1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: Building the Good Life with John Hope Bryant is brought 2 00:00:02,480 --> 00:00:05,280 Speaker 1: to you by Prudential Financial. You know, small business of 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: the fabric of this country and uh, and that's what 4 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: grows our country. So it's very very important to us 5 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: to help black businesses grow and thrive. This is John 6 00:00:17,079 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: Hope Bryant, and this is Building the Good Life today. 7 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 1: My guest, my friend, my partner and change is Susan 8 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: Somersial Johnson, the chief marketing officer Prudential. And as we say, 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: where I come from, she's a bad system. Uh. And 10 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: and then and when my neverorbody will be s I 11 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: s T a system, but in proper context s I 12 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:42,280 Speaker 1: S E are or better yet Here executive c suite leader, 13 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:47,199 Speaker 1: change agents, someone who cares deeply about community, brand ambassador, 14 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:52,120 Speaker 1: someone who's focused on systemic change at scale through the 15 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: power of marketing, and one of the most powerful financial 16 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: service corporations in the world. We're gonna unpack all of 17 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: this as we go deep into how you build. We're 18 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:07,119 Speaker 1: gonna talk. We're gonna cover some really fascinating and important topics. Ladies, 19 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:10,120 Speaker 1: this podcast is for you. This is about all the 20 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: stuff of being unseen and unheard or feeling that way 21 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,479 Speaker 1: and wondering in a world that does not seem fair, 22 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 1: how do you succeed against those odds. You have a 23 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,759 Speaker 1: living example here, a living, breathing example of Dr King's 24 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: dream Susan summer Still Johnson, Hey, my friends, John, it 25 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 1: is great to be here. I love listening to your podcast. 26 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 1: It just you get to the core of who people 27 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: are and what drives them. So I'm really looking forward 28 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: to this or it's my pleasure. You know, we're not 29 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: I believe, uh, Susan, We're not human beings having a 30 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:47,039 Speaker 1: spiritual experience. I believe we're spiritual beings having a human experience. 31 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: I think energy really matters. You've got good energy. You're 32 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: for as long as I've known you. Then defined by 33 00:01:56,440 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: your authenticity. Yes, your intellect, Yes you're island. Yes you're 34 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: clear strength in marketing, in branding at the highest level 35 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: with some of the biggest companies in the world. But 36 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: she is your It is your authenticity, um that I 37 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,720 Speaker 1: trust the most. When I talk to you, I know 38 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: it's real. I know you're real. I don't have to 39 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: edit around you. We we talk very easily, and I 40 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: think that that is communicates inside the corporate suite. I 41 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 1: think it communicates externally to community, to stakeholders, and I 42 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 1: frankly think that's how you've been so successful. I think 43 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: also you aren't concerned about who gets the credit. Almost 44 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: had to drag this lady on this podcast. Everybody give 45 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: her a virtual round of applause from where you are 46 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:47,079 Speaker 1: right now. Don't do it while you're driving and put 47 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: all the side of the road and do that. But 48 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: but let her know you appreciate her, because how to 49 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: drag her in it is without without her and pretentially 50 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: wouldn't be a podcast. She wants to give somebody else 51 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: attention to some other person she knows she wanted them 52 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: on the the show. Literally, she's in twenty minutes talking 53 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: about some guy who's in a football player or something. 54 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: She wasn't one the show. No, no no, I want you 55 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: dr King's brilliance as a genius. But without Creta Scott King, 56 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: where would he be as a legacy today? Kredi Scott 57 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: King behind every successful man is an exhausted woman. Kredi 58 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 1: Scott King. What people don't know? She was this great orator, 59 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:26,279 Speaker 1: She was a great singer. She was an incredible uh 60 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 1: performer and she would perform and raise money for the 61 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,280 Speaker 1: civil rights movement. Didn't know that, and she gave her 62 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: life even after Dr King died to sustain his legacy. 63 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: Never remarried, never did anything but dedicate her life to 64 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: that mission and movement. We know Dr King today because 65 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: of Creti Scott King. Susan Johnson is one of these 66 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: iconic strengths that that just sits in the back and 67 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: and lets everybody else take the credit for the work. 68 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 1: We're not allowed that today. Today we're gonna set the 69 00:03:55,720 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: record straight because a company like Prudential is run by 70 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: people and that human capital is the real capital. So 71 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: let's unpack this story a little, Susan, Let's take the 72 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: audience back, if you will, to your your childhood, to 73 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: your background. Um, we know you worked at Apple and 74 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 1: you you, you know, had all these incredible corporations, Truist 75 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,359 Speaker 1: before this and Nokia, and we're gonna get into some 76 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,800 Speaker 1: of this, but tell us about growing up. Mom and dad. 77 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 1: You mentioned that I'm driven by a deep desire to 78 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: help build communities and help people lead better lives. Um, 79 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: and that's really core to who I am, and it 80 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 1: came from my parents and my family so my um, 81 00:04:42,839 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: my mother grew up in Jamaica and my dad, Yeah, 82 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: and they met here, and my mother told me, it's 83 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: an incredible story, coming to this country with almost nothing 84 00:04:57,200 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 1: and a thin and a thin coat, no winter coat. 85 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 1: I've never seen a wintertime and didn't have a winter coach. 86 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 1: She worked so many jobs from Jamaica. She worked so 87 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: many jobs. Um, and then she got into college at Fordham, 88 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 1: and then she had to stop her career because she 89 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,920 Speaker 1: had to raise money to bring her brother and her 90 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 1: sisters to this country, so she put it on pause. Um. 91 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 1: And then ultimately she ended up graduating the first African 92 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: American woman from Fordham Law School. Well we'll back up, slowdown, 93 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,760 Speaker 1: So did you just say African American? Wait? Did I 94 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:38,919 Speaker 1: mention that Susan Johnson is black? So anybody watching this, 95 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 1: listening to this, ladies, gentlemen, particularly ladies, she's not only 96 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: female in this role. She's African American in this role, 97 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: or let's say of African descent, because she's she's her 98 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 1: mothers from the islands. So so so let's again unpacking 99 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: the story. I want people to see the latter the 100 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 1: ladder building here, So no silver spoon in your mouth. 