Reboot Podcast Episode #99 – Thriving Versus Surviving – with David McQueen

The Reboot podcast showcases the heart and soul, the wins and losses, the ups and downs of startup leadership. On the show, Entrepreneurs, CEO’s, and Startup Leaders discuss with Jerry Colonna the emotional and psychological challenges they face daily as leaders.

Episode 99 // February 21, 2019

Guests

David McQueen

David McQueen

Founder of Legacy71

View Bio

Episode Description

Here at Reboot, we believe that the toughest conversations (with ourselves and others) are often the best catalyst for building bridges of understanding. When we refuse to allow ourselves to be stunted by fear and bravely open to perspectives beyond our own we welcome in a whole new way of seeing the Other. Since its inception in 2014, the Reboot Podcast has endeavored to provide a space where our guests and our listeners feel safe to tackle the difficult conversations that accompany our complex and complicated human lives.

In keeping with our mission to host important, yet challenging conversations, (and in perfect time to celebrate Black History Month), we’re airing a recent conversation between host Jerry Colonna and Legacy 71 founder David McQueen. In this episode, Jerry and David touch on various topics, including race as a confining social construct, the notion of legacy, and how it can be reframed to not only exist as a mindset but also as a vehicle for building community and spaces of belonging. David also speaks to the unique challenges facing those in the Pan-African entrepreneurial community and the ways in which he, as a black man, aims to instill leadership lessons to people of color (and the organizations that they build) that will empower them to not only survive the system but thrive.

David McQueen | Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire


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Show Highlights

Top Quotes:

“I don’t believe that you can really drive sustainable stuff where people have a sense of wellbeing, be that mental or physical, as well as being able to contribute to an economy unless you’ve really got an understanding of where that leadership piece comes from.” – David McQueen

“Why should I let race limit me?” – David McQueen

“If you feel that you’ve got to work twice as hard as somebody because of their race, you’re always going to feel inferior and you’ve got to do this extra, go this extra mile, do this extra bit just to match up with somebody because of race.” – David McQueen

“I refuse to allow my journey to be dictated by someone else’s narrative because of a social construct, which is race.” – David McQueen

“When you’re building your company, build a company to thrive, not to survive.” – David McQueen

“I have no interest in de-colonizing Silicon Valley because I’m too focused on building a village in London.” – David McQueen

“We’re going to look at tough spaces. We’re going to look at those issues, but we’re not going to dwell on them.” – Jerry Colonna

“When I tell you that I’m pro-black it doesn’t mean that I’m anti-white, and it’s very important to know the difference.” – David McQueen

“To live this human life is complicated and complex.” – Jerry Colonna

“Some people want to be part of the system but they don’t know where the club is.” – David McQueen

“When individuals don’t get an opportunity to sit at certain tables, they start to make their own.” – David McQueen

“You can be nice and make money, you can be nice and impact the world, and you can also teach that to your children and to your children’s children so that they can take it to the next level.” – David McQueen

“We are not limited by our past, but it does sure as hell help to shape our future.” – David McQueen