RESET with Tonya Podcast By Tonya J. Long cover art

RESET with Tonya

RESET with Tonya

By: Tonya J. Long
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 Ready to thrive in a world of unprecedented change? Each week, RESET brings you conversations that matter with visionaries, innovators, and bold reinventors who are redefining what's possible in work and life. We're tackling the big shifts in work, technology, longevity, and purpose – not just with theory, but with battle-tested strategies and authentic stories. Whether you're navigating career transitions, embracing new technologies, or seeking deeper meaning, RESET delivers the roadmap and community you need to transform challenges into opportunities.Tonya J. Long Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Airstreams, Shoes, & Startups: A Silicon Valley Story of Success through Service

    Airstreams, Shoes, & Startups: A Silicon Valley Story of Success through Service
    May 27 2025

    What happens when your career path zigzags across continents, disciplines, and roles? In this enlightening conversation, Keshia Theobald-van Gent reveals how her unconventional journey from Middle America to Laos, the Netherlands, and ultimately Silicon Valley shaped her distinct approach to venture capital.


    Named a 2025 Woman of Influence, Keshia shares how studying conflict, religion, and globalization — plus a chance meeting with her future husband — led her through roles in international development, AmeriCorps service, educational entrepreneurship, and eventually to her current position as Vice President at BDev Ventures. "The through line is probably a combination of service and learning," she explains, illuminating how these core values drive her work investing in B2B software companies at the late Series B to Series C stages.


    The conversation explores how Keshia's founder experience provides her with deeper empathy for entrepreneurs, allowing her to ask different questions than colleagues with traditional finance backgrounds. "I've cried those tears," she admits, describing her approach to giving honest, constructive feedback to founders, even when the answer is no. Her insights on navigating different company cultures reveal how her global experiences trained her to quickly adapt to varied systems and organizational dynamics.


    Beyond professional insights, Keshia and host Tonya Long discover delightful personal connections through their shared love of Airstreams, CrossFit, and comfortable yet uniquely stylish shoes. Their candid discussion about women's evolving roles in tech and venture capital highlights how Silicon Valley's culture has matured over the past decade, creating more opportunities for diverse leadership styles.


    Connect with Keshia on LinkedIn to learn more about her investment approach and how BDev Ventures provides systematic value to portfolio companies through their unique lead generation tools and operational expertise.


    CONNECT WITH KESHIA 🥿 👢👡

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keshia/

    • BDev Ventures: https://www.bdevventures.com/


    CONNECT WITH RESET 🎙️

    • Podcast: https://reset-podcast.com

    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyajlong-RESET

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonya

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resetwithtonya

    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570923056203#

    • Email: tonya@reset-podcast.com

    • Text us: https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2446338/open_sms


    CONNECT WITH TONYA 🚊

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyajlong

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyajlong

    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonya.j.long


    Check out my bestselling book, "AI and the New Oz: Leadership’s Journey to the Future of Work" [https://a.co/d/10u3wGf] available on Amazon. Go to the "AI and the New Oz" website to learn more at https://www.ai-and-the-new-oz.com/!#thejourneyisthejob.
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    58 mins
  • Dollhouses, Downshifts, and the Role of Resilience in Transformation

