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# Lessons from Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins
- URL: https://www.antoinebuteau.com/lessons-from-phaedra-ellis-lamkins/
- Published: 2026-07-01T21:03:41.000Z
- Updated: 2026-07-18T21:34:58.000Z
- Description: Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins moved from labor organizing, anti-poverty coalitions, and negotiating for Prince into technology as a co-founder of Promise, showing how reducing administrative friction in public utility debt collection can coexist with respect for financially distressed people.
- Author: Antoine Buteau
- Tags: Profile, Sales, GTM & Marketing Profiles

![Visual summary of operating lessons from Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins.](https://www.antoinebuteau.com/content/images/2026/07/lessons-from-phaedra-ellis-lamkins-profile-infographic.webp)

## Lessons from Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins

After a career organizing labor, leading anti-poverty coalitions, and negotiating for Prince, Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins entered the tech sector to co-found Promise. The company updates how government agencies collect public utility debt, proving a business can cut administrative friction while treating financially distressed people with respect.

### Part 1: Leadership and Persistence

1. **On Effort:** "I may not be the smartest person in the room, but I will try the hardest." — [*Source: Masters of Scale*](https://mastersofscale.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Embracing Failure:** "Failure is an option! A lot of very privileged people grow up with enough confidence and wealth to believe failure is a part of success. Growing up as a person of color, no one teaches us that failure is good because the consequences are really severe." — [*Source: Medium*](https://medium.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Courage:** "There’s no more courageous human being than someone who says, 'I’m making a choice because it’s the right choice.' What we have to do is lift those people up and make sure there’s opportunity." — [*Source: Ride the Sail*](https://ridethesailmarketing.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Building Teams:** "You have to build a company that looks like the community you want to serve." — [*Source: Medium*](https://medium.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Success:** Ellis-Lamkins told Bitbean she founded Promise to make technology work for working people, not just to build another scalable company detached from community outcomes. — [*Reference: Bitbean interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://www.bitbean.com/ceos-speak/phaedra-ellis-lamkins-of-promise/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Focus:** "Block out the noise and center your energy on the actual work of building something that matters." — [*Source: Forbes*](https://forbes.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Personal Drive:** "True drive comes from a deep-seated desire to see systemic change rather than personal enrichment." — [*Source: Urban Magazine*](https://urbanmag-online.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Resilience:** "When the consequences of failure are high, the resilience you build becomes your most significant asset as a leader." — [*Source: Authority Magazine*](https://medium.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Taking Space:** "You have to be willing to walk into rooms that weren't built for you and demand that they accommodate your vision." — [*Source: Bioneers*](https://bioneers.org/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
10. **On Groundedness:** In Bitbean, Ellis-Lamkins connects Promise to growing up around struggling working people, labor organizing, Green for All, music, and tech, keeping the company anchored in lived experience. — [*Reference: Bitbean interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://www.bitbean.com/ceos-speak/phaedra-ellis-lamkins-of-promise/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 2: Technology and Social Equity

1. **On Tech Representation:** "If more black and brown people aren't creating and owning technology platforms, we won't be able to use technology to help our communities." — [*Source: Medium*](https://medium.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Solving Real Problems:** "I have seen so many tech companies built to make dog walking or valet parking more efficient. Sure, those are big problems for some people, but I am more concerned with helping families keep their water on." — [*Source: Medium*](https://medium.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On AI in Welfare:** "Artificial intelligence must be used to close access gaps in social programs rather than to build new barriers." — [*Source: Possible Podcast*](https://possible.fm/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Tech as a Tool:** "Technology itself is neutral; its moral weight is determined entirely by who is designing it and for what purpose." — [*Source: Masters of Scale*](https://mastersofscale.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Data and Dignity:** "We must use data to proactively deliver assistance rather than forcing citizens to repeatedly prove their poverty." — [*Source: Forbes*](https://forbes.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Fintech for Good:** "Fintech should focus on providing zero-interest, flexible payment plans instead of predatory lending models." — [*Source: Forbes*](https://forbes.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Avoiding Tech Saviors:** Ellis-Lamkins told Bitbean that teams building technology for real social problems need to look like and understand the communities they serve, not merely optimize convenience for already-comfortable users. — [*Reference: Bitbean interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://www.bitbean.com/ceos-speak/phaedra-ellis-lamkins-of-promise/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Preventing Incarceration:** Bitbean describes Promise's pivot from bail reform to government payments after the team saw that unpaid debt could mean losing a license, losing water service, or ending up in jail. — [*Reference: Bitbean interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://www.bitbean.com/ceos-speak/phaedra-ellis-lamkins-of-promise/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Systemic Change:** "A product is only disruptive if it is actively dismantling systems of inequality." — [*Source: Urban Magazine*](https://urbanmag-online.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
10. **On Access:** "Access to basic utilities in a modern society is a technological problem that we already have the tools to solve." — [*Source: Possible Podcast*](https://possible.fm/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 3: Lessons from Prince and the Music Industry

