Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women

In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika shares a Fail Forward File about almost signing up for a marathon—until her line sister set her straight.

She sits down with Kiona Owens to unpack what it means to lose a "good government job" and how she's navigating her next steps.

This week's Save Strategy centers on the V: Validation—reminding us that it's more than okay to rest. Because let's be real: Team No Sleep is wack, especially in your 40s.

Kiona Owens is a Cultural Diplomat, Strategic Advisor, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Executive committed to advancing inclusive innovation across Africa and the diaspora. Formerly the Senior DEIA Advisor and Cultural Diplomat to Africa at the U.S. Agency for International Development, she transformed her 2024–2025 federal layoff into a platform for legacy by founding the Global Beauty & Innovation Exchange (GBIE). GBIE bridges Africa's creative economy and the diaspora through inclusive beauty, STEAM-based cosmetic science education, and cross-border partnerships that empower underrepresented founders. Through her work, Kiona blends diplomacy, creativity, and systems thinking to expand equity and ownership in global markets.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiona-s-owens

Website: https://www.creativeenterpriseconsults.com

Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kionacurates

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

Visit our website: https://blackwomenwillsaveblackwomen.com

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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

Kamika Expresses her honest opinion a lot this episode (if we are being honest lol). She gets real about anxiety in this week's Fail Forward File. This week's guest Lauren Pan (LP) shares how job loss turned into unexpected gains in love and family support. Together they dive into intersectionality: Blackness, women, queer, religion, disability and wrap up with LP's business Houstory will change the way we rent moving forward. We wrap the with a S.A.V.E. Strategy reminding us that supporting friends is simple but powerful.

About Lauren Pan (LP)

LP—Lauren Pan—is The Intentional Leader, Founder of Houstory, and a champion of authenticity. With over a decade in strategic HR and team building, she's committed to dismantling insecurity in organizations and creating transparency in housing. Through Houstory, she proves that leading with your whole self isn't just ethical—it's a strategy for equity and impact.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/panlj

http://linkedin.com/company/houstory

http://instagram.com/houstoryapp

https://www.tiktok.com/@houstoryapp

Www.HoustoryApp.com

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.

Visit our website: https://blackwomenwillsaveblackwomen.com

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

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomensaveblackwomen

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

In this week's episode, Kamika sits down with Lauren to talk about knowing when it's time to move on, leaning into rest, and the courage to ask for support. Lauren shares her weight loss journey and the intentional steps behind building her new brand. Kamika opens up in the Fail Forward Files about financial discipline and why she needs to stop spending money like she is still getting a steady paycheck every 2 weeks. This weeks S.A.V.E. Strategy focus on Support not just being financial especially during this holiday season.

Lauren Paige Woulard is a powerhouse publicist and communications executive, known for leading press strategy at SHOWTIME / MTV Entertainment Studios and driving campaigns for major brands and award-winning projects. A Howard University alum and New Orleans native, she's been recognized as a Distinguished Communicator of Color and one of Cablefax's Most Powerful Women in Media.

Lauren Paige Socials:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/misslaurenpaige

https://www.instagram.com/misslaurenpaige?igsh=MW50YzVld3lta3hsZw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.tiktok.com/@missellepaige?_r=1&_t=ZP-91NjXS5NSWM

https://www.threads.com/@misslaurenpaige

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.

Visit our website: https://blackwomenwillsaveblackwomen.com

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

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomensaveblackwomen

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

In this week's episode, Kamika sits down with Jaida Brooks to unpack the realities of experiencing a first layoff and the courage it takes to ask for what you truly need in uncertain times. What begins as an honest conversation quickly transforms into a coaching session, with Jaida walking away equipped with tangible actions to engage her community and navigate chaos with clarity. Kamika also opens up in the Fail Forward Files about her journey as a recovering perfectionist, reminding us that progress—not perfection—is the path forward. This episode closes with the S.A.V.E. Strategy: Elevate with progress, showing how bravery and growth come from rising even when the outcome isn't flawless. Jaida Brooks is a strategist and leader with over six years in management consulting, specializing in human capital and organizational change. Originally from Prince George's County, Maryland, she moved to Los Angeles in 2022, where her passion for people and purpose continues to guide her work. Beyond consulting, Jaida is a professional dancer and emerging movement director, blending corporate strategy with artistic expression. Grounded in empathy and creativity, she is committed to helping others realize their potential and champion equity. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jaidabrooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaidabmarie/

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.

Visit our website: https://blackwomenwillsaveblackwomen.com

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

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomensaveblackwomen

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

Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women is more than a podcast: it's a movement. With over 300,000 Black women losing jobs this year, it's time we S.A.V.E. (Support, Amplyify, Validate, Elevate) one another. Each episode delivers practical tips, real audience questions, powerful guest stories, and coaching tools designed to help you rise, rebuild, and reclaim your power.

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.

Visit our website: https://blackwomenwillsaveblackwomen.com

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

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomensaveblackwomen

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

In this week's episode, Kamika shares a Fail Forward reminder to spiral a little but don't stay there before diving into a powerful conversation with Anetra Henry. They discuss career transitions, interviews that demand free labor, and the unspoken weight of not telling her mom about losing her job. This episode explores how we show up for our sisters — and ourselves — with the Save Strategy: Validate the feelings.

Anetra Henry, a seasoned partnerships and growth executive, joins us to share over 20 years of experience driving impact in nonprofit and social change organizations. Recognized nationally for her advocacy in equity and inclusion, Anetra has built award-winning strategies in sponsorship, fundraising, and communications that strengthen organizations and amplify diverse voices. In this conversation, she blends professional expertise with personal reflection—exploring how Black women navigate long-term unemployment, career reinvention, and the deeper pursuit of purpose beyond the paycheck.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anetrahenry/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anetrahenry/ Website: https://www.anetrahenry.com/

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.

Visit our website: https://blackwomenwillsaveblackwomen.com

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

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomensaveblackwomen

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

In the debut episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika kicks things off with her Tip of the Week, sharing lessons from entrepreneur friend Cira. From discovering WhatNot to unpacking what it truly takes to succeed, Kamika brings practical wisdom straight from the entrepreneurial trenches.

This week's featured conversation is with Maiya Winston, founder of Be A Possibility. After being laid off in July, Maiya opens up about her journey of resilience, the realities of corporate America, and why DEI work can be both exhausting and essential. Kamika and Maiya connect over their shared roots in Los Angeles, their love of golf, and the hard-earned lessons that come with navigating layoffs more than once. Together, they explore what "work" really means, when it's time to ask for help, and how Black women continue to lead with purpose and passion.

Question from the Audience Kamika responds to a listener's question on how to get back on track with health after a loss. She shares her experience with a vegan cleanse, reflects on why it can feel challenging, and explains how she's using her D.O.T. method from Fail Forward Coaching to rebuild balance and momentum.

Maiya Winston is the founder of Be A Possibility, a Dallas-based Culture & Inclusion Consultant, Global DEI Leader, and Executive Scholar. With 15+ years of corporate experience, she specializes in diversity, equity & inclusion, leadership development, and employee engagement. A Certified Diversity Professional, Aspen Institute Fellow, and Career Coach, Maiya brings both expertise and passion to helping organizations and individuals thrive. She holds a BA from USC, an Executive MBA from UT Arlington, and is currently writing her first book.

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

Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/msmwins/

Linkedin: Be A Possibility Coaching and Consulting (https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-a-possibility-coaching-and-consulting/)

Website: www.BeAPossibility.com

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.

Visit our website: https://blackwomenwillsaveblackwomen.com

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

Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@blackwomensaveblackwomen

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