Resilient

Resilient Plot Summary

Introduction

Sevetri Wilson embodies the essence of modern entrepreneurial resilience. Rising from humble beginnings in a small Louisiana town, she transformed herself into a formidable business leader who has redefined success for Black female founders in the tech industry. As a first-generation college student who grew up in a household where her mother raised four children on a modest salary, Wilson's journey represents the power of determination against overwhelming odds. Her path from bootstrapping her first company to securing millions in venture capital for her second reflects not just personal triumph, but a blueprint for aspiring entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds. Through Wilson's story, readers gain insight into the reality of building businesses without inherited wealth or connections, the challenges of navigating predominantly white male spaces as a Black woman from the South, and the transformative power of resilience in the face of both personal tragedy and professional obstacles. Her narrative illuminates how entrepreneurship can become a vehicle for creating generational wealth and lasting community impact when driven by purpose rather than merely profit.

Chapter 1: Southern Roots and Early Ambitions

Sevetri Wilson's story begins in a small town 45 minutes outside of New Orleans, Louisiana. Born into a family where her mother raised four children on a modest salary of just $29,000 a year as an assistant manager at Kmart, Wilson experienced firsthand the economic challenges that would later fuel her determination to build financial security. Her earliest exposure to technology came in middle school when her mother brought home their first Dell desktop computer, opening a new world of possibilities despite not having internet access beyond occasional AOL dial-up cards. College at Louisiana State University marked a pivotal turning point for Wilson. There she encountered Dr. Leonard Moore, a professor who showed her possibilities beyond the limited horizons of her small town. Wilson observed how Dr. Moore balanced academic responsibilities with entrepreneurial ventures, including books, youth programs, and a youth church. This mentorship expanded her understanding of what was possible, particularly for someone who looked like her. As Wilson recalled, "There was nothing luxurious about it, either; outwardly at least he lived very modestly but I had never seen this coming from where I was from." Her entrepreneurial journey began while still in college, creating B-NOW (Black News Our Way), an online newspaper. This experience gave her a taste of building something from scratch, assembling a team of fellow students to handle everything from writing articles to website development. Though she didn't recognize it at the time, this was her first real business venture, planting seeds for her future path. Tragedy struck when Wilson was 21, just before graduating college. Her mother passed away from an aggressive form of cancer, just four days before Christmas. Having already lost her father at age 9, this devastating loss forced Wilson to reconsider her purpose. She had always envisioned creating a better life for her mother, "the life I felt she deserved." Without that driving motivation, Wilson had to rediscover her "why" - ultimately finding it in the desire to build companies that would help others solve problems, create opportunities through economic mobility, and establish generational wealth. Six months after her mother's death, at just 22 years old, Wilson founded Solid Ground Innovations (SGI), a strategic communications and management agency. With no inherited business, no mentor to show her the ropes, and no financial safety net, she faced the daunting challenge of learning how to start and run a business entirely from scratch. This wasn't just about professional development – it became personal testament to her resilience in the wake of profound loss.

Chapter 2: Building SGI: The Bootstrapped Beginning

Starting Solid Ground Innovations presented Wilson with a mountain of challenges that extended far beyond developing services and finding clients. As a young Black woman from the South - what she called a "triple threat, and not in a good way" - she encountered skepticism and barriers at every turn. There were foundational elements of business ownership she had to master quickly: understanding legal requirements, properly classifying employees, managing contracts, and developing services that would generate sustainable revenue. Without investors or outside capital, Wilson bootstrapped SGI entirely on her own. Her first client engagements came through subcontracting under larger companies, allowing her to learn the field at scale while still maintaining her independence as a business owner. This approach provided invaluable education but required tremendous discipline. "I knew I would have to build my company brick by brick as there were no financial resources available to me then," Wilson explained. "I knew I would have to be scrappy and win business in order to grow, so I did just that." A breakthrough moment came when Aetna Better Health discovered SGI through a state website listing Hudson Initiative-approved companies (a program encouraging state agencies to contract with certified small businesses). Despite never having worked in healthcare before, Wilson assembled a compelling proposal highlighting SGI's community and political connections, creating partnerships that were "real and authentic." They secured the seven-figure, multi-year contract over much larger, more established agencies - a transformative opportunity that taught Wilson critical lessons about cash flow, vendor management, and scaling operations. The contract required SGI to finance substantial media buys upfront before receiving payment, stretching their resources thin. "We had to draw down on a line of credit to help us get through, but it taught me a lot about managing cash flow and setting expectations with your subcontractors," Wilson reflected. This experience underscored a fundamental truth about bootstrapping: cash management becomes the difference between survival and failure. Without external funding, every dollar spent had to generate returns, and timing became critical. Throughout this growth period, Wilson maintained her commitment to building in Louisiana, despite suggestions she might find more opportunities elsewhere. She saw value in creating an ecosystem for minority business owners in her home state rather than leaving once she found success. This decision wasn't without frustration - despite accolades, board appointments, and recognition extending to the White House, she still encountered barriers to resources that seemed more readily available to others. Yet this challenge only strengthened her resolve to extend support to other entrepreneurs facing similar obstacles.

