Keep it Positive, Sweetie - Becoming a Bawse with Kimberly Blackwell

Episode Date: October 17, 2023

Season 2 Episode 6 | This week Kimberly Blackwell joined me on the couch and we caught up like the cameras weren't rolling. Sometimes you meet people unexpectedly and you hope they are as dope as they seem online; Kim was that and so much more. We talked about ALL of the things such as being hyper independent women, love and friendships, and entrepreneurship. She blessed me with a good word and I hope y'all catch it. I pray this conversation fills your cup.

Hey guys and welcome to this episode of Keep It Positive Sweetie and today we are talking about being a boss. Okay, and I have none other than the biggest boss lady herself, Kimberly Blackwell. Oh my goodness, first of all Kimberly, thank you so much for coming to sit on the couch with me today. First of all, you call me and I was like, sis, will you do my podcast? I'm like, are you kidding me?

It was an honor to be asked. I'm extremely proud of you. You know it. I say it all the time. You give me my heart when you're like, and I'm just so excited for all this happening. And I like being a sideline spectator and watching your big life.

I'm just proud of you. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. I remember when I first met you, Deandra Tristan, a brother of ours. Shout out to Deandra. We love you. Oh, what's up, Deandra?

Super excited. A stylist. Just amazing. I met him on Good Morning America, because he styles Robin Roberts. We love you. Super talented, stylist. Just amazing. I met him on Good Morning America, because he styles Robin and Robbers when I was still style and Tyler. And that's how we got cool. And then you came in town and he's like, come have brunch with us.

And that's the first time we met and we ran a teach show a few times after that. And then Soul Train Awards, around 2021, we ran a show. That's when we reconnected and we swapped numbers. But let me say something, what's interesting too, is that I'm really big on energy. Yeah, me too. So for me, at lunch that day, I was kind of curious.

Yeah. Because we vibe. And I'm very selective in where and how I kind of, everybody will say, oh, Kim, you know everybody. And I do know a lot of people, but there aren't a lot of people that I will take the time to nurture something meaningful. And for me, when I saw you again, I was like, oh, okay.

And we were able to spend some time together. You know, I have some great clients. You were worthy of an opportunity. And so we did some business together. And from that, we went to eat. Yeah. And we yacked and yacked and yacked. I said, do you want to bring, I know who you had in town.

And you're like, no, just me and you. Yeah. I was like, I get one. You treat me like I'm talent. Yeah. You know, I'm like, I am that person where I am very humble. I know from where my blessings flow. And I, you know, stick and move very quietly and selectively.

And a lot of folks, you will see me show up places by myself. I don't need an entourage. I have a lot of great friends. And I've also learned trick-or-train. You get better things without a plus one. Ma'am, free game, free game, that's free game. You don't always need a plus one. And I will say that in a lot of opportunities, I've been very fortunate. But I knew that evening when we had dinner that it would manifest into something that I cherish now as a sister. I just appreciate you. Every time I call you, you just, first of all, the energy, like you said,

the energy is top tier. Everything you do. I mean, I you just, first of all, the energy, like you said, the energy is top tiered. Yeah. Everything you do. I mean, hey, I was just looking at the little woman like, no, first of all, don't even, so they, we keep in there real. I was like, so what's the vibe tomorrow? She was like grabbing and even gotten there far, so, you know, I didn't know what to with.

I'm, no, I'm coming to your beautiful home, right? But then you walked outside and I was like, oh, that's what we're doing today because you know, you got your own game. You set the bar to, you set the bar. I mean, so you know, fun fact. And I told you, so I am a hyper-private person. We'll talk about that.

But I did. I said, I'm gonna give a little, it's my girl. I'm gonna give a little bit to her audience. But fun fact, I've always enjoyed expressing myself through style. And so a lot of folks, their first job may have been McDonald's, mine was retail. So I was working at TJ Maxx.

I was working at the Gap. I was working at the gap. And so my freshman year of college, we had a magazine called The Happening. My freshman year, who was the best dress? You. I already knew it. So, I kind of been doing this. Like, being on, being on, being on.

What? Okay, let's do it. We're coming off a Renaissance, clearly. We're still on the Renaissance side. Yes we are. Oh my gosh. I knew like, and I literally went to my house, okay, what would Kimberly look like?

You know, it came came shielded day. Kim came shielded, but Kim shielded. Kim came shielded day again. I just, you know, I feel like a lot of times, you show up in a way in what you express your energy. I knew here I wanted to be very authentic, I knew I wanted to be very comfortable. I'm actually a little bit afraid because I'm like if she gets me in an Oprah, you know, I needed to be prepared, but I'm ready for you.

