Alumnus Uses Platform to Inspire Change Through Meaningful Conversation
Name: Gibran Mims
Current Position: Creator & Host of the Speak Your Mind podcast
Major: Management, Entrepreneurship Specialization
Graduation Year: 2020
San Diego State University alumnus Gibran Mims always had a goal to one day be his own boss. “I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Back in high school, I taught myself how to cut hair. This is something I continued throughout my journey at SDSU.”
While at SDSU, Mims, who comes from a family of Aztecs, focused on studying business entrepreneurship at the Fowler College of Business to help him get closer to achieving his goal. “Both my parents are alumni of SDSU, so when I got accepted, I knew SDSU was where I wanted to go.”
Now, a recent SDSU grad, Mims accomplished what he set out to do. He is the creator and host of Speak Your Mind, a video podcast series and community focused on inspiring change by amplifying the voices of the GenZ generation. Speak Your Mind focuses on hosting meaningful conversations surrounding race, equity, and various topics taking place in America today in hopes to strengthen community understanding and allow for growth, together.
He created the idea for Speak Your Mind during his junior year at SDSU. “It was an idea that came up in a conversation one evening when I was in my ‘in-home barbershop’ talking with my fellow Aztecs.” To date, he has officially recorded and produced 14 episodes and just secured a new partnership with a Bay Area high school district to bring these topics and conversations to schools and students directly.
Mims hopes to continue to make an impact by bringing about awareness of the perspective of the GenZ generation. “I feel like if our generation continues to come together and use our voices, then we can see the changes we want to see in our lifetime.”
He shares his story and inspiration for change, discusses how his SDSU experience impacted his journey, and offers advice for future entrepreneurs.
Q: Describe yourself and your SDSU journey.
I grew up in Seattle, Washington. Both my parents are alumni of SDSU, so when I got accepted, I knew SDSU was where I wanted to go.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Back in high school, I taught myself how to cut hair. This is something I continued throughout my journey at SDSU. Beginning in the dorms as a freshman, all the way through my senior year, it was a big way that I met a lot of people and found my community.
I decided to major in entrepreneurship because I’ve always had a goal that one day I want to “be my own boss.” While I do believe, as an entrepreneur, there’s a lot of things that you have to learn from real-world experience, I thought that the opportunity to get a degree focusing on business and entrepreneurship could help me get closer to achieving my goal.
Gibran started the podcast his junior year at SDSU.
Q: Describe the podcast, its purpose, and how the platform was created.
Speak Your Mind is a platform I created for individuals in my generation to share their perspectives about matters taking place in America today. Speak Your Mind aims to relate, inspire, and raise awareness through meaningful conversation.
Following the racial injustices that took place in 2020, conversations have been largely focused on racial equality and social justice because I felt like these topics are what we need to continue focusing on right now.
This podcast was created during my junior year at SDSU. It was an idea that came up in a conversation one evening when I was in my ‘in-home barbershop’ talking with my fellow Aztecs, Christian Holt and Kevin Davison. Earlier episodes were recorded in my in-home barbershop. The quality of episodes and my skills as a host weren’t as good as they are today, but you have to start somewhere, and I can appreciate seeing the growth from where I started.
Q: What motivated or inspired you to amplify the perspectives and experiences of your generation?
I’m inspired to use my platform to amplify the voices of my generation because I want to honor the leaders that have come before me. When it’s all said and done, I want to know that I did my best to make an impact and inspire my community.
I think there’s a huge need for these conversations to be had, now more than ever. Everyone has a unique perspective on the world, and these perspectives should be shared. By amplifying these experiences, I think it will help those who may not have access to certain perspectives or struggles to better understand and be more empathic to realities that may not be their own. This is what leads to real change.
Q: What are some examples of topics covered in the podcast, and why is it important to cover and share GenZ perspectives on these topics?
Episodes have consisted of topics such as: Being a Black Student at SDSU, Fighting Racial Inequality, Oppressive American ‘Norms,’ Defunding the Police, Being a Black Student Body President, and more!
It’s important to share these topics from the perspective of GenZ because GenZ is the future! I feel like if our generation continues to come together and use our voices, then we can see the changes we want to see in our lifetime.
Q: What do you hope people get out of listening to the Speak Your Mind podcast?
People who watch or listen to Speak Your Mind will get access to a new perspective. Since the goal of Speak Your Mind platform is to inspire change, I strive to make sure that each episode ends in the direction of “how do we move forward to inspire these changes?”
Q: What is the most important thing you’ve learned while launching this podcast and hosting these important conversations?
The most important thing I’ve learned is that you have to “Find your ‘why?’” Once I understood my “why?”, I no longer second-guessed myself.
Q: Are there any future plans for the podcast you are most excited about?
I recently got the opportunity to partner with the Tamalpais Union High School District to host a 4-part podcast series with students discussing issues around race and equity. When I first created Speak Your Mind, I never imagined opportunities, but now I see a whole new lane for myself, and I’m excited to see where it leads me.
Q: Do you have any mentors or people you aspire to be like?
Someone I aspire to be like, in my own way, is the late Nipsey Hussle. Although we had different upbringings, I was always inspired by his entrepreneurial mindset of being self-made, investing in himself, and treating life like a marathon. “The Marathon Continues.”
Gibran graduated from the Fowler College of Business in the Spring of 2020
Q: Are there specific skills you learned at SDSU (in class or otherwise) that have helped you launch your career?
The most impactful class I took at SDSU was Business Plan Development (MGT 460) with Professor Ahsan. We got the hands-on experience of creating and launching a business (not a real business but some groups actually continued developing their ideas after the class was done).
Professor Ahsan is truly invested in seeing his students be successful. After graduating, I’ve continued seeking his advice, and he gave me the initial idea of bringing these race & equity conversations into schools.
I would really encourage students to meet as many people as they can, get out of their comfort zones, and seek advice from professors who want to see you be truly successful in your career. If I were to do it again, I would’ve got more involved on campus and used more SDSU resources while I was there (although I don’t regret anything).
Also, I would say to students, understand that it’s okay to not always be comfortable because that’s where real growth takes place.
Q: What advice do you have for SDSU students looking to launch their own businesses?
Find your why.
Q: How can people stay connected and engage with Speak Your Mind?
Follow the podcast on Instagram @thespeakyourmindpodcast, where I post weekly “Community Questions.” This is a new thing I started with this platform, and it’s been an amazing way to engage with my generation and hear various perspectives on various ideas.
Also, you can subscribe to the YouTube channel: The Speak Your Mind Podcast or listen to episodes on all podcast platforms: The Speak Your Mind Podcast.