101 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: Nothing came easy, right, Yeah, I mean I was fortunate 102 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: to have two parents who care a lot about me, 103 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: but it was hard work. And then ultimately they moved 104 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: out of the bronx and my father built us a 105 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 1: home with his hands and his brothers and his uncle's 106 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:21,919 Speaker 1: and he built us a home so he could have 107 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 1: his family together. So I learned the importance of just 108 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:28,159 Speaker 1: really being focus and driven to get to get where 109 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: you want to go. I am, but I wanted to 110 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: share a story because I think a little point in 111 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: my career was, um, when I was a young engineered 112 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: apple and I learned something really powerful, and I learned 113 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,760 Speaker 1: it from a man called Mr Duprix. His name is 114 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: Mr Duprix at the East Palo Alto Senior Center in California. 115 00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: Have never been to East p Alto. Absolutely, I on 116 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: the board now next door there and in the valley. 117 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 1: But yeah, I spent Okay, So I'm a young engineer, right, 118 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: I don't know anything, and um, I'm volunteering. And every 119 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: day that I went to the center, Mr dupre would 120 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 1: be standing outside or sitting outside and he would say, 121 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: good morning, sunshine, so happy to see you. It's on 122 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 1: volunteering there, and after a while they asked me to 123 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: start to help with the marketing and the promotions and 124 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: the messaging. And because they need help, they need renovations, 125 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: they needed attitude, they needed a lot of help. So 126 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: so John, I didn't know anything about market I was 127 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: an engineer. I knew nothing about a marketing I guess 128 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: because I was. So I asked some colleagues and we 129 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: started putting together materials and doing pitches and we started 130 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 1: convincing people to care about men like Mr Dupre. He 131 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: was like se five, maybe ninety five years old. But 132 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,040 Speaker 1: people started to care and they started to donate, and 133 00:07:54,080 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: we started to renovate, and I realized the power marketing. 134 00:07:57,800 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: This is from an engineer, right, So I was an 135 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: engineer there and I realized the power to change. And 136 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: that's what where you started the hour and were. What 137 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: I'm doing now, prudential is I'm using I'm using what 138 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: I learned way back then from Mr Dupre. Ambassador Andrew Young, 139 00:08:13,960 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: who is both your and my hero, who was on 140 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 1: that balcony with Dr King when he was assassinated in night. 141 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:25,120 Speaker 1: Dr King's right arm. Andrew Young would say, coincidence is 142 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:28,040 Speaker 1: God's way of remaining anonymous. And I think it's an 143 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:34,560 Speaker 1: interesting coincidence that you worked for a company called Apple 144 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: that time, founded by in part by a guy named 145 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: Steve Jobs, who is known to be an engineer, but 146 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:47,560 Speaker 1: really wasn't He was really a marketing expert. He understood brand, 147 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 1: he understood texture and look and feel, and uh, he 148 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 1: was the first to take technology and give it an emotion. 149 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: I mean, this iPhone that I use is sort of cool. 150 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,120 Speaker 1: It was the first technology. We call it an iPhone. Now, 151 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:05,120 Speaker 1: back then there was an iPad, and I uh, what 152 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:07,599 Speaker 1: was the thing before the iPad and the the the 153 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: the iPod and it was the uh yeah, just an 154 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: audio recording listening device. And of course now it's it's 155 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 1: it's becoming its own lovel a group of of related products. 156 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: But before that, it was a guy selling it and 157 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: selling the dream and giving a texture in that. And 158 00:09:26,559 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: that plus the engineering partner he had, Uh, wasn't it 159 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:34,200 Speaker 1: that made the whole thing go? And it's interesting that 160 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 1: you worked there as an engineer, but then by being 161 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:41,080 Speaker 1: involved in community, you learn the power of marketing. And 162 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 1: I think half a success is marketing. Um. Dr King 163 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,280 Speaker 1: was yes, a brilliant pastor, no doubt about it. But 164 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: he wouldn't do a press conference. He wouldn't march before 165 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:53,920 Speaker 1: ten or after three, because he had he needed the 166 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 1: media to come there, recorded, get it on film, and 167 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 1: get it to New York City in time to be 168 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 1: processed for six o'clock news, because back then news was 169 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: six and eleven. So he knew the power of marketing. 170 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 1: You learned the power of marketing in community. So he 171 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 1: used community to attract marketing or to frame marketing so 172 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:16,319 Speaker 1: you could get media attention so they could have a movement. 173 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: And you use your technology to allow you to get 174 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: into community. It didn't allow you to learn marketing, which 175 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,479 Speaker 1: is now you're now having an impact Hello on community. 176 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 1: Community absolutely and meant yeah, I think you have that 177 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:34,040 Speaker 1: exactly right. Um, it's a combination of the power of 178 00:10:34,120 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: marketing that come and technology. I'll never forget you mentioned 179 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 1: Ambassador Younger earlier. I'll never forget what he told me 180 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: one day. Um, that change is messy. Movements are messy. 181 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: They're unpredictable. You don't know which way they're gonna go, 182 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: You don't know what's coming in, so you just keep 183 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,199 Speaker 1: making it up as you go along. To you to 184 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:58,360 Speaker 1: you do what he ultimately did with Dr king Um. 185 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:00,080 Speaker 1: And that's what I had to learn. I had to 186 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: learn that through the power marketing and communications. And now 187 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 1: I am I consider myself I live at that intersection 188 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:12,839 Speaker 1: on one hand, marketing and technology, sorry, marketing and creativity. 