Daymond John Talks Importance Of STEM At Thrill Of Possibility Summit

Data from the U.S. Department of Education suggests that Black students earned no more than 9% of the STEM degrees awarded in 2018 across the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels. The Black Effect Podcast Network and Nissan are actively shifting that narrative by hosting the second annual Thrill Of Possibility Summit in Nashville, Tennessee. Fifty hand-selected HBCU STEM students attended the summit, where they participated in professional development activities, performances, panels, and so much more. The summit connects the selected students with leaders across the STEM industry for mentorship, conversations on careers, branding, and networking opportunities that can lead to success post-graduation.

One of the summit’s highlights is a live tapping of That Moment with Daymond John, the newest podcast from Black Effect hosted by FUBU founder and entrepreneur Daymond John. Daymond sat for an interview to discuss the importance of STEM for HBCU students, his new podcast, and the impact of the Thrill Of Possibility Summit. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Stephanie Tharpe: Why is it essential for yourself and The Black Effect Network to create programming like the Thrill of Possibility Summit?

Daymond John: stem STEM is critical for us. We need more representation that looks like the people they serve. In this country, there’s going to be a massive shortage of engineers and jobs that can’t be filled. Filling STEM roles is how you close the generational gap because STEM is where things are moving and is part of the foundation of everything, whether AI, social media banking, etc. So it’s critical for us to have a seat at the table. We can only have that seat at the table if we have education. Nobody’s going to give us a seat.

Stephanie Tharpe: What are some obstacles young Black people face that can stop them from reaching their full potential, and how can we remedy that?

Daymond John: Access. Can we get around the fact that systemic things have happened and are happening in this country? No, that’s just what it is, and we have to deal with it. But having access to information or the things we need is a problem. For example, a child who has to go out at night because they don’t have Wi-Fi at their home, and they have to sit at a Starbucks to do homework. That child is going to be limited because they can only get an hour’s worth of access to the internet versus someone who has twenty-four hours of access.

It also comes down to access to information. Everyone’s cell phone today is more powerful than any computer I ever had, you know, access to a 20 year old. What are you doing with it? If you’re using it for social media, that’s fine, but are you using it for STEM and AI and learning AI? There are two things that have happened in this country in the last three years that have leveled the playing field: number one, COVID-19. We’re all scared; we lost people, and we had uncertainty. Number two is the advent of public knowledge of AI. Don’t tell me that the person next door to you went to college for AI. The playing field is equal right now.

Stephanie Tharpe: What inspired you to start the That Moment with Daymond John podcast?

Daymond John: What inspired me to create the podcast is I can paint my narrative about where I truly come from and what I want to talk about. I’m on other people’s podcasts all the time, and I’m honored, but it’s not my position to paint my narrative there. When I’m interviewing amazing people on my podcast, I don’t let them give me the gloss over answers. I want to go down that rabbit hole when you decided to change your life and where you lost everything. I remember when I first did my book. When you have a ghostwriter, they have to ask you some serious questions. He told me that when readers read your book, they really have to feel where you’re coming from. There are no visuals, so you have to dig deep. When Michael Jordan got cut from his high school varsity team, did we ever hear what he went home that night and did? What exactly did he do, and how did he feel that night? What exactly did he do the following day? Those are the moments I’m looking for with my guests.

Stephanie Tharpe: What are you looking forward to most about The Thrill Of Possibility Summit?

Daymond John: I want to be super selfish, and I want to grab as much knowledge as I can from a lot of different people who are doing things in different ways. I want to hopefully regurgitate some of the things that I’ve learned in a way that years from now, somebody’s going to be inspired.

Stephanie Tharpe: What do you want attendees to take away not just from your panel and your podcast at the summit but from the programming as a whole?

Daymond John: I want attendees to write down the things they learned and start to apply them. If they don’t work, move on and try more until you find what sticks. Sometimes, you’ll listen to things, and it will hit you two or five years from now. I want them to keep at it and have an open mind about stuff. The next person who does what I have done will be bigger and better than I ever was. I didn’t have technology, so when I sold you a shirt, I had to find you to sell you another one. When I made a commercial, I had to wait until it was edited, pay millions of dollars, and then I could get it on a network for people to see it four months from now. Now, people can shoot something on their phone, which can go viral worldwide. I want attendees to be present and take in all the information they need.