Black Business Live Podcast

In this episode, host Tolu Akindunni sits down with Chelsea C. Williams, Founder and CEO of Reimagine Talent Co. A former Wall Street global HR leader, Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur of the Year, and Spelman College alumna, Chelsea brings deep expertise in building high-performing leaders and managing the multigenerational workforce.

Together, Tolu and Chelsea unpack the realities of the next-generation workforce, the undeniable value of human connection in the age of AI, and the power of cross-pollinating business needs across the U.S. and Africa.

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Chelsea also reflects on her personal journey returning to the Motherland, drawing on her family roots in Sierra Leone and Liberia, and how experiencing Ghana’s massive, driven youth population confirmed her business vision for the future.

In this episode:

• 02:25 – Bridging the Generational Gap: Why organizations must shift focus to career readiness and understand what the next generation values out of work.
• 03:40 – Returning to the Continent: Chelsea’s reflections on her West African roots in Sierra Leone and Liberia, and finding peace on the ground in Accra.
• 05:15 – The Human Side of AI: Why human-native skills (interpersonal connection, empathy, communication) are the ultimate competitive advantage over the next five to ten years.
• 06:50 – Strategic B2B Matchmaking: Discovering aligned values and cross-cultural synergy with Ghanaian companies ready to invest real resources into talent development.
• 09:10 – Democratizing Leadership: Dismantling the myth of the "born leader" and building a culture where leadership is cultivated at every level, from entry-level to the C-suite.
• 10:45 – Modern People Management: Moving away from one-size-fits-all management toward individualized coaching to prepare organizations for disruption and succession planning.

Connect with Chelsea C. Williams

• Chelsea on LinkedIn
• Reimagine Talent on LinkedIn
• Website: Reimagine Talent Co.

Other Resources

• The Wisdom Table Global: www.wisdomtableglobal.com 
• The BOW Collective: www.thebowcollective.org  

Thank You For Listening!

Thank you for tuning in to Season 3 of The Black Business Live Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and pass it along to a friend or fellow business owner.

Connect With Us: 

• Website: www.blackandb.com/podcast 
• Discover the network: www.blackandb.com/community 
• Email: [email protected] 
• Partnership & Sponsorship: [email protected]

This podcast is built from the grind up, showcasing the real, the raw, and the rise of Black business.

Season 3 of the Black Business Live Podcast was recorded entirely on location in Accra, Ghana, during the Legacy Without Borders™ trade delegation. Captured on Day 2 of the mission, this premiere features an authentic, reflective conversation with the leaders behind the delegation: Ticki Favaroth (Founder & Steward, The Wisdom Table Global™) and Nyamusi Igambi (CEO, IN-Side Global Advisors).

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Together, Tolu, Ticki, and Nyamusi reflect on the full-circle journey that began when Ticki first announced the vision in the Dallas studio just months prior, overcoming setbacks through faith, and witnessing immediate business connections unfold on the ground in West Africa. From high-level government meetings to booming innovation across African industries, this episode sets the stage for what happens when the diaspora answers the call to come home.

Key Moments & Timestamps:

• 02:18 - Answering the Call Home: How the Ghanaian message to "come home to the Motherland" is sparking long-term diaspora partnerships.
• 03:26 - Innovation Across Sectors: Firsthand observations of Ghanaian breakthroughs in agribusiness, fintech, HR, and technology.
• 05:27 - The Power of Going Together: Why collaborative trade delegations create stronger pathways for U.S. businesses entering African markets.
• 09:56 - Looking Beyond Borders: Future visions for The Wisdom Table Global™ across Kenya, Nigeria, and Mauritius.
• 11:22 - What Lies Ahead in Accra: Inside the Ghana Investment and Trade Week, B2B matchmaking, and meetings at the Office of the President.
• 13:39 - Advice for the Diaspora: Why entrepreneurs must "put their net in the water" and act on visions bigger than themselves.

Connect with Wisdom Table Global

Wisdom Table Global: www.wisdomtableglobal.com

Resources Mentioned

• The BOW Collective: www.thebowcollective.org 
• National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO): www.nawbo.org

Thank You For Listening!

Thank you for tuning in to the Season 3 Premiere of The Black Business Live Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify and pass it along to a friend or fellow business owner. 

Connect With Us:

• Website: www.blackandb.com/podcast
• Discover the network: www.blackandb.com/community
• Email: [email protected] 
• Partnership & Sponsorship: [email protected]

This podcast is built from the grind up; showcasing the real, the raw, and the rise of Black business.

Celebrating National Black Business Month, our Season 2 Finale, and 1 Year of The Black Business Live Podcast with Grammy-nominated Afrobeat artist, multi-instrumentalist, and founder of Down 4 Whateva Entertainment, Baba Kuboye.  

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Baba Kuboye carries a 100-year family tradition in African music. Tracing his lineage from his great-great-grandfather J.J. Ransome-Kuti (who released Nigeria’s first album in 1925) to his grand uncle Fela Kuti, activist grandmother Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and parents Fran and Tunde Kuboye, Baba shows how to honor history while building something entirely new.

In this episode, Baba breaks down:

• Why he joined the Recording Academy to ensure African artists get proper credit, fair compensation, and a real seat at the table.
• How to use actual numbers and listener feedback loops to make smart business decisions.
• Expanding your reach through intentional partnerships, from Latin Grammy features to music releases in the Far East.
• The commercial side of the "Afrobeats" label and why staying true to your roots is your biggest advantage.

Key Moments & Timestamps:

• 02:35 – Legacy Beyond Fela: Activism, Public Service, & Community  
• 04:20 – Growing Up at Jazz 38: Live Music, Family Dentistry, & Business in Lagos  
• 06:45 – Intentional Identity: Yoruba Culture vs. Commercial "Afrobeats"  
• 16:15 – Building in Dallas: Grassroots Strategy, Testing the Market, & Scaling
• 25:18 – The Recording Academy & Unlocking Strategic Collaborations  
• 35:18 – The Power of Focus: People, Data, & Feedback Loops
• 36:40 – How to Support Baba Kuboye & his Down4Whateva Independent Label

Guest Bio
Baba Kuboye is a U.S.-based Afrobeat artist, multi-instrumentalist, and voting member of the Recording Academy who holds a degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering alongside a Master's in Mobile Communication Systems. Blending his background in technical problem-solving with a century of family heritage, he founded Down 4 Whateva Entertainment (the first minority-owned independent Afrobeat label in the United States), to build sustainable infrastructure for artists in the diaspora.

A Hollywood Independent Music Award winner (Ikoyi Boy) and Intercontinental Music Award winner (Aiye), Baba actively uses his global platform, cross-genre collaborations, and voting seat at the Grammys to advocate for independent creators and ensure African music receives proper industry recognition and compensation.

Connect with Baba Kuboye

• Website: babakuboye.com
• Instagram: @babakuboye
• YouTube: @BabaKuboye

Thank You For Listening!
Thank you for celebrating 1 Year of The Black Business Live Podcast with us! If you enjoyed this episode, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and pass it along to a friend or fellow business owner.

Connect With Us:

• Website: www.blackandb.com/podcast
• Discover the network: www.blackandb.com/community
• Email: [email protected] 
• Partnership & Sponsorship: [email protected] 

This podcast is built from the grind up; showcasing the real, the raw, and the rise of Black business.

We’ve all felt it at the grocery checkout lately. Between shifting global markets and rising supply chain costs, keeping the family table full and the business budget balanced takes a lot more strategy these days. Dropping just in time for Juneteenth week, this episode is a timely reminder that true freedom and economic peace of mind start right at home, in our own communities.

As we get ready to wrap up Season 2 of The Black Business Live Podcast, host Tolu Akindunni sits down with the incredible Regina Harmon, CEO of Food Recovery Network, for a conversation that is less about traditional charity and much more about collective abundance. Regina shares a fresh, uplifting perspective on how we can look at the resources right in front of us differently.