189 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 1: On the other hand, you have the science of technology. 190 00:11:17,200 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: And then the intersection to me is where the power 191 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: is and and and that's my that's my goal to 192 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: be able to use that for positive change and and 193 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 1: rainbow is only follow storms. You've heard me say this before, Susan. 194 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: You cannot have a rainbow without a storm. First. People 195 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: look at you today listen to this podcast and think, well, 196 00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: she's a chief marketing officer for Prudential. It's one of 197 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: the biggest and most prominent financial companies in the world. 198 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:45,200 Speaker 1: What things is she have to worry about? They don't 199 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: realize the stuff that you deal with now and the 200 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:50,839 Speaker 1: stuff that you dealt with coming up. Let's go back 201 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,400 Speaker 1: to that childhood experience though for a minute, and then 202 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,319 Speaker 1: when I come forward, pivot forward. I think all this 203 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: is part of the same narrative. How do we come 204 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: up from nothing? My last book, how do We build Um? 205 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:06,000 Speaker 1: The Good life for everyone matter, no matter what station 206 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: they come from, over the round it, through it, We're 207 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 1: gonna get to it. So your mother from the Islands, 208 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:13,800 Speaker 1: your dad, I believe you said. I believe you said, 209 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:18,720 Speaker 1: from the Bronx, and and they you built a life together. 210 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 1: Were you in those early ages and stages? Yes, you 211 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: had mom and dad. You know. Were you troubled by anything? 212 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: Did your self esteem? Did you question yourself as a 213 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: young girl about whether you could succeed or what you 214 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: can do? But people discount you because you were uh 215 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: a lady, a woman? Uh? Did you find men being chauvinistic? 216 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: I mean, what was the what is it like? Get 217 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: us into the into the head space. There a little 218 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 1: bit coming up, trying to make me cry, John, I 219 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: know it. I know it. Well, you're all You're all 220 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: heart masquerading is all head? We know that? Yeah, No, 221 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: of course right we all we all have have struggled. 222 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: So for me, I think the challenge and this is why, um, 223 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 1: I strive to be the most inclusive leader now possible. 224 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:10,760 Speaker 1: I want to make sure that everybody's voice is heard. 225 00:13:11,440 --> 00:13:13,600 Speaker 1: And the reason is that is that that's all I 226 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: wanted as a kid. I wanted to be heard. I 227 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:20,679 Speaker 1: wanted my voice to be heard. I was extremely shy, 228 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: UM I had. I had a lisp, so I couldn't 229 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: I couldn't say an ask. And so imagine you can 230 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 1: imagine what kids do you when you have four s 231 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: is in your name and you can't you can't pronounce 232 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:37,320 Speaker 1: an ass. So I think that's probably why I leaned 233 00:13:37,320 --> 00:13:40,360 Speaker 1: towards math and science. And I am I was going 234 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,520 Speaker 1: to say, cause I was a mathlete in high school. 235 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: I love that an athlete on math, a mathlete, that's great. 236 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:50,320 Speaker 1: But I just I just wanted to be included. I 237 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:53,200 Speaker 1: could not have dreamed of ever, you know. And now 238 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: I've talked in front of thousands of thousands of people, 239 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,959 Speaker 1: you know, broadcast here on this podcast, for millions of people. 240 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: I would have never were imagined that I would ever 241 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: be able to do anything. But I've had some great 242 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 1: mentors and tutors and guidance through the years. UM and 243 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: I found my voice, and UM, I found my voice, 244 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: and now I also understand that my voice is very 245 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: important for all people, especially through my global works. I 246 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 1: worked across the globe, UM, and especially for black women 247 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 1: because UM, that's a unique experience that I have that, um, 248 00:14:28,520 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: and if I can help anybody, that's what I want 249 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: to do. That's beautiful rainbows after storms over mess, not 250 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:43,680 Speaker 1: in it. Learning to take no for vitamins, which was susan. 251 00:14:43,720 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 1: No just means not yet. You. It builds resiliency. If 252 00:14:49,280 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: it doesn't break you down, it builds you up. Those 253 00:14:51,440 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: kind of challenges, that's fascinating. You had a lisp and 254 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: couldn't really even say your own name without my teasing you. Yeah. 255 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,200 Speaker 1: I had to go to quite a quite a quite 256 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 1: a lot of therapy. Um. But funny story, So do 257 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: you ever play as a child? You ever? I don't know, 258 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: just play kick ball or baseball? Basketball? Right? So the 259 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 1: kids would always kick the ball into the bushes because uh, 260 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: and then asked me where the ball was to get 261 00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:28,000 Speaker 1: its Wow, they wanted to hear you speak. Yeah, they 262 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: wanted to hear me speak. So I tell you, I 263 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: go out of my way to make sure people are heard. 264 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: And now I've been in situations where so my first 265 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 1: global experience was leading um a group of leaders across 266 00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: fifty countries, so Brazil, Germany, Turkey, everywhere, and and at 267 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: first we really clashed. Not only was I the only 268 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: African American woman in the room. Typically I was only 269 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:53,880 Speaker 1: the only American in the room. Typically I was the 270 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,400 Speaker 1: only person with English as the first language is in 271 00:15:56,440 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: the room. So we really clashed. And I'm thinking to myself, 272 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: I don't know how I'm gonna do this, because we 273 00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: need to improve results. And and uh, I started to 274 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 1: find the common ground. And that's been a theme now 275 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: throughout my career. You know, we found the common ground, 276 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: came together. Although all our cultures are different, we have 277 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: a lot of similarities. And and then we produced results. 