Graduate corporate life for entrepreneurial freedom — without jeopardizing your income or family 💚 | Pod: UncageYourself.FM 🎧

You make great money... and you're suffocating.



I coach Directors, VPs, and Executives through Corporate Graduation®: the transition from Corporate Dependent to Corporate Optional — in one year.



Whether you're still inside corporate or recently out, if you've spent 15-25 years building career capital, you're probably running some version of this:



1) Sunday nights feel heavier than they should.

2) You keep starting things and stopping.

3) Family and health get whatever's left.

4) You're going through the motions and no one can tell.

5) You've been doing the math in your head for months.



That was me.

Divorced. Burnt out. 

Going dark inside a career everyone envied.



So I got to work:



I made my employer my investor.

Compressed the job.

Built a founder-grade business.

Graduated corporate for good.



171+ Directors, VPs, and Executives have done the same.

The methodology: Space → Self → System.



1) SPACE: compresses corporate and clears the conditions.

2) SELF: recodes the identity underneath.

3) SYSTEM: deploys your career capital into a founder-grade business.



Skip a step, and you replicate the cage with a different name on the door.



What we do together:



✅ Compress your corporate role to 20 hours/week

✅ Package your career capital into proprietary IP

✅ Build a founder-grade business around who you are

✅ Install founder identity, not someday — now

✅ Exit with runway, not regret



Ex-BCG. 4x dad.



This is the work I was built for.



START HERE:

go.corporategraduation.com

Matt Doan

1 week of founder growth = 5 years of corporate growth.

Here's what just happened for me:

(Save this)

Last week, New Media Summit in Austin with 500+ builders. This week, a 3-day intensive mastermind with some of the most badass founders around the world.

Back to back. Intense. I'm drained.

→ In corporate, growth is slow. Incremental. Safe.
→ Same room, same conversations, same container.
→ You don't notice it b/c environment never changes.

One week in the right rooms reoriented how I think, build, and move. That compression becomes normal when you design your life around it.

If you're still inside corporate making great money but feeling the pull toward something more, these are the things nobody tells you about the other side.

5 things worth sitting with:

---

1) Your TOP job as a founder is content.

Not sales calls. Not funnels. Content.

Every hour on a great YouTube video, podcast, or Substack essay pays you back for months (or years). Builds trust with people you'll never meet... until they're ready to buy. 

100X ROI. Nothing in corporate compounds like this.


2) Nobody cares about you. Just their transformation.

I walked the booths at the summit. Companies winning had names like selfpublishing.com, The Scalable Company, and GrowLetter. Crystal clear outcomes. Zero "I help X do Y" language.

That's consultant energy. One-man band.

Category design means framing, naming, and claiming your own space. Shine the light on the category, not yourself (see Category Pirates).


3) Sales is hard when marketing is weak.
Marketing is weak when positioning sucks.

Every founder I met who struggled with sales had the same root cause two levels up.

Vague, safe, and generic positioning.

When positioning is sharp, marketing writes itself. When marketing works (which should be 80% of your days), sales becomes enrollment, not a pitch.


4) People don't haggle anymore. They binge and decide.

They want to experience your thinking through long-form content. YouTube, podcast, Substack. Non-negotiables, no matter your business type.

Buying decisions happen before anyone books a call.


5) When you see a window, throw a brick through it.

(Because windows close.)

Go pro. Not "I'll start when I'm ready."

The corporate →  founder shift means someone saw an opening and went all in. They know their audience intimately. They produce at volume. They treat content like a pro athlete treats training.

My positioning with Corporate Graduation® is locked down (legally, even). Category claimed. Now it's building a trust-building marketing machine — YouTube at the core, with podcast and Substack, all feeding one engine.

I'm going pro in marketing.

---

If you're reading this from inside corporate, leaning toward something more, you're not going to figure it out in your current room. Or at your current pace.

Change the room.
Build the machine.
Go pro.

PS - This is the message you needed to hear.

Corporate Graduation® Founder | Directors & VPs → Founder in ONE Year | 173 Graduates | Ex-BCG | go.corporategraduation.com

Helping Black Men Make 7-Figures 💸

Managing Director of Black Executive Men (BEM) — a private institution advancing enterprise success among $1B+ organizations.

Black Executive Men convenes senior executives for closed-door, non-attributable peer forums focused on enterprise judgment, governance, and decision-making at scale.

Participation is limited to one executive per enterprise to preserve peer parity, discretion, and clarity of thought.

Executives participate independently, informed by their enterprise-level responsibilities.

Participation is by invitation.
blackexecutivemen.com

Jewel Love

Celebrating Corporate Excellence
Black Executive Men Dallas Global Dinner
Advancing Black male friendship on the global stage

Dallas was the landmark event.

