Strawberry Letter

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Got a situation? Steve Harvey and Shirley Strawberry deliver unfiltered advice on love, relationships, family, work, and life. Send your letter, subscribe, and get real talk every day! Every weekday, the Steve Harvey Morning Show tackle a listener-submitted “Strawberry Letter”... a real-life dilemma ranging from romantic entanglements to career choices, family drama to money struggles, and everything in between. With a blend of wisdom, wit, and brutal honesty, they offer candid commentary and heartfelt guidance, often sparking conversation (and laughter) among the rest of the morning show crew. Submit your Strawberry Letter at www.steveharveyfm.com for a chance to be featured, and get the truth, Steve Harvey style!

  1. Financial Opportunities: OneUnited is designed to combat financial deserts and predatory check-cashing services in Black communities.

    56M AGO

    Financial Opportunities: OneUnited is designed to combat financial deserts and predatory check-cashing services in Black communities.

    Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Teri Williams. Thanks! The transcript from this episode of Money Making Conversations Masterclass features a powerful and informative interview with Teri Williams, President, COO, and owner of OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned bank in the United States. Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and takeaways: 🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways 1. OneUnited Bank’s Mission & Reach Formed by merging four Black-owned banks in Boston, Miami, and Los Angeles. First Black-owned digital bank (since 2005). Serves customers in all 50 states. Offers accessible, affordable financial services and promotes financial literacy. 2. Digital Banking for Underserved Communities OneUnited provides: Mobile check deposit (via smartphone). Early direct deposit (get paid 2 days early). Access to 100,000+ surcharge-free ATMs (including Walgreens, 7-Eleven, Chase, Citibank). Designed to combat financial deserts and predatory check-cashing services in Black communities. 3. Financial Literacy & Trust Teri emphasizes the need for Black communities to trust Black-owned institutions. OneUnited is FDIC-insured and uses cutting-edge technology, including AI. Financial literacy is key to building generational wealth. 4. WiseOne AI Tool An AI-powered financial assistant that: Tracks spending and subscriptions. Offers insights on saving and debt reduction. Aggregates data from multiple accounts to show net worth, cash flow, and financial health. 5. Youth Financial Literacy – “I Got Bank” Contest 15th annual contest for kids ages 8–12. Participants submit an essay or artwork based on a financial literacy book. Ten winners receive $1,000 savings accounts. Book: I Got Bank by Teri Williams (available free at oneunited.com/book). 6. OneTransaction Concept Focuses on six key financial transactions to build generational wealth: Homeownership Life Insurance Investments Profitable Business Credit Score Savings Encourages individuals to focus on just one to start their wealth-building journey. Learn more: oneunited.com/one transaction 💬 Notable Quotes “We are a real bank, not a fintech. We are FDIC-insured.” “We are great with money. We just haven’t always had access.” “Focus on one transaction. That’s all it takes to start building generational wealth.” #SHMS #STRAW #BEST  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    25 min
  2. Career Opportunities: He issues a call to action for minorities to explore opportunities like Amazon DSP and real estate investment.

    6H AGO

    Career Opportunities: He issues a call to action for minorities to explore opportunities like Amazon DSP and real estate investment.

    Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Justin M. Lee. Purpose of the Interview To showcase Dr. Lee’s journey from a young real estate agent to a multi-industry entrepreneur. To inspire listeners with strategies for wealth-building through real estate, construction, and logistics. To encourage financial literacy, ownership, and collaboration within underserved communities. To issue a call to action for minorities to explore opportunities like Amazon DSP and real estate investment. Key Takeaways Early Career & Education Started young in real estate, embraced discomfort in rooms dominated by older professionals. Leveraged millennial tech skills (social media marketing) to help veteran brokers grow. Earned a doctorate degree and became a licensed real estate broker. Social Media as a Business Tool Built a strong presence on TikTok (90K followers) and other platforms. Helped older real estate firms thrive by creating digital visibility. Emphasized that “business must look as good online as in person.” Financial Literacy & Homeownership African-American communities often lack foundational financial knowledge. Key barriers: misunderstanding credit, fear of debt, and lack of exposure to ownership benefits. Advocates teaching the difference between good debt (real estate) and bad debt (consumer credit). Real Estate Process Initial onboarding: credit score, income, tax filing. Connect clients with lenders, secure pre-approval, then negotiate and close within 30–45 days. Uses property tours as motivation even for those not yet approved. Pooling Resources for Wealth Industry dominated by white men and foreign investors who use syndication. Dr. Lee created a private family fund with fraternity brothers and friends. Acquired 150+ apartment units and commercial properties by pooling resources and forming LLCs. Amazon DSP Opportunity Owns an Amazon Delivery Service Partner business (42 trucks, 200 employees). Offers minorities a chance to apply for DSP with $10K grant. Taught him true CEO skills: HR, payroll, compliance, and scaling operations. Construction Business Entered construction after experiencing exploitation in fix-and-flip projects. Learned the business side (permits, change orders) and got licensed. Built major projects like a 10,000 sq. ft. restaurant in Atlanta. Advocates for Black representation in construction, an industry dominated by whites and Hispanics. Personal Background Raised in New Orleans during Katrina by a single mother and grandparents. Mother invested FEMA checks into real estate, teaching him property management and renovation skills early. Believes knowledge is power and emphasizes planning and consistency. Notable Quotes On embracing discomfort:“I learned to embrace the uncomfort and make it one of my biggest strengths.” On social media:“You have to make your business look the same way online as in person.” On financial literacy:“Real estate is always going to be good debt. Bad debt is the Macy’s card.” On collaboration:“Pooling resources shows how far we can go and how fast we can go—but together.” On planning:“If you don’t plan, you plan to fail. All you have to do is stick to the plan.” #SHMS #STRAW #BEST See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    23 min
  3. Overcoming the Odds:  Shares how he overcame kidney cancer—while simultaneously rising through the executive ranks.

    8H AGO

    Overcoming the Odds: Shares how he overcame kidney cancer—while simultaneously rising through the executive ranks.

    Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Anthony Tuggle. Senior executive, transformational advisor, and founder/CEO of Tag Us Worldwide. With more than 30 years of leading global operations at AT\&T and other Fortune 10 organizations, Tuggle shares lessons in leadership, resilience, corporate success, personal health battles, entrepreneurship, and the importance of emotional intelligence in the AI era. His story blends professional excellence with survival, detailing how he overcame kidney failure, a transplant, dialysis, and even kidney cancer—while simultaneously rising to the executive ranks and later launching his own leadership transformation company. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview The interview’s goals were to: 1. Highlight Anthony Tuggle’s leadership journey From a corporate executive managing global teams to the CEO of Tag Us Worldwide. 2. Share actionable insights on corporate success and leadership development He explains the importance of foundation, consistency, emotional intelligence, and taking care of people. 3. Discuss the importance of DEI and equitable leadership Tuggle emphasizes why diverse backgrounds, and diverse thoughts build strong companies. 4. Reveal the personal health challenges that shaped his perspective His story serves as instruction, caution, and motivation. 5. Promote Tag Us Worldwide A transformation consultancy helping organizations elevate culture and leadership. 💡 Key Takeaways 1. Success Requires Hard Work, Foundation & Intentionality Success is not accidental.Tuggle stresses: Education (undergrad + MBA from Emory’s Goizueta Business School) Moving 12 times across the country for opportunities Consistency and showing up  “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready” is one of his core principles. 2. Leadership = Taking Care of People Tuggle explains that high-performing organizations have one thing in common:Leaders take care of people, and people take care of the business.  He built a reputation for developing leaders who now lead in Fortune 50 companies. 3. Understanding the Rules of the Game Matters Whether you’re an entrepreneur or corporate professional, there are rules: Professionalism Performance Relationship building Consistency Respecting organizational culture  Many people fail because they enter the “game” without learning its rules. 4. DEI and Access Are Non-Negotiable for Strong Organizations Tuggle is a firm supporter of diversity, equity, inclusion, both in culture and thought.He says he would not be where he is today without people giving him a chance.  5. His Corporate Career Was Truly Global He managed large teams across: The Philippines Costa Rica Mexico This global lens influences his approach to transformation and scaling businesses. 6. His Health Journey Defines His Resilience Anthony Tuggle's story is extraordinary: • Kidney failure in his 20s Doctor told him he “should be dead.”Caused by untreated hypertension.  • 25-year kidney transplant survivor He received a deceased donor kidney and outlived the typical 10–15-year expectancy—twice. • Kidney transplant failed again after 25 years He returned to dialysis (hemodialysis → peritoneal dialysis).  • Kidney cancer diagnosis—found early While preparing for another transplant, doctors discovered kidney cancer caused by long-term immunosuppressant medications.He survived it: stage 1, noninvasive.  These challenges fuel his drive, urgency, and refusal to waste life. 7. Faith Was His Anchor Throughout When diagnosed with kidney failure, he got on his knees and prayed.He says God told him, “We're not done.”This became his mantra for survival and purpose. [ 8. Tag Us Worldwide: “Together Achieving Greatness” His company focuses on: Leadership transformation Cultural elevation Organizational outcomes Preparing leaders for the AI-powered future  Tag Us delivers impact through: Real-world corporate experience AI-enhanced strategy Emotional intelligence coaching Business transformation frameworks He blends AI + EQ, insisting companies should never rely on AI alone. 9. AI Won’t Replace Humans—But Humans Who Use AI Will Win Tuggle led an AI organization for four years, and his stance is clear: AI is here to stay The “secret sauce” is people Leaders must embrace change, not fear it Emotional intelligence will enhance AI outcomes 10. Legacy = Family + Leadership + Service He emphasizes shaping his daughter’s worldview and standards.She graduated with honors from USC’s Marshall Business School.  He believes leaders should create environments where people can win—and that is his mission. 🗣 Notable Quotes (with citations) On success “I didn’t just wake up and look like this—I put in the hard work.” [ On leadership “If you take care of your people, they take care of you.” On preparation “Stay ready—we don’t have to get ready.” [ On DEI “You need diversity of color but also diversity of thought.”  On fear “I faced many obstacles throughout my life… fear becomes motivation.” [ On AI “Good leaders embrace change. Great leaders inspire change.” [ On resilience “I am highly favored… I’ve beaten the odds twice.” [ On purpose “My passion is leadership; my purpose is changing lives.” [ #SHMS #STRAW #BEST See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min
  4. Business Advice: He discusses how the Beauty Industry is a Huge, Under-Owned Space for Black Entrepreneurs.

    11H AGO

    Business Advice: He discusses how the Beauty Industry is a Huge, Under-Owned Space for Black Entrepreneurs.

    Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Damon Haley Co‑founder of Glow and Flow Beauty, discussing his transition from entertainment and sports marketing into the beauty-supply industry, his mission to elevate service for Black and Brown communities, and the franchising model he is rolling out nationwide. Hosted by Rushion McDonald on Money Making Conversations Masterclass, the conversation highlights Haley’s business philosophy, community-driven approach, and long-term vision to create ownership opportunities through franchising. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview The interview aims to: 1. Highlight Damon Haley’s entrepreneurial journey How he moved from high-level event production and marketing (Nike, Pepsi, Coke) into beauty retail. 2. Explain why the beauty-supply industry needs Black ownership Haley outlines the disconnect between Black consumer spending and the lack of Black-owned beauty-supply stores. 3. Promote Glow and Flow Beauty’s mission A service-first retail model designed to uplift, educate, and serve Black and Brown consumers with dignity. 4. Introduce Glow and Flow’s franchising opportunity Haley frames franchising as a path for individuals to enter business ownership with support and a proven model. 5. Inspire listeners to embrace change and pursue entrepreneurship He shares personal experiences overcoming naysayers and trusting his instincts. 📌 Key Takeaways from the Interview 1. The Beauty Industry Is a Huge, Under-Owned Space for Black Entrepreneurs Black consumers spend heavily on beauty, but historically have not owned the supply-chain or retail footprint. Haley wants to change that by bringing ownership and pride back to local communities.  2. Glow and Flow Beauty Focuses on Service, Experience, and Community The stores celebrate culture (Breast Cancer Month, Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month). Customer care is central—Haley emphasizes smiles, water for coughing customers, and creating “fabulousness.”  3. Franchising Eliminates the “Start From Zero” Problem Haley believes franchising is more accessible than starting independently because: You get a proven model. You get supply-chain support. You avoid costly mistakes.  4. Hair Is the Cornerstone of the Business Glow and Flow launched its own synthetic hair brand, SLAY (with 3 Ys). Synthetic hair dominates due to affordability. Human hair is sourced from Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia.  5. Inventory & Capital Are Major Barriers to Entry Beauty supply requires heavy up‑front inventory investment. Glow and Flow stays heavily stocked to maintain customer trust. 6. Data + Marketing Experience = Competitive Advantage Haley leverages his corporate marketing background (Nike, Foot Locker) to optimize retail presentation, customer experience, and product mix.  7. His Long-Term Vision: 40 Stores Nationwide His exit strategy is to build 40 Glow and Flow stores (McDonald jokes he’d smile at 100).  8. E-commerce and Community Outreach Expand Their Reach GlowAndFlowBeauty.com sells products and SLAY hair online, with shipping and local pickup. Stores support community fundraisers by including materials in shoppers’ bags (up to 5,000 per month).  💬 Notable Quotes (From the Transcript) On the power of beauty in the community “When we look good, we feel good. When we feel good, we be good, we do good.”  On why Black beauty ownership matters “We’re buyers… we’re consumers… we just don’t own.”  On moving into the beauty industry “We’ve had the short end of the stick — not only from recycling our Black dollars, but the concept of service.”  On franchising “You don’t start from zero with a franchise… you have a corporation behind you.”  On entrepreneurship and criticism “There’s jealous, envy, and naysayers… but I’ve never been fearful of change.”  On customer service “I try to give you other stuff… I give you a smile… if you cough, I’m gonna give you some water.”  On the importance of hair “Hair is the cornerstone of our beauty industry.”  On long-term ambitions “I would love to have maybe 40 Glow and Flows nationwide.”  #SHMS #BEST #STRAW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min
  5. Uplift: Her dance style tells stories of African American history, identity, and empowerment.

    11H AGO

    Uplift: Her dance style tells stories of African American history, identity, and empowerment.

    Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Stacey Allen. The founder and artistic director of Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective. This episode blends art, activism, education, and cultural preservation through the lens of Black history and dance. Here are the key highlights: 🎭 About Stacey Allen Founder of Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective, a professional dance company focused on art and wellness through the lens of Black women and girls. Author of two children’s books, including: A Little Optimism Goes a Long Way (introduces children to Katherine Dunham) D is for Dance and for the Diaspora (A–Z guide to African diaspora dance styles) Recipient of the 2024 Children’s Publication Award from the National Association of Multicultural Education. 🩰 Dance as Activism Stacy uses dance to tell stories of African American history, identity, and empowerment. Her performances are rooted in education, cultural preservation, and social justice. She emphasizes that dance is not just performance—it’s a tool for healing, storytelling, and activism. 🌍 Cultural Legacy & Freedom Colonies Stacy’s work includes performances like The Fairy Tale Project, which tells the love story of the founders of the Sankofa Freedom Colony in Texas. She collaborates with the Texas Freedom Colonies Project, which documents over 500 historically Black settlements in Texas. These colonies were founded by formerly enslaved people post-emancipation and are often overlooked in mainstream history. 🌊 Emotional Pilgrimage Stacy shares her transformative experience visiting Gorée Island in Senegal, a major slave port, and draws parallels to Galveston, Texas, where Juneteenth originated. She reflects on the emotional weight of visiting ancestral lands and how it informs her art and mission. 📚 Educational Mission Through her books, performances, and workshops (including in juvenile detention centers), Stacy educates youth and communities about Black history and identity. She believes that knowing your history empowers your future. 📣 How to Connect with Stacy Website: www.niasdaughters.com Instagram: @niasdaughters Facebook: Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective 💬 Rushion’s Reflections Rushion expresses deep admiration for Stacy’s passion and educational impact. He emphasizes the importance of sharing her work widely, especially the history of Texas Freedom Colonies, which he compares to the Underground Railroad in significance. #SHMS #STRAW #BEST See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    23 min
  6. Brand Building: “She offers executive women a retreat where they can experience luxury and end with a business plan.

