Diverse Network Podcast

🎙️ The Power of Taking Responsibility for Your Life | Edriss

At some point, we all have to decide whether life is simply happening to us or whether we’re willing to take ownership of where we’re going.

In this episode of the Diverse Network Podcast, Edriss opens up about the experiences that taught him responsibility, discipline, ambition, and the importance of learning from your mistakes.

From being challenged at a young age to becoming a collegiate fencer, entrepreneur, and emerging professional, Edriss shares how he learned that every action has a reaction and that growth begins when you stop blaming circumstances and start taking responsibility for your decisions. 

The conversation also dives into overcoming comparison, refusing to settle for an average life, taking risks, building meaningful relationships, and using adversity as fuel to become better.

Edriss makes it clear that success is not about having everything figured out. It is about owning your choices, learning from failure, staying focused on the person you want to become, and continuing to get back up when life knocks you down.

If you’re in a season of transition, chasing something bigger, or trying to take greater ownership of your future, this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Diverse Network Podcast | Season 4

The Power of Taking Responsibility for Your Life

Featuring Edriss

What does it really take to reach the next level as a leader?

For Phillip Moore, the answer starts with humility.

In this episode of the Diverse Network Podcast, Jordan sits down with Phillip for a powerful conversation about leadership, faith, failure, perseverance, and the people you need around you to keep climbing.

Phillip shares his journey from hitting rock bottom and creating his own opportunities to becoming a sales leader, all while learning that success isn't about having all the answers or being the most important person in the room.

It's about understanding your strengths and weaknesses, owning your role, accepting feedback, serving others, and having the humility to ask:

“What do you need? What's in the way? How can I help?”

They also dive into overcoming self-doubt, learning from failure, surrounding yourself with the right people, and why reaching the next level requires bringing others with you.

If you're a leader, entrepreneur, professional, or anyone trying to grow into the next version of yourself, this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Diverse Network Podcast | Season 4

Discovering and supporting multicultural leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs through the stories that shaped who they are today.

As Jocelyn Armstrong shared on the DN Podcast - Inclusion matters. It's essential that we give voice to groups across a range of viewpoints because it makes our organizations stronger. They become better positioned for success because they are enriched in ways they might not have even known they needed.

An expanded group of contributors means expanded possibilities, which is why her mission as the Ohio State Bar Association's Director of Inclusion and Outreach is to weave diversity and inclusion into the fabric of the bar and our association's cultures.

In an ideal world, diversity and full representation won’t be managed as a separate function—it should simply be part of the decision-making DNA. Outreach is key to getting there. Exposure to many points of view translates to:

• access to more original ideas and innovation
• reduced groupthink
• people feeling valued as their authentic selves

Representation matters. As a child, Jocelyn was fascinated by watching actors like Phylicia Rashad and Blair Underwood star as lawyers on TV. Seeing famous black legal professionals, both fictional and real, allowed her to see herself in the same roles. It inspired her to pursue a career in the law.

Jocelyn draws energy from being around people. She loves to make connections with folks, take in their perspectives and observe their growth. She has also learned the importance of listening to what people don't say out loud. This helps her encourage everyone to feel more at ease. She aims to be respectful and open to what they need to say, not what I want to hear.

Jocelyn's creative writing allows her to address representation in another form. She enjoys bringing characters into existence—as she writes, she feels like she gets to know them. Giving a voice to all is her way of celebrating the differences that enrich life.

As Jocelyn Armstrong shared on the DN Podcast - Inclusion matters. It's essential that we give voice to groups across a range of viewpoints because it makes our organizations stronger. They become better positioned for success because they are enriched in ways they might not have even known they needed.

An expanded group of contributors means expanded possibilities, which is why her mission as the Ohio State Bar Association's Director of Inclusion and Outreach is to weave diversity and inclusion into the fabric of the bar and our association's cultures.

In an ideal world, diversity and full representation won’t be managed as a separate function—it should simply be part of the decision-making DNA. Outreach is key to getting there. Exposure to many points of view translates to:

• access to more original ideas and innovation
• reduced groupthink
• people feeling valued as their authentic selves

Representation matters. As a child, Jocelyn was fascinated by watching actors like Phylicia Rashad and Blair Underwood star as lawyers on TV. Seeing famous black legal professionals, both fictional and real, allowed her to see herself in the same roles. It inspired her to pursue a career in the law.

Jocelyn draws energy from being around people. She loves to make connections with folks, take in their perspectives and observe their growth. She has also learned the importance of listening to what people don't say out loud. This helps her encourage everyone to feel more at ease. She aims to be respectful and open to what they need to say, not what I want to hear.

Jocelyn's creative writing allows her to address representation in another form. She enjoys bringing characters into existence—as she writes, she feels like she gets to know them. Giving a voice to all is her way of celebrating the differences that enrich life.

Paul Rankin, Chick-Fil-A Easton Owner Operator - on the Diverse Network Podcast talks about how to be a Christian Entrepreneur in a Savage Business World.

From being almost paralyzed at 5yrs old by getting hit by a truck to becoming a Chick-Fil-A Owner Operator at Easton Town Center and being on the brink of opening up his 2nd location in Columbus, OH, Paul walks us through his amazing entrepreneur journey led by faith.

FREE Chick-Fil-A Sandwich to all podcast listeners ONLY for Season 3!

Visit CFA Easton FB Page & Message them - "Diverse Network Podcast" to Receive your FREE Chick-Fil-A Sandwich - https://www.facebook.com/chickfilaeas...

Through the Diverse Network Podcast, we help our listeners discover and support Multicultural Leaders, Executives, and Entrepreneurs.

Learn how to use a mindset of growth to overcome adversity in the midst of change.

Learn More: https://thediversenetwork.com/

DN Podcast: Season 3 Episode 1

Tune into this Special Episode of the Diverse Network Podcast where guest, Alicia Long, Co-Founder & CEO of Nutr, talks about building a Multimillion dollar company & closing deals with Starbucks and MORE!

Nutr is Changing the Way We Milk!

Visit Website to Learn More: https://thenutr.com/

Alicia, a Chinese immigrant, was privy to growing up on homemade nut milk made by her mother. She knew it was time-intensive and messy, and as a working mom this would be challenging to make each week. Conducting research and discovering people were still making plant-based milk at home with blenders and nut milking bags – she had an ‘aha’ moment. What if there was an easy solution to avoid this painstaking process?

With a strong business background and keen palette for quality nut milk, Alicia alongside her husband Dane with engineering acumen, thoughtfully created their signature product – the Nutr Machine. Not only is this patent-pending technology powerful and versatile to make fresh plant-based milk at the touch of a button – Nutr keeps eco-friendly practices and ethos at the forefront as they build out their business.

Our Special Guest is Kristy Yoder, Founder & CEO of Smart VAs, a US-based virtual assistant agency that offers virtual assistant services that specializes in admin and digital marketing services through creative collaborations with digitally savvy virtual assistants from the Philippines to help entrepreneurs grow their business.  

Kristy is a multi-skilled extrovert with a degree in Computer Science and Business Management. She was born and raised in Manila, Philippines (proud Filipina!) and now lives in Ohio, USA. 

Tune into this podcast episode where we talk about growing up in the Philippines then moving to the US, overcoming challenges and culture shock, growing a global VA agency, finding community, and achieving success through a growth mindset. 

Olivia Rojas, Real Estate Agent and Investor. Committed to providing knowledge and value to all of her clients. She work with buyers, sellers and investors in Central Ohio and beyond. Prior to getting licensed, she owned and operated her own real estate investing company-Vitality Investments Inc. to help distressed home owners sell their home quickly and efficiently. 

Now, after joining The Firm Foundation team, she is committed to teach others about Investing and Building a Brand That Your Clients LOVE.