Brown Ambition

Hey BA Fam! Join us for an inspiring conversation with Tomara Watkins President of Buttah Skin and Dr. Kristian Edwards Founder of BLK+GRN, two visionary entrepreneurs reshaping the beauty and wellness industry. They share their journeys of building brands that cater to the unique needs of Black consumers while challenging industry norms and creating spaces for empowerment.    From breaking barriers to redefining success, Tomara and Dr. Edwards discuss the privilege and responsibility of entrepreneurship and the impact of uplifting Black voices through their work.This episode highlights the power of resilience, community, and intentional relationships in navigating challenges and achieving success. We also explore the vital role of mutual support among Black women in business, emphasizing the strength found in collective growth and mentorship.   Discover how Buttah Skin and BLK+GRN are making a lasting impact in competitive markets and why representation, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership matter now more than ever. Tune in for an insightful and empowering discussion! Follow this week’s Guests: Buttah Skin:  https://www.instagram.com/buttahskin/ https://www.tiktok.com/@buttahskin https://www.youtube.com/@ButtahSkin   Tomara W., President Buttah Skin: https://www.instagram.com/beautyteo/   BLK+GRN:  https://www.instagram.com/blkandgrn/ https://www.tiktok.com/@blkandgrn https://www.youtube.com/@blkandgrn   Dr.Kristian E., Founder BLK+GRN: https://www.instagram.com/drkristianh/     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

