Podcast Summary: Black Entrepreneur Experience

Episode 499 – Akina Technologies Founder & CEO, Leigh Higginbotham Butler
Host: Dr. Frances Richards
Date: January 29, 2025

Overview

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Frances Richards sits down with Leigh Higginbotham Butler, a three-time startup founder, two-time nonprofit founder, wife, mother of three, and CEO of Akina Technologies. The conversation centers on Leigh’s entrepreneurial journey, the mission and pivot of Akina Connect—an AI-driven digital community for Black women—and the wisdom she’s gleaned from her family legacy of entrepreneurship. Leigh gives listeners candid insights into overcoming challenges, centering service for community impact, balancing business with motherhood and marriage, and the drive for genuine inclusion and access.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Leigh’s Entrepreneurial Background & Family Legacy

• Clarifying Her Story & Roots:
  Leigh emphasizes her identity as a wife, daughter, and part of a robust tradition of Black entrepreneurship.
  “Entrepreneurship sort of runs in the blood here... I've watched them fall and pick themselves back up. I think I've sort of always known that this was what I wanted to do.” [01:07]

• Difficulties and Motivations During 2020:
  The murder of George Floyd and the larger racial reckoning of 2020 prompted Leigh to act, inspiring her to create a safe digital space for Black moms initially, which laid the foundation for Akina Connect.
  “Hearing George call for his mother was a little bit more than what I could take. So I thought, okay, you gotta do something.” [03:10]

The Evolution of Akina Connect

• From Social App to AI-Powered Platform:
  Akina started as a social media haven for Black mothers and evolved into an AI platform matching women with like-minded peers and resources for entrepreneurship, career, and wellness.
  “Akina Connect is a tech company. It is an AI platform that uses machine learning to connect you with like minded women...” [04:34]

• Scaling Up and Impact:
  The first app grew through word of mouth to over 4,000 women with almost no marketing. After “retooling and pivoting,” Akina Connect’s beta is set to launch in March 2025.

On Belief, Growth & “Aha” Moments

• No Single “Aha” Moment:
  Leigh describes her conviction in her team over waiting for outside validation:
  “Failure is not an option. There’s only a lesson.” [05:46]
  “My belief is in me. My belief is in my team.” [06:00]

Navigating DEI Backlash and Inclusion

• Safeguarding Akina Amidst Shifts in Corporate DEI:
  Leigh affirms Akina’s mission to center Black women without excluding others; the platform remains inclusive while prioritizing an underserved demographic.
  “We are centering black women for sure. ...but that's not to say that we don't recognize that there are other underserved communities of women out there who may be looking for some of these resources too.” [07:20]

Inspirations and Brand Admiration

• Essence Magazine and Motherly:
  Leigh looks to brands like Essence for their ability to pivot with the times while staying true to their mission, and Motherly for its focus on resource distribution.
  “I admire the way that they have sort of moved with the times... Not to mention it is a company that centers black women.” [09:18]

Lessons from Mentors & Family

• Grandfather:
  Drilled the importance of service:
  “If you're doing what you're passionate about and if you're doing it in service to others, the money will come, but the money is like secondary or even tertiary to how you live in your purpose.” [11:31]

• Mother:
  Taught Leigh independence and resilience.
  “Don’t let anybody ever doubt you. You believe in you and you’re going to get it done.” [13:38]

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

• Advice to Younger Self:
  “Get out of your own way. Believe in yourself more.” [14:16]

• On Her Father’s Impact:
  “The last thing my dad said to me before he died was, you don't know how smart you are. And I'm gonna need you to start recognizing that.” [16:10]

Journey to Entrepreneurship

• Academic and Career Path:
  Leigh studied English at Hampton University intending to go to law school, but life pivoted her toward service and nonprofit work, politics, and eventually business.
  “I did not go to school for entrepreneurship. ...When I graduated, I went into nonprofit work.” [17:46]

• Critical Mentors:
  Former HUD Secretary Jack Kemp played a pivotal role in Leigh’s career, teaching her how to advocate and analyze across differences.
  “Little black girls don’t get those kinds of opportunities.” [20:18]

