FTG 0022 - Leveling the Playing Field for Start Ups with Founder & Funder Aniyia Williams '07

Guest Bio:

Aniyia L. Williams ’07 Arts & Architecture is a serial entrepreneur and inclusion advocate. She is a principle at the Omidyar Network after previously founding and serving as chief executive officer of Tinsel, executive director of Black and Brown Founders, and co-founding Zebras Unite. She previously held roles at Voxer and in the arts administration space. As an African-American woman in Silicon Valley, Williams is breaking down barriers for others now and in the future. She has also been featured in Forbes, Ebony, and many tech and fashion websites and publications; and speaks through the country on diversity in tech, fashion tech, and entrepreneurship/startups.  Williams has been the entrepreneur-in-residence for CODE2040, which also focuses on Black and Latinx Entrepreneurs and is powered by Google for Entrepreneurs. She is also a board member for Women’s Audio Mission. Aniyia graduated from Penn State’s College of Arts & Architecture with a bachelors of art in music with honors, as well as minors in business and Italian after beginning her journey at Penn State Berks.

Episode Specifics:

In this episode, Aniyia shares her insights on:

·  Building an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age

· Starting at a Commonwealth Campus and perspectives on the Bunton Waller Fellows program

· “DIY-ing” a major from available programs when Penn State doesn’t have a major!

· Getting involved in both student governments and in the performing arts

· “Nerding out” by combining academic and personal interests and study abroad into the honors thesis

· Working in arts fundraising and then moving into for-profit startups and then back into non-profit

· Insights on the ups and downs of the startup ecosystem – and efforts to fix problems for Black & Brown founders in tech

· Making the leap to start a company after finding an unmet need in the market and learning along the way from idea to manufacturing to consumer

· Creating spaces for others, especially women of color, to excel as founders and funders

· Lots of practical advice for start-up founders

· Thoughts on parenthood, especially as a founder

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• Upcoming Events

• Scholars – Need Assistance? Book an Appointment!

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• Make a Gift to Benefit Schreyer Scholars

• Join the Penn State Alumni Association

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Credits & Notes:

This show is hosted, produced, and edited by Sean Goheen ‘11 Lib (Schreyer).

The artwork was created by Tom Harrington, the College’s Web Developer.

The sound effect is “Chinese Gong,” accessed via SoundBible used under Creative Commons License.

The theme music is “Conquest” by Geovane Bruno, accessed via Pixabay and used under Creative Commons License.