Thank you, thank you so much. When I think about being a boss, the first song that comes in mind is independent by Destiny's Child. All my women independent, throw your hands up at the same place. Come on, Soft Flex. Come on, you can say, because saying girl. Me, me, me, me.

I can't say. I was up screaming last night watching Beyonce, so my notes are a little off right now. But no, I want to tell, give me a little background of who you are, because a lot of people may not, I mean, even me, like still, like it's still like a mystery about you.

I was like, it's just something about, and I love that you keep that mystique because that's what keeps people curious. And you can just fly into the radar. Yeah. People not knowing you and the broo was moving the room, you know what I'm saying? Shake it in the top questions. Now, what does she do? Literally. I mean, literally. the radar. People not knowing you and the room is moving the room saying shake it in. What are the top questions? Now what does she do?

Literally. I mean, literally. There is a lot by way of how I spend my time as a business leader. I own and operate a business. I sit as an LP as an investor. I'm a serial investor across various funds. I'm a corporate director and a publicly traded company. I wear a lot of hats. And also in a lot of cases serve in a function of crisis management and mitigation. So a lot of the stuff that you all see, that you don't see me.

We don't, but it is you. I might be there. Yeah, recently the Gathering Spot. That was a big public thing. And The Gathering Spot is so huge in our community. And you were very vital. You know why? There are a lot of lessons in that. Let me talk about it.

And let's talk about that because I think that for me, what happened was I was traveling. So I didn't know how things had hit the public airwaves. And I had come home from New York and a friend had sent a DM and it had some stuff around it. And I was like, you know, I knew both CEOs, but I didn't like what I was seeing by way of the media. And as black business leaders,

and these are scale businesses, These are not mom and pops. It really hurt me at my core that that was the narrative and that one, you know, we were at odds publicly and that too, you know, it was a merger and acquisition deal. I do a lot of things around M&A and there are complications to that. And so for me, it was like, you know, both CEOs, I called Ryan Will Simfers, and it was not to be involved. It was actually to check on T.K. Peterson to make sure that he was okay.

Yeah, love you. And because of the friendship that we have, he shared some things at the end. I am, folks will tell you, I'm a vault. I value confidence in folks being able to share things privately. And I said, well, you know what? I actually think that this is something that could be resolved.

I said, and if you're comfortable, because I didn't want to break confidence, I'd ask you to allow me to do what I do. Ooh. confidence. I'd ask you to allow me to do what I do. And so he said, you know, if you think, you know, it's worth your time, I'm open to it. I call Ryan Glover. He called me right back. And what I want to say about Ryan Glover is that his baby is like my baby. Haley, she goes to Syracuse. I love her to death. But he and I did not know one another well,

but he felt comfortable. And one of the things I would say to folks is that, I stand strongly on my reputation. Yes. And what I hope it is is that I'm not messy to your point on privacy. I try to keep my name out of a lot of things. But as a business person, I'm true. But I'm also very compassionate as a leader.

And he immediately gave that opportunity. And we huddled up. And for about nine or ten days, there were very long days, but very meaningful days. And there weren't a lot of people around. Mm-hmm. TK, Ryan Wilson, Ryan Glover, and myself. Wow. And we were able to resolve it.

And the bigger messages, Forbes had headlines, million dollar mess, and all these different things, is that a lot of things can be resolved through communication. And they wanted what was best for everyone, and I told them, guys, the gathering spot, as you mentioned, you know, here in Atlanta, LA, you know, across the country, it is powerful in what they built by way of community. Yes. And so it meant that much to me and always I tell folks I like to use my superpowers for a greater good. If I could be a bridge to see that happen because there are a lot of people who look like us black folks, sorry, that I felt like

could have stepped in to help this out sooner. And we have to understand that when we are putting in positions of influence, it should be to impact always positive, because I also believe that when God gives you superpowers, they should be used for a greater good, but he also sees. If you have something you're not using it the right way and abusing it, quickly as he gives it to you. So again, it worked out and you know just a lesson in how we owe it to our ancestors and we owe it to our next and future leaders to get in the way.

I love it. I love that you stepped in. You put your Olivia put what had on it and fixed it. It's handled. And it is handled. I love it. I love it. So you were born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in a household with both parents,

played basketball and volleyball growing up, and you talked about how your mother would call your university of the geniuses. Let's talk about the impacts of receiving the words of affirmation. They actually built the confidence and strong sense of self-worth and self-belief at a very young age.

