Business First w/Sonia Alleyne

Mean Ole Lion Media
Mean Ole Lion Media

At the Business First Podcast hosted by Sonia Alleyne our mission is simple: we want to help Black and Brown Business owners make their businesses Better, Bigger and Bolder. Listen weekly as we provide information and inspiration for new and established business owners, entrepreneurs and those looking to turn that side hustle into a their main hustle. We'll feature guests with dynamic stories to inspire, motivate and guide you wherever you are in your business journey.

  1. 8h ago

    The Entrepreneurial Journey: Lessons from Natasha Rogers

    What does it take to turn professional experience into a business of your own? In this rerelease of Business First Podcast, host Sonia Alleyne revisits her conversation with Natasha L. Rogers, head of 1221, a public relations firm in Birmingham, Alabama. Natasha shares her journey from media to PR and the lessons she’s learned about entrepreneurship, leadership, and building strong teams. From strategic communication and event planning to the power of public speaking, Natasha explores the skills that help entrepreneurs move their businesses forward. She also reflects on the importance of caring for your mental health during career transitions and building a business that makes a difference in the community. Whether you’re preparing for a career change or growing your own company, revisit this conversation about finding your voice and moving forward with purpose. 🎧 Listen on YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Amazon Music, or the Mean Ole Lion Media app. Follow, rate, comment, and share.

    The Entrepreneurial Journey: Lessons from Natasha Rogers

  2. Oct 27

    Charlotte Williams on Building Not Just the Business But the Village She Needed

    What happens when the challenges you’ve lived through reveal the business you’re meant to build? On this episode of Business First with Sonia Alleyne, maternal health entrepreneur Charlotte Williams shares how her experiences as a mother and a UK-trained midwife shaped her approach to supporting families—and building businesses around the gaps she saw. From teenage motherhood and IVF to pregnancy during the pandemic, Charlotte explains how each chapter influenced her leadership. She takes Sonia through the development of My Bump My Baby, her foundation, and My Bump Hub, a digital village designed to connect families with providers, resources, and community. The conversation explores the shift from chasing funding to focusing on the people she could help, why collaboration matters to her business model, and the operational challenge of keeping human support in step with AI-assisted growth. Charlotte also shares her vision for expanding access through community programs and a planned doula mixer tour. It’s a conversation about owning your story, recognizing an unmet need, and finding people who believe in the work enough to help you build it. Learn more at My Bump Hub. Find more shows like this on the Mean Ole Lion app. Follow, rate, comment, and share.

    Charlotte Williams on Building Not Just the Business But the Village She Needed

  3. Oct 20

    The Doula Doing It All

    What happens when the career you’ve built no longer reflects the life you want? On this episode of Business First with Sonia Alleyne, television producer and entrepreneur Sasha Mitchell-Fuller shares how career setbacks, motherhood, and faith led her toward a new calling in maternal health. After years of producing for major television shows, Sasha found herself questioning an identity built around work and the constant pressure to prove her worth. Today, she’s bringing those same creative instincts, relationships, and determination to her work as a doula and her efforts with One Love Community Consortium to establish a birth and wellness center on Long Island. Sasha and Sonia discuss transferring your skills into a new purpose, learning to rest without guilt, and building a community that supports mothers beyond the delivery room. Sasha also opens up about a challenge she’s still navigating: caring for others without losing herself in the process. Listen for a candid conversation about reinvention, entrepreneurship, and learning to recognize the value you bring before anyone else validates it. Find more shows like this on the Mean Ole Lion app.

    The Doula Doing It All

  4. Oct 13

    The Business of Make Up

    On this episode of Business First with Sonia Aline, Sonia welcomes Marquel Javontei, a second-generation owner of Bovanti Cosmetics, for a conversation about beauty, entrepreneurship, and building on a legacy her parents began in 1982. Marquel shares how growing up in the family business shaped her path—from watching her mother teach makeup techniques to selling cosmetics with her sister at Hampton University. Although she once planned to become a lawyer, beauty remained her calling, leading her to expand the family brand and establish her own location at Bowie Town Center in Maryland. For Marquel, the work goes beyond selling products. She explains why hands-on education is central to the Bovanti experience, helping customers understand their makeup, find their foundation match, and feel confident using what they take home. She also discusses training apprentices, learning from her Gen Z team, and the challenge of staying organized while wearing many hats. Looking ahead, Marquel shares her goals of developing an esthetics school, expanding into major retailers, and making Bovanti a household name. It’s a conversation about honoring your roots, stepping outside your comfort zone, and shaping the next chapter of a family business. Explore the brand at bovanticosmetics.com and follow @Bovanti on social media. Find more shows like this on the Mean Ole Lion app. Follow, rate, comment, and share.

