Dive into some of the top entrepreneurial advice from our lineup of innovative founders in this special Best Of episode. Discover the secrets to their success as we feature their invaluable insights and strategies that have propelled their ventures forward. From navigating the complexities of startup life to pioneering new industries, these inspiring founders offer a wealth of knowledge for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned innovators alike. Be sure to catch these essential lessons that can ig...
Jun 13, 2024•19 min
Celebrate the extraordinary spirit of Black ambition in another special "Best Of" episode, where we highlight what true success looks like through the eyes of our lineup of remarkable founders. Tune in as our guests share powerful stories of their journeys, reflecting on the challenges they've faced and the victories they've achieved. This episode is a tribute to the relentless pursuit of dreams, showcasing the resilience, innovation, and brilliance that truly define Black ambition. Don't miss t...
Jun 06, 2024•15 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Explore the transformative power of embracing entrepreneurial failure in this special "Best Of" episode, where we delve into the journeys of entrepreneurs who turned their setbacks into stepping stones toward success. Join us as our guests share candid stories of their toughest challenges, the lessons learned, and how embracing failure propelled them toward greater heights in their journey. Tune in for an inspiring collection of narratives highlighting resilience, innovation, and the true essenc...
May 30, 2024•24 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Join us for a special episode featuring all the Good, Bad, and Ugly Parts of Entrepreneurship! Discover how these founders overcame doubt, racism, and financial challenges to build their successful business empire. Tune in for their inspiring stories, resilience, determination, and the power of not caring what others think. KEY POINTS - Ep 202: Pivot with Purpose: How Necole Kane Turned Failure Into Fuel for Success - Ep 203: Beats to Eats: Derrick Turton a.k.a. Chef Teach's Journey from Music M...
May 23, 2024•21 min
Celebrate the indomitable spirit of Black ambition with this special “Best Of” episode, showcasing our founders’ unwavering power of bold belief in the face of doubts and naysayers! Tune in to discover riveting tales of resilience and triumph, as our guests share inspiring narratives of overcoming adversity on the path to success. Don't miss out on this uplifting journey of determination and achievement! KEY POINTS - Ep 203: Beats to Eats: Derrick Turton a.k.a. Chef Teach’s Journey from Music Mo...
May 16, 2024•18 min•Season 2Ep. 13
In this episode of the So Ambitious Podcast, host Felecia Hatcher sits down with Corey Arvinger, CEO of Support Black Colleges, to dive into his remarkable journey from college party promoter to the helm of a thriving e-commerce brand. Corey shares insights into the evolution of Support Black Colleges and how it blossomed into a full-blown brand with a powerful message of support for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The conversation dives deep into the highs and lows of entr...
May 09, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Today, we are joined by Funmi Monet, the brilliant mind behind Exalté Parfum, a groundbreaking perfume brand that has been making waves in the luxury perfume space. In this episode, Funmi shares her insights on navigating the fragrance industry, from the inception of her brand to its meteoric rise in the social media sphere. With a keen focus on community building and content creation, Funmi shares the essence of confidently crafting content that resonates with authenticity and ultimately builds...
May 02, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 11
In this episode of the So Ambitious Podcast, we dive into the dynamic journey of Dominick Ard’is, the innovative mind behind ACT House, a team formation platform, accelerator and VC providing tools and resources to founders to match with co-founders, build their team, and secure their first check. From his upbringing as a military brat to his diverse career spanning management consulting, politics, and now entrepreneurship, Dominick shares the transformative moments that shaped his multifaceted ...
Apr 25, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 10
In this episode of So Ambitious, we are joined by Ana Pompa Alarcón, CEO of Founders Registry, as she shares her journey of advocating for marginalized founders and creating impactful solutions in the tech industry. From her beginnings at Rikers Island to supporting our Black Ambition finalists, Ana's story is one of fierce advocacy, resilience, and empowerment. In this conversation we uncover how she navigates the complexities of entrepreneurship and addresses systemic issues faced by minority ...
Apr 17, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In this episode, we sit down with Evan Leaphart, founder of Kiddie Kredit, co-founder of Black Men Talk Tech, and recent million-dollar grant recipient of the 43North accelerator program. With such a robust portfolio, what does it entail to lead not just one but two major initiatives that make such a significant impact on the world? Discover how Kiddie Kredit is reshaping credit education by addressing the needs of over 90 million credit-challenged Americans burdened by $1 trillion in credit car...
