CHRIS LYONS
IN CONVERSATION WITH…Christopher M. Lyons
Partner, Andreesen Horowitz
“My whole life is a mantra.”
If tech pioneer KEN COLEMAN and music legend QUINCY JONES drafted the blueprint of success at the intersection of innovation and creativity, then Chris Lyons is an eager architect ready to build a masterpiece. As the lead of the a16z Cultural Leadership Fund at Andreessen Horowitz, Lyons, 31, works to connect great cultural leaders to new technology companies and enable more African Americans to enter the tech industry. And while many would bet that Lyons’ would be Mr. VC, at every event, on every speaking stage and magazine feature, he’d rather spend his time diving into the latest TD Jakes book on Audible or listening to senior colleagues discuss the merits of one opportunity over another.
“Being in an industry where I know I’m not the expert, keeps me on this search for learning and being true to myself. I know I’m not the expert but I’m becoming the expert,” says Lyons.
It’s this sense of curiosity and hunger for knowledge that has Lyons making some serious moves, like advising Sean “Diddy” Combs, Shonda Rhimes, Will, and Jada Smith, Quincy Jones, Kevin Durant, Chance the Rapper, Nasir Jones, Will Packer, and more.
We caught up with Lyons to download on venture capital, navigating the Silicon Valley culture, and his hustle. But what we discussed for 54 minutes, wasn’t the latest IPO or tech innovation. Instead, ICON MANN’s Amy Elisa Jackson dug into how mantras, meditation, and meaningful interactions are at the core of this young innovator’s approach to life. Read on and be inspired to “be strong in [your] actions.”
I AM
Son
Brother
Friend
Visionary
When I was young, my mom always told me to be ‘honest, open and direct.’ That is something that has always been key to my life. Growing up, my parents did the best they could, but at the same time, they weren’t rock stars. They made us feel like we had everything and they provided opportunities for us. Another important part of my upbringing was spirituality and the ability to see everything through a spiritual lens.
I have two younger brothers and I’m the eldest. I have always wanted to set the mark and set the tone. But like most siblings, my brothers and I can be in a love/hate relationships. Growing up, I was really hard on them because I knew what we had to do. I knew the opportunities that we had and how important it was that we made it. Even now, I still know that if I don’t tell them the truth, who will?
What defines me is what my intentions are. I always want to have a level of intention behind everything I do. Looking back on my professional work and my family, I’ve always defined myself by my intentions and how much impact I can have on the world. It’s not always about me or what I can do, or what I bring to the table. Rather, it’s about how can what I do be magnified through others. We all have 24 hours in a day, and each of us can do something small or take action to really help change the world. I always ask myself ‘What are those meaningful moments and places where I can really make a difference?’ Whether that’s the transfer of information or the transfer of motivation, I am no different than anyone else; I have just always had a certain level of drive and interest to be the best in what I do. I am okay taking the long route. I am okay taking a route that allows me to have a 10x different. At the end of the day, I always think about the values that I grew up on and the humility that my family raised me with, but also the ability to have a modicum of free spirit, connect free spirit to accompany that humility.
Photo Credit: Ashleigh Reddy @stayreddy (for ICON MANN)
CULTURAL LEADERSHIP at ANDREESEN-HOROWITZ
I am fortunate enough to work with some of the greatest people in the world. So if I think I’m doing my thing, it’s really easy to get put in my place real quick. That’s a blessing for me to have an opportunity to work with them in an industry that I didn’t grow up in. That’s one of the things that really does keep me humble. Being in an industry where I know I’m not the expert, keeps me on this search for learning and being true to myself. I know I’m not the expert but I’m becoming the expert. MARC ANDREESEN created the internet browser, you know what I mean?! I’m still thankful and I’m more appreciative. Then that makes me work harder and share some of the things I’m learning with those I love. For example, my brother came to town this weekend for a speaking event I was doing. With me being in this industry and seeing how things work, I’m telling him exactly how it is and what I’m learning about how to navigate challenges because if I don’t tell him, no one else will.
THE OUTLIER
I’ve always loved going into industries where I’m the one percent. I started off as a music engineer because I knew there were a lot less music engineers than producers, even though I love production. Engineering was how I could get in the door, so I did that. I became a music engineer for JERMAINE DUPRI. On the side now, I have my own wine business and I have an Italian sparkling red called Lambrusco. I’ve always wanted to get into the wine industry because I didn’t feel like there was enough African-American representation and our voices being heard on the wine. Now I’m in the tech industry. There is a lot of opportunity for our voices to be heard and to have meaningful conversations. If I can focus on really doing the job right, then everything else can move the needle. For example, the speaking engagements I’m doing them now and then, but you have to remember that those things don’t really move the needle. They can help spread the message, but the only thing that’s going to keep you going and give you the opportunity to give back to other people is the work itself.
LYON’S WINES & LAMBRUSCO
I have been wanting to get into the wine business for the last 10 years, and my interest actually started when I was serving tables in college in Atlanta. Where I grew up in the South, I didn’t know what good wine really tasted like. So when I moved to California, I really got the chance to experience what high-quality wine was. I wanted to be able to share that quality with everyone. I looked at Italian wine because everyone knows French wine for being the gold standard, but no one knows that Italian wine is just as special. Also, when you think about some of the biggest bands that we all gravitate towards, they happen to be Italian or French brands, like LVMH. So I went out of my way to make wine with an Italian band and when I thought about the varietal, I wanted to start with this great. I fell in love with Lambrusco because it’s an Italian, sparkling red wine. It is elevated above, in my opinion, a rosé or a prosecco, but it’s also different that many people have never experienced before. Even though it used to be popular in the ‘60s and ‘70s, many people have never heard of it but those how have will have that fondness and recognition. I know that if I focus on growing the brand, that people will love it. And if they love it, I can bank on that trust to give them the next brand and the next because we built that trust. I want to create a lineage of high-quality products at affordable luxury prices to ultimately bring to every consumer's home.
