Impact Innovators with Felicia Ford

Felicia Ford
Impact Innovators with Felicia Ford

Impact Innovators with Felicia Ford introduces you to the game-changing leaders, social entrepreneurs, and disruptors who are redefining the future of community-driven brands. Each episode takes you into a solo lesson with Felicia or real conversations with visionaries making waves—no fluff, just hard-hitting, practical approaches to pushing your brand and impact forward. Impact Innovators is built for those ready to challenge the status quo and overcome hurdles in social innovation. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting your change-making journey, each episode equips you with the tools to deepen your impact and scale your influence. Beyond business growth, Felicia is here to guide you through your own evolution as a leader—because thriving in change starts from within. If you’re driven to create lasting impact, overcome barriers, and lead with confidence, this podcast is your blueprint. Every episode helps you not only grow your business but evolve as a changemaker, building lasting momentum in the world of social good. Tune in, transform, and lead the movement you were meant to create. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. The opinions of guests are their own and not a reflection of Felicia or Felicia Ford & Co.® For personalized guidance, consult with a qualified professional.

  1. FEB 4

    047 | Tech Equity, Served Bold with a Side of Grit with Desiah Barnett

    Change Maker, this is a story that may leave you speechless.  How Do You Open Doors That Were Never Built for You? If you lead an organization, there’s a point where strategy alone isn’t enough—you need access. You need the right partners, funding, and a way to prove that your work isn’t just meaningful, but essential. But what happens when traditional systems weren’t designed with you in mind? When the gatekeepers aren’t looking your way? That’s where Desiah Barnett’s story forces a different conversation. She didn’t wait for an invitation. From foster care to securing government contracts in 30 days, she built a tech education pipeline that’s creating real workforce opportunities for youth who are often overlooked. 💡 Inside this episode, we unpack:✔️ How she navigated the system to land city contracts and why your impact story is non-negotiable.✔️ Why mentorship is the real solution to breaking cycles of poverty—and how she structured it for scale.✔️ What it takes to introduce high-level stakeholders to your work and secure investment in your mission.✔️ How she formed a winning team and built an app for Visa—without corporate backing or deep industry connections. This is a case study in making the system work for you. If you're leading a nonprofit, running a social enterprise, or securing funding feels like an uphill battle, this is your episode to rethink what's possible.  Next Steps:  Ready to position your brand for serious funding and long-term sustainability? The strategies Desiah used to land government contracts and scale impact aren’t just for her—they’re for any leader ready to step into their next era. Get Year-End Power Moves —designed to help change makers like you secure funding, expand partnerships, and move with strategy in any quarter. Download it now and start making the right moves.

    38 min
  2. JAN 28

    046 | The Rose Gold Standard: Mindset and Strategy of a Luxury Brand with Omar McGee

    What separates good from iconic? For Omar McGee, founder of Rose Gold Reserve, it’s a fearless mindset and the ability to blend authenticity with ambition. “You can’t win if you’re scared to take the shot,” Omar reflects. “It’s not about arrogance; it’s about knowing you’ve done the work.” In this episode of Impact Innovators, Omar shares how he built a luxury brand that’s not just celebrated but trusted by celebrities and tastemakers. But creating a masterpiece like Rose Gold Reserve—crafted through a three-year collaboration with master blender Christian Eiroa—requires more than vision. It demands mastery, a willingness to challenge the rules, and an uncompromising dedication to quality. Join us as Omar, an HBCU alumni shares his journey from running a school that sent 500 students to college to carving out space in the exclusive world of luxury cigars. Discover how he overcame systemic roadblocks, scaled his brand without sacrificing exclusivity, and why he believes, “My audio matches my video. It’s authentic. It’s real.” You’ll learn: The secrets to building strategic partnerships that elevate your brand. How to scale a business while preserving its core values. Why mindset—not just skillset—determines success. Listen in to uncover the mindset shifts, strategic moves, and actionable lessons that Omar McGee used to create a brand trusted by tastemakers and celebrated for its precision.   Next Steps:  Get Strategic Edge: https://media.feliciafordandco.com/power-moves  Connect with Omar: www.instagram.com/therosegoldreserve Connect with Felicia: https://media.feliciafordandco.com/connect

