FIERCE Mothers

Ugochi is a woman of Igbo heritage and wanted a forum to celebrate the achievements of inspirational African women and women of color. The FIERCE Mothers Podcast showcases the stories of these women, through compelling interviews with inspiring guests.

You can follow Zebralter Medical using the following channels:

- Website: www.zebraltermedical.com/

- Email: [email protected]

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My guest today is the fabulous Ndidiamaka Okoli.

Ndidiamaka Okoli, president, owner, and founder of olive tree compounding pharmacy.

Ndidiamaka grew up in the California bay area in a traditional and loving family, who instilled in her a love for her culture.

Dr. Ndidiamaka (Didi) Okpareke began her professional career after graduating with honors from the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, class of 2008.

She embarked on her dream to become an entrepreneur in January 2016, and her vision is to ameliorate the provision of customized pharmaceutical care, one client at a time.

Olive Tree Compounding Pharmacy helps patients optimize their quality of life by maximizing therapeutic success with creative and individualized compound medications

Ndidiamaka's journey is one of a tenacious, relentless God-fearing woman, who is goal-oriented and purpose-driven.

We uncovered so many valuable nuggets in this discussion and you are in for such a treat.

Three particular quotes stand out to me:

1. Steve Harvey who says that we all come with a parachute but if we do not take a leap, how will we know if the parachute will catch us.

2. Martin Luther King Jr. who said that No work that you do is insignificant.

3. Ndidamaka who says that whatever we do, should be done well. Through Servant Leadership we can make an impact in our communities and the world.

We discuss the powerful illustration her Godmother gave her of the Knife and the yam.

You can contact Ndidiamaka and purchase her products via several channels:

- Website: www.olivetreecompounding.com

- Email: [email protected]

- Phone: (505) 738-3328

- Instagram: @olivetree.skin

- Facebook: @olivetreecompounding

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In today's episode, I speak to Ijeoma Okoli, one of the founders of Umu Igbo Unite, UIU. This was such a warm interview and I found Ijeoma to be a woman after my own heart. She has such a desire to make a positive impact and this shone through during our chat.

Umu Igbo Unite (UIU), was founded in 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia. The organization was founded to address the lack of a structured network that catered to the specific cultural, professional, and social needs of first-generation Igbo Americans and the greater Diaspora. Since its inception, UIU has grown to over 5,000 members nationwide with 13 active chapters: Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, DMV, Boston, Tristate (NY, NJ, CT), Detroit, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Twin Cities, Bay Area, Austin, and Miami.

UIU now operates five arms:

1. The Convention
2. The Missions Arm which provides scholarships to immigrants
3. UIU Tourism, which organizes and leads guided tours to Eastern Nigeria
4. UIU Connect – The Professional Arm for Business Networking and Career Opportunities
5. UIU Igbo 101 – The language program

Ijeoma tells us more about the organization and the impact that it is having in Nigeria and abroad.

In addition, we discuss the books she has written, including the children's book she co-wrote called Ije The world traveler. She also hosts the Youtube channel of the same name.

One thing Ijeoma said during our chat really stuck with me – She said: "Start with somebody, somehow and we can start to make a difference."

To learn more visit the website www.umuigbounite.com

This year's convention will take place August 6 - August 9, 2020.

Follow UIU on Instagram with the handle @umuigbounite

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I just finished a wonderful chat with Elvira Berry, who is the first of her kind on this show.

She is no stranger to adversity and hardship and her story is outstanding.

Elvira was born and grew up in Enugu in Eastern Nigeria. Elvira and her two sisters Cassandra and Vanessa were raised by a single mother who out of necessity was away for long periods of time.

Elvira and her sisters found themselves alone and practically raised each other for many years.

Elvira moved to the United States at the age of 13, became a single mother at age 20 and put herself through college and law school in spite of raising a son by herself.

Today she wears many hats – she is an attorney, a business owner, a single mother and now, a politician running for State Senate for the 17th district in Pennsylvania.