Yeah, they know it's so important. It is very important, and I feel very blessed and fortunate. My parents last week celebrated 55 years of marriage. They met in the fourth grade. They went to prom together. They went to college together. That doesn't mean that they have not probably had their own ebb and flow. What I do tell people is that if it was really bad, we never saw it.

Right. We didn't know. And so to that point, I've been very blessed and fortunate to witness ever-lasting love. They are one another's best friend. They travel the world together. My dad writes love letters. My mother calls him her boyfriend.

And then to your question, at a very early age, my mother was a school teacher. She retired as the superintendent. But we would come home from school and see kids in our dining room. And I'm like, who are these kids? Right. But she was a hands-on teacher, who believed fundamentally and making deposits into others. And so not knowing their circumstances at home, our home became their home. And so we were instilled at a very age,

the power of giving back. And I subscribe to the belief to whom much is given, much is required, and she does to this day. She calls us genius. And so those words of affirmation, her being an educator, I started school at a very young age. I was started at three. I was advanced to grade, grew up, pledged as a teenager.

You know? Can you tell where she pledged? Ah, ah, ah, as a teenager. You know, can you tell what you've latched? I, facts, I see. But that said, there was never a time that, you know, we were not, like, where we didn't feel that we could be anything that we wanted to be. And we had the support of my father and my mother. My father lived, I mean, he, we grew up watching him as mayor. But what I also saw was that he put his family first. So all of my games, as you mentioned, being an athlete, were on his schedule. So he would come, no matter what he was doing, running the city, running the state. My

father has always made time. And we have never doubted God first, his family right there as well. I love that. That's so good. And so important, because I know, like, especially the things that your mother was doing for those children, a lot of them weren't getting at it home. And education goes past the hours of getting it. It does have village, like, yeah. It keeps going once you do the homework. That's what you really get all the lessons you need. Yeah.

And then like today, you don't know. Kids are going home. They don't have food. They don't. They're going home. And know, they don't have food. They don't. You know, they're going home and they're being raised because mom and her dad has to work two or three jobs and you know, big bro is like holding it down. And so I think we have duty to make sure

that we are looking out for those. I don't even wanna say the least of these because sometimes it's not just the least of these. We have duty to look out. Period. I love that. That's good. That I do need to look out period. Period. I love that. What did you learn about partnership, whether personal or professional by watching and witnessing your parents and being a part of sports team? I was an athlete growing up. Yeah, I know.

That has carried me through my, just that discipline. It's something about being an organized sport or something organized in school that just carries, like you push through, like I got contracts with criticism very early on. I was able to take it because our children coach, we were like, the competition chiller, so it was hard.

I didn't care if your bone was sticking out. I didn't keep going. No, it was bad. Keep going. You know, that. No, it's bad. Keep going. That's like for me to have played sports competitively. I think, as you mentioned, life lessons, teamwork, camaraderie, role playing, sacrifice, commitment, discipline. I am very big on, we also very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, And I just really think when I look at partnership, particularly in a household, I saw that marriage

really isn't 50-50. Talk about it. There are shifts. A lot of times and most times, it may be 70, 30, 80, 20. But do you have a partner that understands the shifts? Yeah. And do you have a partner that can celebrate you at all times? See, my mother knew that my father's profile was his profile, but my father knew that he

had a baddie too. And he could celebrate her and lift her and know that when it was her season. And so you really want to look at where and how you find a partner or a mate. That is secure. Because when you're blessed and fortunate, it could be challenging. Absolutely. You know, and so forth.

We thought it. It is. And I am of the belief that I am very humble. I promise you I am. You are. You know, because for me, it's just, that is who I am in my core, right? And so it's always funny people are like, you're so personable, well, I would not be.

So that's how it's raised. But what I will say to you too is that it takes a special guy to understand my world. That's real. And not my Instagram world, my real life. Hey, because I am to your early point, I'm gonna give you what I want to give you on social platforms.

I'm the same way. That's what I choose to give you. But the privacy as currency, the anonymity, there's power in that. I like the people don't know what I do. I know that's right. Those who need to know. No.

And so what I will also tell you too is that when you're dating and looking for that made or a partner, what I also have learned is that it takes a secure man to deal with me. Yeah, oh yeah. I'm so secure. it takes a secure man to deal with me. Yeah, oh yeah. I'm talking about secure. And what I'm not willing to do is to dial back my blessings to accommodate any insecurities

because they don't go away. And so you know when you think you are making all of these like, you know, they you think you are making all of these, like, you know, they're there. They're there. Now, they may have, like, little spikes air in there. But what I try to, you know, say, not just for me, and again, you're in that space, you know,

is that we really want the things that don't cost the thing. The money cannot buy. That is so true. Can I get a listen in there? Okay. You've been listening to the music. I'm just saying. And so, and I don't, you know, for me, I date and I have very good men around me.

So, you know, in case any of them watching, because, you know, you've got about a million followers. Right. But where I am right now and going back to what you asked and what I've witnessed, I know what it takes to be sustainable. Because you're going to have a great partner. And it can be a great season of dating. But when you hit a bump, what's up? What's up?

What you're doing? And for, for, hey, sweetie, we're going to get back to this week's episode after an ad from our sponsors. Tough is in your DNA. It drives your resilience. Even when they told you that you couldn't, you did what no one else could. And that's because you're different from the rest. Every day you work hard to conquer challenges, making the impossible happen. And tomorrow, you'll do it all over again with a truck that's just as tough as you. Explore the best Ford truck for you today at Ford.com. Built Ford Tough. What I know and where women are today, young women who are very aspirational, you can have both.

I've seen it. I've seen it. But it does take a special kind of mate. Yeah, absolutely. I went through years of my life where I was like, well, maybe love is just not in the car for me. Maybe that's the second thing to have. Yeah, I'm experiencing now.

But like, if I was like, for a while, I was like, maybe I used to joke like, I'm gonna be like, Oprah, just give me a statement. I'm gonna be good, you know? And I don't even know the particulars of their relationship. But you know what, we know what works for them. It works, you know what I mean? And so whatever works for whomever, you know, you like it, I love it. Period. Exactly. You know like it, I love it. Period.

Exactly. You know, Oprah, we love it. Oprah, we love it. And we love to see it. Hey, Stappman. Yeah. Ha, ha, ha. No, seriously, and I was like, God, maybe a part of me,

I don't know if you've ever had this feeling or a seasoning life for you, like God, like, you have everything in the world. Everything is like, I don't have anybody to share it with. I had seasons like that where I was like, dang, then I was like, well, maybe this is not in the car for me. Maybe that's the sacrifice of having it all, or not having it in the head of your name,

or something else. I honestly believe you could have it all. I've seen, you know? My parents have it all. You know what I mean? So, but I do believe that my parents also met, remember, for great. And so for them, they grew together. And so when you have folks who are at different phases and are stages, you know, for me, like,

you know, everybody's like, man, you're gonna have to date. Why? You're gonna have to, he's gonna have to go do buzz. You know what, and Kimberly Blackwell, I just firmly believe that what guy has for me, it is for me, and he will be mine and only mine. I know that's right. To is for me. And he will be mine and only mine. I know that's right.

To speak it. To. Ah! Ah! I love it. That's so good, man. It's definitely been good. But I like how you just said.

I see, I didn't know if we were like, you know. I like how you said, you know, I found it. Yeah, you know, and it's still early. You know what I'm saying? We're getting to know each other. And we get those, you see, you get a bumpy like, I found it. Yeah, you know, and it's still early. You know what I'm saying? We're getting to know each other. And we get those, you see, you get a bumpy like, what's that? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, like we get those and it's, you, like,

you have to step back and communicate, you understand, learn each other, and just, you know what I'm saying. But you know what's funny? Like, I've seen you in dating cycles. You have, you have, you know? And this is different. Yeah, this is different.

Yeah. And take your time. I am. You know what I mean. Yeah. And take your time. I am. You know what I mean? I think a lot of time we want to rush things. Yeah. You know, I'm probably more patient than most.

Yeah. But it's going to happen. Yeah. It is. I believe it. For both of us. I've already claimed my victory. I know this.

But you know what? In fairness, there are some things that I have to work on. I'm learning that even in this relationship, there are things I have to work on. And that's okay, that's broken. It is, yeah. Well, I love it. Speaking of things you have to work on, mental for me, therapy has helped me realize, because I was kind of oblivious to things that I needed to work on. Mental for me therapy has helped me realize,

because I was kind of oblivious to things that I needed to work on. And so I started doing therapy things to my manager, Denora, who introduced me to my therapist, Dr. Delay Desirman. And I found an episode. Oh, you did? I support my friends, OK?