278 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: But but I think that thread goes all the way 279 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: back to my childhood. So I'm glad you raised that. 280 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 1: And and so the thing that calls you in the 281 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: most pain, which was the inability to articulate. Now you're 282 00:16:33,960 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 1: one of the most articulate people I've ever met. It 283 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 1: reminds me of the comedian when people said, oh you 284 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: so are you speak so well? You're like, what do 285 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:46,520 Speaker 1: you expect to come out of my mouth? But sometimes 286 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: sometimes these challenges caused us to become an even better people, 287 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: I mean every better, even better person. I find that 288 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,880 Speaker 1: that you had a problem with communication. Now your specialty 289 00:16:57,440 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: is communications, so you made correct me if I'm wrong. 290 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:04,439 Speaker 1: You made your weakness your strength. Absolutely, absolutely, and it 291 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: was very intentional because I knew that I started get 292 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 1: a glimpse I told you at the East Palatal Senior Center. 293 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: I started to get a glimpse of how you can 294 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 1: change the world. You can really drive positive change, um 295 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:19,720 Speaker 1: and I knew that I couldn't do that if I 296 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: couldn't communicate. I mean, at that time, I was still 297 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: I was extremely shy at that time still, but I 298 00:17:27,359 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: got a glimpse of what I needed to build. So 299 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:35,400 Speaker 1: I went to classes, I got mentors, I practiced and 300 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:38,360 Speaker 1: and now one track teams. I was in very good 301 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:41,960 Speaker 1: shape bend swimming team, so I was I mean, I 302 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,679 Speaker 1: didn't have to worry about physical fitness, but I was 303 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,960 Speaker 1: running too fast and I decided I needed to push 304 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: myself to the top of the mountain. Well, it was 305 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:56,360 Speaker 1: a beautiful day and I was in good condition, but 306 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,359 Speaker 1: by the time I got to the top of the mountain, 307 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 1: I almost couldn't breathe. I might have even blacked out 308 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: for a little while. But when I got together and 309 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: my breath leveled offense. So what I want this audience 310 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:09,879 Speaker 1: to hear, if you're listening to this and you're struggling, 311 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 1: and you're you're questioning yourself. I want you to understand 312 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:18,879 Speaker 1: that resiliency is the most important assets you've got inside 313 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,640 Speaker 1: of you, that self belief, that self love that translates 314 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: externally as resiliency. Even I have low self esteem, you 315 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: can have high confidence until your self esteem comes up. 316 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: Resiliency never ever, ever give up. Love is work. Non 317 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:36,639 Speaker 1: love is laziness. Anti love is evil. Evil exists, but 318 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 1: it's very rare. Most people are just lazy, mentally lazy, 319 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:42,639 Speaker 1: specially lazy financially lazy. They just don't want to do 320 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: the work. Susan did the work. You can do the 321 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,120 Speaker 1: work to turn a negative into a positive. So now 322 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 1: you're pivoting Susan from this engineering career at Apple. Now 323 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: you're seeing the power of marketing. And okay, so guide 324 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 1: us through the next couple of step. And I want to. 325 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: I didn't want to talk about what Prudential is doing 326 00:19:02,880 --> 00:19:06,119 Speaker 1: and and and how you ended up, you know, sponsoring 327 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:08,720 Speaker 1: this show, like what's it have to do with financial services? 328 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 1: And I had my own, uh theory on where we 329 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,480 Speaker 1: are right now. But I want to I want to 330 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:16,439 Speaker 1: get there together. I want you and I to we 331 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:18,879 Speaker 1: never you know, listening to audience. We didn't talk about this, 332 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,879 Speaker 1: so well will end up where where God wants us 333 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:24,600 Speaker 1: are the universe? Plance is so Susan, What was that 334 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:32,439 Speaker 1: next step? The I would say, Um, I started, I 335 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,359 Speaker 1: had to learn. I had a lot to learn, and 336 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 1: I was I gotta tell you, I was terrified of marketing. 337 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,199 Speaker 1: I didn't know anything about mark so so it was 338 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: a leap, make no mistake, was a leap. And I 339 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:48,600 Speaker 1: tell I often tell young women when people see something 340 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 1: and you listen to them. So one of the leaders 341 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: that Apple said to me, would you consider a career 342 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 1: in marketing? And I was like, are you kidding me? 343 00:19:58,960 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 1: I have no aptitude. I could barely communicate, and I 344 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: don't have the skills. But he saw it, and so 345 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 1: now I really searched to find the skills and capabilities 346 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,879 Speaker 1: and people and encourage them. But anyway, I'm just an 347 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: example to say, listen when people, when people tell you 348 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: that you've got a skill, even even if you don't 349 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,960 Speaker 1: believe it yourself, so somebody else can see in you 350 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:28,320 Speaker 1: that what you don't at that moment seeing yourself. Yeah, 351 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 1: no question, no question. And then I am so unfortunately 352 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: I lost both my parents early. So um that um 353 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 1: I think really galvanized my purpose for me because they 354 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 1: were both advocates for positive change and strong advocates and 355 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: heavily involved in the community in their communities. So um 356 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 1: so I see it as a responsibility, almost a duty 357 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: of responsibility to carry that on because of the because 358 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 1: of what they have given me. That you know, I 359 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 1: want to I want to see that. I want to 360 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: be able to have the most impact I can through 361 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:11,920 Speaker 1: this combination of marketing technology that that I can bring 362 00:21:12,440 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: well again, once again, lost creates leaders, once again stepping 363 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,280 Speaker 1: through that storm to find the rainbow on the other side, 364 00:21:21,320 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: once again over mass not in it. She she she 365 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:30,919 Speaker 1: found the purpose even in the pain, Even in the 366 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: midst of her pain, she found a reason for the season. 