What does it take to go from hauling water buckets in Nigeria to structuring billion-dollar deals on Wall Street to launching a cutting-edge venture capital fund?

Belinda Ephraim's journey embodies a masterclass in resilience, strategic reinvention, and challenging conventional wisdom. Growing up in Nigeria as the eldest of six children, Belinda's childhood was defined by both privilege and profound challenge. Sent to boarding school at age 10, she learned self-sufficiency by farming her own plot of land and carrying ten-gallon water containers when supplies ran short.

These early experiences forged a resilience that would become her superpower through life's unexpected twists. When political turmoil forced her family to flee Nigeria and seek asylum in America, Belinda's world changed overnight. From attending private school on her family's dime, she suddenly had to drop out of university and work three jobs at a Marriott hotel to support herself and help her parents. Rather than surrendering to circumstances, she strategically consolidated three positions within the same company and eventually pivoted to wealth management where CNBC sparked her fascination with investment banking.

The most compelling segment of our conversation challenges popular startup mythology. Drawing from her experience structuring over $37 billion in M&A deals and now raising $50 million for her deep tech venture fund TENSEUR Capital, Belinda boldly asserts that "venture capital is wrong for 90% of startups." She brilliantly illuminates why through the Atlassian case study – explaining how the company operated for eight years, reaching $58 million in revenue before taking venture money, allowing the founding team to maintain 75% ownership at IPO.

Whether you're building a business, navigating a career transition, or simply searching for inspiration, Belinda's story reminds us that our greatest strength often emerges from our deepest challenges. Subscribe, share, and join us next week for another transformative conversation on Reset with Tonya.

What happens when your career path zigzags across continents, disciplines, and roles? In this enlightening conversation, Keshia Theobald-van Gent reveals how her unconventional journey from Middle America to Laos, the Netherlands, and ultimately Silicon Valley shaped her distinct approach to venture capital.

Named a 2025 Woman of Influence, Keshia shares how studying conflict, religion, and globalization — plus a chance meeting with her future husband — led her through roles in international development, AmeriCorps service, educational entrepreneurship, and eventually to her current position as Vice President at BDev Ventures. "The through line is probably a combination of service and learning," she explains, illuminating how these core values drive her work investing in B2B software companies at the late Series B to Series C stages.

The conversation explores how Keshia's founder experience provides her with deeper empathy for entrepreneurs, allowing her to ask different questions than colleagues with traditional finance backgrounds. "I've cried those tears," she admits, describing her approach to giving honest, constructive feedback to founders, even when the answer is no. Her insights on navigating different company cultures reveal how her global experiences trained her to quickly adapt to varied systems and organizational dynamics.

Beyond professional insights, Keshia and host Tonya Long discover delightful personal connections through their shared love of Airstreams, CrossFit, and comfortable yet uniquely stylish shoes. Their candid discussion about women's evolving roles in tech and venture capital highlights how Silicon Valley's culture has matured over the past decade, creating more opportunities for diverse leadership styles.

Connect with Keshia on LinkedIn to learn more about her investment approach and how BDEV Ventures provides systematic value to portfolio companies through their unique lead generation tools and operational expertise.

Join me as I talk with a pioneering leader in data governance, Morgan Templar, in this captivating episode of RESET. Morgan, the CEO of First CDO Partners, shares her remarkable journey from the corporate world to leading her own consultancy. Discover the challenges she faced in leaving the security of a corporate career and the skills she honed in the process, including leadership, data strategy, and AI integration. Morgan’s insights extend beyond professional expertise to her personal endeavors: her influential books on data governance are an industry benchmark, and her thoughts on "action through inaction" are a message we can all lean into to better align with the flow that will support success.

Explore how the future of leadership is being shaped by AI and the transition to distributed workforces. Morgan and I discuss why openness, transparency, and vulnerability are now crucial in building trust within organizations. AI is more than just a tool; it’s a collaborative partner that requires thoughtful management akin to human teams. Learn how adapting leadership styles and clear communication can help navigate the unknowns of integrating AI, embracing the importance of flexibility and adaptability in today’s dynamic work environment.

We also discuss deeply personal stories of resilience and adaptability, reflecting on how life's unexpected challenges shape us. From navigating significant medical crises within her family to blending spirituality with professional authenticity, we explore how personal and professional lives intertwine and inform each other. Finally, we ponder AI's potential to serve as a societal equalizer, promoting equity and bridging the tech divide. Tune in for an episode that offers a thoughtful exploration of leading through change and the ongoing transformation technology presents.