• Partnership with Husband:
  “My husband said, let’s do it. He didn’t say go do it. He said, let’s do it.” [22:23]

Marriage, Motherhood & Business

• On Building a Business with a Spouse:
  “It's not for everyone for sure. And it took us a good maybe seven years before we found our rhythm.” [23:47]

• Communication and Support:
  “How well you and your partner communicate will dictate whether or not that working also romantic relationship will work out.” [24:01]

• Motherhood Example:
  Leigh’s kids see both parents as entrepreneurs and each have their own business ideas budding.
  “All three of them have seen some semblance of mom and dad working on their own business, doing it together.” [26:30]

Approaching Failure & Lessons

• On Resilience & Pivoting:
  “You have to be able to evolve, certainly keeping in line with your original mission, but you have to be able to keep up with the times. You’ve got to be able to innovate.” [28:32]

• Self-care as a Leadership Priority:
  “If you're not good, the rest of it is not going to be good either. You have to take care of yourself first.” [30:52]

Solving for Equity & Access

• Akina’s Higher Purpose:
  “Equity and access. I think that, I mean, that's an obvious problem, right? ...I want to bring access to those who may not have had it.” [32:31]

• Rallying for Community Resource-Sharing:
  “I think this country profits off of us not figuring it out. ...We have a lot of dollars. ...The possibilities are endless if we could figure out how to come together.” [34:08]

Identity & Intent

• Am I the Right Person for This Mission?
  “Why am I not? Tell me why I’m not the person.” [35:18]
  “I absolutely believe that this is what I was put on this earth to do.” [35:50]

Name & Mission

• Why “Akina”:
  “Akina is Swahili for strong family bond...We want to create a strong family bond within the global diaspora.” [36:38]

How Listeners Can Support Akina

• “You can go to akinaconnect.com, you can sign up. It's free. We are always looking for beta users on our platform and we are always looking for contributors.” [37:12]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Service and Purpose:
  “If you're doing what you're passionate about and if you're doing it in service to others, the money will come...” – Leigh [12:44]

• On Overcoming Imposter Syndrome:
  “Get out of your own way and believe in yourself.” – Leigh [14:16]

• On the Akina Community:
  “We want that bond to extend first to our community, but then to the world.” – Leigh [36:46]

• On Shared Mission and Teamwork:
  “We're going to get this job done and I'm going to find the other people that God put on this earth to help with this mission. And we're going to do this together.” – Leigh [36:09]

• Personal Resilience:
  “Failure is not an option. There’s only a lesson.” – Leigh [05:50]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Leigh fills in her background | 01:07 | | Origin story of Akina; pandemic impact | 02:09-05:39| | “Aha” moments & confidence in team | 05:39 | | Navigating DEI & inclusivity | 06:42 | | Brands admired: Essence/Motherly | 08:48 | | Key mentors: Grandfather & mother | 11:21 | | Advice to her younger self; Imposter syndrome | 14:11 | | Monologue to her late father | 15:53 | | Leigh’s entrepreneurial journey & mentors | 16:52-22:23| | Business partnership & marriage dynamics | 23:39 | | Motherhood & entrepreneurship | 26:26 | | Lessons from setbacks—pivoting | 28:13 | | Advice on self-care as a leader | 30:52 | | Solving for equity and access | 32:26 | | “Why are you the person to do this?” | 35:09 | | Meaning of “Akina” | 36:35 | | How to support Akina | 37:08 | | Rapid fire round | 38:04 |

Tone & Language

The episode is intimate, candid, and encouraging—marked by Leigh’s authenticity, clarity of mission, and motivational realism. Dr. Richards guides the conversation warmly, prompting insightful stories and actionable advice for entrepreneurs at all stages.

Connect & Support

• Website: akinaconnect.com
• Instagram & Facebook: @Akinaconnect
• Email: info@akinaconnect.com

Perfect for:
Aspiring entrepreneurs, Black women founders, anyone seeking inspiration on building community-driven tech, and listeners looking for wisdom on combining business, family, and purpose.