In partnership with
The Culture Code AI
Intelligence for the Architect of the Future
DATE: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 | ED: Morris Smith
What's Good, Family!
We often talk about "getting a seat at the table" but what happens, when we're at the table and the table starts shaking? That is the true test of leadership. Today we are looking at how a Black woman is steering one of the world's most advanced AI companies through a storm and how OpenAI is fighting for its life against Google.
The landscape is shifting beneath our feet. Do not panic. Pivot.
Let's keep it real. We are experiencing aggressive rollbacks of DEI, hostile political rhetoric from DC and state houses, and layoffs hitting Black workers especially our women and new grads hardest. Because the state and corporations are wobbling on us, your personal economic infrastructure is not optional anymore. This isn't just about "tech" or "apps", this is about survival and sovereignty.
Let's get to work.
📰 Today's Frequency
1. Waymo's Recall & The Power of Tekedra Mawakana 🚗
Source: SF Examiner / Reuters (Dec 7, 2025)
The Scoop (Facts): Waymo has been all over the news this weekend issuing a software recall. It’s a crisis moment. But here is what you need to see. Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, a Sista', is standing tall in the paint. Named one of the "2025 San Franciscans of the Year" she isn't hiding, she's owning the fix, stating that "holding the highest safety standards means recognizing when our behavior should be better."
The Vibe Check (Leverage): For Black women who are being pushed out or passed over in tech right now, this is a blueprint for how to lead and still stand on business under fire. Tekedra is showing us that accountability is an asset. In your own business, when things break, don't spin it. Own it. Fix it. That is how you build legacy trust.
2. OpenAI Claps Back After "Code Red" Panic 🥊
Source: TechCrunch (Dec 8, 2025)
The Scoop (The Update): It has been a wild week. First Sam Altman hit the panic button declaring a "Code Red" because Google Gemini is moving too fast. But today OpenAI punched back. They just announced a massive enterprise win, locking in a major corporate contract to prove they are still the kings of the hill. It is a dogfight at the top.
The Vibe Check (Leverage): Listen to me closely. When giants fight, the consumer wins. Competition forces them to drop prices and build better tools for us. Don't be loyal to a logo. Be loyal to the tool that gets you paid the fastest. Also notice how fast the narrative shifts, one day you're "dead" and the next you're winning. Keep that same resilience in your grind.
🚀 Builder's Playbook
Topic: Let's Build a "Micro-SaaS" in a Weekend (No Code) 🏗️
We are done paying monthly subscriptions for tools we could build ourselves. This week we are using Lovable to turn text into a fully functional software app. Note: Build for real gaps you see. Do not scrape or copy other Black founders' products. We build to elevate not to extract.
Phase 1: The Extraction (Define the ICP).
Don't build for "everybody." Build for a specific niche (e.g., "Real Estate Agents in Atlanta" or choose a need you see in your community). Problem: They hate writing descriptions. Solution: An app where they upload 3 photos and get a description. Be specific.
Phase 2: The Build (Using Lovable).
Go to Lovable.dev. Do not use a one-line prompt. Use this Mega Prompt to get a production-ready app:
CORE FEATURES:
1. Allow users to upload 3-5 images.
2. Use GPT-4 Vision to analyze lighting, architectural style, and finishes.
3. Output 3 text descriptions: (A) Emotional/Story-driven, (B) Technical/Feature-heavy, (C) Instagram Caption style.
UI/UX CONSTRAINTS:
- Modern, minimalist black & white aesthetic.
- Mobile-responsive layout.
- 'Copy to Clipboard' button for each version.
- Add a 'Upgrade for Premium' button in the top right header."
Phase 3: The Launch (Scale).
Take your Lovable link. DM 10 agents on Instagram. "I built a tool that writes your listings for you. Want to try it for free?" Once 5 say yes, gate it behind a $9/month paywall.
🎨 Marketing Moves
1. The "Competitor Spy" Deep Dive 🕵🏾
Stop guessing. Go to the Facebook Ad Library. Search your competitor. Screenshot their longest-running ad. Upload it to ChatGPT and use this deep-dive prompt:
1. Deconstruct the 'Pain-Agitation-Solution' framework they are using.
2. Identify the 'Silent Objection' they are overcoming in the copy.
3. Write 3 NEW ad variations for MY product [INSERT PRODUCT] that use this same psychological framework but apply it to my unique value proposition. Format for Instagram Feed."
