Managing Director of ABCD & Company Corey Briscoe brings his dynamic leadership ability to his work at helming a successful organization. Aside from working as a manager, he is also an “experienced higher education, operations, and political strategist.”
At ABCD & Company, Corey Briscoe shows his skill and expertise as an “effective resource and project manager with exceptional communication, administrative, and organizational skills.” He is driven by his mission and his desire to see results, while also valuing “teamwork and dedication.” Through his work, he has also become accustomed to working with high-profile individuals.
Also, at ABCD & Company, Corey Briscoe is also the chief operating officer. For the company, he creates and enforces “operational policies and procedures that insure enterprise productivity, unilateral standards, and management succession.” He also manages “invested capital according to budgetary criteria established by equity partners,” and he oversees and directs “human resources, finance, physical facility management, and procurement.”
Prior to ABCD & Company, Corey Briscoe also worked as the administrator and operating officer at the New Prayer Mission Church of God in Christ. At the church, he managed to reduce its long-term debt by 61% in only a year, through strict fiscal controls and internal auditing. Before that, he was the operations manager at Providge Consulting.
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I never imagined being an entrepreneur. Corey Briscoe, ABCD & Company
Jerome Knyszewski: Thank you so much for doing this with us! What is your “backstory”?
Corey Briscoe: I went to Howard University and imagined that I would end up in politics or run some large fortune 500 company. I never imagined being an entrepreneur. That changed in undergrad, at Howard University, where I met three of my future best friends and colleagues. After realizing that we were fantastic at collaborating, the four of us (Amber, Brittanye, Corey, and Durecia) graduated and started ABCD & Company. We originally started as a management consulting firm, but later honed in on our love of engaging stakeholders through marketing and events.
Jerome Knyszewski: Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that happened to you since you started your company? What lessons or takeaways did you take out of that story?
Corey Briscoe: Imagine arriving at a presentation and realizing you don’t have shoes — I wish I was making this up. At home, I don’t wear shoes in my house. When it’s time to leave, I grab my shoes and put them on, right before entering the car. Honesty moment. When I am rushing, I throw the shoes in the car and hastily drive to my meeting. Well I was headed to a large presentation, arrived with 5 minutes to spare, went to put on my shoes and realized I didn’t have them. This is where having great team members and an office in a metropolitan area proves the right decision. As I sat in the car, 2 colleagues stalled, and another ran to Nordstrom Rack to buy me shoes. Who cares that they were 2 sizes too small? With pant legs covering my heels and carefully positioning my feet under the table, I shined and we won the contract. Teamwork wins again.
I wasn’t waiting for someone to give me a promotion or allow me to work on a project. I was doing what I wanted to do every day.
Jerome Knyszewski: Can you share 5 of the most difficult and most rewarding parts of being a “TwentySomething founder”. Please share an example or story for each.
Corey Briscoe:
- Trying to convince family that you shouldn’t go get a “real job.”
This is the first obstacle of seeing whether or not you are truly going to be successful. People don’t understand how important good headspace is on this journey. My parents were intrinsically supportive of my entrepreneur journey. However, I hid a lot of my challenges from my parents for fear of their response. The reality is that I was so scared that they would say “give it up” that I tried to paint a rosier picture at every interaction — even when I had no money and some days didn’t know how I would even get to work.
- You can shape your future.
I think this is the most rewarding part of being a “twentysomething” founder. As people advance in a career, at some point they most likely will struggle with a crisis of identity and purpose, wondering “what if?” If you were a “twentysomething” founder you have already been there, done that, and got the bumper stickers. I remember worrying if or when the company would crash and burn. In my gut, I knew we would be fine, but I was so worried about the future. While other professionals my age were building savings and 401ks, all my money was in my company. However, I realized quickly that I had something they didn’t have. I had autonomy to make decisions. In theory, I could determine how fast or slow I went. I wasn’t waiting for someone to give me a promotion or allow me to work on a project. I was doing what I wanted to do every day.
- You’re still learning who you are and it impacts how you interact with others.
The greatest challenge of leading others is first leading yourself. Imagine trying to negotiate contracts with a guy across the table who has been in business for 30 years. Your vantage point is very different. You’re banking on your guts and passion to seal the deal, not your impressive industry knowledge. It’s when you are unaware of this fact that you set yourself up for failure. I remember being in a pitch and the client basically calling me out when I said “I have great experience doing this.” While I got the business, he was trying to help me be successful in other endeavors. I have learned that honesty about where you and what you can do is valued and rewarded.
- Ageism is real.
Despite research that suggests that diversity in age promotes great performance and a stronger outcome, there are people who will automatically write you off because of your youth. It’s not getting the callback on a proposal because they saw pictures of you and your team. This is a fact of life and you have to come to terms with it, but not allow it to cripple you. I have chosen to allow my success to speak for me and I think it pays in the long-term.
- Trusting non-founders to carry out your vision.
One of the most complex challenges a young founder will realize is trusting others with your vision. This two-sided dragon is at play when founders can’t let go the reins to others or founders give too much authority too quickly to others. This is one of the greatest lessons a founder needs to learn and they need to learn it quickly. I remember hiring a non-founder and assuming that they were going to give just as much to the company as I was giving. These false narratives ruin relationships and can cause long-term challenges. And, unfortunately, there is no one equation to solving this problem. For example, I work with my best friends, but that doesn’t mean you should. It’s objectively evaluating the good, the bad, and the ugly that will save you down the road.
I have chosen to allow my success to speak for me and I think it pays in the long-term. Corey Briscoe
Jerome Knyszewski: We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this. 🙂
Corey Briscoe: I would choose Tyler Perry. I love a great self-made story. The guy went from sleeping in his car, to trying to fill auditoriums with his plays, to producing iconic films, to joining the elite ranks of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg as a billionaire entertainer. It’s his example of grit and tenacity that resounds so boldly with me. Even today, his passion for offering opportunities to others is exactly why I am passionate about entrepreneurship. I would love to sit down with him and understand what fuels him, how he deals with crushing blows, and how he stays out of his own way.
Jerome Knyszewski: What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?
Corey Briscoe: Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @ccbglobal. Check out ABCD & Company @abcdandcompany.
Jerome Knyszewski: This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!
