Roots of Sustainable Impact
Welcome to "Roots of Sustainable Impact," the weekly show where leaders of Greentech and organizations in the climate-critical space gain practical strategies and insights to build thriving, adaptable businesses from the inside out.
Join us every week for in-depth 1-on-1 interviews as we go behind the scenes to uncover how organizations with a positive impact operate and scale. We explore how to set the stage for sustainable growth by implementing the right systems, staff, processes, and partners.
Whether you're a founder or a leader, this podcast equips you with the knowledge to grow your enterprise and amplify your impact.
Roots of Sustainable Impact
Turning 'Not Now' into Opportunity: Relational Equity and Inclusive Innovation with Latane Brackett
Welcome back to another episode of Roots of Sustainable Impact. Today, I had the joy of speaking with Latane Brackett, someone whose dedication to inclusive innovation is truly inspiring.
In this episode, we explore the power of partnerships—what they mean, how to evaluate them, and why they’re crucial for creating a pipeline of success in the innovation ecosystem. Latane shares his guiding principles of treating people well, building relational equity, and fostering intentional collaborations.
We dive into actionable strategies for small businesses and startups to partner with larger, more established organizations. Plus, he offers fantastic advice on positioning yourself for grants and programs, leveraging certifications, and even turning a “not now” into an incredible opportunity.
And as always, Latane’s stories will inspire you—whether it’s about resilience, learning from rejections, or simply saying “how might we?” to spark creativity and solutions.
Join us as we unpack these valuable insights, and don’t forget to stay tuned till the end when Latane shares his advice for 2025 and the three people he’d love to meet. Spoiler alert: It’s an inspiring mix of family legacy, historical impact, and entrepreneurial genius.
Connect with Latane:
- Latane’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latanebrackett/
Links and Resources:
- SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) https://www.sbir.gov/
- DOE (Department of Energy) https://www.energy.gov/
- NSF (National Science Foundation) https://www.nsf.gov/
- NIH (National Institutes of Health) https://www.nih.gov/
- Jackson State University https://www.jsums.edu/
Latane's bio:
Latane E. Brackett, III, Hon NAI– BIO
Latane Brackett is a dynamic leader in inclusive innovation, technology commercialization, and partnership development. With over 30 years of experience in consumer packaged goods, he has built performance-driven cultures and developed future leaders.
As a nationally recognized mentor and Executive Coach, Latane empowers deep tech co-founders through programs like DOE I-Corps, NIH Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, and NSF I-Corps, helping them navigate commercialization and strengthen their leadership. He is passionate about broadening participation for underrepresented communities, including HBCUs, MSIs, and HSIs.
Previously, Latane was Principal Manager of Innovation Programs at the National GEM Consortium, collaborating with the National Innovation Network to support GEM Fellows in commercializing deep-tech research.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering from Norfolk State University, where he was part of the inaugural DNIMAS Scholars Cohort, and an MBA from Texas A&M Commerce. He currently serves as the Innovation Program Manager at Jackson State University.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Roots of Sustainable Impact!
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