You may be a local business owner looking to make your operations more sustainable or simply someone who wants to see their neighborhood thrive. This episode gives you a practical, hopeful blueprint for building our own modern-day storehouses. Pull up a chair and press play as we delve into self-reliance, community care, and shifting the narrative for good.

Key Highlights & Timestamps:
- 7:53 – How a simple campus idea scaled over 15 years into a massive national network that has recovered 24 million pounds of food across 46 states.
- 14:42 – The shocking environmental cost of food waste and why organic surplus has become the number one item clogging our landfills today.
- 22:27 – How local caterers, restaurants, conference organizers and coffee shops can save money, earn tax credits, and stay legally protected when donating food.
- 39:28 – Addressing racial disparities in food insecurity head-on and a call to action on how you can support the movement to make recovery the standard norm.

Actionable Resources
Ready to close the waste loop in your own operations and protect your local economy?

- Explore the Toolkits: Access free legal guides, tracking sheets, and implementation frameworks at the Food Recovery Network Resource Hub: foodrecoverynetwork.org/food-recovery-resource-hub
- ReFED Data Insights: Explore the structural data around U.S. food supply chains: refed.org

Featured Guest: Regina Harmon

Regina Harmon has served as the CEO of Food Recovery Network (FRN) since 2015, transforming it into one of the largest student-driven movements fighting hunger and climate change in the U.S. 

Named one of the food industry's most influential leaders by Le prestige / SELF Magazine, Regina is a prominent voice on systemic equity and corporate accountability. Her global insights have been featured on CNN and Al Jazeera, and she actively drives policy change as a board member for Food Tank, Earth Island Institute, and ReFED’s Advisory Council.

Connect with Regina & FRN:

- Regina Harmon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginadmanderson/
- Food Recovery Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/food-recovery-network
- Website: foodrecoverynetwork.org

Thank You For Listening! 
If this episode hit home, leave us a review and share with a leader who is ready to scale

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This podcast is built from the grind up; showcasing the real, the raw, and the rise of Black business. 

 #FoodWaste #FoodInsecurity #SmallBusinessTips #Juneteenth #Sustainability #FoodRecoveryNetwork #EconomicFreedom #FoodJustice #SocialImpact #CommunityAbundance #BlackBusinessLivePodcast #ToluAkindunni #ReginaHarmon

What happens when you face over 300 rejections from investors? You go out and build it yourself. In this episode of The Black Business Live Podcast, host Tolu Akindunni sits down with Wale Mafolasire, the founder and CEO of Givelify: the digital giving platform that has processed billions of dollars for over two million donors.

From walking away from the medical career his parents expected to standing firm on a "No Plan B" path, Wale shares the raw realities of his 12-year journey. We talk about the boots-on-the-ground research that led to Givelify's simple "three-tap" design, the changes needed to lead a team of over 150 people, and how a multi-billion dollar platform keeps a zero-layoff track record by staying true to its core values and uncompromising integrity.

Note: This episode was recorded in front of a live studio audience.

The Big Takeaways

• The Origin Story: The moment of frustration in a church pew that sparked a multi-billion dollar idea.
• The "No Plan B" Mentality [24:50 / 42:06]: How Wale handled 300+ venture capital rejections, shifted to a bootstrapping mindset, and used that friction to build a durable, completely independent company.
• Studying the Human Element: A look at how visiting over 70 churches to observe real people led to a frictionless product design that puts the joy back into giving.
• The Four Keys Framework: An inside look at Givelify's decision-making choices (Integrity, Heart, Simplicity, and Wow), and why Integrity is the non-negotiable anchor for every move they make.

