RESET

Beyond the Static: Bryan Fenchel on Resets, Risks, and the Future of Music

Beyond the Static: Bryan Fenchel on Resets, Risks, and the Future of Music. On this week’s RESET with Tonya [https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonya/], I'll be digging in with Bryan Fenchel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ACoAADyyTC4BbhIZjBpoR4DNqdHX3OjpbQPoPMg] — CEO and Founder of Starchild Music [https://www.linkedin.com/company/starchild-music/]. Bryan isn't just any ol' founder... he and I have been working together for almost two years as the Starchild Music [https://www.linkedin.com/company/starchild-music/] team built a true game-changer in the music space. 🎙️ Join us as we explore how Bryan reset his own creative path, why he’s challenging decades of assumptions about how music works, and what it takes to make both sound and self truly alive again.

From Corporate Climber to Purpose-Driven Entrepreneur

From Russia to America at 14, to climbing the AWS ladder, to finding deeper meaning after an unexpected career pivot— Anna's journey proves that transitions aren't just disruptions, but gateways to growth. Despite all the achievement, including doubling her pay in just three years, she still felt empty. The answer was in the question she asked herself: "What does it really mean to be a winner?" Now leading with "super love" (as her kids called it), she focuses to create spaces where people bring their whole selves to work. Remember: you don't need all the answers upfront. Your purpose emerges not despite challenges, but because of them.

From Adversity to Insights: J Li on Innovation

What happens when your greatest strength is suddenly taken away? For J Li, a Stanford-trained mathematician with an eidetic memory, a violent attack resulting in traumatic brain injury completely altered her life trajectory. Instead of letting this setback define her, she transformed her new cognitive limitations into a remarkable innovation methodology that's helping Fortune 500 companies save millions The conversation takes us through J's journey from delivering groceries after her injury to founding Prototype Thinking Labs, where she's developed an approach to innovation that embraces uncertainty and experimentation. Her process breaks down the "hidden phase" of innovation—that crucial space between having an initial idea (10% confidence) and knowing exactly what to build (60% confidence). By accepting that you can only gain about 15-20% more confidence in one step, J shows how small, iterative experiments lead to breakthroughs that endless planning sessions never could Perhaps most fascinating is how J applies her framework to personal reinvention. Whether you're navigating career transitions, exploring new business ideas, or adapting to technological disruption, her approach offers practical steps to move forward amid uncertainty. "You just have to design the way to exist that works for you, but be willing to be flexible about everything else and all of your other assumptions," she explains. This mindset — based on her own experience overcoming limitation — offers a powerful template for anyone facing change. As the landscape of work continues to evolve, J's story reminds us that humans connecting with humans will never change—and that our adaptability may be our greatest strength. Her journey from brain injury to business innovation is more than inspiring; it's a masterclass in turning constraints into advantages and finding purpose through possibility. Wondering how to navigate your own RESET moment? Listen now to discover how our biggest challenges lead to our greatest contributions.

Dollhouses, Downshifts, and the Role of Resilience in Transformation

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.

Airstreams, Shoes, & Startups -- with Keshia Theobald Van-Gent

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.