Episode Details

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ryan Wilson. 

Purpose of the Interview

The interview aimed to:

• Highlight Ryan Wilson’s entrepreneurial journey as co-founder and CEO of The Gathering Spot (TGS).
• Showcase how TGS fosters collaboration, networking, and empowerment for African Americans and minorities.
• Discuss business growth strategies, fintech integration, and community building.
• Promote the Atlanta Business League’s 90th anniversary and its role in supporting Black-owned businesses.

Key Takeaways

1. Vision and Persistence

   • TGS was conceptualized in 2013 and launched in 2016 after years of planning.
   • Ryan faced 97 rejections before securing the first investor for \$3M in funding.
   • Quote: “We really were seeing something that the market couldn’t see.”

2. Atlanta as the Hub

   • Chose Atlanta for its culture, leadership, and creative ecosystem.
   • Quote: “Atlanta is an incredibly special place… what we export more than anything else is our culture.”

3. Community and Networking

   • TGS offers event spaces, dining, and workspaces designed to celebrate Black culture.
   • Membership spans ages 21 to 91, emphasizing connection across industries.
   • Quote: “My job each and every day is to try to figure out how to introduce people that ordinarily would not have met one another.”

4. Fintech and Financial Empowerment

   • TGS integrates financial technology solutions to improve community financial health.
   • Quote: “We realized that we didn’t actually have the tool… we could talk about money, but we needed the ability to bank and provide resources.”

5. Atlanta Business League Leadership

   • Ryan serves as Chair of ABL, advocating for Black-owned businesses.
   • Focus on growth, partnerships, and practical advice through programs and panels.
   • Quote: “Do you really want to win or look good losing?” (on DEI challenges)

6. Expansion

   • Physical locations: Atlanta, Washington D.C., Los Angeles.
   • Connected cities: New York, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Charlotte.

Notable Quotes

• “I didn’t want to have any regrets about not trying.”
• “We need to have a place where we feel comfortable.”
• “It’s in everybody’s interest that Black-owned businesses grow and scale.”

#BEST

#SHMS

#STRAW

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