I Choose the Ladder

In this episode you meet Amy S. Hilliard. Amy is an award-winning serial entrepreneur and a former senior corporate executive. A native of Detroit, she is an honors graduate of both Howard University and the Harvard Business School and is also certified in Digital/Social

Marketing by Columbia University. The Hilliard Group, her strategic marketing consulting firm for over 20 years has worked with clients including Nielsen, IBM, Pandora Jewelry, BET Networks, American Express, HBO, The GAP, The Limited, PepsiCo and others. In 2001, she founded The ComfortCake​® ​Company, makers of “Pound Cake so Good it feels like a Hug “​, ​which gained distribution with United Airlines, Walmart, a McDonald’s test market and Home Shopping Network among

others using Amy’s own pound cake recipes. Amy now licenses ComfortCake’s®​ intellectual property and ​Sugarless Sweetness​, a patent-pending sugar substitute.

Recently President of Fashion Fair Cosmetics, the global legacy cosmetics company focused on women of color, Amy is a former retailing, senior marketing and advertising executive with Bloomingdale’s, Gillette, Pillsbury, Burrell Communications, and L’Oreal. Her marketing innovations to build Gillette’s White Rain brand into a $100 million-dollar business were documented in a case study for the University of Virginia’s Darden Business School. Amy has also been an Executive Lecturer at Loyola University’s Quinlan School of Business.

A proven thought leader on entrepreneurship, empowerment and marketing, Amy has been profiled in ​Fortune, Success, Entrepreneur, ​CNN, Black Enterprise, Essence, Ebony and NPR​. An international speaker, she is also the author of ​“TAP INTO YOUR JUICE -- Find Your Gifts, Lose Your Fears and Build Your Dreams” –​ endorsed by First Lady Michelle Obama. Her blog, ​Sizzling After 60 – Thriving at Every Stage of Your Life ​is popular among all ages.

Based in Chicago and passionate about her community and health/wellness, Amy is the proud mother of two young professionals. Amy served two terms as a Trustee of Howard University, thirteen years on PepsiCo’s Multi-cultural Advisory Board, and was the first African-American elected to the board of the National Association of the Specialty Food Trade. Amy currently sits on the LeanIn.org Advisory Board with Sheryl Sandberg. Her website is ​www.amyshilliard.com​.

Some of the things that stood out to me during our conversation were about:

- Starting over in your 40's

- Recovering after a major loss

- Integrating a junior high school

- Building a business while being a corporate executive

- The importance of reciprocity

Enjoy!

In this episode I share an update on what's coming up for I Choose the Ladder and answer some of the questions that I get asked the most.

Enjoy!

In this episode you meet Dannielle Cumberbatch. Dannielle has over 20 years of experience in the digital & performance-based marketing industry. She grew up loving computers and socially was in the middle of everything – sports, academic activities, Girl Scouts © and anything fun. Dannielle credits her tenure within the business to her mix of client service experience and technical know-how, which allows her to pull the best out of People & Machine. Dannielle got her first taste of entrepreneurship during her college years as an independent singer/songwriter. She officially transitioned into the business marketing scene, working as an intern at an independent marketing company - Own Your Power Communications, run by Simone Kelly. During her time at Own Your Power, Dannielle was webmaster for the site and responsible for organizing geo-targeted promotional campaigns to increase awareness and attendance of local OYP events in NY, NJ, GA, FL & Wash, DC. Joining Rakuten Advertising in 2006, Mrs. Cumberbatch was selected to build a brand new service offering for the business – identifying and activating Lead Generation partnerships with publishers who distribute offers through Form-Hosting, Web Display, Email, Search (SEM/SEO), Pay-Per-Call: Mobile, Print & Per-inquiry Radio. At its peak, Dannielle was responsible for a client portfolio with an annual revenue target of $17M+.

In her most recent role as Vice-President, Product Operations, Dannielle leads a dynamic, global team responsible for the technical integration and marketing launch of brands seeking to increase their distribution and sales opportunities through Affiliate, Search and Programmatic Display channels. With clients seeking to drive new online and offline sales, within the Americas and Internationally, Dannielle’s daily work responsibilities all lead back to how her and her team can ensure the client satisfies their consumer privacy needs, create a workflow that supports their business profitability goals; and has the best onboarding experience. Outside of work, Dannielle is a wife and mother of two beautiful children and pushes to be a better version of herself every day.

Some of the things that stood out to me during our conversation were about:

~The importance of keeping receipts when it comes to self advocacy.

~Deciding where you put your focus.

~The role of entrepreneurship in a corporate setting.

~How to remain visible when the company you work for is going through growing pains.

~Balancing herself, her spouse and her children during COVID.

~The importance of asking for and accepting help.

Really grateful to Dannielle for sharing a bit of her career journey with us.

In this episode you meet Minyon Moore, Partner at Dewey Square Group and former Democratic National Committee CEO.

Minyon is considered one of the nation’s top strategic thinkers with extensive experience in political and corporate affairs, as well as public policy. She leads DSG’s State and Local Affairs and Multicultural Strategies practices with clients ranging from the Fortune 100 to startup non-profits seeking counsel for developing strategies that address emerging consumer markets and achieve public policy goals. She specializes in building coalitions and brand awareness strategies for corporations while at the same time effectively addressing their state and local public policy issues.

Under President Bill Clinton’s administration, Minyon served as Assistant to the President and Director of White House Political Affairs, in this capacity, she served as the principal political adviser to the President, Vice President, First Lady and senior White House staff, with primary responsibility for planning outreach and directing the political activities of the White House. She also developed and coordinated legislative strategy, Administration policy, and communications planning with senior White House staff. As CEO of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Minyon was responsible for day-to-day operations and oversight of the Democratic Party.

Minyon is a native of Chicago, Illinois and currently resides in Washington, DC. She attended the University of Illinois at Chicago and graduated from the Boston University Digital Filmmaking Program(DC). A noted speaker and filmmaker, Minyon has continues to serve as a guest lecturer and has lectured at Yale University and Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

In 2018 Minyon was awarded the American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) Lifetime Achievement Award and has been inducted into the AAPC Hall of Fame. Her book, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics, co-authored with Donna Brazile, Yolanda Caraway and Leah Daughtry, was awarded the 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary work, Non- Fiction.

We discussed:

- Leaning in

- Imposter Syndrome

- Coloring outside the box

- Having it all

- Sacrifices for greatness

Enjoy!

In this episode you meet Chastity Lord. Chastity has spent two decades dedicated to DISMANTLING systems of inequity for marginalized communities.

Chastity is currently the President and CEO at Jeremiah Program (JP), a national organization committed to disrupting the cycle of poverty for single mothers and their children, two generations at a time.

JP’s proven, holistic approach begins with establishing a supportive community for single mothers to pursue a career-track, college education. Through a combination of quality early childhood education, a safe and affordable place to live, and empowerment and life skills training, families find stability to respond to the proven systemic barriers that impede social and economic mobility. JP deeply believes that families are the best owners and narrators of their lives. History has proven time and again that building infrastructure, leadership, and power for marginalized communities creates a contagion of long-term change. When single women living in poverty THRIVE, their children and everyone living in the community THRIVES.

Chastity also recently served as Chief Operating Officer at Color of Change (COC), a racial justice organization with over 2+ million members. Prior to joining COC, Chastity was the Chief External Officer of Achievement First, a nonprofit organization that operates 42 charter schools in Rhode Island, Connecticut and Brooklyn. Over five years, Chastity worked with community leaders to secure $200 million dollars, favorable expansion terms and progressive educational policy funding, helping level the playing field for poor and marginalized communities.

Later Chastity spent eight years at The Posse Foundation, a nationally recognized and MacArthur Genius awarded college access program, devoted to public high school students who show academic and leadership potential but may be overlooked by the traditional college admissions process.

Chastity’s professional north star and commitment to equity and social justice for the past two decades is influenced by her own personal experience as a first-generation college graduate. Chastity understands that education is not the panacea for inequity but unapologetically credits it to transforming how she dreams and disrupting the cycle of poverty for her own family.

Chastity has a BA in organizational communication from University of Oklahoma and an MBA in strategy and marketing from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. She is a 2012 Pahara-Aspen Fellow with the Aspen Global Leadership Network and serves on the board of Shriver National Center on Poverty and Law.

During our conversation we discuss:

- Getting from good to excellent

- Creating Beyonce Coachella moments in your career

- Building your network

- Passion for the work

Enjoy!!

In this episode you meet Ezinne (Kwubiri) Okoro, North America, Head of Inclusion & Diversity at H&M. Ezinne is a global citizen, change agent, diversity leader, and ally. Her professional career began in the financial services industry, though she quickly set her sights to the media and entertainment industries. During her 11-year tenure at Viacom Media Networks (MTV), Ezinne served in various roles in auditing, compliance, project management, change management, diversity & inclusion and employee engagement. This thought leader is now using her talents in the fashion industry as H&M’s North America’s Head of Inclusion & Diversity. In this role, she is tasked with creating a strategic framework, facilitating, and leading the company’s mission to foster diversity, inclusion, democracy, and respect for all its employees. Ezinne’s proven track record for executing with excellence, driving innovative results, and championing for progressive change, speak for themselves. Recently named amongst 30 Black Stars by Face2Face Africa and ESSENCE Magazine’s Women to Watch; Ezinne uses her experience and network to support organizations that empower young girls and service underrepresented communities. Her world view is one that upholds the values that mandate equality, access, and opportunity for all humanity.

During our conversation some of the things we discuss:

- Impostor Syndrome

- Inviting yourself into the room

- Finding mentors

- The importance of your network and how to leverage your network.

Enjoy!

In this episode, we discuss the four must have career tools that make a difference in your career.

In this episode you meet Judith Harrison, Senior Vice President, Diversity & Inclusion at Weber Shandwick. ⁠ A tireless advocate for the advancement of women and people of color, Judith is one of the most influential, awarded executives in marketing communications.

She is a visionary leader dedicated to changing the face of the business through industry collaboration and inclusion-focused organizational transformation. Throughout her high-profile career in top marketing services agencies and organizations, Judith has activated industry diversity and inclusion efforts through creation of the Diversity Distinction in PR Awards, initiating a partnership with the United Negro College Fund, and bringing together multiple professional and trade organizations in an unprecedented joint effort to attract, retain and develop diverse talent. Judith is an inspiring, authentic, powerful speaker who is passionate about motivating women and multicultural professionals to see the best in themselves, be the best they can be, and boldly face the future with the information, confidence and courage they need to fulfill their potential.

Judith is president-elect of New York Women in Communications, the premier organization for the advancement of women at every career stage in a changing media landscape through scholarships, empowerment grants, educational and networking events, and mentoring. She is also president of the PRSA (Public Relations Society of America) Foundation, which works to increase racial diversity and inclusion in the public relations industry. Judith is the first woman of color to hold either position, and the first individual to hold both simultaneously.

As Diversity & Inclusion leader at Weber Shandwick, Judith drives programs designed to build a multicultural workforce that leverages diverse backgrounds and perspectives to create innovative solutions for clients and an inspiring, high-performance workplace.

Judith’s background includes public relations and marketing communications positions and projects at Burson-Marsteller, Ernst & Young, CBS, Media General, Random House, and the Italian Trade Commission.

Since joining Weber Shandwick in 2006, Judith has guided the firm to recognition as a champion of diversity and inclusion, with honors including the PRWeek/PR Council Diversity Distinction in PR Awards in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016, and the 2016 PR News Diversity Heroes Award as an Organization of the Year. She brought the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) together with the PR industry to form the PRIME (Public Relations Internship, Mentoring and Education) Program, launched in 2015 with sponsorship from Fortune 500 companies as well as leading PR agencies.

Judith is former president of New York Women in Communications Foundation, former chair of the HR Roundtable of the PR Council, and a former member of the Clinton Global Initiative Disabilities Working Group. She serves on advisory boards of ColorComm and the Ron Brown Scholar Program, as well as the 4A’s Diversity Steering Committee. She is also a member of the public relations industry Research Collaboration Group.

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During our conversation some of the things we discuss:⁠

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- The skillset required to be a great PR professional.

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- Going from working in PR to allow her to sign at night, to finding her purpose in the work.

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- The importance of having a senior management team that supports you and your strengths.

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- How having emotional intelligence can change the course of your career.

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- Why choosing the right partner is critical for career success.

It's often said that you don't get paid what you're worth, you get what you negotiate. While most women feel uncomfortable with negotiating, it is a skill that we all have to get better at. So, in this episode we spend get you prepared for your next negotiation.

Enjoy!

In this episode you meet Kimberly Cook, the first Black partner at the largest divorce firm in the United States.⁠ Kimberly is a partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, where she is the embodiment of “grace under pressure” as demonstrated by her distinguished legal career as an esteemed litigator known for guiding her clients through difficult and complex family law matters including prenuptial agreements, divorce, custody and child support, with grace and dignity.

Disintegrating relationships are never easy. That’s why Kimberly works one-on-one with her clients to help them realize their own power to navigate to the next stage of their lives. She brings a personalized approach to every case and works diligently with her clients to develop a clear plan for everything from prenuptial agreements to post-Judgment issues. As a skilled litigator, Kimberly is always prepared to go to court if negotiation is not possible while demonstrating that kindness should never be mistaken as weakness. Kimberly navigates clients through a difficult time while giving them the tools to move forward into their best life.

Kimberly’s legal work speaks for itself. She has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine since 2013, she was identified as a 40 Under 40 Illinois Lawyer to Watch, listed in Crain’s Chicago Notable Minority Lawyers and named in The Best Lawyers in America (2015-2017).

Kimberly received her B.A. from Spelman College and her J.D. from the Catholic University of America - Columbus School of Law. While in law school, she served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Gerald B. Lee, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Honorable John Mott, Superior Court of the District of Columbia - Domestic Relations Division.

Kimberly spends her free time sharing her legal experience with the community as a speaker, volunteer and mentor. She is a member of the Black Women Lawyer’s Association and American Bar Association. Her civic engagement includes her membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and the Economic Club of Chicago.

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During our conversation some of the things we discuss:⁠

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- How she thinks about being labeled an angry Black ⁠

woman.⁠

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- Dealing with impostor syndrome.⁠

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- How COVID-19 has changed how she does her job.⁠

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- Finding job in a new city with a competitive job market.⁠

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- The first time she had to show up at work with braids and ⁠

how that experience changed her.⁠

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