#nytm

“Want to keep a secret? Don’t discuss it at the Oyster Bar entrance on the lower level (of Grand Central Terminal). The space’s proportions and vaulted tile ceiling amplify sound, which bounces from one arch support to its diagonal opposite. People have called this the “Whispering Gallery” almost since the day it opened.”

Learn about getting started as an entrepreneur, hosting a successful crowdfunding campaign, and believing in your dreams with Georgie-Ann Getton-McKoy, Founder of GSD Solutions.

Georgie is an execution strategist, award-winning serial entrepreneur, community builder, speaker, author, podcast host, and Diversity in Tech Enthusiast. Georgie founded multiple ventures including GSD Solutions and GSD With Georgie to help businesses produce their own online events. She also launched the very first Black Podcasting Awards after a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2020, and wrote a book called The Art of Getting Sh*t Done, where she shares her experience and secrets on productivity and entrepreneurship. We’re proud to count Georgie as a member of the NY Tech Alliance Community — she’s been a dedicated member and brilliantly hosted our virtual Celebration of Black Women Founders.

What’s your daily routine?

I usually get up around 7am. First thing is to get myself situated, shower, brush my teeth. Then if the weather allows it, I will take a morning walk, and if it’s not the best weather outside I just read and meditate at home. After that, I make breakfast and wake up the kids to get ready for school and the day. After breakfast, I start my day with my first call at 9am a daily stand-up. Then I create the task list for the day and start to tackle that list while taking breaks to do homeschooling and interact with the kids.

Combining parenthood and entrepreneurship can be challenging. How do you manage your family and your company?

Having a clear schedule is the best way to handle all things family and kids because at any moment there is so much going on. With a clear schedule, I can then build the flexibility I need, swap out things when needed and just make sure any fires that pop up personal or professional I have the mental space to tackle. I also have many standard operating processes in both my house and my company so if t I am not available, someone else is and can hop in.

“I have many standard operating processes in both my house and my company.”

What’s the advice you would give to an aspiring entrepreneur?

Stay persistent. Life is all about curveballs. The sooner you accept that “the game is rigged and fair” doesn’t exist, the sooner you gain the mental freedom to just DO, without worrying about if you’re doing it wrong or right.

What’s your biggest failure as an entrepreneur?

My biggest failure was being fearful of my finances. This was a huge failure for me because my personal financial insecurities trickled into my business and because of that some business ventures I have had failed. I was afraid to charge my worth or even charge at all. Once I started tackling this fear I because more successful overall.

I was afraid to charge my worth or even charge at all.

And your biggest win?

I would say one of my biggest wins was getting into the CUNY startups accelerator when I was in college. It gave me a huge sense of confidence in my work as an entrepreneur. Then when I made it to the Top 4 it was clear that I had all this untapped potential inside me that I needed to embrace.

A word on your book “The Art of Getting Sh*t Done”— How do you go from being a dreamer to a doer?

You go from being a dreamer to being a doer by starting. Life is a journey and so is everything in life including entrepreneurship. You will feel overwhelmed at times, and think you don’t have everything you want to start or continue that journey. This could be true, but you will always have everything that you need within you!

Just start, here, today, now with what you have and EVERYTHING else will fall into you path.

You raised more than $9,000 to fund the Black Podcasting Awards. What was your strategy and in other words, the key to success for someone wanting to start a crowdfunding campaign?

The key to the success of that campaign was tapping into my network and sharing what I was doing. I did a lot of cold tweeting, random live streams, texting, emailing, and posting on social media. When we were less than 48 hours from the deadline and below half of our goal I told myself that we would not only meet, but exceed our goal. Then I pulled out every card I had and made it happen. Tap into your network! Share your work! Be your biggest champion.

When we were less than 48 hours from the deadline and below half of our goal I told myself that we would not only meet, but exceed our goal.

You’ve been a wedding officiant for 5 years. Tell us more about that!

Well, I am a nerd! I love learning and doing new things. When I became a wedding officiant I was on a major “Side Hustle” journey. I loved the flexibility that being an entrepreneur offered but I was also aware that I had bills and a child to take care of so I needed to make money. I got certified so it could be an income stream and also so that I could go to more weddings. At the time of getting certified I had only been to one or two weddings in my entire life. What’s the best way to get invited to a wedding? By being a vendor! Being a wedding officiant satisfied a professional and personal need all at once. Since getting certified I have helped four couples say “I Do”.

“I loved the flexibility that being an entrepreneur offered but I was also aware that I had bills and a child to take care of.”

What’s your number one rule for a successful online event?

Start from the goal and work your way backward! The golden rule to community engagement around your brand? Be yourself. When I try to get all fancy with the content people don’t really resonate with it. I get the most engagement when I remain my crazy, doing-the-most self.

Tell me about your thoughts on diversity in tech.

Diversity in tech is essential. At least as a concept. When it is put into action, often time companies miss the mark on what needs to be done to achieve this goal. The systematic issues that come from the government, constitution, and institutions built many years ago consistently leave diversity initiatives gasping for air. The only time true diversity will be achieved is when companies and their leaders look at it as a staple in business success from day one, not as an afterthought to not get attacked by the public.

The systematic issues that come from the government, constitution, and institutions built many years ago consistently leave diversity initiatives gasping for air.

What steps can tech companies take to be more diverse and inclusive?

They can start by taking a look within, “Do we have unconscious biases?”. Then from there, they can begin to look at their team and goals and see if the picture that they see reflects their short and long-term goals as a company. There are many, many, many diverse team members and founders out there. Diversity in race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, geographic location, education level, age, and the list goes on and on. But before a company can embrace that diversity and become inclusive they have to take a look at their own flaws as to why have they never seen this before? Why did they not think of this before? Then and only then will companies become diverse and inclusive in an authentic way.

Main Waiting Room, Grand Central Terminal, circa 1913. “Vanderbilt Hall originally functioned as the terminal’s main waiting room. Notice the wealth of architectural detail that made waiting for a train a little more pleasant.”

The 9th Street subway entrance in Brooklyn, as seen in 1910. Street-level subway entrances such as this one combined design elements of both the IRT and the BMT—indicative of the Dual Contracts under which the 4th Avenue BMT line in Brooklyn was being built.

“In 1908, the IRT Eastern Parkway extension opened as Brooklyn’s first subway line. Built as an extension of the first New York City subway, the line connected Manhattan to Brooklyn’s Borough Hall station through the newly constructed Joralemon Street Tunnel. Within four months of its opening, the next portion of the line was opened to Atlantic Avenue, near the Long Island Rail Road’s Flatbush Avenue station. In 1919, the West Side line was extended and joined with the Eastern Parkway line through the Clark Street Tunnel. The Eastern Parkway portion was completed to Crown Heights – Utica Avenue by 1920.

“This  New York Transit Museum Collection survey photograph documents the line at the Eastern Parkway station in 1963. During the 1960s, several stations’ platforms, including the Eastern Parkway station, was extended to accommodate ten-car trains.”

Redbird meet on the 7 line, April 1985