Overcoming the Odds: She was a C student and a college dropout, but she is the CEO of Black Ambition.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Felicia Hatcher. Purpose of the Interview To spotlight Black Ambition, a national initiative founded by Pharrell Williams that funds and mentors Black and Brown entrepreneurs. To share insights on entrepreneurship, access to resources, and strategies for scaling businesses. To inspire and educate small business owners and innovators on how to leverage opportunities for growth. Key Takeaways About Black Ambition Founded by Pharrell Williams to close the opportunity gap for Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs. Provides capital, mentorship, and masterclasses to help founders scale. Has invested in 131 companies and awarded millions in funding. Competition Structure Annual national competition with 2,500–3,000 applications. Categories include HBCU, National Finalists, Top Prize Winner, People’s Choice. Process: Applications → 250 semifinalists → 3-month cohort → Demo Day for top 20–25 companies. Unique Approach Focus on high-quality mentorship, not “low vibrational” guidance. Includes mental health and wellness support for entrepreneurs. Partnerships with brands like Louis Vuitton for luxury retail insights. Challenges for Entrepreneurs Many fail by rushing applications and skipping info sessions. Success requires clarity, traction, and persistence—sometimes multiple attempts. Black women are the fastest-growing entrepreneurs but often remain solopreneurs; Black Ambition prioritizes team-building. Pharrell’s Motivation Believes in democratizing opportunity: “Talent is not equally distributed by zip code, but opportunity can be.” Inspired by those who believed in him early in his career. Felicia Hatcher’s Journey Former founder of Center for Black Innovation and Black Tech Week. Emphasizes resilience: “I’m a C student and a college dropout, but I never let that define me.” Advocates for creative pathways to success and capital access. Notable Quotes “Success leaves clues.” – On learning from past winners. “Talent is not equally distributed by zip code, but opportunity can be.” – Pharrell’s guiding principle. “If it doesn’t work on you in that moment, it works for you in that moment. Either way, it works.” – On persistence. “We have to start enjoying the process… be stretched, be cut by the process.” – On entrepreneurial growth. “Wealth has a need for speed.” – On urgency in closing the wealth gap. #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Uplift: Founder of 1 Million Lives Transform, focused on empowering women to reclaim their voices.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Stephanie Wall. Purpose of the Interview To share Dr. Wall’s expertise as a neuroscience coach, criminal justice professor, author, and mentor. To discuss her mission through 1 Million Lives Transform, a global movement helping women unmute their voices and lead with authenticity and confidence. To provide actionable strategies for overcoming self-doubt, fear, and imposter syndrome in professional and personal settings. Key Takeaways Background and Roles Served 20 years in law enforcement and continues teaching criminal justice and ethical leadership. Founder of 1 Million Lives Transform, focused on empowering women to reclaim their voices. Unmuting Your Voice Many professionals mute themselves due to fear, lack of confidence, or imposter syndrome. Techniques: Awareness: Recognize when you’re silencing yourself. Pause and breathe before responding. Stand up when speaking in meetings to command attention and project confidence. Use phrases like “I’d like to build on that point” to engage respectfully. Mindset and Fear What you tell yourself matters more than external criticism. Replace negative self-talk with affirmations and surround yourself with positive influences. Neuroscience supports that repeated positive input rewires thought patterns. Boundaries and Time Management Learn to say “No” as a complete sentence. Set boundaries for phone calls and social interactions to protect productivity. Busy professionals should establish communication rules (e.g., “Do you have a minute?”). Authenticity and Leadership Authenticity is key—embrace your natural gifts and use them to transform spaces. Leadership requires mindset shifts when moving from peer to manager roles. Mentorship should be intentional and specific, not generic (“pick your brain” requests need structure). 1 Million Lives Transform A movement to help women rewrite their narratives, reclaim confidence, and lead boldly. Focus on self-awareness, boundaries, and empowerment strategies. Notable Quotes “Notice in that moment that you are muting yourself.” “Stand up when you speak—you command the room.” “No is a complete sentence.” “Our gifts are not for us; they are for other people.” “What you say to yourself does more damage than anything anyone else could say.” “Authenticity isn’t lip service—it’s showing up as who you truly are.” “Boundaries are not selfish; they are necessary.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Brand Building: How communication has evolved in the digital age, saying more with less.
Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Jim VandeHei. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview The interview centers around: Promoting Jim VandeHei’s book Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less. Exploring how communication has evolved in the digital age. Offering practical advice for professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders on how to communicate more effectively. Discussing the impact of technology—especially smartphones and remote work—on attention spans and messaging. 🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Smart Brevity Philosophy Smart Brevity is about efficient, high-quality communication. It’s not just about being short—it’s about being clear, confident, and respectful of people’s time. The idea originated from Axios’s approach to delivering news quickly and effectively. 2. The Communication Crisis The rise of smartphones and social media has overloaded people with information. Most people are distracted, checking their phones hundreds of times a day. In this chaotic environment, concise and purposeful communication wins. 3. Post-COVID Communication Shift Remote work and Zoom meetings have made written and virtual communication more critical. The pandemic changed workplace norms, making brevity and clarity essential for productivity and alignment. 4. Practical Applications VandeHei’s book is useful for business leaders, educators, students, preachers, and anyone who communicates. He emphasizes that brevity is not shallowness—it’s a sign of confidence and clarity. 5. Five Tips for Better Communication Jim outlines five actionable tips: Stop Being Selfish – Write for the reader, not yourself. Grab Me a Reason – Use strong headlines or opening lines to capture attention. Keep It Simple – Avoid jargon and complex language. Write Like a Human – Be authentic and conversational. Just Stop – Once you’ve made your point, don’t over-explain. 🗣️ Notable Quotes “Brevity is confidence. Length is fear.” “Foggy writing is a reflection of foggy thinking.” “There’s nothing shallow about being short. It’s clarifying.” “Stop writing for yourself. Start writing for the reader.” “The one thing we want to accomplish today is…” – A meeting technique to improve focus and retention. 📘 Book Highlight: Smart Brevity Co-authored by Jim VandeHei, co-founder of Axios and Politico. Offers a framework for modern communication in business, media, and personal interactions. Encourages readers to rethink how they write, speak, and present in a world of constant distraction. #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Health Tips: She discusses social determinants of health; education, food deserts, and redlining which contribute to disparities.
Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Schenta D. Randolph. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview To spotlight Dr. Randolph’s work as a nurse scientist, her leadership of the HEET Lab, and her efforts to address health inequities—especially HIV prevention—in Black communities in the U.S. South. The interview also aims to educate listeners on the broader scope of nursing, the importance of representation, and systemic challenges in healthcare. 🧠 Key Takeaways 1. Dr. Randolph’s Background HBCU graduate from North Carolina A&T. Associate Professor at Duke University School of Nursing. Founding Director of the HEET Lab (Health Equity through Engagement, Advocacy, and Trust). 2. The Role of Nurse Scientists Nurse scientists conduct research to develop evidence-based interventions. Less than 1% of nurse scientists are Black. Nursing extends beyond bedside care into entrepreneurship, behavioral science, and public health. 3. HEET Lab Mission Focuses on HIV prevention among Black women and young Black men. Engages communities through partnerships with beauty salons, barbershops, and nonprofits. Funded by NIH and other foundations, with a $4.4 million grant for HIV prevention research. 4. Health Inequities in the South Higher HIV rates in the Southern U.S. due to systemic racism, lack of access to care, and population density. Social determinants of health (e.g., education, food deserts, redlining) contribute to disparities. 5. Systemic Racism & Denial in Healthcare Systemic racism creates barriers in healthcare access and delivery. Denial within the Black community about health issues (e.g., HIV, obesity, diabetes) is often rooted in distrust of the healthcare system. 6. The Role of the Church & Messaging Churches can be powerful platforms for health education but often stigmatize HIV. Messaging around HIV prevention (e.g., PrEP) often excludes Black women, leading to low adoption. 7. Mentorship & Representation Dr. Randolph co-founded Black PhD Nurse Scientists to mentor future scholars. Conducts HBCU tours to expose nursing students to research careers. Only 3 of 33 HBCU nursing schools offer PhD programs—highlighting a gap in academic pathways. 💬 Notable Quotes “Nursing is so much more than the bedside.” “Less than 1% of nurse scientists are Black.” “HEET stands for Health Equity through Engagement, Advocacy, and Trust.” “Representation matters. I became a nurse because I saw a Black woman who looked like me.” “We are truly our brother and our sister’s keeper.” “We have to advance our own health and be opinion leaders.” “This means more to me than my New England Journal of Medicine article.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Financial Tips: She educates listeners on financial literacy, wealth building, and investment strategies.
Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Sonia Balfour-Fears. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview The interview aims to: Educate listeners on financial literacy, wealth building, and investment strategies. Address the Black wealth gap and how to close it through education and discipline. Encourage people of all ages and income levels to begin their financial journey. Highlight Sonia’s unique role as a financial advisor and Global Sports & Entertainment Director at Morgan Stanley. 🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Understanding the Black Wealth Gap Closing the gap starts with education, access, and discipline. Financial literacy must be taught early and consistently, especially in underserved communities. Sonia emphasizes engaging youth and promoting intentional financial planning. 2. Mother-Daughter Wealth Management Team Sonia and her daughter formed the first African-American mother-daughter wealth management team at Merrill Lynch. Their generational approach showed that both young and older clients seek guidance, though their goals may differ. 3. Starting Small Is Okay You don’t need $1 million to begin investing. Start with savings, build an emergency fund, then invest. Emergency fund rule: Single: 6 months of expenses Couple: 3 months of expenses 4. Investment Strategy Focus on long-term investing, not chasing “hot stocks.” Diversification is key—consider S&P 500 index funds over individual stocks. Risk tolerance matters: Aggressive = 100% equities Conservative = more fixed income (bonds) 5. Cryptocurrency & Caution Morgan Stanley offers Bitcoin only to accredited investors with \$1M+ in assets. High risk means it’s not suitable for retirement funds or small investors. 6. It’s Never Too Late to Start A caller in her 60s asked if it was too late to invest—Sonia said absolutely not. With life expectancy into the 90s, there’s still time to build wealth. 7. Dividends vs. Bonds Dividend-paying stocks now often yield more income than traditional bonds. They’re a smart option for generating income in today’s market. 🗣️ Notable Quotes “Education is the greatest component to increase the Black dollar.” “Discipline is key—just like waking up early or exercising daily.” “Start where you are. If it’s $100 a month, start there.” “It’s never too late. If you’re 60, you still have 30 years to invest.” “Don’t chase hot stocks. Invest when the market is down, not at all-time highs.” “Risk tolerance is like gambling—are you on the penny slots or betting it all on black?” 👤 About Sonia Balfour-Fears Financial Advisor and Global Sports & Entertainment Director at Morgan Stanley. One of fewer than 2% of Morgan Stanley advisors with this designation. Advocate for financial literacy, especially in Black communities. Pioneer of the first African-American mother-daughter wealth management team. #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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