    Dollhouses, Downshifts, and the Role of Resilience in Transformation
    May 19 2025
    What does it take to go from hauling water buckets in Nigeria to structuring billion-dollar deals on Wall Street to launching a cutting-edge venture capital fund? Belinda Ephraim's journey embodies a masterclass in resilience, strategic reinvention, and challenging conventional wisdom. Growing up in Nigeria as the eldest of six children, Belinda's childhood was defined by both privilege and profound challenge. Sent to boarding school at age 10, she learned self-sufficiency by farming her own plot of land and carrying ten-gallon water containers when supplies ran short. These early experiences forged a resilience that would become her superpower through life's unexpected twists. When political turmoil forced her family to flee Nigeria and seek asylum in America, Belinda's world changed overnight. From attending private school on her family's dime, she suddenly had to drop out of university and work three jobs at a Marriott hotel to support herself and help her parents. Rather than surrendering to circumstances, she strategically consolidated three positions within the same company and eventually pivoted to wealth management where CNBC sparked her fascination with investment banking. The most compelling segment of our conversation challenges popular startup mythology. Drawing from her experience structuring over $37 billion in M&A deals and now raising$50 million for her deep tech venture fund TENSEUR Capital, Belinda boldly asserts that "venture capital is wrong for 90% of startups." She brilliantly illuminates why through the Atlassian case study – explaining how the company operated for eight years, reaching $58 million in revenue before taking venture money, allowing the founding team to maintain 75% ownership at IPO. Whether you're building a business, navigating a career transition, or simply searching for inspiration, Belinda's story reminds us that our greatest strength often emerges from our deepest challenges. Subscribe, share, and join us next week for another transformative conversation on Reset with Tonya. CONNECT WITH BELINDA 🌍 • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindaephraim/• NEO Industrialist Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ta9xGMeApvsnHshcdag44?si=97673b6fdf7247a0 CONNECT WITH RESET 🎙️ • Podcast: https://reset-podcast.com• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyajlong-RESET• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonya• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resetwithtonya• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570923056203#• Email: tonya@reset-podcast.com• Text us: https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2446338/open_sms CONNECT WITH TONYA 🚊 • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyajlong• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyajlong• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonya.j.longCheck out my bestselling book, "AI and the New Oz: Leadership’s Journey to the Future of Work [https://a.co/d/10u3wGf]available on Amazon. Go to the "AI and the New Oz" website to learn more at https://www.ai-and-the-new-oz.com/!#thejourneyisthejob
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    59 mins
  • From Circuits to Self-Love: An Engineer's Journey Through Loss & Transformation

    From Circuits to Self-Love: An Engineer's Journey Through Loss & Transformation
    May 9 2025
    What if the path to genuine happiness doesn't require adding anything to your life, but instead releasing what no longer serves you?Justin Wenck, PhD — former Intel leader turned emotional wellness expert — reveals how his journey through crippling depression launched him into an unexpected career helping others navigate their emotional landscapes. With disarming candor and gentle humor, Justin shares how traditional success left him feeling empty until personal crisis forced him to explore meditation, yoga, and a completely different relationship with himself."In any loss, there's so much to be gained," Justin explains, offering a refreshing perspective on life's difficult transitions. Whether discussing job loss, relationship endings, or even the death of loved ones, he illuminates how these painful experiences create space for profound growth and new possibilities. His engineering background brings a unique analytical approach to emotional intelligence, making complex psychological concepts accessible even to the most logical minds.The conversation takes fascinating turns as Justin and host Tonya explore the liberation that comes from releasing rigid identities, finding your authentic tribe, and the surprising power of curiosity as a pathway to joy. For listeners feeling trapped by success or struggling with transitions, Justin offers a simple yet transformative three-part breathing practice that can create immediate shifts in emotional state.Perhaps most compelling is Justin's vision for technology as our servant rather than our master. "The role of technology should be to serve us however we desire, period," he states with refreshing clarity, challenging listeners to reclaim their agency in an increasingly digital world.Whether you're navigating loss, seeking greater emotional balance, or simply curious about different paths to fulfillment, this episode offers practical wisdom and heartfelt inspiration. CONNECT WITH JUSTIN 🎤Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/787193LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/justinwenckphd/ "Engineered to Love" book: https://www.engineeredtolove.com/Website: https://www.emotionsengineering.com/CONNECT WITH RESET 🎙️ Podcast: https://reset-podcast.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tonyajlong-RESETLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reset-with-tonya Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/resetwithtonyaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570923056203# Email: tonya@reset-podcast.com Text us: https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2446338/open_sms CONNECT WITH TONYA 🚊 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonyajlong Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonyajlong Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonya.j.longCheck out my bestselling book, "AI and the New Oz: Leadership’s Journey to the Future of Work" [https://a.co/d/10u3wGf] available on Amazon. Go to the "AI and the New Oz" website to learn more at https://www.ai-and-the-new-oz.com/!#thejourneyisthejob
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    56 mins
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