1
00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:10,280
Speaker 1: Hey ba fam, Welcome to Brown Ambition. Today at the

2
00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,000
Speaker 1: Brown Table. We have two incredible guests, and all I

3
00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:17,640
Speaker 1: can say is that Brown Ambition we are not going

4
00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,360
Speaker 1: to be the kind of podcast where you're going to

5
00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:24,000
Speaker 1: get the latest news and headlines about the economy, about finances,

6
00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:24,760
Speaker 1: about business.

7
00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:26,840
Speaker 2: This is where you're going to find hope.

8
00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:28,680
Speaker 1: This is going to be a space where I use

9
00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:32,840
Speaker 1: this platform to tell stories that inspire, to tell stories

10
00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,959
Speaker 1: and to give space to people who can help us

11
00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:39,720
Speaker 1: all tap into that little tiny nugget of optimism that

12
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,920
Speaker 1: we need to be pouring into. We need to be

13
00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:47,000
Speaker 1: watering that seed to get us through everything that we

14
00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:49,760
Speaker 1: know is happening, all the fed up stuff we know

15
00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,800
Speaker 1: y'all know, I know, bea fam, y'all read the news.

16
00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:55,520
Speaker 1: You understand what's happening in the world. When you come

17
00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,360
Speaker 1: to Brown Ambition, I want this to be the warm,

18
00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:02,520
Speaker 1: cozy blanket, the mug of tea, the glass of wine

19
00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:05,280
Speaker 1: that your sister friend pours for you at the end

20
00:01:05,400 --> 00:01:09,160
Speaker 1: of a long week, a long day, and for y'all

21
00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,399
Speaker 1: to just feel like, Okay, when I'm here, I am

22
00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:15,479
Speaker 1: going to feel poured into, I'm gonna feel inspired, I'm

23
00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:16,319
Speaker 1: going to feel hopeful.

24
00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:17,600
Speaker 2: I'm going to get some value.

25
00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:22,240
Speaker 1: I'm gonna walk forward with maybe an additional tool, resource,

26
00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,679
Speaker 1: or a bit of knowledge that can help make me

27
00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,760
Speaker 1: more resilient in the face of what we will, what

28
00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:31,600
Speaker 1: we've always had to endure, right and what we will

29
00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:35,000
Speaker 1: continue to endure. So I just want to reset that

30
00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:38,640
Speaker 1: tone for brown ambition. Let y'all know how I'm approaching

31
00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:42,520
Speaker 1: this podcast, always have and will continue to do so.

32
00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:45,759
Speaker 2: And with that, let me tell you about these queens.

33
00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:49,360
Speaker 1: Okay, two incredible women join me on the show today.

34
00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,920
Speaker 1: One is doctor Lakeisha Key Hallman, so you'll hear me

35
00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,680
Speaker 1: call her doctor Key because we're cool like that. And

36
00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,440
Speaker 1: she is the founder of the Village Market. Since it

37
00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,960
Speaker 1: was founded, the Village Market served over one thousand, four

38
00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:07,000
Speaker 1: hundred and forty businesses. It has managed to create eight

39
00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:12,000
Speaker 1: point eight million dollars in direct sales to black owned enterprises,

40
00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,880
Speaker 1: and they have distributed eight hundred thousand dollars in grants

41
00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:21,200
Speaker 1: to support the businesses that are part of this marketplace.

42
00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,320
Speaker 1: If you're in Atlanta, go visit it, check out the

43
00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,280
Speaker 1: vendors and the businesses that they feature. That's also a

44
00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:30,640
Speaker 1: direct solution and answer to the economic disparities that we

45
00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:32,360
Speaker 1: see among black business owners.

46
00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:33,079
Speaker 2: Tell me why.

47
00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:37,440
Speaker 1: Data shows black businesses in Atlanta. This blew my mind

48
00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,280
Speaker 1: when I read this are valued at only fifty eight

49
00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:44,839
Speaker 1: thousand dollars compared to LATINX businesses which are valued at

50
00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,880
Speaker 1: four hundred and fifty seven thousand dollars, and white owned

51
00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:51,840
Speaker 1: businesses which are valued at six hundred and fifty eight

52
00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,600
Speaker 1: thousand dollars. I'm talking about if you're owned by a

53
00:02:55,680 --> 00:03:00,480
Speaker 1: black owner in Atlanta, ten times less value to the

54
00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:04,480
Speaker 1: marketplace than a Latin or white owned business. Like, I

55
00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:09,040
Speaker 1: don't make it make sense. So it is a struggle, right,

56
00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,280
Speaker 1: It is a struggle to build a business in the

57
00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,040
Speaker 1: best of environments. So imagine being a black owned business

58
00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,519
Speaker 1: in Atlanta where you're dealing with this kind of disparity.

59
00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:18,760
Speaker 1: Doctor Hollman is also going to talk about her book,

60
00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,240
Speaker 1: and I want y'all to run out and get a copy,

61
00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,040
Speaker 1: especially if you're someone who is feeling down at a

62
00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:25,800
Speaker 1: time like this and you need a reminder of the

63
00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,120
Speaker 1: importance of community. This is the book for you. Her

64
00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,600
Speaker 1: book is called No One Is Self Made. I'm going

65
00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:33,239
Speaker 1: to put a link in the show notes and just

66
00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,520
Speaker 1: wait till you hear her voice because something about doctor Key.

67
00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:37,839
Speaker 1: I had to stop and ask her, like you got

68
00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:40,120
Speaker 1: like Baptist preacher in your blood or what? Because when

69
00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,280
Speaker 1: you talk, I just want to be like, hey man,

70
00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,120
Speaker 1: it really brings out my roots, you know. And we

71
00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:50,080
Speaker 1: are joined by the wonderful Renee blew It. So last

72
00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:52,200
Speaker 1: time Tiffany and I hung out in person, Oh that's

73
00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:54,120
Speaker 1: not true. I saw her in New Year's before that.

74
00:03:54,360 --> 00:03:57,520
Speaker 1: Tip invited me to this event in Brooklyn that she

75
00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,760
Speaker 1: had been gushing about. She's like, girl, this is Black

76
00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,400
Speaker 1: Girl Holiday Bazaar. It's only black owned businesses, mostly owned

77
00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,040
Speaker 1: by women, and it's called that she did that bizarre

78
00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,440
Speaker 1: And I was like, okay, I'm going to finally go

79
00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:10,640
Speaker 1: see what this is all about. And they only host

80
00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,560
Speaker 1: it once a year, the holiday market. So I packed

81
00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:16,160
Speaker 1: the baby up, I went down to Brooklyn and had

82
00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:18,640
Speaker 1: my mind blown. It was such a beautiful event and

83
00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,760
Speaker 1: Renee blew It is the founder of this incredible community.

84
00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,520
Speaker 1: It's not just the holiday Bazaar. She's also working on

85
00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:28,279
Speaker 1: expanding this to other marketplaces, like she's going to be

86
00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,039
Speaker 1: doing a food and beverage marketplace in New York come

87
00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:33,680
Speaker 1: this spring. She's worked with the Culture con she's worked

88
00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,679
Speaker 1: with curl Fest, and she'll talk about how she's built

89
00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,280
Speaker 1: this business and how she, you know, transitioned from her

90
00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:42,400
Speaker 1: career in PR to now sort of being this through

91
00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:47,279
Speaker 1: line between black owned, minority owned, women owned businesses and

92
00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,000
Speaker 1: the access to the community they need to thrive and

93
00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,919
Speaker 1: also to the customers they need to thrive, and to

94
00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,080
Speaker 1: the business opportunities that they need to thrive. And I

95
00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,520
Speaker 1: just I love this conversation because you'll hear Renee doctor Key,

96
00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:02,800
Speaker 1: who didn't really know each other that well before we

97
00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,599
Speaker 1: started this conversation, just support one another. It's just amazing

98
00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,000
Speaker 1: to be witnessed to that. I hope y'all are left

99
00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:12,479
Speaker 1: feeling encouraged if you're someone who has a business and

100
00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:16,840
Speaker 1: you're struggling and you feel like you're the only one struggling,

101
00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,320
Speaker 1: or all you hear about is how difficult it is

102
00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,919
Speaker 1: to thrive as a business owner. But walk away from

103
00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:28,360
Speaker 1: listening to this episode of Brown Ambition having an action

104
00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,640
Speaker 1: plan for how you're gonna build community. You're gonna go

105
00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,560
Speaker 1: research she did that. You're going to go research the

106
00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:35,960
Speaker 1: village market in Atlanta. You're going to look these women up,

107
00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,480
Speaker 1: you're going to buy doctor Key's book, You're going to

108
00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,000
Speaker 1: find out how you can be a part of those communities.

109
00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:43,279
Speaker 1: Or if you're not in Atlanta or New York, which

110
00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,760
Speaker 1: I know many of y'all aren't, there are other incredible

111
00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,760
Speaker 1: entrepreneurs and marketplaces like this that maybe even in your

112
00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:53,320
Speaker 1: own local area that maybe one thing you do after

113
00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,320
Speaker 1: you listen to the show is you go look them up.

114
00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:57,920
Speaker 1: You find out how to become a vendor, you find

115
00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,719
Speaker 1: out how to get in community with them, to attend

116
00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,560
Speaker 1: one of their events, and just leave here understanding that,

117
00:06:04,880 --> 00:06:07,680
Speaker 1: like doctor Key says in her book, no one is

118
00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:12,200
Speaker 1: self made. We all need support and community to achieve

119
00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,080
Speaker 1: these incredible dreams ambitions.

