We've been taught one playbook: go to school, climb the corporate ladder and save in a 401k. But what if there's a brand-new playbook the elite are using that they didn't tell us about?

Kamika welcomes Stephanie Dorsey (CEO of Margins Capital) to the sanctuary discuss why high-level corporate salaries are essentially "corporate minimum wage" and how she is building an "overground railroad" for Black women to access institutional-quality investments. From leaving a career in law for the Peace Corps to launching a venture fund with access to companies like SpaceX, Stephanie shares how to unlearn corporate conditioning and start embodying a 9-figure mindset today.

Stephanie Dorsey is the CEO and Co‑founder of Margins Capital, an investment firm giving women and BIPOC investors access to private equity, late‑stage venture, and commercial real estate. A former attorney turned Peace Corps volunteer and Kellogg MBA, she spent a decade in product at Capital One before leading product at Metric Collective. She now builds pathways into alternative investments and hosts What The Wealthy Do.

Websites

• www.marginscapital.com
• joinsovereign.co

Social Media

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marginscapital
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanieadorsey/?hl=en
• Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marginscapital/?hl=en
• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatTheWealthyDo

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Links

• Website: https://blackwomensaveblackwomen.com
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• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomensaveblackwomen

What does "retirement" look like for a high-achieving creative at 63? Former Barbie creative lead Eleanor "Elle" Oliver joins Kamika in the sanctuary to explain why she's trading the corporate cubicle for "soft retirement" and a family legacy. From navigating massive layoffs to launching a business at 60+, learn why you must "ditch the number" and reclaim the thrill of your next chapter. This episode is part of The Corporate Baddie Series- a series created for Black women who are still inside corporate America and need strategy, language and protection, not hustle talk. Share it with a Black woman who needs permission to rest, reassess, and choose peace.

Eleanor M. Oliver is a creative strategist and brand storyteller with over three decades of experience crafting nuanced, consumer-directed messaging for global brands and brand-driven businesses.As the award-winning lead creative behind Mattel's iconic $1B+ Barbie portfolio, she helped shape the voice of one of the world's most beloved brands.She now channels her expertise into creative consulting, coaching and speaking.Eleanor advises mid to large-sized companies through brand strategy and new launches and guides Black women over 50 as they shift from corporate to community-centered entrepreneurship.

Social Media IG: https://www.instagram.com/elle.oliver.coaching/

Website: www.eleanorolivercoaching.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivereleanor/

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Links

• Website: https://blackwomensaveblackwomen.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackwomensaveblackwomen
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomensaveblackwomen

Are you ready to turn your corporate expertise into a thriving business? In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, host Kamika Dillard and government contracting expert Zainab Kamarah discuss how Black women can reclaim their power after layoffs by securing government contracts. From landing $50,000 "quick quotes" to scaling with systems, this episode provides a practical roadmap for professional growth. Learn why your current job description is your biggest asset and how to "fail forward" into your next six-figure win. This episode is part of The Corporate Baddie Series- a series created for Black women who are still inside corporate America and need strategy, language and protection, not hustle talk. Share it with a Black woman who needs permission to rest, reassess, and choose peace. Zainab Kamarah is a social entrepreneur, HR executive, and proud mother who builds practical systems that help people and organizations thrive. Through Conteh & Brown Group, she helps organizations solve complex operational challenges simply, especially in HR, compliance, and program delivery. Her work is grounded in activism around protecting children, expanding economic enfranchisement for Black women through micro-economies, and advocating for disability inclusion and poverty alleviation. Website: Conteh & Brown Group | Strategy, HR & GovCon Services for Small Businesses — Richmond, VA Instagram: @ContehBrown TikTok: Iron Barbie (@iron.barbie5) | TikTok Subscribe to Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women on YouTube and Instagram. Share this episode with a sister who needs it, and join the movement to amplify our stories. Website: https://blackwomensaveblackwomen.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackwomensaveblackwomen YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomensaveblackwomen

Avoidance is expensive. When we delay looking at our financial reality, it doesn't disappear. It just shows up later, louder and harder to fix.

On this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, money coach Joshlyn Ross joins Kamika in the sanctuary to reveal how she built a $250K portfolio and paid off $80K in debt while navigating layoffs. Learn how to stop avoiding your accounts, start investing with as little as $100, and use ETFs to grow your wealth. This episode is a masterclass in financial resilience and transparency for every woman ready to claim her freedom.

