a music discovery and distribution startup whilst starting a career as a Management Consultant at EY.

Andy travelled and worked in over forty countries in five years including working with world renowned VCs in Silicon Valley such as Greylock Partners, Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital, whilst based out of San Francisco for UK based consultancy Elixirr.

He has been a product manager for over seven years across both B2C and B2B products, based on first principles of solving problems and exceeding customer needs.

Andy, what does diversity mean to you?

Diversity for me is about people from different backgrounds having a seat at the table, whilst inclusion is about having their voices heard and acted upon.

Why do you care about diversity?

My goal is to increase VC investment from more than 1% into black owned startups (only 0.2% in black women), which means we are not even getting the opportunity to take the risk to become entrepreneurs. This is an injustice and deprives the market from a diversity of thought.

How can we build more inclusive communities?

We need to understand that intersectionality is an analytical tool. We need shareholders and decision makers in leadership to stop treating people as homogeneous groups such as “The women’s network.” It devalues the layers of oppression for example suffered by a black disabled, working class women vs a middle class white able-bodied women. Let’s stop assuming one solution solves all of their needs.

Who is your role model?

My dad. Before he passed away when I was 25 he sacrificed his life for better outcomes for my two brothers and I. I saw in him what it means to be selfless and serve others

What is your advice to a young person starting their career or entrepreneurial journey?

Patience produces greatness, commit to delivering quality consistently and remember humility comes before honour.