Sebastian Sanders

Introduction and Background

Taryell Simmons: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to another episode of Rise Urban Nation. I have a special guest in the building, and no, it is not Sebastian Telfair; it is the other great Sebastian. Sebastian Sanders, how are you doing this morning?

Sebastian Sanders: I am doing great. Thank you so much for allowing me to be on your platform. I am very excited to be here.

Taryell Simmons: We are honored to have you, brother. You are doing a lot of things out here: public speaking, starting nonprofits, and teaching financial literacy. That is a big deal. For people who do not know who you are, tell them, who is Sebastian Sanders?

Sebastian Sanders: Thank you. My name is Sebastian Sanders. I am twenty-five years old, an international nonprofit executive. I founded Sanders Hand in 2017 and Sanders Hand Ghana in 2021. In addition, I am a youth motivational speaker, nonprofit consultant, and author of the Art of Giving series. Everything I do is centered around business and community: how can I cultivate the two? Since I was a sophomore in college, I have been on this path to change my community by providing people with opportunities and resources to increase their income. Where we come from, we often look at poverty, crime, and a lack of resources, but we never go to the root of the problem: the lack of financial circulation.

Taryell Simmons: Right.

Sebastian Sanders: My biggest focus is empowering both kids and parents to obtain a higher income. When people make more money, they have a better quality of life. That is what we do at Sanders Hand, and what all my businesses center around, from real estate to community and business development. It is all about providing our people with the opportunity to increase their income while decreasing poverty for minorities. I have been doing this for the last five years, and I feel God has placed me in a position where I am stepping into my prime as I continue on this journey of changing the world.

Community Engagement and Building Trust

Taryell Simmons: You have done more at twenty-five than most people do in a lifetime. Minorities are often last when it comes to financial literacy and income, and many systems do not support the leveling up of our community. How have you overcome those challenges and helped shift the community mindset around finances?

Sebastian Sanders: It has been an uphill battle because you are going against the grain every day. The easiest way to tap into someone's world is to go live inside their world. You have to get out into the heart of the community and be on the ground with the people. That builds trust and lets you see what they experience daily. I spend time speaking at local schools, hosting events, volunteering, and surveying youth and parents about their challenges and the resources they need. All our programs, like our Young Billionaires Club, were created by listening to the students. Trust is everything. If people feel you are not authentic, you lose their respect. Once I realized it is a reach-one-teach-one mission, I stopped putting so much pressure on myself and focused on being genuine.

Experiential Learning and Embracing Failure

Sebastian Sanders: To inspire people, you must be relatable and interactive. Rather than using rigid coaching programs, you have to put students in positions to win. I run Shark Tank simulations with our kids where they develop businesses, pitch their ideas, and compete for surprise scholarships. Hands-on learning brings out a completely different side of them.

Taryell Simmons: You have a perfect model: being in the community, for the community, to build trust and the right programs.

Sebastian Sanders: When I founded Sanders Hand in April 2017, I spent six months volunteering and listening before launching our first project in the fall. I did not have all the answers at twenty, so I studied the community's actual needs. In business, you must know your audience.

Taryell Simmons: Speaking of the Shark Tank model, what is the importance of giving people room to fail?

Sebastian Sanders: When kids share ideas, I never shoot them down immediately. Confidence is crucial. I let them build and present, then provide constructive feedback one-on-one. People are often so afraid of mistakes that they never start. I failed at several things early on, but learning from those losses is what led to my success. You might fail eleven times before getting that one win that elevates you. As a leader, you cannot let losses derail your momentum; you must turn each loss into a lesson.

Operating Nonprofits with a For-Profit Strategy

Taryell Simmons: What makes organizational growth challenging for a nonprofit reliant on external funding?

Sebastian Sanders: Many nonprofits rely entirely on grants and donations, which can disappear at any moment. About ninety percent of nonprofits fail in their first year because of funding issues. I chose to run Sanders Hand with a for-profit business strategy. We generate residual revenue by selling merchandise, educational programs, and books. This diversified revenue model ensures sustainability rather than depending solely on unpredictable grant cycles.

Taryell Simmons: Nonprofits are businesses and must generate multiple revenue streams to survive.

Scaling Through Digital Content and Global Expansion

Sebastian Sanders: As my team graduated college and entered corporate careers, our capacity for in-person work shifted. When the pandemic hit in 2020, we pivoted toward digital content. Youth spend hours on mobile devices, so we met them where they are by producing YouTube videos and an interactive animated series. This digital pivot also allowed us to scale internationally and launch the Sanders Hand Ghana Project.

Time Management, Priorities, and Self-Care

Taryell Simmons: With everything on your plate, how do you manage your time?

Sebastian Sanders: Time management starts with self-care. You cannot pour into the world if you do not invest in yourself. I make time for exercise, basketball, travel, quiet resets, and spending time with my parents. I live by the philosophy of working hard now so I can enjoy freedom later. I also teach our youth that balancing full-time commitments requires distinguishing between needs and wants. Prioritizing essential tasks prevents future stress and burnout.

The Power of Strategic Networking and Mentorship

Taryell Simmons: It is not just about who you know; it is about who knows you. What are the benefits of connecting with people who possess different skill sets?

Sebastian Sanders: Surrounding yourself with experienced mentors is invaluable. Early on, I connected with Kathy Fletcher of San Antonio Threads, an organization providing clothing and essentials to at-risk youth. Building a relationship with her opened doors and taught me how to operate effectively. In networking, my focus is always on adding value first. Building genuine, value-driven relationships creates long-term impact.

Mindset, Inspiration, and Influences

Taryell Simmons: Who do you follow to cultivate your mindset?

Sebastian Sanders: I look for substantive content rather than social media hype. I follow Anton Daniels for financial literacy, Charleston White for community insights, Eric Thomas, Les Brown, Gary Vaynerchuk, and Grant Cardone. In Houston, I follow community developers like Chris Senegal. I also read books that challenge me, including Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter by 50 Cent, Atomic Habits, and The Alchemist. Spiritually, I listen to messages from T.D. Jakes and Joel Osteen, alongside empowering gospel music.

Career Journey, Corporate Experience, and Adaptability

Taryell Simmons: What was your first job, and how did your career progress?

Sebastian Sanders: My first job at age fifteen was at Wendy's, followed by Burger King and AMC Theatres. In college, I worked as a peer mentor before landing an offer with PepsiCo in 2019. I relocated to Oklahoma City as a customer management associate and sales manager, and later transitioned into supply chain and logistics at Frito-Lay. Moving to a new city where I had no existing network taught me how to adapt, build from scratch, and turn challenges into growth.

Advice for Emerging Leaders and Future Vision

Taryell Simmons: What advice do you have for young people starting out, and what does the future hold for your initiatives?

Sebastian Sanders: Discover what makes you unique. Find the purpose God gave you and run with it. Do not just copy others; develop your own strengths. Looking ahead, we are expanding Money Mondays, a trademarked tech platform designed to connect small and minority business owners with funding and resources. Within five to seven years, Sanders Hand aims to build a comprehensive community compound and business school. My final message to everyone is simple: do not just look for change, be the change.