"Embrace the pivot as an essential step for growth. Though it may be uncomfortable, it will ultimately enhance your life."
Dr. Letitia Wright Tweet
Dr. Letitia Wright is the Executive Producer and Host of Wright Place TV which has run on cable for over 22 years. A Former Chiropractor, Dr. Wright transitioned into the Media World.
Wright Place TV is in its 23rd season with a bandwidth spanning over 6.5 million homes throughout Southern California and beyond.
In addition to her media work, she is a Top 100 Crowdfunding Expert in the United States, focusing on putting funding and money into the hands of women and minority owned businesses.
Check out more interviews with entrepreneurs here.
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Table of Contents
Please introduce us to who Dr. Wright is.
Dr. Letitia Wright: I’m a TV Host and Producer along with Top 100 Crowdfunding Consultant in the United States.
You are well-known for your professional pivots. From starting in medicine to transitioning as a TV Host and Crowdfunding Consultant, what tips and strategies would you share for anyone facing a professional pivot?
I have 3 main tips that are truly important.
- Understand the pivot is needed and crucial to your growth. And while it may not be comfortable, it’s going to improve your life.
- Be honest about where you want to pivot to. Many times people are not going to be incredibly supportive of your pivot. They may not know how to adequately support you. However, you must be clear with yourself about where you want to go, otherwise, you will be completely unhappy.
I remember my Mother getting the news that I was going to close my practice and solely focus on TV. She was very quiet. She is usually very supportive. But this time she didn’t say much. Fast forward to my Mother’s Day TV Show where we surprised the audience with three large gift bags full of gifts similar to Oprah’s favorite things show. I said goodbye to my Mom in the parking lot and she had her 3 bags in hand. She was dancing towards her car saying: Oprah don’t have nothing on my daughter!! That memory always makes me happy and reminds us to stay the course even when people don’t entirely understand. - The pivot is always perfect. No matter how small. You can take your time and you don’t have to do everything at once. Whatever you decide to do is perfect.
What sparked your transition from medicine to media? And then media to crowdfunding?
Dr. Letitia Wright: I started my show The Wright Place to interview business experts and entrepreneurs who had “made it” to help me understand the business world better. In 2000, very few people were on TV talking about business and business growth.
There was no SBA TV, no Shark Tank, nothing to learn! I could not find the information in books but I found the experts were ok with coming to the studio and doing interviews with me. I grew the show with other who might need this crucial information and as it turns out, a lot of women did. The pivot from media to crowdfunding happened in 2011 when I saw that business owners were having a hard time getting loans and funding.
A concept called Crowdfunding began cropping up. After watching a friend raise money for his book project, I began to study and see how much this service was needed. At that time, there were only three books about Crowdfunding on Amazon. So I had to learn by doing. I focused hard and just got better and more knowledgeable until I was named one of the top 100 crowdfunding experts in America.
As America’s Crowdfunding Strategist, what trends do you see emerging in the crowdfunding landscape, and how do you adapt your strategies to accommodate these changes?
Dr. Letitia Wright: Some great things are happening. The REG CF offering is now $5 million dollars a year. People can raise more money each year. Equity Crowdfunding for Startups is on the rise.
What I like about this trend is that it allows startups and small businesses to access capital without relying on traditional financing Methods.
The emergence of niche and specialized crowdfunding platforms catering to specific industries. They have features that better match the crowdfunding campaigns because they are targeted and focused.
As a TV Host of nearly 25 years, what are some of the most memorable experiences you’ve had while producing and hosting the show?
Dr. Letitia Wright: My memorable experiences other than the one I talked about earlier with my mom are Pulling off an “EVERYONE GETS A CAR” Show after Oprah did hers.
Getting to interview Michael Gerber (The Entrepreneur Myth) in his home- that was a connection from my Mentor Dame Doria Cordova. And it’s fun being recognized on the streets. I don’t get mobbed, but it’s still fun!
What trends do you see emerging within the media industry and how are you seeking to adapt?
Dr. Letitia Wright: With AI coming out with more and more capabilities. we have to decide how we want to use it. If you totally use it, it will produce the same results for everyone. There will be a rise in its use and then a pullback when viewers realize they are simply seeing a template.
I believe people are wonderfully creative and it will be a long time before AI is at that level. I also think that people must find new ways to make money with their media.
I work with clients all the time. It’s hard to stop people from going to the old frameworks and embrace the new so that their shows can be supported financially.
You have been involved in teaching and mentoring entrepreneurs in various countries, including Grand Cayman and Thailand. How does entrepreneurship differ across these regions, and what common challenges do you see entrepreneurs facing globally?
Dr. Letitia Wright: I love this question. Fundamentally they are the same. Everyone has needs and everyone has drive.
Everyone is trying to get more funding. It’s the cultural differences you have to be aware of. Everything is not so forward in Asian countries.
They are also much more relational than transactional. Americans tend to be transactional, and not see the long-term consequences of their actions.
We are moving away from Fans and toward community and our transactions are also reflecting that.
How did your work with previously incarcerated women through the “Are You an Entrepreneur” program come about, and what impact has it had on the participants?
Dr. Letitia Wright: It was a great program. I think they felt accomplished and surprised to learn that for many of them, what they thought was a bad trait was actually them trying to express their entrepreneur inside.
They just didn’t have anyone to teach them the proper way. I found very talented women who just needed an opportunity.
What upcoming projects or goals are you most excited about, and how do you plan to continue making an impact in the areas of entrepreneurship, crowdfunding, and media?
Dr. Letitia Wright: I’m excited to continue serving and educating my community on how to create income and impact through their TV Channels.
Brooke Young, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Dr. Letitia Wright for taking the time to do this interview and share her knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Dr. Letitia Wright or her company, you can do it through her – Linkedin Page
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