Building Black Podcast with Hauwa Otori Hauwa Otori

In this episode, the Building Black Podcast’s host shares our 2023 theme word and how we got here!

Dr. Angelique Johnson is the Founder & CEO of MEMStim LLC, a Kentucky-based startup that develops a fully automated, low cost, advanced manufacturing process for implantable nerve stimulators. In this episode, Dr. Angelique details how her upbringing put her on a path to math and science to discover her passion for innovating at the intersection of medicine and technology.

Anthony Frasier is the founder and CEO of ABF Creative, an award-winning, audio first company that’s produced podcasts for the likes of Essence Magazine as well as programming like  African Folktales series, which is a collection of traditional bedtime stories originating in Africa for kids today. In this episode, Anthony discusses how discovering computers and gaming in his childhood set him on a path of entrepreneurship that ultimately led him to launching ABF Creative. 

Ifeoma Ozoma is the Founder and Principal of Earthseed, a consulting firm that advises  individuals, organizations, and companies on tech accountability, public policy, and health misinformation among other topics. Within a year after leaving social media platform, Pinterest, she set out on a year-long campaign to fight for workers’ rights in California, specifically for people to maintain their freedom to speak up against racial discrimination in the workplace. Now, the Silenced No More Act does just that for 40 million workers in California. She’s on a mission to scale this nationally and globally. It’s a story of redemption. 

In this episode, the Building Black Podcast’s host, Hauwa Otori, looks back at 2021 and shares a brief holiday message. And, she also reveals our 2022 theme word!

Marcel Benson is the Founder of the Benson Watch Company. The company’s slogan is “Time should be spent doing what you love.” Marcel left a career in consulting to pursue his love and passion for watches.
In the four years since deciding to pursue his company full time, the Benson Watch Company has developed its own pieces, been covered by major publications like the New York Times, and recently leveraged an equity crowdfunding platform to help fund the business.
It’s a story of letting go of other people’s expectations to follow your passion to do what is right for you.