In this heartfelt and hilarious live BA QA session, Mandi Woodruff-Santos sits down with Emily Esquivel, a therapist-turned-entrepreneur who’s navigating the highs and lows of launching her own private practice. Together, they dive into the messy middle of entrepreneurship, from battling imposter syndrome to redefining what it means to run an ethical and sustainable business.

Emily opens up about her journey, including the pivotal moment that pushed her to leave toxic work environments, the emotional weight of using an inheritance to fund her dream, and the challenges of creating a high-ticket offer in a field that often undervalues its practitioners. 

Mandi brings her signature blend of humor and wisdom to coach Emily through refining her business strategy, identifying her ideal client, and building confidence in her offer.Whether you’re dreaming of starting your own business or just trying to figure out your next career move, this episode is packed with relatable moments, actionable advice, and plenty of laughs along the way.

What We Covered:

• Emily’s Career Journey: From working in toxic environments to launching her own private practice.

• The Emotional Side of Entrepreneurship: How grief and family legacy shaped Emily’s decision to go solo.

• Imposter Syndrome & Confidence Building: Why believing in your offer is key to success.

• Ethical Business Models: Emily’s vision for creating a group practice that prioritizes therapists’ well-being over profits.

• High-Ticket Offers: The challenges of pricing and selling services in a way that aligns with your values.

• Marketing 101 for Entrepreneurs: Mandi’s tips on building a sales funnel, creating lead magnets, and nurturing potential clients.

FOLLOW BROWN AMBITION: 

Follow us @BrownAmbition on IG, @brownambition on TikTok, and make sure you're signed up to get our weekly newsletter.

CHECK OUT EMILY ESQUIVEL: 

https://oyanova.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/oyanova-healing-pllc

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Mandi, Yanely, and Chris are celebrating milestones, unpacking celebrity controversies, and diving deep into the relationship between ambition and self-worth. WHEW. Yep. We go there!

BTW, why is Jonathan Majors all over our feeds and how is Meagan Good single-handedly holding up his career rn? We explore the fine line between talent appreciation and moral responsibility in entertainment.  

Finally, we dive into ambition and self-worth. Through personal stories and therapy insights, we reflect on how ambition is often fueled by trauma and can be reshaped into something healthier and more sustainable.  

Don't forget to RATE and REVIEW the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! It's essential to keep us growing and let everyone know how they can join the BA Fam. 

Stay connected: 

Follow us @BrownAmbition on IG, @brownambition on TikTok, and make sure you're signed up to get our weekly newsletter.

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BA Fam Tiffany is BACK!!!, and we’re celebrating in a big way! She shares the excitement of her new PBS special, “Get Good With Money”, and the unforgettable premiere party at the historic Kruger Scott Mansion. From reconnecting with Mandi to navigating last-minute challenges—like prepping for a teleprompter with 20/50 vision—Tiffany gives us an inside look at this milestone moment.  

That’s not all—we also dive into real financial challenges many are facing today, including managing consumer debt, student loans, and rising childcare costs. We break down practical strategies, highlight tools like Rocket Money to uncover hidden expenses, and explore ways to increase income without dipping into retirement funds. 

Whether you're looking for budgeting tips, motivation to tackle your finances, or just love an inspiring success story, this episode has it all. Take a listen!

Keep up with Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche

@thebudgetnista

@getgoodwithmoney

/youtube.com/@thebudgetnistablog

Watch| Get Good with Money with Tiffany Aliche | PBS

Email your questions to [email protected]

or DM us @brownambitionpodcast on Instagram.

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Hey BA Fam! Join us for an inspiring conversation with Tomara Watkins President of Buttah Skin and Dr. Kristian Edwards Founder of BLK+GRN, two visionary entrepreneurs reshaping the beauty and wellness industry. They share their journeys of building brands that cater to the unique needs of Black consumers while challenging industry norms and creating spaces for empowerment. 

From breaking barriers to redefining success, Tomara and Dr. Edwards discuss the privilege and responsibility of entrepreneurship and the impact of uplifting Black voices through their work.This episode highlights the power of resilience, community, and intentional relationships in navigating challenges and achieving success. We also explore the vital role of mutual support among Black women in business, emphasizing the strength found in collective growth and mentorship.

Discover how Buttah Skin and BLK+GRN are making a lasting impact in competitive markets and why representation, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership matter now more than ever. Tune in for an insightful and empowering discussion!

Follow this week’s Guests:

Buttah Skin: 

• https://www.instagram.com/buttahskin/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@buttahskin
• https://www.youtube.com/@ButtahSkin

Tomara W., President Buttah Skin: https://www.instagram.com/beautyteo/

BLK+GRN: 

• https://www.instagram.com/blkandgrn/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@blkandgrn
• https://www.youtube.com/@blkandgrn

Dr.Kristian E., Founder BLK+GRN: https://www.instagram.com/drkristianh/

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🔥 In this episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with Jessica Cruel, the powerhouse Editor-in-Chief of Allure and SELF magazines, to talk about her journey to the top of the beauty media world and how she’s building wealth through real estate investing as a single woman.