Chapter 3: Tech Transition: From Services to Software

By 2016, Wilson had successfully grown SGI into a seven-figure company, but her entrepreneurial vision was expanding. She observed how technology was disrupting industries all around her and faced a choice: "I was watching as technology continued to disrupt every sector around me, and I knew that either I was going to continue to be disrupted by it or become a disruptor. I chose the latter." The seed for what would become Resilia grew from SGI Cares, the arm of her company that focused on nonprofit management. Working as consultants, Wilson and her team functioned as a back office for nonprofits, helping with everything from board meetings to fundraising. As SGI grew, Wilson recognized they couldn't service nonprofits in the same hands-on way they had become accustomed to. This challenge sparked her thinking about how to "productize" their services through software solutions. The first service Wilson attempted to transform was nonprofit creation services - the tedious paperwork process of filing for incorporation and tax exemption. SGI had built a reputation in this area, receiving referrals from attorneys, accountants, schools, and health clinics seeking to create nonprofit arms. They were handling these services manually, which was time-consuming, while competitors like LegalZoom left customers unclear about next steps. In November 2016, Wilson launched what was then called Exempt Me Now, describing it as "TurboTaxing" the process of nonprofit incorporation and exemption. This transition from services to software wasn't simple, especially for a non-technical founder. Wilson addressed this challenge by hiring a technical consultant who helped source and oversee offshore development teams, first in Ukraine and later Pakistan. "One of the biggest mistakes founders make early on is trying to go offshore and hire developers when they have never managed offshore developers or, even worse, they aren't themselves technical. It's literally a recipe for disaster," Wilson observed from her experience. The technical consultant created a critical bridge, holding the development team accountable while Wilson built her knowledge. As Exempt Me Now gained traction, Wilson recognized the opportunity to expand beyond formation services. Customers were asking, "What happens next? How do I run effective board meetings? How do I raise money?" This led to the development of additional products: a nonprofit platform (NPX) delivering capacity support through a subscription-based model, and an enterprise platform connecting nonprofits with their funders. Eventually, Exempt Me Now would rebrand as Resilia - a SaaS technology platform enabling organizations to increase capacity and enterprises to scale impact. The transition represented more than a new business model; it required Wilson to shift her entire mindset from "slow and steady wins the race" to "accelerate and scale growth to capture market share while staying as lean as possible for as long as possible." She was venturing into territory where, as a female, Black, Southern, non-technical solo founder, she represented "everything that they say a tech founder can't be."

Chapter 4: Raising Capital as a Black Female Founder

Transitioning from a bootstrapped services company to a venture-backed software startup required Wilson to enter the challenging world of raising capital. Unlike her first company where she could grow through client revenue, building a scalable software product demanded upfront investment. "The first dollars into your company will likely come out of your own pocket," Wilson notes, and true to this principle, she invested a million dollars of her own money from SGI's success to get Resilia off the ground. Her fundraising journey began in 2016 when she raised $400,000 from angel investors in Louisiana. These early investors were backing Wilson herself more than the product. "The first dollars in your company will be from people who believe in you more than they believe in what you are building," she explains. "They believe that you are the person to see this idea to fruition, and that if you don't they can rest assured that you gave it your all." When Wilson set out to raise a $2 million seed round in 2017, she faced her most challenging fundraising experience. Despite having built a minimum viable product, secured customers, and generated revenue as a second-time founder, she encountered significant barriers. She traveled to Silicon Valley hoping to connect with investors, but without deep connections in the Bay Area, access proved difficult. "As a minority founder raising capital you can get jaded very quickly; as a Black female founder, add several other layers to that," Wilson reflects. A turning point came through an unexpected connection. After participating in a pitch competition sponsored by TPG Capital, Wilson reached out to thank everyone who had provided feedback, including partner Tim Millikin. When she later visited San Francisco, Millikin not only met with her but became her first investor outside Louisiana. His commitment renewed Wilson's energy and lent credibility that helped attract additional investors from the East Coast and Southeast. By 2019, Wilson was ready to raise a Series A round. She initially put the process on hold after realizing she wouldn't get the valuation she wanted, focusing instead on growing the team and product. When she returned to fundraising in late 2019, she was better prepared and had stronger connections through her seed investors and accelerator programs. The Series A process still involved grueling due diligence, which Wilson notes was particularly intense for her as a Black female founder: "When I talked to my friends who were not women or Black, it became very clear to me that our diligence couldn't just be good enough or promising; it had to go above and beyond the call of duty." Despite these challenges, Wilson successfully raised an $8 million Series A round, closing the deal in March 2020 just as COVID-19 was beginning to shut down the economy. This achievement made her the female founder who had raised the most venture capital from the state of Louisiana, breaking barriers while creating a blueprint for others to follow.