    28 min
  3. JAN 21

    045 | SPEDucated and Focused: The Future of Special Education with Diana R. Williams

    The education system is evolving, but are we truly meeting the needs of every child? When traditional methods fall short, how do leaders and educators step up to the challenge? And what about the unseen factors that make or break a student’s success? In this episode, Diana R. Williams, a one of a kind leader in special education leadership who has built frameworks and strategies helping administrators and parents serve students better is here with us. From her experience co-founding a Brooklyn charter school to her innovative SPEDucated Leadership Framework, Diana shares how the collective effort to creating inclusive systems that serve the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally can lead to a huge difference in the day of a child. You’ll learn: The myths surrounding special education—and the reality parents and educators must understand. How school leaders can build better systems and support their staff. Why trauma-informed care is essential for meeting today’s challenges in education. From Diana, "We have to extend grace—to children figuring out their bodies, to parents who are scared, to teachers trying their best, and to leaders who are burnt out." This conversation is for anyone invested in creating a better future for our children.  #parents #children #educators    Next Steps:  Read Diana's Story in Strategic Edge: https://media.feliciafordandco.com/power-moves Work with Felicia Ford & Co.®: https://media.feliciafordandco.com/work-with-us/ Join the Movement: http://silentdangers.com/join-the-movement

    36 min
  4. JAN 14

    044 | The Stories We Tell, the Cultures We Build: The New Quo w/ Christina Blacken

    Hey Change Maker, Does this sound familiar? The meeting starts like it always does—polite exchanges, someone cracking a joke to loosen the tension. The agenda is clear, and the goals are ambitious. You should leave this room feeling energized, aligned, ready to move forward. But halfway through, it’s obvious: something’s missing. Ideas get lost in translation. Questions stay unasked. People agree, but you can’t help but notice the hesitation. You know the work your team is capable of—you’ve seen it—but these moments of disconnection feel like a weight, holding everything back. And then, the patterns emerge. It’s the unspoken dynamics. The hesitation to trust. The stories people tell themselves about their place in the room—about you, about the work, about each other. It’s nothing anyone says outright, but it shapes everything. “Your brain is always trying to categorize: is this person, this moment, a reward or a threat? Those split-second assumptions? They shape trust, communication, and collaboration before you even realize it.” This week on Impact Innovators, Christina Blacken reveals how these unseen dynamics affect everything you’re building. She’ll guide you through how to surface and rewrite the stories holding your team back—creating trust, connection, and a foundation for the year ahead. You’ll learn: How unconscious biases show up in team dynamics and how to shift them. The power of story rituals and how they shape organizational culture. Christina’s three-step framework—awareness, attunement, and action—for rewriting the narratives holding your team back. Next Steps:  Read Christina's story in Strategic Edge Magazine: https://media.feliciafordandco.com/power-moves  Align Your Numbers, Empower Your Team: https://bit.ly/yearendpowermoves  Connect with Felicia: www.threads.net/@friendscallmefe

    54 min
5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Impact Innovators with Felicia Ford introduces you to the game-changing leaders, social entrepreneurs, and disruptors who are redefining the future of community-driven brands. Each episode takes you into a solo lesson with Felicia or real conversations with visionaries making waves—no fluff, just hard-hitting, practical approaches to pushing your brand and impact forward. Impact Innovators is built for those ready to challenge the status quo and overcome hurdles in social innovation. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting your change-making journey, each episode equips you with the tools to deepen your impact and scale your influence. Beyond business growth, Felicia is here to guide you through your own evolution as a leader—because thriving in change starts from within. If you’re driven to create lasting impact, overcome barriers, and lead with confidence, this podcast is your blueprint. Every episode helps you not only grow your business but evolve as a changemaker, building lasting momentum in the world of social good. Tune in, transform, and lead the movement you were meant to create. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. The opinions of guests are their own and not a reflection of Felicia or Felicia Ford & Co.® For personalized guidance, consult with a qualified professional.

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