First Gen to Obama's Administration to Nasdaq Launch: Meet Barrier Breaker, Eric Kelly
Eric Kelly founded? Bridge 2 Technologies , an online platform with the potential to shrink the divide between?corporate America and the talent pool of Black people, other people of color, and minority-owned businesses. In addition, Kelly was appointed by President Barack Obama to the?Executive Office of the President of the United States Council of Advisors on Science, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee.
What is your personal story, and how does it inform your personal and professional purpose?
I grew up in Oakland, California, a vibrant and diverse community with friends from all social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds. Oakland is a microcosm of the world; it is one of the most diverse cities in the United States and has a strong history of leading the nation on social justice and equality. This backdrop instilled in me a more open and inclusive worldview. I was open to new ideas, different ways of socializing, and finding creative ways of solving problems. Furthermore, Oakland's history was a constant reminder of the importance of diversity and inclusion. "Global Intellect and Inclusiveness" is my personal and professional purpose, and I instill this idea in every business I am a part of.
My parents owned and operated an automotive business for over four decades, and I saw firsthand how to build a successful enterprise and overcome the challenges business owners face. Their experiences helped shape my entrepreneurial journey as well as my ethos. As a leader, creating a culture that fosters diversity of thought is a cornerstone for success. Understanding what is most important to all business partners, customers, and employees allowed my parents to build one of the most successful enterprises in northern California. Each interaction provided the ability to learn new ideas, overcome old thought processes, and provide a blueprint for building partnerships. The insights they gained and passed on to me reinforced my ethos of "Global Intellect and Inclusiveness."
As I continuously fueled my personal and professional ethos, I realized there was a need for a solution to further the movement of "Global Intellect and Inclusiveness." This was the genesis for? Bridge 2 Technologies ?(B2T), a global solution to profoundly improve economic inequalities. B2T brings together diverse companies, diverse professionals, and critical resources and connects them with multi-national corporations for strategic partnerships, business opportunities, and capital investment with benefits for all involved.
What do you most want to address to open doors of opportunity for diverse talent in tech, given that you have risen the First Gen success story at San José State University to MBA at San Francisco State University to roles as Vice President, General Manager, Chairman, CEO, and Founder?
I have come to understand that diverse companies and individuals have talent. However, they have limited visibility of the opportunities and support systems. My mission is to leverage technology as a vehicle to close the opportunity gap and build an ecosystem with mentors and sponsors. I make a clear distinction between a mentor and a sponsor. The mentor gets you prepared, and the sponsor is the person that stands up and opens the doors to opportunities. Among the many challenges that diverse talent faces are finding those who look like them in leadership roles. It is essential to see successful leaders with similar backgrounds and experiences, individuals who can provide a vision for success. I encourage leaders and professionals to provide best practice guidelines to diverse companies and individuals looking to get into the technology field or any other chosen field. The homogenous world of technology is slowly changing, and a great deal of work must be done. We can't only rely on large organizations to lead the way for change; we have a responsibility to provide opportunities and mentorship to those who are starting or are early in their careers.
How did that government experience impact you and the choices you have made since?
I was highly honored to be appointed by?President Barack Obama ?to the?Executive Office of the President of the United States Council of Advisors on Science, Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee?and by?U.S. Secretary of Commerce Pritzker as Vice Chair of the United States Department of Commerce Manufacturing Council. Both experiences helped strengthen my belief in being a student of life and a student of one's profession. One can learn something new daily; compounded knowledge provides the same benefits as compounded interest over time.
I worked with people across all levels of the administration, and the one thing I was constantly amazed by was the shared vision of the office. A presidential office is always racing against time to have the maximum impact during their term, and one needs to check their ego at the door and work together as a team to accomplish the shared vision.
Why do you value the GlobalMindED community, and how can GlobalMindED's Inclusive Success Network support your goals in the various professional and personal roles you lead?
The mission of creating an inclusive success network by connecting students with mentors and internships has a powerful personal resonance. GlobalMindED truly understands that we need to become agents of change. One mentor or opportunity can truly change generations of a family and create positive ripple effects within a community.
What legacy do you most want to leave the world at the end of your life?
To have a generational impact by building a diverse global ecosystem and leverage the Bridge 2 Technologies platform to accelerate the closing of the wealth, education, and health gaps while strengthening communities and the economy.