Business in the Black

How do you build a brand that reflects who you truly are?

In this episode of Business In The Black, Jamal Webb of Bands for Brands shares his journey of building a purpose-driven business rooted in faith, authenticity, and resilience.

Topics include:

• Building a personal brand with purpose
• Faith and entrepreneurship
• Overcoming lack of support
• The importance of community and networking
• Authenticity in branding and business
• Measuring success beyond social media
• Navigating identity as a Black entrepreneur

If you're an entrepreneur, creative, or someone trying to build something meaningful, this episode will give you both inspiration and strategy.

Subscribe for more conversations with Black entrepreneurs building real businesses.

What does it take to build a business while building a family?

In this episode of Business In The Black, we sit down with the founders of Tru Roots Educational Playspace, a husband-and-wife team creating child-friendly educational play spaces inside airports.

What started as searching for better spaces for their daughter turned into a bold entrepreneurial mission.

We discuss:

• Building a business as high school sweethearts turned founders
• Why less than 2% of airport concessions are Black-owned
• Breaking into airport spaces and navigating gatekeepers
• Raising capital for a $200K buildout
• Networking through LinkedIn and strategic outreach
• Balancing marriage, parenting, and entrepreneurship
• The legacy they’re building for their children

This episode is about vision, persistence, and creating opportunities where none existed.

New episodes drop bi-weekly.

What does it really take to build wealth through insurance?

In this episode of Business In The Black, we sit down with Tarico Burks of AAA – The Burks Agency to discuss entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and the business behind insurance ownership.

We cover:

• The moment he realized agency ownership could create generational wealth
• What it actually costs to open an insurance agency
• The truth about overhead, taxes, and business expenses
• Why life insurance is often misunderstood in the Black community
• How a $2.1M life insurance case changed his perspective
• Building a referral-based client network
• Representation as a young Black agency owner in Georgia

This conversation is bigger than insurance—it’s about ownership, education, and legacy.

If you're interested in wealth building, entrepreneurship, or financial literacy, this episode is for you.

New episodes drop bi-weekly.

What does it really mean to survive… and then conquer?

In this episode of Business In The Black, we sit down with an entrepreneur whose journey is nothing short of extraordinary. After being stabbed 9 times in New York City, he made a decision that would change everything — not just to survive, but to build.

We discuss:

• The night that changed his life forever
• How he turned trauma into purpose through the Survive & Conquer brand
• Lessons learned from failed partnerships and multiple business pivots
• Costly mistakes with taxes and how he recovered
• The mindset shift from chasing everyone to focusing on community
• Faith, alignment, and making purpose-driven business decisions
• What it truly means to move from surviving to conquering

This conversation is raw, honest, and filled with lessons for anyone building through adversity.

If you’ve ever been knocked down — this episode will remind you what’s possible.

New episodes drop bi-weekly.

Many people dream about entrepreneurship — but very few know how to start while balancing a full-time career.

In this episode of Business In The Black, Dr. Wade Manora Jr shares how he transitioned from a decade-long career in higher education to building a purpose-driven business designed to serve communities beyond the campus.

We discuss:
• The moment he realized his impact needed to reach further
• How he built a business while still working full-time
• The strategy behind his $64 startup model
• Social media marketing that actually converts
• His mission to reinvest in students through scholarships and community programs

Dr. Manora also discusses his book “2.43: The Impossible Dream”, a powerful reflection on perseverance, representation, and the journey many Black professionals navigate on the path to success.

If you’ve ever wondered how to start building something of your own while maintaining stability, this conversation offers practical insight and inspiration.

What does it really take to build a sustainable therapy practice as a Black entrepreneur?

In this episode of Business In The Black, we sit down with licensed therapist and private practice owner, Tiffany Alfred, who shares her journey from working in hospitals and school systems to building her own brick-and-mortar practice.

We discuss:

• Why real impact starts with the entire family system
• The failed first attempt at private practice — and what she learned
• The tax, legal, and ethical considerations no one talks about
• Leaving the security of the school system
• Training the next generation of therapists
• Navigating business as a Black woman in mental health
• Why AI will never replace human connection in therapy

This conversation is about systems, sustainability, and building something that serves both people and purpose.

