Conversations Beyond the Brand

In this heartfelt episode of Conversations: Beyond the Brand, Dr. Tashana Thompson sits down with filmmaker and creative director Graham Kuhn, founder of Focus Film, to explore how men can lead with emotion and how visual storytelling can transform brands.

Graham helps clients bring clarity, connection, and real feeling to their brand stories. This is a powerful conversation about what it means to create content that not only looks good but feels honest, human, and unforgettable.

👉 Learn more: https://www.beyondsolutions.biz

• How emotional storytelling builds brand connection
• Why video content is a powerful tool for nonprofits & businesses
• What it looks like when men lead with heart
• Practical strategies for telling your story on camera
• Tips for working with a creative team to bring your vision to life

00:00 – Welcome to Conversations: Beyond the Brand

01:20 – Meet Graham Kuhn, Founder of Focus Film

03:40 – Men Have Heart Too: Emotions & Leadership in Media

06:15 – Why Emotion Matters in Brand Storytelling

09:30 – How Graham Helps Clients Clarify Their Story

13:00 – Video as a Bridge Between Mission and Audience

16:45 – Collaboration, Trust & Vulnerability in Creative Work

20:20 – Personal vs. Professional Identity in Brand Building

24:10 – How Purpose-Driven Content Resonates with Viewers

28:15 – Advice for Nonprofits, Small Businesses, and Creators

32:00 – Final Takeaways: Make People Feel, Not Just Watch

✔️ Women-led nonprofits or small business owners

✔️ Founders who want to lead with authenticity

✔️ Marketing teams exploring story-driven strategy

✔️ Creatives & content creators building emotional brands

✔️ Men navigating leadership, storytelling, and impact

Website: www.beyondsolutions.biz

Instagram: @growwithbbs

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

Website: https://www.focusfilms.com/

Instagram: @focusfilmsllc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gkuhn1

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What does it really mean to lead with people first? In this episode of Conversations Beyond the Brand, Dr. Tashana Thompson sits down with Becky Bruner, founder of Choose Happy Assisting and a trusted voice in culture and connection consulting.

Becky shares how people-first leadership, intentional team-building, and values-based branding help small businesses and nonprofits build lasting impact from the inside out. If you're a mission-driven leader ready to elevate your brand through authentic workplace culture, this conversation is for you.

🌐 Learn more: https://beyondsolutions.biz/

✅ What You’ll Learn:

• What people-first leadership means in real business settings
• How to build a strong team culture within small organizations
• Why branding is deeply connected to workplace values
• Tools for women-led nonprofits and small businesses to grow authentically
• How personal purpose and professional impact intersect

00:00 – Welcome to Conversations Beyond the Brand

00:15 – Meet Becky Bruner: Founder of Choose Happy Assisting

00:50 – People-First Leadership: What It Looks Like in Action

01:35 – Lasting Impact of Team Workshops

02:30 – More Than a Buzzword: Making “People First” Real

03:40 – How Connection and Hospitality Build Culture

04:25 – A Family Legacy of Service and Leadership

05:10 – Supporting Nonprofits and Small Teams Through Culture

• Women leading nonprofits or mission-driven businesses
• Small business owners focused on values-based leadership
• Consultants and team builders working with diverse teams
• Entrepreneurs seeking branding rooted in connection and culture
• Leaders are looking to improve workplace engagement and retention.

Website: www.beyondsolutions.biz

Instagram: @growwithbbs

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

Website: https://choosehappyinc.com/

Instagram: @choosehappy_inc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckybrunner17

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In this insightful episode, Calondra Tibbs, founder and CEO of Trifecta Advising, breaks down the essential strategies nonprofits need to grow, communicate their value, and deliver measurable impact. With years of experience supporting mission-driven organizations, Calondra shares how she guides clients through strategic planning, brand visibility, and program development.

If you're a nonprofit leader or small business owner looking to deepen your impact and improve your marketing approach, this conversation is packed with guidance, real-world examples, and inspiration.

👉 Learn more: https://www.beyondsolutions.biz

What You'll Learn:

- Strategic planning for nonprofits

- How to communicate and showcase impact

- Building visibility with intentional branding

- Client success stories in the nonprofit space

- Tips for aligning mission with marketing

- Navigating entrepreneurship in service-based work

- The power of community, collaboration, and clarity

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Calondra Tibbs

01:45 – What is Trifecta Advising and who they serve

04:20 – Starting a consulting business during a pandemic

07:10 – The role of strategy in nonprofit success

10:00 – Building visibility with branding and messaging

13:15 – Impact-driven program development

16:30 – Client transformation stories

19:05 – Social media and nonprofit storytelling

21:45 – Leadership, entrepreneurship, and staying grounded

25:00 – Final advice for mission-led organizations

✨ Ideal for Viewers Who Are:

- Nonprofit professionals & executive directors

- Social entrepreneurs and consultants

- Small business owners seeking growth strategy

- Community leaders and changemakers

- Marketing and communications staff in nonprofits

🔗 Connect with Us:

Website: https://trifectaadvising.com/

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

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

Follow for more insights on branding, marketing, and leadership.

