In today’s episode, join me on a trip to the unceded territory of the Sandia Pueblos in New Mexico. I’m sitting down with Vanessa Roanhorse to talk about the Indigenous worldview, how it might inform our approach to thinking in systems, and what exhausts her about being asked to show up as an Indigenous female entrepreneur and educator.

Vanessa Roanhorse (Diné) is the CEO of Roanhorse Consulting, an Indigenous woman-owned company that co-designs wealth and power-building efforts that invests in thoughtful community-led efforts that put people back in the center.

Vanessa is a co-founder of Native Women Lead, a national organization that lifts Indigenous women in business. She sits on the boards of Groundworks NM, Delta Institute, Zebras Unite and is an advisor to Angels of Impact Fund. She is a 2021 Paypal Maggie Lena Walker’s Emerging Leader Awardee and a 2020 Conscious Company Media’s World Changing Women in Sustainable Business Awardee. She is a 2021 Purpose Fund Building Fellow and a 2020 Boston Impact Initiative Fund-Building fellow.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why systems work needs to reimagine capitalism and resource management entirely
• How a worldview that includes a plurality of truths and experiences informs Vanessa’s approach to systems change
• Why individuals need to decenter themselves and work towards community impact
• The basic groundwork and education non-Indigenous people in America need to do
• What morning practice keeps Vanessa grounded

Learn More About Vanessa Roanhorse:

• Roanhorse Consulting
• Twitter: @VRRoanhorse
• Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn
• Instagram: @RoanhorseConsultingLLC

Learn More About Anika Horn:

• Website: www.socialventurers.com
• Instagram: SocialVenturers
• Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

• Leanne Simpson
• Indigenomics, Carol Anne Hilton
• UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Native Women Lead
• Common Future
• Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer