She Looks Like Me

Season 2 is officially in the books and it's been such a joy documenting my #remotework and #travel journey while continuing to share the stories and expertise of some v. litty black women across industries. I'm excited to recap the goodness of this season, share some feedback from this beautiful tribe of listeners, and give you the first sneak peek into a new thing I'm working on to help more black women business owners, creators, and entrepreneurs make global connections, scale their businesses, and lead their best life.

Today's guest is Lerae Funderburg, an Attorney & Wellness Coach who protects brands and energies through her legal practice and holistic wellness company Elevate Legally. On today's episode we get the legal basics 101 version of what you should be thinking of when starting or running a business. Lerae also shares the personal journey that led her to founding her wellness company in addition to her legal practice, and the importance of releasing the baggage of what no longer or never has served you, so you can show up in the world as all that you truly are. 

The joy of unexpected connections is very real and today's guest, Dr. Candace Holmes, is no exception. What started as a casual connection at a networking event in Buckhead turned into a new village member whose on a mission to help others heal naturally. Dr. Holmes is a Natural Brain Focus & Attention Specialist and CEO of BrainCore of Duluth Neurofeedback... on this episode we talk about A LOT but the quick digest version of our conversation is centered in advocating for yourself and getting support on your quest for greatness. We also discuss how neurofeedback can assist those dealing with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other mental challenges... AND we wrap up by addressing the subject of dream killers -- how to identify them, what to do about them and the healing process of recovering from a season (or lifetime) of dealing with negative people or having negative experiences.

Raise your hand if you felt triggered by the character Molly's journey on HBO's Insecure (Season 5) in trying to help her parents through estate planning and they were just not having it?! Oh, the resistance. The invincibility. I meannn... It's me, lol... I'm the person who was triggered. But on a serious note, more than 70% of Black Americans don't have a will. We've heard the stories of celebs like Chadwick Boseman, Aretha Franklin and Prince not having estate plans in place, but what about our own families? The implications of this mean we're, as a whole, missing out on the largest wealth transfer in history. So grateful for Jala Eaton, a generational wealth expert and Founder of On My Own Financial and J. Eaton Law, PC., whose on a mission to empower black communities across the nation to build and protect their wealth in non-traditional ways. As a writer, professor, award winning certified trust and fiduciary advisor, and trust and estates attorney in California, Jala's mission is to close the racial wealth gap. She was so gracious to join me on this episode to share the tip of the iceberg of what it looks like to begin the estate planning process, how to navigate these difficult conversations within the family, why it's so important to plan before something happens and so much more. 

Anyone else ready to break up with the parts of their personal narrative that keep you playing small and not standing in the power of all that you are? **raises hand** I enjoyed every minute of my conversation with Certified Clarity Coach Dayana Cadet, Founder of I See You Sis. On this episode we talk about limiting beliefs, where they come from, and how to overcome them. Dayana also shares what her personal journey was like going from a self-proclaimed "shy" person to a professional speaker. If you're ready to take an honest look at the way you think and feel about yourself, and lay to rest any perspectives you've held about yourself that no longer serve you, this is a must-listen.

This episode is extra special because physical fitness and mental mindfulness has personally been lifechanging on this entrepreneurial journey for me. I'm excited to have Oyah Kheperu, Founder of WellKhep, join me to talk about her personal journey from employee to business owner. We got a chance to talk about the benefits of physical fitness, managing the resistance to consistently being active, and the connection between the physical and mental aspects of ourselves. We also chatted about Oyah's personal experience with sound therapy and the power it has in healing from the inside out. ANDDD, as a bonus, Oyah was so gracious to share a 15(ish) minute sound bath experience at the end of the episode... so light a candle, find a comfy seat and prepare to feel the vibrations... thank you Oyah!