367 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:40,679 Speaker 1: I want listeners to get this because you're gonna be 368 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:44,200 Speaker 1: tempted to give up, to give in, to throw in 369 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: the towel. And I want you to remember what Susan 370 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:54,680 Speaker 1: summer Still Johnson did when she felt down. What did 371 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: you do, Susan? What was it? What was the one 372 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: thing you can tell a young person who's coming up 373 00:21:58,680 --> 00:22:01,120 Speaker 1: right now, Somebody in there twin need some my thirties 374 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 1: trying to make what's that one thing, particularly a woman, 375 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 1: a tool, a trait to build that you can give 376 00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:08,840 Speaker 1: them to not give up. What's that one thing? What's 377 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,280 Speaker 1: that one gift you can give them right now? Nugget 378 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:16,400 Speaker 1: one thing you are going to make me pick one thing. Um. 379 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,680 Speaker 1: The one thing I would say is it's going to 380 00:22:19,800 --> 00:22:23,879 Speaker 1: get better, period, full stop. It's gonna get better because 381 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 1: we've all been through those times when you can't see 382 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 1: the light at the end of the tunnel. So first, 383 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 1: I think, first you have to believe that, and then 384 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 1: second you have to rely on your friends and your family. 385 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: You got to reach out even when you don't if 386 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:40,159 Speaker 1: you don't have the self esteem or or um the 387 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: desire to reach out. We can't do it alone. None 388 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:46,000 Speaker 1: of us does it alone. Yes, it's going to get better. Translation, 389 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: this too shall pass. Don't get overwhelmed by this moment 390 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: thinking this is the end all be all. I feel 391 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,840 Speaker 1: so bad for people who take themselves out of this 392 00:22:56,880 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: world because that that moment, you know, that moment just 393 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 1: too over whelming. They can't handle it, think it's all 394 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 1: over and they will never get any better. And you 395 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:06,960 Speaker 1: just hold on God willing to creep, don't rise that 396 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,040 Speaker 1: you would say in the south, the sun will come 397 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: up in the morning and you have a new chance 398 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: to succeed or fail. All failure is an outcome to 399 00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:20,920 Speaker 1: experiment all over again. And you found the sun rose 400 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 1: along with opportunity. Because now you went from that that 401 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 1: job to I don't know, I don't know if there 402 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 1: was another job between that and Truest? Is that right? Yeah, yep, yep. 403 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,439 Speaker 1: And then now m with Prudential and with Prudential and 404 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,840 Speaker 1: I met her when she was at the Truest. That's 405 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,080 Speaker 1: what we build relationships. So everybody listen to this. Now, 406 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:44,439 Speaker 1: life's about a relationship capital. Please get this. It's not 407 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: about networking. It's not about what you get, it's about 408 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:52,080 Speaker 1: what you give. It's a It's about building mutually beneficial relationships. 409 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,919 Speaker 1: Not just are you competent? That's important, but but but 410 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 1: do people trust you? Do they respect you? Do they 411 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:00,760 Speaker 1: admire you? Do they like you? You make them laugh? 412 00:24:01,000 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 1: I can't guarantee that being positive it's gonna make you 413 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,400 Speaker 1: a successful I guarantee you if you're failt if you're negative, 414 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:11,119 Speaker 1: it's gonna make you fail. Okay, Susan was positive in 415 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 1: the day I met her, and I would like to 416 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,360 Speaker 1: think I was a positive influence in her life too, 417 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: And we we sort of bonded common ground, common understandings, 418 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 1: common belief systems, and I try to give her more value. 419 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 1: Then they invested in whatever it is I was doing 420 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:29,600 Speaker 1: at Operation Hope, where we have a shared vision of 421 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:33,320 Speaker 1: financial literacy and economic empowerment for all, and pivoting now 422 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:36,159 Speaker 1: to this moment. Then she's now fine, she's at Prudential, 423 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:39,480 Speaker 1: and we reconnect it and and I'm thinking about this 424 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 1: in a historical sense, Susan. It we're sitting right now 425 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 1: in a moment in history that history doesn't does not 426 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: feel historic when you're sitting in it just was like 427 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:50,920 Speaker 1: another day. But that doesn't mean the moment's not historic. 428 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:54,120 Speaker 1: And I think Dr King would be proud to see 429 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 1: you as chief Marketing Officer at Prudential. I'd like to 430 00:24:57,640 --> 00:25:00,760 Speaker 1: think he would. I think that I'm doing some work 431 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:04,120 Speaker 1: to advance and continue his last work of the Poor 432 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:07,679 Speaker 1: People's Campaign, which was about all people coming up, not 433 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,480 Speaker 1: is poor more poor whites sumer today than poor anybody else. 434 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:15,359 Speaker 1: And And I see, uh, you know, Melody Hobson is 435 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,640 Speaker 1: a friend of both of ours as chair, a woman 436 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:22,080 Speaker 1: of Starbucks, another black woman who succeeded she. She has 437 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:24,480 Speaker 1: said she likes math because it doesn't have an opinion. 438 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:28,400 Speaker 1: And in a world where people are arguing over black 439 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:32,560 Speaker 1: and white race, red and blue politics, one thing we 440 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:36,639 Speaker 1: all understand is green economics, money, and how do we 441 00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: get more economic prosperity for all? How do we lift 442 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 1: people up so when you know better, you can do better. 443 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,920 Speaker 1: When you do better, you are better. And I think 444 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:50,520 Speaker 1: that the last movement Susan was in the streets civil 445 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 1: rights nineteen sixties. This new movements in the business suites, 446 00:25:55,000 --> 00:26:00,639 Speaker 1: silver rights today. Uh. And what you're doing a prudential 447 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:07,159 Speaker 1: is history making. It's transformational. So no different than Dr 448 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:11,359 Speaker 1: King couldn't survive without marketing in the nineteen sixties. I 449 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:13,280 Speaker 1: don't think the movement that I'm trying to cultivate and 450 00:26:13,359 --> 00:26:18,080 Speaker 1: survive and thrive without marketing in the twenty one century. 451 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 1: What do you say? Well, yes, and if I can 452 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:24,880 Speaker 1: carry on any part of Dr King's legacy, I will 453 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:29,160 Speaker 1: be I'm thrilled. I um my, you know, my personal 454 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:33,159 Speaker 1: goals in life aligned really well with prudentials and and some. 455 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:36,439 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm proud of the impact that we're having 456 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: as a company. So some prudential what you're doing, So 457 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:43,120 Speaker 1: Prudentials a purpose of the company. We make lives better 458 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 1: by solving financial challenges and UM and that's so cool 459 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 1: in the comp So the company was started UM in Newark, 460 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 1: New Jersey, which we still are today helping to continue 461 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:58,679 Speaker 1: to that that helping that city to continue to thrive 462 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: and grow. In New York, we started to offer financial 463 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:04,239 Speaker 1: services to people who didn't have access they couldn't get at. 464 00:27:04,280 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 