120
00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:15,040
Speaker 3: That we have.

121
00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:17,640
Speaker 1: And so I'm really proud to bring this episode to

122
00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:18,359
Speaker 1: y'all today.

123
00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:20,360
Speaker 2: Be a fan. I hope you enjoy it.

124
00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,359
Speaker 1: And here are Renee blew It and Doctor Key Holman

125
00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:24,880
Speaker 1: joining me at the Brown table.

126
00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:28,440
Speaker 2: I took a gamble, I took a risk.

127
00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,000
Speaker 1: This is the first Brown table I've ever had where

128
00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,520
Speaker 1: the two guests didn't know each other really before. But

129
00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:35,479
Speaker 1: I just had a feeling. I'm like, there's no way

130
00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:37,880
Speaker 1: that these two women have been doing the work that

131
00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:41,240
Speaker 1: they're doing and haven't like crosspaths or at least at

132
00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,200
Speaker 1: the very least support one other is doing. So we

133
00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:49,640
Speaker 1: have doctor Key Hollman, who is joining us from Atlanta. Welcome,

134
00:06:49,880 --> 00:06:52,200
Speaker 1: And we have Renee is it blew It?

135
00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:55,719
Speaker 2: Yes, blew it, Renee blew It. Who You're in New

136
00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:56,279
Speaker 2: York right?

137
00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:56,880
Speaker 3: Yes?

138
00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:00,880
Speaker 1: In Brooklyn, based in Brooklyn where all the black girls happens.

139
00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:01,880
Speaker 2: It's fine.

140
00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:08,120
Speaker 1: I'm just over here, just fading away in Westchester. But

141
00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,640
Speaker 1: we're so far, so close, yest, so far. Welcome to

142
00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:14,000
Speaker 1: the Brown Table. Welcome to Brown Ambition.

143
00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,000
Speaker 3: Thank you so much for having us, Yes, thank you.

144
00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:18,600
Speaker 4: Yeah, to be a great conversation.

145
00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:20,840
Speaker 1: How are y'all feeling. Let's just start there. How are

146
00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:23,200
Speaker 1: y'all feeling right now at a time like this in

147
00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,520
Speaker 1: the country. And what's kind of giving you hope right now?

148
00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:26,680
Speaker 2: Doctor Key? Y'all start with you.

149
00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:27,080
Speaker 4: Good thing.

150
00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:31,480
Speaker 5: I'm first, thank you for asking. I'm feeling the multitude

151
00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,480
Speaker 5: of things I can say presently in my body. I'm

152
00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:39,720
Speaker 5: a balance of anxious but also calm. I have both

153
00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:45,760
Speaker 5: a sense of hope and resolve, and I think I

154
00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:50,360
Speaker 5: can operate in this dualities because I really am serious

155
00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,040
Speaker 5: about boundaries, and that's boundaries of how much news I

156
00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,560
Speaker 5: take in, how much social media taken, because I have

157
00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:57,240
Speaker 5: to be well in my body and spirit.

158
00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:01,040
Speaker 4: But it's a lot of operations going on over here.

159
00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,440
Speaker 5: But what gives me hope is being able to have

160
00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:06,600
Speaker 5: conversations like this with like minds.

161
00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:09,120
Speaker 4: This is where our superpower exists.

162
00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:12,640
Speaker 5: So I'm feeling very hopeful all this brown girl magic

163
00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:15,080
Speaker 5: that's happening. It really feels my cover.

164
00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:16,320
Speaker 2: Nae, how are you doing?

165
00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:17,880
Speaker 4: Thank you for.

166
00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:19,760
Speaker 3: Asking too, I appreciate it.

167
00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:25,600
Speaker 6: Similar to doctor Hallman, quite a few feelings happening over here.

168
00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,960
Speaker 6: I will start with, you know what a lot of

169
00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:33,200
Speaker 6: people are feeling, which is a bit of overwhelm. You know,

170
00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,160
Speaker 6: I would not be human if I didn't identify that feeling.

171
00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:43,439
Speaker 6: But also incredibly activated right now. This is our time,

172
00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:47,240
Speaker 6: you know, and it's unfortunate that, you know, things are

173
00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,600
Speaker 6: unfolding the way they are, but the people who are

174
00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,800
Speaker 6: doing this work are not shocked, and in moments like this,

175
00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,680
Speaker 6: I'm really proud of myself, proud of women like doctor Hallman,

176
00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:02,080
Speaker 6: because we have been doing this work long before it

177
00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,679
Speaker 6: was a trending topic, and we've been committed to this

178
00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:09,400
Speaker 6: work in a way that you know, when moments like

179
00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:12,920
Speaker 6: this happened, it's just like, okay, it's time to double down,

180
00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:16,600
Speaker 6: like heard, you got it. And so that's you know

181
00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:18,959
Speaker 6: a little bit of what I'm feeling right now. And

182
00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,840
Speaker 6: these conversations, like she said, are so empowering and just

183
00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,240
Speaker 6: really give me the fuel to keep going. So I'm

184
00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:27,520
Speaker 6: looking forward to digging in.

185
00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,360
Speaker 1: Yeah, there's no need to call what we've done like

186
00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:32,920
Speaker 1: I've been doing this for ten years with Brian Ambition,

187
00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:34,440
Speaker 1: and it's like y'all have been in the game for

188
00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,640
Speaker 1: a long time too, doctor Kie, you've been When did

189
00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:38,200
Speaker 1: you start villaging?

190
00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:42,760
Speaker 5: Almost ten years ago? So ten years the idea came

191
00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:46,200
Speaker 5: to me fifteen. I launched it in twenty sixteen.

192
00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:50,120
Speaker 1: And you know the rest of the sister Yeah, no

193
00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,400
Speaker 1: special initiative post twenty twenty, like this is you know

194
00:09:53,559 --> 00:09:57,800
Speaker 1: and independent too. When y'all started your ventures, Renee, it

195
00:09:57,800 --> 00:09:59,360
Speaker 1: started for you, Ah she did that? Was that the

196
00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:01,840
Speaker 1: documentary that was the beginning? Or was it the bizarre?

197
00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:02,480
Speaker 3: No?

198
00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:06,320
Speaker 6: Actually fun fact it started with me within her shoes.

199
00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:10,600
Speaker 6: I had a blog back in the day. In two

200
00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:11,640
Speaker 6: thousand and nine.

201
00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:12,920
Speaker 3: I launched this blog.

202
00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:17,200
Speaker 6: Okay, I was blogging about black women founders. You know,

203
00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:21,079
Speaker 6: when the blog is sphere was relatively new, when all

204
00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:25,840
Speaker 6: of your favorite blogs were about gossip, fashion, you know,

205
00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:31,840
Speaker 6: sports style, all those things beauty. But I was really

206
00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:36,079
Speaker 6: focused on talking about black women entrepreneurs. So that website

207
00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:39,280
Speaker 6: is still alive to me. It's almost like an archive

208
00:10:39,480 --> 00:10:43,280
Speaker 6: of Black women entrepreneurs and our journeys, and every once

209
00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:44,920
Speaker 6: in a while, I'll go back just to kind of

210
00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:48,160
Speaker 6: reflect on who we were featuring back then and what

211
00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:51,640
Speaker 6: they're up to now. But my work started then, and

212
00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:53,800
Speaker 6: In her Shoes led me to she did that?

213
00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,640
Speaker 1: Okay, So how was that transition and did you were

214
00:10:57,679 --> 00:10:59,680
Speaker 1: you treating In her Shoes as a business, were you,

215
00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:01,800
Speaker 1: like me, making money off of that or were you

216
00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:03,240
Speaker 1: working corporate at the same time.

217
00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,800
Speaker 6: So when I launched In Her Shoes, I was working

218
00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:12,360
Speaker 6: in a PR agency doing PR in like the multicultural

219
00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,920
Speaker 6: space in a general market agency, and then I was

220
00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:19,520
Speaker 6: also moonlighting as a consultant to a lot of black

221
00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:22,880
Speaker 6: women own beauty brands. Back when the natural you know,

222
00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:25,960
Speaker 6: hair movement, well, I don't want to call the movement

223
00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,320
Speaker 6: because it's just a lifestyle, but when the whole natural

224
00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:32,800
Speaker 6: hair conversation started. I was doing pr for a lot

225
00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:37,280
Speaker 6: of your favorite natural haircare brands, and that was kind

226
00:11:37,320 --> 00:11:40,240
Speaker 6: of my I would say. The blog was kind of

227
00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,319
Speaker 6: like my you know, I had my nine to five

228
00:11:42,480 --> 00:11:46,080
Speaker 6: and then I had my five two whenever, And it

229
00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:50,439
Speaker 6: did get monetized a bit, but quite honestly, I didn't

230
00:11:50,520 --> 00:11:53,440
Speaker 6: start it for that purpose. I did it because I

231
00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:57,840
Speaker 6: just wanted to share more black women founder stories. Back then,

232
00:11:57,920 --> 00:12:00,800
Speaker 6: we were way like under represented.

233
00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:02,120
Speaker 4: We were not in.

234
00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:06,320
Speaker 6: This space now where entrepreneurs are like rock stars, right.

