Black Businesses Matter

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“They have to see that if I don't say anything …that my actions prove to be true,” says Scott L Steward

2024-08-1201:20:48

Send us a textEpisode 89:Guest Name: Scott StewardGuest Business: Genius Lab, Inc.Summary StyleEPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, we speak with Scott Steward, the CEO and Founder of Genius Lab Inc., a leading figure in education and entrepreneurship from Chicago’s South Side. With over 15 years of teaching experience in Chicago Public Schools and a deep academic background, Scott has dedicated his life to empowering youth in business and technology through his work at...

“People need to understand that mentorship is a pour and pour back,” Says Larvetta Loftin

2024-08-0548:44

Send us a textEpisode 88:Guest Name: Larvetta Loftin and Katori Shepherd Guest Business: The L3 Agency Summary StyleEPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, we spotlight our associate producer, Katori Shepherd, and dive into the crucial role of mentorship. We explore the seven types of mentors and the essential qualities that make mentorship truly effective. We also reflect on past guests, highlighting those we admire and aspire to have as mentors. Additional...

“It’s a fact that diverse businesses contribute to your bottom line” Says Vincent Williams

2024-08-2601:15:25

Send us a textEpisode 91:Guest Name: Vincent WilliamsGuest Business: Entrepreneurs AcademySummary StyleEPISODE SUMMARY In this episode of Black Businesses Matter, we speak with Vincent Williams, the Director of Operations for Entrepreneurs Academy, a Chicago-based organization in the Austin community dedicated to supporting socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The Academy provides entrepreneurship training, workshops, advising services, and technical assistance to t...

We are here to amplify diverse voices,” says Larvetta Loftin

2024-05-0629:37

Send us a textEpisode 87:Guest Name: Larvetta LoftinGuest Business: The L3 Agency Summary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I delve into the significance of Black History and Women’s History Month, highlighting notable awards, milestones, and groundbreaking achievements. Additionally, I reflect on the Women in History season, spotlighting memorable moments. If you want to learn more about the importance of celebration , this is the episode for you! ...

“ My vision is to continue to expand it,I wanted to touch every city, every woman I can,” says Char'Nese M. Turner

2024-04-2901:00:32

Send us a textEpisode 86:Guest Name: Char'Nese M. Turner Guest Business: Tribe Tribute Summary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Char'Nese M. Turner, an esteemed author, journalist, and entrepreneur. Char'Nese is the founder and CEO of Tribe Tribute, a women’s empowerment organization aimed at motivating women and girls to embrace their true selves. She reflects on her early years and how her mother’s encouragement led her to explore writin...

“The power of the pivot and the power of prayer I was leaning on that,” says Darlene Hill

2024-04-2201:07:45

Send us a textEpisode 85:Guest Name: Darlene HillGuest Business: Rise Strategy Group Summary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Darlene Hill who serves as the Executive Vice President of Communications at Rise Strategy Group, a public strategy firm. Darlene reflects on her extensive career journey before joining Rise Strategy Group, starting with her move to Chicago where she spent 25 years at FOX 32 as a reporter and anchor. She shares sto...

“I do believe that with any business- whatever you decide you want to do make sure it’s something you like to do,” says Felicia Cotton

2024-04-1525:20

Send us a textEpisode 84:Guest Name: Felicia CottonGuest Business: Xoxoxo Cosmetics Summary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Felicia Cotton with founder and president of Xoxoxo Cosmetics. Felicia details her upbringing highlighting her love for all things feminine despite growing up with majority male family members. Felicia embarked on her entrepreneurial journey in 2019. Her website went live in February 2020, just before the onset of th...

“I had all these opportunities passing me with no way of drawing them back in to say that my product is first and foremost a baby carrier,” says Angelique Warner

2024-04-0801:06:25

Send us a textEpisode 83:Guest Name: Angelique WarnerGuest Business: A Warner Idea LLCSummary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Angelique Warner, founder and president of A Warner Idea LLC and the visionary behind GoGoVie premium baby carrier. Angelique details her upbringing, describing herself as inquisitive and a dreamer in her childhood. Not only did she dream vividly, but she could also recall her dreams in great detail; these traits proved to b...

“You’re better than this. They empowered me to better and encouraged me,” says Dr. Jennifer Matthews

2024-04-0142:18

Send us a textEpisode 82:Guest Name: Dr. Jennifer MatthewsGuest Business: Dr. Jennifer Matthews Consulting Agency Summary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I had the opportunity to talk with Dr. Jennifer Matthews, who is Founder & CEO of Dr. Jennifer Matthews Consulting Agency. Dr. Matthews comes from a family of law-enforcement as she is the 3rd Generation to pursue a career in this field. Dr. Matthews is a driving force behind digital transformations t...

“I am about holistic well-being,” says LaTrina Joshua

2024-03-2555:31

Send us a textEpisode 81:Guest Name: LaTrina JoshuaGuest Business: Bijou Body SpaSummary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with LaTrina Joshua, CEO of Bijou Body Spa. With a profound commitment to healthcare and a passion for helping individuals look and feel their best, LaTrina Joshua has built a career that bridges the realms of medicine and aesthetics. LaTrina details her upbringing and her passion for helping others, a passion instilled in her b...