1. **On Ambition:** "Do you want to play in Madison Square Garden or do you want to play in your backyard?" — [*Source: Medium*](https://medium.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Ownership:** "Negotiating for the rights to your own creations is the most fundamental form of professional self-respect." — [*Source: Masters of Scale*](https://mastersofscale.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Independence:** "Prince taught that you don't have to accept the industry standard if the industry standard is exploitative." — [*Source: Forbes*](https://forbes.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Value:** Ellis-Lamkins's work with Prince on reclaiming his masters, described in Bitbean, reinforces her broader view that technology and institutions should not devalue people's labor or ownership. — [*Reference: Bitbean interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://www.bitbean.com/ceos-speak/phaedra-ellis-lamkins-of-promise/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Impact over Fame:** "The goal shouldn't only be to be famous; it should be to use whatever platform you have to make a tangible difference." — [*Source: Masters of Scale*](https://mastersofscale.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Negotiation:** In First Round's interview, Ellis-Lamkins explains that selling into government means understanding fear, procurement risk, subcontractors, cooperative agreements, and the buyer's need for stability. — [*Reference: First Round In-Depth interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://review.firstround.com/podcast/building-selling-a-product-into-government-is-tricky-phaedra-ellis-lamkins-shares-critical-advice-for-getting-it-right/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Protecting Artists:** "Digital rights management is more than fighting piracy; it is about ensuring creators aren't cut out of the wealth they generate." — [*Source: Inc. Magazine*](https://inc.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Defying Expectations:** "Being uncompromising in your vision is often the only way to shift a stubborn paradigm." — [*Source: Masters of Scale*](https://mastersofscale.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Artistic Integrity:** "Business strategy must serve the art rather than the other way around." — [*Source: Forbes*](https://forbes.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
10. **On Social Responsibility in Music:** "A platform as large as a pop star's must be utilized for social justice." — [*Source: Bioneers*](https://bioneers.org/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 4: Organizing and Movement Building

1. **On Unity:** "We’re refusing to be divided by black and brown, gay and straight, men and women. Ours is the movement of liberation." — [*Source: 350.org*](https://350.org/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Holding Power Accountable:** "To those who’ve put short term profits over long term health: It’s over. It’s done. Your time is up." — [*Source: 350.org*](https://350.org/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Shared Prosperity:** "Prosperity in places like Silicon Valley must be actively distributed; it does not trickle down on its own." — [*Source: Bill Moyers*](https://billmoyers.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Labor Power:** "The foundation of a healthy economy is a labor force that has the collective power to demand a living wage." — [*Source: Bioneers*](https://bioneers.org/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Grassroots Tactics:** "Real organizing happens block by block by having conversations with people about the material conditions of their lives." — [*Source: Urban Magazine*](https://urbanmag-online.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Coalition Building:** "You cannot win systemic change without building coalitions across seemingly disparate interest groups." — [*Source: Bioneers*](https://bioneers.org/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Economic Justice:** In GovTech, Ellis-Lamkins frames Promise around making public institutions work better for people who rely on them, including interest-free payment plans and easier access to benefits. — [*Reference: GovTech interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://insider.govtech.com/california/news/ex-labor-organizer-turns-entrepreneur-uses-tech-to-help-governments?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Challenging the Status Quo:** "If your movement isn't making comfortable people uncomfortable, it isn't pushing hard enough." — [*Source: 350.org*](https://350.org/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Sustaining Movements:** "Burnout is real; movements must be structured to care for their organizers as much as their constituents." — [*Source: Medium*](https://medium.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 5: Modernizing Government and Public Welfare

