#13DaysOfReflection — Day 13
13. “PERPETUAL OPTIMISM IS A FORCE MULTIPLIER.”
This time it’s personal. Like really personal.
I started my young adult life wondering how I could make a difference on this planet. I first wanted to build better opportunities for military members to navigate their careers. I then wanted to figure out how to make voting more accessible and more inclusive for all while building out new ways to donate to people you connected with. Eventually, I wanted to scale up a global connection to everyone (that didn’t turn out too well! 😬). Then I tried to get young people to and through high school — with excellence. And then, I wanted to train the social impact field supporting meaningful causes to be the most effective leaders possible. Eventually, I began to see this pattern of personal passion — connecting people to the things they love the most — and keeping them there. Especially in places and spaces people who look like me have been historically excluded from.
This last 24 month year (I know you feel me) has been so sad, happy, connected, disconnected, meaningful, blurry, focused, scary, and exciting all at the same time. I started 2020 so hopeful and ready to connect Black software engineers to a community of deep support and opportunities to keep them upwardly mobile. I ended the year a bit jaded with the news of discrimination and exclusion at the hands of some of my partners. That didn’t feel good… 😵💫 I then started 2021 with fire to help people from historically excluded and non-traditional backgrounds break into tech — and we all now know how that went. As I began to embark on exploring what was next, I dove head deep into what I like to call “The SZN of Learning.” (SZN = season — for you Gen Xers and Boomers) I nearly spent every waking moment learning something new — whether it was quantum physics or the intricacies of Web3 or how to invest in companies or even how to play golf properly (I can play an 18 hole course IRL now, albeit horribly).
After watching all the Masterclasses; regularly connecting with and learning directly from Lightspeed & Sequioa via BLCK VC; reading as many HBR articles as possible, and watching 100s of hours of science-based Youtube videos, the thing I continued to ponder before bed and as soon as I woke up was — 1) how can I be most proud of what I do on an everyday basis, 2) how can I best ride for my people, and 3) how can I keep connecting people to the things/places/jobs they are meant to have AND how can I help keep them there (and supported). I started to casually consult my friends on their career trajectories and opportunities before them — then I began to consult companies on their hiring practices — and then a light 💡 went off — a Searchlight. 🔦
Before I get too deep into what’s next, I want to say this: General Powell, I’m really going to miss your insights, connection, and support — and I hope my reflections, albeit short at times, on your 13 rules made you proud.
Connected to every single reflection — and connected to my “why” — I’ve optimistically found a great team developing an equally connected and great product (talent intelligence) that uses science to help companies hire faster (40% faster) and retain great talent (45% more).
TLDR; Searchlight takes the guesswork out of hiring and retention.
So I’ll end my 13 days of reflection with this:
I’m really happy to announce that I’ve joined Andrew, Anna, Anthony, Arman, Austin, Kerry, Naomi, Nathan, Shamus, & Taylor on the Searchlight team to build partnerships with companies, associations, and operators who are deeply optimistic about finding ways to measure and strengthen their quality of hire. I’m super pumped to continue connecting to and uplifting this work with such a deeply connected team.
To that end, today, we announced our $17M #SeriesA raise led by Founders Fund. TechCrunch dropped an article today by Christine Hall that highlights the raise and how we’re looking to build.
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Coupled with investors including Accel, Shasta Ventures, Operator Collective, Y Combinator, & Kapor Capital, we are primed and ready to continue building upon Anna and Kerry’s vision — creating a world where people feel more connected with their work, purpose, and passions — immediately, building Talent Intelligence 🧠 to help companies improve the most powerful metric for retention: #QualityOfHire.
So what does this mean going forward? I have a few asks for you:
1) Share the news! 📰 This is an exciting moment, and I hope we can share this with our friends and colleagues.
2) Your company should definitely use Searchlight’s platform 🔦. No, seriously — especially if you’re looking to hire over 50 people this next year — connect with our sales team.
3) Let’s partner together! 🤝 (I want us to be part of each others’ ecosystems, let’s build ways to connect our platforms, and let me share how Searchlight’s talent intelligence works with you). Send me an email here: partnerships@searchlight.ai
4) We’re hiring! 🧑🏾💻 (Know a great Sales leader, great SDRs, AEs, Head of Talent?)
I believe all of this is culminating to be a force multiplier for the future of our workforce. Are you excited?! I’m optimistic that you’re as excited as I am. 😏
Let’s connect.
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank my incredible network/family of support including my family (what a year — you’re the reason why I desire to change the world); BVI squad (LEYLA — you’ve been such an incredible light these past few months; JACKSON — I appreciate you for your guidance and friendship; Anita, Arif, Carita, Mandy, Qiana, & Tunde — ya’ll continue to lift my spirits and mind ); and my larger community (I appreciate all of you!).
Still here?! Stream my favorite song of the decade: Night Owl. 🌙🦉
