Do you like innovation? Do you believe in the creative spirit? Do you like entrepreneurship? Yes? Then you will surely enjoy this week’s Spotlight. We had the pleasure to chat with Tristan Walker, a Silicon Valley ‘darling’ as well as (more importantly) a Dad. After doing some amazing things at Foursquare, Tristan became an Entrepreneur In Residence at Andreessen Horowitz, where he had the opportunity to create his own company, Walker & Company, a health and beauty brand for people of color. So let’s talk Fatherhood, Family and Beauty with an inspiring man named Tristan Walker…
You are a relatively “new” Dad on the scene, how’s it all going?
Being a dad is one of the most amazing feelings in the world. I love everything about it and I’m blessed to be able to raise such an amazing child.
Talk to us about what it means to be a Dad.
As a dad, I’m always on, 24/7 and I love every second of it. It means no PTO and no sabbaticals. It’s about unconditional love. It’s about releasing of the ego. It’s about empathy. Being a dad has simply made me a better husband, friend, and colleague. He’s the best thing to happen to me.
Thus far, what’s the one thing you cannot live without as a Dad?
Every night, I read a bedtime story and then sing songs to my son Avery before putting him to bed. That moment when his eyes are wide open staring right at me with a little smile on his face….I couldn’t live without that. It’s just the best.
Here at Hip Daddy, we are inspired by creativity and the entrepreneurial spirit. Tell us about Walker & Company Brands. What’s the latest and what’s on the horizon?
Our vision is to build the world’s most consumer-centric health & beauty products company. We want to completely reinvent the way our community learns about, purchases and enjoys health and beauty products. We’ll continue doing this by developing, designing and testing products and services specifically tailored to our community’s needs, and delivering on the promise of great customer service and a simple shopping experience.
Grooming is a Hip Daddy Must. We are loving the idea of Bevel. How did you take it from a “needed” idea to a realized consumer product?
I was able to hire the best team in the world to help me execute. Seriously, they’re fantastic. Fortunately, we have an incredibly diverse team that represents the customers we hope to serve. We keep each other honest and accountable for the product decisions we make on behalf of our customers. That accountability has helped to build great products quickly and efficiently.
Tell us about your own personal style.
I would say that my style is classic and consistent.
How do you manage the demands of being a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur with those responsibilities back on the home front?
Faith, Family, Work…in that order. I’m able to manage the demands of being an entrepreneur because of such an amazing family that I can count on for support and inspiration.
Follow Tristan on Twitter here, and get in the know about Bevel here.