If you’re considering private practice, pivoting careers, or building a mission-driven business — this episode is for you.

New episodes of Business In The Black drop bi-weekly.

Self-publishing is often marketed as “easy” and “accessible.”
But what does it actually cost to do it right?

In this episode of Business In The Black, we sit down with an author and real estate entrepreneur who shares the unfiltered truth about building a publishing business as a Black entrepreneur — from discovering her writing gift in her 30s during yoga, to walking into Office Depot for a single notebook that would eventually lead to twelve books.

We break down:

• The real financial investment behind self-publishing (editing, design, distribution, and Amazon fees)

• Lessons learned from early launch mistakes

• The challenges of securing grants as a Black business owner

• Navigating isolation and finding your “no-limit soldiers”

• Why sitting on your talent costs more than starting imperfectly

This conversation goes beyond inspiration. It’s about strategy, resilience, and what it truly takes to build something sustainable.

Whether you're an aspiring author, a creative entrepreneur, or building in the messy middle — this episode is for you.

🎧 Follow Business In The Black for bi-weekly conversations with Black entrepreneurs who are building, growing, and sustaining businesses with intention.

Season 2 of Business In The Black begins with a powerful reflection on what entrepreneurship truly requires.

In this solo opener, host Brandon revisits the theme of the courage to start—and introduces the deeper focus of Season 2: the discipline, strategy, and intention it takes to build and sustain a business.

Brandon reflects on lessons from Season 1, shares what worked, what didn’t, and explains how Season 2 will go beyond inspiration to deliver real execution—breaking down how businesses are structured, scaled, and sustained.

✨ Plus, stay tuned through the end of the episode for a sneak peek of upcoming Season 2 guests and conversations you won’t want to miss.

Whether you’re still gathering the courage to start or already navigating the messy middle of entrepreneurship, this episode sets the foundation for what’s ahead.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why courage doesn’t stop once you begin

• The difference between starting a business and building one

• What changed after Season 1

• How Season 2 will deliver deeper, more intentional conversations

• A teaser of upcoming guests

🎧 Business In The Black is the go-to podcast for aspiring and established Black entrepreneurs looking to build, grow, and sustain successful businesses.

📩 Interested in being a guest this season?
Email [email protected]

In this special finale episode, Brandon reflects on the journey behind Season 1—from launching on April 20th with uncertainty, to interviewing 8 incredible entrepreneurs, to navigating the trial and error that shaped Business In The Black.
Hear the real lessons, the surprises, the challenges, and the wins that defined the season, plus what’s coming in Season 2: deeper conversations, live shows, travel episodes, expert topics, and more.
A celebration of growth, courage, and community. Perfect for every entrepreneur working to build, refine, and continue their vision.

Episode Description:

What happens when an HR expert realizes kids have no idea what HR professionals do? They write a children's book about it! Meet Terry Lee, HR consultant, author of "Kaden's Amazing HR Adventure," and founder of a thriving Black Business Collective in Atlanta.

In this episode, Terry shares his journey from navigating imposter syndrome to building credibility as an HR consultant, selling over 3,000 copies of his children's book since April, and authoring "The HR COMPASS" - a practical guide for small business owners, pastors, and non-profit leaders to avoid costly HR mistakes.

We dive into: ✅ The top 3 HR mistakes that could get small businesses in legal trouble ✅ How AI is transforming HR and which tools business owners should use now ✅ The difference between being a businessman vs. an entrepreneur ✅ Building a reciprocal network that actually opens doors ✅ Balancing a full-time job, part-time work, and 3 consulting clients without burning out ✅ Why representation matters - from career day to children's literature

Whether you're a small business owner trying to navigate HR compliance, an aspiring consultant building your expertise, or an entrepreneur looking to scale, Terry's insights on systems, delegation, and genuine relationship-building will give you actionable strategies to grow your business the right way.

Connect with Terry Lee: 📚 Kayden's Amazing HR Adventure: https://a.co/d/4AvRpQf 📘 THE HR COMPASS: A Human Resources Guide for Churches, Small Businesses and Non-Profit Organizations: https://a.co/d/9tt9am3

Resources mentioned:

• Black Business Collective (Atlanta)
• AI tools for HR professionals
• Grant application strategies for self-funded entrepreneurs