MICAH ALLEYNE, RICH3

For Micah Alleyne (Richmond Cohort 3), staying connected to his family is important. He joined The Hidden Genius Project in 2019 as his older brother Ari (Richmond Cohort 2) was wrapping up his final summer in the program. Throughout his own journey, Micah gained an extended brotherhood and reflects on the opportunity as providing him with the space to mature and become the best version of himself, both personally and professionally. In his words, the program “fast-tracked my development into a proactive leader, empowering me to effect meaningful change in my community.” True to his values, Micah stays connected to The Hidden Genius Project as a Youth Educator and is currently thriving at Indiana University Bloomington where he is pursuing a degree in finance.

How have you been? 

I’ve been adjusting to being an independent adult and navigating the challenges that come with it. Although I don’t see them every day, I make sure to check on my older siblings, Ari and Brianna, and my younger brother, Joshua. It’s important for me to stay connected and offer my siblings support, even from a distance.

I’ve begun to carve my path in school at Indiana University Bloomington, delving into areas that spark my interest and where I can contribute meaningfully to Black and finance organizations on campus. I am a treasurer of an organization called Black Men Evolve (BME). We talk a lot about men’s mental health and the transition from boyhood to manhood. We host events where we help our brothers develop both professionally and personally by helping them build out their LinkedIn profiles and resumes. I am also a member of the Buy-Side-Early-Insights Program where I learn about the many intricacies of private equity. In addition to the many activities I’m involved in, I know the importance of maintaining a strong academic performance so I’m always aiming for a 3.8 GPA or above when it comes to my studies. 

At the same time, I’ve been focusing on my goals and aspirations of becoming a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, ensuring that every step I take is aligned with my long-term vision. In terms of what I am currently doing to build up to this, I’ve been exploring new horizons lately. Specifically, I have begun to pursue private equity and venture capitalism in a long-term move to eventually use my experience to expedite the process of becoming a serial entrepreneur.

How did you first learn about The Hidden Genius Project?

I first learned about The Hidden Genius Project through my family, as my brother Ari Alleyne (RICH2 Hidden Genius Alum) was already in the program. My mom was a strong advocate for me to get involved and develop skills in entrepreneurship and computer science.

What was your experience in the program like?

At The Hidden Genius Project, I enjoyed building a brotherhood with my peers and fostering deep connections that were both supportive and motivating. I continue to keep in touch with my brothers to this day. 

I really loved the experience of visiting many large corporate headquarters and gaining invaluable insights into their world. Salesforce and Google were two of my favorite trips because of the exposure I received to the corporate world and the people I met. Overall, the program introduced me to the vast array of career opportunities available and provided me with ways to understand their cultures in depth. 

The biggest challenge I faced in the program was grappling with my immaturity, which often hindered my progress toward completing my final project and my personal growth. There were even times when my immaturity caused my cohort to lose stipend money and my peers weren’t too thrilled about that. Learning how to overcome this challenge required me to be more conscious about my behavior and make a concerted effort to complete our web and Flutter (mobile application) projects.

My experience in the entrepreneurship program taught me that entrepreneurship goes beyond just starting a business; it’s about identifying opportunities to serve others and innovate within a community. Because of the program, I learned the importance of creating value through products or services, emphasizing the potential for positive social impact and community development. This approach fosters a deeper understanding of how businesses can be a force for good, driving societal progress alongside economic success. I learned this alongside lessons about tech, which provided a deep dive into the evolving landscape of technology.

Describe the app you designed during your time in the Immersion Program.

During my time in the Immersion Program, I designed an innovative application named Scholar.co. This app was crafted to enable teachers to showcase their teaching skills and interactions with students in a live setting. This feature also allowed recruitment departments to assess candidates based not only on their qualifications, but also on their real-time classroom performance. These insights provide a more holistic view of their teaching prowess when evaluating candidates. I was motivated to create this app because of the educational struggles that my community often experiences, including myself. I really enjoyed my creative freedom and seeing the progress of my tech project from a mockup to a full-fledged app.

How is The Hidden Genius Project different from other mentorship or training experiences that you have been involved in?

The Hidden Genius Project stands out from other mentorship or training experiences primarily due to the personal investment mentors have in each mentee’s success. Being around mentors like Abraham Keleta, Jamal Mitchell and David Malone Jr. fostered an environment where I was pushed to perform at a high level even if it was uncomfortable. They also challenged me to think critically about my business ideas and I was able to circle back with them following my tenure in the Immersion Program. Their commitment to pushing mentees out of their comfort zones and encouraging them to embrace and learn from failures is akin to the guidance one would expect from a parental figure. The relationships I forged in The Hidden Genius Project don’t simply end upon [cohort] completion; instead, my mentors continue to engage me by offering advice and support, ensuring that I become the best version of myself both personally and professionally.

What specific skills learned in The Hidden Genius Project have been most beneficial for you?

One of the most valuable skills I learned was the importance of continuous learning. I developed the skill to continuously learn when I had to memorize specific coding concepts in The Hidden Genius Project. This forced me to put time aside to study so I could focus on understanding the basics of certain programming languages. Because of this, I increased my ability to be persistent in my learning which helped me overcome coding challenges through problem-solving.

What was the most important thing you gained on a personal level (development, relationship, community, etc.) from participating in The Hidden Genius Project?

The most important thing I gained from participating in The Hidden Genius Project was maturing and embracing values such as responsibility and accountability. I also gained a community of those who look like me, who are ambitious and seek to leave a positive impact on the world around them. I realized the importance of these values when I saw the effect of my behavior on others who dealt with the consequences of my actions even though they didn’t take part in them.

Without my participation in The Hidden Genius Project, my perspective and approach to life could have been considerably different. Lacking the entrepreneurial mindset instilled by the program, I might have found myself more focused on short-term goals and interests, potentially overlooking the broader impact of technology on society and missing opportunities to innovate. These essential skills and insights I gained in the program were crucial for my understanding of the challenges within my community, leaving me aware of the significant role I could play in addressing them.

 My journey through The Hidden Genius Project not only honed my abilities, but also fast-tracked my development into a proactive leader, empowering me to effect meaningful change in my community. In its absence, my path might have been less about leading and more about following, with a lesser emphasis on long-term vision and community engagement.

In what ways have you remained involved with The Hidden Genius Project since completing the 15-month Intensive Immersion program?

Since completing the program with The Hidden Genius Project, I’ve remained deeply involved as a Youth Educator. As a Youth Educator, I’ve had the chance to mentor Brendan Kariithi (RICH5 Hidden Genius Alum), guiding him through the program and providing support as he navigated challenges and pursued his goals. Brendan’s journey exemplifies the impact of mentorship; not only did he excel during his time in the program, but he also surpassed my own contributions by leveraging the skills and knowledge gained to make significant strides in his personal and professional development. Witnessing Brendan’s growth and success has been incredibly rewarding, reaffirming the importance of mentorship in empowering young individuals to reach their full potential.

Essentially, everyone in The Hidden Genius Project has been incredible supporters for me in the program and beyond. Specifically, Abraham Keleta has served as a mentor for me when pursuing specific business ventures and Brendan has been another peer who has motivated me to stay on track and keep working.

If you could talk to yourself just before you applied, what is one thing you would say?

Focus on the objective and fully leverage the network of The Hidden Genius Project as they have so much to offer if you truly apply yourself.

What words of encouragement do you have for future Geniuses?

Believe in yourself, take the risk, and remain focused. If you want something you have to make sacrifices to go get it, and work towards it every day.