Overcoming In Color

I just celebrated my fifth episode and thought it was time to say hello to the overcoming community! 

Hi Everyone, 

It's your host, Melsha Key. In this episode, I share a little about myself, why I started this podcast, and my own challenge and strategy!  I also recap some of our recent podcasts. 

This podcast was designed to inspire and provide strategies for the challenges  Black women in particular face in their career, family, within themselves and more.  I wanted to provide a space to know you are not alone in your challenges and you can overcome!

Check out this episode and past episodes at Apple Podcast and Spotify. 

Our Podcast music was provided by The Podcast Host and Alitu: The Podcast Maker app.

Assistant Professor, Dr. Laquana Cooke, shares her journey and talks about how she has chosen to blossom wherever she is at while overcoming her challenges. 

Show Notes

This podcast was designed to inspire and provide strategies for the challenges Black women face whether in their career, family, within themselves, and more.  I wanted to provide a space to know you are not alone in your challenges and you can overcome them!

Blossoming Where You Are 

Dr. Laquana Cooke is joining us today and talking about blossoming where you are which was inspired through the purpose-driven life book.  She talks about her challenges including recent events and how she overcame them using proven strategies.

In this episode, we chat about the following:

·       The weeds that stopped her growth.

·       Self-confidence is a journey. 

·       Speak life to yourself.

·       Shifting your mindset.

·       Internally celebrate yourself.

Check out this episode and more at Apple Podcast and Spotify.

Links/Resources mentioned in this episode

1.    Book:  Purpose Drive Life

2.    Video:  Encourage Yourself

3.     News: Nikole Hannah-Jones, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter covering racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine and creator of the landmark 1619 Project.

4.      National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity https://www.facultydiversity.org/

Bio

Dr. Laquana Cooke is Associate Professor of Digital Rhetoric at West Chester University, and is the Founding Director for iCamp Summer Media Academy. Dr. Cooke is a digital media scholar, instructor and designer whose work has been exhibited and presented at national conferences and game expositions, such as SXSW EDU, IEEE Integrated STEM Education Conference (ISEC), Revolutionary Learning, Conference on College Composition and Communication, Rhetoric Society of America, and the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE). She has over 10 years of experience in developing and facilitating media and STEAM-based programs for nonprofits, secondary, and higher education sectors.

Our Podcast music was provided by The Podcast Host and Alitu: The Podcast Maker app.

Dr. Alice Allen shares her personal story about how she came back (stronger) after a devasting time in her life.

Show Notes

This podcast was designed to inspire and provide strategies for the challenges specifically Black women face whether in their career, family, within themselves and more.  I wanted to provide a space to know you are not alone in your challenges and you can overcome!

Coming back after a setback! 

Dr. Alice Allen is today’s guest sharing her story on life after divorce.  She talks about the strategies she used to restore her life after this life event. 

In this episode, we chat about the following:

·       The three C words she embodied during her journey – clean, courageous, confidence

·       What it means to be confident: your voice, your walk

·       The power in her faith in God and it played a major role in her come back. 
 
 Check out this episode and more at Apple Podcast and Spotify, 

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

Proverbs 31:25 – “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

Bio

Dr. Alice Allen is an organizational development psychologist, mental health first aid facilitator, trainer and consultant. With more than 25 years of clinical social work and consultant experience, she works with teams and leaders in various industries to help educate on bio-psychosocial and mental health issues from anxiety, depression, suicide, caregiver stressors, substance use, chemical dependency, elder abuse, intimate partner violence, life care planning, and grief counseling.

Contact Information: [email protected]

Our Podcast music was provided by The Podcast Host and Alitu: The Podcast Maker app.

Myette Anderson talks about her decision to stop dimming her light to make others comfortable. 

Show Notes

This podcast was designed to inspire and provide strategies for the challenges that Black women face whether in their career, family, within themselves and more.  I wanted to provide a space to elevate Black Women's stories and to provide that community of support, encouragement and hope, allowing other women of color to know you are not alone in your challenges and you can also overcome!

Also, for those that have started or are on a journey to being advocates and allies for Black Women, here is a chance to understand challenges we face and to be able to lean in, advocate and support Black Women. 

Don’t Dim My Light!

Today I am joined by Myette Anderson who is sharing some reflections on her birthday! She enlightens us about what she has learned over the years and how this is her year to shine her light bright. She walks us through her strategies on how she overcomes the urge to dim her light. 

In this episode, we chat about the following:

·       Ways dimming her light has shown up and her strategies for overcoming them. 

·       How healing is a  journey not a destination.

·       The power of being showered in joy.

Check out this episode and more at Apple Podcast and Spotify

Bio

Myette Anderson is a mom, daughter, business professional and friend! Those that have the opportunity to know her understand that she is a force to be reckoned with because through life’s ups and downs, she has remained resilient, hopeful and grounded 

Our Podcast music was provided by The Podcast Host and Alitu: The Podcast Maker app.

Nicola Mattis shares her career journey and how she started to control the narrative.

Show Notes

This podcast was designed to inspire and provide strategies for the challenges Black women specifically face whether in their career, family, within themselves, and more.  I wanted to provide a space of connection, encouragement, and community. While we root for one another, let’s take the time to learn from each other as well!

People Who Control the Narrative, Control the Story!

Today I have the amazing opportunity to talk with Nicola. She shares her career journey with us and what she has learned over time.  She speaks candidly about her challenges and the strategies she has put in place to overcome them. She advocated for narrating your own story and reminds us that, “People who control the narrative, control the story!” 

In this episode, we chat about the following an more:

·       The benefits of documentation 

·       The importance of networking

·       The power of recognizing influencers 

·       Her reliance on God

·       Diversification of mentors matter

Links/Resources mentioned in this episode

1.     Donut App on Slack, networking tool

2.     Brand Engineer Studios, a transformative brand company, dedicated to elevating Black STEM professionals by designing powerful brand stories and professional brands, which enable them to achieve their goals in business. Their clients are going for the mountaintops, not just the hills. They are dream-driven!

3.     The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho, Book Recommendation

4.     Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning, by Leslie Odom Jr., Book recommendation

5.     Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike, by Phil Knight, Book Recommendation

 Nicola Mattis' Bio

Nicola Mattis knows how to create masterful moments. She spent over 15 years of her career in Marketing with major brands like Ecolab, FedEx and Travelocity, creating bold, integrated campaigns that CAPTIVATED millions. To her, unlocking a brand’s hidden story is the best part. 

As the Founder and CMO of Brand Engineer Studios, she uses the same talent to develop brand strategies for black STEM professionals and tech companies. As an advocate for black professionals in STEM, she gives them a voice. She sees them as the superheroes of young black children.

Nicola graduated from Duke University with a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Studies and African  and African-American Studies. In addition, she obtained an MBA (Masters of Business Administration in Brand Management) from Wake Forest University but always, always roots for Duke even when they’re not winning.

Her philosophy is simple: aim high, have fun and be bold.  Why not?

 Hit that follow button, comment, share and check out my website: www.melshanicolekey.com

Our Podcast music was provided by The Podcast Host and Alitu: The Podcast Maker app.

Show Notes

Today I have the amazing opportunity to chat with Alleysha Mullen, Organization Development Consultant, who is thriving in her career influencing top executives. She shares her journey and talks about the strategies she is currently using to overcome the fear of failure and feelings of inadequacy.

In this episode, we chat about the following:

·       Imposter syndrome and its impact.

·       Our reliance on God to find our identity.

·       Our community and how they affirm us.

·       The power of a quote board. 
 

Links/Resources mentioned in this episode

·       Woman Evolve – Sarah Jakes Roberts

·       One of Alleysha’s quotes: “You belong in every room you step in!”

Alleysha Mullen is a strength-orientated coach, speaker, and facilitator. As an Organization Development Consultant for the University of California, Alleysha is devoted to unlocking potential. This includes partnering with executives to solve organizational challenges, creating leadership development opportunities for individual contributors, and encouraging everyone to embrace their innate talents and abilities. Alleysha is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organization Leadership and a graduate degree in industrial and Organization Psychology.  Alleysha is also married and has a son. 

www.growwithalleysha.com

This podcast was designed to inspire and provide strategies for the challenges specifically Black women face whether in their career, family, within themselves, and more.  I wanted to provide a space to know you are not alone in your challenges and you can overcome them!
Our Podcast music was provided by The Podcast Host and Alitu: The Podcast Maker app.