How ThePLUGDaily Founder Created A Must-Read Newsletter For POC In Tech

WHO I AM

My name is... Sherrell Dorsey.

My company is… ThePLUG, the first daily tech newsletter covering founders and innovators of color. It launched in 2016 and now reaches thousands of investors, students, and tech aficionados in six countries. Our goal is to connect people to newsmakers who and topics that often get overlooked in the daily technology and business conversation. People of color are creating and contributing so much in this space that we would be remiss to not see their work as a larger component of where we are heading as a society.

Before I started ThePLUG, I… was a marketing manager at Uber in Charlotte, NC and held a contract sales role at Google Fiber.

My first career aspiration was… to become a professional tap dancer. I began teaching tap at age 12 and created a business offering private lessons on weekends.

I made my very first dollar… sweeping up hair in my aunt's salon before school and on weekends.

My ideal day is… kicked off with a hot cup of turmeric ginger tea from Serengeti Tea in Harlem and is followed by a strategy session with ThePLUG team to refine our growth model and build out an enterprise intelligence product on Black tech startups and investment firms.

My typical day includes… attending classes at Columbia University where I'm pursuing a M.S. in data journalism, negotiating sponsorship requests for ThePLUG, and rolling out growth campaigns for the newsletter.

Right when I wake up… I give thanks for the day and what I have to look forward to. Then I ask my Google Home for the weather and the news. Once I'm out of bed, I pick a podcast to listen to as I get ready to head out for the day.

Right before I go to bed… I review and update my to-do list on Asana, check on any outstanding items I need to add to the next day's priority list, ask my Google Home to put on meditation music, and read an interesting story or book until I doze off.

MY PLAYBOOK

It brings out my best… when I’m well-rested. Rest helps me think clearly, make sound decisions, and be conscientious of how I am approaching my work and relationships.

I’m motivated by… how different opportunities can look in different contexts. It could be reporting on the work of an entrepreneur hiring people in their community to offer a shot at a tech-related job or a sociologist working with policy makers to adopt new models for education reform. I love seeing people using their skills to overcome challenges that also afflict others.

My career heroes are... unequivocally Angela Benton, Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, Krista Tippett, and Dr. Paul Judge.

I’m worst at... work/life balance.

I’m currently excited about… the growth in capital and venture funding for entrepreneurs of color. There are upticks in traditional investors, wealthy individuals getting into investment for the very first time, and corporations creating investment vehicles specifically for companies with diverse teams. The gap in access is slowly closing, and I'm here for it.

MY PATH

My biggest entrepreneurial leap of faith was… launching ThePLUG while working full-time, which allowed me to fund a bit of the business. When my contract ended, I went full-time on ThePLUG, eventually landing our first major corporate partnership with Capital One.

My rock-bottom moment... came when I was 24 and lost a friend to a rare blood disease no one knew about. She was just shy of turning 30 and had several entrepreneurial endeavors she wanted to pursue but hadn't yet been able to bring to fruition. In the wake of that tragedy, I decided I wanted to live my life on my own terms because no single day is promised, and I want to have done everything I set out to do.

My biggest triumph was... getting the opportunity to interview AOL founder Steve Case twice, once over the phone and once in person on a panel with the mayor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe. I knew on that day that my work was being valued and that the hot-shot leaders looking to democratize innovation regionally and racially knew my name.

The biggest question I haven’t yet answered is... what is the formula to eliminate poverty in our most vulnerable communities? Is it jobs? Education? Tech funds?

I define success as… creating pathways and opportunities for others to be elevated so that they can contribute greater value and solutions to the world.

MY WISDOM

If you’re thinking about starting your own company, I dare you to remember… to truly define the mission behind your work and why you're deciding to take this route. You'll need to revisit your mission and values during the tough times.

I dare you to forget… the significance of your fear. Do it afraid. All of it.

My best advice is… to honor the process. It refines you and shapes you. And when in doubt, there's always red wine.

Image courtesy of Sherrell Dorsey and Alvin C. Jacobs Jr.