Technology and travel are becoming the driving force behind so much of what the world is evolving into. For example, Americans make up about 85% of all flight travel in the world. In the U.S. alone, Black millennial travel comes in at nearly 5 million, roughly 43% of the entire American Black population. And with popular social media groups such as Nomadness and Travel Noire leading the pack, the newly coined "black travel" has saturated a $63 billion chunk in the space.
That's billion, with a b. #BlackTravelDollarsMatter.
But with all this traveling we're doing, I couldn't help but wonder what methods most people use to manage communication with locals on a fundamental and conversational level. I recall traveling to Kenya where I was met with "Jambo mrembo" and other Swahili phrases and conversations at every turn. Although largely a bilingual country, I remember times where there were major language barriers.
In comes Quiante Hedrick (call her Qui), co-founder of the most game-changing translator app in the world, Instaspeakers.
Instaspeakers is a live, on-demand translating app that allows you to video chat with a translator anywhere in the world. With the app, you can have a seamless conversation with individuals that do not speak the same language as you at any time, on any level.
I took the time to meet with Qui to learn more about how she plans to revolutionize travel. She joins me for smoothies at Fruve' Xpress Juicery in Chicago's South Loop for our interview. As she arrives, she has a captivating, mini-powerhouse scent that fills the room. We greet each other with smiles and pleasantries as she shifts into business-mode to discuss how Instaspeakers came into fruition.
"One of the major issues that prevent people from traveling, or truly experiencing different countries is the language barrier," she begins as we review the app's capabilities. "You can go anywhere in the world, but can you have a seamless conversation with someone while you are there? The answer is no. That's why we created Instaspeakers."
Her excitement shows beyond her huge smile, natural aura illumination, and fly outfit. She explains, "[For example], Google Translate doesn't know how to connect what we've just talked about two sentences ago, with what I'm saying now. It's literally just meant to spit out the best version of what you say, in the language that you choose. That's it. And we wanted to change that narrative. We noticed this problem and wanted to provide a solution."
As a former law student, Qui ultimately made the decision to forego her education in an industry she had studied in, to shift to an entirely unfamiliar concentration in the tech space. And although she comes from a family that has operated multiple successful businesses, she knew that she was in over her head. "In addition to Instaspeakers, I am also a wife and mother. I didn't have the flexible schedule to adequately continue law school and develop a company at the same time. I knew I had to adjust my focus to the brand 1000%," she explains.
And from there, Instapeakers was fully born.
It goes without saying that there is a large disparity between black women in STEM (only 2.9% of STEM bachelor degrees belong to black women) versus an industry such as beauty and cosmetics. But over time, STEM has become a highly encouraged industry by other high-profile giants such as Lebron James, Verizon, and Drew Brees.
Yet, due to many melanin-related problems that are relevant in all industries across Corporate America, STEM has routinely had a difficult time retaining those who enter the field. Researchers suggest that the best way to keep black women in STEM is to give those women someone that looks like them to look up to and that's where Qui comes in.
"[Because I hadn't] had previous experience as a student in tech, I had to learn a lot on my own and become comfortable with being uncomfortable. As much as we want to have all of our ducks in a row before we embark on a new journey, it doesn't always happen that way. It was best to just start."
In my head, I take note of this same recurring theme from all the entrepreneurs I've featured in the past. She continued, "Now we're on track to reaching one of our largest goals in a year. So, in many ways, Instaspeakers is vital to the culture. It's one step closer to breaking barriers, providing opportunities for our people, [and] allowing us to participate in this new tech boom."
She takes a quick call as I continue to play around with functionalities. I'm pleased to see the user experience is straightforward and minimally invasive. The most interesting element to the app is it allows you to have a personal translator on standby, at all times. Think of their business model as being identical to Uber, but instead of calling a ride, you're calling for language assistance.
When Qui returns, she notices that I'm having a little too much fun playing around and we both laugh. I tell her about my Kenya trip and how the app would have been so beneficial.
"You know what, in Kevin Hart's Irresponsible stand-up he explained how he forgot to schedule a translator for his visit to Japan, and by the time he realized that he needed a translator it was too late. He pivoted this moment into a hilarious joke about being at a theme park while in Japan, and not knowing the language. This literally could have been an Instaspeakers ad," she laughs.
We switch gears and begin to touch on her family, home life, and her best self-care practices. Her contagious smile appears again as her acai bowl arrives. We briefly chat about her husband and son, who she credits with as the aspects of her life that keep her going. I then ask how she balances being both a wife and mom, with being an entrepreneur.
"Well, I've changed my mind about the number of hours that are within a day," she says as she laughs. "I remember waking up at 7 am and thinking that was early! Ha! Now my mornings begin at 4:30."
A true struggle all business owners can relate to.
Qui shared, "Plus I have successful people in my life that won't let me give up and continue to push me. As long as there is a problem that needs to be solved, I [am] motivated."
We close out with me asking what's next for her and Instaspeakers.
"Simply put, we want to be the reason that people can travel anywhere in the world, and never worry about language again. So, this is what we'll remain focused on."
