Meet Loren Cobbs | Culture Curator, Creative Communicator, and DE&I Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Loren Cobbs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Loren, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
That it’s all about innovation, now don’t get me wrong, innovation often leads to us breaking barriers. However, there is also real value, and a lot of time saved, by NOT recreating the wheel. You can learn a lot about your business by following some well-forged paths. Or, at least, learning from others’ experiences. Where did they fail and why? Where did they have breakout success and what did they do to get there? There are some areas of your business where you want to take the sage advice of people who’ve been where you are currently. And other’s where you want to push the envelope and try something new and innovative! The key is to identify the right time for each.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As the founder of SD Melanin I get to use my creative juices to design experiences that fosters connection and community among Black and brown professionals. Since 2017, we’ve been able to curate hundreds of in person and virtual events, bringing together over ten thousand professionals. In that time we’ve been able to introduce members of our community to their next best friend, business partner, and even lifelong partner. And we’ve brought over half a million of revenue to SoCal while doing so!

There are so many lessons I would tell my younger self as she got this business started. First, trust the process. Nothing great comes easy, but it’ll certainly be worth it. You can’t compare yourself to everyone and expect yourself to have the same journey as others. Certainly try to learn from others, but don’t expect to have the same journey as them. Your story is yours.
Second, enlist help early. In today’s world entrepreneurs are expected to run their business, a staff, a social media strategy, and so much more. Share the load! Get a team who can help you bring your vision to life in all the many ways you’ll need it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love venice beach, Korean food from K town, and tacos in west hollywood!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate this shoutout to Gen-zers who are rewriting how we view the world, activism, and accountability.

Website: www.sdmelanin.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sdmelanin/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorencobbs/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SDMelanin/

Image Credits
Tchanavia Lastie