So Ambitious

May 27 · 56m

In this episode, Felecia Hatcher welcomes Asha Walker (Health In The Hood) and Valencia Gunder (The Smile Trust), who break down what it really means to build community, create impact, and redefine wealth from the ground up. From urban farming to feeding the unhoused, from climate justice to access to technology, these founders share how they turned lived experiences into scalable solutions that nourish communities physically, emotionally, and economically. They unpack the difference between charity and compassion, the reality of building in the nonprofit and social impact space, and what it takes to sustain purpose-driven work even when resources are limited. This conversation is a must-watch for founders, leaders, and changemakers who are ready to build beyond profit, serve with intention, and create impact that truly lasts. KEY POINTS - Real wealth includes health, community, trust, and people power  - The strongest solutions come from communities themselves - There is a critical difference between charity and true compassion - Social impact work still requires strong business models to survive - Purpose-driven founders often face burnout while trying to serve others - Building systems creates a lasting impact, not one-time solutions - Identity and purpose evolve as founders grow and expand their work - Serving others can unlock opportunities, resources, and long-term sustainability QUOTABLES   “Service is our natural state.” – Asha Walker  “I’m going to be a leader and not a boss.”  – Valencia Gunder  “When I think about wealth, I think about people power first.” – Valencia Gunder RESOURCES Asha Walker - Health In The Hood  IG | @healthinthehood Valencia Gunder - The Smile Trust IG | @thesmiletrust        @valenciagunder Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

May 20 · 53m

In this episode of So Ambitious, Jeff Johnson breaks down what it really means to lead, build, and evolve as a founder, especially as a Black entrepreneur navigating identity, capital, and visibility. From building in media and activism to advising leaders across industries, Jeff shares hard truths about performance vs authenticity, founder identity, mental health, and the hidden cost of success. He challenges the way we think about capital, power, and growth, and introduces a bigger idea: building ecosystems instead of just companies. This conversation is for founders who are not just trying to win, but trying to build with integrity, lead with clarity, and create something that outlives them. KEY POINTS - Many founders are performing instead of truly showing up - Emotional suppression is the hidden cost of leadership - Success without identity clarity leads to burnout and disconnection - Founders must separate who they are from what they build - Building a personal board of directors is essential for growth - Capital is not just money; it is trust, relationships, and access - Black founders are often seen as assets (not as people in funding spaces) - The future is ecosystems that create lasting impact QUOTABLES  “I’m in a place where I’m allergic to bullshit.” – Jeff Johnson “A healthier man will always be a better CEO.” – Jeff Johnson “We have created a founder culture that is rooted in celebrity.” – Jeff Johnson “Our greatest ambition should not be how much we raise in this next round. It should be, are we free in our own heart[s].” – Jeff Johnson RESOURCES Jeff Johnson IG | @jeffsnation  Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

May 13 · 52m

What does it take to build generational wealth when the system was never built for you? Today, Felecia Hatcher welcomes Teri Williams, Owner and President of OneUnited Bank, who shares how she helped build the largest Black-owned bank in the United States and what it really takes to create lasting financial impact. From acquiring struggling banks to losing $50 million in a single day and building it back stronger, Teri breaks down the mindset, resilience, and decision-making that define true leadership. She unpacks the importance of ownership, financial literacy, trusting your instincts, and building for community (not just profit). Plus, why the future of wealth includes AI, access, and rewriting the financial system for the next generation. This is a must-watch for founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders ready to build wealth that outlives them and impact that scales beyond them. KEY POINTS - Generational wealth starts with foundation  - Ownership is necessary for long-term security - The best founders trust their instincts even when others disagree - Problems are where opportunity lives - Failure is where the most valuable lessons are learned - Community impact should be at the center of every business  - Financial literacy is the missing link in building real wealth - AI is the next frontier, and founders who embrace it early will win QUOTABLES  “What you do at that moment, the defining moment, is the defining moment.” – Teri Williams “If I have to choose between fight or flight, I’m going to fight.” – Teri Williams “Ownership has become a necessity for our community.” – Teri Williams RESOURCES  Teri Williams  Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

