So Ambitious

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

Jan 14 · 42m

This Best-Of episode spotlights founders who stopped waiting for permission and chose to build anyway. These stories highlight what happens when creators are overlooked, underestimated, or even excluded from traditional systems. Instead of fitting into spaces that were not built for them, they created their own ecosystems rooted in ownership, culture, and authenticity. You’ll hear how conviction, self-trust, and long-term vision fuel innovation. This compilation is for anyone building without validation, navigating cultural gatekeeping, or creating something new because what they needed did not exist. KEY POINTS:  301: The $15 Trillion Opportunity: Protecting Black Culture & Ownership | Lanny Smith, Tommy Johnson 302: The Unusual Pairing - Ingrid Best on Building Space for Black Women in Luxury & Wine 303: The Internet Was Built on Black Culture, Alphonzo Terrell Says It’s Time We Own It 304: The Future of Music is AI: How Black Creators Can Win the Next Creative Era 306: One Vision, One Weekend, 50,000 People: Michael Barclay on Scaling Essence Festival and Cultural Legacy 307: Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche on Losing Everything to Find Yourself: Lessons After $300,000 in Debt RESOURCES  Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

Dec 17 · 59m

Liz Thompson is an investor, philanthropist, and CEO of the Café Group, whose story embodies ambition, faith, and love in action. From her beginnings in Chicago’s Cabrini Green to co-founding Cleveland Avenue with her husband, former McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson, Liz has built a legacy around pouring into people and proving that love is a strategy for leadership, not a sentiment. In this inspiring episode of So Ambitious, Liz opens up about what it means to take leaps of faith, navigate “no’s” as data points, and use abundance as a guiding force. She shares lessons on mentorship, marriage, and building both billion-dollar businesses and impact-driven communities, rooted in faith, excellence, and purpose. “No is a data point. It’s information that makes you stronger for the next yes.” – Liz Thompson Through personal stories of resilience, risk-taking, and radical love, Tune in as Liz reminds us that the real work of leadership isn’t about titles… it’s about sending the elevator back down and bringing others up with you. KEY POINTS  - Growing up in Cabrini Green and learning the value of love, resilience, and self-worth - Starting college at 16 and tackling the challenges of being “the only one” in the room - Lessons from corporate life at Ameritech: excellence, humility, and constructive feedback - Taking the leap from corporate to purpose - founding City Year Chicago - The story behind Cleveland Avenue and The Café Group: building wealth and impact - Love as leadership: why “I am the elevator” became Liz’s life mantra - The power of mentorship, faith, and being in relationship with your community - Turning rejection into growth: “No is a data point.” - Redefining abundance and what it means to lead, give, and build with love - The urgency of investing in education and betting on overlooked genius in our communities  QUOTES  “Genius is everywhere, but opportunity is not. We invest in the people closest to the answers.” – Liz Thompson “Love is a strategy. Nothing of any importance will happen without it.” – Liz Thompson “Abundance has always existed—it’s our limitations that stop us from touching it.” – Felecia Hatcher RESOURCES Liz Thompson  Website | www.thecafe.org/  Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

Dec 10 · 1h 9m

Tiffany Aliche, better known as The Budgetnista, built a multimillion-dollar empire rooted in transparency, discipline, and service. From being scammed out of $35,000 and sleeping on her sister’s couch to leading a global financial education movement, Tiffany’s story is a masterclass in rebuilding, resilience, and radical integrity. In this episode of So Ambitious, Tiffany joins host Felecia Hatcher to unpack her journey from preschool teacher to eight-figure entrepreneur. She breaks down what it really means to build a profitable, values-based business without outside funding, how to heal a toxic relationship with money, and why slow and steady growth beats overnight success every time. Tiffany also opens up about her late husband’s influence, her unique leadership style, and how she’s creating generational impact through community, honesty, and heart-centered entrepreneurship. This episode is a blueprint for founders, dreamers, and builders who want to grow sustainably – without losing their soul in the process. KEY POINTS  - Tiffany’s traumatic financial wake-up call: losing $35,000 to a scam before the recession - Rebuilding from $300,000 in debt and moving back home with her parents - The power of community and vulnerability in overcoming financial shame - Turning pain into purpose: from teaching preschool to teaching personal finance - How The Budgetnista became an eight-figure, self-funded business - Why venture capital wasn’t her path and how she built wealth through ownership - Creating a healthy company culture rooted in trust, rest, and autonomy - Financial wellness as emotional wellness: healing toxic money beliefs - How Tiffany runs a debt-free business that prioritizes team wellbeing and sustainability - Legacy redefined: kindness, obedience, and being a vessel for impact QUOTES  “The worst thing for someone who’s not ready for success is to become successful.” – Tiffany Aliche “You don’t have to be perfect before you start; you just have to be willing to grow.” – Tiffany Aliche “Revenue is freedom—it’s what allows you to serve with integrity.”  – Felecia Hatcher “Money is an amplifier. If you have poor business habits, funding will only make it worse.” – Tiffany Aliche “Entrepreneurship will rock you, but it will also reveal you. It pulls you to your highest self if you let it.” – Tiffany Aliche RESOURCES  Tiffany Aliche Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

