Dreams In Drive

How do you stand out in rooms full of accomplished, talented, and ambitious people?

In this solo episode, I'm sharing the story behind something that happenedat a fireside chat with Padma Lakshmi — and the powerful lesson I learned about visibility, confidence, and why so many of us shrink ourselves in the very rooms we prayed to be in.

Before the event even started, I made a decision: I was going to participate. I prepared my question ahead of time, workshopped it with coworkers, and intentionally positioned myself in the room. What happened next validated strategies I use when it comes to networking, career growth, and standing out professionally.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how to stand out in any room
• the power of preparation and intentionality
• overcoming fear and imposter syndrome at work
• why visibility matters for career growth
• how ambitious women unintentionally play small
• networking, confidence, and speaking up
• the opportunities that come from participation

If you've ever struggled with confidence, visibility, or advocating for yourself in professional spaces, this episode is your reminder that sometimes standing out starts with one simple thing: raising your hand.

Because the opportunities we want often begin the moment we stop shrinking ourselves.

Listen If You Are:

• A Dream Driver ready to reflect, recharge, and refocus
• Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure about your next step
• Looking for a practical yet soulful guide to set intentions for the new year
• Wanting to step into 2026 with clarity, confidence, and energy

Where to Find Rana

• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rainshineluv
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dreamsindrive
• Newsletter: http://www.dreamsindrive.com/join
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ranacampbell

Why does "having it all" feel so much harder than it sounds? In this episode, Rukiya Ross breaks down the real challenges working moms face balancing career, ambition, and motherhood.

In this episode of Dreams In Drive, Rana Campbell sits down with operations executive, podcast host, and mom of two Rukiya Ross for an honest conversation about what it really looks like to pursue ambition while navigating motherhood.

As Head of Operations at inquirED and co-host of Moms Who Pause, Rukiya helps women rethink how they approach career growth, childcare, and building a life that actually works. In this conversation, she shares how becoming a mother reshaped her relationship with ambition, success, and self-worth—and why so many working moms struggle silently with the pressure to "do it all."

Together, Rana and Rukiya unpack the emotional and logistical realities of balancing motherhood and career, from managing the mental load and childcare decisions to navigating guilt, boundaries, and burnout.

If you're a working mom trying to pursue your goals without losing yourself in the process, this episode will remind you that ambition doesn't disappear after motherhood—it just requires a new strategy.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why motherhood changes your relationship with ambition
• The emotional reality of balancing career and family
• How to make confident childcare decisions without guilt
• The invisible mental load working moms carry
• Why so many ambitious women struggle after becoming mothers
• How to redefine success for your current season of life
• The importance of building systems that support your family and career
• Navigating burnout, boundaries, and identity after kids
• How intentional pauses can help women make better life decisions
• Why "having it all" may require redefining what "all" means

Key Takeaway

Motherhood doesn't make you less ambitious. It forces you to become more intentional about where your ambition goes. FIND RUKIYA ON: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rukiyaross Instagram: http://www.instagram/momswhopause

🛠️ Resources + Links

• Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts
• Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates
• Follow @dreamsindrive Instagram
• Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join

In this episode, Rana sits down with storyteller, speaker, and podcast host, Kadi Cisse, for a powerful conversation about identity, independence, grief, purpose, and becoming who you really are.

Kadi shares her journey growing up as a first-generation American raised by West African immigrant parents, and how being the "independent child" shaped the way she approached life, relationships, and success. She opens up about loss, navigating life after losing her father, and how many of us who are seen as "strong" often learn how to survive before we ever learn how to feel.

Together, Rana and Kadi talk about the identity crisis that many high-achieving people face when they realize their job title is not their purpose, why unprocessed emotions eventually show up in our lives, and how spirituality, self-awareness, and honesty with yourself are often the real keys to growth.

Kadi also shares wisdom from her platform Ask Kadi: The Voice of Reason, where she uses humor, honesty, and real-life experience to help people navigate relationships, self-worth, and personal growth.

