Introducing the Camelback Fellows 2020-21 Alumni Board

We’ve called them “Camelback’s Superheroes” in the past and as 2020 comes to a close that title couldn’t be more on point. The COVID-19 pandemic, a recession, and continued systematic racism which propelled the Black Lives Matter movement into the whitestream spotlight - these are just some of the herculean obstacles the BIPOC and women founders we call the #camelbackfam continue to stare down, skillfully adapt to, and work tirelessly to overcome navigating the unknowns of 2020 and beyond.

CBV Program Director Dr. Charles Corprew who oversees our internal supports to CBV fellows (fittingly coined “Alumni Relief” to meet founder needs during the pandemic) offered this recent shoutout to our family of fellows during the kick off to this year’s four-day (virtual - ehem, we’re practicing that social distancing thing) Family Reunion on October 22 ending this week.

“As a family we have amassed so much success, if there was ever a time to celebrate, it is now. Although we are faced with the wildest of times, the work you are putting in day and night to revolutionize your life as well as those of the people you serve is immeasurable. I am grateful to have been a part of this journey with many of you and I look forward to helping catalyze your success moving forward. You all are amazing,” said Dr. Corprew.

We’re extremely proud and continue to ruthlessly support the 83 entrepreneurs granted the title Camelback Fellow. But, let’s keep it real. Camelback Ventures would not be successful without the collaboration of our Alumni Board. For a second year in a row, we’ve assembled a group of 13 fellows who successfully completed our six-month CBV Fellowship and they now represent the 2020-21 CBV Fellow Alumni Board. We ask this group to hold us accountable, keep our mission and organizational goals aligned, and lastly to weigh-in on: the decision-making process, culture building, and keeping connections going across CBV fellow cohorts.

We’d like to thank these dedicated founders for their service especially during such challenging, trying, and uncertain times. So enough talk, we’re proud to introduce you to this incredible group of Superheroes, the 2020-21 CBV Fellow Alumni Board. Every week, we’ll introduce you to each founder and their ventures and hope you’ll take a moment to soak in what inspires them to be #RuthlessForGood. We’ll start off with Hattie Mitchell…

What propelled you into the entrepreneurial space? And what do you enjoy most about being a founder?

I watched a baby crawl down the streets of Los Angeles and knew something had to be done. The homeless crisis in Los Angeles was devastating so many children and ultimately the next generation and I wanted to change that. I wanted to give every kid a chance to dream and realize those dreams. The thing I enjoy most about being a founder is helping people.

Tell me about an experience you had as an entrepreneur or in starting your company that exemplified one of Camelback's core values.

The core value that speaks to me the most is "unafraid of failure." I think as an entrepreneur you have to be unafraid of failure, because you are entering a new world, one in which you will fail at some point along the journey. As entrepreneurs you know that failure is imminent, but how you prepare for such failure and how you handle disappointment are the most important things.

Is there anyone from the #camelbackfam you'd like to shout-out?

Wisdom Amouzou (2017 Camelback Fellow) is my boy. I appreciate the conversations, feedback, and support from a fellow school leader.

How are you and/or your team adapting to the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic? What are you most proud of overcoming in recent months?

We are rolling with what 2020 is bringing us. We’ve successfully transitioned to being an online school and I’m proud of the agility and resilience of my team.

You can learn more about Hattie and Crete Academy.

Find out more about all of the CBV Fellows by clicking below:

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