Dec 3 · 45m

Michael Barclay is the Chief Events Officer of Sundial Media Group, the company behind the Essence Festival of Culture – one of the largest and longest-running cultural events in the world. From managing a $10 billion finance portfolio to orchestrating global experiences that celebrate Black joy, Michael’s career proves what happens when passion meets precision. In this episode of So Ambitious, Michael sits down with Felecia Hatcher to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to build and sustain an iconic brand like Essence Fest. He shares lessons on leadership, longevity, and logistics, especially why the festival is more than an event, it’s a living ecosystem, and the mindset required to grow with courage in an era of change. From his first entrepreneurial “failure” that taught him everything about contracts, time, and worth, to launching his new tech platform Crowded House, Michael unpacks how he’s redefining cultural value, authenticity, and ownership in the events and tech worlds. This conversation is a masterclass in ambition, resilience, and building legacy through community, creativity, and conviction. KEY POINTS  - Essence Festival as a living, breathing ecosystem  - The real story behind Essence Fest 2024: challenges, resilience, and evolution - How to balance consumer emotion, business logistics, and cultural impact - Lessons from failure: the business, financial, and emotional tuition of entrepreneurship - Turning a setback into strategy – learning contracts, pricing, and the value of time - Balancing art and science of decision-making - Building Crowded House: bringing human energy back to virtual events - Why culture is a premium asset and how to prove its business value - The importance of honesty, transparency, and long-term relationship building in business - How to protect legacy while evolving for the next generation of creators QUOTES  “When you’re building something for community, you’re not just managing logistics…you’re protecting legacy.” – Felecia Hatcher “There are humans behind everything—behind every brand, every experience.” –  Michael Barclay “All business ain’t good business. Know your numbers and know your worth.” –  Michael Barclay “You can’t build for longevity if you’re afraid to evolve.” – Michael Barclay “The cost of neglecting your genius is higher than any check.” – Felecia Hatcher RESOURCES  Michael Barclay LinkedIn | @iambarclay  Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

Nov 26 · 1h 9m

Candace Washington is a licensed psychotherapist, Air Force veteran, production therapist, and author whose journey embodies resilience, transformation, and purpose. From surviving suicide attempts and battling alcoholism to walking away from a federal career and choosing her own healing, Candace has built a thriving practice where she now serves high performers, creatives, and entrepreneurs at the intersection of mental health and ambition. Today, Candace shares her story of wandering, healing, and stepping into her calling. She unpacks what burnout really is (and what it isn’t), the hidden cost of wearing the “cape,” and the importance of redefining success around rest, joy, and liberation. She also dives into imposter syndrome, loneliness in entrepreneurship, and why therapy should be proactive - not just for crisis moments. This conversation serves as a reminder that ambition without wellness is unsustainable—and that prioritizing yourself can unlock both healing and a lasting legacy.  KEY POINTS  - From Air Force veteran to licensed psychotherapist: Candace’s personal journey of survival and healing - Why wearing the “mask” and “cape” leads to burnout, and how to take them off - Redefining success: rest, joy, and liberation as entrepreneurial pillars - Burnout vs. exhaustion: how to recognize the difference (and act before crisis) - The mental health toll on entrepreneurs: loneliness, fear of failure, imposter syndrome - Why therapy is a proactive tool, not just a last resort - Understanding the “cup and saucer” strategy for self-care and sustainability - The role of vulnerability, intimacy, and surrender in leadership and entrepreneurship - Building trusted community and safe spaces beyond social media “highlights” - Candace: Anchoring ambition in purpose, authenticity, and uninterrupted joy QUOTABLES  “If we invest in entrepreneurs but don’t prioritize their mental health, we’re being irresponsible.” – Felecia Hatcher “Rest is radical. Rest is liberation. Rest is success.” – Candace Washington “Imposter syndrome tells you you’re not deserving. Put your thoughts on trial and check the evidence.” – Candace Washington “My pillars are joy, peace, and liberation. Happiness is fleeting, but joy is something no one can take from me.” – Candace Washington “People will adjust to your boundaries. The only way to serve everything else is to listen to your body.” – Felecia Hatcher RESOURCES  Candace Washington IG | @candacewrites Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

Nov 19 · 1h 5m

What happens when two visionary creators collide at the intersection of comedy, technology, and music?  In this episode of So Ambitious, host Felicia Hatcher sits down with Zayd Portillo (creatrgd) and King Willonius, creator of “BBL Drizzy”, to unpack their journeys in tech, AI, and cultural innovation. From viral comedy hits to groundbreaking AI music, Zayd and King are pushing boundaries on how Black creators can own their narratives, monetize their IP, and turn moments into movements. They reflect on early experiments with Clubhouse, YouTube, and Twitch, the birth of viral songs like BBL Drizzy, and how AI tools are reshaping artistry, ownership, and community.  This conversation is equal parts hilarious and profound, revealing the tension between incubation and deadlines, internal validation and external recognition, and what it really takes to stay consistent (even when the world doesn’t quite understand your vision yet). If you’ve ever wrestled with impostor syndrome, felt pressure to deliver under deadlines, or wondered how AI is transforming creativity, this episode is for you. KEY POINTS - How early experimentation on YouTube, Twitch, and Clubhouse sharpened creative skills - The viral phenomenon of BBL Drizzy and what it revealed about culture and community - Navigating impostor syndrome and redefining what it means to be “creative” - The role of deadlines, hackathons, and incubation periods in producing great work - Why Black creators must embrace AI tools to own the next wave of innovation - Balancing business deadlines with the creative process - Building future-ready platforms: virtual artists, dome experiences, and AI-driven IP - How faith, timing, and consistency shape long-term creative success QUOTABLES  “Comedy is the easiest way to introduce people to scary new tech.” - Zayd Portillo “Sometimes you’re just the vessel — the idea is bigger than you.” -  King Willonius “If you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them.” - Felicia Hatcher “Great art is polarizing. If people love it and hate it, you’re onto something.” - Zayd Portillo “We need to stop saying we’ll get left behind in AI and start saying we’re mastering it.” -  King Willonius RESOURCES Zayd Portillo  IG | @creatrgod King Willonius  IG | @kingwillonius Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media