Joshlyn Ross is a Money Coach (CFEI) who teaches other women how to invest in the stock market and grow their money with confidence.

• She has built a stock investment portfolio worth $250,000.
• She has paid off $80,000+ in debt.
• She has saved 6+ months' worth of monthly expenses.
• She has taught 100+ women how to create their own financial independence as well.
• She has also partnered with Fundrise, Goldman Sachs, and Chase Bank on various initiatives.

As the founder of Maximized Money, she is normalizing a world where women have the freedom to do what they want when they want - without worrying about whether they have the money to do so.

Links

• Instagram and Tiktok: @maximized.money
• Website: www.maximizedmoney.com
• Waitlist for The Investor Lab:
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maximizedmoney/videos
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshlynross1/

Subscribe + connect

• Subscribe to Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women on YouTube and Instagram.
• Share this episode with a sister who needs it, and join the movement to amplify our stories.

Links

• Website: https://blackwomensaveblackwomen.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackwomensaveblackwomen
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomensaveblackwomen

In this episode of Black Women Save Black Women, host Kamika Dillard sits down with Sherika Ekpo, a former tech executive and Chief People Officer turned entrepreneur and franchise owner of Pecan Jacks West Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia. Sherika pulls back the curtain on why a corporate paycheck is often a "false sense of security" and shares her transparent journey from the White House and Google to betting on herself through franchising. Whether you are a corporate professional questioning your next move or an aspiring entrepreneur looking for a proven business model, this episode provides the financial and mental blueprint for your transition.

Sherika Ekpo is a people‑first leader, entrepreneur, and trusted advisor with nearly two decades of experience helping organizations build strong, values‑driven cultures. She's the Founder and CEO of Shaw Ekpo Enterprises, where she provides fractional CHRO support to growing and private‑equity‑backed companies. Sherika is also the franchise owner of Pecan Jacks Ice Cream & Candy Kitchen in Atlanta, where she's building community through commerce alongside her family.

Social Media handles: IG: Instagram LI: Sherika Shaw Ekpo | LinkedIn

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Interested in sharing your story, email us at [email protected]

In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika Dillard talks with Alana Cheeks‑Lomax about walking away from a $300k+ tech job to find peace. They unpack corporate burnout, overwork as a response to doubt and redefining success through sustainability, time freedom, and choice. This episode covers: • Corporate burnout and "golden handcuffs" • Leaving a high‑paying job responsibly • Redefining success beyond titles and salary • Community, validation, and trusting yourself This episode is part of The Corporate Baddie Series- a series created for Black women who are still inside corporate America and need strategy, language and protection, not hustle talk. Save this episode if you're ready to stop breaking yourself to prove you belong.

Alana Cheeks‑Lomax is the Co‑Founder and CEO of Untold Impact, a strategy consulting firm helping brands build authentic connections with multicultural communities. A former global DEI leader at Cash App and Microsoft, Alana brings over 15 years of experience at the intersection of business, culture, and social impact-advising organizations on growth, transformation, and meaningful change.

Instagram: @acheekslomax LinkedIn: Alana Cheeks-Lomax Tik Tok: @acheekslomax Business Instagram: @UntoldImpact_ Instagram: @OfficeHoursBlackGirlPodcast LinkedIn: Untold Impact LinkedIn: Office Hours: The Black Girl Podcast

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Is your "Survival Brain" making your career decisions? This week, Kamika is joined in the sanctuary with Dr. Twanna Carter, an award-winning executive coach and veteran, to discuss the high cost of operating in "survival mode." Dr. Twanna shares her raw journey from the intense social anxiety of her college years and military service to finding her voice as a fierce advocate for Black women in leadership. Together, they unpack why traditional "stay until you retire" advice is now obsolete and how the "reptilian brain" can block the strategic thinking needed for your next pivot. From 2-minute "micro-mindfulness" resets to adopting a "Sasha Fierce" persona for high-stakes interviews, this episode provides the tactical language to protect your peace and reclaim your authority. This episode is part of The Corporate Baddie Series- a series created for Black women who are still inside corporate America and need strategy, language, and protection, not hustle talk.