Chapter 5: Navigating Crisis: Pandemic and Social Justice

In early 2020, Sevetri Wilson was poised for a milestone year. Resilia had just opened a new office in New York City, positioned their executive team for growth, and closed an $8 million Series A funding round. Then the world changed dramatically. "The year 2020 was supposed to be a big deal. But then as the agony began of watching, as many of my friends and family were laid off or saw their businesses shutter, I started to realize that 2020 was definitely not going to be what I had bargained for." When COVID-19 hit, Wilson's leadership was tested in unprecedented ways. She quickly sensed the magnitude of what was coming, sending messages to her executive team warning that cities would start shutting down. Within days, their new Bryant Park office closed, and the team shifted to remote work. As a founder who had just raised significant capital, Wilson had to maintain growth momentum while ensuring her team's wellbeing during a global crisis. The pandemic created both challenges and opportunities for Resilia. Unlike hospitality or event-focused businesses that suffered immediate losses, the philanthropy sector faced unprecedented demand. Resilia's technology platform, designed to help funders scale impact and nonprofits increase capacity, became even more relevant as organizations scrambled to respond to community needs during the crisis. As Wilson navigated the pandemic's business implications, another historic crisis emerged. The murder of George Floyd in May 2020 sparked worldwide protests against racial injustice. This moment hit Wilson deeply. In a candid email to a business group, she revealed the personal toll of systemic racism: "I've been tired and exhausted from battling racism since I was 8 years old when my classmate called me the N word and my teacher condoned it." She shared experiences of police drawing guns on her and friends as teenagers and the countless microaggressions she'd faced throughout her business career. Wilson used her platform to address how the corporate world should respond beyond statements of solidarity. In a virtual company meeting, she shared her mother's words that had guided her through predominantly white schools: "You belong there, too." She challenged organizations to examine their vendor lists, procurement practices, and board compositions, pointing out that "buying Black" needed to extend beyond consumer purchases to corporate contracts and investment decisions. The convergence of the pandemic and social justice movement required Wilson to lead with authenticity and vulnerability. She encouraged her team to prioritize mental health, acknowledging that her own workload had become unsustainable with endless Zoom calls. "It's equally important for you as a leader to do the same," she advised about taking necessary breaks. This period reinforced her resilient leadership philosophy: "Be of service. Cash remains king. We are all resilient. Get comfortable with the unknown."

