Desaray Garland, owner of Sknnself, a lip oil and lip scrub line based out of Virginia Beach.SKNNSELF BY DESARAY provides hand crafted, easy to use, products that will elevate your “me time”. The mission of SKNNSELF BY DESARAY is to empower people to embrace their natural and authentic self while using the very same products proven to be effective by the founder herself. This line of products symbolizes facing your fears and ignoring the doubt. After three long years, Desaray is proud to share the result of her own healing journey. With confidence, she intends to show a part of herself through the art of self care. Desaray is a therapist by day and a business owner all other times. In this episode, Desaray and I dive into what it means to actually practice self care, debunking selfishness, and how her beauty line is teaching people that investing in yourself is one of the first steps to healing.

Raven is an online beauty educator and content creator from Baltimore, MD currently living in New York City. Her dream's always been to inspire people worldwide to be their best selves and to feel beautiful. She's been creating content for well over ten years. Before creating content full-time, Raven worked with well-known brands; leading their social media marketing efforts, building their influencer marketing strategies, and connecting influencers to brands such as SheaMoisture, MADAM by Madam CJ Walker, and other brands at Unilever - one of America's leading parent brand for the beauty industry. Content creation has always been her creative escape from her 9-5. She's built her community (the bb's) from the ground up. Her hard work and authenticity have allowed her to work with brands like COVERGIRL, Nordstrom, Milani Cosmetics, KOSAS, Carol's Daughter, and more. She's a beauty and social media-obsessed gal who loves discussing makeup, skincare, and anything beauty-related. From her content alone, you can tell she's passionate about what she does.

Kelsey Russell is a content creator and full time graduate student at Teachers College, Columbia University. Through her platform, Russell breaks down articles from national and local newspapers and magazines to help her viewers discern information in a more palatable way.
Kelsey believes education should be entertaining and entertainment should be educational. This mantra comes to life on her TikTok page of almost 100K followers where she dynamically reads different forms of print media to her audience. By promoting an approach to new information from a state of curiosity and nostalgia, she hopes to make generations fall back in love with learning.

Jenna Levine Liu, founder and president of Sixx Cool Moms. Sixx Cool Moms is a national network of social groups for moms. Sixx currently operates 45 chapters across 13 states, with over 110k active and engaged members. Using her decade of media and advertising experience, Jenna turned a traditionally free medium into a profitable space for advertisers to reach local moms on a personal level, and for moms to connect with each other and foster life changing friendships.

Nia Imani captivated audiences as a natural haircare influencer on YouTube, collaborating with industry giants like Mielle Organics, The Mane Choice, and Shea Moisture. But with over 125,000 subscribers on YouTube, she knew it was time to harness her expertise for her own brand.
Introducing Imania Beauty, where luxury meets natural. Nia created a High Maintenance Elixir, a multipurpose hair and scalp oil infused with a blend of broad-spectrum CBD and natural ingredients, meticulously formulated to stimulate hair growth, soothe the scalp, and lock in moisture.
Using her knowledge of digital marketing through influencing, Nia has built a large following on Instagram and a dedicated email list. Since the launch of her Elixr, Nia has launched other streams of income including a hair extensions line and a hair salon located in the Atlanta area.
With a mission to “give your hair a break,” Nia aims to redefine the haircare experience, making it relaxing and enjoyable for everyone. As Nia leads the charge, she paves the way for other Black women to pursue their dreams in beauty entrepreneurism.

Stephanie Coradin.As the founder of DEMBO Inc, Stephanie brings over 18 years of expertise in leadership and development training, along with life coaching for individuals and groups across diverse industries. With an MBA and a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, her unique background equips her to uncover hidden barriers to growth and offer impactful solutions. Stephanie’s philosophy centers on the power of employee empowerment and dynamic leadership. She understands that when leaders prioritize valuing their team members and entrusting them with responsibility, it creates a culture where everyone is inspired to excel. Join us as we explore Stephanie’s insights, strategies, and passion for fostering growth and resilience in both individuals and organizations. Whether you’re a leader seeking to empower your team or an individual striving for personal development, Stephanie’s wisdom will inspire you to reach new heights

Kid Onyx was born out of Nia's passion to provide essential tools for the children she serves in the vibrant communities of Los Angeles, Compton, and Inglewood. As a social worker, Nia recognized the need for resources that truly resonated with the experiences of her young clients.

Nia created Kings and Queens Emotion Cards, a revolutionary tool designed to help young black children identify and manage their emotions. In a time of heightened stress and uncertainty, especially during the pandemic, these cards offer a lifeline for children navigating through challenging emotions

Terrance Brown holds over 36 years of combined military, law enforcement, and safety management with the US Air Force, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Mercy Health Systems. 
Joining the U.S. Air Force as a Security Forces Specialist in 1984, Terrence's service took him to Langley Air Force Base, Ghedi Air Base, and Nellis Air Base, where he played pivotal roles in securing vital resources and responding to threats.
After his discharge following the Gulf War, Terrence transitioned into law enforcement, rising through the ranks to become a Master Patrolman with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police where he helped to suppress gang activity, trained with the Dignitary Witness Protection Unit, and worked with SWAT in a patrol capacity serving high risk warrants and conducting building searches

Anthony's journey is nothing short of inspiring, having overcome profound challenges to discover his artistic passion.
Growing up in Park Heights, Anthony faced adversity on multiple fronts, from external threats to personal struggles within his own home. However, it was through these hardships that Anthony found solace and expression in the art of photography. What began as a means of escape blossomed into a transformative journey of self-discovery and artistic exploration.
Anthony's work is a testament to the power of photography as a medium for storytelling and reimagining representation. Specializing in capturing the essence of Blackness, Anthony challenges traditional narratives by showcasing the beauty, resilience, and diversity of Black life in all its forms.