And with full pride and satisfaction, we toast our smoothies and cheers to all the women who unapologetically do the same.
For more on Instaspeakers, visit their website at www.instaspeakers.com. It is available for download in all app stores.
Featured image by Jasmine Oliver of J Lauryn Photography.
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The seeds for these entrepreneurs were planted during their time as students at schools like Spelman, North Carolina A&T, and more, which is why xoNecole caught up with Look Good Live Well’s Ariane Turner, HBCU Buzz’s Luke Lawal and Morehouse Senior Director of Marketing and Comms and Press Secretary Jasmine Gurley to highlight the role their HBCU roots play in their work as entrepreneurs, the legacy they aim to leave behind through the work that they do, and more as a part of Hyundai’s Best In Class initiative.
On Honoring HBCU Roots To Create Something That Is For Us, By Us
Ariane Turner
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When Ariane Turner launched Look Good, Live Well, she created it with Black and brown people in mind, especially those with sensitive skin more prone to dryness and skin conditions like acne and eczema.
The Florida A&M University graduate launched her business to create something that addressed topical skin care needs and was intentional about its approach without negative terminology.
Turner shared that it is important to steer clear of language often adopted by more prominent brands, such as “banishing breakouts” or “correcting the skin,” because, in reality, Turner says there is nothing wrong with the way that our skin and bodies react to various life changes.
“I think what I have taken with me regarding my HBCU experience and translated to my entrepreneurial experience is the importance of not just networking,” Turner, the founder and CEO of Look Good, Live Well, tellls xoNecole.
“We hear that in business all the time, your network is your net worth, but family, there’s a thing at FAMU that we call FAMU-lee instead of family, and it’s very much a thing. What that taught me is the importance of not just making relationships and not just making that connection, but truly working on deepening them, and so being intentional about connecting with people initially, but staying connected and building and deepening those relationships, and that has served me tremendously in business, whether it’s being able to reach back to other classmates who I went to school with, or just networking in general.”
She adds, “I don’t come from a business background. As soon as I finished school, I continued with my entrepreneurial journey, and so there’s a lot of that traditional business act and the networking, those soft skills that I just don’t have, but I will say that just understanding how to leverage and network community and to build intentional relationships is something that has taken me far and I definitely got those roots while attending FAMU.”
On Solving A Very Specific Need For The Community
Luke Lawal Jr.
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When Luke Lawal Jr. launched HBCU Buzz, his main focus was to represent his community, using the platform to lift as they climbed by creating an outlet dedicated to celebrating the achievements and positive news affecting the 107 historically HBCUs nationwide.
By spotlighting the wonderful things that come from the HBCU community and coupling it with what he learned during his time at Bowie State University, Lawal used that knowledge to propel himself as an entrepreneur while also providing his people with accurate representation across the internet.
“The specific problem in 2011 when I started HBCU Buzz was more so around the fact that mainstream media always depict HBCUs as negative,” Lawal says. “You would only see HBCUs in the mainstream media when someone died, or the university president or someone was stepping down. It was always bad news, but they never shed light on all the wonderful things from our community."
So, I started HBCU Buzz to ensure the world saw the good things that come from our space. And they knew that HBCUs grew some of the brightest people in the world, and just trying to figure out ways to make sure our platform was a pedestal for all the students that come through our institutions.”
“The biggest goal is to continue to solve problems, continue to create brands that solve the problems of our communities, and make sure that our products, our brands, our companies, and institutions are of value and they’re helping our community,” he continues. “That they’re solving problems that propel our space forward.”
On How Being An HBCU Alum Impacts The Way One Shows Up In The World
Jasmine Gurley
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Jasmine Gurley is a proud North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University alum. She is even more delighted with her current role, which enables her to give back to current HBCU students as the Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Communications and official press secretary at Morehouse College.
“It was a formative experience where I really was able to come into my own and say yes to all the opportunities that were presented to me, and because of that, it’s been able to open the doors later in life too,” says Gurley of her experience at North Carolina A&T. “One thing I love about many HBCUs is that we are required to learn way more about African American history than you do in your typical K through 12 or even at the higher ed level."
She adds, “It allowed us to have a better understanding of where we came from, and so for me, because I’m a storyteller, I’m a history person, I’m very sensitive to life in general, being able to listen to the stories and the trials that our ancestors overcame, put the battery pack in my back to say, ‘Oh nothing can stop me. Absolutely nothing can stop me. I know where I came from, so I can overcome something and try anything. And I have an obligation to be my ancestors’ wildest dreams. Simultaneously, I also have a responsibility to help others realize that greatness.
Gurley does not take her position at an HBCU, now as a leader, lightly.
“People think I’m joking when I say I’m living the dream, but I really am,” she notes. “So I wake up every day and know that the work that I do matters, no matter how hard it might be, how frustrating it may be, and challenging it. I know the ripple effect of my work, my team, and what this institution does also matter. The trajectory of Black male experiences, community, history, and then just American advancement just in general.”
On the other hand, through her business, Sankofa Public Relations, Gurley is also on a mission to uplift brands in their quest to help their respective communities. Since its inception in 2017, Sankofa PR has been on a mission to “reach back and reclaim local, national, and global communities by helping those actively working to move” various areas of the world, focusing on pushing things forward for the better.