Nearly 100 corporate Black men.
Together for impact, collaboration, and connection.
Conversations that turned into opportunities and advancements.

Dallas has become a home of Black Executive Men
A place where members are supported
and guests are welcomed.

We'll be returning to Dallas this year
for our AI Forum with presenters from
the leading tech companies in the world

Ensuring our enterprise leaders have the latest:

- AI ROI
- AI technology
- AI implementation

On an enterprise scale.

2026 is our Year of Elevation.

- Elevated collaboration
- Elevated connection
- Elevated results

I'll see you in Dallas.

Request invitation:
blackexecutivemen.com

El Mencho is dead.
Mexican news shared yesterday.
But raising a family here is what made it real.

The city closed
Cars being burned
Buses aflame on roads.

Then silence...

Waiting.
Watching.
Preparing.

My safe place 24-hours ago was now:

People running in airports
Families stuck outside
pinned in place.

A new feeling set in.
I was living on the edge.
Any moment it could pop off.

Yesterday... It popped.

While damage was mainly commercial
A message was sent to everyone
that the cartel is present

In Mexico...

While the people are kind.
And the weather is largely ideal
the safety trade-off here is very real.

Not that Oakland was heaven...
Nor America universally peaceful.
But it's a violence I was familiar with.

This was new for me.

Fortunately...

My family is fine
The birds are chirping
& neighbors are laughing again.

But I've changed.

This was a moment for me.
Made me consider our safety plans 
And how to keep my family away from harm

Should things pop again.

Thanks for the well-wishes and kind messages
We are staying glued to news updates
And keeping our boys happy.

Perhaps

No matter where we live
We find ourselves
concerned.

Proud to welcome Christopher Presley
Senior Vice President, Business Development at BNY
to Black Executive Men

Christopher brings deep enterprise business development and liquidity solutions experience, driving revenue and asset growth across government, financial intermediary, and corporate sectors. His work sits at the intersection of capital strategy, risk alignment, and cross-functional execution, where disciplined judgment, regulatory precision, and long-term client partnership matter.

Black Executive Men (BEM) is a private network for Black men in senior corporate and board roles, fostering confidential peer relationships across industries focused on leadership, governance, wealth, and legacy.

Explore membership:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

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Bonus Video

📌 BONUS VIDEO
7 Steps to 7-Figs in Enterprise SaaS Sales

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Coaches

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CEO & Founder, Black Executive Men

Sometimes I feel like quitting BEM.
I’m not supposed to say that, right?
Not because I’ve lost hope…

It’s the founder’s challenge of:

Walking into the unknown.
Bringing your people with you.
Without a gaurantee of the outcome.

That pressure alone makes me reconsider.

Knowing there’s a solution there…
And using your might to find it.
But being unable to see it.

That’s where the BEM network comes in.

After another 3am night
Falling asleep with crystal clarity 
Then waking up with abundant confusion

I turned away from ChatGPT advice
Which affirmed ALL my thoughts

And turned to BEM members
for real life feedback.

In a few hours I had multiple brothers 
on the phone. Helping me pressure 
test my ideas and real scenarios.

Giving feedback only they would have 
as senior executives, entrepreneurs,
investors and board directors.

End of the day I had leaders from across
the US committed to leading 
our 2026 forums.

Clarity on all four BEMs pillars…

And relief that it would be alright.

This is what BEM is in my life.

Realtime business support
On the challenges that
rack my mind.

With no shame, blame, or risk…

Just support. 

I’ve won the day.

I’m back to feeling at ease…

And tonight, will get to bed early.

😴💤

BEM2026. The Year of Elevation.

Flight to Atlanta.
Meeting in New York.
Conference in Charlotte.

BEM members are meeting.

Senior executives.
Board members.

Through our private member portal
connections are cultivated 
by region and industry.

Meetings happen
between local members
or when someone comes to town.

A curated, private executive ecosystem
for Black men in senior leadership -
advancing enterprise influence.

Qualification required.
blackexecutivemen.com

First it was just a dinner.
Then it became a network.
Then it became an institution.

Explore Membership.
blackexecutivemen.com

2015: Psychotherapist in Oakland
2022: Coach in Colombia
2026: CEO in Mexico

I started off with $40 sessions
to 28-year-old corporate 
brothers battling:

- Depression
- Anxiety
- Fears

And while healing their traumas…

I learned about:

- Boards
- C-suites
- Private equity 
- Corporate culture 

This new world fascinated me

And for the next ten years I studied it.

trying to solve the big mystery

That most clients faced.