235
00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:08,719
Speaker 6: Like the women that I was writing about back then

236
00:12:09,360 --> 00:12:13,320
Speaker 6: were doing the work but not getting the exposure they needed,

237
00:12:13,360 --> 00:12:15,880
Speaker 6: and that was the inspiration behind the blog.

238
00:12:16,679 --> 00:12:18,920
Speaker 1: Yeah, they couldn't go on TikTok and go viral and

239
00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,280
Speaker 1: no no fair. I feel like crossroads when it comes

240
00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,640
Speaker 1: to launching a business, where it's like where does the

241
00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:30,400
Speaker 1: service and capitalism where do they marry? Like how can

242
00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:34,240
Speaker 1: we create brands and businesses that serve? But then also

243
00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:38,200
Speaker 1: like can support ourselves with it? You know, if you

244
00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,160
Speaker 1: get those types of questions like where do I merge

245
00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,080
Speaker 1: my need to serve with my need to put food

246
00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:44,600
Speaker 1: on the table.

247
00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:48,120
Speaker 5: Yeah, I'm a social entrepreneur, so you're you're talking to

248
00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:51,600
Speaker 5: how I started my business. I have a book coming

249
00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:53,960
Speaker 5: out Fibru or Fourth No One is Stuff Made, and

250
00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,760
Speaker 5: I write in one of the chapters that those that

251
00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,520
Speaker 5: do the work should also be economically liberated. I am

252
00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:04,080
Speaker 5: working to ensure the entrepreneurs that that's a part of

253
00:13:04,080 --> 00:13:06,160
Speaker 5: the village market, that's a part of our village name it,

254
00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,600
Speaker 5: that's a part of my retail stor village retail, are

255
00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:13,600
Speaker 5: economically liberated. I also need to be economically liberated to

256
00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:15,920
Speaker 5: continue to further the work and the mission and also

257
00:13:16,400 --> 00:13:20,200
Speaker 5: the trajectory of the generational wealth that I'm hoping to

258
00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,840
Speaker 5: leave to my nephews and their children and their children

259
00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:26,840
Speaker 5: children and so on and so forth. But there is

260
00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:31,880
Speaker 5: a sense of conscious capitalism. I think that we have

261
00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:35,520
Speaker 5: to be for those that are producers in creating things

262
00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:39,360
Speaker 5: and selling things. What I am more called and drawn

263
00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,640
Speaker 5: to is asking and what are you creating? Is it

264
00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,280
Speaker 5: healthy for the mind? Is it conscious? What people are

265
00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:48,839
Speaker 5: wearing on their bodies? Is it good for the body?

266
00:13:48,920 --> 00:13:51,160
Speaker 5: Is it good for the soul? That is the charge

267
00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,320
Speaker 5: that I push for all the brands in the village market.

268
00:13:54,440 --> 00:13:58,160
Speaker 5: I want us to have high quality, organic products that's

269
00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:01,079
Speaker 5: not harmful to the skin, to the body, so on

270
00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,079
Speaker 5: and so forth. If we're making a pair of it

271
00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:07,360
Speaker 5: should be conscious. Everything for me is about being our

272
00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:11,840
Speaker 5: best and highest vibrations, and so I take a holistic approach.

273
00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:15,240
Speaker 5: But yes, for entrepreneurs and for folks like Rene and I,

274
00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,240
Speaker 5: we need to make money. And for every entrepreneur that

275
00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,800
Speaker 5: we serve, they should have a we have a social

276
00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:24,080
Speaker 5: impact lens. I push entrepreneurs to also have a social

277
00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:26,840
Speaker 5: impact lens because it's not just good for us to

278
00:14:26,920 --> 00:14:28,000
Speaker 5: individually do well.

279
00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:29,800
Speaker 4: It has to flow to the community as well.

280
00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:31,520
Speaker 2: And how does that help with the profitability?

281
00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:35,520
Speaker 4: Yes? Quality, Uh, yeah, absolutely quality.

282
00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:38,000
Speaker 5: You know, the thing is, I don't know if we

283
00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:42,040
Speaker 5: go into certain retail stores and we even question the

284
00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,480
Speaker 5: cost of it. We just know that this is a

285
00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:46,760
Speaker 5: quality brand and we buy it. When you go to

286
00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,080
Speaker 5: you know, high end retail stores, because I work with

287
00:14:50,120 --> 00:14:53,800
Speaker 5: retailers high end retail stores, we maybe we question the

288
00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:55,960
Speaker 5: const but not really because we know that we're getting

289
00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,840
Speaker 5: something that's high quality brand and also unique.

290
00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,200
Speaker 4: So we don't know necessarily.

291
00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:06,040
Speaker 5: Over explain, explain why something costs what it does. What

292
00:15:06,080 --> 00:15:09,560
Speaker 5: we do is produce a high quality experience high quality

293
00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:14,880
Speaker 5: a product and people are more so excited to have it.

294
00:15:15,080 --> 00:15:17,560
Speaker 5: We in the village retail, we're not really seeing people

295
00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:20,400
Speaker 5: that's saying, why does this candle cost that much?

296
00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:23,360
Speaker 4: They know that it's a good quality candle.

297
00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:26,640
Speaker 1: I have recently become an adult in my candle purchases,

298
00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:28,960
Speaker 1: Like they're not all the five dollar ones. I get

299
00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:32,800
Speaker 1: a home goods like a quality candles expensive renee. When

300
00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,840
Speaker 1: you walk into the she did that holiday bazaar, you

301
00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:37,920
Speaker 1: felt that. I love the way that you had. You

302
00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:42,400
Speaker 1: had this like greenery, you had the boys section. He

303
00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,480
Speaker 1: did that, you had the little shame moisture section. I'm

304
00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:47,720
Speaker 1: sure that's evolved over time. But what kind of how

305
00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:49,640
Speaker 1: important is it to you as well to like create

306
00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:52,880
Speaker 1: that experience where you're like, you know, you're creating like

307
00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:56,960
Speaker 1: like doctor Key said, an environment where it just oozes.

308
00:15:57,360 --> 00:15:59,040
Speaker 2: This is high quality. No one's in a question.

309
00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:01,120
Speaker 3: It's very intentional.

310
00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,640
Speaker 6: In fact, every year when we're curating, you know, the

311
00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:11,640
Speaker 6: brands that are participating, that quality, that intention, that love

312
00:16:11,880 --> 00:16:16,720
Speaker 6: that these founders are pouring into their products is really

313
00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,120
Speaker 6: the top of the list when we're thinking about who

314
00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:24,560
Speaker 6: we want to invite into this community. It's I'm a

315
00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:28,479
Speaker 6: virgo too, so I'm very like I know what I like,

316
00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,720
Speaker 6: Like it just feels good to walk into a room

317
00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,640
Speaker 6: and just know that, like, wow, a black woman created

318
00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,800
Speaker 6: this with love, and you know, now I get a

319
00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,600
Speaker 6: chance to purchase it and bringing it into my home.

320
00:16:41,480 --> 00:16:43,560
Speaker 6: But before I go further, I just want to stop

321
00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,600
Speaker 6: and thank you for pointing out that.

322
00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:48,440
Speaker 3: What was the term you use.

323
00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,640
Speaker 6: I think you said you want the brands that you

324
00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,680
Speaker 6: feature and also yourself to be economically liberated.

325
00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:56,440
Speaker 4: Yeah, that was a word.

326
00:16:57,280 --> 00:16:59,920
Speaker 3: That was a word that resonated with.

327
00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:05,119
Speaker 6: Me because I think the misconception is that people like

328
00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:08,960
Speaker 6: us who are of service to our community are like,

329
00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:14,359
Speaker 6: you know, doing pro bono work. You know, like like ye,

330
00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:19,160
Speaker 6: if the brands are monetized and need to be profitable,

331
00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:24,120
Speaker 6: so do the platforms and organizations that are elevating them

332
00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:29,679
Speaker 6: and pushing them forward and creating opportunities and bridging the gap.

333
00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:31,679
Speaker 6: And so when you said that, I was like, oh

334
00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:34,639
Speaker 6: my gosh, we probably have to have an offline conversation

335
00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:36,840
Speaker 6: about that because I'm constantly.

336
00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,680
Speaker 3: I feel like I am constantly.

337
00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,119
Speaker 6: Making that clear that like wait wait wait, wait, wait pause,

338
00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:48,200
Speaker 6: this is a business.

339
00:17:48,320 --> 00:17:50,760
Speaker 1: Right, So you're not, like, so, is that because vendors

340
00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:53,159
Speaker 1: don't want to pay for placement at the bazaar?

341
00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:54,720
Speaker 2: Sometimes are they question it?

342
00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:59,080
Speaker 6: It's not even so much the vendors, But it could

343
00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:03,919
Speaker 6: be a plethora of things. It could be a brand,

344
00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:08,720
Speaker 6: for example, inviting me to come and speak during Women's

345
00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:13,800
Speaker 6: History Month or Black History Month and not really having

346
00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,600
Speaker 6: a budget for it. Like this time of year, and

347
00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:20,000
Speaker 6: I'm sure you're inbox is also flooded. We have Black

348
00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,440
Speaker 6: History Month coming up, we have Women's History coming up.

349
00:18:23,320 --> 00:18:24,760
Speaker 3: And I am just.

350
00:18:26,200 --> 00:18:29,720
Speaker 6: Floored every year by some of the requests. I'm like, okay, wait,

351
00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,280
Speaker 6: you want me to leave my home, which I love.