“Through Sankofa, we’ve worked with all different types of organizational brands and individuals in several different industries, but I would think of them as mission-based,” says Gurley.
“So with that, it’s an opportunity to help people who are trying to do good in the world, and they are passionate about what they’re doing. They just need help with marketing issues, storytelling, and branding, and that’s when my expertise can come into play. Help them get to that moment where they can tell their story through me or another platform, and that’s been super fulfilling.”
Join us in celebrating HBCU excellence! Check out our Best In Class hub for inspiring stories, empowering resources, and everything you need to embrace the HBCU experience.
Feature image courtesy
Both women showcase Black women's impact on the world through their platforms. As a mega influencer, Davis takes pride in curating a brand representing brown-skinned Black women in spaces that don’t always cater to them. From partnerships with Nike to sharing affordable fashion finds on Amazon, she’s on a mission to empower people who look like her.
No stranger to the same ideation, McCaskiel launched Black Girls in Media to prevent the erasure of women like herself as they climb the ranks within the media landscape. It all started at their respective HBCUs.
“I would say homecoming as someone who went to an HBCU is really just a big moment of reflection,” McCaskiel tells xoNecole.
“You’re able to go on campus and think about where you were when you attended that university, and then to go back and just sit in your growth as a person, career-wise, and then to reconnect with all these people you went through that journey on,” she continues.
“It’s just a really good feeling. It’s so nostalgic. It’s fun and reassuring, comforting, all those things. It’s the best time, and just makes you love being Black and makes you proud of where you come from.”
Tasha McCaskiel
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“An HBCU homecoming to me essentially means family reunion, having a good time, creating new memories, seeing people you haven’t seen in years, looking at your old stomping ground where you used to take classes, where you used to stay, and just having a good time with the people you love,” Davis adds.
“Celebrating the number one HBCU, Florida A&M University, as someone whose business essentially started on campus was basically a liaison from FAMU that spoke to multiple HBCUs through clothing is everything.”
Homecoming is also a chance to represent your school to the fullest, argue about who is the best, or even crash the yard for another homecoming. It’s an annual holiday, but the HBCU homecoming is also about shining a light on the place where it all started.
“Every chance I get, I advocate for HBCUs, and I strongly believe, when it comes to HBCUs, it’s all about exposure,” Davis says. “A lot of kids are not exposed to HBCUs even though through recent advocacy that brands are doing now to shine a light on HBCUs, I still feel like it’s really important for content creators and anybody to advocate for HBCUs.”
As the person behind the design of Nike’s Florida A&M University Nike Dunk Lows, Davis has an affinity to all historically Black colleges and universities. Still, her love for her alma mater runs deep, especially since it is the very place that fostered her knack for creating content and learning to be self-sufficient in her work as a self-made businesswoman.
Launched in 2020, the Nike Yardrunners is an annual campaign celebrating HBCUs and their impact on culture and style. In 2022, Davis, alongside women from Tennessee State, Clark Atlanta, and North Carolina University, would design shoes that transform the popular Nike dunks into those representing their respective schools.
McCaskiel echoed the sentiment of ensuring that HBCUs are at the forefront when it comes to exposure, noting that her love for her community inspired her to launch Black Girls in Media, a platform committed to ensuring that women in the industry are exposed to the opportunities, resources, and skills needed to thrive in the space.
“Going to an HBCU and being surrounded by people who look like me and then going to grad school at New York University, which is just a lot more diverse, once I graduated, I kind of lost that sense of community,” she explains. “That’s what made me start Black Girls in Media. The full circle moment is that I always wanted to carry that culture throughout my career.”
When she launched Black Girls in Media in 2018, McCaskiel was on a mission to empower the women in the industry. Working in the space, she noticed the lack of people who looked like her and realized that the stories and experiences of Black women weren't adequately represented. What began as a group chat has now grown into a platform providing thousands of opportunities to a network of over 90,000 people worldwide.
Caitlyn K. Davis
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Both women understand the microscope they are often under in the real world as Black women. They also reflect how attending HBCUs instilled in them a confidence that's only possible to achieve by being in an environment where students, faculty, staff, and even leaders look like them.
It's why their respective brands constantly push the needle for representation forward.
“When I think of legacy, I just think of impact,” says McCaskiel. “When we’re no longer here, the people who have left legacies, whatever they do continues long after they’re gone, and that’s what I aim to do on a personal and a career level.”
“I just want to inspire people to lead by being yourself and following things you truly enjoy. I will always advocate for HBCUs, and that’s me. That’s who I am, but just living in your truth and being that girl from the inside out,” Davis adds.
As part of xoNecole’s Best in Class series for 2024, Caitlyn “Cait the Great” Davis and Tasha McCaskiel are perfect examples of using their platforms to uplift and inform the culture around HBCUs.
Join us in celebrating HBCU excellence! Check out our Best In Class hub for inspiring stories, empowering resources, and everything you need to embrace the HBCU experience.
Feature images courtesy