“I’ve come to this place where I just want to be quiet and learn. Once I’ve done that, I can be strong in my actions.”
THE GODFATHER, KEN COLEMAN
He’s the Godfather. He was Ben Horowitz’s mentor when he first got into Silicon Valley and then by default of being Ben’s Chief of Staff I got a chance to have an extremely great relationship with him. We’re also Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brothers as well. He’s helped show me so much in the industry. And even though I am now in the venture capital industry fully, I’ve come to this place where I just want to be quiet and learn. Then once I’ve done that, I can be strong in my actions. I have had the opportunity to build with amazing people on personal levels, which has been extremely important. There are so many people that I look up to and want to model pieces of their life, how they operate and navigate.
“How you think about things is how the world comes to you.”
LAW OF ATTRACTION
You have to become a magnet for good to come into your life and not be swayed when bad things happen. Everything happens for a reason and those are my internal charges. Of course, I work hard, but there is a difference between working hard and then working hard and seeing things manifest. The mindset you have charges up all of the other parts of your life. So taking that 10 or 15 minutes each day really matters because you’re getting connected to that most special part inside of you that really fuels everything else that will happen that day. The spirit moves everything. I’ve always tried to practice that as a kid and even now. Looking back, I did vision boards when I was a kid and to see those things starting to come together proves that it works.
WELLNESS
I do yoga and meditate every morning so I either use the Headspace app or I have my own meditation music to keep myself focused and in the zone. I love to work out and the beauty of wearables is now being able to measure your performance and keep track of my steps. Hitting the track or working out are things I always try to do. I feel like as long as I get my workout and my meditation in the morning, then the world can have me for the rest of the day.
I’ve been practicing yoga for over 10 years after I learned from Russell Simmons. I began reading all of his books and I became a vegetarian, so I just try to keep my karma as high as possible, because I do balance it out in my day-to-day life. My whole life mantra is ‘Thoughts are things.’ So anything that you think, you can really turn it into reality with enough belief, power and action.
As I was growing up, I had certain affirmations that I’d repeat to myself while I was waiting tables in college or studying. I’d say ‘I am healthy, young, strong, powerful and happy.’ Repeating that to myself and thinking about that for 10-to-15-minutes is powerful. I believe in subconscious thinking. How you think about things is how the world comes to you.
THE MOTIVATION
You’ll never know until you’ve already done it. I try to lead by example. BISHOP TD JAKES mentions that you don’t know what you’re doing because you don’t see it; you’re the last one to see it. It’s hard to tell if you’re being successful. However, if what you’re doing is meaningful, then you’ll know you’re making an impact. When I think about the opportunities I’ve been afforded and how I can really give back, I think it starts with me doing the best I can in this industry and in this space so that when someone talented wants to come in, I can help with that vouch. I can help open the door and be a positive example.
“I always ask myself ‘What are those meaningful moments and places where I can really make a difference?’”
THE MEDITATION
It’s interesting because I know both sides: I know what it’s like to want to be out front, to be loud, to be seen and heard. I know what it’s like to have fun and be the life of the party. However, I’m the most external introvert you’ll ever meet. There’s something about just being quiet, in a space alone — I love it. At the end of the day, I have found that whenever I get too big, that there’s always a high chance of me messing up. It’s like the scene in American Gangster when Denzel Washington wears the fur hat and fur coat. Too big can lead to messing up. In 2019, there needs to be this balance between the two. You cannot be too quiet because then no one will know what you’re doing. But if you get too big, that’s when you get blown up. You cannot believe your own stunt.
LEGACY
I feel like I’ve only got one shot. If you look at our parents and their parents and their parents, legacy takes on new meaning. I recently watched the PBS documentary Boss: The Black Experience in Business, and it shed a whole new light. No one knows what all of those people did and what vision they had for the future, but they brought so much into the world and allowed me to have the spirit I have today. Everybody is taking incremental steps for the greater ecosystem and to think about where they came from, their struggle and the efforts to get us to this point — that is legacy.
My dad always said, ‘I’m working so that you can just pick up where I left off and see the things that I never got the chance to see and do the things I never got to do.’ I always really admired that about both my mom, my dad, and my grandparents. With me being the oldest of my brothers and my cousins, I’ve always wanted to do the best I can so that I can open doors for them to create introductions and experiences in life.
That’s what the Cultural Leadership Fund is — it is a legacy, an opportunity to create legacy. The CLF is an opportunity to create a platform and pipelines for people who traditionally wouldn’t have had opportunities into technology to now experience what this world is on another level.
I want that of my family as well; that’s what I work for. Obviously the experience is great, but I am doing all of this for a bigger picture, for my legacy.
THE READ is THE LISTEN
I’m listening to so many books right now
Crushing, Fooled by Randomness (TD Jakes)
The Weight of Glory (C.S. Lewis)
Blockbusters (Anita Elberse)
5 ESSENTIALS
Lyons’ Wines Lambrusco.
Comme Des Garcon clothing. “I just love it because it feels relaxed but also shows that I have a bit of style. It falls in line with who I am — I just want to be simple. I don’t want to be overly flashy, but I also want to feel like I’m coming in right.”
Audible. “I love my Audible. I love Audible because I’m always moving and I’ve trained myself to hear first then see because of being in the music industry. I consume so much information while I’m walking and while I’m on the go. I can’t live without my Audible.
“Victory Lap” by NIPSEY HUSSLE. “Listening to it always gets me in a good mood and feeling patient.”
Headspace app.
Cover image by Jaimie Milner @jmilner
