Welcome to another addition to our mini-series, let’s dive in. PaSH is centered around sharing inspiring stories, breaking down stereotypes, and sharing the authentic, behind-the-scenes moments that make entrepreneurs so amazing. Let’s dive into, “Behind the Hustle: The Authentic Story You Don’t See on Instagram”.
Meet Lisa Mae Brunson of Wonder Women Tech
Lisa Mae is the founder of Wonder Women Tech, Hiring Humans, Mentor Magic Program, and the host of the Wonder Women Tech Show Podcast. She has launched Junior Innovation Camps for underserved kids, and created STEAM camps and workshops for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. She recently received the 2020 Heart-Centered Tech Award from California Senator Ben Allen. Lisa Mae was named “100 Powerful Women” in the 2019 Oct/Nov issue of Entrepreneur Magazine, included in the 2019 “Create & Cultivate 100” List, in partnership with Chevrolet; and was a Long Beach Post’s “40 Under 40” Winner in 2017. She also received an award from Congressman Alan Lowenthal for her work inspiring middle school students through STEAM career fairs.
As a Black, Latina and Indigineous female, Lisa Mae is passionate about Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Humanity. She builds programs and initiatives working with Fortune 500 Companies, Government Entities, Schools and Universities, Organizations, and individuals to address the challenges stemming from lack of inclusion, discrimination, systemic racism, gender parity and more.
If your business had a theme song, what would it be and why?
I love music of all genres. I think there are different theme songs for different seasons of our journey. Right now I am resonating with “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. I know–I am a little older to be loving Hannah Montana, but I recently heard the song for the first time and it really captures the journey I am on in building my business again.
What’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned since starting your business?
When I was first in my hustle years starting my entrepreneurial journey, I felt that everything was a priority. I put self-imposed deadlines on myself that just had to be done immediately–no exceptions. I over delivered constantly because I wanted to stand out and shine from the crowd. I gave my all at all times and didn’t give myself a break. I was hard on myself to deliver. I didn’t carry this over into my team because I felt I had to work harder than them. I had to do it all and do it well and everything was urgent. If I put a roadmap in place, that roadmap was golden and I could not deviate from it at all. Today, I look back at how I burned myself out early in my career putting that kind of pressure on me. I have learned that most things are not so important that you have to deliver urgently. Things will not fall apart because they are not perfect and that it is okay to pivot, deviate, or even abandon a plan altogether. I wish I had learned that lesson sooner.
Describe your brand in three emojis. Go!
If you could have dinner with any entrepreneur (alive or dead), who would it be, and what would be the first question you’d ask them?
I know it sounds cliche but I would want to have dinner with Oprah. This person has changed over the years but I think right now as I meet this moment, I would ask her, “At what point do you decide to go against the grain, against the expectations set upon you by your stakeholders and audience, and build and do what you want to do? What was your first step in making that happen?”
What’s one piece of advice you wish you could give your younger self before starting this journey?
Girl, it’s not that serious. Also, be careful who you build with. Not everyone deserves to be or should be on your team. Make sure people are with you for the right reasons and really want to support you while growing independently. Your team will make or break you in all ways–so choose carefully, wisely, and not out of desperation.
What’s the most “you” thing in your workspace (bonus points if it’s quirky or unusual)?
My “Crown Tree” is in my office. I love wearing crowns and I have a collection of over 50 crowns, including custom crowns from my crown designer. I found a big tree branch at a yard sale for a $1 and I turned it into a crown tree where I hang up the majority of my crowns. I keep it in my office to remind myself that I am a Queen.
How do you keep your creativity flowing when motivation is low?
I love all music. I listen to music daily and will sing in a car, shower, or to my dog. Music helps me stay motivated. I also love to paint. I am not a painter by any stretch of the imagination. I mainly throw colors on canvas and capture the mood I am in, but it helps me tap into a creative, artistic and tactile side so that I can stay flowing.
Can you describe a moment when you felt like giving up and how you pushed through?
Post pandemic and in the current political climate I feel like I am in a constant state of wanting to give up. It has not been easy walking this journey and hitting every roadblock known to humans. There isn’t one moment that influences the desire to give up. It is a culmination of NO’s and slammed doors, and lack of funding, and lack of access to resources, and constant having to pivot, and burnout seasons, and having to wade through criticisms, bad behavior, racism, discrimination, and all the things that come along with being a woman of color launching things. It is also these same reasons why I continue to keep showing up and pushing forward. I am connected to my “North Star” and this will forever be my calling and impact.
Can you discuss any partnerships or collaborations that have particularly impacted your business?
I have launched Wonder Women Tech using a P3 Model which is a public private partnership model that allows me to work closely with local, national, and international government, educational institutions, corporations, organizations, and community stakeholders to create impact. The City of Long Beach has been one of my biggest partners and I was able to scale globally because of what I built with them ten years ago.
What is one lesson you’ve learned through your entrepreneurial journey that you think everyone should know?
Stay true to yourself always. Never betray yourself because along the way others may betray you, but as long as you are true to yourself you can weather all the storms. If you love rocking crowns and cowboy boots (like I do) then show up to that meeting in your best gear. If you lead with vulnerability and prefer a family team dynamic–than build that. If you like to crack jokes, take mindful days, or want to disrupt the traditional workplace dynamic so that it fits the way you choose to build and lead–than do that. Not every leadership book or “Business 101 Course” will take YOU to where you need to go. I was once told by someone whom I used to admire that, “I didn’t know Business 101.” She meant that as a sting–but as I reflected on that later, I realized it was one of my greatest strengths. She came from a vastly different background than I did and didn’t have to innovate in any of the ways I have. I built a global platform that is still creating impact over a decade later. Stay true to you and your vision and show up only the way you know how.
Thank you for reading, “Behind the Hustle: The Authentic Story You Don’t See on Instagram”, part of our mini-series. To read more amazing Q & A’s click here or check back next month.
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