1: That was a whole purpose for the company with Burial 465 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 1: Insurance and the Barrel Insurance. Yeah, so we have a 466 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 1: really strong vision to expand access to investing insurance and 467 00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: retirement security. And I gotta put that in perspective for 468 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 1: you because it's it was a little difficult for me 469 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:25,439 Speaker 1: to understand. Ntil I understand the numbers and UM the 470 00:27:25,480 --> 00:27:30,359 Speaker 1: issues around the world. So that's all those our businesses 471 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:36,280 Speaker 1: investing insurance and retirement security. And if you look about 472 00:27:36,320 --> 00:27:40,439 Speaker 1: the need in the world, three point nine billion people 473 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:43,680 Speaker 1: don't have enough life insurance and in the US that's 474 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:46,679 Speaker 1: twelve killion dollars alone of a gap. And so that 475 00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:49,640 Speaker 1: it sounds like a big number, but people may think, well, 476 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:52,479 Speaker 1: what does that mean? That means what that leads to 477 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: his multi generational poverty. So you could work your whole life, 478 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:00,240 Speaker 1: you can work to three jobs at a time, and 479 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,600 Speaker 1: then anything happens to you or or any of the 480 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:06,240 Speaker 1: other people in your house, and then the families plunged 481 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:11,639 Speaker 1: into poverty, multi generational cycles and the The other the 482 00:28:11,680 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 1: other issue that's so at the forefront for us is 483 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:21,199 Speaker 1: of people around the globe worldwide live in fear that 484 00:28:21,280 --> 00:28:24,480 Speaker 1: they don't have enough money to retire. But let's go back, Susan, 485 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: before you go to that one, Let's go back to 486 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:28,119 Speaker 1: this burial insurance peace for a moment, because this is 487 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:31,320 Speaker 1: so powerful. I hadn't really focused on it until you 488 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:34,760 Speaker 1: just mentioned this. But if you are a low wealth, 489 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:36,399 Speaker 1: if you've got too much month at the end of 490 00:28:36,440 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 1: your money, if you don't believe that you can save, 491 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 1: everybody can save a little bit ten dollars, five dollars, 492 00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 1: two dollars something. But if you don't believe you can save, 493 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:45,840 Speaker 1: at the fairy least, you say, well, I don't want 494 00:28:45,840 --> 00:28:47,600 Speaker 1: to be a burden to my children or my family. 495 00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 1: Let me get a UH, life insurance policy. Well, not 496 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 1: only does that make sure that you're not a burden 497 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:56,560 Speaker 1: and you're buried with dignity, but that life insurance policy 498 00:28:56,680 --> 00:28:59,920 Speaker 1: just might be the only shot at generational wealth create 499 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 1: that that family has UH, and it's affordable. There's products 500 00:29:06,520 --> 00:29:10,600 Speaker 1: at Prudential that are affordable for almost everybody. And this 501 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:15,720 Speaker 1: is a way for every family to both ensure dignity 502 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:20,120 Speaker 1: when people they love pass and reassure that there will 503 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 1: be a second chance at creating wealth for generations to come, 504 00:29:24,480 --> 00:29:27,840 Speaker 1: so that successive generations can buy a home, start a business, 505 00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 1: go to college. And I am I have I got 506 00:29:29,880 --> 00:29:32,920 Speaker 1: this right, Susan, Yeah, Dad, you got it. UM for 507 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:36,000 Speaker 1: affordable policies are very important to us because I just 508 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:39,240 Speaker 1: talked about our vision expanding access so that people have 509 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:42,000 Speaker 1: access to this as you call it, a second chance, 510 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 1: because it's it's very important. It's important for burial insurance, 511 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:48,840 Speaker 1: no question right, so that people can be buried with dignity. 512 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:51,600 Speaker 1: It's also important so that your family can go on 513 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: so that they can have a chance to buy a car, 514 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:55,640 Speaker 1: to go to work, to get a job, to go 515 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:58,640 Speaker 1: to school, or if you are fortunate enough to be 516 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:02,040 Speaker 1: able to save for the down payment for a home, UM, 517 00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:04,880 Speaker 1: so that that family could stay in that home rather 518 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:09,240 Speaker 1: than home Right now, you guys have I didn't know 519 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: you're in the burial insurance business. That's where I guess 520 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:15,120 Speaker 1: you guys started. And by the way, I guess you're 521 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 1: the largest UH employers also in Newark, is my guest. 522 00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:22,520 Speaker 1: My my my brother Corey Booker was mayor there. Um 523 00:30:22,640 --> 00:30:24,480 Speaker 1: to this day, you're probably a huge employer there, maybe 524 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 1: the largest UH. I would like to tell you right now. 525 00:30:27,800 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm a pretty sophisticated financial service guide. People 526 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:33,440 Speaker 1: say that I've created finicial literacy in this country at 527 00:30:33,480 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 1: the federal level, of the policy level, and on the 528 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:37,760 Speaker 1: ground of communities. I don't actually I'm thinking about this now, 529 00:30:37,760 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 1: Susan being my family don't have an actual burial policy. 530 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:44,520 Speaker 1: We have a life we have life insurance policies and 531 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 1: keeping on policies that operation I'm committing today. I'm gonna 532 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:54,080 Speaker 1: buy a policy from you myself, from my friend. Yeah, well, 533 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 1: thank you, John. It's important for for you, for your family, 534 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:00,720 Speaker 1: UM and and we just want to get the message 535 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:03,360 Speaker 1: out because we see what happens when people aren't covered 536 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:06,240 Speaker 1: in their families. Aren't aren't protected now here? All these 537 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:09,360 Speaker 1: these not just poor people struggling. You hear these entertainers 538 00:31:10,360 --> 00:31:12,560 Speaker 1: they passed on and you gotta they gotta do a 539 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 1: go fund me campaign or some some crazy thing in 540 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 1: order to raise money to bury them. That's not I 541 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:21,280 Speaker 1: mean about you know, famous folks. This is a problem 542 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:25,800 Speaker 1: for everybody. Okay, I'm getting all excited. You're you're pivoting, 543 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:29,920 Speaker 1: But and and and I think our roots are important. 544 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:33,200 Speaker 1: Here you mentioned new work, So we've we've contributed over 545 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:36,720 Speaker 1: a billion dollars to help new work New Work grow 546 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:40,920 Speaker 1: and thrive. So that community, along with all the communities, 547 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 1: are very important to us. But but that was the 548 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 1: very beginning. Even even during the the last pandemic in 549 00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 1: nineteen eighteen, there were lines out the door in New 550 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:52,640 Speaker 1: Work for people cashing in the post. So we have 551 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:54,520 Speaker 1: to be there for people so that they could get 552 00:31:54,520 --> 00:31:57,080 Speaker 1: paid right away, so that their families could continue. And 553 00:31:57,120 --> 00:32:00,360 Speaker 1: so it's really core to who we are. Yeah, and 554 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: and uh so now we've got a new clients right 555 00:32:02,640 --> 00:32:05,680 Speaker 1: right here, me and my family. Okay, now right, yeah, 556 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 1: so let's be so now you're saying about the cut 557 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: you off in the world. Yeah, I just I want 558 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 1: to focus on what drives us because a lot of 559 00:32:16,640 --> 00:32:19,240 Speaker 1: people don't think deeply about what does it mean to 560 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 1: be a purpose driven company. So another thing that drives 561 00:32:22,280 --> 00:32:25,440 Speaker 1: us is that of the people around the world live 562 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:29,280 Speaker 1: in fear daily that they won't have enough money to retire. 