352
00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:34,960
Speaker 6: You want me to leave my city, You want me

353
00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:37,760
Speaker 6: to leave my work for the day of travel, the

354
00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:41,000
Speaker 6: day of your event, the return, and you don't have

355
00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:45,320
Speaker 6: a budget. Make it make sense, you know? And so

356
00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:49,160
Speaker 6: don't get me wrong. Not everything that I do has

357
00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,960
Speaker 6: to be transactional. There are a lot of things that

358
00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,480
Speaker 6: I do that are just you know, because of the

359
00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:58,320
Speaker 6: heart that I have for the work that I have

360
00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:02,200
Speaker 6: committed my life to. But at the point where brands

361
00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,280
Speaker 6: are asking you to leave your city and leave your

362
00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:09,160
Speaker 6: your business for a couple of days, I'm like, oh

363
00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:13,000
Speaker 6: my godness, there has to be a disconnect here about

364
00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:15,320
Speaker 6: the fact that this is, in fact my career.

365
00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,639
Speaker 3: This is how I make a living.

366
00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:20,760
Speaker 5: And I think it's the like, are we humanizing right?

367
00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:22,960
Speaker 5: I think it's important for folks to know that we're

368
00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:27,199
Speaker 5: real people. We're in the service of something that is

369
00:19:27,280 --> 00:19:31,400
Speaker 5: much higher than us. It's a calling we're fulfilling, almost

370
00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:37,439
Speaker 5: like a spiritual obligation that everyone gets the vision to

371
00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:41,560
Speaker 5: create these models, to create bizaarres, to create marketplaces, and

372
00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:45,199
Speaker 5: we do so for the betterment of our people. But

373
00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:50,960
Speaker 5: if the vessel is never filled or supported, then the

374
00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:54,200
Speaker 5: visionary the visions will begin to dry up. That is

375
00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:57,440
Speaker 5: not what we are aiming to do here. But we're

376
00:19:57,480 --> 00:20:01,200
Speaker 5: full of people with responsibility with people that also rely

377
00:20:01,359 --> 00:20:05,960
Speaker 5: on us. I am one of the centerpieces for my family,

378
00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,000
Speaker 5: and so I think what I lead with it is

379
00:20:09,080 --> 00:20:11,760
Speaker 5: just that I'm a human being serving a higher calling.

380
00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:15,359
Speaker 4: But because of that, this is now my career pathway.

381
00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:17,600
Speaker 5: I am one of those that if I had if

382
00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,080
Speaker 5: I was so fortunate to do it for free, i would.

383
00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:21,240
Speaker 4: But I'm not so fortunate.

384
00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,240
Speaker 5: I have to be able to survive, and I don't

385
00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,960
Speaker 5: want survival to be the end goal for any of us.

386
00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:30,399
Speaker 5: We should be in a consistent place of thriving. That

387
00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:32,600
Speaker 5: is the vibration that I want us to be on.

388
00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:36,400
Speaker 2: Yes, thank you for saying that.

389
00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:40,800
Speaker 1: I want to talk a little bit about how community

390
00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:44,160
Speaker 1: and how y'all have harnessed I know, doctor.

391
00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,840
Speaker 2: Key, your bookt one is self made. Thank you. Hold

392
00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:48,560
Speaker 2: it up for people.

393
00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,800
Speaker 1: No one is, so congratulations, Wait, hold it up a

394
00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:54,480
Speaker 1: little bit longer so I can take a little good

395
00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,320
Speaker 1: screenshot for social Okay, no one is self made. Build

396
00:20:57,359 --> 00:21:01,240
Speaker 1: your village to flourish and build it and bussiness and life.

397
00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:02,080
Speaker 2: Okay.

398
00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:04,919
Speaker 1: This is the thing that I will not shut up

399
00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:08,040
Speaker 1: about is how post election, how do we you know,

400
00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:08,760
Speaker 1: how are we coping?

401
00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:10,840
Speaker 2: What are we going to do? Community? Community? Community?

402
00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:13,480
Speaker 1: And I want to hear from y'all like how has

403
00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:18,520
Speaker 1: community driven business success for you? And yeah, say a

404
00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:20,360
Speaker 1: word on that she did that would.

405
00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:26,399
Speaker 6: Not exist without community, like point blank period. And the

406
00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:29,480
Speaker 6: beautiful thing about the community that we've built around this

407
00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:33,800
Speaker 6: brand is that we are in service to each other

408
00:21:34,640 --> 00:21:39,000
Speaker 6: all year round, you know, Like there's so much connection

409
00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:43,800
Speaker 6: that happens behind the scenes, so many collaborations, so much

410
00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:45,920
Speaker 6: support and Council.

411
00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:47,080
Speaker 3: It makes me proud.

412
00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,639
Speaker 6: You know, every time I hear about one of the

413
00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:53,199
Speaker 6: brands that we're working with doing something in partnership with

414
00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:57,200
Speaker 6: another brand, I'm like, yes, that is what we're here for.

415
00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:01,240
Speaker 3: Like every single time a CEA is planted.

416
00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:04,440
Speaker 6: And you know, it flourishes, whether it's immediately or later,

417
00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:08,280
Speaker 6: I'm just grateful that the work we're doing is really

418
00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:12,760
Speaker 6: making an impact. And the thing about community that I

419
00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:15,400
Speaker 6: want a lot of us to remember is that it's

420
00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,840
Speaker 6: not something that we tap in during times of need, right,

421
00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:23,320
Speaker 6: Like we have to be mindful and just very committed

422
00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:27,280
Speaker 6: to consistently checking in with people, not when they are

423
00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,040
Speaker 6: doing something for you, not when you need something, but

424
00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:33,600
Speaker 6: just in general because you just never know, you know

425
00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:36,720
Speaker 6: what can come out of those connections, what people are

426
00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:40,919
Speaker 6: going through, and how you can really just help someone

427
00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:41,800
Speaker 6: to move forward.

428
00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:45,560
Speaker 1: Yeah, and also don't wait until they like doctor key

429
00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:47,760
Speaker 1: you holding up the book. It's like I wrote a

430
00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,080
Speaker 1: book and then you get a flurry of text like congratulations,

431
00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:51,719
Speaker 1: d da da da. I'm like, where were you like

432
00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,440
Speaker 1: ten months ago when I and I'm writing a book

433
00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:56,800
Speaker 1: right now, So sorry to project this on you, but

434
00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:58,479
Speaker 1: I'm like where were you at four am when I

435
00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,280
Speaker 1: was down here hiding from like trying to get my

436
00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,400
Speaker 1: two hours of writing time for the kids wake up,

437
00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,600
Speaker 1: and like struggling fighting for my life. I could have

438
00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:09,000
Speaker 1: used like a go girl, you.

439
00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:11,399
Speaker 5: Know at a time like that, you know, peekbag on

440
00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,480
Speaker 5: something that Renee said, I think, what's so beautiful when

441
00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:18,920
Speaker 5: you build community when we are experiencing times that we're

442
00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:22,960
Speaker 5: experiencing now, we're not searching for anyone, We already have

443
00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:29,080
Speaker 5: each other. You build community as to be proactive, not reactionary,

444
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:34,280
Speaker 5: because those reactionary communities are not sustainable. We're here too,

445
00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,080
Speaker 5: we're all mad at the same time, we're all hurt

446
00:23:37,119 --> 00:23:41,440
Speaker 5: at the same time, but we want healthy, viable relationships.

447
00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:44,679
Speaker 5: So it what's so beautiful about have a community. It

448
00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:47,920
Speaker 5: gives you this safe place to land. For the entrepreneurs

449
00:23:48,000 --> 00:23:50,639
Speaker 5: of the village market, I wanted it to be a

450
00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:55,080
Speaker 5: multi prong multi vested approach. I shouldn't be the only

451
00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:58,800
Speaker 5: person that they see that's talking about entrepreneurship and helping

452
00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:01,200
Speaker 5: them to think through brand and I did any identity

453
00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:04,600
Speaker 5: and things like that. I have foot soldiers of other

454
00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:08,320
Speaker 5: like brilliant, brilliant people who are part of the fortress

455
00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,159
Speaker 5: of the village. So these entrepreneurs are not relying or

456
00:24:11,320 --> 00:24:14,440
Speaker 5: not seeing anyone as a singular hero, none of us.

457
00:24:14,520 --> 00:24:17,560
Speaker 5: That should not be our goal. When when people think

458
00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:20,400
Speaker 5: of the community, they should be thinking of Renee, doctor Key,

459
00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:23,359
Speaker 5: and we can name a litnia of other people. But

460
00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:27,000
Speaker 5: the community is built for viability, so we can be

461
00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,800
Speaker 5: there during those dark hours. And also moment is a

462
00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:34,400
Speaker 5: celebration because everything about the community is not dark. Everything

463
00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,879
Speaker 5: is not about community is only being in a place

464
00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:41,000
Speaker 5: of her. I can tell you my community. Thinking about

465
00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:45,040
Speaker 5: this book, everybody's so excited because I've been nurturing this

466
00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,600
Speaker 5: relationship for years now. And so the central focus of

467
00:24:48,680 --> 00:24:51,840
Speaker 5: the book is community. How to build it, how to

468
00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:54,679
Speaker 5: build it responsibly, How to make sure you do your

469
00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:56,760
Speaker 5: own healing and self work so you can be an

470
00:24:56,800 --> 00:25:00,760
Speaker 5: active participant in the community where it's not just strictly transactional,

471
00:25:01,040 --> 00:25:03,840
Speaker 5: not when you only communicating with people because you want

472
00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:04,680
Speaker 5: something from them.