    18H AGO

    Brand Building: “She offers executive women a retreat where they can experience luxury and end with a business plan.

    Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Ingrid Jacobs. A veteran enterprise leader, former HR executive, and Chief Growth Officer for The Revenue Retreat, a luxury boutique retreat for executive women who want to build profitable businesses without burnout.  She and Rushion discuss her corporate background, her unique approach to customer integration, the challenges women face in entrepreneurship, pricing psychology, common business mistakes, age-related limiting beliefs, and the transformational design of her retreat program. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview The purpose of Ingrid’s appearance was to: 1. Share her expertise in helping high‑achieving women build sustainable, profitable businesses Ingrid works with corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and women ready to transition from corporate careers into entrepreneurship. 2. Highlight The Revenue Retreat She explains how the retreat helps women clarify their offer, price correctly, identify customers, and prepare mentally and emotionally for entrepreneurship. 3. Educate listeners on business fundamentals Rushion brings her on to break down pricing, customer targeting, confidence, and transitioning from corporate “9–5” to entrepreneurship. 4. Address issues unique to women, executives, and people of color Especially around pricing themselves correctly, recovering from burnout, and building confidence in their value. 💡 Key Takeaways 1. Corporate experience can translate powerfully into entrepreneurship Ingrid spent two decades at companies like Raytheon, Whirlpool, and JLL, working in HR, human capital, and DEI.She emphasizes she wasn’t a traditional HR leader—she focused on customer integration, business growth, and improving client outcomes.  2. High‑achieving women aren’t only executives They can be community leaders, nonprofit leaders, or entrepreneurs who excel in their areas but may not have formal corporate titles.  3. Entrepreneurship requires more work—especially early on New entrepreneurs often don’t realize they must handle every aspect of the business themselves: operations, marketing, sales, pricing, and delivery.  4. Pricing is one of the biggest challenges for women and people of color Key problems: Undervaluing their expertise Fear of charging what they’re worth Worrying clients won’t pay higher rates Getting mentally stuck in low pricing Ingrid says women often dramatically underprice themselves and need help adjusting their mindset.  5. Knowing your customer matters more than trying to sell to everyone Selling to “anybody” makes entrepreneurs sound desperate; true growth comes from targeting the right buyer and offering a solution they value.  6. Avoid common first‑year business mistakes These include: Poor pricing Not knowing your ideal customer Doing everything for everyone Expanding into too many offerings too fast Operating out of desperation rather than strategy  7. Age is an asset—not a liability Older entrepreneurs bring wisdom, experience, critical thinking, and problem‑solving ability.She argues people use age as a cover for deeper fears about failure and judgment.  8. The Revenue Retreat combines luxury, education, and wellness The retreat model includes: A luxury residential environment Chef‑prepared meals 12‑woman cohorts Business planning rigor Pricing clarity Customer identification Mental and emotional readiness Wellness activities 8‑weeks of virtual follow‑up coaching It’s intentionally structured as not a workshop but a holistic transformation experience. [ 9. She priced her retreat through competitive research + self‑awareness She studied other programs, benchmarked pricing, calculated expenses, and aligned it with her unique “sweet spot”—monetization skill + passion for helping women + love of hosting experiences.  🗣 Notable Quotes (with citations) On her corporate background “Bring me on board if you're looking for figuring out how do we get better customer integration… so that we can zero in on more sales.” On defining high‑achieving women “There are movers and shakers who don’t necessarily have a corporate pedigree, but they are still getting things done.”  On underpricing “Many times women… fall in this trap where they're scared to put out the real amount.” [ On realizing she was undercharging “I wasn't even charging half of what she was saying… that epiphany changed the game for me.”  On first‑year mistakes “Desperation is palpable… and that is a turnoff.” [ On age “Age to me is an asset… you’ve got cognitive rigor.”  On burnout “A lot of people who are interested in this work are already burned out and don’t even recognize their own signs.”  On what the retreat delivers “We help everyone come up with their pricing, what is their product… and wrap up where people have a plan forward.” [ Her core sales pitch “I offer executive women a retreat where they can experience luxury and end with a business plan they can use Monday morning to drive revenue.”  #SHMS #STRAW #BEST See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    30 min
  7. Overcoming the Odds: Her personal journey from layoff to leadership to inspiring others to embrace entrepreneurship.