Chapter 6: Leadership Philosophy and Team Building

Sevetri Wilson's approach to leadership evolved through both trial and error and intentional development. Early in her entrepreneurial journey, she recognized her limitations in managing people. "When I first started hiring back during the SGI days I made tons of missteps. I had never hired anyone before and for some reason I never sought out someone to give me advice or coach me along the way early on," she reflects candidly. This self-awareness became the foundation for her growth as a leader. Wilson's hiring philosophy centers on finding people with grit who can thrive with limited resources – an essential quality in startup environments. She developed a structured hiring process involving multiple team members rather than relying solely on her judgment. "You can sometimes fall so in love with the idea of a candidate that you romanticize not only the position but the person in the position," she observes, highlighting the importance of diverse perspectives in hiring decisions. One of Wilson's most significant leadership transitions involved learning to delegate not just tasks but decision-making authority. As Resilia grew, she had to shift from being involved in every detail to empowering her team. "You need to shift from always being in the know about every single detail to enabling others to make decisions," she explains. This meant providing context across various parts of the company so team members could make informed decisions aligned with company goals. Communication emerged as a critical component of Wilson's leadership style, particularly as the organization scaled. She articulates four key characteristics of effective transparency: timeliness (sharing information at the right moment), strategy (focusing on the "why" behind changes), shareability (clear messaging that avoids misinterpretation), and actionability (clarifying how information impacts team members and what's expected of them). During the pandemic, these communication principles became even more crucial as teams worked remotely. Perhaps most distinctively, Wilson's leadership is characterized by empathy and authenticity. She broke one of her own rules by hiring her best friend as her first employee at SGI, a decision that worked because of their shared history and mutual trust. Years later, when that employee moved on to pursue different passions, Wilson celebrated her choice – demonstrating her belief that "where you start doesn't always have to be your long-term trajectory." This supportive approach extends to all team members: "It is without a doubt that I want those around me to do work they love and to live out their life as they imagine it." Wilson also recognizes the unique challenges faced by Black leaders and women in positions of authority. She acknowledges the additional scrutiny and pressure they experience, noting that success often requires "dotting i's, crossing t's, and spending the extra time to prove that you deserve the position that you hold." Her leadership style includes creating pathways for underrepresented individuals within her organizations, ensuring they have opportunities to grow and advance.

Chapter 7: Creating Generational Wealth and Lasting Impact

For Sevetri Wilson, entrepreneurship transcends personal success – it represents a vehicle for creating generational wealth and systemic change. Having grown up without financial safety nets, she approaches wealth-building with both pragmatism and purpose. "Building wealth is something that's important to me and is a direct correlation to how we build abundance in our community," Wilson explains, emphasizing that when people like herself acquire resources, they have "a fundamental duty that's ingrained in us to not only give back but to change the course of others' lives." Wilson's approach to wealth creation begins with building profitable businesses. From SGI's success, she systematically invested profits into real estate, stocks, other startups, and eventually Resilia itself. This disciplined reinvestment strategy allowed her to accumulate assets over time rather than pursuing quick riches. "Wealth accumulates over time, so there is no need to feel like you have to make gobs of money right now; contrary to social media, you aren't actually running out of time," she advises aspiring entrepreneurs. Her philosophy extends to how she treats team members and contractors, always paying market value or better. "I don't want to create opportunities just for myself, but I also want to help others do the same," Wilson notes, sometimes even increasing contract prices when she felt professionals were undervaluing themselves. This principle reflects her understanding that wealth creation extends beyond founders to encompass entire teams and communities. Beyond her companies, Wilson leverages technology to address systemic inequities. Through Resilia, she tackles disparities in nonprofit funding, where organizations led by people of color receive significantly less support than their white-led counterparts. Her platform provides transparency and data-driven tools that help level the playing field, allowing underrepresented organizations to demonstrate their impact and secure resources. "When grantors can see objective measures that demonstrate an organization's effectiveness, they will be more inclined to support it. Full stop," Wilson asserts. The death of actor Chadwick Boseman in 2020 prompted Wilson to reflect deeply on her legacy: "What legacy am I leaving and how can I solidify this within the span of my life, however long that will be? How can I not just be successful in terms of building a company where not only team benefits from it, but that from its success hundreds of other opportunities for others emerge?" These questions continue to guide her decisions. For Wilson, lasting impact means creating pathways for others. She serves as a visible role model for Black women in tech and business, openly sharing her experiences to demystify entrepreneurship for those without inherited knowledge. When she became the female founder who had raised the most venture capital from Louisiana, she broke barriers while creating a blueprint for others to follow. Her story demonstrates that transformative change happens not just through individual success but through deliberately creating systems that enable others to succeed as well.

Summary

Sevetri Wilson's journey from a small Louisiana town to tech entrepreneurship embodies the power of resilience in transforming personal circumstances and creating pathways for others. Her story demonstrates that success isn't measured merely by financial achievements but by the doors one opens for communities historically excluded from opportunity. Through bootstrapping her first company and raising millions for her second, Wilson has created a blueprint for entrepreneurship that centers both profit and purpose, proving that business can serve as a vehicle for addressing systemic inequities. Wilson's experience offers profound lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds. First, that starting without connections or inherited knowledge doesn't preclude success – it simply requires greater resourcefulness and determination. Second, that building wealth is a methodical process requiring both discipline and patience rather than overnight transformation. Finally, that true leadership involves not just climbing to the top but creating systems that enable others to follow. As Wilson herself affirms, "I show up daily, more resilient than ever," reminding us that resilience isn't just about personal survival but about creating lasting change that extends far beyond oneself.

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Sevetri Wilson

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