In today's episode two things that Elvira said stand out:

The first is from President Roosevelt's speech The Man in the Arena, where Elvira paraphrases a quote from the speech which says "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;

The second is where Elvira defines Power as follows "Power is about knowing what people need and giving it to them"

Contact Elvira

Website - www.elviraberry.com. To support Elvira's campaign please visit the website, where you can sign up to volunteer, make a donation and follow her progress.

Social Media - @elviranberry. You can follow Elvira on Instagram and on Facebook with the handle @elviranberry

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In this short episode, Ugochi takes a break from regularly scheduled broadcasts to welcome listeners to the new year.

Ugochi asks for suggestions from the audience on ways to improve and continue to grow as a platform.

Ugochi mentions her new book titled "F.I.E.R.C.E Mothers - Create the Life of Your Dreams and Crush Your Goals."

The kindle and paperback are both available on Amazon here

Follow The Igbo Initiative on Instagram and Facebook @igboinitiative

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Today's amazing guest on the show is Chinyere Ukaonu Nzekwu, known as Chinny.

Chinny grew up in a strict Catholic household. She was the only girl in a house with five brothers, so she learned to fight for what belonged to her from an early age. She is the very definition of Tenacity and Daring and earned the name "small but mighty"

Chinny is the founder and CEO of Q-Care Inc.

Q-Care is a home health provider registered with the Maryland Department of Health - Developmental Disabilities Administration.

I love the way that Chinny takes us through her journey to where she is today. By doing so she proves that every individual has a unique path to their purpose and success.

In today's episode, we uncover so many life nuggets as Chinny walks us through her life story.

One nugget stands out to me. Chinny says that "there is enough for everyone", dismissing the need for competition.

I loved this chat because we get to see different facets of who Chinny is. She is a Fashionista, an Extrovert, a Homebody, Driven and Curious to name but a few.

We discuss life's transition as Chinny prepares to become an empty nester, with one boy in college and the other in High School.

Finally, as kparakpos (both from Owerri in Imo State), we have fun with our dialect of Igbo language.

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Today I speak with the highly accomplished Dr. Ebere Okereke.

Ebere was born in London and returned to Nigeria at age five, where she grew up. Ebere is a self-professed "ABU", which stands for "Aba brought up" because she grew up in Aba, Eastern Nigeria.

Ebere went to Medical school at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.

Today, Ebere is a public health physician with 28 years' experience of practice in many countries, and expertise in epidemiology, health protection, communicable disease control, infection prevention & control, and zoonoses.

Ebere is currently leading the development & implementation of the PHE program to strengthen capacity in low & middle-income countries to comply with the International Health Regulations. Previously as a Global Health strategist, she worked to build the partnership between PHE & International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Kenya.

In today's episode, we discuss a wide range of topics. In spite of her great achievements, Ebere says that her biggest accomplishment is her daughter Amara, who won the 2018 Stage Debut Award for Best Actress, for her lead role as Cossette in the London west end production Les Miserables.

Ebere is one of the most widely read people I know. Here are some of the books that she recommended:

1. The Guardian of the Word - Camara Laye

2. We should all be feminists - Chimamanda Adichie

3. Who fears death - Nnedi Okorafor

4. Beloved - Toni Morrison

5. The Book of Negroes - Lawrence Hill

6. West African Verse: An Anthology - Donatus I. Nwoga

7. Lagoon - Nnedi Okorafor

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Fiona Makia (Nee Ukachukwu) was born in the United Kingdom but went to secondary school in Owerri.

She studied at the University of Benin, before returning to the United Kingdom.

Listen with me as Fiona takes us through her journey. After nursing school, Fiona moved to the Middle East, where she has spent the last six years. She spent just under a year and a half in Saudi Arabia and has lived in Abu Dhabi for the last four and a half years.

As you listen, you will understand Fiona's sense of adventure and bravery.

In this episode, we discuss the challenges and the lessons that Fiona has learned along the way.

Fiona teaches us to "seize the day". There will come a time when we will be unable to do the things we dream about, so let's do them while we still can.

Fiona talks about her favorite book that she recently read:

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

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