473
00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:05,919
Speaker 4: But community.

474
00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:07,919
Speaker 5: How do we build it, how do we sustain it,

475
00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:10,440
Speaker 5: How do we grow our economies, how do we grow

476
00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:13,600
Speaker 5: our overall the beloved community that doctor Martin Luther King

477
00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,600
Speaker 5: talked about, it takes to stay focused. In my book,

478
00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:21,600
Speaker 5: chapter by chapter talks about that, and every chapter ends

479
00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:24,840
Speaker 5: with reflection questions. Because I'm a former educator, I don't

480
00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:26,480
Speaker 5: want to just talk to talk. I think you have

481
00:25:26,520 --> 00:25:29,760
Speaker 5: to give people a blueprint on how to and what

482
00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:33,520
Speaker 5: are the outcomes if we stay consistent, discipline and focus

483
00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:34,520
Speaker 5: on building.

484
00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:36,680
Speaker 1: What tips would you guys have or what are some like,

485
00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:39,760
Speaker 1: you know, concrete steps someone could take today if they

486
00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,680
Speaker 1: feel like they haven't built the community that will help

487
00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:43,840
Speaker 1: them thrive yet.

488
00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:48,600
Speaker 6: One thing I would say is when you are looking

489
00:25:48,760 --> 00:25:53,240
Speaker 6: to build community and whatever word we want to use

490
00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:55,320
Speaker 6: in place of network, because I know for some people

491
00:25:55,359 --> 00:26:00,800
Speaker 6: that's cringey. I like to always think about approaching these

492
00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:04,920
Speaker 6: people with something in hand, right, Like you know how

493
00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:07,760
Speaker 6: we were raised to if you're coming to someone's home,

494
00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:08,840
Speaker 6: you're going to bring something.

495
00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,960
Speaker 3: You're not going to come empty handed. The same thing should.

496
00:26:11,720 --> 00:26:14,960
Speaker 6: Be applied when you are reaching out to someone and

497
00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:18,160
Speaker 6: you're ready to make a connection with them, think about

498
00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:21,879
Speaker 6: what is it that you can bring forth to add

499
00:26:21,960 --> 00:26:26,560
Speaker 6: value to what they're doing, to maybe provide some additional

500
00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:30,239
Speaker 6: insight or support. I think that is one of the

501
00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:33,800
Speaker 6: best ways to kind of like unlock those type of

502
00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:39,240
Speaker 6: relationships because so often I think we've been conditioned to

503
00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,720
Speaker 6: think that, you know, if you're networking, especially when you

504
00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:45,560
Speaker 6: think about platforms like LinkedIn, people like us are getting

505
00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:49,920
Speaker 6: flooded with you know, inquiries and I'd love to connect

506
00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:53,520
Speaker 6: and there's no context there, and it's like I wish

507
00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:57,399
Speaker 6: I had time to connect with strangers. But if someone

508
00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:00,560
Speaker 6: is reaching out to me and there is something that

509
00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:03,720
Speaker 6: they could do that, you know, it could possibly help

510
00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:07,800
Speaker 6: me move my mission forward, the chances of me looking

511
00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:11,000
Speaker 6: at that and responding, you know, even if there's no connection,

512
00:27:11,200 --> 00:27:15,600
Speaker 6: it's significantly higher, because, as you mentioned before, entrepreneurship can

513
00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:19,560
Speaker 6: be a lonely journey. It can be overwhelming at times.

514
00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:22,480
Speaker 6: And whenever we feel like there is some level of

515
00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:25,159
Speaker 6: support there, we're likely to open the door and at

516
00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,360
Speaker 6: least like peek our head in and see, like who

517
00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:31,439
Speaker 6: is this person, and you know, what are they about

518
00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:33,280
Speaker 6: and what are they working on and how can we

519
00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:34,080
Speaker 6: support each other?

520
00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,919
Speaker 1: And I'm also thinking about the importance of like making

521
00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:41,000
Speaker 1: a memory with someone and I talk a lot about

522
00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,000
Speaker 1: so I hear what you're saying, Renee, and I think

523
00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:45,920
Speaker 1: when the bit of resistance that I imagine some people feel

524
00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:47,679
Speaker 1: is like, well, I don't know what to offer, and

525
00:27:47,760 --> 00:27:49,520
Speaker 1: like how do I even offer it? Am I going

526
00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,480
Speaker 1: to run into someone? It's like we'll put yourself in

527
00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:56,280
Speaker 1: a situation where you could encounter that person and like.

528
00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:59,000
Speaker 2: Have some don't even focus on what.

529
00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:01,560
Speaker 1: To give them or like what you could like where

530
00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,399
Speaker 1: this could lead, but try to be so present, like

531
00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:07,399
Speaker 1: just have a good interaction in the women's bathroom, you know,

532
00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:09,320
Speaker 1: Like that's what I'm talking about.

533
00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:10,480
Speaker 2: Just like I love your shoes.

534
00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:14,080
Speaker 1: That's amazing, Like forget almost like you know what the

535
00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:17,240
Speaker 1: future can hold, and just like have a really good

536
00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:21,000
Speaker 1: experience and then you know, if in six months you've

537
00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:23,000
Speaker 1: run into each other again or you come across it's like, oh,

538
00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:23,760
Speaker 1: I know you.

539
00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:24,880
Speaker 2: You know at that event you.

540
00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:27,080
Speaker 1: Mentioned you're working on this, I just had an idea

541
00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:28,600
Speaker 1: and you have that like a little bit of a

542
00:28:28,640 --> 00:28:31,000
Speaker 1: seed of a connection, you know.

543
00:28:31,920 --> 00:28:32,560
Speaker 3: I like that.

544
00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:37,119
Speaker 6: I like that, and I like the thought of taking

545
00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:41,320
Speaker 6: the time constraints out of it. I think that we

546
00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:43,760
Speaker 6: we do live in a world of like instant gratification,

547
00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,280
Speaker 6: so we think that the first time we see someone,

548
00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:50,040
Speaker 6: you know, this is like the beginning of this relationship.

549
00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:53,880
Speaker 6: How about just seeing them and like you said, Mandy,

550
00:28:54,040 --> 00:28:58,840
Speaker 6: having an authentic, genuine, real conversation and then seeing them

551
00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:01,440
Speaker 6: again somewhere and then maybe you see them on social

552
00:29:01,920 --> 00:29:04,240
Speaker 6: you know, like we shouldn't put so much pressure on

553
00:29:04,320 --> 00:29:08,040
Speaker 6: ourselves and other people to like immediately make this connection.

554
00:29:08,320 --> 00:29:11,120
Speaker 6: And like you, like, I meet so many people that

555
00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:14,560
Speaker 6: I'm more likely to remember that face that i'm seeing,

556
00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:17,200
Speaker 6: like oh you showed up at my event, or now

557
00:29:17,200 --> 00:29:20,720
Speaker 6: I'm seeing seeing you on Instagram or on TikTok or

558
00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:24,360
Speaker 6: at this event. And so those are the ways that,

559
00:29:24,520 --> 00:29:28,120
Speaker 6: like I think we could really make those genuine connections

560
00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:29,680
Speaker 6: that could lead to something.

561
00:29:29,400 --> 00:29:30,280
Speaker 3: Bigger or not.

562
00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:34,520
Speaker 5: And I think that we have to trust abundance, right,

563
00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,160
Speaker 5: I think when we meet people and we feel that

564
00:29:37,200 --> 00:29:39,520
Speaker 5: we have to get it all out right now, and

565
00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:41,480
Speaker 5: I think we're afraid it would never see those people

566
00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:44,640
Speaker 5: again or we'll never have that opportunity again. So we

567
00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:49,320
Speaker 5: have to trust abundance. Yeah, we have to recognize scarcity.

568
00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:52,480
Speaker 5: We have to recognize that if you met this person,

569
00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:54,840
Speaker 5: it's a good chance if you make an impression, a

570
00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:59,840
Speaker 5: genuine connection, you will see that person again. But I know,

571
00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,080
Speaker 5: and I have a great deal of empathy, you know,

572
00:30:02,120 --> 00:30:04,560
Speaker 5: for people who are in a state of survival right now.

573
00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:07,000
Speaker 5: When you're in the state of survival, you feel like

574
00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:08,400
Speaker 5: I have.

575
00:30:08,320 --> 00:30:09,400
Speaker 4: To be time bound.

576
00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:11,760
Speaker 5: I'm going to go to the future today and miss

577
00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:15,360
Speaker 5: the present moment of even asking them how they're doing,

578
00:30:15,560 --> 00:30:17,840
Speaker 5: the present moment of actually fully seeing them.

579
00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:19,240
Speaker 4: So I have empathy for that.