Please, agent. No, but like, at least I was like, oh my gosh, like Crystal, you ain't even saying like, because I can say this, sometimes I look and like, I got it all together. And then you meet somebody and you like, wait a minute, you put in two different lives together. And you're like, oh, I still got things I need to work on. Of course. You know?

So that's, I love that you can do that self-immentory. Yeah. And like, there's still things I can't believe these work on. Extremely self-awareonsory. You know, like they're still like the Kimberlainies work. Extremely self-aware. Now, my friend might say differently at times, I'm extremely self-aware and I know my areas of opportunity. And for me, it's just the consistent behavioral changes that I sometimes need to. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

We're there. You gotta, you know, you're thinking for two. Yeah, absolutely. You know, and I am extremely considerate. And what most people will say is that I have a giving heart almost to the point where I'm two giving. Yeah, I'm too giving. Yeah, I'm, now you on my street.

It's like a dare, it's a little up, heart, heart. You on my street. Yeah, I give, give, give me like, and I had to have a conversation and talk about this about, and I can say this because you probably feel the same way. Do you ever found yourself like you give, give, give,

and you thought you're not getting it back. And you're like, hey, you started to kind of get frustrated. Yeah, let's shift gears out of dating relationships and go to friendships. Yeah. I have gone through some things where, when I tell you, I am a girl's girl, you are. What?

You are. And? You are. And I will give beyond measure. But what I realized too, and this is not anything against any particular friend, it's just that I realized that I needed to stop expecting me from other people. Because the things in which and how I would operate as a friend may not be the way they would operate. It doesn't mean they're a bad person.

It just means that I needed to manage and shift my expectations. Yep, absolutely. That's what Tyler told me. He was like, take money out of it. Take what you do out of it. And the Nora said the same thing. A lot of times, whoever you're selling into may not sew back into you.

And in Tyler's made a great comment. He said, you know her, so he said, I used to look around me like, I'm doing all this for these people. And like, I'm not getting anything in return. And God told them, Tyler, they can't do it to the level you do. They'll never be able to do what you do for them. And he said, you just gotta look at their heart.

How do you feel when you're around them? Yeah. And you feel loved. So true. And I was like, wow. That is so true. And I realize that different friends have different gifts. And for me, I love a good time.

I love to laugh. So I pay attention to energy. I make the shifts as needed. Who am I laughing with the most? And when I'm having a hard time, who's recognizing my hard time? And are they sometimes giving me a hard time in my hard time? Ooh, can't really. Yeah, that part.

So, you know, where and how I look at my piece now? Yes. How I'm giving the hysmine and separation is intentional, but it's not to be received in anything of malice. It's just where I am and how I'm looking at things and what I need for me. I love that, that's so good. That was such a good point,

but I wanna double back to like dating. You and I are both, I'm a very hyper masculine or not hyper masculine, let me go back. No, you ain't hardly hyper masculine back No, you're a Harley hyper masculine Well, okay, so people on that way you can say it the way you want to say it, but yeah, I'm a hyper independent I'm super independent, but because of my independence it does create this like a heart you'm saying like like you kind of got it Like I'm a you know saying even this is for side that comes up with this, like you've been saying, like you kind of got it, like I'm, you know what I'm saying, even this is facade

that comes up with this persona where you're like, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm hurt, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. And does that interfere with like, you know what? So here's what I say. I realize that I own an operator business. I realize that I sit in boardrooms and I go in and I am asked to lead by governance and solving.

I know that that requires a position to sometimes be stern and direct, but I realize too that that's what I do. That's not always who I need to show up and who I am, especially in a relationship. Man need to feel needed. They do. You know, and so, you know, what is it in how is it in my soft girl era, right? That I show up as a woman in understanding.

I subscribe to the word. I know what it means to be submissive. I have no pride. I tell, hey, I have no pride with you, babe. Yeah. No, none. I love that. So I can allow myself to be vulnerable

in a relationship that I find is worthy and meaningful for me to show up that way. Yes. When you start breaking down, like I used to date this guy and he used to say, cool, cool ass kill. Because that was the energy that you guys. That. Hey guys, if you know me, you know that I'm super big

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So, but you want, you know, I want a man to be a man. I'm not a man. Exactly, hello. Tuh! And in all that I have to do as a leader, as a manager, as a provider, sometimes I just want to hook, baby. What? Yes.