Apr 11, 2024•27 min•Season 2Ep. 8
In this episode, we are joined by Amber Cabral, renowned DEI expert, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Cabral Co., as she brings us into the intricate world of diversity, equity, and inclusion, offering invaluable insights on creating genuinely inclusive spaces within organizations. Drawing from her rich career budding from her impactful work at Walmart, Amber emphasizes the transformative power of intentional actions, feedback loops, and storytelling in fostering workplace environments that ...
Apr 04, 2024•32 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Jay Bailey started his first business at 12, bought his first house at 19, and made his first million at 23. But the true turning point in his narrative came when he chose significance over success, recognizing that the real impact lay in building enduring legacies for fellow Black entrepreneurs. This audacious decision marked a profound chapter in his story, reflecting a commitment to empower others with the same bold vision. In this episode, Jay Bailey lets us in on the compelling legacy craft...
Mar 28, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Profound and enduring impact lies at the intersection of entrepreneurship and advocacy - and there is no better testament to this than the story of Shannon Allen. Shannon Allen is the visionary founder of Grown, a healthy fast-casual restaurant franchise that has not only disrupted but redefined the culinary landscape in Miami. Shannon's story goes beyond entrepreneurship; it is a powerful testament to the transformative potential when business acumen meets a deep commitment to positive change. ...
Mar 21, 2024•53 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Although notoriously known as the King of Spicy Tweets, Brian Brackeen, seasoned entrepreneur and General Partner at Lightship Capital, has built a track record of raising billions in support of Black businesses and entrepreneurs, making waves that resonate far beyond the confines of 280 characters. In this interview, Brian Brackeen provides an intimate look into his journey as he recounts the pivotal moment of his removal as CEO, offering profound insights into the distinctive challenges encoun...
Mar 14, 2024•35 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Meet the man who made Mac & Cheese cool - Derrick Turton a.k.a. Chef Teach, went from managing music artists to becoming the culinary force behind the World Famous House of Mac in Miami. Renowned for his exceptional mac and cheese, Chef Teach's story is a testament to resilience, adaptation, and the pursuit of passion. In this episode, Derrick imparts invaluable lessons learned from the music industry that laid the groundwork for his triumphs in the culinary world. You’re going to learn the ...
Mar 07, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 3
[APPLICATIONS OPEN!] | Are you building a high growth business in tech healthcare, AI, media entertainment, or consumer goods and services? If so, we'd like to help you scale. Don't miss your chance to win $1 million, capital coaching, and access to an amazing community of diverse innovators! Apply for the 2024 Black Ambition Prize competition now In this episode, Felecia Hatcher is joined by Necole Kane - a retired celeb blogger, media mogul, founder of My Happy Flo, and the queen of making piv...
Feb 26, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 2
[APPLICATIONS OPEN!] | Are you building a high growth business in tech healthcare, AI, media entertainment, or consumer goods and services? If so, we'd like to help you scale. Don't miss your chance to win $1 million, capital coaching, and access to an amazing community of diverse innovators! Apply for the 2024 Black Ambition Prize competition now Imagine a world where Black and Hispanic innovators are provided with the resources, mentorship, and backing to thrive without any interruption. In ju...
Feb 26, 2024•10 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Step into the dynamic world of Season 2 of the So Ambitious podcast, an electrifying exploration of stories driven by our community of Black Founders and Entrepreneurs. Founded by Pharrell Williams, Black Ambition has unleashed a wave of impact, propelling nearly 100 entrepreneurs with unique tales of tenacity and innovation. Launching on 26 February 2024, join us in Season 2 of the So Ambitious Podcast as we celebrate the audacity to dream and build. This new season promises an unfiltered dive ...
Feb 15, 2024•3 min
From a high school talent show that landed him in the presence of music industry vet Teddy Riley to becoming one of the most influential and successful music producers and businessmen of the 21st century. We close out our first season of the So Ambitious Podcast with an intimate conversation between Black Ambition’s CEO Felecia Hatcher and musician, producer, and serial entrepreneur, Pharrell Williams. https://pharrellwilliams.com/Sponsored by Heineken USA.
Feb 16, 2023•28 min•Ep. 10
From selling beautifully crafted yarn bracelets as a pre-teen to becoming our 2022 $1M Black Ambition Grand Prize Winner, Camille Bell, shares her remarkable journey of betting on herself and persevering. "We're creating award-winning formulas that are personalized to different skin and lip tones so everyone can achieve the color they want," says Camille. The founder of cosmetics company Pound Cake sits down with Felecia in this episode to break down crowdfunding and turn lessons into launchpads...