Key Moments & Timestamps:

• 07:12 – The Spark: The inspiration came from a moment in church when Wale realized he could read the Bible on his phone but couldn't use it to give.
• 15:40 – Research & Product Design: Why the team visited 70–75 churches to understand the human behavior of giving before writing a single line of code.
• 24:50 – The Pivot to Bootstrapping: Shifting focus entirely to product improvement, customer feedback, and survival when investor money wasn't coming.
• 32:07 – The Four Keys Framework: Breaking down Givelify’s core decision-making filters: Integrity, Heart, Simplicity, and Wow.
• 42:06 – The "No Plan B" Philosophy: Why having a safety net is just a distraction for bootstrapping entrepreneurs.
• 51:44 – Live Q&A Session: The studio audience grills Wale on serving for-profit businesses and future diversification/expansion plans.

Featured Guest: Wale Mafolasire

Wale Mafolasire is a leading voice at the intersection of technology, faith, and generosity. As the Founder and CEO of Givelify, he uses behavioral insights to make giving simple and impactful. He has been recognized as a Top CEO to Watch (2024) and holds a Black Leadership Award for his commitment to excellence in the African and Black business community.

• Connect with Wale: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walemafolasire/
• Learn More About Givelify: https://www.givelify.com

Thank You For Listening! 

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This podcast is built from the grind up; showcasing the real, the raw, and the rise of Black business. 

In this high-impact conclusion to the Small Business Month segment of our Podcast Season 2, Tolu Akindunni is joined by "Your Multi-Gen Leader," Krishna Powell, the CEO of HR 4 Your Small Biz.

Throughout this month-long exploration, we have focused on the leader behind the business; digging into what it truly takes to sustain resilience, command influence, and build community. We have sat with the "shadow self" and the deep inner work required to manifest excellence. Now, this final May installment tackles the ultimate barrier to growth: the "Hustle Trap." Many entrepreneurs (particularly in the Black community) work twice as hard but hit a wealth ceiling because they have built a job for themselves rather than a scalable asset.

Krishna Powell, a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses faculty member, challenges the idea that more sweat equals more success. She provides a clear path for "Systems Over Sweat," showing founders how to extract their "magic formula" and replicate it through a high-performing, multigenerational team. This conversation serves as the bridge between the inner work of a leader and the practical steps required to build a legacy that generates wealth long after you’ve stepped away from the daily grind.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The "Mini-Me" Fallacy: Why looking for a clone of yourself creates significant gaps and how to hire for the "welcome differences" that actually challenge and grow your vision.
• Knowledge Transfer as Wealth: How to leverage the 10,000 Baby Boomers retiring daily to gain decades of institutional data that AI simply cannot replicate.
• The Family Hierarchy Trap: Navigating the complex emotional dynamics of hiring siblings or elders and keeping family reunions professional.
• Hiring Toward the Goal: Why your first hire shouldn't be a generic virtual assistant, but a strategic role specifically designed to move the needle on your revenue.

5 Moments to Skip To:

• 06:15: The "Math ain't Mathing" - Ensuring every role is tied to revenue or life-ease for the CEO.
• 12:50: Why Krishna says, "I don't need another me; I need my employees."
• 15:52: Managing the Family Hierarchy -  When your older sister is your employee.
• 25:40: The Open Door Fallacy - Why leadership behavior matters more than policy.
• 36:12: The AI vs. HI - Why you can't depend on a bot to provide the "human touch" clients pay for.

Featured Guest: Krishna Powell

Krishna Powell is the Founder and CEO of HR 4 Your Small Biz and a nationally renowned expert on managing multigenerational and multicultural workforces. A faculty member at the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, she has been featured on CNBC and Yahoo Finance for her success in helping global entrepreneurs improve their human resources function to drive profitability.

• Website: hr4yoursmallbiz.com
• Need Additional Support? Receive 50% off a Discovery Call with Krishna. Email [email protected] to schedule your 45-minute session for $97 and claim your discounted rate.

Thank You For Listening!
If this episode hit home, leave us a review and share with a leader who is ready to scale. Help us amplify Black excellence by:

• Sharing on your social media
• Tagging @bblivepodcast
• Inviting a friend to tune in

Connect With Us:

• Website: www.blackandb.com/podcast
• Discover the network: www.blackandb.com/community
• Email: [email protected] 
• Partnership & Sponsorship: [email protected] 

This podcast is built from the grind up; showcasing the real, the raw, and the rise of Black business.   
           
"Representation drives aspiration. When you see the path, the impossible becomes a plan."

Most business owners think their biggest hurdle is capital, but the truth is often deeper: it’s a connection problem. In this episode of the Black Business Live Podcast, host Tolu Akindunni sits down with Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew, CEO of Soulstice Consultancy, to peel back the layers of what it truly takes to lead and last.

Moving far beyond surface-level networking, Dr. Froswa’ challenges us to look at relationships as our most valuable currency. From the heavy reality of being the "only" Black woman in a corporate boardroom to the grounding, intergenerational wisdom found on a front porch, this conversation is an invitation to do the "deep work." It’s a roadmap for the Black and African business community to move past the daily hustle and start building a legacy that survives (and thrives!) long after we’ve stepped away from the desk.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why "favor capital" and "informational capital" are the hidden engines of business growth.
• How to navigate the weight of collective representation without losing your authentic self.
• Why you don’t need a million-dollar check to change your community.
• The vital importance of intentional mentorship and passing the torch within our communities.
• Why facing your past traumas will protect your team and your future.

5 Moments to Skip To:

• 05:40: The Power of Multigenerational Legacy: Why legacy and mentoring should be practiced throughout your life rather than just at the end.
• 13:59: Redefining Philanthropy: Breaking down the "love of humanity" and how to practice it through time, talent, treasure, and testimony.
• 19:24: Social Capital as Currency: Why relationships are a form of currency that can accelerate professional growth.
• 27:14: The "Front Porch": The inspiration behind the Front Porch Wisdom book and the importance of creating intentional community.

Featured Guest: Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew
Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is an award-winning philanthropic strategist, author, and the CEO of Soulstice Consultancy. With over 30 years of experience in systems change and community engagement, she specializes in building trust-based relationships and social capital for organizations and leaders.

• Connect with Dr. Froswa’: www.drfroswabooker.com 
• The Book: Front Porch Wisdom by Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew (2026 Most Outstanding Book Award Winner): rebrand.ly/front-porch 
• Heritage Giving Fund: www.heritagegivingfund.org

Thank You For Listening!
If this episode hit home, leave us a review and share with a leader who is ready to scale.

Help us amplify Black excellence by:

• Sharing on your social media
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Connect With Us:

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• Email: [email protected] 
• Partnership & Sponsorship: [email protected] 

This podcast is built from the grind up; showcasing the real, the raw, and the rise of Black business.               

"Representation drives aspiration. When you see the path, the impossible becomes a plan."

"Wholeness is not the absence of struggle; it is the presence of your full self in the midst of it."

In this powerful episode of The Black Business Live Podcast, Tolu Akindunni sits down with Lola Dada-Olley, an attorney, author, and "Hope Multiplier." Born to first-generation immigrant parents, Lola was raised with a focus of excellence that led her to the top of the corporate legal world. But behind the professional accolades was a lived reality that required a different kind of "tactical grit."

Lola shares her journey of caring for her two autistic children. She managed 70 hours of pediatric care per week for four years while also being a lifelong advocate for her younger brother, who is profoundly autistic and intellectually disabled. 

We dive into how she transitioned from "performing resilience" to becoming Unapologetically Whole.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• The Immigrant Blueprint: Shifting from a performance-based identity to a purpose-driven life.
• The Caregiver’s MBA: How decades of navigating neurodiversity and the ADA created a sharper, more empathetic corporate leader.
• The Influence of Storytelling: Using platforms like her podcast, Hulu, TEDx, and new book to move rooms and shape national culture.
• Sustainable Ambition: How Black leaders can set boundaries and seek support without self-erasure.
• Generational Healing: Reclaiming a version of success that honors both high-impact leadership and personal wholeness.

5 Moments to Skip To:

• 02:52 – The Immigrant Blueprint: Growing up in a first-generation household where performance was the metric of success.
• 05:46 – The "Year of the Tear": A raw look at the double autism diagnosis that forced a shift from a "perfect" success story to radical emotional truth.
• 21:46 – The Strategic Pivot: How Lola leveraged "Tactical Grit" to move from the courtroom to the TEDx stage and global leadership.
• 31:57 – The Five-Minute Pocket: A practical tool for busy leaders to find grounding in the midst of professional and personal chaos.
• 44:02 – The Permission to Become: Lola's final mandate on why wholeness must always come before performance.

Featured Guest: Lola Dada-Olley
Lola leads the ADA legal team for a global banking institution and is the host of the Unapologetically Whole podcast. Her forthcoming memoir, "Unapologetically Whole," is a must-have for caregivers and high-achievers looking to redefine success after life-altering events.

• Connect with Lola: https://loladadaolley.com 
• Pre-Order the Book: Unapologetically Whole (Available May 12) https://rebrand.ly/unapologetically-whole. Get $3 off with code WHOLE 
  
  

Thank You For Listening!
If this episode hit home, leave us a review and share with a leader who is ready to scale.

Help us amplify Black excellence by:

• Sharing on your social media
• Tagging @bblivepodcast
• Inviting a friend to tune in

Connect With Us:

• Website: www.blackandb.com/podcast
• Discover the network: www.blackandb.com/community
• Email: [email protected] 
• Partnership & Sponsorship: [email protected] 

This podcast is built from the grind up; showcasing the real, the raw, and the rise of Black business. 

How does a physician-founder scale a brand to reach 1 million girls in an industry where Black-owned businesses only make up 3%? In this special Women’s History Month feature, we move beyond the narrative to the roadmap of Black excellence. We are joined in-studio by the brilliant Dr. Monica Williams: the physician-founder recently recognized on Inc. Magazine’s Female Founders 500 and Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies.

From winning the $1M Black Ambition Grand Prize to achieving 91% YOY growth, Dr. Monica reveals the "full lowdown" on how she transitioned from radiology research to orchestrating a puberty revolution. Alongside host Tolu Akindunni and guest host Sammi Bivens, we explore the strategy of scaling a category-expanding brand into 350+ Ulta Beauty stores and securing a major retail partnership with Walmart.

Strategy Gems: What You Will Absorb

• The Innovative Edge: Moving beyond marketing to engineer period products specifically for "growing bodies" and tween physiology.
• Financial Rigor for Scale: Why Dr. Monica prioritizes a daily cash flow statement to manage debt and prepare for mass retail distribution.
• Channel Diversification: The "lowdown" on balancing multiple channels: D2C, Amazon, Partnerships, and National Retail to protect your business from volatility.
• The Power of Three: Building a high-performance founding team with complementary expertise in education, execution, and finance.

TIMESTAMPED CHAPTERS 

• 00:00 - Introduction: Celebrating Black Innovation & Women's History Month.
• 04:44 - The HBCU Journey: Transitioning from Medicine to Serial Entrepreneurship.
• 07:31 - Identifying the Gap: Why adult period products fail young girls.
• 08:43 - Body Literacy: Using education as a tool for market dominance.
• 20:14 - Retail Strategy: The road from 350 Ulta Beauty stores to Walmart.
• 24:30 - The 10-Year Overnight Success: Final advice for mission-driven founders.

ABOUT THE GUESTS

• Dr. Monica Williams: CEO of Scarlet by RedDrop, HBCU Alumna (Howard & Meharry), and award-winning entrepreneur. tryscarlet.com
• Sammi Bivens: CEO of Digital Marketing Maven and 2025-26 President-elect of NAWBO Dallas/Fort Worth. https://digimarketingmaven.com 

RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE

• Free Access to Period Prep 101 Resource: tryscarlet.com (Use code SCARLETPODCAST): 
• Join NAWBO DFW: nawbodfw.org
• Black Ambition Prize Competition: blackambitionprize.com

PRODUCT SPONSOR

• LNK Mezcal: lnkmezcal.com 

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! 