Sometimes I want you to say, you know what? Pack your bag. Let's go. So don't be gone. So don't be gone. What? You know, so you want someone to recognize what you may need, but you also have to be deliberate and intentional

about what they may need. Absolutely. And I tend to over index in that, because I realize, God is so good to me. I'm talking about so good. And I know that there may be some disparities in the things that actually don't mean a lot to me. Right. But I recognize that and how men, and or whomever, may need to process that with their partner, because I don't want anyone to feel

inadequate. No. You know? But what I do want you to figure out is what are you giving me? That no one else is. Yes, ooh, that's good. You know, and where is it and why is it that I run to you when I'm having a bad day, that I run to you

because I can depend on you to bring a smile to my face or an inside joke. Yeah, I love that. You know, that is so true. Oh, so good. We often talk about faith. You don't hide your faith at all. And I love that.

We've gone to church together. Yes, we have. Yes, we have. I mean, again, I'm unapologetic in my faith. Yeah. Because when God has been as good as He is and will be for me, I will not hide it. I also know that in my darkest hours and time, it's been me and him.

That's it. That's it. Yeah. And so to know what he has done, I'm talking about, you know, folks, these kids, you know, they go on Instagram and they see XYZ. They want the instant and immediate gratification. You know, I drove a Honda with a hanger. They held my bumper up.

Wow. What? Six hundred square foot apartment is where I started my business. It's scaled it. Multi-million dollar enterprise. I write seven figure chicks to go into investments. But for the grace and mercy of God. And so for me, I am, I know from where my blessings flow.

And if you have a problem with me, talking about how good he is, then we probably not gonna talk a lot. Hello, because we talk all the time because we can say, and it's not a brag or a boast. It's a praise. It is a praise. You know, because like I said, you know,

for some folks, they're right and fair. Anything that's touching the ground, I think that they ain't got anything good to us. Yeah. Favorite is not fair. I definitely wasn't touching on that because I know, yeah, that's a huge part. You know, if you come to my page, folks come to my page and say, you know, she got the

pieces. Right? And sometimes I do. But that's not why I want you to come to my page. I promise you I don't. Have I figured out that that may be what lures people to my page? Yeah, I know that. So I give a piece or two. figured out that that may be what lures people to my page. Yeah, I know that.

So I give a piece or two. Yeah. But why I really want you on my page is for that social Sunday sermon. Yes. You're going to give it to us. Because I'm going to give it, and I'm going to give it along with the word.

Because if I can have and touch one person on Sunday who may be struggling, who may need a word, who may not know him, but can see what he has done for me because if he can do it for me, he can do it for you. Oh my goodness. What? I tell everybody around me,

if you see what God is doing for me, what makes you think he won't do it for you? Yeah, you know, because I times you got people around you where they may be jealous or idiot or not even understand why you. And not even thinking, I'm next. You know what I'm saying? Like you have to look around me like,

how do you see, again, I'm flipping it. Let's do it, yeah, let's talk. And I mad at myself that I waited too long to flip it. How do you deal with the fact that you are in a season you deal with the fact that you are in a season to where God continues to show you things unimaginable. You have folks in your circle who may not be excelling at the same pace. How do you deal with friends who really want to be good friends, but you see? Because you know, we do see. How you know what I mean?

Well, actually, I just talked about this. I'm going through a purging season where God has revealed a lot of things in my life. I think oftentimes people like us who are givers and we also see the good at everybody. Even when they're not so good, we see that they're a little bit of good with like not a good person. And you just love them and you just want them

to see the good in themselves and change. And I literally had to just start setting boundaries and be like, you know, yes, this is no longer serving me. And sometimes people, they're in their own way. You know, they see that you're going, you're climbing and climbing, they're still in the same space. And it's been like that with not just

friends, family, relationships, I've had to like just really take even tour of everything around me to see. Yeah, who's really here for me. And then you start looking at the people that are entitled. Yeah. You know what I'm saying to what you have in the people who have shown jealousy, envy. And envy is a really dangerous thing when it comes to friends. It's really dangerous with anybody.

It's anybody in your circle. It's very, very dangerous. And let me say this. It's dangerous, but you know what else? It's disappointing. It's heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking. It hurts. It does.

I mean, it hurts badly. Yeah. And it's lonely. It's like, once you make that step like, hey, I can't do this anymore, you go through a phase of, it's a breakup. You know, and it hurts so bad. It's like, God, why couldn't this person just see it

or just be happy? And like, because you were, you know what I'm saying? We all rocking together. We have a good time together, but they ain't in corner like. Yeah. And like I say, you know, for me, like, you know, I try, and this is what I've learned, I would challenge you this. Okay.

