An Interview with Teresa Brown

As we began the interview, mom was putting on her hoops ready to start the day. Taking care of grandma, she didn’t seem tired. As a newly retired person, being a caregiver is serving her well. But today is all about learning Teresa, the woman elected the first time she ran for public office, the former city employee who began her career in the mayor’s office and now an investor with EVOS.

Pamela: Have you ever participated in an investment company or firm?

Teresa: No

Pamela: What made you decide EVOS was the right business for you to invest in?

Teresa: It was something new for me and the way that it was presented really made me decide this may be the right company to go forward in my life with. I could have went a different route with another investment company but I decided on this company, the presentation and the way it was presented.

Pamela: Continuing with that question, the way it was presented, has your viewpoint or feelings about the company or the investment, do you feel it was a good decision for you?

Teresa: Yes, I think EVOS is going to go somewhere. It takes time like everything else. You can’t get big overnight. I think this company is going to go far. I don’t question what I’ve done, it’s just having the patience and giving it time to grow.

Pamela: Prior to EVOS you worked for the City of Pittsburgh for over 30 years. You’ve held a few different roles with the city. What advice would you have from your perspective for our organization? 

Teresa: Have patience. Patience is a virtue. Nothing comes overnight. You can’t get wealthy overnight. You have to hang in there. Put some input in. Make sure that you guide yourself and have the strength to put more effort into the company to help it get to where it needs to go.

Pamela: How do you think your work for the city has or will affect how you have and can participate in EVOs long term? Has it prepared you for this next stage?

Teresa: No, they are two different things. The city is old, this is new. Two different types of organizations. EVOS is an investment trying to grow, similar to working with the city where you’re trying to grow with the company. That’s about the same, but it’s different in the sense of investing your money into something you know sooner or later will progress. Working for the city you’re on hands and outside sweeping and mopping where EVOS you’re investing more time and having more patience in a company you want to see succeed. You want to see yourself  succeed in anything you do, even a job. Working for the city helped me build my patience because I did not have any patience. I was too busy trying to rush. Now I can step back and have patience. Nothing comes overnight.

Pamela: You made a lot of good points. Patience is definitely a virtue. I think sometimes during the wait we have to keep reassessing ourselves and trying to get us to this point of okay we are doing this. We are trying to get there and what is it going to take? Taking little steps everyday to try to get us to the overall goal. If we can do this, this will happen. Writing a little bit everyday. Reading to retain information that could be useful and relevant to the company. One question is how do we do that collectively? It’s one of those things where like you said, working for the city has helped you develop patience. Being there for a long time, seeing the changes that have happened, fairly or unjustly, whichever way that works in a company is learning dedication. That’s a really good thing which leads to the next question:

We know women in business is interesting business. You’ve worked and dealt with many challenges, especially in your chosen field. The field you were in is not dominated by women. How do you think those experiences shape who you are as an investor and venture capitalist?

Teresa: It made me a better person. I see it from both ends because I worked with nothing but men. I see how the men’s part of it became and I‘ve seen how the women’s part of it became. You have to have tough skin when working with and dealing with nothing but men. You have to focus on keeping your relationship when working with men on a professional level and never taking it outside of that. It shapes itself up very well. I had more patience. Like Steve Harvey said, think like a man.

Pamela: Every field should be open to both men and women. Just because it’s dominated with one gender doesn’t mean there isn’t room for the other gender to be there. Everybody is equipped with that balance. Feminine energy and masculine energy. It’s about finding that balance and how best those energies work together. I see what you’re saying about keeping it professional. That’s a very real point, especially where you were working. You stayed the course and dealt with it as best as you can. That’s a great thing. 

I will slow down here. Let’s talk about some of your background experiences as a person. You have four children. All of them are different. Transitions from then to now. What do you think about  having three daughters and one son?

Teresa: You have to put your mindset to their dad was there. Now you’re a single parent and you have to do both roles. It’s kind of hard when you’re trying to hold down a job. It was all about the kids. I wanted my kids to not be on welfare so this is what I had to do. I had to get a job and try to maintain my household. I had to keep everybody happy. Kids always argue. Sisters and brothers this is what they do. Nobody is going to see eye to eye. Even at EVOS. Everything has to work itself together. It was hard. 

I was a constable and that changed me a little bit because I learned about the law. They say ignorance to the law is no excuse. We have to know the roles of police and how to present yourself when you’re stopped. I had to learn how to adjust myself. I’m going home so it’s me or them. When I had to arrest people or take people downtown, I would tell them I’m a woman, I’m going home so we can do this the easy way or the hard way. I had no issues. I only had to pull my gun once and I pray I would never have to do that again. In saying that, investing in a company is a challenge. We don’t know if we will be here today or tomorrow. I did it with four kids, yes, I was married and divorced. While I worked, my twin’s dad helped take care of my kids while I worked because he didn’t want me to lose my job. We take it day by day.

Pamela: Name one thing you have done exceptionally well and why. 

Teresa: Raise my kids to be who they are today. They respect the elderly, they respect people, they respect each other and they make me proud. That’s the one thing I can say that was done.