580
00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:23,680
Speaker 5: But I want to encourage all the listeners to trust abundance,

581
00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:27,080
Speaker 5: to trust that if you are cross paths, you make

582
00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:30,640
Speaker 5: that genuine connection, you will see these people again at

583
00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:33,280
Speaker 5: a time when you have something more to offer. And

584
00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:36,640
Speaker 5: also life is about balance. There are some seasons where

585
00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:39,880
Speaker 5: you have more to give and other seasons whereas you

586
00:30:39,920 --> 00:30:43,160
Speaker 5: have the more to receive. We just when you're in

587
00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:45,960
Speaker 5: a position when you don't have much to give as

588
00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:48,640
Speaker 5: far as something tangibly you have to make, you have

589
00:30:48,720 --> 00:30:52,080
Speaker 5: to be dedicated to when your situation changes and you

590
00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:55,040
Speaker 5: meet someone that's in the same position as you, that

591
00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:59,080
Speaker 5: you give them the same humility and humanity that someone

592
00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:02,600
Speaker 5: offered you. That is how we sew a greater seed,

593
00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:05,360
Speaker 5: because I think sometimes we get to the place and

594
00:31:05,400 --> 00:31:09,240
Speaker 5: we forgot where we were. Remember where you were when

595
00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:12,160
Speaker 5: when you get to the pinnacle of your success and

596
00:31:12,240 --> 00:31:14,840
Speaker 5: still recognize the people that's on their growth journey.

597
00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:17,240
Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, I wish I'd had that little pep

598
00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:19,200
Speaker 1: talk right before I went to this really fancy dinner

599
00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:21,840
Speaker 1: at Afrotech and I was sitting across from like some

600
00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:25,360
Speaker 1: incredible women, and I got a little scarce.

601
00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:28,560
Speaker 2: I'm not gonna lie like the key. I was feeling

602
00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:29,200
Speaker 2: that pressure.

603
00:31:29,240 --> 00:31:31,160
Speaker 1: I'm like, this dinner's going to be over soon, and

604
00:31:31,160 --> 00:31:33,080
Speaker 1: I haven't talked to everybody, and no, no, no, and

605
00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:35,960
Speaker 1: I lost it. And I've been reliving that, you know,

606
00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:39,200
Speaker 1: anxious mind. I'm working on it. But thank you for

607
00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:41,960
Speaker 1: reminding us. I almost think anytime you're about to go

608
00:31:42,040 --> 00:31:44,520
Speaker 1: to one of those events, just just say, I'll save this.

609
00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:46,680
Speaker 2: Little portion of this podcast and just like play it.

610
00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:49,880
Speaker 1: Remember you may encounter them again.

611
00:31:50,080 --> 00:31:51,760
Speaker 4: And remember you were at the table.

612
00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:55,120
Speaker 2: I know, I forgot. I was at the table. I

613
00:31:55,200 --> 00:31:55,880
Speaker 2: really could not.

614
00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:59,360
Speaker 1: I could not find my feet, man, I probably because

615
00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:00,760
Speaker 1: I were really young people shoes.

616
00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:04,160
Speaker 2: And that was the point I do not talk about pandemic.

617
00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:04,600
Speaker 2: I stopped.

618
00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:06,320
Speaker 1: I did not know how to wear a heel hardly

619
00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:07,920
Speaker 1: before and certainly not after.

620
00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,640
Speaker 2: Definitely, And yeah, it's okay.

621
00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:15,480
Speaker 1: Though I was at the table there'll be another one.

622
00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:19,000
Speaker 2: Scare anybody off. Now, I wanted to ask.

623
00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:20,640
Speaker 1: I wanted to give you a chance to talk about

624
00:32:21,880 --> 00:32:25,680
Speaker 1: the way that you've helped businesses raise capital. And you

625
00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:30,680
Speaker 1: know we've I've heard many many an entrepreneur highlight the child.

626
00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:33,400
Speaker 1: I mean, there's already been challenges trying to fund you know,

627
00:32:33,480 --> 00:32:36,240
Speaker 1: get black owned businesses, minority own business is funded, right,

628
00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:40,000
Speaker 1: And I want to hear how what your approach has been.

629
00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:41,680
Speaker 1: And if you cover that in the book, that's great,

630
00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:44,000
Speaker 1: But i'd love to get y'all's take on how businesses

631
00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,400
Speaker 1: can get the capital they need to grow at a

632
00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:47,000
Speaker 1: time like this.

633
00:32:47,440 --> 00:32:49,480
Speaker 5: I was hesitating because I feel like I just had

634
00:32:49,480 --> 00:32:56,040
Speaker 5: a long window answer. So will but but but what

635
00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:58,840
Speaker 5: we do at the Village Market, one of the things

636
00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:01,800
Speaker 5: I'm most proud of is that today we've been able

637
00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:04,680
Speaker 5: to generate eight point eight million dollars in direct sales

638
00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,840
Speaker 5: to black businesses. And the reason why I start with

639
00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:10,320
Speaker 5: that is because there was a time where I couldn't

640
00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:13,440
Speaker 5: assist entrepreneurs to give them grants, but I knew that

641
00:33:13,480 --> 00:33:16,040
Speaker 5: I could give them people. So my goal for the

642
00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:18,400
Speaker 5: Village Market, and I know this is Renee go for

643
00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:23,200
Speaker 5: the bazaars. I'm going you show up, you be operating excellence,

644
00:33:23,240 --> 00:33:25,080
Speaker 5: have high quality, and I'm going to bring you some

645
00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:27,960
Speaker 5: people that already value you, so you don't have to

646
00:33:28,000 --> 00:33:30,440
Speaker 5: do all that overextending and all the stuff that we

647
00:33:30,480 --> 00:33:33,280
Speaker 5: feel we have to do. I'm going to bring you people.

648
00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:36,600
Speaker 5: And so my model for the Village market was to

649
00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:39,240
Speaker 5: be people powered. And so we've had a big economic

650
00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:42,880
Speaker 5: push in the city of Atlanta. But since then, now

651
00:33:42,920 --> 00:33:45,880
Speaker 5: I have a program under my nonprofit, our Village and

652
00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:49,720
Speaker 5: named we work with entrepreneurs across.

653
00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:51,200
Speaker 4: Many many cities and many states.

654
00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:54,080
Speaker 5: And so we work with these entrepreneurs and incubator programs

655
00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:58,520
Speaker 5: and accelerated programs. We bring funders to the entrepreneurs and

656
00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:01,680
Speaker 5: so those funders can be CDA advise those funders can

657
00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:05,280
Speaker 5: be investors, angel investors, things like that. But also at

658
00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:08,440
Speaker 5: the end of our programs, we also have pitch contests

659
00:34:08,440 --> 00:34:09,640
Speaker 5: and we disseminate grants.

660
00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:11,320
Speaker 4: It has been incredible.

661
00:34:10,880 --> 00:34:13,600
Speaker 5: Last two years, were close to a million in grants

662
00:34:13,640 --> 00:34:16,160
Speaker 5: that we've been able to disseminate. And so I raise

663
00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:18,680
Speaker 5: the money and then I do micro grants for the

664
00:34:18,840 --> 00:34:22,960
Speaker 5: entrepreneurs we've been and yes, I write about this in

665
00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:25,680
Speaker 5: the book. But this book is only the lived experience

666
00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:29,800
Speaker 5: that I have. What I'm trying to inspire other folks

667
00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:33,840
Speaker 5: like me. You don't do not not start an idea

668
00:34:33,960 --> 00:34:36,319
Speaker 5: simply because you may not have the capital to be

669
00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:37,280
Speaker 5: an investor today.

670
00:34:37,880 --> 00:34:39,440
Speaker 4: There is power in people with.

671
00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:42,160
Speaker 5: Money who are ready to spend in buy and who

672
00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:46,440
Speaker 5: will be lifetime customers. Then also be innovative. Start partnering

673
00:34:46,520 --> 00:34:49,960
Speaker 5: with the people with money, build it around programming, and

674
00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:52,600
Speaker 5: then as I get grant dollars and I'm able to

675
00:34:52,640 --> 00:34:56,359
Speaker 5: disseminate more grant dollars from the grant dollars that I received. Yes,

676
00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:59,839
Speaker 5: I write about this in the book because I am

677
00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:03,480
Speaker 5: also writing to who I was ten years ago with

678
00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:07,480
Speaker 5: all these ideas of community, want to drive change and

679
00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:10,279
Speaker 5: enact change, but there was no book for me to read.

680
00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:15,239
Speaker 5: And Tawny Morrison told is, when if there's a book

681
00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:18,520
Speaker 5: that needs to be written and it's not out there,

682
00:35:18,719 --> 00:35:20,840
Speaker 5: go write it. So I wrote that book.

683
00:35:20,880 --> 00:35:23,399
Speaker 1: O Renee, Is there anything that y'all you have picked

684
00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,680
Speaker 1: up or any work that you're doing to bridge that

685
00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:30,399
Speaker 1: gap between businesses that have ideas, they have product, services, whatever,

686
00:35:30,520 --> 00:35:33,719
Speaker 1: they want to thrive, but they're missing like an investor.

687
00:35:33,920 --> 00:35:35,520
Speaker 2: Or. They think they're missing an investor.

688
00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:35,759
Speaker 3: Or.

689
00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:37,520
Speaker 2: They you know, they've.

690
00:35:37,360 --> 00:35:39,759
Speaker 1: Been doing all e commerce and maybe they're thinking of

691
00:35:39,840 --> 00:35:43,480
Speaker 1: like doing a market place to expand their reach, and

692
00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:46,680
Speaker 1: they're just not sure which channel to like press the

693
00:35:46,719 --> 00:35:51,200
Speaker 1: gas on a little bit to increase their revenue, their

694
00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:53,560
Speaker 1: customer base, all of those things.

