So Ambitious

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 trust and nurturing deep relationships when building a business from scratch. https://www.siredesign.com/  Sponsored by Heineken USA.

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. “And that influenced how I saw myself, being close to this plant that I had been using for a very long time.” With 16+ years of inter-disciplinary cannabis experience, the two talk viable products, creative marketing efforts, and finding innovation in ancestral pathways. https://www.xula.us/Sponsored by Heineken USA.

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 leaders from drag’s first house talk to Felecia about trademarks, mutually beneficial partnerships, and how entrepreneurship is inherent to being Black in America. https://www.royalhouseoflabeija.com Sponsored by Heineken USA.

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 talks to Felecia about Insecure’s impact on the music industry, the importance of reading contracts, and always putting artists first. https://hoorae.co Sponsored by Heineken USA.

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 make everybody rich at the end of the day: the vision.” https://www.somewheregood.com/ Sponsored by Heineken USA.

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 room full of people pitching ideas to investors, he was in the right place: “That's what I feel like being uninterrupted means,” he says. “I am where I belong.” https://livegistics.com/ Sponsored by Heineken USA.

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.

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.comSponsored by Heineken USA.

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.

A new kind of business podcast. Presented by Black Ambition Prize. Learn more: https://www.blackambitionprize.com/