🔥 In this episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with Jessica Cruel, the powerhouse Editor-in-Chief of Allure and SELF magazines, to talk about her journey to the top of the beauty media world and how she’s building wealth through real estate investing as a single woman.   👑 We dive into:   ✔️ How Jessica climbed the ranks in the magazine industry   ✔️ Her journey to financial independence & the FIRE movement   ✔️ The ups and downs of being a single woman in real estate   ✔️ Smart investing tips for first-time buyers   ✔️ The power of mentorship, executive coaching, and community   💰 Jessica shares the exact team she built to succeed in real estate:   ✔️ A real estate agent who understands investment properties   ✔️ A reliable general contractor & trusted repair professionals   ✔️ A financial team to maximize tax benefits & long-term wealth   🔑 Key Takeaways:   1️⃣ Don’t wait for the “perfect time” to start investing—learn as you go!   2️⃣ Build a strong team to support your real estate journey.   3️⃣ Wealth-building is possible at any stage of your career. 📌 Follow Jessica Cruel:   📸 Instagram: @JCruel   🌟 Allure: allure.com   🌟 SELF: self.com   💡 Subscribe for more career, wealth, and entrepreneurship insights and don't forget to leave us a review! It's a huge help to get the show seen by more listeners.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey BA Fam! This week, Mandi is joined by two powerhouse women who are shaking things up in their industries. Get ready for a fun, insightful, and inspiring conversation with Lisa Beasley, the comedic genius behind the viral character “Corporate Erin,” and Kenya Parham, the Chief Growth Officer of Spill, the Black-owned social media platform that’s changing the game.What We’re Talking About: • Lisa’s Journey from Gary to Greatness: Lisa takes us through her path from growing up in Gary, Indiana, to becoming a viral sensation. She spills on how her corporate consulting days inspired “Corporate Erin” and why she left traditional Hollywood behind to take control of her creative career. • What Makes Spill Special: Kenya breaks down how Spill is creating a safe and inclusive space for Black, Brown, and queer communities online. She shares how the platform uses culturally competent AI and human moderators to protect users while fostering authentic connections.Follow Lisa Beasley (@lisabevolving) for more Corporate Erin antics and updates on her creative projects.Join Kenya Parham (@spillmob) and check out what makes this platform the new go-to for culture drivers.Download Spill > https://www.spill.com/Take part in Spill's crowdfunding round > https://wefunder.com/spill/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey BA Fam! Mandi, Yanely, and Chris tackle a listener’s dilemma about whether to stay at her “dream company” despite a brutal 90-minute commute and no work-from-home flexibility. Plus, hot takes on corporate America’s return-to-office demands and the recent shopping boycott!The crew debates whether any job requiring three hours of daily commuting can truly be called a “dream,” especially when promotion opportunities are 2-3 years away. Yanely shares Jamie Dimon’s leaked anti-WFH rant (“If you want to keep your ass home and be lazy, stay home!”), revealing how corporate pushback against remote work is often about protecting profits, not productivity.This episode delivers the perfect blend of practical career advice and unfiltered commentary on workplace politics that BA fans love.Email your questions to brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com or DM us @brownambitionpodcast on Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Brown Table is BACK with all the tea! Mandi, Yanely, and Chris break down the Oscar highlights, Women's History Month, Bloody Sunday's 60th anniversary, the Retail Boycott, and a special first-time Brown Boost interview with Alencia Johnson, author of Flip The Tables: The Everyday Disruptor's Guide to Finding Courage and Making Change.Don't forget to RATE and REVIEW the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! It's essential to keep us growing and let everyone know how they can join the BA Fam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen up, BA Fam! Mandi’s bringing the 🔥 with special guests Yanely (Miss Be Helpful) and Chris (Popcorn Finance) for a no-holds-barred Q&A that’ll have you nodding, laughing, and maybe feeling a little called out (in the best way).First up: Kerry’s caught between a rock and a hard place. Her husband’s unemployed after dragging the family across the country, and now she’s staring down a $75K job offer that sounds like a chaotic nightmare compared to her current $50K gig. Should she sacrifice her sanity for that extra cheddar? Then Sasha comes clean about how she let lifestyle inflation wreck her finances. Despite doubling her income to $90K, she’s drowning in $34K of credit card debt. Got a question you want us to answer? Hit is up! • Slide into our DMs: @brownambitionpodcast • Email your tea: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re back at the Brown Table with Yanely & Chris, BA Fam! And we cover everything from unexpected pigeon encounters to major shifts in the job market, media, and entrepreneurship.This week, we dive into: Elon Musk’s proposed job cuts to federal agencies and what it could mean for the workforce and economy Navigating job loss and career transitions, plus how to bounce back and build new opportunities Why civic engagement matters, especially in local elections and policies that impact your finances Media shake-ups and what the cancellation of Joy Reid’s show means for representation The rise of TikTok creators and how digital media is shifting The realities of entrepreneurship and why collaboration beats going solo Financial literacy and wealth-building strategies for uncertain times Marvel’s new Captain America movie and whether it lived up to the hype Boosts and Breaks of the week—because life keeps life-ing Hit play and join the conversation. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave us a review!Follow BA at @brownambitionpodcastFollow Yanely @missbehelpfulFollow Chris @popcornfinance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this raw, heartfelt episode, Mandi tackles listener questions about layoffs, debt, and rebuilding after financial mistakes – all while sharing her own reflections on friendship, motherhood, and weathering life’s storms.Key Topics Covered • Why showing up for friends matters (even in sleet!) + Mandi’s hilarious The Read live show recap • Federal layoffs & corporate cuts: 75K+ gov jobs axed, Meta’s shady “performance review” purge • Listener Q&A: • “Should I abandon public health after a rescinded job offer?” → Transferable skills, LLC tips & side hustle tax hacks (featuring listener Bri’s Pilates pivot!) • “I’m drowning in debt from my 20s!” → Debt negotiation tips, credit counseling resources & mindset shifts for new moms • Mandi’s unfiltered take: Why no job is safe + protecting yourself with “receipts”Actionable Takeaways • 🛑 For laid-off workers: Document praise emails, save performance reviews, explore adjacent industries • 💸 For debt payoff: Prioritize newer debts, negotiate settlements, avoid credit repair scams • 💡 For everyone: Build a “financial parachute” via side gigsMentioned Resources • National Foundation for Credit Counselors (nfcc.org) • National Debt Relief (nationaldebtrelief.com)CALL TO ACTION • 🎧 Subscribe for weekly career/finance therapy • 💌 Submit your Q: DM @brownambitionpodcast or email brownambitionpodcasts@gmail.com • 🌟 Rate & review if this episode helped you – it fuels our mission! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Dr. Key Hallmon, founder of The Village Market and author of "No One Is Self-Made," alongside Renae Bluitt, creator of She Did That, in a vibrant discussion on supporting Black and minority-owned businesses. They delve into the value of community in entrepreneurship, tackling systemic barriers and sharing empowering initiatives that uplift minority entrepreneurs. The conversation also highlights the importance of collaboration, resilience, and intentional networking as keys to thriving in the challenging business landscape.

It's BA QA Time! This week, Mandi is joined by Naseema McElroy of Financially Intentional to get real about the messy, beautiful, and sometimes awkward conversations we need to have about money and love.We’re talking about why early financial convos are a must (yes, even before the wedding bells), how to merge finances without losing your mind, and why transparency is the key to avoiding money drama down the line. Plus, we’re answering listener questions on everything from prenups to handling different money mindsets in a relationship.If you’ve ever side-eyed your partner’s spending habits or wondered how to raise financially savvy kids, this one’s for you. Tap in for real talk, practical tips, and a few laughs along the way!Check out Naseema's podcast, Financially Intentional > Read The Prenup Prescription by Aarron Thomas > Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.