From Jail Cell to C-suite - a Night with Entrepreneurs Defying Expectations
Spending four hours with formerly incarcerated felons probably doesn't top your list of things to do on a Thursday night.
And until last week it wouldn't have topped mine either.
Words like 'prison', 'jail', and 'criminal' typically generate mental images of people in orange jumpsuits covered in tattoos - battle hardened from years of crime, drugs, illegal activity, and hardship; totally uninterested in finding legal ways to keep themselves from returning back to prison once they are released.
Last Thursday evening proved these stereotypes wrong. Completely, entirely, and unequivocally wrong.
I spent the evening volunteering as a business coach with Defy Ventures, a non-profit organization founded by Catherine Hoke in 2010.
As stated on their website,
"Defy Ventures is an entrepreneurship, employment, and character development training program for currently and formerly incarcerated men, women, and youth."
Conversations that evening revolved around all aspects of personal and professional life - topics covered everything from life in prison to small business sales and marketing tactics. Nothing was off-topic.
One of the first people I met that evening, Seth Sundberg, is a former professional basketball player and Defy EIT (Entrepreneur-in-Training). Like many others I met, I was impressed with Seth's humility, perceptiveness, and business acumen.
His company, Prison Bars, makes 'criminally delicious' snack bars - bars that he formulated during his time in prison. He came up with the idea after pulling a box of chicken from the freezer during kitchen duty and noticing it was labeled 'not for human consumption' on the side.
He decided to start making snack bars for himself and others with the healthiest ingredients he could find in prison. After his release and with the help of Defy he turned his bars into a business, now employing other formerly incarcerated individuals.
His bars are sold online and in multiple locations around San Francisco.
Another EIT I met, Ed Kressy, was addicted to drugs for decades of his life and eventually did time in jail. He now provides self defense programming for corporate team building events - donating 10% of his profits back to Defy and free courses to a local Boys and Girls club.
Seth and Ed are just two of the many EIT's I met that night. Other EIT's had equally interesting histories and businesses they are creating.
Not only was I impressed with each of the individuals, but I was amazed at the success rate for the 1,600+ currently and formerly incarcerated people that Defy has served. The data speaks for itself. Defy gradutes have:
A less than 5% recidivism rate (% of EIT's who have landed back in prison)
A 95% employment rate
Launched over 150 startups which created 350+ employment opportunities
On top of that, Defy has:
Disbursed $525,000+ to EIT startups through business pitch competition awards and microloans
Engaged 3,500 business volunteers who have contributed 15,000+ hours of mentoring, coaching, and investing in employing EITs.
I came away feeling a sense of purpose, feeling humbled, and feeling passionate about continuing to volunteer with Defy. If you're looking for an opportunity to volunteer as a business mentor or donate your money to this great organization, please be sure to check Defy's website here and sign up.