“Being the only”

Today…

I lead hundreds 

of senior executives

in private group forums

on pressing corporate issues

And make a great living from it.

While I changed:

- Countries
- Modalities
- Seniorities

My mission remains the same.

Powerful Black men winning together.

Explore membership:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

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Member Spotlight — Black Executive Men
Aaron Moses: Senior Director, Global Procurement Business Partnering (G&A) | Gilead Sciences

Scale
Leads strategic procurement initiatives optimizing $2B+ in global spend, managing a team of 11 professionals while partnering directly with the CFO, Legal, HR, and Corporate Affairs leadership.

Impact
The global procurement organization delivered $400M in enterprise cost savings, with Aaron’s team responsible for 25% of that impact in 2025.

Aaron drives global programs across contingent workforce management, fleet optimization, and corporate travel & events, ensuring operational excellence and supplier performance across complex international supply chains.

His expertise spans healthcare, life sciences, and enterprise operations, with a focus on procurement strategy, cost optimization, and large-scale operational transformation.

Leadership Recognition
• Global Procurement Department Transformation Award
• CFO Leadership Recognition (Runner-Up) at Gilead Sciences

Aaron is currently on the Board Governance track, preparing for future corporate board service.

Member — Black Executive Men

Welcome Terence Young to Black Executive Men
SVP, Director of Enterprise Risk Management at WSFS Bank

Terence brings deep enterprise risk and financial governance leadership experience, overseeing enterprise risk, operational risk, and model risk management within a regulated banking environment. His work sits at the intersection of risk governance, balance sheet strategy, and board-level oversight, where disciplined judgment, regulatory alignment, and long-term institutional resilience matter.

Black Executive Men is the premier network for corporate Black men, focused on leadership, partnerships, and professional growth through executive forums, private dinners, and member connections.

Explore Membership:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

Most Black executive men don’t need another social event.

What they value:

- Enterprise dialogue
- Peer-level room
- No small talk

If you’re the only one in the room at your company…

You shouldn’t be the only one in your circle.

Black Executive Men.

- In-person.
- Cross-industry.
- Enterprise-level.

Explore qualification.
Membership required.

blackexecutivemen.com

Proud to welcome Craig Robinson
Board Director at Roofstock, Lessen, and Second Nature
to Black Executive Men

Craig brings deep board and enterprise leadership experience, serving as an independent director and former CEO across commercial real estate, technology, and professional services organizations. His work sits at the intersection of governance, growth strategy, and operational execution, where fiduciary judgment, capital discipline, and long-term enterprise value creation matter.

Black Executive Men (BEM) is a private network for Black men in senior corporate and board roles, fostering trusted peer relationships across industries and regions focused on leadership, governance, wealth, and legacy.

Explore membership:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

Shoutout to all the BEM brothers. 
Making our dream realities.
Connecting weekly.

BEM weeklies.
Meeting in person.
Attending the national forums.

No matter the political scene.
The economic scene.
We’re winning.

It’s been great connecting 
1:1 with all of you these past weeks.

Incredible men in our network.

Family men.
Business men.
Enterprise men.

P&L men… killing it.

All here helping each other win.

There’s nothing better.

BEM 2026.

The year of elevation.

⛳️💥🏌🏾

#VivaParisEnMexico

Welcome Terrance Wilson to Black Executive Men
Vice President FP&A at Lassonde Pappas & Company, Inc.

Terrance brings deep enterprise finance and performance management leadership experience, overseeing financial planning, forecasting, and strategic analysis across complex operating environments. His work sits at the intersection of capital allocation, operational performance, and executive decision support, where disciplined financial stewardship and long-term value creation matter.

Black Executive Men (BEM) is a private forum for Black men in senior enterprise leadership. Our members serve at the C-suite, VP, and board levels and hold enterprise-level decision authority within major organizations nationwide.

Qualification required:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

Welcome Dewayne Walton to Black Executive Men
SVP, Technology Governance; Chief Technology Office at Wells Fargo

Dewayne brings deep enterprise technology governance and digital risk leadership experience, guiding regulatory compliance, accessibility strategy, and platform oversight across complex financial services environments. His work sits at the intersection of technology execution, risk management, and regulatory alignment, where disciplined governance, operational control, and enterprise accountability matter.

Black Executive Men (BEM) is a private forum for Black men in senior enterprise leadership. Our members serve at the C-suite, VP, and board levels and hold enterprise-level decision authority within major organizations nationwide.

Qualification required:
www.blackexecutivemen.com

Las Vegas. Tuxedos. Neon outside the window.
Last year, I organized a private dinner for Black Executive Men.
Toward the end of the evening, three execs pulled me aside and pressed me.

“Why did you bring us here?”

