Brown Ambition

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The Brown Ambition Podcast helps you unapologetically build wealth by saving, investing and making smart career choices — on your own d@mn terms! New episodes Wednesdays and Fridays.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Remote, Hybrid, or Stuck? ColorComm’s CEO on Advancing Your Career in Any Workplace

    On this episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with Lauren Wesley Wilson, founder of ColorComm, for a powerful conversation on career advancement, entrepreneurship, and building a recession-resistant business. Lauren breaks down what it really takes to secure major corporate partnerships  and why brands like Google  and Delta Air Lines partnered with her not just because of a great idea, but because of consistent execution, responsiveness, and results. We also unpack: How to navigate layoffs and take control of your job search The hidden politics of remote and hybrid work Corporate sponsorship strategy for entrepreneurs The realities Black women founders face when pivoting in today’s economic climate Why sustainability in business is not “selling out” If you’re navigating a career transition, building a brand, or looking to grow a business in a shifting economy, this episode is your masterclass in playing the long game.   Gems from This Episode Visibility is strategic, not accidental. Influence inside companies is often hidden. Corporate partnerships are built on trust and execution. Sustainability is not betrayal. You can expand without abandoning your core.   Stay Connected   -Get a copy of What Do You Need by Lauren-Wesley-Wilson - Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    BA Q&A: How do I career pivot in my 50s?

    In this week's  BA Q&A  Mandi is getting real about reinvention, risk, and responsibility. A listener in her 50s is ready to pivot careers but she’s not trying to blow up her financial “safety” to do it. In this economy? Whew. The fear is valid. But as Mandi reminds us, a pivot doesn’t have to be reckless to be powerful. She breaks down how to make bold moves without making jarring ones: Set a minimum salary floor so you know your non-negotiables Max out your retirement catch-up contributions (don’t play about your future) Build savings while creating a real plan to tackle debt strategically And most importantly, pivot in stages (you don’t have to leap without a net) Then she dives into part two of the question: facing down $45,000 in debt. Mandi shares practical best practices for staying ahead of debt, the mindset shifts required, and the common obstacles that trip people up from lifestyle creep to inconsistent income to avoidance. Take a listen. Take notes. And remember, BA Fam—we don’t panic pivot, we plan pivot. Join The 5-Day Career Reboot Challenge   Stay Connected  - Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min

  3. 11 FEB

    The Gifts of Grief: Tiffany Aliche on Love, Loss and What Came After

    This week on Brown Ambition, Mandi is joined by the one & only Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche and it feels like a homecoming. Tiffany is back to catch us up on everything happening behind the scenes. From exciting updates about the evolution (and new name!) of the Live Richer Academy to the release of the paperback edition of her New York Times bestselling book Get Good With Money, she shares what this current season of life and business looks like. But this conversation goes deeper than accolades and announcements.Mandi and Tiffany take a walk down memory lane, reflecting on the early days of Brown Ambition and the foundation that built the BA community we know today. Then the conversation shifts into something more personal and powerful. Tiffany opens up about her ongoing journey with grief, how it has reshaped her perspective, and what healing looks like in real time. And because this is BA, we also get the tea on what’s next including what Tiffany is cooking up for her next book.This episode is heartfelt, reflective, and full circle. For the OG BA Fam, it truly feels like coming back home. Stay Connected  - Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 16m

  4. 6 FEB

    BA Q&A: Are Company Background Checks Legit?

    In this week’s BA Q&A Mandi answers a listener question that gets straight to the point: How do employers actually verify where we’ve worked and what information are they collecting about us behind the scenes. We dive into the world of work verification and big data, including platforms like WorkMarket, and unpack how employers confirm employment history, income, and background details in today’s digital-first hiring process.    In this episode, we cover: How employers verify past employment What WorkMarket is and how it fits into the hiring ecosystem The role of big data in background checks How to review, protect, and correct your employment data Because being financially informed also means being data-aware.   Stay Connected  - Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min

  5. 4 FEB

    How to Turn a Layoff into Your Full‑Time Creative Career ft. Kaisha Huguley

    In this episode of Brown Ambition, MandiMoney sits down with actor, content creator, and entrepreneur Kaisha Huguley (aka Kaisha Creates) for a real conversation about layoffs, self-belief, and choosing yourself—especially when the plan falls apart. Kaisha  opens up about being laid off from her 9–5, navigating seasonal depression, and the mindset shifts that helped her bet on herself and build multiple income streams. From acting and content creation to brand deals and financial planning with a partner, this episode is packed with honesty, strategy, and encouragement for anyone moving through an uncertain career season. Whether you’ve been laid off, are considering entrepreneurship, or just need a reminder that your worth isn’t tied to a job title this one’s for you.   What We Get Into 00:00 – Introduction & personal reflections 00:37 – Welcome to Brown Ambition 00:47 – Meet today’s guest: Kaisha Huguley 01:01 – Kisha’s journey & career coaching work 02:06 – A word for listeners navigating layoffs 03:13 – Celebrating Brown Ambition’s renewal 04:14 –Kaisha s layoff story 07:18 – Choosing full-time entrepreneurship 09:43 – Balancing acting & content creation 16:12 – Seasonal depression & career uncertainty 24:20 – Teaching, social media, and staying afloat 28:52 – Pitching yourself & securing brand deals 40:47 – Corporate burnout & workplace realities 42:03 – Choosing entrepreneurship every day 43:39 – Financial uncertainty & faith in the process 44:30 – Podcasting, debt payoff & money transparency 45:21 – Financial planning as a couple 55:31 – Managing money as an entrepreneur 57:17 – Retirement, investing & long-term planning 01:09:32 – Reflecting on the entrepreneurial journey 01:13:42 – Gratitude, community & paying it forward 01:16:30 – Final thoughts & wrap-up   Key Takeaways A layoff can be an ending and a beginning Self-belief is a muscle—you build it through action Multiple income streams don’t mean chaos when you plan intentionally Mental health and financial health go hand in hand Entrepreneurship is a daily choice, not a one-time leap Stay Connected  - Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 17m

  6. 30 JAN

    BA Q&A: Should I Keep Paying My Student Loans While PSLF?