563 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:31,760 Speaker 1: And so again, you know it's a big number, was 564 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:34,280 Speaker 1: it mean? It means that a lot of those people 565 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:38,080 Speaker 1: will never be able to retire and they will have 566 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:41,720 Speaker 1: to continue working when their bodies can't do it anymore. 567 00:32:42,720 --> 00:32:45,920 Speaker 1: So this planet for retirement, I know you and your 568 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:50,040 Speaker 1: organization has done so much towards this is really is 569 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:52,240 Speaker 1: really key and one of the things that drive us. 570 00:32:52,240 --> 00:32:54,600 Speaker 1: So yes, and thank and thank you guys. By the way, 571 00:32:54,640 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 1: Prudential for backing Operation Hopes one million Black Business initiative, 572 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 1: which I heart is also a big partner. They've committed 573 00:33:02,360 --> 00:33:05,360 Speaker 1: ten thousand to create ten thousand black business with us. 574 00:33:05,360 --> 00:33:09,000 Speaker 1: By you guys have also backed uh that work through 575 00:33:09,080 --> 00:33:12,160 Speaker 1: Operation Hope and what I call this third reconstruction between 576 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:15,640 Speaker 1: now and twenty and this civil rights movement. And so 577 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:19,000 Speaker 1: thank you in the company for supporting that philanthropic effort 578 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 1: to do well and do good at scale because it's 579 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:25,960 Speaker 1: important to us, you know, small business of the fabric 580 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,480 Speaker 1: of this of this country and uh, and that's what 581 00:33:29,480 --> 00:33:33,720 Speaker 1: what grows grows our country. So it's very excuse me, 582 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:38,760 Speaker 1: very important to us to help black businesses grow and thrive. 583 00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 1: And if you had to think about two or three things, 584 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:49,280 Speaker 1: Susan that Prudential is doing under your leadership in the 585 00:33:49,320 --> 00:33:55,040 Speaker 1: company's broader mandate, what's the things you think are game changers? 586 00:33:55,360 --> 00:33:58,160 Speaker 1: One of those things that you think, Okay, we're doing this, 587 00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,640 Speaker 1: this could literally change generation. No one knows about it, 588 00:34:01,680 --> 00:34:04,160 Speaker 1: and not enough people know about it. Uh, let's put 589 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:05,520 Speaker 1: that word out right here there. What are two or 590 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 1: three things you think are really super important. One of 591 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:13,000 Speaker 1: the things that I think is super important is expanding 592 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:18,400 Speaker 1: access to insurance. We mentioned a little bit earlier, so 593 00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:23,960 Speaker 1: um um expanding our products and increasing affordable products so 594 00:34:24,000 --> 00:34:28,040 Speaker 1: that everybody has access to insurance to cover their families. 595 00:34:28,520 --> 00:34:33,520 Speaker 1: That's one priority. This planning, helping people plan for retirement. Uh, 596 00:34:33,560 --> 00:34:35,600 Speaker 1: it sounds to be something else that you guys are 597 00:34:35,640 --> 00:34:40,400 Speaker 1: involved with. Social justice. Uh is something you're doing that 598 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:42,719 Speaker 1: I'm aware of that you guys involved with. Maybe you 599 00:34:42,719 --> 00:34:44,239 Speaker 1: can talk a little bit about that real quickly. I 600 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 1: will have another very powerful question for you before we 601 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:49,399 Speaker 1: wrap up up. Just enjoyed this so much. We run 602 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:51,080 Speaker 1: a run out of time before we run out of topics. 603 00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 1: There's so much John, So Yes, we've made nine racial 604 00:34:55,239 --> 00:34:59,920 Speaker 1: equity commitments, UM, everything from internally to externally with partners 605 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:05,279 Speaker 1: and and and customers. UM. We have UM, we are 606 00:35:05,320 --> 00:35:10,520 Speaker 1: about to launch the Blueprints to Black Wealth Initiative and 607 00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:16,279 Speaker 1: and so helping you develop one million black businesses is 608 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:18,919 Speaker 1: part of that. But we have a real, a real 609 00:35:19,120 --> 00:35:23,120 Speaker 1: focused effort to help build black wealth, which you'll be 610 00:35:23,120 --> 00:35:25,000 Speaker 1: hearing more about in the coming in the in the 611 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:29,759 Speaker 1: coming months. UM. And then UM. You talk a lot. 612 00:35:29,920 --> 00:35:33,439 Speaker 1: You talk often about too much, too much your money, 613 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:36,120 Speaker 1: Thank you, too much mother of the end of your money. 614 00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:39,040 Speaker 1: Sometimes there's too much life at the end of your money, right, 615 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:43,520 Speaker 1: So we have retirement products that we help you balance 616 00:35:43,600 --> 00:35:46,960 Speaker 1: the risk. We call it longevity risk. We help you 617 00:35:46,960 --> 00:35:49,120 Speaker 1: balance the risk so that you can space it out 618 00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:54,160 Speaker 1: and have protected income over your lifetime, which makes sure 619 00:35:54,239 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 1: that you and your family are taking care of UM 620 00:35:57,640 --> 00:36:01,480 Speaker 1: as long as possible. So many things, but all focused 621 00:36:01,520 --> 00:36:04,800 Speaker 1: on helping expand access to these products with people for people, 622 00:36:04,800 --> 00:36:07,560 Speaker 1: that don't have access to it today and before we 623 00:36:07,640 --> 00:36:09,400 Speaker 1: are as we're wrapping up, and I want you to 624 00:36:09,440 --> 00:36:14,640 Speaker 1: think about this question of of advice you have for women, women, 625 00:36:15,360 --> 00:36:20,640 Speaker 1: minority women, underserved women, women who are underserved areas of 626 00:36:20,719 --> 00:36:24,200 Speaker 1: this country who may think again they're invisible. Think about 627 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:27,719 Speaker 1: that little girl, uh Susan that you were trying to 628 00:36:27,719 --> 00:36:29,520 Speaker 1: come up from nothing. I want you think about advice. 629 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:32,280 Speaker 1: Drop the mic advice you have for them as an adult, 630 00:36:32,560 --> 00:36:35,640 Speaker 1: if you could give your younger you advice that the 631 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:38,920 Speaker 1: more mature you now has for these listeners who are 632 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:40,960 Speaker 1: in their cars, who are sitting at home, who are 633 00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:43,800 Speaker 1: who are at work on a break, They're they're trying 634 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:46,759 Speaker 1: to reimagine their future, trying to have some hope, trying 635 00:36:46,800 --> 00:36:49,279 Speaker 1: to find a reason to believe. I want you to 636 00:36:49,360 --> 00:36:52,000 Speaker 1: think about what you have to say to them that 637 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:54,280 Speaker 1: that they can help to use as advice to build 638 00:36:54,400 --> 00:36:57,239 Speaker 1: on the way there. Here's what I have to say. 639 00:36:57,520 --> 00:37:00,120 Speaker 1: If listeners are listening to this and going, why my 640 00:37:00,239 --> 00:37:03,520 Speaker 1: listening about a financial service company? What do I care 641 00:37:03,560 --> 00:37:06,480 Speaker 1: about prudential and so and so forth? You don't get it. 642 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:11,200 Speaker 1: Your whole life is financial. For the time you get 643 00:37:11,239 --> 00:37:13,520 Speaker 1: up in the morning to the time you go to 644 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:15,640 Speaker 1: bed at night, you're you're in the midst of a 645 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:19,400 Speaker 1: financial transaction. Let me go one step further. When you 646 00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:22,240 Speaker 1: go to sleep, the government didn't give you those sheets. 647 00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 1: You bought those the government. And give you that mattress 648 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:27,680 Speaker 1: you bought that the government. And give you the alarm 649 00:37:27,719 --> 00:37:30,319 Speaker 1: clock you bought that. The government didn't give you the 650 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:32,960 Speaker 1: switch you flipped off of the lights. You pay for 651 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:36,440 Speaker 1: that even at night in your sleep. You're having a 652 00:37:36,480 --> 00:37:39,760 Speaker 1: financial transaction. And every step of the day, you're driving 653 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:42,399 Speaker 1: a car right now, you're paying for that. You get 654 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:45,640 Speaker 1: got gas, you're paying for that. You went to the hospital, 655 00:37:45,840 --> 00:37:49,120 Speaker 1: you're paying for that. Whatever is going on, it's a 656 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:56,560 Speaker 1: financial transaction. Money flows under everything we do. And the 657 00:37:56,640 --> 00:37:59,959 Speaker 1: number one calls a divorce is money. Number one calls 658 00:38:00,040 --> 00:38:03,680 Speaker 1: domestic abuse is money. If it's it's around everything, it's 659 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:07,000 Speaker 1: behind everything. But we don't understand it. We don't want 660 00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:10,799 Speaker 1: to take the time to unpack it. But if you 661 00:38:10,800 --> 00:38:14,480 Speaker 1: want to build wealth, you better understand it. And this 662 00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:20,000 Speaker 1: has been a powerful segment of what is there but 663 00:38:20,160 --> 00:38:24,759 Speaker 1: often unsaid, what is needed but often undone. If you've 664 00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:27,560 Speaker 1: got nothing out of this today, go home, check your will, 665 00:38:28,680 --> 00:38:31,040 Speaker 1: make sure you have a plan, get yourself and get 666 00:38:31,080 --> 00:38:34,160 Speaker 1: yourself a burial policy and a life insurance policy in 667 00:38:34,400 --> 00:38:39,040 Speaker 1: your cost and affordability ban uh and and and finally 668 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:42,520 Speaker 1: figure out how you can come up from from nothing, 669 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:47,040 Speaker 1: just like Susan Johnson did. Drop the mic. Susan, what 670 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:52,640 Speaker 1: is that advice, that counsel, that words of wisdom that 671 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:56,800 Speaker 1: the mature you has for the eight year old you, 672 00:38:57,000 --> 00:39:00,440 Speaker 1: eighteen year old you, twenty eight year you listening to 673 00:39:00,480 --> 00:39:05,240 Speaker 1: this program. Oh my my advice, john My advice to women, 674 00:39:05,360 --> 00:39:12,799 Speaker 1: young women. UM, relationship capital is real capital. And take 675 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:15,440 Speaker 1: this advice from someone who really didn't want to build it. 676 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:18,080 Speaker 1: And you said, you don't call it networking. I don't. 677 00:39:18,200 --> 00:39:20,480 Speaker 1: I don't either. But when I was a young woman, 678 00:39:20,520 --> 00:39:24,160 Speaker 1: I had no interest in meeting new people, reaching out 679 00:39:24,239 --> 00:39:27,880 Speaker 1: building relationship capital. But it is real, It is real. 680 00:39:28,440 --> 00:39:31,000 Speaker 1: And I had a mentor who forced me to do it. 681 00:39:31,440 --> 00:39:34,200 Speaker 1: She said, pick your head up out of your laptop 682 00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:37,719 Speaker 1: and meet some people. And she put me on a 683 00:39:37,800 --> 00:39:39,920 Speaker 1: calendar and said, every time I talked to you, better 684 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:43,359 Speaker 1: met some more people. And I started to reach out. 685 00:39:43,520 --> 00:39:45,719 Speaker 1: And for a lot of people out there, they may 686 00:39:45,760 --> 00:39:49,279 Speaker 1: be like me who it's really painful and don't want 687 00:39:49,320 --> 00:39:51,760 Speaker 1: to do it. So pick people you admire, pick people 688 00:39:51,800 --> 00:39:55,239 Speaker 1: who inspire you, pick people you like and and just 689 00:39:55,400 --> 00:39:58,640 Speaker 1: call them up, reach out, and that's a great way 690 00:39:58,680 --> 00:40:02,440 Speaker 1: to build your relationship cap So what I hear Susan 691 00:40:02,560 --> 00:40:06,640 Speaker 1: saying is if you don't have financial capital, you have 692 00:40:06,719 --> 00:40:11,520 Speaker 1: relationship capital. You don't have credit capital, access to credit, 693 00:40:11,600 --> 00:40:16,520 Speaker 1: you've got relationship capital. If you don't have wealth as capital, 694 00:40:16,680 --> 00:40:20,200 Speaker 1: you've got relationship capital. Everyone has the ability to smile. 695 00:40:20,239 --> 00:40:22,400 Speaker 1: Do you know what? It takes seven muscles to smile 696 00:40:22,480 --> 00:40:25,560 Speaker 1: and thirty five muscles to frown. It takes energy to 697 00:40:25,560 --> 00:40:30,160 Speaker 1: be a miserable person. So don't join it. One thing, 698 00:40:30,239 --> 00:40:33,480 Speaker 1: that's one thing that said. Go to Predential's website. Check 699 00:40:33,480 --> 00:40:36,440 Speaker 1: out Susan Johnson. What will you see a smile? You 700 00:40:36,880 --> 00:40:38,800 Speaker 1: always see her with a smile. Nobody wants to be 701 00:40:38,840 --> 00:40:42,640 Speaker 1: about it around a miserable, negative person. Lift your head 702 00:40:42,719 --> 00:40:46,560 Speaker 1: up and smile and reach your hand out to somebody 703 00:40:46,640 --> 00:40:53,359 Speaker 1: you don't know and build a relationship. This is John 704 00:40:53,440 --> 00:40:56,279 Speaker 1: Hope Bryant, and this is building the good life. This 705 00:40:56,320 --> 00:40:59,359 Speaker 1: is the master class which Susan Johnson, she says, don't 706 00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:03,040 Speaker 1: let your this sit you down and limit your potential. 707 00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:05,799 Speaker 1: She had a list growing up, and everybody teased her 708 00:41:06,000 --> 00:41:09,279 Speaker 1: about it, and she couldn't say an s. But unfortunately 709 00:41:09,400 --> 00:41:11,880 Speaker 1: there are two s is in ornet, which means she 710 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:14,120 Speaker 1: was saying s is all the time. Folks wanted to 711 00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:16,000 Speaker 1: tease her and wanted to maligne her, and wanted to 712 00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:19,239 Speaker 1: sit her down and humiliate her. But God don't make dirt, 713 00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:21,319 Speaker 1: and you can't fall from the floor, and sometimes you 714 00:41:21,360 --> 00:41:24,600 Speaker 1: gotta make your negative you're positive. Just like Stevie wonder Let, 715 00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:27,760 Speaker 1: being blind made it possible that all his other senses 716 00:41:27,880 --> 00:41:30,680 Speaker 1: exploded with creativity and opportunities one and now one of 717 00:41:30,680 --> 00:41:32,520 Speaker 1: the greatest artists in the world, and now one of 718 00:41:32,520 --> 00:41:34,440 Speaker 1: the people who had a list is now one of 719 00:41:34,440 --> 00:41:37,840 Speaker 1: the most articulate people I've ever met. Because she worked 720 00:41:37,840 --> 00:41:41,120 Speaker 1: hard on it to compensate for that thing that somebody 721 00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:44,480 Speaker 1: wanted to not compliment her on. She she became her 722 00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:48,759 Speaker 1: own sense of self confidence. She became her own complimentor 723 00:41:49,120 --> 00:41:52,560 Speaker 1: she decided that she was reasonably comfortable in her own skin, 724 00:41:52,840 --> 00:41:55,480 Speaker 1: which is the greatest gif anybody can give themselves. You 725 00:41:55,880 --> 00:41:59,279 Speaker 1: need self confidence. Yes, confidence comes from competence, but you 726 00:41:59,320 --> 00:42:02,600 Speaker 1: really need self esteem. She got that gift of self 727 00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:05,239 Speaker 1: esteem from her mother from the Islands and her dad 728 00:42:05,520 --> 00:42:08,200 Speaker 1: from the Bronx. But now she gives that gift of 729 00:42:08,360 --> 00:42:11,400 Speaker 1: esteem to others through her job marketing one of the 730 00:42:11,440 --> 00:42:14,879 Speaker 1: most prestigious companies in the world at Prudential. She's done 731 00:42:14,920 --> 00:42:18,719 Speaker 1: that directly through her initiatives and her budget allocations and 732 00:42:18,840 --> 00:42:21,120 Speaker 1: this the strategies and by the way, who they hire 733 00:42:21,239 --> 00:42:23,160 Speaker 1: and who they empower right there and one of the 734 00:42:23,160 --> 00:42:25,920 Speaker 1: biggest employers in New Ork, New Jersey, Prudential. But she 735 00:42:25,960 --> 00:42:27,960 Speaker 1: also does it through this show because they're the sponsor 736 00:42:28,080 --> 00:42:30,120 Speaker 1: and all the other things that they're involved with, like 737 00:42:30,200 --> 00:42:32,360 Speaker 1: One Me and Black Business Initiative and their social justice 738 00:42:32,360 --> 00:42:34,400 Speaker 1: and is a Do you think that this happens naturally? 739 00:42:34,440 --> 00:42:37,680 Speaker 1: It happens because a person like Susan Johnson is present 740 00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:41,560 Speaker 1: in the c suites from the humble beginnings of her community, 741 00:42:41,719 --> 00:42:44,560 Speaker 1: from the streets to the suites, and now she's influencing 742 00:42:44,560 --> 00:42:48,319 Speaker 1: the CEO, the CFO and the other executives. They are 743 00:42:48,320 --> 00:42:51,560 Speaker 1: gonna be different because Susan Johnson once had a list 744 00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:53,600 Speaker 1: where she didn't let it limit her, she let it 745 00:42:53,640 --> 00:42:56,080 Speaker 1: lift her. What are you going to lift today. Let's 746 00:42:56,080 --> 00:43:00,000 Speaker 1: start with lifting yourself. Search for Susan Summer Sale job 747 00:43:00,040 --> 00:43:03,880 Speaker 1: Hinson and be inspired and follow Prudential and be empowered. 748 00:43:05,040 --> 00:43:07,439 Speaker 1: Building the good Life with John Hope Bryant is brought 749 00:43:07,480 --> 00:43:12,440 Speaker 1: to you by Prudential Financial h