May 6 · 1h 1m

What if your body is speaking louder than your words… and costing you deals, influence, and opportunities? For today’s episode of So Ambitious, global body language expert and sales strategist Linda Clemons joins Felecia Hatcher to unravel how founders can master nonverbal communication, presence, and emotional intelligence to win in business, leadership, and life. From decoding micro-expressions to building instant rapport, Linda shares the real reason most pitches fail and how to fix it before you ever say a word. She reveals why 93% of communication is nonverbal, how to read a room in seconds, and the subtle signals that tell you when a deal is falling apart. This is a masterclass for founders, entrepreneurs, and leaders who want to command rooms, close deals, and build trust faster in high-stakes environments. If you are pitching investors, building relationships, or stepping into bigger rooms, this episode will change how you show up forever. KEY POINTS - Your presence speaks before you do -  93% of communication is nonverbal; your body can either support or sabotage your message - Founders lose deals because of misaligned energy & delivery - Confidence is not what you say, it is what your body communicates consistently -  The best sales strategy is listening deeper and reading better - Investors and partners respond to emotion first (and logic second) - Rapport is built before the pitch… not during it -  Micro-expressions and body shifts reveal the truth  QUOTABLES  “Your nonverbal communication is your first language.” – Linda Clemons “The moment that you walk in the room, your presence speaks volumes.” – Linda Clemons “Our words are 7% of our communication… 93% is your tone and your nonverbal.” – Linda Clemons “The fake will fade, because who you are will eventually show up.” – Linda Clemons RESOURCES  Linda Clemons IG | @lindaclemons Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

Apr 29 · 1h 12m

What separates a good idea from a scalable business? In this episode of So Ambitious, Black Ambition Prize founders D’Angelo Senat (AllPeep), Barbara Jacques (JACQ’S Skincare), and LaToya Stirrup (Kamzaleje) break down how they turned real-life problems into high-impact, fundable companies rooted in community, culture, and purpose. From building products that didn’t exist for them to navigating access, capital, and the realities of entrepreneurship, these founders share what it actually takes to scale a business beyond the idea stage. This conversation goes deeper than startup advice. They also share how they go beyond the pitch stage and how founders are building companies that create lasting impact. It’s about ownership, representation, and building solutions that serve real people. As host Felecia highlights: “What you build after the opportunity is what really defines you.” If you’re a founder, entrepreneur, or innovator looking to secure funding, grow your business, and create meaningful impact, this episode is your blueprint. KEY POINTS - The best businesses don’t start with ideas; they start with real problems - Lived experience is often the strongest foundation for scalable innovation - What you sell is surface, what you solve is what actually drives growth - Building for your community creates a deeper impact and stronger demand - Access to rooms, networks, and decision-makers is still a major barrier - Entrepreneurship requires sacrifice, resilience, and long-term vision - Winning funding is just the beginning; execution is what sustains growth - The most powerful businesses create both economic and cultural impact QUOTABLES  “This isn't a startup story. This is a growth story.” – D’Angelo Senat “There are still doors… where major conversations are happening that I would just love to be in.” – Barbara Jacques “We’re not just building products. We’re building something that didn’t exist for us.” – LaToya Stirrup “If it doesn’t solve a real problem, it’s not going to last.”  – D’Angelo Senat “You have to keep going, even when it doesn’t look like it’s working yet.” – LaToya Stirrup RESOURCES Barbara Jacques IG | https://www.instagram.com/shopjacqs/  LaToya Stirrup | https://www.latoyastirrup.com/about-me  Kazmaleje IG | https://www.instagram.com/kazmaleje/  D’Angelo Senat IG | https://www.instagram.com/senatmade/  AllPeep IG | https://www.instagram.com/allpeephq/  Felecia Hatcher | https://www.feleciahatcher.com/  IG | https://www.instagram.com/feleciahatcher/  Black Ambition | https://www.blackambitionprize.com/  IG | https://www.instagram.com/blackambitionprize/  So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media | https://www.epyc.co/