Feb 09, 2023•30 min•Ep. 9
From pushing furniture sales at a Miami design showroom to venturing out on her own to create a full-service interior design studio bringing in seven-figure projects. Eilyn Jimenez, Sire Design's founder and creative director is no stranger to rough starts. "Being ambitious, at least for me, represents not only what I can bring to the table for myself, but also what I can bring to the table for somebody else," says Eilyn. In the episode, she talks to Felecia about staying authentic, cultivating ...
Feb 02, 2023•25 min•Ep. 8
From pushing papers at a local Maryland radio station to apprenticing under Whoopi Goldberg's cannabis line, Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey is on a path to nurture a more inclusive cannabis industry with regenerative product. In this episode, Mennlay talks with Felecia about the benefits and science behind her product Xula Herbs, and her quest to promote hemp products that support comfort and relief during hormonal cycles. “I was immersed in this cannabis culture from, from seed to sale,” says Mennlay. ...
Jan 26, 2023•33 min•Ep. 7
From a shout-out by Beyonce to securing partnerships with Facebook and Louis Vuitton, Jeffrey LaBeija and Marcus LaBeija of the Royal House of LaBeija know the power of visibility in building a brand. In this episode, they talk with Felecia about the multimillion dollar business of ballroom. “Who we are as Black queer people isn't necessarily always celebrated,” says Marcus. “It's always associated with shame or guilt or remorse. In ballroom, it’s associated with a grand prize and cash.” These l...
Jan 19, 2023•27 min•Ep. 6
From folding T-shirts at Abercrombie & Fitch to running Issa Rae’s record label, Benoni Tagoe has learned the value of both pursuing work that you love and uplifting others. “It feels great to see other people succeed based off of a dream and a vision that you had,” the head of business development for Hoorae Media and president of Raedio tells Felecia in episode 5. “And to see that your dream and vision help other people, that's the ultimate feeling. That's what it's really all about.” He t...
Jan 12, 2023•29 min•Ep. 5
From developing a social media app that generates true connection to founding a community space where people can come and just be, Naj Austin creates products that combat isolation. “That was part of my pitch,” says the founder and CEO of Somewhere Good. “I led with, ‘I’m going to solve loneliness.” She talks to Felecia about finding the one perfect investor and the power entrepreneurs have in that relationship: “They may have the check, but you have the vision, and only one thing is going to ma...
Jan 05, 2023•27 min•Ep. 4
A special two-episode drop: From pitching family members at a birthday barbecue to winning the $1 million Black Ambition grand prize, Justin Turk and Andre Davis funded their construction-software company without any experience raising capital for a startup. “I didn't have a venture capital Rolodex,” Justin tells Felecia in episode 3 of So Ambitious. “I didn't know the angel investors were around the corner.” What he was sure of was that even when he was one of three Black entrepreneurs in a roo...
Dec 16, 2022•29 min•Ep. 3
A special two-episode drop: From throwing Afrobeat parties to founding a country online, Eche Emole has spent his career building community. “The internet is the equalizer,” he tells host Felecia Hatcher about the nation he’s creating. “It’s the only place where as Black people we’re free.” Listen in as he describes his vision of a real-life Wakanda, and the investors who believe in it as much as he does. https://www.afropolitan.io/ Sponsored by Heineken USA.
Dec 16, 2022•30 min•Ep. 2
From braiding hair in her dorm room to securing placements with one of the highest-earning e-commerce retailers in the country -- in our series premiere Felecia Hatcher sits down with Kadidja Dosso of Dosso Beauty, an organic and gender-inclusive beauty and hair product line. Check out Dosso Beauty at https://www.dossobeauty.com Sponsored by Heineken USA.
Dec 09, 2022•26 min•Ep. 1
Welcome to So Ambitious a new kind of business podcast focused on Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs who are dreaming and building their companies to excel, uninterrupted. Hosted by Felecia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition Prize and fellow entrepreneur. Premieres Friday, December 9th.
Dec 02, 2022•2 min•Ep. 1
A new kind of business podcast. Presented by Black Ambition Prize. Learn more: https://www.blackambitionprize.com/
Nov 28, 2022•2 min•Ep. 1