This episode is about resilience, truth, self-discovery, and the journey of becoming who you were always meant to be.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Growing up first-generation with immigrant parents
• Being the "independent child"
• Grief and losing parents
• Emotional vs logical coping
• Layoffs and career pivots
• Job titles vs purpose
• Identity and self-discovery
• Spirituality and self-awareness
• Relationships and self-worth
• Building the right circle
• Learning to take up space
• Becoming who you really are

Key takeaway: You can build a successful life, a great career, and still reach a point where you have to ask yourself, "But who am I really, and what am I actually here to do?" FIND KADI ON: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xo.kadi_ Website: www.askkadi.com

🛠️ Resources + Links

• Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts
• Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates
• Follow @dreamsindrive Instagram
• Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join

Ashley Rouse shares how surrender, letting go, and reinvention led to clarity and new beginnings after closing her company, Trade Street Jam Co. _____ After building a nationally recognized brand, Ashley Rouse returns to Dreams In Drive - eight years later - to share the raw truth about closing Trade Street Jam Co., embracing surrender, and stepping into new beginnings with her new creative agency Rouse Like House. A heartfelt, inspiring conversation for anyone navigating change, letting go, or finding clarity and purpose in life's next chapter. ______ In this deeply honest and full-circle conversation, Ashley Rouse (Episode 174 guest) returns eight years later to Dreams In Drive to reflect on the evolution from the woman who was scaling Trade Street Jam Co. at lightning speed to the woman she is today — one who chose surrender, healing, and alignment over external definitions of success.

Ashley opens up about the circumstances surrounding and the grief of closing Trade Street Jam Co., the loss of identity that comes when your life's work ends, and the emotional and spiritual clarity that followed. She shares how motherhood and deep personal growth forced her to redefine what success, ambition, and purpose look like in this new season.

Most importantly, she reframes surrender as a power move, a conscious decision to trust that releasing what no longer aligns creates space for new vision, new pathways, and a more authentic future.

What We Discussed:

Surrender & Purpose: Finding the courage to realize that a business is just a "tangible asset" and that her true purpose—helping other entrepreneurs—remains intact.

The Realities of Running A Product-Based Business: Ashley breaks down why running a product-based CPG business is "no joke," discussing the capital intensive, inventory-heavy nature of the industry and the pressure of scaling, and seeking investors as a Black Woman

The Power of Community: How sharing her "messy" journey on Instagram built a community that ultimately saved her during her transition.

This conversation is for anyone who:

• Feels the pull toward a new beginning
• Is questioning a long-held dream
• Is learning to detach their worth from their work
• Is navigating a transition season

You'll walk away with both the emotional language and the practical mindset shifts needed to:

• Recognize when it's time to move on
• Honor the chapter you're closing without shame
• Trust the unknown
• Rebuild from a place of clarity and self-alignment.

FIND ASHLEY ROUSE ON: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymarierouse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rouselikehouse Website: https://www.rouselikehouse.com

🛠️ Resources + Links:

• Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts
• Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates
• Follow @dreamsindrive Instagram
• Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join

❤️ Leave a Review

Loving the show? Your reviews help Dreams In Drive reach more listeners. Leave one on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tag Rana to share your thoughts!

📣 Join the Conversation

Has your dream evolved? Are you navigating a pivot in real time? DM Rana on IG @dreamsindrive or pitch your story at http://www.dreamsindrive.com/pitch

From 100 Rejections to Real Purpose | Community, Career & Resilience

In this episode of Dreams In Drive, Rana Campbell sits down with Brittney Oliver, founder of Lemons to Lemonade, for a powerful conversation about turning rejection into purpose and building meaningful community when the traditional path doesn't work.

Before creating one of the most impactful platforms for professionals of color, Brittney faced over 100 job rejections while trying to break into New York City's PR industry. Despite being qualified and prepared, she repeatedly heard "no." Instead of letting rejection define her, she chose to build the community she wished existed.

In this honest and inspiring conversation, Rana and Brittney discuss what it really takes to keep going when your journey doesn't look like everyone else's.

You'll hear about:

• Navigating racism and cultural barriers in corporate spaces
• Turning rejection into redirection
• The difference between "community" as a buzzword and real connection
• Building impact without millions of followers
• Creating inclusive spaces in Nashville
• Navigating grief after losing a parent
• Why Plan B doesn't mean you failed
• Measuring success through purpose, relationships, and impact

Brittney also shares how Lemons to Lemonade has helped thousands of professionals find opportunity, confidence, and belonging — and why your worth can't be measured by follower counts.