695
00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:55,800
Speaker 6: A lot of the work that we dated in twenty

696
00:35:55,840 --> 00:36:00,279
Speaker 6: twenty four what gave me an opportunity to really leverage

697
00:36:00,440 --> 00:36:05,320
Speaker 6: like my PR and marketing experience, you know, brand connections

698
00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:10,920
Speaker 6: and bridge the gap between these larger corporations and small businesses.

699
00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:14,680
Speaker 6: And one partnership that I'm really proud of was and

700
00:36:14,719 --> 00:36:16,759
Speaker 6: you saw part of it at the Holiday Bazaar, was

701
00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:21,000
Speaker 6: with Shame Oyster. We created the Business that Bonds initiative

702
00:36:21,640 --> 00:36:26,759
Speaker 6: and really gave these small local businesses an opportunity to

703
00:36:26,920 --> 00:36:30,840
Speaker 6: show up in spaces that they typically wouldn't have access to.

704
00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:35,759
Speaker 6: So one was curl Fest. It's a huge festival that

705
00:36:35,880 --> 00:36:39,080
Speaker 6: happens here in New York City. We gave out micro

706
00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:44,560
Speaker 6: brands that covered each business's overhead expenses for showing up

707
00:36:44,600 --> 00:36:46,680
Speaker 6: in those spaces, so their.

708
00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:48,959
Speaker 3: Vendor fees, you know, we gave them.

709
00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:52,560
Speaker 6: We created all the marketing materials for them to promote it,

710
00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:57,040
Speaker 6: and I don't think people understand that for small business,

711
00:36:57,760 --> 00:37:01,479
Speaker 6: while you know it's not the heaviest lift, it could

712
00:37:01,520 --> 00:37:04,040
Speaker 6: be a heavy lift. You know, you think about like

713
00:37:04,600 --> 00:37:06,960
Speaker 6: the fees, Like I said, how do you market it?

714
00:37:07,120 --> 00:37:10,120
Speaker 6: How do you you know, do your merchandising, how do

715
00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:13,799
Speaker 6: you get that set up. We really supported them through

716
00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:16,359
Speaker 6: that journey so that they could show up at Curlfest.

717
00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:20,399
Speaker 6: They we did a huge activation with Shamee Moisture at

718
00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:25,720
Speaker 6: Culture Con which really exposed these small businesses to celebrities

719
00:37:25,800 --> 00:37:29,840
Speaker 6: and just all these really dope people that came out

720
00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:33,600
Speaker 6: just for the purpose of celebrating our culture. And then

721
00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:36,120
Speaker 6: we closed out the year with the Holiday Bazaar where

722
00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:39,600
Speaker 6: we introduced that he did that marketplace. That went over

723
00:37:39,719 --> 00:37:42,680
Speaker 6: really well and had a chance to kind of bring

724
00:37:42,719 --> 00:37:47,760
Speaker 6: men in the community because my you know, platform obviously

725
00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:50,880
Speaker 6: is about women, but it had been on my spirit

726
00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:54,000
Speaker 6: and on my heart for so long to bring men

727
00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:58,600
Speaker 6: into the conversation and into these spaces. So that is

728
00:37:59,160 --> 00:38:01,439
Speaker 6: something we're really proud of that we did last year.

729
00:38:01,880 --> 00:38:05,600
Speaker 6: We still get a lot of notes and just feedback

730
00:38:05,680 --> 00:38:08,600
Speaker 6: and reflections from some of the small businesses that we

731
00:38:08,600 --> 00:38:12,920
Speaker 6: were able to amplify with that. And then the next

732
00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:16,040
Speaker 6: event that we're working on is coming up in April,

733
00:38:16,440 --> 00:38:18,680
Speaker 6: and it is Queens of the New York City Food

734
00:38:18,719 --> 00:38:23,560
Speaker 6: and Beverage Scene, where we are specifically focusing on black

735
00:38:23,600 --> 00:38:27,360
Speaker 6: women in the food and beverage space, in the culinary space,

736
00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:32,040
Speaker 6: and just really making it, you know, a celebration of culture,

737
00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:39,320
Speaker 6: food and commerce. So creating these spaces that are intentionally

738
00:38:39,440 --> 00:38:44,800
Speaker 6: created for our brands to thrive is really what wakes

739
00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:47,160
Speaker 6: me up every day and just feeling like I want

740
00:38:47,160 --> 00:38:50,400
Speaker 6: to just dig deeper into this work, especially, like we

741
00:38:50,480 --> 00:38:53,720
Speaker 6: said at the top of the conversation, in this climate

742
00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:57,359
Speaker 6: we're in, it's like, Okay, we got us, we don't

743
00:38:57,360 --> 00:39:00,200
Speaker 6: need the other stuff. We got us, and this how

744
00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:01,040
Speaker 6: we're going to show up.

745
00:39:01,000 --> 00:39:01,520
Speaker 4: For each other.

746
00:39:01,840 --> 00:39:04,400
Speaker 1: There's something just about being in that space at the

747
00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:06,279
Speaker 1: holiday bazaar and I'm cooming to whatever you're doing.

748
00:39:06,320 --> 00:39:06,680
Speaker 2: I'm coming.

749
00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:08,520
Speaker 1: I'm on the milling I hope, I'm on the milling list.

750
00:39:09,040 --> 00:39:10,920
Speaker 1: I'll show up, I'll bring friends. I will not bring

751
00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:12,640
Speaker 1: the baby this time because last time.

752
00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:15,600
Speaker 6: The market.

753
00:39:17,200 --> 00:39:20,520
Speaker 1: But he was loving that DJ though he was like, hey,

754
00:39:20,760 --> 00:39:22,880
Speaker 1: my run me rou he's my little party animal.

755
00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:25,759
Speaker 2: I hope you had the vegan Dominican place. What was

756
00:39:25,800 --> 00:39:26,480
Speaker 2: that place.

757
00:39:26,239 --> 00:39:27,759
Speaker 3: Called Healthy as a Mother.

758
00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:32,680
Speaker 1: Yes, I'm talking about delicious vegan and pasta alitos.

759
00:39:32,680 --> 00:39:33,719
Speaker 2: I never knew that was a thing.

760
00:39:34,719 --> 00:39:37,120
Speaker 1: Anyway, I'm gonna get myself all the way off track,

761
00:39:37,560 --> 00:39:39,880
Speaker 1: but just being in that space, there's just something really

762
00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:43,760
Speaker 1: if you let yourself find your footing Amanda Woodruff talking

763
00:39:43,760 --> 00:39:48,759
Speaker 1: to myself and just soak up the prosperity, just soak

764
00:39:48,880 --> 00:39:52,800
Speaker 1: up the you know, women supporting women, and yes, invite

765
00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:56,960
Speaker 1: our boys. I've experimented. I made my friend Chris the

766
00:39:57,000 --> 00:39:59,200
Speaker 1: guinea pig for Brown Ambition. I was like, I'm gonna

767
00:39:59,239 --> 00:40:01,600
Speaker 1: have a boy on panel and see how ba fam

768
00:40:01,640 --> 00:40:02,600
Speaker 1: how we feel about it.

769
00:40:02,840 --> 00:40:03,880
Speaker 2: But I put them on watch.

770
00:40:03,920 --> 00:40:07,560
Speaker 1: I was like, this invitation could be rescinded because like

771
00:40:07,840 --> 00:40:10,400
Speaker 1: sometimes y'all trifle it and we need to, like, you know,

772
00:40:10,680 --> 00:40:14,520
Speaker 1: have a little bit of a space. But I felt,

773
00:40:14,560 --> 00:40:16,560
Speaker 1: I really felt when you said that was on your

774
00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:21,520
Speaker 1: spirit and yeah, you're right, just having these pockets to

775
00:40:21,560 --> 00:40:24,879
Speaker 1: just see us succeed. That's what Brad ambitions about. Doctor Key.

776
00:40:24,920 --> 00:40:27,200
Speaker 1: I think you were gonna you're gonna chine in. I

777
00:40:27,239 --> 00:40:27,959
Speaker 1: want to give you space.

778
00:40:28,520 --> 00:40:30,840
Speaker 5: I just want to make sure the readers like understand

779
00:40:30,880 --> 00:40:33,000
Speaker 5: the magnitude of what Renee just shared.

780
00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:36,400
Speaker 4: She's given people the Big three.

781
00:40:37,200 --> 00:40:42,759
Speaker 5: That's access, that's social resources, and people power that's going

782
00:40:42,840 --> 00:40:44,400
Speaker 5: to generate to capital.

783
00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:46,000
Speaker 4: That is the big three.

784
00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:51,280
Speaker 5: And when you're thinking of entrepreneurs, especially startups, they.

785
00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:52,919
Speaker 4: May have one of those things.

786
00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:55,520
Speaker 5: But the cost that it takes to be able to

787
00:40:56,080 --> 00:40:59,960
Speaker 5: walk through the door of access, to have high level celebrities,

788
00:41:00,040 --> 00:41:03,960
Speaker 5: social capital, or even community capital, to have these people

789
00:41:04,080 --> 00:41:07,240
Speaker 5: right there walking up to you is a cost.

790
00:41:07,320 --> 00:41:07,640
Speaker 3: That is.

