From Busboy to Working at IBM, Apple, and Creating His Own Tech Company – Brian Brackeen

Brian Brackeen (Miami, Florida)

Career: General Partner of Lightship Capital, we invest money into peoples dreams and help them to grow. It’s like a farmer, but for ideas.

1- How did you become a professional in your current field?

Wow… It all started by being a Busboy and Host at a restaurant in Philadelphia where I’m from. I learned so much about how to treat people, how to serve, and how to get along with almost anyone. From there I took jobs in computers, I learned how to code, got jobs at Comcast, IBM, and eventually Apple. At Apple I learned a lot about how to build something great. I used that knowledge to grow my own business, Kairos, into being worth 120 million dollars. From there, I started my own investment fund with my wife, so that I could teach others what I know.

2- What is a quality that makes you successful in your career?

My ability to listen and my ability to explain complex concepts fairly simply.

3-What 3 tips would you give someone struggling to reach their goals?

You are not struggling, you are learning and iterating. Never look at struggle as a bad thing. You don’t need 3 tips, you need to keep going.. that’s the only tip.

4-Name the top 3 goals you achieved?

I’ve not achieved enough in my life. Hard to say, I’m never happy with success more than a day… enjoy the positives for a day, and only sulk or stress for an hour. Either way, positive or negative, keep moving.

5-What inspired you to reach your goals?

My parents. I was adopted at 6 months old, and I’m always trying to show them that I was a good choice.

6-How did you overcome obstacles to reaching your goals?

There are no obstacles, only learnings.

7-How do you keep your inspiration from decreasing?

If you are not inspired everyday, you are doing the wrong thing with you life. Find what you are passionate about, and that may mean moving, or traveling or getting out of your comfort zone. Inspiration is eternal, if you are doing the right thing.

To learn more about Brian Brackeen venture capital firm LIGHTSHIP, visit https://www.lightship.capital/

LIGHTSHIP is a founder focused investment fund. We identify amazing technology driven startups founded/led by underrepresented professionals, and surround them with the education, collaboration, and capital necessary to scale toward exit.

RESOURCES

5 Programming Languages Every Black Entrepreneur Should Know And Where To Learn Them https://www.panafricanalliance.com/5-programming-languages-every-black-entrepreneur-should-know-and-where-to-learn-them/

Learn how to code visit these sites https://www.codecademy.com https://www.udacity.com/ https://www.pluralsight.com

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