Pamela: You were an elected constable in your previous ward/district for a long time. Can you tell me what it felt like for you as a woman elected to serve your community in a role which really was the first form of law enforcement?

Teresa: It was scary. I didn’t think I was going to win but I did. A lot of people respected me and liked me. It was something different. I always wanted to be in law enforcement. That’s why I studied criminology and criminal justice. I went to college and  have two degrees. Similar things but they play different roles.I came from a family with police officers and it was always interesting to me in the life that they chose and why. I would still be a constable today, but things came along that discouraged me. I don’t want to get into that. I want to be a constable again. Depending on the future.

Pamela: It’s a great accomplishment. It’s something you can do right now. Build a relationship with the magisterial district in that area. You can be deputized and still do that job.

Teresa: I’m thinking about looking into that. I haven’t seen that many over here. I might want to keep it going, but I don’t know.

Pamela: You earned a degree in criminology and criminal justice. How have those experiences and your other law enforcement experiences shape who you are today? Do you find yourself still assessing people?

Teresa: Everybody assesses people and feel them out. I’m a little more alert. Sometimes I second guess myself around people. When you engage in an argument with someone it gives your more insight, where am I going with this? How do you not escalate it anymore? I’ve learned how to diffuse a situation. I’ve learned to look good walking away. It teaches you a lot. It also says something as far as my kids, whatever you think you can’t do you can do. Never let someone tell you, you can’t do this or you can’t do that. When I started going to college my dad told me you won’t finish college. I wanted to prove him wrong. Once I graduated and received my associates, my dad said you know I said that to push you, to make sure you went through college. I knew that’s why he did it. To help me along. My kids are following in my footsteps, not all the kids are following in my footsteps, but they have been to college and they have good jobs and everybody makes me proud.

Pamela: As a newly retired person, how are you allocating time? What have you been able to do for yourself? 

Teresa: Right now I’m taking care of my mom. Trying to help her get the care that she needs. I plan on going on a trip in a couple months. Taking a vacation for a week or so and trying to get myself together. I’m in no hurry.

Pamela: What role do you play in your family structure today? 

Teresa: I still play my mother role. That is never going to leave my instincts. I hope I play the role of people looking at me saying she did it, I can do it. 

Pamela: We all look to those examples rather it’s our parents, other relatives, just looking to see how everyone has lived their lives, found enjoyment in their lives and been intentional with their lives. Overcoming challenges and carry out a purpose. I’m very proud of the work you’ve done over the course of your life. You got up and went to work everyday. We can’t say how you felt that day or how you were feeling on a particular morning, but we know you did not miss many days. 

Teresa: There’s times I wanted to quit. When you have kids they try you and get in trouble at school. It was frustrating but you have to keep your focus. That’s how I got to be the person I am today, strong, independent, trying to make ends meet. No road is easy. You have to set your mind to it and go for it. God says you take one step and I’ll take two. I prayed everyday that I would come home. That my kids would do right in school. I took over my sister’s kids at one point. I had four plus three. I want my kids to do the best they can. Hold your head up. 

Pamela: I think you should be proud. Regardless if it’s something we talk about all the time. Your hard work didn’t go unnoticed. The value you put into doing your job and to the best of your ability didn’t go unnoticed. I think every mom wants to have the experience of their children saying thank you for what you did. So I want to say thank you for what you did.

Teresa: You’re welcome. I look at the world differently. There’s so much going on. We have kids hurting kids. You have to be observant. Watch your environment. The 80’s were different. We have to change with the times. Be strong and make things work for us. As a black woman it was hard for me working in the fields that I did. I would go to work and men would take jabs at me. I used to cry. You have to have a thick skin. I didn’t think I would make it out of college. But I did it. We should be building each other up, not putting each other down. 

Pamela: Are you working on any new and interesting things you would like to share? Is there anything you want people who read this interview to know about you?

Teresa: What’s new and interesting, with these young kids out here, hurting each other and shooting each other down is not a positive thing. I try to talk to these guys, teach your kids the right way. The response I get back is the mother. What about the dad’s? This is why they say in the black community the family structure is broken down. They’ll work with one but they won’t work with the black men. The father’s not in the home. It’s going to be a challenge, but when I get time that’s what I will spend time on doing.

Pamela: You have a lot of experience to offer. A lot of mental resources. You’ve been in roles and as times change men and women have had to take on many roles. Gender roles are not in these fine lines. Manifestation shows itself today by how we see each other and value each other. If you are blessed enough to help and participate in whatever capacity you can offer that should not be overlooked. 

Teresa: Stop the violence. I don’t like any type of crime. 

As the interview proceeded, we discussed the black family structure, discipline and parental control. We touched on societal issues and the current direction. Teresa has lived her life and managed to fulfill a dream of hers in the process. As passion aligned with purpose she is fulfilled and now able to move forward still wanting to achieve. 

Winding down, we chatted briefly with grandma. Breakfast was to be served and time was running short. Be sure to check back to see if Teresa decides to pursue her role as constable again. As always, EVOS members are building piece by piece. Teresa is certainly one piece of the organization to watch.