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In this episode of Conversations: Beyond the Brand, host Dr. Tashana Thompson sits down with fractional CFO and financial strategist Melissa Kennebrew of MBK Financial Services. Melissa brings a refreshing blend of empathy and expertise to business finance. Melissa shares how she helps entrepreneurs move from confusion to clarity, lead with confidence, and build businesses that are both purpose-driven and profitable.

You’ll hear her philosophy on why numbers tell a story, how to pay yourself without guilt, and why financial leadership should never feel intimidating. This conversation is packed with insight for founders who want to lead with heart and build a sustainable foundation for growth.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome + Episode overview

02:45 – Melissa’s path to becoming a CFO

05:15 – What it means to lead with compassion and strategy

08:40 – The biggest financial mistakes business owners make early on

12:00 – How to pay yourself consistently as a founder

16:10 – Why clarity is more important than hustle

19:45 – The right time to bring in a CFO

23:30 – What’s stopping founders from looking at their numbers

26:55 – The emotional side of financial decision-making

30:00 – Melissa’s go-to tools and mindset tips

33:10 – Final reflections on legacy, leadership, and faith

📣 Ready to build a business rooted in strategy, clarity, and authentic relationships?

At Beyond Business Solutions, we help women-led businesses grow with confidence through marketing and brand strategies that drive results. Learn more at https://beyondsolutions.biz.

📬 Connect with Melissa Kennebrew:

https://mbkfinancialservices.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MBKFinancialServices/  

https://www.instagram.com/mbk.fin.svcs/ 

👉 Let’s connect:

Website: www.beyondsolutions.biz

Instagram: @growwithbbs

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

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Conversations Beyond the Brand: Featuring Sharifa Rowe | Building Through Collectivism and Leadership

In this inspiring episode of Conversations Beyond the Brand, Dr. Tashana Thompson sits down with Sharifa Rowe — a powerful voice in leadership, collectivism, and community-building. Sharifa shares her journey of redefining success, not just by personal achievement but by lifting others along the way.

We dive deep into what real leadership looks like in today’s world, the power of authentic connection, and how choosing to build with others creates lasting impact.

Whether you’re a business owner, nonprofit leader, or someone passionate about making a difference, this conversation will leave you feeling encouraged, challenged, and ready to lead with heart.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Welcome + Introduction
• 2:15 How Sharifa and Tashana Met
• 5:45 Redefining Success Through Collectivism
• 12:10 Leadership Lessons That Last
• 18:30 Building Communities That Thrive
• 24:00 Final Reflections and Words of Wisdom

👉 Let’s connect:

Website: www.beyondsolutions.biz

Instagram: @growwithbbs

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

#Leadership #Collectivism #ConversationsBeyondTheBrand #WomenInLeadership #SharifaRowe #AuthenticLeadership #CommunityBuilding #PodcastInterview #Empowerment #TashanaThompson

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Welcome to Conversations Beyond the Brand — where we explore the heart of transformational brands and the bold women who build them.

In this inspiring episode, I sit down with Cashe Thompson, founder of Moments of Motivation — a women’s wellness brand that blends fitness, mindset, and sisterhood to create sustainable change from the inside out.

Cashe isn’t just a trainer; she’s a transformational coach who guides women through emotional, mental, and physical healing. We talk about the power of showing up authentically, building confidence through consistency, and why movement is more than exercise — it’s medicine.

👉🏾 Whether you're a business owner, a woman on a wellness journey, or someone looking for motivation to reclaim your power — this conversation will move you.

🎧 In this episode:

• How Cashe built her brand from a place of personal transformation
• The intersection of mental wellness, movement, and sisterhood
• Tips for staying grounded while building a purpose-led business
• The truth about entrepreneurship and self-care
• Why "showing up" is a form of freedom

✨ Watch. Reflect. Reclaim.

Follow Cashe:

• Instagram: cashemawo
• Website: https://cashemawo.com/
• YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@cashemawo
• Check Out Cashe’s Community: https://www.skool.com/momentsofmotivation 

Follow me: Dr. Tashana Thompson:

• Instagram: @growwithbbs
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashanathomas/
• Website: https://beyondsolutions.biz

#ConversationsBeyondTheBrand #WomenWellnessCoach #CasheThompson #MotivationForWomen #FaithAndFitness #WomenInBusiness #WellnessJourney #WomenEmpowerment #LifestyleBrand #BlackWomenInWellness

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Conversations Beyond the Brand: Featuring Tonya Milam | How My Mother Taught Me to Build Relationships That Last 

In the very first episode of Conversations: Beyond the Brand, host Dr. Tashana Thompson sits down with the woman who taught her the most about life, leadership, and relationships—her mother (Tonya Milam).

They share meaningful stories and everyday moments that shaped Tashana’s approach to building a brand centered on trust and connection. From childhood responsibilities to quiet examples of consistency and care, this conversation reveals the roots of the values that guide her work today.

This episode sets the tone for the series by honoring the foundational relationship that influenced how Tashana leads, serves, and supports others through her business.

👉 Let’s connect:

Website: www.beyondsolutions.biz

Instagram: @growwithbbs

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

#Leadership #RelationshipBuilding #ConversationsBeyondTheBrand #WomenInLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #CommunityBuilding #PodcastInterview #Empowerment #TashanaThompson

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