Ep 178: "From Inglewood to USC; LA’s Diverse Entrepreneurial Economy" with Amiah Sheppard

What do you do if you don’t see success stories that look like you? You forge your own path! In this episode of Entrepreneurial Thinkers, Rob visits with local LA powerhouse, Amiah Sheppard, a passionate advocate and Leader for student entrepreneurship programming at USC’s Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and a renowned “storytelling/pitch” coach to entrepreneurs across the world through Sheppard Consulting. The two discuss how our next generation of young innovators are reshaping LA’s startup ecosystem, the real power of inclusive thinking, and why telling your story well might be the most important startup skill of all. Whether you're a budding founder, an investor hunting the next innovator or just curious about the future of innovation and growth in Los Angeles, this conversation is packed with insight, inspiration, and heart. Feel free to follow and engage with AMIAH here:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amiahsheppard/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amiahshep/X: https://x.com/amiahshep?lang=enWebsite: https://amiahshep.com/ We're so grateful to you, our growing audience of entrepreneurs, investors and community leaders interested in the human stories of the Entrepreneurial Thinkers behind entrepreneurial economies worldwide. As always we hope you enjoy each episode and Like, Follow, Subscribe or share with your friends. You can find our shows here, and our new Video Podcast, at “Entrepreneurial Thinkers” channel on YouTube. Plug in, relax and enjoy inspiring, educational and empowering conversations between Rob and our guests. ¡Cheers y gracias!, Entrepreneurial Thinkers Team. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinkers 04:34 Exploring USC's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem 07:44 The Role of Universities in Entrepreneurship 10:32 Programs and Resources at USC 13:21 Impact of USC on Los Angeles 16:29 Trends in Student Entrepreneurship 19:46 The Importance of Diversity in Entrepreneurship 22:28 Pitch Coaching and Storytelling 32:35 Journey into Venture Capital and Coaching 35:36 The Importance of Storytelling in Entrepreneurship 43:23 Challenges in Entrepreneurial Storytelling 47:38 The Role of Diversity in Entrepreneurship 51:35 Vision for the Future of Los Angeles 55:30 Key Elements of Effective Storytelling for Entrepreneurs