“Poetry is very therapeutic because I am releasing something that was weighing on me- I'm liberating myself from that,” says Tara Levy

2024-03-1842:56

Send us a textEpisode 80:Guest Name: Tara LevyGuest Business: Liberated Arts MovementSummary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Tara Levy, founder of the Liberated Arts Movement. Tara details her upbringing highlighting her early love for art she recounts the moments in her childhood when she spent hours drawing and journaling. As an adolescent, she worked at the Goodman Theater where she nurtured her passion for creative writing. After graduating&nbs...

“I am on a mission through “Blow The Whistle Law” to simply educate,” says Chiquita Hall-Jackson

2024-03-1147:34

Send us a textEpisode 79:Guest Name: Chiquita Hall-JacksonGuest Business: Blow the Whistle Law and Hall-Jackson and Associates, P.C.Summary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Chiquita Hall-Jackson, an award-winning licensed attorney and adjunct law professor, the visionary behind the Blow The Whistle Law social justice movement and the founder of Top Employment Law Firm Hall-Jackson & Associates P.C. Chiquita details her upbringing rev...

“That's what I mean by nuanced messaging just because you're dealing with a particular group of people whoever they are however they look like they're not monolithic,”Says Terrence Chappell

2024-01-2937:00

Send us a textEpisode 78Guest Name: Terrence ChappellGuest Business: Chappell Communications GroupSummary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Terrence Chappell the Principal of Chappell Communications Group, a social media agency that specializes in socializing nuanced messaging among cultural communities. He partners with clients and organizations to tap into the human experience across advocacy and mission-based work. Terrence recounts his upbr...

“How can we support the economic development in the neighborhoods around us?” says Abigail Ingram

2024-01-1555:12

Send us a textEpisode 77:Guest Name: Abigail IngramGuest Business: Polsky Exchange Summary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I had the opportunity to talk with Abigail Ingram. Abigail Ingram is the executive director of the Polsky Exchange. Polsky Exchange is the core of The Polsky’s Center community engagement with the Southside of Chicago. This gathering space services local businesses owners and entrepreneurs with co-working spaces, program initiatives an...

“We’re a partner in the process, we understand that you need to have strong small businesses so you can have strong larger firms,” Says Kyra Rénel Hardwick

2024-01-1557:55

Send us a textEpisode 76:Guest Name: Kyra Rénel Hardwick Guest Business: The Kyra CompanySummary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Kyra Rénel Hardwick founder and Managing Consultant of The Kyra Company—a dynamic business development solutions firm committed to a comprehensive approach to addressing operational opportunities within organizations..Kyra reflects on her challenging childhood, emphasizing the resilience that always led her to percei...

Special Episode: AI in the marketing and communications space

2024-01-0801:17:53

Send us a textGuest Name: Cle Andrea Hayden and Lori PelzerGuest Business: Inked Digital Marketing and GirlgobegreatEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I interview Cle Andrea Hayden, Founder and Chief Digital Strategist of Inked Digital Marketing Agency, and Lori Pelzer, CEO of Girlgobegreat, a Professional and personal development company, and GirlgobegreatAI. The discussion delves into AI, defining it as a technological tool with a focus on data collection algorithms....

“It comforted me from the inside out - I said I have to make something that comforts others,” says Javon McCain

2023-12-0450:00

Send us a textEpisode 72:Guest Name: Javon McCainGuest Business: EGG ROLLS ETCSummary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Javon McCain, President and Creative Director of Egg Rolls ETC. Egg Rolls ETC is a unique product line that blends delicious flavors in warm wontons that bridge cultural gaps. Javon is a Clinical Nutritionist and Caterer who lived abroad in Taiwan following the passing of her mother. There she was bestowed the name ‘Chow ...

“If I’m not forward thinking - I could not only be excluded - I could be out of business in five years.” says Greg Bush

2023-11-2758:00

Send us a textGuest Name: Greg Bush Guest Business: B.I.G. Summary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter I had the opportunity to sit down with Greg Bush, President and CEO of B.I.G, a management and information systems consulting and services firm. Greg has more than 25 years of experience with large scale information technology projects. After working with KFA,inc. for a number of years, he acquired KFA,Inc. We learn about his journey from his childh...

“A brand is an emotion, it’s about how you make others feel when you walk into a room,” says Ramatu Kandakai

2023-11-2035:00

Send us a textEpisode 70:Guest Name: Ramatu KandakaiGuest Business: Tutu Brand StrategiesSummary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Ramatu Kandakai an MBA holder from Johns Hopkins, who excels in marketing for both B2B and B2C markets. Her passion for marketing trends and personal branding is highlighted by her brand 'mytutucents' and 'Tutu Brand Strategies’. Ramatu has collaborated with brands like Ziploc, Bacardi, and Google+. Ramatu offers a g...

“Even though I'm not part of the day-to-day, I'm still very much involved in some capacities to support our growth,” says Dominique Wilson

2023-11-1339:18

Send us a textEpisode 69:Guest Name: Dominique WilsonGuest Business: RiseKitSummary StyleEPISODE SUMMARYIn this episode of Black Businesses Matter, I speak with Dominique Wilson, Co-Founder, and Strategic Advisor to RiseKit, an economic mobility software, that connects individuals with jobs and non-profit resources, streamlining collaboration among multiple organizations and offering insightful impact tracking for funders. With over 15 years of experience in community and economic devel...

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