In this episode of The Business Gay Podcast, host Calan Breckon speaks with Founder and CEO of Virtual Gurus, Bobbie Racette.
Bobbie is a Cree-Metis 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneur with an unmatched ability to drive change and empower historically underrepresented communities through equitable remote work opportunities. Her passion has created a community of diverse talents where "no" is not an option.
Virtual Gurus is North America’s Largest Talent-place platform that harnesses the power of machine learning to match freelancers with businesses of all sizes. Bobbie was named Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year 2022, EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist 2023, and has been bestowed the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year award by the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business 2023. She is also the inaugural Chair of the Board of Directors for the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation and a board member of the Telus Future Friendly Foundation.
I’d like to acknowledge that this episode was recorded on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We Honour the nations who have called Toronto home and encourage you to learn more with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at NCTR.ca.
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Key Takeaways for quick navigation:
- [00:02:57] Bobbie Racette discusses leveraging her identity as an Indigenous, queer woman to build Virtual Gurus, using her unique perspective to drive success despite initial reluctance.
- [00:03:23] Initially, Racette shied away from her identity but embraced it after realizing the importance of representation, leading to significant company growth.
- [00:06:27] Racette shares her lifelong struggle with confidence, highlighting a pivotal moment where she took control of her company back from a hired CEO, boosting her self-belief.
- [00:08:10] Facing rejection from 170 investors, Racette decided to embrace her full identity in business, which became a turning point for Virtual Gurus.
- [00:11:37] Racette finds motivation from the stories of her virtual assistants, including a trans woman who found acceptance and success through Virtual Gurus.
- [00:16:38] She emphasizes the importance of mental health, work-life balance, and creating a healthy work environment, sharing her own journey of weight loss and balance.
- [00:16:38] Racette credits her company’s success to a dedicated and driven team, highlighting key hires that contributed to the company's growth and strategic planning.
- [00:10:19] She discusses the power of vulnerability in leadership, sharing that being open about her story helped attract a supportive community and inspired others.
- [00:21:26] Racette highlights the importance of mentorship and the support she received from programs like EY Winning Woman and the International Women's Fellowship.
- [00:23:54] Virtual Gurus is preparing for a Series B funding round, with Racette focusing on ensuring the company’s metrics tell a strong growth story before fully launching the round.