791
00:41:09,239 --> 00:41:12,759
Speaker 5: What Renee is building. It is very hard to come

792
00:41:12,800 --> 00:41:15,880
Speaker 5: across for an entrepreneur. So it may not be the

793
00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:20,000
Speaker 5: million thousand dollars investment, but this investment, to me goes

794
00:41:20,080 --> 00:41:23,759
Speaker 5: further and longer because this can change the trajectory of

795
00:41:23,800 --> 00:41:26,200
Speaker 5: your business. But not just the trajectory of your business,

796
00:41:26,400 --> 00:41:29,200
Speaker 5: but the trajectory of your mindset to be in a

797
00:41:29,239 --> 00:41:32,120
Speaker 5: space that's so elevated and to know that your business

798
00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:35,520
Speaker 5: is there as well. And so that's the Big three,

799
00:41:35,560 --> 00:41:39,680
Speaker 5: and I'm hoping all the listeners understand how powerful that is.

800
00:41:39,719 --> 00:41:43,480
Speaker 5: And that is the model. So Renee' that is incredible.

801
00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:43,960
Speaker 4: Thank you.

802
00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:47,759
Speaker 6: First of all, thank you for even affirming me and

803
00:41:47,840 --> 00:41:50,880
Speaker 6: the work. And it's such an honor to be seen

804
00:41:51,000 --> 00:41:54,160
Speaker 6: by someone else who is in this space and just

805
00:41:54,200 --> 00:41:55,359
Speaker 6: as invested as I am.

806
00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:57,279
Speaker 3: So thank you so much for those kind words. I

807
00:41:57,320 --> 00:41:58,000
Speaker 3: appreciate you.

808
00:41:58,920 --> 00:41:59,719
Speaker 2: I love this so much.

809
00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:02,799
Speaker 1: I can I think anyone who's listening, and we do

810
00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:04,919
Speaker 1: have a lot of entrepreneurs, especially the nine to five

811
00:42:05,040 --> 00:42:08,000
Speaker 1: entrepreneurs shut out to my girls, I know that struggle.

812
00:42:08,440 --> 00:42:11,680
Speaker 1: Who may be wondering, you know what if I can

813
00:42:12,160 --> 00:42:15,239
Speaker 1: have a window in or an opportunity to join one

814
00:42:15,239 --> 00:42:17,239
Speaker 1: of these communities that y'all have already built. I think

815
00:42:17,239 --> 00:42:19,359
Speaker 1: that's such a great point that you made, doctor Key,

816
00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:21,680
Speaker 1: is that when you join communities like this, you go

817
00:42:21,760 --> 00:42:24,080
Speaker 1: to a you get in the you know she did

818
00:42:24,080 --> 00:42:26,440
Speaker 1: that bizarre or the Queens of Food and Beverage in

819
00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:30,359
Speaker 1: New York, or the village market in Atlanta. You're automatically

820
00:42:30,400 --> 00:42:32,799
Speaker 1: a part of a community. Like you can always say well,

821
00:42:32,840 --> 00:42:34,840
Speaker 1: I'm a village vendor and so are you. We have

822
00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:37,960
Speaker 1: something in common, you know. So how can people get

823
00:42:37,960 --> 00:42:40,799
Speaker 1: in touch and learn about how they potentially could be

824
00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:43,279
Speaker 1: a part of what y'all they are building sure thing

825
00:42:44,400 --> 00:42:45,520
Speaker 1: for me.

826
00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:47,880
Speaker 5: Go to the Village market dot com. If you're a

827
00:42:47,880 --> 00:42:51,040
Speaker 5: brand that's looking for retail placement, go to the Village

828
00:42:51,120 --> 00:42:53,960
Speaker 5: retail dot com. If you're a brand that is looking

829
00:42:54,080 --> 00:42:59,680
Speaker 5: for support, technical assistance, pro bono services. We support entrepreneurs

830
00:43:00,680 --> 00:43:05,600
Speaker 5: with their accounting, small all small business support, back end support.

831
00:43:05,920 --> 00:43:07,840
Speaker 4: Go to our village name it got bored.

832
00:43:08,880 --> 00:43:11,799
Speaker 5: We have something really special that we've been building now

833
00:43:11,880 --> 00:43:14,960
Speaker 5: for the last ten years, and I have to call

834
00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:18,319
Speaker 5: out how incredible my team is. So you hear my

835
00:43:18,520 --> 00:43:22,719
Speaker 5: voice on this podcast. But I'm a reflection of some

836
00:43:22,800 --> 00:43:26,120
Speaker 5: really brilliant people who decided to go on this journey

837
00:43:26,160 --> 00:43:28,960
Speaker 5: with me, and their faithfulness is the reason why we're

838
00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:33,880
Speaker 5: so impactful. So I have to champion my brilliant, incredible

839
00:43:33,880 --> 00:43:37,840
Speaker 5: team that's sum in Atlanta but sprawl across the United States.

840
00:43:37,880 --> 00:43:40,760
Speaker 5: Now I work with some really incredible folks.

841
00:43:43,320 --> 00:43:44,839
Speaker 1: Yes, I feel like every time you talk, I want

842
00:43:44,880 --> 00:43:47,040
Speaker 1: to say, Amen, were you were you a preacher?

843
00:43:47,120 --> 00:43:47,880
Speaker 2: Do you have like preacher?

844
00:43:48,120 --> 00:43:50,080
Speaker 5: I probably disagree with this is what happens when you

845
00:43:50,120 --> 00:43:54,360
Speaker 5: go to church all the time with your grandma.

846
00:43:55,520 --> 00:43:57,600
Speaker 1: Because I got a lot of family who's like Baptist preachers,

847
00:43:57,600 --> 00:43:59,000
Speaker 1: and I may not sound like it all the time,

848
00:43:59,040 --> 00:44:01,239
Speaker 1: but sometimes it comes out and I'm just like mm hm, yes,

849
00:44:01,320 --> 00:44:02,120
Speaker 1: ma'am amen.

850
00:44:02,680 --> 00:44:06,360
Speaker 3: And she has such a calming spirit, like her delivery.

851
00:44:06,040 --> 00:44:10,839
Speaker 6: Is very like whatever you can like, whatever you're putting down,

852
00:44:10,880 --> 00:44:13,239
Speaker 6: I'm picking it up, like, yes, I believe that.

853
00:44:13,680 --> 00:44:14,440
Speaker 4: I received that.

854
00:44:14,960 --> 00:44:18,400
Speaker 1: Thank you, Thank you, And Renee, what about all that

855
00:44:18,440 --> 00:44:20,920
Speaker 1: you're building? How can people be a part of it?

856
00:44:21,360 --> 00:44:23,719
Speaker 6: You can visit us at she did that dot co.

857
00:44:24,400 --> 00:44:27,319
Speaker 6: You can find us on social at she did that

858
00:44:27,480 --> 00:44:31,200
Speaker 6: dot co, or even follow me personally. I share a

859
00:44:31,200 --> 00:44:34,320
Speaker 6: lot of kind of what I'm doing before it becomes

860
00:44:34,360 --> 00:44:37,360
Speaker 6: the thing. They're on social and have connected with so

861
00:44:37,440 --> 00:44:41,480
Speaker 6: many incredible women. And my social handle is I am

862
00:44:41,600 --> 00:44:44,839
Speaker 6: a Renee blew it R E n A E B

863
00:44:45,040 --> 00:44:48,520
Speaker 6: l U I T T. And I'd also like to

864
00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:52,440
Speaker 6: take a moment to just give things for my small

865
00:44:52,480 --> 00:44:56,439
Speaker 6: but mighty team who not only believes in the work

866
00:44:56,440 --> 00:44:59,840
Speaker 6: that we're doing, but also believes in me and my leadership,

867
00:45:00,160 --> 00:45:05,320
Speaker 6: my vision. So thinking about women like Nico Watkins, Camille Cooper,

868
00:45:05,840 --> 00:45:08,439
Speaker 6: like I would not be able to do this work

869
00:45:08,480 --> 00:45:11,160
Speaker 6: without the support of these dynamic women.

870
00:45:11,320 --> 00:45:13,080
Speaker 3: So thank you, ladies. If you're listening.

871
00:45:14,560 --> 00:45:17,520
Speaker 1: Well, thank you both for just sharing your light and

872
00:45:17,600 --> 00:45:21,719
Speaker 1: your wisdom and yes, whatever magic sauce you have in

873
00:45:21,760 --> 00:45:24,080
Speaker 1: your voice, Doctor Key, thank you for that, for just

874
00:45:24,120 --> 00:45:27,719
Speaker 1: like sprinkling that on us. B A fam, Thank you

875
00:45:27,760 --> 00:45:30,560
Speaker 1: so much for listening. And I will put all of

876
00:45:30,600 --> 00:45:32,440
Speaker 1: the links, the links to all the things, the links

877
00:45:32,440 --> 00:45:35,400
Speaker 1: to get doctor Key's book. Got to support that. And

878
00:45:35,440 --> 00:45:38,399
Speaker 1: if you're watching on YouTube, you've seen the cover. Hold

879
00:45:38,400 --> 00:45:41,399
Speaker 1: it up one more time for the YouTubers, Doctor Key.

880
00:45:42,560 --> 00:45:45,680
Speaker 2: There we go. I love that in the circles in.

881
00:45:45,680 --> 00:45:47,400
Speaker 4: The middle, I see I did.

882
00:45:50,200 --> 00:45:51,760
Speaker 2: Thank y'all so so much.