Listen and subscribe to Financial Freestyle on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts. As Financial Freestyle with Ross Mac wraps up its first full season, we’re revisiting some of the show’s most inspiring and forward-thinking moments. Ross Mac has used his platform to amplify the voices of several key figures, sharing insightful conversations that challenge perspectives and promote innovation. First, Mac welcomed New York Times bestselling author, Dream Machine Innovation Lab founder, and CNN contributor Van Jones. Known for his lifelong work as a lawyer and news commentator, Jones has shifted focus to tech advocacy. He believes technology, particularly AI, is a powerful tool for creating opportunities in overlooked communities. While many still struggle to understand AI, Jones sees it as a “great equalizer.” “People keep telling me, well, Van Jones, you keep talking about this stuff, but 99% of Black people don’t know anything about AI, 99% of Black kids don’t know anything about AI,” Jones continues. “I say, you know what? You’re correct. And 99% of white folk don’t either. 99% of white children don’t either, which means this is the first time you’re ever [going to] experience something called equality.” Next, we heard Wemimo Abbey’s once-in-a-generation story. Abbey, co-founder of Esusu, a fintech company focused on credit-building solutions, shared his vision. “No matter where you come from, the color of your skin or your financial identity [it] shouldn’t determine where you end up in the wealthiest nation the world is ever in,” Abbey reflects. Esusu’s mission challenges traditional financial systems by enabling renters to build credit for on-time rent payments, similar to mortgage practices. This groundbreaking approach helped Esusu become one of the few Black unicorns in Silicon Valley. “There are only 12 Black unicorns in the world (companies valued over a billion dollars),” Abbey says. “But getting to that point was really painful. 326 investors said no to us because they didn’t believe that… creating win-win solutions for low-to-medium-income people was investible or could become a billion-dollar company. But we proved them wrong.” Finally, Mac revisited his conversation with Chris Lyons, president of Web3 Media at a16z. Lyons emphasized blockchain’s disruptive potential and broke down the evolution of the internet from Web1 to Web3. “If you look at the app store right now, it’s literally the same 15, 20 companies that constantly stay at the top of the charts because we have this infrastructure that is currently just literally stable… defaulted in terms of innovation,” Lyons explained. “But blockchain technologies are [going to] really open and unlock this next, this wave, which is Web3, which is what we consider ownership. So read, write, and own, which is the third layer.” Financial Freestyle with Ross Mac on Yahoo Finance is dedicated to promoting economic prosperity for all. Through expert insights, practical advice, and inspiring success stories, we empower you to build and grow wealth. Join us on this transformative journey toward financial freedom and inclusive economic growth.
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