2. The "Email Revive" Protocol 📧
Got a dead list? Send a "9-Word Email." Subject: Quick question. Body: "Are you still looking for help with [Problem you solve]?" It starts a conversation, not a pitch.
🛠️ Tool of the Week: Carrd
Need a professional "link in bio" site that actually converts? Stop using those ugly generic lists. Build a stunning landing page in 10 minutes, no coding required. Own your traffic.
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💼 Career Moves
If you are a Black woman or a young Black professional watching offer rescinds and hiring freezes, this is the moment to turn your story into receipts and your receipts into a bridge offer.
🚨 The "I Just Got Laid Off" 72-Hour Protocol
First 24 Hours: Receipts Dump. Don't panic. Dump your entire brain (every project, number, win) into ChatGPT and use this prompt:
48 Hours: Emergency Offer. Use the CFO Simulator (below) to design a tiny service or project you can sell to your network immediately. Cash flow calms anxiety.
72 Hours: Visibility Sprint. Refresh your LinkedIn Headline. Post one story about a problem you solved. Send 10 DMs to real humans (not recruiters) asking for a 10-minute virtual coffee.
The LinkedIn Asset (The Rebrand).
Copy/Paste this prompt. We need you to look like an expert not a generalist.
OBJECTIVE: Optimize my LinkedIn headline to rank for SEO keywords while establishing authority.
DELIVERABLE: Provide 3 distinct options:
1. The 'Results-First' option (Quantified impact).
2. The 'Niche Authority' option (Specific industry focus).
3. The 'Value Proposition' option (Problem/Solution).
CONSTRAINT: Do not use buzzwords like 'Ninja' or 'Guru'. Keep it under 220 characters."
🔥 The Culture Code Prompt Lab
Theme: The Business & Career Audit (CFO Simulator) 📊
Why this matters: We often run our businesses and our lives on "vibes." That doesn't build wealth. If you are not running a business yet, swap 'revenue' for 'salary' and 'clients' for 'employers' and let the CFO simulator design a 20% margin plan for your life.
CONTEXT: I am a [INSERT ROLE e.g. Freelance Designer OR Mid-Level Analyst] making [INSERT INCOME] per year. My goal is to hit [INSERT GOAL] in 2026.
TASK: Analyze my income streams and expenses below.
1. Identify where I am underpricing myself compared to market rates.
2. Flag which expenses are "fat" that I should cut immediately.
3. Create a 3-step financial roadmap to increase my net profit margin by 20% in Q1.
DATA: [PASTE PRICING/SALARY & EXPENSES HERE]
💰 Skill Builder
Skill: Financial Scenario Planning (The Matrix) 🔮
Why This Matters: The economy is volatile. The best leaders don't guess, they model. You need to know: "What happens to my bank account if I lose my biggest client?" or "What happens if I raise prices 10%?"
Free Resource: If you have never opened a P&L statement, start with the "Simple Finance for Small Business" tutorials on YouTube (channel: Simon Sez IT).
This Week's Challenge:
Open ChatGPT or Claude. Don't ask a simple question. Run a full simulation using this prompt:
INPUTS: Monthly Income: [INSERT AMOUNT]. Fixed Costs: [INSERT AMOUNT]. Savings: [INSERT AMOUNT].
TASK: Create a Matrix Table showing 3 scenarios:
1. 'The Storm': Income drops 40% (e.g. lost major client/layoff).
2. 'The Baseline': Income stays flat, inflation raises costs 5%.
3. 'The Sprint': Income grows 20%.
OUTPUT: Calculate the 'Runway' (months I survive) for each scenario and suggest 2 defensive moves for 'The Storm'."
🏆 Community Corner
Big Win of the Week:
Shout out to Marcus P.. He used the "Negotiation Simulator" to prep for a vendor call. He said "I practiced with the AI for 15 minutes, and when the real call happened, I had a rebuttal for every objection." He saved $4,500 on his annual software contract. That's real leverage!
Have a win? Tag us @TheCultureCodeAI
✊🏾 Stay Locked In
Family, the year is ending but your vision is just clearing up. Look at Tekedra at Waymo, challenges will come but leadership is about staying in the driver's seat. Don't let the noise distract you from the signal.
Remember: Doomscrolling will not change the interest rates or the hiring quotas. But learning one tool or running one play from this issue might.
Don't gatekeep the wealth. Share this newsletter with 5 people who need to level up. Here is the link:
https://culturecodeai.com/
- Morris & The Culture Code AI Team
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Chesapeake, VA | High Signal, No Noise.