Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Sonia Lewis.

CEO of The Student Loan Doctor, LLC

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To explore the student loan crisis in America, highlight Dr. Lewis’s entrepreneurial journey, and share insights on financial literacy, debt management, and empowering underserved communities—especially African American women.

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🔑 Key Takeaways 1. The Student Loan Crisis

• Student loans are the only major loan type in the U.S. without underwriting.
• Many borrowers accumulate debt before becoming employable.
• Women, especially African American women, carry the highest student loan debt.

“Student loan debt shows up most when people try to buy homes or start families—it’s like having a second mortgage.”

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2. Dr. Lewis’s Journey to Entrepreneurship

• Started her business while working full-time, meeting clients in cafes.
• Went viral in 2018 after claiming the title of the first African American woman to own a student loan repayment company.
• Built her brand through community engagement, free workshops, and media exposure.

“I was taking clients from 6 to 10 at the Corner Bakery… I still owe some people some dates!”

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3. Business Model & Impact

• Offers affordable consultations and a membership-based virtual university.
• Focuses on helping adults already in debt—not scholarships or financial aid.
• Maintains low prices to remain accessible to teachers and working-class clients.

“I never wanted to leave behind someone making \$60K a year. Quantity will always provide.”

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4. Empowering African American Women

• Her research and business focus on how student loan debt disproportionately affects African American women.
• Creates a judgment-free space for clients to discuss financial struggles.

“If you owe \$900,000, I’m not going to start the call with ‘What happened?’”

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5. Faith, Mentorship & Community

• Attributes her success to faith, discernment, and investing in mentorship.
• Believes entrepreneurship requires connection and collaboration.

“God shows up in rooms I haven’t made it to yet.”

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6. Advice to Parents & Colleges

• Emphasizes the need for financial education before college.
• Encourages parents to prepare children for money management, not just rely on colleges.

“The college is a business. It’s not their job to manage your finances.”

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💬 Notable Quotes

• “You want to put yourself in the middle of a big problem.”
• “Entrepreneurship can feel lonely—you’ve got to get out of your house.”
• “We don’t see each other’s credit scores, but debt is the quiet thing that plays in the back of your mind.”

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