Interview with Stefan Isaac – Founder and CEO of Clue

Introduction

• Host: Monique Bram Evans
• Guest: Stefan Isaac
• Background:
  • Monique and Stefan have a history of working together in DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion).
  • Discussion focuses on Stefan’s personal and professional journey.

Early Life & Background

• Birth and Early Childhood:
  • Born in Grenada, immigrated to the U.S. at the age of six.
  • Raised by a young mother who had Stefan at 18, struggled to adapt to a new country.
• Experience as an Immigrant:
  • Navigating cultural, educational, and employment landscapes in the U.S.
  • Felt like life was often a game of chance influenced by luck.

Personal and Family Challenges

• Raised in Brooklyn by a single mother.
• Mother worked night shifts at White Castle to provide for the family.
  • Firstborn, often left at home alone at night while mother worked.
  • Admiration for mother’s sacrifices and resilience.

Professional Journey

• Career Path:
  • No clear vision of running a company focused on addressing unconscious bias and workplace culture.
  • Worked with Monique in creating supportive communities for marginalized groups within their company.
  • Focus shifted from providing a platform for voices to creating interventions against bias.

Career Philosophy and Approach

• Non-Traditional Career Path:
  • Experience includes computer programming, education reform, nail salon business, advertising, and entrepreneurship.
  • Embraced a unique journey; saw the collection of experiences as valuable and meaningful.
• Mantra:
  • "Turn my story into my song."
  • Embrace the highs and lows of life experiences.

Reflections

• Purpose & Clarity:
  • Saw individual narrative as bigger than personal experience.
  • Utilized personal triumphs and struggles for storytelling.
• Quotes to Reflect On:
  • "Thank God we don’t look like what we’ve been through."
  • "We’re born looking like our mommy and daddy. We die looking like our choices."

Conclusion

• Emphasizes the importance of recognizing personal stories in creating broader understandings and environments where people feel they belong.
• Highlights the journey of life influenced by personal choices and experiences.