    23H AGO

    Overcoming the Odds: Her personal journey from layoff to leadership to inspiring others to embrace entrepreneurship.

    Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Cameka Smith. Founder of The BOSS Network, from Money Making Conversations Masterclass: Purpose of the Interview The interview aimed to: Highlight The BOSS Network’s mission to empower women of color through entrepreneurship, career development, and community support. Share Dr. Smith’s personal journey from layoff to leadership, inspiring others to embrace entrepreneurship. Discuss strategies for business success, funding opportunities, and mentorship for Black female founders. Key Takeaways Origin of The BOSS Network Founded in 2009 during the recession after Dr. Smith was laid off from Chicago Public Schools. Initially started as local events in Chicago; now a digital community reaching 200,000 women nationwide. Mission: Bringing Out Successful Sisters (BOSS)—promoting small business spirit and career growth. Impact & Achievements Invested in 100 Black female founders through grants. Trained 50,000 women on business strategies. Coached 10,000 women on starting businesses. Created Boss Business University, offering mentorship and digital programs. Pivot During COVID Shifted from 35% event-based revenue to 75% digital. Launched Boss Impact Fund and Invest in Progress Grant: $10,000 grants + 4-year scholarships for recipients. Combined funding, mentorship, and marketing support for sustainability. Challenges & Mindset Entrepreneurship requires planning, resilience, and community support. Dr. Smith saved money before leaving her job and leveraged relationships for growth. Quote: “Entrepreneurs will work 80 hours for themselves but don’t want to work 40 hours for someone else.” Top 3 Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make Lack of research: Understand your industry, competitors, and market. No revenue model: If you’re not making money, it’s a hobby, not a business. Ignoring relationships: Networking and partnerships are key to success. Unique Marketing & Partnerships Dr. Smith built direct relationships with brands, bypassing agencies that offered “pennies on the dollar.” Created a dual revenue model: B2B (corporate partnerships) + B2C (community engagement). Core Philosophy Motto: Believe, Plan, Win. Quote: “Those that show up, go up.” Success is rooted in faith, persistence, and leveraging community. Notable Quotes “I was born to be an entrepreneur. My mother told me, until you become your own boss, you have to follow the rules.” “Less than 1% of Black women get VC funding—so we created our own fund.” “Relationships are your key to success. When social media goes away, your audience remains.” “If you have a business and you don’t have money, you’ve got a hobby.” “God will not birth anything inside of you that He will not give you the tools to deliver.” #SHMS #STRAW #BEST See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 min
4.5
out of 5
1,656 Ratings

About

Got a situation? Steve Harvey and Shirley Strawberry deliver unfiltered advice on love, relationships, family, work, and life. Send your letter, subscribe, and get real talk every day! Every weekday, the Steve Harvey Morning Show tackle a listener-submitted “Strawberry Letter”... a real-life dilemma ranging from romantic entanglements to career choices, family drama to money struggles, and everything in between. With a blend of wisdom, wit, and brutal honesty, they offer candid commentary and heartfelt guidance, often sparking conversation (and laughter) among the rest of the morning show crew. Submit your Strawberry Letter at www.steveharveyfm.com for a chance to be featured, and get the truth, Steve Harvey style!

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