Multimillionaire Rashaun Williams is back this fall on ABC’s “Shark Tank” as a guest investor, bringing his inspiring journey as one of the show’s few Black venture capitalists to millions of viewers.

With his powerful “acting as if” mindset, according to Fortune, Williams encourages entrepreneurs to believe in themselves and take bold steps toward their dreams to make them happen.

Williams grew up on Chicago’s South Side, a place where opportunities didn’t always come knocking. Early in his career, he started what he calls “sneaking into the party,” showing up at conferences and events he wasn’t invited to, introducing himself, often starting with, “hear me out.” It’s a simple phrase, but one that helped open doors, as the outlet states.

“I don’t mind cold calling people. I don’t mind pulling up at conferences. I don’t mind acting as if,” he told Fortune.

At just 21, this helped Williams land a job at Goldman Sachs, but he didn’t stop there. While most people his age were out having fun, he was putting in extra hours learning from private equity pros, building financial models, and soaking up experience.

“…I was doing that in the evenings when other kids were playing video games and going to the clubs and partying,” he said.

This kind of hustle helped him get ready for bigger roles in private equity and entrepreneurship.

Networking has also been huge for Williams. He said that getting warm introductions — people introducing him to others who can help — has been a game-changer.

“…When I would get warm leads, I would get introduced to someone and they get introduced to someone else,” he told Fortune.

Those connections helped him find job opportunities, partnerships, and eventually a seat on “Shark Tank.”

Outside of the show, Williams, who also serves as a limited partner in the Atlanta Falcons, started a firm, Antimatter Business Partners, to help pro athletes manage and grow their wealth. He recently teamed up with Mark Cuban and Steve Cannon as well, to launch a $750 million sports fund investing in NFL, NBA, and MLB teams, as AFROTECH™ previously reported.

These projects show how he’s blending sports and investment while lifting up communities that don’t always get a seat at the table.

For Williams, being back on “Shark Tank” isn’t just about TV. It’s a continuation of a journey shaped by hustle, persistence, and building real relationships.