If you've ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or unsure about your timeline, this episode is a reminder that your story isn't over. Sometimes, rejection is just the beginning of something greater.

🎧 Listen now and be reminded: you're not behind — you're being redirected.

FIND BRITTNEY OLIVER ON: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemons_2_lemonade/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bsoliver/ Website: https://www.l2lmixer.com/

🛠️ Resources + Links:

• Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts
• Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates
• Follow @dreamsindrive Instagram
• Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join

❤️ Leave a Review

Loving the show? Your reviews help Dreams In Drive reach more listeners. Leave one on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tag Rana to share your thoughts!

📣 Join the Conversation

Has your dream evolved? Are you navigating a pivot in real time? DM Rana on IG @dreamsindrive

Contemporary artist Cristina Martinez joins Rana Campbell to discuss career pivots, motherhood, grief, and staying authentic while building a creative career. A powerful conversation about choosing yourself and continuing to create through life's challenges _ As Dreams In Drive enters its 10th year, host Rana Campbell continues her mission of spotlighting what it really means to be a dream driver—embracing change, navigating pivots, and staying true to yourself through every season.

In this episode, Rana sits down with contemporary artist Cristina Martinez for an inspiring conversation about creativity, courage, and choosing yourself—even when the path feels uncertain.

Cristina shares her journey from working in hospitality to becoming a full-time artist, creating sold-out exhibitions, massive public murals, and partnering with brands like Nordstrom, Disney, and Spotify. She opens up about balancing motherhood and creativity, processing grief through her work, and allowing her real life to show up on canvas.

Together, Rana and Cristina discuss the power of authenticity, consistency, and self-awareness, and why continuing to create—especially when you don't feel ready—matters more than perfection.

FIND CRISTINA MARTINEZ ON: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sew_trill Website: http://www.juneandmars.com

🛠️ Resources + Links:

• Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts
• Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates
• Follow @dreamsindrive Instagram
• Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join

❤️ Leave a Review

Loving the show? Your reviews help Dreams In Drive reach more listeners. Leave one on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tag Rana to share your thoughts!

📣 Join the Conversation

Has your dream evolved? Are you navigating a pivot in real time? DM Rana on IG @dreamsindrive

In this Driver's Ed session of Dream Drive, Rana Campbell sits down with Guapify CEO CJ Harris to workshop how to build trust, community, and real impact while launching a purpose-driven platform. Together, they break down CJ's journey from media executive to founder and tackle the real-time challenges of creating a safe, culturally relevant space for financial empowerment. More About The Show: In this Driver's Ed episode of Dream Drive, Rana Campbell sits down with media executive–turned–founder CJ Harris, CEO of Guapify, for a live workshopping session on how to build trust, community, and impact from the ground up.

CJ shares her journey from growing up in the Bronx to spending 15 years at HBO and leading creative at BET—experiences that shaped how she thinks about storytelling, representation, and safe spaces. That background ultimately led her to create Guapify, a financial empowerment platform designed for Black millennials who want honest, culturally relevant conversations about money.

Together, Rana and CJ break down Guapify's evolution from a content curation site to a community-driven forum—often described as "the Reddit of Black wealth"—and tackle real founder challenges in real time. They explore what it means to build trust in a financial space, how to differentiate from social media "money talk," and why founders don't have to be the expert to lead with authority.

This episode is for anyone building a purpose-driven platform, navigating a pivot, or learning how to create community without pretending to have all the answers.

FIND CJ HARRIS ON: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/guapify.tv Website: https://guapify.com/

🛠️ Resources + Links:

• Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts
• Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates
• Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join

❤️ Leave a Review

Loving the show? Your reviews help Dreams In Drive reach more listeners. Leave one on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tag Rana to share your thoughts!

📣 Join the Conversation

Has your dream evolved? Are you navigating a pivot in real time? DM Rana on IG @dreamsindrive

The year is winding down, but are you finishing it with intention, or just rushing toward the next? In this solo episode, I take you through a Dream Driver Year-End Tune-Up, helping you reflect on 2025, recalibrate your energy, and set a roadmap for 2026 without overwhelm or guilt.

We'll cover:

• How to celebrate your wins, even the small ones
• How to spot what's draining your energy and what's fueling you
• Practical ways to leave behind what no longer serves you
• How to set intentions and take bold steps toward the dreams that scare you

Whether you're juggling career, motherhood, creativity, or all of the above, this episode is a guided reset for your mind, your energy, and your dreams.

By the end, you'll feel inspired to make one meaningful decision before the year ends, so your future self starts 2026 ready to drive.

Listen If You Are:

• A Dream Driver ready to reflect, recharge, and refocus
• Feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure about your next step
• Looking for a practical yet soulful guide to set intentions for the new year
• Wanting to step into 2026 with clarity, confidence, and energy

Action Step / Listener Challenge:

Take 10 minutes this week to do your own Dream Driver Year-End Tune-Up: Reflect on wins, clear out what drains you, and set one bold intention for 2026. Share your decision with me on IG @dreamsindrive!

Where to Find Rana

• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rainshineluv
• Newsletter: http://www.dreamsindrive.com/join
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ranacampbell

In this episode, Gaby Huezo shares how she left El Salvador, navigated cultural differences in LA, and built a creative career from scratch—all while taking up space and championing Latinx voices globally. Learn how to take risks, own your space, and make your impact.

In this empowering episode, we sit down with Gaby Huezo, creative strategist, storyteller, and founder of Haus of Duke, to uncover how she took bold risks, built a creative career from scratch, and championed Latinx voices globally.

Gaby shares the lessons she learned leaving El Salvador for Los Angeles, navigating cultural differences, and stepping into rooms where she wasn't expected—yet choosing to take up space with confidence and purpose.

You will discover how to:

• Take risks and create opportunities instead of waiting for them
• Build a career from scratch in a new country while staying true to your identity
• Find your zone of genius and protect it in any environment
• Use creativity and storytelling to make an impact and elevate underrepresented voices

From shaping influencer strategy for MAC in El Salvador to running her own business and building campaigns for global brands, Gaby's story is a masterclass in courage, cultural empathy, and purposeful career-building.

Whether you're a creative professional, an immigrant, or anyone striving to show up boldly in your career, this episode will leave you inspired and ready to take risks, own your space, and amplify your voice.

FIND GABY ON: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/hausofduke OR www.hauseofduke.com

Resources + Links:

• Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts
• Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates
• Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join

Episode Partner Cash App Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/u8hilect #CashAppPod Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Discounts and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.

Leave a Review

Loving the show? Your reviews help Dreams In Drive reach more listeners. Leave one on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tag Rana to share your thoughts!

Join the Conversation

Has your dream evolved? Are you navigating a pivot in real time? DM Rana on IG @dreamsindrive

What happens when the path you thought you were supposed to follow suddenly ends? For designer Angelica Deuel, a September 2024 layoff became the exact push she needed to finally pursue the dream she had been quietly preparing for her whole life.

In this inspiring and energizing conversation, Angelica shares how childhood passions for organization, history, and transforming spaces eventually led her to launch Hatch Interior Design Group — a business dedicated to helping busy moms, working professionals, and new homeowners create intentional, functional, beautiful homes.

We dive into:

• Her journey from media + marketing to full-time entrepreneur
• Why corporate left her feeling like "just a number"
• The fear, finances, and comfort that kept her from leaving sooner
• The relief she felt after being laid off — and why it was divine timing
• How she prepared behind the scenes before taking the leap
• Life after the layoff: building her interior design brand
• Navigating comparison, uncertainty, and no longer having a salary
• Why she refuses to have a backup plan
• Replacing her corporate income and what's next for her journey
• Why getting laid off isn't the end — it might be the beginning

If you've been afraid to step into your next chapter, this episode will give you permission, clarity, and the push you didn't know you needed.

FIND ANGELICA ON: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/angelicadeuel OR https://www.instagram.com/hatch.interiordesign/

🛠️ Resources + Links:

• Subscribe to Dreams In Drive wherever you get your podcasts
• Follow @rainshineluv on Instagram for behind-the-scenes updates
• Share this episode with a friend who's questioning what's next
• Sign up for our weekly newsletter www.dreamsindrive.com/join

❤️ Leave a Review

Loving the show? Your reviews help Dreams In Drive reach more listeners. Leave one on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and tag Rana to share your thoughts!

📣 Join the Conversation

Has your dream evolved? Are you navigating a pivot in real time? DM Rana on IG @dreamsindrive