Founder Hustle

In the season 2 finale of Founder Hustle, Melissa Bradley sits down with Deidre Mathis, Founder and CEO of Wanderstay Hospitality Group, based in Houston, TX. Diedre's love for people and her extensive travel experiences to 46 countries across all seven continents led her to the world of hospitality. During a travel gap year in Australia, Deidre stayed at numerous hostels and boutique hotels, which sparked her passion for creating spaces where people from all around the world could come together and foster a sense of community. She saw the potential in making travel more accessible and inclusive. Melissa and Deidre explore a wide range of compelling topics in this captivating episode. Deidre shares her insights on the lack of diversity in the hospitality industry and how she is making a difference by adding much-needed representation. They discuss her approach to hiring and supporting her staff, as well as her experiences raising funds for her business through pitch competitions and navigating relationships with different banks. The conversation also delves into the intersection of motherhood and entrepreneurship, as Diedre shares her journey of building a family while building her business. The importance of social capital and networking is highlighted, along with other valuable insights from Deidre's entrepreneurial journey. Tune in to this finale of Founder Hustle as Melissa Bradley and Deidre Mathis explore the world of hospitality, diversity in the industry, raising capital, building a family, and the significance of social connections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Founder Hustle with Melissa Bradley, our guest is Naza Shelley, the founder of CarpeDM, a value-driven matchmaking service for professional Black women. Naza, an attorney turned matchmaker, recognized the need to make the dating experience easier for Black women, who often face lower rates of engagement, racism, hyper-sexualization, and even violence on mainstream dating apps. Naza shares her journey of pivoting from law to entrepreneurship and discusses her passion for solving major dating challenges. She highlights the collaborative effort she made with a Black female psychologist to create a comprehensive questionnaire that feeds into CarpeDM's algorithm, leading to more compatible matches. During the episode, Melissa and Naza delve into the challenges of raising capital and the importance of being open to pivoting in the entrepreneurial journey. They also touch on CarpeDM's current expansion plans, with a focus on bringing the service to Atlanta after successfully launching in the DMV area. If you're single and interested in influencing CarpeDM's expansion decision, visit carpedmdating.com and enter your city. Join Melissa Bradley and Naza Shelley as they explore the inspiring story behind CarpeDM and the drive to revolutionize the dating landscape for Black women. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this captivating episode of Founder Hustle, host Melissa Bradley engages in a compelling conversation with KJ Hughes, the esteemed founder of Manifest and a professor specializing in sports and entertainment business. Join us as KJ shares his inspiring journey of building Manifest into a cultural phenomenon, driven by his unwavering vision for creating extraordinary experiences. Throughout the episode, KJ delves into his deep-rooted desire to establish Manifest as more than just a service, but as an immersive cultural experience. With meticulous attention to detail, he recounts the challenges and triumphs encountered along the path to Manifest's realization, unveiling the intricacies of crafting an unparalleled business. Tune in to this enlightening episode as Melissa Bradley and KJ Hughes explore the transformative power of Manifest and its unwavering commitment to enhancing lives through unparalleled service and curated experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of Founder Hustle Melissa is joined by another Bradley, Terri-Nichelle Bradley, the founder and CEO of Brown Toy Box. She is focused on closing the racial wealth gap through toys. She didn't settle for just making dolls, rather she wanted to Black up the toy industry and disrupt the education space overall. She's sharing the trials, tribulations and wins she's faced on her mission to create the next generation of "did you know" kids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back, Founder Hustle fam! In today's premiere episode Melissa Bradley is sitting down with a real life unicorn, Barbara Jones-Brown. Barbara is the founder and CEO of Lillii RNB, the only Black and veteran led IT company in the country in the loss prevention space. Lillii stands for Let's Imagine Life with Ladies In IT, and that's exactly what Barbara is doing. Today they're discussing everything from paving the way for the future generation of founders, equity, knowing your worth, manifestation and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're new here, hello and welcome! Founder Hustle is a podcast series that highlights the journey of New Majority entrepreneurs, hosted by Melissa Bradley, a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist. In each episode, Melissa interviews a successful New Majority entrepreneur to uncover their path to success, the challenges they faced, and the lessons they learned. We're so excited to be back this season, we couldn't wait until the premiere on May 23rd to give you a little preview of what you can expect! And if you like what you hear, you can catch up on all the episodes from season one of Founder Hustle wherever you get your podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes it helps to look back before we look forward! As we get ready for season 2 of Founder Hustle with Melissa Bradley, premiering on May 23rd, 2023, we want to share some of our favorite moments from season 1. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Founder Hustle, the podcast series shining a spotlight on New Majority entrepreneurs. I'm your host, Melissa Bradley, and today, we're diving into another captivating episode from season 1. Join Melissa as she sits down with Jacqueline Rodgers, CEO of Green Top Gifts, a business that has now secured its place in retail stores across the country. Jacqueline's story is one of sheer determination and resourcefulness. She masterfully leveraged her full-time job to pave the way for her business empire. Learn how she utilized her relationships, skills, and financial resources to build a thriving venture. In this enlightening conversation, Jacqueline shares her belief in continuous learning, emphasizing the importance of gleaning wisdom from those around you, be it co-workers, board members, or even family members. Her ability to seize opportunities and turn them into valuable lessons has been instrumental in her entrepreneurial journey. For those who find themselves in a full-time job while nurturing dreams of starting their own business, Jacqueline's advice is priceless. Discover the secrets she swears by, and learn from her experiences to make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Founder Hustle, the podcast series dedicated to the stories of New Majority entrepreneurs. Hosted by Melissa Bradley, and today, we're revisiting another powerful episode from season 1. Join Melissa as she sits down with April Harris, the fabulous Founder of Keeping You Sweet. In this inspiring conversation, April shares her incredible journey from facing adversity to building a thriving business. Listeners are advised that there is a brief reference to suicidal ideation in this episode. April Harris launched Keeping You Sweet in 2017, introducing a delectable range of health-conscious desserts in her New Jersey-based company. As one of the few African Americans in the competitive food industry, April's path to success was not without its challenges. However, guided by the wisdom of her late mother, who taught her, "There’s God and then there’s everybody else," April found strength and perspective amidst difficulties. Her unwavering determination, resilience, and reliance on prayer helped her navigate the obstacles and emerge triumphant. During this candid conversation, Melissa Bradley dives deep into April's journey, uncovering valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs facing tough circumstances. April's approach of treating everyone with love and leading with faith offers valuable lessons for anyone striving to make their dreams a reality. So join us as we learn from April Harris, a true embodiment of transforming challenges into *sweet* success. Get ready for an episode filled with inspiration, encouragement, and a testament to the power of determination. Stay tuned for more episodes of Founder Hustle coming your way! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Founder Hustle, the podcast series by, for, and about New Majority entrepreneurs. Hosted by Melissa Bradley. Although this month, we're taking a short break from new episodes before we drop season 3, fear not, because we have some gems from season 1 to share with you. In this special episode, we have the pleasure of hearing from Kalilah Wright, the visionary Founder of Mess in a Bottle. If you have a creative idea itching to be realized or if you're looking to venture into uncharted territories, this episode is tailor-made for you. Kalilah's journey will inspire you to seek what's missing in the world or even just in your world and turn it into something extraordinary. Originally from Jamaica W.I., Kalilah moved to the United States at a young age and was raised in the vibrant city of Brooklyn, NY. Armed with a Masters degree from Morgan State University and a Bachelors of Arts from Penn State University, she utilized her background in design and architecture to launch Mess in a Bottle in January 2016, based in Baltimore, Maryland. Mess in a Bottle isn't just a brand; it's a powerful means of expression. With each item designed and printed at Kalilah's in-house studio in Baltimore, the brand aims to drive change and provoke thought in its audience.  During this episode, Kalilah generously shares her roadmap to finding the inner strength and courage to take risks. For founders of color, she emphasizes the potential of leveraging our culture as a competitive advantage. By doing so, she believes we can challenge and reshape the world's perception of us, silencing any negative messages that may have been historically perpetuated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the season finale of Porch Talks with Melissa Bradley and Bruce Brown. Bruce is a parent, husband and the founder and CEO of Brown Executive Search. He is on a journey to do better and leave an impact on the world as it relates to Black people. From Jamaica to the Bronx, today he's diving into how he went from enlisting in the military to his career in search, and how he's using his knowledge and talents to help Black people get hired. Follow us on social media: Instagram/Twitter: @WeAreNMV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back for another conversation on Martha's Vineyard with Melissa Bradley and Derick Pearson. Derick is a husband, proud parent, person who is connected to the community, and the Executive Director for the Center For Black Innovation. He is determined to continue creating spaces for people to connect and gain access to resources, which is exactly what he did when he co-founded Black Tech Week. Follow us on social media: Instagram/Twitter: @WeAreNMV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mori Taheripour, educator and entrepreneur, joins Melissa Bradley in Martha's Vineyard for a vulnerable and honest conversation on the porch. They discuss the importance of claiming your power, your tears, and how Mori hopes to empower future entrepreneurs through her latest book, Bring Yourself: How to Harness the Power of Connection to Negotiate Fearlessly. Available everywhere now! Follow us on social media: Instagram/Twitter: @WeAreNMV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Karl Carter, CEO of Snake Nation, is committed to creating a better world and future for his family and community. From Africa to the ATL and GTM to Snake Nation, his goal to lift the Black community up has never changed. He is inspired by the work of Maynard Holbrook Jackson Jr., his uncle and the first Black mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, and determined to bring his community closer to experiencing true freedom. Follow us on social media: Instagram/Twitter: @WeAreNMV Check out our Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is from Birmingham, Alabama born, a cultural creative and the CEO and Founder of Scholly, Inc. Scholly is an app that helps students easily find scholarships for college and graduates pay off their student debt. The story behind Scholly began when he decided he wanted to be the 1st person in his family to go to college and discovered $1 million in scholarships. This afternoon, he's sharing his experiences as a Black and gay founder, how he hopes to help many others achieve their dreams of higher education, and more. Follow us on social media: Instagram/Twitter: @WeAreNMV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices