2023 Fellow Focus: Alexandra Ruiz-Olivo + Poder Capital
Disruptor, immigration advocate, champion for social change…2023 Fellow Alexandra Ruiz-Olivo of Poder Capital shares more about her journey as a social impact entrepreneur.
What life experiences propelled you into the entrepreneurial space and made you decide to be your own boss?
Working in government, I experienced first hand how challenging it is to impact change in bureaucracies that were not originally built to serve BIPOC communities. Innovation is often capped by the appetite of any given administration. Change is often predicated on the political environment at the time. I found myself constantly fighting and advocating for products and services that truly had people of color at the center. I won and lost many fights. Seeing over and over again the lack of representation and the systemic barriers that exist to move more quickly, I grew weary. In parallel, I saw how new social impact businesses were moving the needle. I was inspired to truly focus on entrepreneurship following my time in NYC government.
What do you enjoy most about being a founder?
I love being able to imagine new products and solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. I also love collaborating across ecosystems and engaging with diverse leaders and thinkers. I love the freedom you have to create and experiment. I live for the potential to change people's lives.
What do you wish someone had told you before you started your entrepreneurial journey?
I think I would have wanted someone to tell me that entrepreneurship will magnify your greatest gifts AND it will also force you to confront your greatest insecurities. I wish someone would have told me how triggering working with VCs would be. I also wish someone would have shown me that the entrepreneurship journey LOOKs different for different people. There are different paths to success.
Tell us about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values: "Belief in Mission + Vision"; "Unafraid of Failure"; "Constant Learner"; "Humble + Hungry"; and "Give First."
My whole process, from designing my company concept to launching, has been an experiment in being Unafraid to Fail. I know I am taking on an idea that is different from what is in the market. I know that in fintech (especially with the current economy) the chances of success are not the best. But I strongly believe that to innovate you have to go against the grain and challenge the status quo. I am leaning into the fear of failure and letting my creative spirit be the front seat driver.
How do you stay motivated?
I surround myself with other creatives and entrepreneurs who are also trying to disrupt systems and industries. I also lean heavily on the legacy of those who came before me. I remind myself that discomfort is a product of innovation. I also lean heavily on my community to continuously remind me of our collective WHY.
Let's talk about your legacy. How do you hope your venture will make the world a better place generations from now?
I hope Poder Capital will transform the way BIPOC communities access capital and build wealth in the present and generations to come. I hope we play a role in undoing centuries of exclusion from the financial system.
What's your favorite book or podcast that you draw entrepreneurial inspiration from?
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