Brooklyn to Blooms: Lessons from a Floral Arrangement Workshop. #NotyourtypicalVCTechpost

Recently, I met Mike Fey, a Senior Software Engineer at beehiiv, at a VC/Tech event at Dumbo House in Brooklyn. I shared my previous experience with newsletters, and after a 30-minute conversation, I decided to try beehiiv. Here we go!

This past weekend, I attended a Floral Arrangement Workshop hosted by Karina Roberts, founder of Dean Street Daisies, a floral and events company. Karina is extremely passionate about sustainability in the Floriculture and Horticulture industries, given the amount of waste in the field.

After a week on the road, attending the Equity Alliance Summit and an Investor Summit for Diverse-Led Firms event at AWS, I wanted a quiet Saturday morning. I also had other social and professional obligations—birthday parties, dinners, and a tutoring session on a private equity real estate deal—so I was worried about my social energy and capacity for all these commitments.

Given everything, the easiest thing to remove from my schedule was the flower arrangement workshop. Feeling drained, I reached out to my friend Alyssa Wilson, who had booked the class two weeks prior, to let her know she could find someone to take my ticket. Alyssa, born and raised in Brooklyn, gave me the most Brooklyn response: “If you don’t get your...”—you know the rest.

Her very BK response made me rethink my feelings about being tired and the importance of prioritizing self-care. I’m so glad I did.

Here’s what I learned from the floral arrangement course:

• Choose yourself and have fun. Don’t feel guilty about putting yourself first. It’s easy to prioritize others and focus on showing up for them. Initially, I prioritized other people’s events over this course I really wanted to take. Ask yourself: What is the opportunity cost of saying yes to others while saying no to yourself?

• Change your mindset. Once I shifted my perspective on feeling tired, I opened myself up to a rewarding creative experience.

• Spice up your routine. It’s easy to stick with the mundane, but it’s important to try something creative and new when you have free time. You never know what part of yourself you might discover. Creating something can bring immense satisfaction and joy.

• Release attachments to expectations. As I was working on my arrangement, it didn’t match my vision at first. But I reminded myself to trust the process. I stopped judging my progress, and eventually, things began to flow. In the end, I was proud of my work.

• Dare to be different. I’ve worn many hats—Pre-Med major, fashion model, creative producer, host, tech operator, and now investor—and I believe it’s okay to explore multiple creative endeavors. We’re conditioned to be one thing, but I choose to remain curious, creative, and collaborative. Don’t be surprised if I add "florist" or "jewelry maker" to my list of creative pursuits. (Karina, who taught the class, is an architect by day.) ^{*Plug: The 4th and final season of my web series, I of Africa,will be out in Q1 2025.}

• Find your purpose within. My purpose in life is to foster creativity in myself and others. This workshop reminded me that, alongside my career as an investor, I need to nurture my soul with creative projects. When you pour into yourself, you’re better equipped to show up for others. Plant seeds of gratitude, grace, humility, and self-respect—and remember to nurture them.

• Manage your perspective. After the class, Alyssa and I debriefed. Our takeaway: as leaders, we often focus on what feels “inadequate” or “incomplete” and overlook the parts of us that are thriving. Just like in the class, we were fixated on the empty side of the vase but didn’t turn it around to see the beautiful full 3D angles.

The workshop was therapeutic for my mind, heart, and soul, and I’m very proud of my final product. I’m beyond grateful for the experience and the lessons learned. If you’re in Brooklyn, check out Commune in Clinton Hill. If your team is looking for a fun activity to be collaborative and creative, reach out to Dean Street Daisies.

Anyway, back to enjoying some outdoor time with my Rogue Venture Women and Rogue Venture Partner teams in Deer Valley, Utah.