1. **On GovTech's Purpose:** Ellis-Lamkins told GovTech she wants technology to improve the lives of working people and modernize public services, not simply make already-convenient services more convenient. — [*Reference: GovTech interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://insider.govtech.com/california/news/ex-labor-organizer-turns-entrepreneur-uses-tech-to-help-governments?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Punitive Bureaucracy:** "We have to replace outdated, punitive systems with modern, user-friendly technology that assumes the best in people." — [*Source: Forbes*](https://forbes.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Government Debt:** GovTech describes Promise offering utilities flexible, interest-free repayment options so people can keep service on and pay government or utility debt on workable terms. — [*Reference: GovTech interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://insider.govtech.com/california/news/ex-labor-organizer-turns-entrepreneur-uses-tech-to-help-governments?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Service Delivery:** "Citizens should experience the same seamless, high-quality digital interactions with their government as they do with consumer apps." — [*Source: Masters of Scale*](https://mastersofscale.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Bail Reform:** Bitbean reports that Promise began as a bail reform platform but pivoted when the team concluded that making parts of the criminal justice system more efficient could still harm the people it meant to serve. — [*Reference: Bitbean interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://www.bitbean.com/ceos-speak/phaedra-ellis-lamkins-of-promise/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Public Trust:** "Rebuilding trust in government starts with ensuring that public services actually work for those who need them most." — [*Source: Possible Podcast*](https://possible.fm/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Selling to Government:** First Round's episode centers on the extra-long sales cycles, subcontractors, risk-averse decision makers, and procurement structures Promise had to learn to sell into government. — [*Reference: First Round In-Depth interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://review.firstround.com/podcast/building-selling-a-product-into-government-is-tricky-phaedra-ellis-lamkins-shares-critical-advice-for-getting-it-right/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Empathy in Policy:** "Policies must be designed with deep empathy for the user experience of a person navigating a crisis." — [*Source: Forbes*](https://forbes.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Proactive Assistance:** "The government should use its data to tell citizens they qualify for help instead of waiting for them to jump through hoops to find out." — [*Source: Possible Podcast*](https://possible.fm/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 6: Environmental Justice and the Green Economy

1. **On Climate Inequality:** "The burden of climate change disproportionately falls on poor, Black, and brown communities." — [*Source: 3BL Media*](https://3blmedia.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Green Jobs:** "The transition to a clean energy economy must explicitly include job creation for those historically left out of economic booms." — [*Source: Wordpress*](https://wordpress.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Intersectional Environmentalism:** "Environmental justice cannot be separated from racial and economic justice." — [*Source: Bioneers*](https://bioneers.org/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Policy Advocacy:** "We must advocate for environmental policies that do not accidentally gentrify or displace vulnerable populations." — [*Source: 3BL Media*](https://3blmedia.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Broadening the Narrative:** "The environmental movement must speak to the immediate economic needs of disenfranchised people to be truly effective." — [*Source: Bill Moyers*](https://billmoyers.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Corporate Accountability:** "Corporations that pollute marginalized neighborhoods must be held financially and morally responsible." — [*Source: 350.org*](https://350.org/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Community Resilience:** "Building green infrastructure is fundamentally about building community resilience against future shocks." — [*Source: 3BL Media*](https://3blmedia.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Sustainable Growth:** "Economic growth that destroys the environment is ultimately a tax on the poorest citizens." — [*Source: Bioneers*](https://bioneers.org/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On The Future of Work:** "The green economy is more than a niche sector; it is a viable blueprint for the future of work." — [*Source: Wordpress*](https://wordpress.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 7: Navigating the Startup Ecosystem