👑 We dive into:

✔️ How Jessica climbed the ranks in the magazine industry

✔️ Her journey to financial independence & the FIRE movement

✔️ The ups and downs of being a single woman in real estate

✔️ Smart investing tips for first-time buyers

✔️ The power of mentorship, executive coaching, and community

💰 Jessica shares the exact team she built to succeed in real estate:

✔️ A real estate agent who understands investment properties

✔️ A reliable general contractor & trusted repair professionals

✔️ A financial team to maximize tax benefits & long-term wealth

🔑 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Don’t wait for the “perfect time” to start investing—learn as you go!

2️⃣ Build a strong team to support your real estate journey.

3️⃣ Wealth-building is possible at any stage of your career.

📌 Follow Jessica Cruel:

📸 Instagram: @JCruel

🌟 Allure: allure.com

🌟 SELF: self.com

💡 Subscribe for more career, wealth, and entrepreneurship insights and don't forget to leave us a review! It's a huge help to get the show seen by more listeners.

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Hey BA Fam! This week, Mandi is joined by two powerhouse women who are shaking things up in their industries. Get ready for a fun, insightful, and inspiring conversation with Lisa Beasley, the comedic genius behind the viral character “Corporate Erin,” and Kenya Parham, the Chief Growth Officer of Spill, the Black-owned social media platform that’s changing the game.

What We’re Talking About:

• Lisa’s Journey from Gary to Greatness: Lisa takes us through her path from growing up in Gary, Indiana, to becoming a viral sensation. She spills on how her corporate consulting days inspired “Corporate Erin” and why she left traditional Hollywood behind to take control of her creative career.

• What Makes Spill Special: Kenya breaks down how Spill is creating a safe and inclusive space for Black, Brown, and queer communities online. She shares how the platform uses culturally competent AI and human moderators to protect users while fostering authentic connections.

Follow Lisa Beasley (@lisabevolving) for more Corporate Erin antics and updates on her creative projects.

Join Kenya Parham (@spillmob) and check out what makes this platform the new go-to for culture drivers.

Download Spill > https://www.spill.com/

Take part in Spill's crowdfunding round > https://wefunder.com/spill/

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Hey BA Fam! Mandi, Yanely, and Chris tackle a listener’s dilemma about whether to stay at her “dream company” despite a brutal 90-minute commute and no work-from-home flexibility. Plus, hot takes on corporate America’s return-to-office demands and the recent shopping boycott!

The crew debates whether any job requiring three hours of daily commuting can truly be called a “dream,” especially when promotion opportunities are 2-3 years away. Yanely shares Jamie Dimon’s leaked anti-WFH rant (“If you want to keep your ass home and be lazy, stay home!”), revealing how corporate pushback against remote work is often about protecting profits, not productivity.

This episode delivers the perfect blend of practical career advice and unfiltered commentary on workplace politics that BA fans love.

Email your questions to [email protected] or DM us @brownambitionpodcast on Instagram.

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The Brown Table is BACK with all the tea! Mandi, Yanely, and Chris break down the Oscar highlights, Women's History Month, Bloody Sunday's 60th anniversary, the Retail Boycott, and a special first-time Brown Boost interview with Alencia Johnson, author of Flip The Tables: The Everyday Disruptor's Guide to Finding Courage and Making Change.

Don't forget to RATE and REVIEW the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! It's essential to keep us growing and let everyone know how they can join the BA Fam.

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Listen up, BA Fam! Mandi’s bringing the 🔥 with special guests Yanely (Miss Be Helpful) and Chris (Popcorn Finance) for a no-holds-barred Q&A that’ll have you nodding, laughing, and maybe feeling a little called out (in the best way).

First up: Kerry’s caught between a rock and a hard place. Her husband’s unemployed after dragging the family across the country, and now she’s staring down a $75K job offer that sounds like a chaotic nightmare compared to her current $50K gig. Should she sacrifice her sanity for that extra cheddar?

Then Sasha comes clean about how she let lifestyle inflation wreck her finances. Despite doubling her income to $90K, she’s drowning in $34K of credit card debt.

Got a question you want us to answer? Hit is up!

• Slide into our DMs: @brownambitionpodcast

• Email your tea: [email protected]

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We’re back at the Brown Table with Yanely & Chris, BA Fam! And we cover everything from unexpected pigeon encounters to major shifts in the job market, media, and entrepreneurship.

This week, we dive into:

• Elon Musk’s proposed job cuts to federal agencies and what it could mean for the workforce and economy
• Navigating job loss and career transitions, plus how to bounce back and build new opportunities
• Why civic engagement matters, especially in local elections and policies that impact your finances
• Media shake-ups and what the cancellation of Joy Reid’s show means for representation
• The rise of TikTok creators and how digital media is shifting
• The realities of entrepreneurship and why collaboration beats going solo
• Financial literacy and wealth-building strategies for uncertain times
• Marvel’s new Captain America movie and whether it lived up to the hype
• Boosts and Breaks of the week—because life keeps life-ing

Hit play and join the conversation. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review!

Follow BA at @brownambitionpodcast

Follow Yanely @missbehelpful

Follow Chris @popcornfinance

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