I'm excited to welcome Jai Ferrell, Assistant General Manager of Commercial Development & Head of Marketing at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). On this episode, we dive into her journey from her upbringing as an Atlanta native to her present day role at the world's busiest airport. Her light is infectious, her support is very real, and as her star continues to rise she remains committed to pouring into those that seek her counsel. Jai shares some of the pivotal moments in her career, the value of networking across over networking up, and changing your perspective on dark seasons (like getting laid off). This episode is for you if you're ready to make the choice to not be defeated and instead get up to try again, or if you need a little encouragement to know you're not alone and it will get better as long as you continue to move through the world in your uniqueness and light.

Just 10 episodes ago, this show was all a dream. On the season finale, I'm sharing my high and low of this experience, what I've learned (or re-learned) during the process and revisiting my top 3 favorite guest moments. 

Are you skilled at something that comes so naturally to you, it barely feels like something special at all? My guest Averri Simone, Founder of Black Women Moguls, and I got a chance to talk about the journey of discovering your purpose and creating a profitable business using the innate skills and passions already within you.

On this episode we talk about:

• How to discover your deepest desires by defining your ideal lifestyle
• Building a business that fits into your dream life instead of building a life around your business
• How tapping into your childhood can help uncover the patterns of your natural gifts

It's a new year! After the rollercoaster that was 2020 we need all the new, feel-good vibes. Many of us are looking for ways to find balance in our lives, relationships, careers and within ourselves. Maybe you've been overthinking, overreacting, or overperforming, and the concepts of peace and calm seem just out of reach or unfamiliar altogether.

If you're anything like me, you always welcome some sage advice, and our first guest of 2021 did just that! Dr. Gimel Rogers, Psy.D., ABPP is a licensed therapist and is Board Certified in Clinical Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology. We got the opportunity to discuss all things mind, body and spirit in the name of finding your center, getting grounded and living your best life (on your terms) in the new year..

On this episode, we talk about:

•  The 4 signs someone lacks centeredness and share helpful tips to regain your center and discover balance again
• The importance of putting your mental state first and what taking care of your mind, body and spirit ACTUALLY looks like
• Strengthening your mind to strengthen your discipline so you can become more intrinsically motivated to do the things you love
• Identifying the big vs. small bags in your life and knowing what's worth your energy (Spoiler alert: Ms. Badu already told us, all you must hold onto is you)
• Responding vs. reacting and staying centered when people or circumstances are seemingly getting in the way of your greatness
• Why saying affirmations out loud can have a greater impact than simply reading them to yourself

Today's guest, Gabrielle Morton, is a trauma-informed licensed therapist whose challenging us to consider how we define self-preservation. As black women, we're historically known for putting everyone and everything before our own needs. Couple that with life experiences, childhood traumas and generational patterns, and you've got a whole case for booking your next therapy session. As the curator of safe spaces for Black women navigating the process of healing the relationship they have with themselves, Gabrielle helps us look at how we've looked at self-preservation in the past, what it really is vs. what it's not, and how it manifests in our bodies and relationships. We also talk about a few tools for your mental health toolbox that can help you preserve yourself during challenging moments in your life and in business. 

Fellow Carolina native Lillie Mae Williams is a 10-year veteran in the PR industry and Founder of the Glambitious brand -- and GlamCEO.com --, a platform for entrepreneurs to secure exposure opportunities and educational tools to help them accomplish their dreams. We got a chance to catch up and talk about how a series of career layoffs motivated Lillie Mae to start her own business, her perspective on the PR game and how things have changed from when she first started her career as a PR strategist more than a decade ago. We also spend some time talking about the benefits of hiring an experienced Publicist, what to expect and consider, and Lillie drops several DIY GEMS if you're not quite ready to add to your team but want to get some momentum going for your business.

Lillie Mae has shared her expertise on platforms including Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, TMZ Live, Huffington Post and XoNecole, among others, and she was even a cast member on Netflix's popular reality dating show 'Love Is Blind.' Now she's sitting down with me to share her knowledge of public relations and our shared belief in a strong PR strategy for your business.