1. **On Founder Resilience:** "The startup world is unforgiving, but surviving it requires the same tactical endurance learned in labor organizing." — [*Source: Y Combinator*](https://ycombinator.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Venture Capital:** Y Combinator describes Promise raising from Kapor Capital, Bronze, First Round, and YC while Ellis-Lamkins emphasized aligned incentives, mission, revenue, and the need for different founder patterns to succeed. — [*Reference: Y Combinator profile of Promise and Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://www.ycombinator.com/blog/promise?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Scaling Empathy:** "The hardest challenge for a growing startup is maintaining the empathy of its original mission as its user base scales." — [*Source: Masters of Scale*](https://mastersofscale.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Contrarian Thinking:** "Building a massive business by focusing on people in poverty is a contrarian bet that challenges traditional Silicon Valley logic." — [*Source: Masters of Scale*](https://mastersofscale.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Hiring:** "Hire people who have lived the problems your product is trying to solve; lived experience is an invaluable credential." — [*Source: Medium*](https://medium.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On B2B vs B2G:** Ellis-Lamkins told First Round that government buyers want innovation without risk, so Promise had to make contracts, integrations, and partnerships feel standard, stable, and easy to adopt. — [*Reference: First Round In-Depth interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://review.firstround.com/podcast/building-selling-a-product-into-government-is-tricky-phaedra-ellis-lamkins-shares-critical-advice-for-getting-it-right/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Pivot Strategy:** "A successful pivot requires recognizing where you can achieve the highest structural impact." — [*Source: Forbes*](https://forbes.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On For-Profit Models:** In GovTech, Ellis-Lamkins says Promise is intentionally not a nonprofit or public-benefit corporation; she wants to prove a company can win commercially without harming people. — [*Reference: GovTech interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://insider.govtech.com/california/news/ex-labor-organizer-turns-entrepreneur-uses-tech-to-help-governments?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On Product Market Fit:** First Round describes Promise pivoting from a bail-reform product toward government payments after the team recognized stronger product-market fit in reducing debt burdens and making agencies work better. — [*Reference: First Round In-Depth interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://review.firstround.com/podcast/building-selling-a-product-into-government-is-tricky-phaedra-ellis-lamkins-shares-critical-advice-for-getting-it-right/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)

### Part 8: Delivering Human Dignity at Scale

1. **On Dignity as a Model:** "Delivering human dignity to your customers is more than just good practice. It can be a powerful engine of scale." — [*Source: Masters of Scale*](https://mastersofscale.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
2. **On Operationalizing Respect:** "You have to build systems that structurally operationalize respect for the end-user." — [*Source: Masters of Scale*](https://mastersofscale.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
3. **On Removing Shame:** "Technology should be used to remove the shame often associated with being unable to pay a bill." — [*Source: Forbes*](https://forbes.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
4. **On Systemic Forgiveness:** "A modern society should have mechanisms for systemic forgiveness when people fall on hard times." — [*Source: Possible Podcast*](https://possible.fm/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
5. **On Trusting Users:** "The default assumption of any public service should be that the user is telling the truth." — [*Source: Possible Podcast*](https://possible.fm/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
6. **On Human-Centered Design:** "Every interface, every form, and every notification must be designed to reduce anxiety." — [*Source: Masters of Scale*](https://mastersofscale.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
7. **On Measuring Impact:** "The ultimate metric of success is how many people were able to maintain their basic dignity because of your intervention." — [*Source: Urban Magazine*](https://urbanmag-online.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
8. **On Redefining Value:** "The real value of a company isn't in its valuation, but in how it treats its most vulnerable stakeholders." — [*Source: Forbes*](https://forbes.com/?ref=antoinebuteau.com)
9. **On The End Goal:** Ellis-Lamkins told GovTech that Promise assumes people do not want their water or power shut off or to go to jail; if systems make repayment and aid easier, people can succeed. — [*Reference: GovTech interview with Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins*](https://insider.govtech.com/california/news/ex-labor-organizer-turns-entrepreneur-uses-tech-to-help-governments?ref=antoinebuteau.com)