Steven Matly using NotebookLM

This podcast episode features Steven Matly, also known as Mouhammat Matly, a diversity and inclusion advocate and the CEO and founder of SM Diversity. Matly shares his personal story, starting with his challenging childhood in Seattle's south side housing projects, and how he overcame adversity to become a successful business leader.

Here are some of the key topics covered in the episode:

* **Matly's Background**: The episode covers Matly's upbringing with a diverse cultural background, including Laotian, Malaysian, and Cambodian influences, and how his parents' divorce shaped his early life.

* **The Importance of Community**: Matly discusses the impact of finding community and shared values through breakdancing and hip-hop culture during his adolescence.

* **From Dropout to Entrepreneur**: The episode details Matly's journey from dropping out of high school at 17 to returning to earn his diploma and co-founding a mortgage refinance company.

* **Transition into Tech and Diversity Advocacy**: Matly talks about how his experience in the mortgage industry led him to a career in technology and his passion for advocating for greater diversity in the tech sector.

* **Founding SM Diversity**: The episode highlights the establishment of SM Diversity, Matly's staffing and recruiting agency that focuses on connecting businesses with diverse talent.

* **Overcoming Challenges**: Matly opens up about the challenges he has faced, including being scammed in a business deal and coping with the loss of a close friend.

* **Continuing Advocacy**: The episode emphasizes Matly's work in online communities to promote diversity and inclusion through various platforms.

Matly encourages listeners to step outside of their comfort zones, embrace shared values, and celebrate collective successes. The episode offers an inspiring look at Matly's journey and his dedication to creating more equitable and inclusive workplaces.

SM Diversity using Notebook LM

**Steven Matly is a diversity and inclusion advocate who founded SM Diversity, a Seattle-based staffing and recruiting agency specializing in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)**. **SM Diversity helps companies recruit more diverse employees and guides organizations toward embracing diversity**.

* **Matly's passion for DEI stems from his personal experience as a high school dropout who turned his life around, becoming a successful entrepreneur**.

* **He understands the challenges faced by individuals from diverse backgrounds and advocates for a more equitable and inclusive environment for all**.

* **Matly has been recognized for his work in DEI, including being named one of the top ten "Diversity and Inclusion Trailblazers" by *Forbes* magazine and one of Seattle's most influential people by *Seattle Magazine***.

* **He has also given a TEDx talk on diversity and inclusion**.

**SM Diversity offers various services designed to promote DEI in the workplace:**

* **They provide customized staffing and recruiting solutions, connecting skilled professionals from diverse backgrounds with companies**.

* **Their services include full-service consulting on DEI strategy, policy development, and training**.

* **They organize networking events and recruiting events, host interactive "Hack Diversity" workshops, and participate in career fairs**.

* **They also create multimedia content, including video job descriptions, branding, and design services**.

* **SM Diversity uses a variety of AI-powered sourcing tools, a multi-channel software system, data analytics, and 500+ job boards to identify and engage with potential candidates**.

* **They actively engage with underrepresented communities through job fairs, workshops, and partnerships with community organizations**.

**SM Diversity's vision is to "consciously include" diverse talent so that businesses do not "unconsciously exclude" them**. **Their primary focus is on "intentional inclusion" to ensure equitable recruitment practices**. **They aim to bridge the gap between companies and diverse talent, fostering a more diverse and inclusive workforce**.

**Matly's commitment to diversity and inclusion, his entrepreneurial journey, and SM Diversity's innovative and impactful services make for a compelling podcast topic.**

June 30th - Enter The Dragon mood and random discussions