Apr 22 · 46m

In this powerful episode of So Ambitious, Aisha Bowe shares how she went from a 2.3 GPA student to a NASA rocket scientist, entrepreneur, and commercial astronaut. This is not just a story about space.  It is about rewriting the narrative when the world tells you what you cannot do. Aisha breaks down how self-doubt becomes your biggest barrier, why “automatic negative thinking” keeps founders stuck, and how she built a framework to achieve what once felt impossible. From turning rejection into redirection, to raising millions, to creating access for the next generation, this conversation is a masterclass in ambition, resilience, and building without permission. This is the mindset shift required to build beyond limits. KEY POINTS - Why self-doubt becomes the “gravity” that holds founders back - The moment Aisha realized she could not let others define her future - How “automatic negative thinking” sabotages opportunities - Why failure is just success in progress for founders - The power of building systems that create access, not just success - How to pitch bold, unconventional ideas to major brands - Why founders must prioritize mental health and self-awareness - The importance of creating your own rules in systems not built for you QUOTABLES  “The reality of it is that evenly distributed opportunity is not.” – Aisha Bowe “Doubt was my gravity for so many years.” – Aisha Bowe “We have to borrow someone else’s belief in ourselves until it becomes our own.” – Felecia Hatcher “My goal is to be an awesome bedtime story.” – Aisha Bowe RESOURCES Aisha Bowe  IG | @aishabowe Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

Apr 21 · 1m

What happens when ambition is backed by access, community, and purpose? Welcome to Season 4 of So Ambitious, the podcast powered by Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize and hosted by Felecia Hatcher. This new season brings you inside the real stories of Black and Brown founders who are not just building businesses, but shifting systems, creating access, and redefining what success looks like. From scaling companies rooted in lived experience to navigating capital, burnout, and high-stakes decisions, these conversations go beyond the highlight reel. This is where ambition meets reality, where founders talk about what it actually takes to build something that lasts. You will hear how entrepreneurs turn real problems into scalable solutions, how they push through loss, pressure, and uncertainty, and how they stay committed to building for their communities. Because the truth is, success is not just about growth. It is about impact, ownership, and longevity. This isn't a startup story. This is a growth story. Because when Black and Brown founders win, they do not just scale companies.  They shift systems. And remember, ambition does not need permission. RESOURCES Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

Mar 25 · 58m

In this special compilation episode of So Ambitious, hear directly from founders who have won funding through the Black Ambition Prize — and what it really takes to build, scale, and grow after securing capital. If you are a Black or Brown entrepreneur looking for funding for your startup, this episode is a masterclass in what happens before, during, and after winning a pitch competition. These founders share how they navigated rejection, rebuilt after major setbacks, scaled their businesses, and leveraged access to capital, mentorship, and networks to accelerate growth. From losing everything in a warehouse fire to rebuilding after six-figure losses, from innovating in clean energy and maternal health to disrupting billion-dollar industries, these stories highlight the real journey behind startup funding and business growth. This episode breaks down: What investors look for in founders How to grow after winning funding Lessons learned from the Black Ambition Prize How access to capital and community changes trajectory The emotional resilience required to scale a startup If you’re preparing to apply for the Black Ambition Prize, pitch investors, or raise capital for your business, this episode gives you insight directly from founders who have been there and built through it. This is about funding, scale, representation, and building sustainable companies that solve real-world problems. Most of all, it’s about Black and Brown entrepreneurs who turned opportunity into impact. RESOURCES Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

Jan 21 · 53m

Entrepreneurship is not just about strategy. It is about resilience, self-forgiveness, and learning how to move forward after mistakes, losses, burnout, and rejection. This compilation episode is about having the inner strength required to survive and grow as a founder, and captures the emotional reality behind the journey and the lessons learned through experience. Discover how founders fail forward, rebuild after setbacks, and develop the endurance needed to stay in the game. This episode is for anyone navigating a hard season or questioning whether the struggle is worth it; it is a reminder that resilience is a skill you build, not a trait you are born with. KEY POINTS:  307: Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche on Losing Everything to Find Yourself: Lessons After $300,000 in Debt 306: One Vision, One Weekend, 50,000 People: Michael Barclay on Scaling Essence Festival and Cultural Legacy 301: The $15 Trillion Opportunity: Protecting Black Culture & Ownership | Lanny Smith, Tommy Johnson 304: The Future of Music is AI: How Black Creators Can Win the Next Creative Era 308: Love Is the Investment Thesis: Lessons From 8-Figure Investment Decisions | Liz Thompson 305: The Hidden Cost of Ambition: Candace Washington on Founder Mental Health RESOURCES Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media