Cassandra Whitlow, CRS a highly accomplished Recruiter, Career Coach, and Author.Cassandra began her career at IBM in Information Technology, later transitioning to Human Resources and Recruiting where she found her true passion. Her extensive experience spans across Fortune 500 companies in diverse industries like telecommunications, banking, transportation, and insurance.Driven by a deep desire to help individuals unlock their full potential, Cassandra’s expertise in talent acquisition and recruitment strategies has been instrumental in guiding organizations to attract top talent. On this week’s episode, we delve into Cassandra’s insights on career development, mentorship, and the evolving landscape of recruitment

Tye Barrett, the owner of Amami, an Italian leather handbag brand based in Los Angeles. Tye’s mission to celebrate individuality and self-love shines through her brand’s collection ‘Me’. From climbing the corporate ladder at Disney and Warner Brothers to embracing her unique path as a single parent, Tye’s story is one of resilience, self-acceptance, and empowerment.

Zsameria Rayford - founder of Swapdc . Swap DC is a creative recycling event in Washington, D.C. That fosters a diverse community around swapping clothing for residence who want to reduce reuse and live a more sustainable life.
Did you know that the fashion industry is responsible for 8 to 10% of global missions according to the United Nations economic commissions. Swap DC aims to bring awareness to the consequences of consumerism on our environment and our culture.

Jan Receski is the founder and CEO of @OnPar Now. A state-of-the-art indoor golf instruction and practice space located in the newly renovated Terminal building in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Jan wasn’t always a golfer.. the first time she ever picked up clubs was in a golf elective in college.. but after a 30 year career with The Hillman Company, a prominent Pittsburgh Family office where she worked in Data systems, she realized the profound impact golf has on both business and personal relationships. While discovering this, she also noticed golf left many people outside of the circle - those people being women.

Arsha Jones- founder of Capital City Mambo Sauce was born and raised in Washington, DC. When she and her family moved to the suburbs, Arsha began making her own mambo sauce in her kitchen. Realizing she could give back to her community by creating “a taste of home,” Arsha and her family started marketing and selling the sauce now known as Capital City Mambo Sauce.
Today, you can find Capital City Mambo sauce in over 3,000 grocery stores, online - through their website and Amazon, and through several partnerships including the Washington Commanders, McDonald’s, and many more.

Arsha and her team package and ship her mambo sauces across the country. In this mini episode, Arsha talks to us about her keys to success, how she's been able to scale Capital City Mambo Sauce through partnerships in the community, and how she is intentional about letting the brand speak for itself rather than being front and center. Get ready to dive a little deeper on the founder behind this notable sauce.

Bilal was born in Togo, Africa, and moved to Hartford, Connecticut at 8 years old.

Bilal started his wealth management journey at 19 years old through a nationally ranked internship program at Northwestern Mutual. He was the number one intern in the Northeast, ranking Top 10 nationally out of twenty five hundred interns in 2014 and 2015.

 Today Bilal Afolabi is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER, a Chartered Financial Consultant, and founder and wealth management advisor at Chosen Advisory Group where he specializes  in working with pre-retirees/retirees and the emerging affluent.

Welcome back for season 3 of A Bright Idea Podcast! In this episode of A Bright Idea, I reflect on my journey as an entrepreneur and podcaster. There was no other person who could help me tell this story but my sister, Kayla. Join us to discuss our childhood in Pittsburgh, the entrepreneurial spirit instilled in us, and my transition from media sales to launching her podcast. Our conversation highlights the importance of storytelling, the challenges faced in the media industry, and the motivation behind creating a platform for black and brown businesses. Don't miss my insights on personal growth, the significance of supporting each other, and the diverse guests expected in the new season. Enjoy!

Dumi Mabhena, the founder of Shanda Studio - An AI- powered app that streamlines podcast production, making content creation effortless. Through Shanda Studio, users save time and effort editing their podcast through Shanda Studio’s text based audio editing and publishing features

Originally from Zimbabwe, Dumi Mabhena was inspired by the lack of diverse local stories in his home country and wanted to democratize podcasting by making the process easier for beginners. Dumi is a recent Georgetown MBA graduate who partnered with his co-founder, Paul Kassar with a background in software engineering, to create a user-friendly podcast editing platform. Their goal is to simplify podcasting for new creators, helping them focus on storytelling rather than getting bogged down by technical details.

Cedric Singleton, managing partner at J.Galt Financial Suite. We discuss the importance of building business credit, the differences between corporate and entrepreneurial environments, and the common pitfalls that small businesses face. Cedric shares insights from his extensive corporate career and emphasizes the need for effective management, simplified business planning, and strategic marketing to ensure business success. The conversation provides valuable advice for entrepreneurs looking to thrive in their ventures.

Jessica Smith founded the Mental Health Emergency Fund to address mental health access.
The fund provides financial assistance for therapy to those in need.
Jessica's personal mental health challenges inspired her to create the fund.
Stigma around mental health is prevalent in Black and Brown communities.
Many individuals view mental health struggles as a personal weakness.
Financial barriers prevent 40% of applicants from accessing therapy.
The fund has screened over 300 individuals for anxiety and depression.
Community support is crucial for mental health recovery.