Black on Shelf

It is a beautiful thing to do life with your loved ones while impacting the world. In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Psyche Terry, CEO and Founder of Urban Hydration, a Black and family-owned beauty brand. Thirteen years ago, Terry and her college sweetheart, now husband, Vontoba, decided to create a solution to address their struggles with dry skin and hair. Their solution was Urban Hydration, effective and affordable clean beauty products. Terry started off by sellin...

It is often said that failure is a crucial part of success, and my guests, Marx and Amber Succes, can definitely relate. This dynamic duo shares their story of launching Côtier, a party goods company. Their success story is far from a walk in the park. Through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, Marx & Amber have a lot to say about what it takes to walk the path to finding one’s niche and excelling at it. Marx and Amber started as college sweethearts and have blossomed into great busin...

A dog is a man’s best friend, and we see that sentiment reflected in how we invest in the care of our pets, from medical care and clothing to accessories and pet food. Today’s guest is Renaldo Webb, Founder and Chief Product Officer at PetPlate, a fresh-cooked dog food company. Today’s episode is filled with insights for anyone who is ready to make a difference in uncharted territory. Renaldo passionately shares how planning, research, mentorship, and collaboration are vital to scaling a succ...

Today’s guest is Brittany Golden, and one word that describes her is "survivor". She teaches us that even though life is full of curveballs, and tough times don’t discriminate, resilience will lead you to a state of thriving. That mindset took her through a healing process after a painful series of life experiences that ultimately led to the brilliant idea to start It’s a Golden Life aka IGL nails, a premium press-on nails brand. Enjoy today’s episode and learn how to turn pain points into su...

Today’s episode is sure to keep you engaged! My guest Bianca Rush is a go-getter who knows what she wants and goes for it! Her parents were very instrumental in her financial goals, and they ensured that she understood the value of a dollar. By the fifth grade, she already had a financial goal she was determined to reach by a specific age.Sassy Hair Cap produces hair and length inclusive satin caps for all hair textures and lengths. In this episode, Bianca discusses vital information about ge...

It is not unusual to hear a rallying call for individuality and the message that you have the freedom to become who you want to be. Fulfilling the dream of one’s parents is often frowned upon, but in Chef Chef Liz’s case, it has been one of the best decisions she’s ever made. Raised by a single mother who worked as a welder, Chef Liz described her mother as a hard worker, a strong woman who never gave up and a mother who sacrificed everything to take care of her children.And while her mother ...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Calvin Quallis, Founder and CEO of Scotch Porter, a men’s personal care brand. His journey to entrepreneurship can be traced back to his childhood working with his mom who owned a one-stop-shop featuring a beauty parlor, barber shop, and a beauty supply store. He credits the long hours spent doing chores in his mother’s shop as a foundation for what he currently does. After college, while working at a job he didn’t enjoy, he had the b...

Life does not always go as we plan, but when you are walking on purpose, it will always make sense at the end of the day. For this episode, I chatted with Jasmin Foster, founder of Be Rooted, a stationery company creating a space for women of color to see themselves in places they are not usually represented. Jasmin's love for stationery started as a young girl and she remembers the thrills she felt at the sight of stationary and artwork. Amidst the pandemic and the social injustice movement ...

Failure is never the end. You can turn losses into wins.In today's episode, I chatted with Brianna Arps, Founder of MOODEAUX, a clean luxury fragrance label that combines scent and skincare. After being unexpectedly laid off from her dream job as a journalist, Brianna was depressed. Life as she knew it took a drastic turn, and she turned to a daily self-care routine of applying fragrance to uplift her and ease her stress.During her routine, she realized that putting on perfume always made her...

Starting small is not a crime! In today’s episode, I chatted with Akua Kyerematen Nettey, Founder and CEO of Berry Bissap, a company producing all-natural West African spiced hibiscus drinks. Akua’s story is one for the books. Simply put, starting small is not a crime! Born in Oklahoma City to Ghanaian immigrants, Akua grew up cooking Ghanaian meals with her mother and the meals were often accompanied by a refreshing glass of bissap. A drink that not only tastes good but is also good for you ...