It doesn't have to be a breakup. Mm-hmm. It does not have to be a breakup. Okay. The reveal is just that, a reveal. And what you can do is maintain the friendship, but it will be different. You know, and then you have to have a conversation with a person like, how do you just move it? So you know what?

You should have the conversation, but I have had it where I have not. But I actually think you should have the conversation in a real friendship. You should be able to have the conversation. Well, if you had the conversation a few times, Man, you coming into my Bible study, Reverend Cordelia Wallace, Reverend Cordelia Wallace, New York, we do Bible study on every Saturday and she has a great group of women shout out to Simone Smith who put me in the Bible study. But what I will tell you is that we talk about that in leadership lessons and learnings but also in friendships and how they evolve. After a certain number of times, then you have to really maybe count it as dissonant. You've tried. You know, and you just move differently.

You move differently. And this is a person, I have one situation in particular where I just love to death. And it's more so you just need to like work on yourself. Yeah. And figure out what that is. Yeah. What's worth it unhappiness is stemming from, figure out the rules. Trauma is real.

It's real. Trauma is real. And sometimes we don't know what others have been through. Yes. And you could be friends with someone for however many years. And you just don't know where, what they're navigating still. Still, you know. I pay attention to a candle loses none of its light

by lighting another, you know, who, and how are people clapping? When you get those awards and recognitions. Baby, John Gray talked about that. He did a whole sermon. He was like, I watch this how you clap with an angel season. I said, wow.

And what I try to do is I always try to clap. I am the person to where I will bring people's names. Yes, you will. In to the room, I am always looking at, and I do think that that is one of my superpowers. Because I firmly believe that your network can determine your network. I'm moving a lot of circles. I always challenge people.

It is very easy to stay in circles that look like us. Get up and get out. You don't want to go to that lunch or that outing go. Go. You never know who was in the room. I sit at tables and MN deals with a lot of men. Men, period, and men that don't look like, you know what's interesting?

Some of my biggest advocates are men and men that sometimes do not look like us. Some of my biggest distractors. Tomorrow at 9 a.m.c. on B.T. smash hit original drama Tyler Perry's sister's returns. Andy Sabrina and Daniel are all dating again and the competition is well thick. Meanwhile Gary makes a return too. He just can't stay away. Karen confides in Andy that she's afraid. Her reason why is not what you'd expect.

Plus, can's the team of whether the storm is at its custody battle? Tyler Perry's sister is back tomorrow at 9-8-Central Only on BET. Post and share with hashtag Sisters on BET. Our women that look like us. I keep it positive, sweetie. I said it. That's the truth though. You know, but what I realized is that even when I know that, I stay true to who I am. You keep it positive, sweetie.

What? And when you do that, you get passed into the other side. And what I've learned, and this is a lesson that my mother's taught me, you always take the high row. I'm going to say that again, because a lot of times we hear in these situations, you always take the high road. I'm gonna say that again. Because a lot of times we hear in these situations. Yeah. You always take the high road.

It will never fail you. Wow. And when you take it, it hasn't failed me. And so even when I know, and when you said that earlier stop expecting me from I take the high world. Yeah. Wow. That's the sign with she'll when they go low and my dear friend candy. When they go low. She's going like she's all over you know but she's a great person. I say that she knows I love her. But what I will say to you is that for me, I would rather, because everybody had the three sides

every story. They don't tell their story. I'm not the person who runs and feels the need to tell my side. I'm moving side. Yeah, you do. I know what I know what road, I know what I did. I know how I did it.

Yes. I know circumstances and what and how I've tried to always stay as a catalyst. Tell your story. Yeah. That's cool. I ain't got a single one. Yeah.

Wow. Yeah. And I also think two's cool. We good. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. You're real. And I also think too, people also, you can tell, you know, the story, but people are paying attention to how you tell them the story. Yeah. And they also paying attention to how the other person isn't. Yeah, they're like, hmm.

Because again, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, that's so good. I love that. What would Jesus do? Uh-huh. Keep the moves. Let them talk. I love that. So, Kim, you are, man, your resume is crazy. You've worked with a lot of Fortune 100 companies, such as nationwide Chase. Uber actually got to do an activation with you and nationwide. You know how it is on my side. Amen.

I'll think of a youth. Nationwide is on the other side. Come on, jingle, come on. Help. We're gonna make sure they see that. Yeah. Yeah. Next season, sponsor by Nationwide. Hey, you're no, you're not.

That's how I'm all work. What? What? That's what I love it. I love it, I love it. I want to talk about your experience, because oftentimes I'm sure you're the only black person or black woman in those rooms. What is it like gaining respect from your non-millennated companies? Because I know it's a yeah. You probably like getting them by yourself.

