In this episode of Business of the Beat, co-hosts Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Leslie Roberson return for Part 2 of their candid conversation, taking listeners deeper into their personal journeys. From daily rituals and guilty pleasures to nostalgic TV favorites and the beauty trends that shaped their perspectives, Kendra and Leslie open up about the experiences that continue to influence their lives and careers.

They share reflections on dream jobs, the evolution of their partnership, and the importance of health practices and personal growth in sustaining success.

With honesty and humor, the hosts highlight the tools they rely on for resilience while envisioning the next chapters of their journey.

✨ Tune in for inspiration, laughter, and lessons on balance, business, and becoming your best self.

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In this episode of *Business of the Beat*, hosts **Kendra Bracken-Ferguson** and **Leslie Roberson** open up about their personal and professional journeys, reflecting on the big wins, defining moments, and pivotal relationships that have shaped their careers.

In part two of our deep dive into beauty retail shake-ups, Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Leslie Roberson break down Bath & Body Works’ surprising move onto college campuses.

Is it a genius strategy or just a gimmick? The hosts unpack what this means for Gen Z consumers, the future of retail touchpoints, and how innovation from brands like LumiNicole is paving the way for beauty in high-traffic spaces like airports, hotels, and bookstores. Plus, Kendra and Leslie share personal parenting wins and candid insights into building models where everybody wins.

Tune in to hear why the future of beauty isn’t just about what you sell—it’s about where you sell it.

In this episode of Business of the Beat, hosts Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Leslie Roberson reflect on their latest wins, including a successful event in Martha’s Vineyard. They dive into the shifting retail landscape with a candid discussion on the Ulta x Target partnership ending—what it means for emerging brands, the role of DEI in retail, and the future of the shop-in-shop model.

Kendra and Leslie also share their vision for Lumina Cole, their venture dedicated to amplifying underrepresented brands. Plus, they drop a teaser for next week’s episode featuring Bath & Body Works.

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We’re re-releasing this powerful Season One conversation with Tisha Thompson, founder and CEO of LYS Beauty, to celebrate key milestones that have been accomplished in the past 4 years! When this episode first aired in 2021, LYS had just launched as the first Black-owned clean cosmetics brand at Sephora. Today, Tisha has secured historic eight-figure funding and expanded into every Sephora door across the U.S., Canada, and Australia, plus nearly 900 Sephora at Kohl’s locations. Alongside of this expansion, Business of the Beat host, Kendra Bracken-Ferguson was appointed to the LYS Beauty Board of Directors. LYS continues to redefine clean beauty with inclusivity and accessibility at its core. Listen in as Tisha shares her inspiring path from makeup artist and accountant to beauty industry trailblazer, and why representation, intentionality, and purpose-driven development remain at the heart of her success.

In this powerful episode, Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Leslie Roberson unpack the emotional and structural implications behind the closing of beloved beauty brand Ami Colé. More than a business decision, it's a mirror reflecting the industry's persistent challenges—from DEI rollback and consumer perception, to the burden of founder identity and the urgency of leadership evolution. With raw honesty and deep industry insight, the hosts explore what this moment means for Black beauty founders, how we build for sustainability, and the importance of pivoting with purpose.

They honor the legacy of Ami Colé and call for accountability, while also sharing the behind-the-scenes lessons shaping their own venture, LumiNicole Beauty.

Tune in for a candid conversation on community, leadership, and the future of inclusive beauty.

In this fiery and heartfelt episode, co-hosts Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Leslie Roberson return from a whirlwind 10-day experience at the AMAC National Airport Conference and The ESSENCE Festival of Culture as Hyatt Regency New Orleans official beauty partners. From late-night Lauryn Hill debates to industry backlash around Target’s presence, they unpack it all—honestly and unapologetically.

Kendra and Leslie dive into the big wins, behind-the-scenes realities, and the economic and cultural dynamics shaping Essence Festival 2025. They also tackle deeper conversations around diaspora tensions, the DEI fallout impacting Black-owned platforms, and why cultural accountability and unity matter more now than ever.

Tune in for hot takes, some laughs, and a passionate reminder that we’re stronger together. Oh—and don’t miss their brand new segment: What’s the Big Win?

In this powerful conversation from Season 1, originally recorded in the early days of her brand's journey, Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye—founder of Ami Colé—joins us to share the inspiration behind her clean beauty line created for melanin-rich skin. Rooted in her Senegalese heritage and her mother’s Harlem beauty salon, Ami Colé was more than a brand—it was a love letter to her community.

Now, four years later, we revisit this episode with reverence and reflection, as Diarrha recently announced the closing of Ami Colé in a heartfelt essay for The Cut. Her story, both then and now, reminds us that success is not just in the launch but also in the grace of knowing when to pivot. As we celebrate Diarrha’s visionary leadership, we honor the mark she made on the beauty industry—a legacy of representation, care, and soul-deep affirmation for those long overlooked.

“I’m building this for my younger self, for my community, for every girl who walked into a store and didn’t see herself.” — Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye, Business of the Beat, Season 1: Episode 11

This episode is a testament to beginnings, to brave endings, and to the enduring power of building with purpose.

In this special episode of Business of the Beat, we welcome back Angel Cornelius, founder of Maison 276, alongside hosts Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Leslie Roberson. Recorded live from New Orleans during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture®, Angel shares her inspiring journey—pivoting from a successful corporate career to building a nationally distributed beauty brand featured at Walmart and QVC.

She reflects on the New Orleans roots that shaped her, the legacy of her childhood home at 276, and her mission to create a sophisticated line of plant-based, sustainable beauty products—proving it’s never too late to start. Angel also opens up about the power of faith, family, and sisterhood in sustaining her path.

Plus, go behind the scenes of her partnership with LumiNicole Beauty as a featured brand at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans during Essence Fest.

Whether you're an aspiring founder or deep in the trenches of building your legacy, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and redefining what it means to be in your prime.

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson welcomes her new co-host, fellow powerhouse entrepreneur Leslie Roberson, to Business of the Beat. In this exciting new series, the duo will dive deep into the business of beauty—covering everything from retail and ingredients to product strategy and the powerful founder stories behind the brands.

Recorded fresh from the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® in New Orleans, this debut episode unveils the origin story of their new venture, LumiNicole Beauty and takes listeners behind the scenes of their launch and strategic partnership with Hyatt Regency New Orleans.

Get ready for real talk, plenty of laughs, and inspiring insights as Leslie officially joins Business of the Beat.