UnBossed

Building a career worthy of respect takes equal parts knowing your value and forging relationships with the right people. So, how do you know you’re making the right decisions and connecting with the right people? How do you make sure you’re valuing yourself at all times? Today’s guest has stories in spades about just that. Juliette Jones (@msjuliettejones) is the Executive Vice President of Urban Promotions at Atlantic Records and she got there by knowing exactly who she is and what she wants. From her first internship at MCI (a throwback!) to her current position, she’s excelled using her smarts, bomb ass work ethic and friendships with some of the best in the business to innovate in hip hop. Juliette has created a brand by just being true to herself and her trajectory, a skill no masterclass or influencer can really teach you. Get into this episode and I hope Juliette’s story inspires you as much as it inspired me.

It’s safe to say that most of the cannabis spaces that have opened up since its legalization are lacking two things: Melanin and patience. Conferences, VC funders, promoted businesses are all unequivocally white while Black cannabis entrepreneurs have been pushed aside. There are also a lot of people who think they’ll strike gold from the jump when they come into the cannabis business. WRONG. Enter tech, advertising, and business savant, Mary Pryor and CANNACLUSIVE - the cannabis imagery and education platform she founded with business partners Tonya Rapley and Charlese Antoinette. After experiencing the chronic and debilitating pain of autoimmune disease, Mary took her ingenuity, passion for uplifting her community, and her real lived experiences and channeled them into not just a digital platform but a movement to make the cannabis space more inclusive and accessible. Keep on listening and as always, let us know what you think of the episode on social media using #UnBossedPodcast!

Working with your friends can either be the worst thing you’ve ever done or the best decision you’ve ever made. Fortunately, for actress and dynamic entrepreneur Keisha Knight Pulliam (@keshiaknightpulliam) and businesswoman extraordinaire, Arian Simone (@ariansimone), they walk the line of business partners and best friends seamlessly. With a friendship that spans over 20 years and about the same amount of time put into their own ventures, Arian and Keisha wanted to help women of color-led businesses in a practical way. So, they created the Fearless Fund - a venture capital fund that invests in WOC businesses seeking pre-seed, seed level or series A financing. The are bridging the gap in venture capital funding for women of color founders. To hear just how deep their friendship goes and how beautifully it lends itself to a successful VC fund - keep on listening.

What do you do when you experience a setback that you never saw coming? Today’s guest, Pinky Cole, knows all too well what it means to start over and literally rise from the ashes. She started with a small Jamaican American fusion restaurant in Harlem - has firsthand insight on what it can look like to rebuild an entire vision from the ground up after losing her first restaurant. Now she’s the owner and operator of one of the most famous food trucks and restaurants in Atlanta - Slutty Vegan. Hers is an inspiring brand of resilience and grit. And her journey from child hustler to self-taught restaurateur is a lesson for entrepreneurs everywhere. It’s not over until you quit. Want to know exactly how Pinky’s story unfolded? Keep on listening and don’t forget to use #UnBossedPodcast on all social media to keep the conversation going.

For years in entertainment, Blackness was an afterthought and actors had to make do with stylists who were ill-equipped to style, let alone maintain the health of their hair. Enter 3rd-generation hairstylist and all-around badass businesswoman, Kim Kimble (@kimkimblehaircare). She’s the epitome of an entrepreneur who saw a need and became the answer. We chatted at the Essence & New Voices Entrepreneurship Summit in Atlanta, and it was such an insightful conversation. Her years of experience equipped her to take it a step further and create haircare products that spoke to the health of all Black hair and not just for celebrities. It’s refreshing to see businesses and brands succeed because they serve a need just like Kim Kimble Haircare. Use #UnBossedPodcast to let us know what you think of the episode!

Dia Simms is the former President of Combs Wine and Spirits, where she oversaw the execution of all Cîroc Ultra Premium Vodka, DeLeón [DE LAY-ON] Tequila and spirits innovation projects for the company. Under Dia’s leadership - the company experienced over 1000% growth, going from obscurity to one of the most globally recognized vodka brands. She’s now a trailblazer in the cannabis industry as the CEO of BRN Group - catapulting new cannabis brands into market. How did she spin a career from the Department of Defense to Diddy to delivering new cannabis brands to market? She maintained excellence in everything she did and rose through the ranks like a supernova. Check out the episode to hear her story. It’ll inspire you - no doubt about it. Let us know what you think of the episode using #UnbossedPodcast!

Impacting culture has to extend beyond the immediate. No one has done this better than Percy Miller aka Master P who is the founder of No Limit Records and P. Miller Enterprises. He’s an entrepreneur, a former basketball player, and rapper and we can all learn a little something from this well-rounded businessman. This episode is from a conversation at the 2019 Entrepreneur Summit in Atlanta, where he and and his friend and business partner, Mr. James Lindsay shared details about creating the popular Rap Snacks chips brand, their expansion into the food industry, and their efforts to create more opportunities within our community. One big takeaway? Ownership is key! Grab and use the keys these guys offer in this interview. And be sure to use #UnbossedPodcast on social to let us know!