    The Business of Make Up

  5. Oct 6

    More Than a Mission: Leadership, Accountability, and Impact

    Having a mission is one thing. Building an organization that can sustain it takes leadership, accountability, and determination. On this episode of Business First, Sonia welcomes Cheryl Ann Wadlington, founder and executive director of The Evoluer House, for a candid conversation about the business of creating lasting change for Black and Brown girls. A former fashion and beauty journalist, Cheryl shares how her family’s legacy of activism inspired her to build an organization focused on personal development and workforce readiness. She explains how helping young women recognize their potential means addressing the barriers they face while equipping them with confidence, practical skills, and the ability to advocate for themselves. Cheryl also gets into the work behind the mission: maintaining financial accountability, selecting and training effective board members, navigating funding challenges, and balancing a passion for programming with the responsibilities of running a nonprofit. From graduates pursuing advanced degrees to girls discovering that their voices matter, Cheryl shares the moments that keep her moving forward—and her vision for expanding The Evoluer House’s reach internationally. It’s a conversation about turning compassion into action and building the foundation that allows meaningful work to thrive. Learn more or support The Evoluer House at evoluerhouse.org. Find more shows like this on the Mean Ole Lion app. Follow, rate, comment, and share.

    More Than a Mission: Leadership, Accountability, and Impact

  6. Sep 29

    The Boonkey Trail

    In this episode of Business First, host Sonia Alleyne speaks with emerging filmmaker Daunte Brown, the writer, director, and producer of the upcoming horror-thriller The Boonkey Trail. Rooted in Charleston and the culture of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, The Boonkey Trail draws inspiration from Black horror, Gullah-Geechee traditions, ancestral stories, and Daunte’s own family experiences. He shares how the success of films like Get Out, Nope, and Sinners encouraged him to tell an original Black story from a perspective rarely represented on screen. Daunte also discusses writing the screenplay in just six months, assembling his production team, managing imposter syndrome, and developing the confidence to declare that he intends to become one of the greatest filmmakers of his generation. Beyond the film itself, Daunte and his team are working to create a local economic impact by hiring South Carolina talent, supporting area businesses, and helping establish the state as a serious destination for independent filmmaking. This is a conversation about creative ambition, cultural representation, community investment, and having the courage to introduce your vision to the world before the world knows your name. Find more shows like this on the Mean Ole Lion app.

    The Boonkey Trail

  7. Sep 22

    There is No Elevator to Success

    In this episode of Business First with Sonia Alleyne, Sonia speaks with Adam Jackson, founder of Day and Night Watch Company, about transforming his passion for timepieces into a brand rooted in authenticity, African history and legacy. Adam shares the inspiration behind collections such as the Shango A78 and Pharaoh, along with the extensive research required to create stylish, durable and accessible watches. Adam also opens up about overcoming setbacks, selecting the right business partners and why mentorship can sometimes be more valuable than partnership. Guided by his belief that “time is discipline,” he explains how focus, perseverance and a desire to leave something meaningful for his family continue to shape his entrepreneurial journey. This conversation is a powerful reminder that there is no elevator to success—you have to take the stairs. Find more shows like this on the Mean Ole Lion app. Visit: MeanOleLionMedia.com Follow Mean Ole Lion Media on Instagram: @MeanOleLionMedia Watch on YouTube: Mean Ole Lion Media TV Follow the Business First Podcast on Instagram: @Business_First_Podcast

  8. Sep 15

    Breaking Up With The Word Can't

    What does it mean to build a successful life rooted in passion, purpose, and legacy? In this episode of Business First with Sonia Alleyne, Sonia sits down with master percussionist and serial entrepreneur Ralph Rolle, whose remarkable career spans nearly five decades. From performing with Nile Rodgers and CHIC, Sting, Bette Midler, Mary J. Blige, The Notorious B.I.G., and other legendary artists to building multiple businesses, Ralph shares the principles that have guided his journey. Ralph introduces his “Five Ps”—passion, power, placement, performance, and purity—and explains how they apply not only to music but also to business and life. He discusses overcoming grief and depression following his mother’s death, eliminating the word “can’t” from his mindset, setting deadlines, and defining success by completing the vision rather than simply making money. The conversation also explores the deeply personal inspiration behind Dear Family Stories, a digital platform created to help families preserve their recipes, photographs, videos, memories, and histories for future generations. Ralph also shares how a century-old family recipe—and an inventive way of meeting girls—eventually became Soul Snacks, a cookie company celebrating its 30th anniversary. It’s a powerful conversation about perseverance, entrepreneurship, community, and why preserving our family stories is a form of generational wealth. Find more shows like this on the Mean Ole Lion app.

    Breaking Up With The Word Can't
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

At the Business First Podcast hosted by Sonia Alleyne our mission is simple: we want to help Black and Brown Business owners make their businesses Better, Bigger and Bolder. Listen weekly as we provide information and inspiration for new and established business owners, entrepreneurs and those looking to turn that side hustle into a their main hustle. We'll feature guests with dynamic stories to inspire, motivate and guide you wherever you are in your business journey.

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