    Mandi is back for a solo BA Q&A, answering a juicy listener question about balancing student loans, grad school, a possible home move, and a new car payment—all while chasing Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). She breaks down how PSLF *actually* works, why “qualifying payments” matter so much, and when it can make sense to pause extra payments and redirect cash toward savings and other priorities instead. What we dive into: - How PSLF really works and what counts as a qualifying payment.- Whether you should keep paying loans that are in in-school deferment.- How to prioritize between:  - Building a 3–6 month emergency fund.  - Saving for moving and homebuying costs.  - Paying down a high car note.- Why three months of savings may no longer be enough in today’s economy.- Practical next steps to confirm your PSLF status and get your paperwork right. Listener Question Highlight  Sydney, a 34‑year‑old nurse working toward PSLF, asks whether she should keep making a $500 monthly student loan payment while her loans are in deferment—or pause to focus on savings, a future move, and her car note. Links: Federal student aid and PSLF info: studentaid.gov Stay Connected  - Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 min

  7. 28 JAN

    How We Protect Our Freedom in an Authoritarian America ft. Stacey Abrams

    This week on Brown Ambition, Mandi is joined by author, activist, and democracy defender Stacey Abrams for a powerful, timely, and deeply grounding conversation about where we are as a country and what we can actually do about it. Recorded during a moment of collective grief, fear, and exhaustion, this episode centers honesty over platitudes and action over despair. Stacey breaks down her 10 Steps Campaign, explains how authoritarianism takes root in real time, and offers a clear framework for resistance, resilience, and rebuilding without pretending this moment isn’t heavy. Together, Mandi and Stacey talk about protecting your peace without disengaging, finding joy as an act of resistance, navigating financial shame and career disruption, and why your power doesn’t disappear just because your platform changes. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, frozen, or unsure where to start this conversation is for you.   What We Get Into Why this moment feels heavier and why that feeling is by design Stacey Abrams’ 10 Steps to Autocracy and how to recognize them in real time The 10 Steps to Freedom & Power and how everyday people can activate them Why we can’t return to “how things were” and must demand something better How to talk to your kids about what’s happening without passing down fear What to do when you’re exhausted, caregiving, working, and barely holding it together Why joy is not escapism — it’s resistance Financial shame, job loss, and why debt is not a moral failure Stacey’s unsexy but life-changing money habits Building freedom funds, changing lanes, and investing in yourself and others Government shutdowns, budgets, and why “business as usual” no longer applies Why status is no longer safety and what collective action really looks like   Key Takeaways You don’t have to do everything — but you do have to do something Your position may change, but your power stays with you Nonviolent resistance is effective — and it’s not the same as being passive Financial setbacks don’t cancel your dreams; they may redirect them Democracy isn’t abstract — it’s about our ability to thrive   Resources Mentioned Stacey Abrams’ 10 Steps Campaign  Assembly Required podcast Level Up by Stacey Abrams Stacey Abrams’ children’s book series (Stacey Speaks Up) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min

  8. 23 JAN

    How to Heal Burnout Through Breathwork ft. Jasmine Marie of Black Girls Breathing

    This week, I'm revisitng my interview with the brilliant Jasmine Marie breathwork practitioner, founder of Black Girls Breathing, and author of Black Girls Breathing: Heal from Trauma, Combat Stress, and Find Your Freedom. From surviving the corporate grind to creating wellness spaces rooted in cultural relevance, Jasmine gets real about her journey into entrepreneurship, healing work, and what it truly takes to hold space for Black women’s mental and emotional wellbeing.   We talk about everything from the power of a deep breath and surviving burnout, to funding a business on your own terms and growing a team the *smart* way. Jasmine even leads us through a mini oceanic breath session at the end — don’t miss it We talk about:  - Jasmine’s transition from corporate beauty marketing to breathwork and mental wellness - Why most wellness spaces *don’t* center Black women's lived experiences — and what she's doing about it - Building a company without VC funding: how Jasmine bootstrapped and scaled BGB - The importance of listening to your body (and your breath) when trauma speaks - Balancing healing work with entrepreneurship and how not to burn out - Tools in Jasmine’s toolkit: EMDR therapy, acupuncture, daily walks, and more - Real talk on grief, generational trauma, and creating new blueprints for Black wellness   Join the Movement: Visit https://www.blackgirlsbreathing.com to learn more and access free mental health resources   - Follow Jasmine on IG @blackgirlsbreathing   - Subscribe to *Brown Ambition* and leave us a 5-star review if this episode gave you life! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    57 min
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The Brown Ambition Podcast helps you unapologetically build wealth by saving, investing and making smart career choices — on your own d@mn terms! New episodes Wednesdays and Fridays.

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  • Channel
    iHeartPodcasts
  • Creator
    iHeartPodcasts
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    849
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    2026 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
  • Show Website
    Brown Ambition
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