In this episode of the AlchemistX Innovators Inside Podcast, Ian Bergman sits down with Maura O’Neill to explore her bold mission with The Decade Project: reshaping U.S. entrepreneurship so that it reflects the full racial, ethnic, and gender makeup of the nation.
Maura unpacks the economic and social potential of inclusive entrepreneurship — from unlocking trillions in GDP growth to empowering millions of new business owners. She shares the four pillars driving this transformation: access to capital, knowledge, connections, and belief — and reveals how innovation in financial instruments, mindset, and mentorship can spark systemic change.
Drawing lessons from her time in both the public and private sectors, Maura reflects on what it takes to drive large-scale innovation inside complex systems, why diversity and dissent fuel better solutions, and how optimism and urgency can turn impossible goals into reality.
Key Takeaways:
The four levers to close the entrepreneurship equity gap
Why innovation in capital and funding models is overdue
How to balance audacity with structure when leading change
The power of being “more curious than certain” in leadership and innovation
What entrepreneurs and policymakers can learn from USAID’s transformation journey
A masterclass in purpose-driven innovation and the belief that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things.
🎧 Listen now to discover how Maura and The Decade Project are turning one of America’s biggest challenges into its next great opportunity.
For full show notes and resources visit: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts