Rich Lessons

🎓 It’s graduation season across the country, and in this special LIVE taping of Rich Lessons at Dillard University, Sheena and Sevetri sit down with two of Dillard University’s honorary doctorate recipients during commencement week.

This episode is RICH in legacy, purpose, and power — featuring the untold stories of two phenomenal women who are breaking barriers and building futures.
⁣Christal M. Jackson is a distinguished social entrepreneur, philanthropist, and advocate for economic equity, renowned for her leadership in fostering inclusive wealth-building initiatives. ackson is the founder and CEO of Mosaic Genius, a social impact agency dedicated to constructing a sustainable ecosystem for wealth creation within communities of color globally. Gwendolyn Victoria Rainey is a trailblazing businesswoman, civic leader, and cultural visionary from New Orleans, best known as the founder of the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale (MKFF)—the first Mardi Gras krewe established by and for African American women. Since its founding in 2013, MKFF has grown from 13 members to over 1,400 women across more than 26 states, offering a vibrant platform for women of color in the city's iconic Carnival tradition.

In this powerful episode of Rich Lessons, Sevetri and Sheena sit down with financial educator, entrepreneur, and former Wall Street analyst Ashley Fox, founder of Amplify, to discuss her journey from managing millions for the wealthy to democratizing financial education for everyday people. Ashley opens up about her personal struggles, rebuilding after setbacks, and how she's bridging the gap between Wall Street and the 99%.

We dive deep into money mindset, investing for beginners, entrepreneurship challenges, and the importance of self-investment. Ashley shares candid insights on scaling a business, her love affair with Paris as a place of healing, and why building wealth starts with belief.

If you're interested in the stock market, an aspiring entrepreneur, a first-time investor, or simply seeking inspiration to bet on yourself, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Rich Lessons, we sit down with Timothy and Melodie Simmons, the powerhouse duo behind JourneyWell. From launching the brand in 2016 to opening a brand-new studio and office space, they share how grit, God, and vision fueled their path.

Tim shares how his roots in Baton Rouge and passion for empowering creators led to the birth of JourneyWell. Melodie brings her brilliance in branding, design, and joyful energy to the table—making them an unstoppable team.

Tune in for a real conversation about building something bigger than business: a mission to uplift creatives, communities, and purpose-driven work.

🎧 Available now on Spotify. #RichLessons #JourneyWell #PodcastStudioBuilders

In this episode, we dig into the hidden costs of global trade and who really pays the price. We break down how tariffs and shifting trade policies between the U.S. and China are reshaping the future for small businesses, from rising costs to supply chain hurdles. But we don't stop there: we also dive into the growing online debate around fake designer bags, exposing how classism and capitalism are deeply embedded in what we consume and how we judge it. Tune in for a real conversation about entrepreneurship, economics, and the complicated relationship between status, goods, and globalization.

Today marks Sevetri’s 2nd wedding anniversary, and what better way to celebrate than by pulling back the curtain on the big day? We’re joined by Anissa Coleman, CEO of Elegance by Ace and the mastermind behind Sevetri’s wedding, to talk all things luxury wedding planning. From budgets to vendor wrangling, tune in as we break down the true cost, time, and talent it takes to bring a high-end wedding to life. Whether you're planning your own or just love a good behind-the-scenes moment, this episode breaks it all down and be sure to watch the video on Youtube for some special behind the scenes footage of Sevetri's wedding.

In this inspiring episode of Rich Lessons, we sit down with entrepreneur and boutique owner Tia Whittington, the powerhouse behind H Kyle Boutique. From the classroom to the fashion world, Tia shares how she went from teaching preschool to building a thriving e-commerce business while being a mom, wife, and one-woman show.

She opens up about her journey from substitute teaching to launching on Etsy, surviving the pandemic with scripture-inspired apparel, transitioning from brick-and-mortar to online, and how she bootstrapped her way to success without investors.

If you’ve ever thought about starting a boutique, launching a brand from scratch, or balancing business and motherhood, this episode is for you.

On this episode, Sevetri and Sheena dive into the “cost of success”—or better yet, what no one tells you about having more: more money, more knowledge, more to give, and more for others to take. They share personal reflections on how success can bring unexpected challenges, from emotional burnout to shifting relationships, and why boundaries become more essential than ever.

Sevetri and Sheena are back and leveling ALL the way up with new guests, in-studio vibes, and the realest convos yet.

This season, they are diving into everything from generational wealth and the good (and bad) of money, to protecting yourself and your business — and yes, even marriage and relationships.

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Lock in. Subscribe. Tell a friend. Let’s make this the biggest season of Rich Lessons yet!

Welcome to GRITS!

If you’re new here, allow us to introduce ourselves. We’re Sevetri and Sheena — two entrepreneurs who’ve spent years navigating the ups, downs, and wild in-betweens of building companies. Together, we’ve raised tens of millions in funding, participated in the world’s top accelerators, solved tough problems, and learned plenty of hard-won lessons along the way.

And now, we’re excited to welcome you to GRITS — the ultimate space for entrepreneurs to learn, build, and scale. Whether you're launching your first venture, scaling an existing business, or growing a side hustle, GRITS is here to support you every step of the way.

GRITS is more than a network — it's your go-to hub for connection, education, and community. You’ll gain access to knowledge, support, and real-world insights to help you succeed, no matter where you are on your journey from entrepreneurs who've done it!

In the months ahead, we’ll be rolling out a range of resources including

And starting today, 1:1 executive coaching is now available at joingrits.com !!!

Akintunde Ismail Maiyegun has a diverse work experience spanning various industries and roles. Akintunde Ismail co-founded Big Wolf Games, a mobile gaming developer and publisher, where they served as the Chairman/CEO and helped raise funding and establish partnerships. Akintunde Ismail also co-founded Hingeto, an online retailer platform, where they held the role of CTO which was later acquired by Di-Central. Ismail is probably best known to Sevetri as the "hitmaker" for his role in helping non-technical founders launch their companies with ease.