Entrepreneur, author, and innovation leader Felecia Hatcher — CEO of Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize and host of the So Ambitious podcast — is challenging a common startup mantra: that founders should “build in silence.”
Instead, she says founders should bring people along on their journey, sharing their why and creating meaningful narratives that attract supporters, customers, and community.
In a recent Instagram post, Hatcher stated that building quietly “in the dark” can leave entrepreneurs isolated and misunderstood.
“You think people know what you’re working on and most times they do not!” she wrote, urging founders to invite audiences into their process and purpose. Her message goes beyond simple marketing tactics — it’s about building connection and trust through storytelling.
In the accompanying video, Hatcher argues that keeping ideas hidden can deny a venture its most valuable asset: community support.
“Most times people have no idea what you’re doing … you have to create the village and the community,” she says, underscoring that storytelling creates the emotional affinity that drives people to care, and eventually buy.
Hatcher notes that entrepreneurs don’t have to reveal every detail of their intellectual property but should explain the value and problem they solve.
Her perspective stands in contrast to traditional advice that startups should keep plans secret to avoid competition — advice that appears in sources like Entrepreneur.com, which has promoted strategies for building in silence. Hatcher reframes visibility as strategic: letting supporters witness struggles and milestones can drive engagement and increase resilience by providing encouragement along the way.
Hatcher’s thoughts are shaped by her own entrepreneurial journey. A highly sought-after keynote speaker and strategist, she advises global companies including Google, Amazon, and Walmart on innovation, culture, and organizational performance — work that reflects her belief in transparent leadership and community building.
In addition to her corporate work, Hatcher leads Black Ambition, a nonprofit initiative that funds and supports underrepresented founders, particularly Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs, helping them scale and access funding that has historically been scarce in marginalized communities.
She also hosts the So Ambitious podcast, where she explores the journeys of diverse founders and highlights stories of perseverance and creative problem-solving.
Hatcher’s message resonates with many early-stage founders who feel isolated or unsure how to gain traction. Her core advice — sell the why, not the how — encourages entrepreneurs to share purpose and vision first, and the mechanics of execution later.
In a crowded digital marketplace, connecting emotionally with audiences early can be the difference between obscurity and support. As Hatcher’s philosophy suggests, entrepreneurship is not just about building products; it’s about creating stories that people want to be a part of.