If this episode hit home, leave us a review and share with a leader who is ready to scale

Help us amplify Black excellence by:

• Sharing on your social media
• Tagging @bblivepodcast
• Inviting a friend to tune in

CONNECT WITH US:

• Website: www.blackandb.com/podcast
• Discover the network: www.blackandb.com/community
• Email: [email protected] 
• Partnership & Sponsorship: [email protected] 

This podcast is built from the grind up; showcasing the real, the raw, and the rise of Black business. 

In this high-energy second episode of Season 2, Tolu sits down with Karen "KJ" Johnson, a powerhouse executive leader and sought-after public speaker. While KJ serves as the 2025-26 Chapter President of NAWBO Dallas/Ft. Worth, our conversation dives deep into her life’s work: helping leaders move from the exhaustion of survival to the impact of sustainability.

KJ pulls back the curtain on the Black Charity Boardroom, explaining the "Boardroom Reset" necessary to save nonprofit leaders from burnout. We also explore her new book, Poised & Positioned for Purpose, and the W.O.M.A.N. Framework: a leadership and identity model designed to help high-achieving women own their presence in every space they occupy.

The Big Three Gems:
- On Presence: "You have Presence. When you enter a room, you've gotta own it because,  you do."
-On Authenticity: "You need to own all of who you are, in all the spaces you are in."
-On Resilience: "The hills and the valleys that you go through? It's okay. Because you are going to get a testimony out of it!"

Key Takeaways:
-The "Working Board" Trap: KJ discusses the common pitfall where nonprofit boards focus on day-to-day operations rather than long-term strategy.
-Strategic vs. Operational Leadership: KJ explains how defining clear roles allows leaders to sustainably fuel their passion without hitting a wall of burnout.
-The Accountability Shift: Why mission-driven work still requires high-level business discipline. KJ discusses the necessity of introducing performance reviews and setting clear, measurable objectives to ensure an organization’s vision becomes a reality.
-The W.O.M.A.N. Framework: A breakdown of KJ’s signature identity model, helping women of color reclaim their worth, own their voice, and activate their authority.
-Owning Your Presence: Why you must bring your whole self into every space you occupy; from the community to the executive suite.

RESOURCES FROM THE Click here to view the episode transcript.

-Purchase the Autographed Copy of Poised & Positioned for Purpose: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/LWB4B8XV6CDWW 
-The Black Charity Boardroom: linktr.ee/blackcharityboardroom 
-The Konfident Woman:  linktr.ee/konfidentwoman 
-Connect with Karen “KJ” Johnson:
-Instagram: @the_karen_kj_johnson
-LinkedIn: Karen "KJ" Johnson

PRODUCT VENDORS:
-Folly’s Arts & Crafts (IG: @follyscrafts)
-I LUV YOU (BLK) (IG: iluvyoublk)

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! 

If KJ’s insights on the "Boardroom Reset" or owning your presence hit home, leave us a review and share this episode with a leader who is ready to scale

Help us amplify Black excellence by:
-Sharing on your social media
-Tagging @bblivepodcast
-Inviting a friend to tune in

CONNECT WITH US:
-Website: www.blackandb.com/podcast
-Discover the network: www.blackandb.com/community
-Email: [email protected] 
-Partnership & Sponsorship: [email protected] 

This podcast is built from the grind up; showcasing the real, the raw, and the rise of Black business. 

#BBLPodcast #Episode2 #BlackCharityBoardroom #TheKonfidentWoman #ExecutiveLeadership #BoardroomReset #PoisedAndPositioned #WomensHistoryMonth

Click here to view the episode transcript.