If you've ever wondered how exactly to respond to naysayers when your star is on the rise, this episode is for you. The legend, Mona Scott Young has been in the entertainment game a LONG time and has seen and accomplished A LOT due to a diverse upbringing, a whole lot of grit, and a zest for living life to the fullest. She famously cofounded Violator Records with business partner Chris Lighty (rest in peace), and became instrumental to the lives and careers of hip hop heavyweights like Missy Elliott, LL Cool J, 50 Cent and more. For the last 10 years, Mona has captivated an even broader audience as the CEO of Monami Entertainment and creator of the reality superseries Love & Hip Hop. She’s truly unbothered by naysayers, and proud to provide platforms for others to shine. Once you hear her speak you don’t want her to stop. Mona's life story is a well of wisdom for anyone who wants to do life and business their way. Chat with host, Marquita Harris on social media using #UnbossedPodcast and let her know what you think of the episode! Apple listeners, please leave a review!

Award-winning actress and filmmaker, Numa Perrier used every resource available to her, not waiting for Hollywood to ‘give’ her a chance. She made her own as the creator of Black & Sexy TV, the first Black web series production company on the Internet, before it was cool. With a tiny budget and the threat of eviction over her head. Now, she’s the producer, director, and star of her first indie feature based on her life. Not only has her film ‘Jezebel’ taken the film festival circuit by storm, it caught the eye of Ava DuVernay - producing/directing royalty, and Netflix!

Is fear causing you to avoid all things budgets, balance sheets, and bookkeeping for your business? Do you think the numbers might somehow prove you’re not meant to run a business? If that sounds familiar then you definitely need to hear Trinity Mouzon Wofford’s (@trinitymouzon) story. She’s not even 30 yet and she’s a testament to the fact that you’re never too young to run a successful business doing what you love. Trinity is co-founder of Golde - the health and beauty company that uses superfoods as its core ingredient, promoting good health and beauty. Trinity is also the youngest Black woman to launch a line at Sephora. Listen to her story and let the impostor syndrome melt away.

We’re excited to close out the decade with this dynamic conversation from Essence Fest 2019’s E Suite. Slutty Vegan founder Pinky Cole (@pinky907), NaturAll Club founder Muhga Eltigani (itsmuhga), and The Lip Bar founder, Melissa Butler (@melissarbutler) graced this panel discussion with true vulnerability, courage, and their personal testimonies. If you’re in search of words of wisdom to help propel you onto your own entrepreneurship odyssey in 2020, take a listen and be inspired.

In this interview, Camille Yorrick describes the work ethic that made it all happen.

Understanding the value of the team and learning to delegate to those we trust are paramount to business success and our own mental health and wellness. No one knows this better than Backstage Capital founder, Arlan Hamilton (@arlanwashere) who has met and exceeded her business goals many times over. This episode is sponsored by Nationwide. Key Takeaways: - 12:19 - How Arlan stayed motivated through over a decade of homelessness - 29:37 - Separating the strengths from the weaknesses to delegate - 30:52 - What being UnBossed means to Arlan Plus stick around, for BONUS career tip segment (Sponsored by Nationwide) Valeisha Butterfield-Jones (WEEN) + Kristi Martin-Rodriguez (Nationwide) share their tips for building and leaving a legacy in your professional and personal lives, from starter to retirement. Key Takeaways: - 47:30 - Valeisha shares how her first (and still) mentor (Kevin Liles) motivated her to move from intern to SVP, in the music industry - 51:44 - The Do’s & Don’ts of giving and getting mentorship - 55:42 - The REAL difference mentorship and sponsorship

It’s no surprise that Black women are successfully climbing up the professional ladder, however finding the ideal support continues to be a challenge. In this episode, host Marquita Harris (@mar_har_) sits down with Vinita J. Clements, Senior VP of Human Resources for Nationwide, and Michele Thornton Ghee, EVP of Business Development for Endeavor Global Marketing to get candid conversation and straight answers about what Black women can do to close the wage gap, and the importance of taking calculated risks at every stage of your career. It’s never too late!

This week’s guest, Monique Mosley (@Monique_Mosley_), CEO and Founder of Reign Ventures has had no problem with seeing and setting up the future. During her long career she’s kept a boss mindset by learning all the crucial elements to business success EARLY. Her career boasts success both in entertainment and venture capitalism because of her intentionality and the very specific mindset she outlines on this episode. Click ‘Play’ to hear her tips for building your own table.