We had the room.

- The food
- The drinks
- The photos

The stated goal was bold:

Decide the future of corporate Black men.

I’d plastered it all across LinkedIn.

They’d flown in.

But something was missing.

There was laughter - but no depth.
Conversation - but no weight.
Proximity - but no gravity.

The room grew restless.

Called to the moment.

In real time, I made an audible.

- I circled the room.
- Shifted the energy.
- Reset the conversation.

The tone changed instantly.

- Smiles faded.
- Glasses lowered.
- Postures shifted inward.

The pressure was on.
Eyes locked in.
I stepped in.

An electric group dialogue formed.

Naming our individual challenges and opportunities.

We decided Black men in senior leadership were stronger together.

Decades of operating as lone wolves came to an end.

The BEM Forum was born.

A private room where Black men in senior leadership convene for enterprise, capital, and legacy conversations.

Where decisions are pressure-tested, blind spots identified, and collaboration is expected.

This year, we expand.

Convening in Dallas, Chicago, and New York to discuss AI, talent leadership, and board governance.

We accomplished what we came for.

The pressure lifted.

We left aligned.

And left the lone wolves behind.

For those aligned, explore membership.
blackexecutivemen.com

Black men in senior leadership
don’t need more contacts.
They need better rooms.

- Small rooms
- Cross-industry
- Senior executives

Rooms where:

- Small talk absent
- Authority is standard
- Dialogue carries weight

That’s the difference.

Black Executive Men

Explore qualification:
blackexecutivemen.com

Announcing Attendee Renard Henry
IT Manager, Toyota Connected North America
BEM AI Forum — Dallas, Texas

Renard Henry is an enterprise technology leader at Toyota Connected North America, where he oversees infrastructure, cloud platforms, and operational technology supporting connected vehicle and digital mobility initiatives.

With more than two decades of experience leading enterprise IT organizations, Renard focuses on modernizing technology operations, advancing automation, and aligning technology strategy with business outcomes.

Beyond his corporate role, he is host of the Black Belts & Boardrooms podcast and an executive coach focused on leadership development and mentorship across the technology community.

At the BEM AI Forum in Dallas, senior leaders will explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping enterprise technology, operational models, and leadership decision-making.

BEM Forums are daylong gatherings for corporate Black men focused on:

• Leadership
• Partnerships
• Industry Insights

Explore membership
blackexecutivemen.com

Most Black men in senior leadership don’t need more business cards.
They need better rooms.

Rooms where:

Capital gets discussed, not chased
Enterprise decisions get pressure-tested
AI, governance, and risk are debated at altitude

- No pitching
- No small talk
- No job hunting

Just alignment.

Black Executive Men

- In-person
- Cross-industry
- Enterprise leaders

Qualification required.
blackexecutivemen.com

Proud to welcome Garry Capers,
Division President at Deluxe,
to Black Executive Men.

Garry brings deep enterprise P&L and transformation leadership experience, leading global business units through growth, operational optimization, and digital modernization across financial services, data, and SaaS environments. His work sits at the intersection of strategy, execution, and board-level accountability, where disciplined judgment, capital allocation, and long-term enterprise value creation matter.

Those priorities align directly with the values that guide Black Executive Men.

BEM exists to foster meaningful connections and real relationships among Black men in corporate leadership. It is a space for authentic conversation with peers who understand enterprise responsibility and value thoughtful dialogue that moves decisions forward.

Not surface-level networking.
Not performative engagement.

But sustained, peer-level connection grounded in trust, shared context, and mutual respect.

Garry’s background and leadership perspective reflect those values well.

We’re glad to have him in the room.
Black Executive Men
A Powerful Network of Black Men in Corporate Leadership

Where Black executive men are no longer the only one in the room.

Membership is selective
www.blackexecutivemen.com

Announcing Speaker Joshua Patterson
VP, Solutions Architecture, NVIDIA
BEM AI Forum - Dallas, Texas

Joshua Patterson is Vice President of Solutions Architecture and Engineering at NVIDIA, where he leads teams helping enterprises accelerate AI, large-scale data processing, and advanced analytics. A former founder and nationally recognized data science leader, he previously helped build NVIDIA’s RAPIDS platform and has advised major public initiatives, including serving on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Scientific Advisory Committee.

BEM Forums are daylong gatherings for advanced leadership, roundtable discussion, and professional collaboration between corporate Black men. 

Explore membership
www.blackexecutivemen.com

taplio

The Battle

Matt Doan

Jewel Love

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreMatt Doan's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreJewel Love's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Matt Doan

Jewel Love

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Matt Doan's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreJewel Love's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreMatt Doan's LinkedIn Performance