Hayet Rida started out as an influencer. When a company she was supposed to collaborate with backed out of a fine jewelry partnership deal, she was stuck holding thousands of dollars worth of packaging. At that point, she decided to lean on her influence and the loyal community she had built to launch her own Jewelry brand. This happy accident has turned into a global phenomenon called Khoi. In this episode, Hayet is sharing the rollercoaster ride of her first year in business....

Over the past few years, several female executives and well-known entrepreneurs have stepped down from their leadership roles and or shut down their businesses. From YouTube’s former CEO Susan Wojcicki to online business sensation Vanessa Lau, they all site either burnout or the need to focus on their health as their reason for stepping back. Today’s guest is also familiar with burnout. She launched a successful marketing agency at age 16 and by 27 she burned out for the first time....

On average today’s guest makes over a million dollars a year through business collaborations. She has the process of collaboration down to so much of a science that she has created an AI-based app that helps business owners generate collaboration ideas and drafts email pitches that lead to mutually beneficial partnerships. In this episode, Jordan Gill is sharing a detailed guide to how we can create our own profitable collaborations. From where to find people for collabs, what to say...

In the first episode of this series, I announced that I was launching a newsletter business. I released the first issue of, The Off Script Weekly on 3/4/2023. After that first issue, I was consistent for 3 more issues then completely fell off. While there’s something to be said about being able to publish for a month straight, building a newsletter business can’t end with the launch. So in this update, I’m sharing what went wrong and some of the changes I’m putting in place to...

Today’s guest has built a brand around the idea that it’s OK to not have perfect skin. Olamide Olowe is the Founder and CEO of Topicals. You may know her as the youngest Black woman to raise over 10 million dollars in capital BUT growing up, Olamide suffered from chronic skin problems like boils, acne, and hyperpigmentation. As a solution to similar problems faced by her community of Spottie Hotties, she created Topicals which is a line of skin products to help people who aren’t...

This week we’re continuing with our series on the business of podcasting. In this episode, I’m sharing common mistakes new podcasters make that cause them to quit far too soon. If you’re thinking about starting a podcast of your own, here are 5 mistakes you should steer clear of. As always, I would love to continue this conversation with you in the comments of our video podcast on YouTube! Let me know if you have made any of these podcasting mistakes or if they resonated with...

Not sure you can start a podcast because of something you heard? This week we’re continuing with our series on the business of podcasting. In this episode, I’m sharing common myths and misconceptions that prevent people from starting their podcasts. So if you've ever heard something that turned you off from starting your own show, listen up! I would love to continue this conversation with you in the comments of our video podcast on YouTube! Let me know if you have any...

This week we’re continuing our series on the business of podcasting. In this episode, I’m sharing 6 ways you can monetize your podcast. Most people assume that host-read ADs are the only way they can make money from their podcasts but that’s far from the truth. In fact, it’s possible to make $10,000/month or more as an independent podcaster. Listen on Apple Podcasts Watch on YouTube You’ll learn about using podcasts to: * 6 ways you can monetize your...

Over the past 5 years of hosting and producing this show, I’ve gotten messages from those of you who are interested in launching a podcast of your own. I’ve jumped on calls with you and we’ve traded voice notes on Instagram but I feel like I could do a little more to help you. Podcasts are more popular than ever. With millions of people tuning in every day, podcasts have become a go-to source for entertainment, education, and inspiration. From comedy shows to true crime dramas, from...

While working for a Venture Capitalist, Kelly Ifill saw first-hand the inequity that Black and Brown founders faced when seeking funding for their businesses. Of all the things she could have done to address this problem, Kelly decided to build her own digital bank. Guava is the digital banking and networking platform designed by and for Black small business owners. During our conversation, Kelly shares what it took to launch her digital bank. She also shares how she’s able to...

Imagine you were called into the office of senior leadership at your job and asked to choose between your extremely lucrative side hustle or keeping your day job. This is a scenario many side business owners have probably played out in their minds. For today’s guest, Eni Popoola, it became reality when a partner at her law firm asked her to choose between staying on as a lawyer and continuing as a viral beauty influencer. During our conversation, Eni shares how she started her...

In today’s episode, we meet Crystal Etienne the CEO of Ruby Love. Crystal’s 70-million-dollar apparel company is at the forefront of innovation in menstrual care. After watching her daughter and her friends sitting on the sidelines during swim meets because of their periods, she spent $25,000 of her own money to develop patented leak-proof menstrual sleepwear, swimwear, and underwear. During our conversation, Crystal shares the keys to growing her business including how she develops...

3 years after launching her luxury handbag brand, Anima Iris, today’s guest has made over a million dollars and her bag has been worn by the likes of Beyonce, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. In this episode, Wilglory Tanjong is giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the strategies that have made her so successful in a short period of time. From sourcing leather in Italy to working with Senegalese artisans in her Dakar facility, dealing with copycats, and so much more. She is generously sharing...

For this episode, I have put together 25 minutes straight of some of the best business advice our guests have shared over the years. There is so much more we could have put in here but I hope these picks help you in the season you’re currently in. Listen on Apple Podcasts Watch on YouTube You’ll learn about: * Preventing burnout as an entrepreneur * Landing high-ticket corporate clients * Preparing BEFORE you go viral * Pivoting until you...

In September 2020, today’s guest launched Noirlux Candle Co. By February 2021, Colina Bruce’s company was featured by Oprah Magazine as one of the 25 Best Candles Companies. There is definitely a great story here about how Colina left her role as an adjunct professor and director at a university to open a candle bar in Seattle Washington. In this episode, Colina shares how she started candle making as a hobby and decided to turn it into a business that now makes more than 3...

After 2 of the corporate retail businesses she worked for went out of business, today’s guest, Jance Chartae, decided she was no longer going to work for anyone else. She took her 12 years of retail experience and decided to start her e-commerce business, Brazen boutique. 5 years later, she now runs a 7-figure business and has taught over 5,000 other women how to launch and grow their own e-commerce boutiques. In this episode, Jance shares how she went from being unsure what to...

Today’s guest Sarah Gaines took an unconventional path into entrepreneurship. Her transition from a traditional nursing career into travel nursing allowed her to retire at the age of 29. She now spends her time traveling and building businesses she’s passionate about. While you may not be a trained nurse, Sarah’s journey is a prime example of how transitioning into a flexible career can give you the breathing room you need to build a business, generate wealth and create your ideal...

How does one build a business as a makeup artist? Today’s guest, Delina Medhin is a celebrity makeup artist whose client list ranges from red-carpet stars like Issa Rae to politicians like Vice President Kamala Harris. Growing up, Delina wasn’t allowed to wear makeup BUT she paid her dues and worked her way up from the MAC cosmetics store to now partnering with brands like Chanel and Bobbi Brown. In this episode, Delina lays out a blueprint for aspiring makeup artists to build...

Talia Boone started DIY flower arranging as a form of stress relief and self-care. When her local farmer’s market was shut down during the pandemic, she went looking for ways to order those same loose flowers online but flower wholesalers wouldn’t lower their order minimums for her. Four months later, she launched the beta version of her business, Postal Petals by partnering with 20 flower farmers. Almost 3 years later, she has grown Postal Petals into a thriving business selling farm...

Today’s guest, Asia Abston, is what I like to call a pandemic phoenix. In 2020, she was a bartender earning $5 an hour. This was her career for over a decade when the pandemic shut down the restaurant industry. With no college degree, corporate experience, or savings to fall back on, she decided to double down on a drop shipping business. Within 12 months, she generated over $100,000 in revenue. 3 years later, not only has her business grown but she has also taught over 2,000 students...

Serwaa Adjei-Pelle has spent the last 10 years helping thousands of business owners create their own unique blueprints for success. In the She's Off Script podcast, Serwaa shares the stories and lessons learned by women who have built thriving businesses. Starting February 16th, Serwaa is back with new episodes every Thursday! Listen on Apple Podcast Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/X6EEsC3ojqw

After attending conferences where they felt like they didn’t make any meaningful connections, today’s guest and her mother decided to launch Mixtroz. Their app collects meaningful data at either live or virtual events and the algorithm helps you identify who you should connect with. In this episode, Ashlee Ammons shares how she and her mom became the 37th and 38th black females to ever close a $1M+ round of funding. She talks to us about how they built their team of engineers, how...

Before today’s guest and her co-founder launched their business, they petitioned Webster’s and other dictionaries to add the word “fourth trimester” to the dictionary. The problem their business is trying to solve is so important they created a campaign to introduce it into our everyday language. In this episode, we learn how Nana built a luxury gift box to support the health, recovery, and well-being of expectant mothers as they enter their 4th trimester. From creating the products...

In this episode, I’m sharing 7 business ideas that will be more relevant and profitable going forward. The past 2.5 years have brought us high inflation, supply chain issues, and changing consumer priorities and habits. Business ideas we used to think were lucrative, especially for passive income, are either irrelevant OR the inflation and supply chain issues have squeezed out the profit margin. In either case, not every business idea works given the new pressures we're facing...