Dr. Twanna Carter, ICF‑PCC, is an award‑winning executive coach with over 20 years of leadership experience across corporate, military, and nonprofit sectors. Through her Lead with E.A.S.E.™ coaching program, she helps Black women executives lead with confidence, clarity, and sustainability, without burnout.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coach-twanna-carter/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachtwannacarter

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/DrTwannaCarter

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachTwannaCarter

Medium: https://medium.com/@drcartercoaching

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Share this episode with a sister who needs it, and join the movement to amplify our stories.

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Interested in sharing your story, email us at [email protected]

Are you more than your job title? This week, Kamika is joined in the sanctuary with Marli Crowe (fellow Arian and actual Birthday Twin) to discuss the raw reality of professional reinvention. Marley shares her humbling journey from a $200k Meta contract to a $19/hr mall job, exposing the identity trap and the toxicity of your value being tied to your work that leaves Black women exhausted. together they unpack resilience, why jobs aren't loyal and what it means to rebuild your identity beyond titles and paychecks.

This episode is part of The Corporate Baddie Series- A series created for Black women who are still inside corporate America and need strategy, language and protection, not hustle talk.

Marli Crowe is a business strategist and former founder exploring identity beyond job titles. After a challenging return to work following a layoff, she closed her career development company and began building FRMR, a community centered on resilience, reinvention, and life outside corporate labels. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marlicrowe/

IG: joinfrmr

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This episode launches The Corporate Baddie Series, a new conversation focused on helping Black women protect their careers and stay ready inside corporate America.

Kamika is joined by Latoya Haynes, an executive coach and Human Resources leader, to break down what it actually takes to remain visible, valuable, and in motion at work. They discuss why staying in one role too long can quietly stall your career, how to keep a "ready plan" active, and why your career strategy should never depend solely on what your employer is doing.

Latoya advocates for the PIE model: Performance, Image, and Exposure. She explains why overperforming alone isn't enough for advancement. Together, they explore how to build exposure authentically, identify strategic advocates, use HR as a resource, and negotiate compensation beyond base salary.

Kamika closes the episode with the S.A.V.E. Strategy, focusing on S for Support: redefining what real support looks like at work and why Black women don't have to navigate corporate spaces alone.

La Toya T. Haynes is an executive coach, Human Resources leader, and founder of The Talent Practice, where she helps high‑performing women be seen, valued, and advance their careers. With more than 27 years of corporate experience, she brings a strategic, human‑centered approach to supporting leaders across all levels of the organization. Business: The Talent Practice - www.thetalentpractice.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latoyahaynespcc/ (personal)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/105956885/ (business)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latoyathaynes/

Threads: https://threads.com/latoyathaynes/

X: @LaToyaTHaynes

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Instagram-@blackwomenwillsave

Interested in sharing your story, email info@blackwomenwillsaveblackwomen

You can find Kamika at:

Linked In- Kamika Dillard | LinkedIn

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/kamikatdillard/

Substack- https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

TikTok- www.tiktok.com/@missktdillard

Threads- @kamikatdillard

In Part 3 of this three‑part entrepreneurship series, Kamika and business consulting expert AnGèle Cade talk about how to close a business with intention and let go strategically. They reframe business closure as a leadership decision, not a personal failure and unpack the cost of holding on past a business's prime, why exit planning should begin early and how founders can transition with clarity instead of urgency. Together, they walk through strategic exit options including acquisition, franchising, succession and intentional sunsetting, along with the protections founders need in place for unexpected transitions. They also discuss how to recognize the value of non‑physical assets like data, brand equity, and intellectual property and how exiting well creates legacy instead of loss.

Kamika closes the episode with the S.A.V.E. Strategy, focusing on V for Validate: validating that choosing to end a business chapter is not quitting, failing, or giving up. It's discernment. It's leadership. And it's allowed.

Series arc: Part 1 — How to Start a Business the Right Way

Part 2 — How to Sustain a Business Without Burning Out

Part 3 — How to Close a Business With Intention

AnGèle M. Cade is a business consulting expert with over twenty years of experience helping entrepreneurs build strong, compliant business structures. She's the CEO and Founder of Executive On the Go, and is widely known as the go‑to professional for helping founders protect their assets, plan strategically, and build businesses that last.

Business and social media links:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/gelebox

Website: www.execonthego.com

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackwomensaveblackwomen

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Interested in sharing your story, email us at [email protected]

You can find Kamika at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamikadillard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kamikatdillard/

Substack: https://substack.com/@kamikadillard

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@missktdillard

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@kamikatdillard