You know what I like to say is that you know I have great partners. I mean great partners. You name some of them nationwide over Amazon Chase. I mean, food lion. Most of my clients have been tenure clients. I've been doing business with Nationwide for 14 years. I've been doing business with food lion for over, when I partner with a corporation, it's not to be here today going tomorrow.

What I love about them is that they actually allow me to go in from an agency of record side as a brand partner but to learn the entire business. I consider myself a business leader. I'm owner-operator so I understand the sales marketing, the intersectionality, what it looks like in growth channels. I won't do all that. But all of that said, what they also understand is that I know consumers, I know what it looks like in the sense of business transformation. I work with companies that are low market share that now over index because they go into the African American community. They realize our purchasing power. They go into Latinx communities.

They look at women. They look at millennials. So, and they let us do it in a way that maybe a little bit non-traditional. I was talking to an officer at nationwide, literally yesterday. And she said, Kim, what you did for us at Black Enterprise, you brought and I took, I took Yandy Smith, I took Ming Lee, I took Rashida and we talked about, I mean, these are three women scale businesses, multi-millionaires, different channels of business, but that is a different story for a financial service provider. Yeah.

But if we don't understand who our consumers are, as it relates to protecting what matters most, then we're doing a disservice. And so they can tell their stories in a way that leads to understanding what financial freedoms look like, what generational wealth looks like. So what I love and what I get to do is that, you know, I get to bring a little bit of culture to commerce, to capital, you know, to consumers, and where and how companies that corporations, global corporations think differently. And, you know, I go in and do a little corporate thug, and it's a lifestyle.

You know? Yes. Life's you do well. Yeah. I love it. I love it. And you know what I say too is important because what I love about what I get to do is, you know, born-room pool hall.

I tell folks, my name is good on any boulevard. And when you understand the power of knowing who you are, who you are, and how you work with others in understanding the full diaspora of a community. It just really becomes game-changing. Yeah, I can imagine. Yeah, that's so good. Yeah, and let me say this too, because you asked the question.

People want people on their team to win. Yes. You mentioned sports. I'm built to win. You are. Win playing small. We don't win by two. We win by 20. What-hmm. I'm built to win. You are. We ain't playing small. We only went by 20. What?

Period. OK. Hey. Literally. And we know you love us. I have to. We know it. We know it's sports.

Sports and food. And food. I'm going to a Reds game. Fun fact, we've been owners in the red since 2006. So, where I get this whole business investor and seeing that and what that looks like for folks who look like us to be in Major League Baseball. I wanna NBA team, you hear that?

It's coming, I wanna NBA team. But for me, sports is a part of my outlet. You know it is. We go to the games. We do. Yeah. You know we have fun. We have a lot of fun. The games aren't experienced. They are. You know I love the hot. Yeah. And they're shout out Melissa Proctor, see a Moa at the Hawks. There's nothing we love you all. Everybody, Jamie, and we love you all. There is nothing like an Atlanta Hawks. It is nothing like it.

I tell people, you're gonna get a swag and a surf. Okay. You're gonna get a little bit of performance. Two chains might be performing, but Atlanta's finest. It's, listen, it's just a greatest before. It is food is good. Great, we got a good team building.

Yeah, I've been a seasoned chicken holder now for over 10 years. Wow, because you have now been going on my second year because of you. Yeah, yeah. And you know what? I was so proud of you. Because those two are saying she's a chicken. I was like baby girl, you want it? What?

I learned from the time I are learning to be honest. I'm coming to the flow. I'm coming. I said, move out the way. Hey. I'm not going to be on these things. I'm going to be on these things. But I will say this to you too.

You never know just what that means. Because you would be surprised at how many people come up to me and say, it means something to see you as a black business woman, go sit, feed on the wool, court side. Baby, I have no way. You know, and I thought about it like, dang, I never thought, you know, I'm just rolling out to myself.

Yeah, I never thought of, But for me, it changed how I looked at a lot of things because folks see what they can be. Yes. And how they too. Yeah, you did that for me. You did now, I was in the, actually, I was in the Atlanta Hawk Suite last night, in the beginning of the concert. And one of the guys who helps helps keep the score for the team, he sits right in front of me.

And he's always like a gesture like hello. And I never knew his name. And he was like, oh, he's like, he told me, this is my wife, this is Crystal. He said, you probably don't think I know, but I watch your shows on beat. He's like, yes, two shows on beat. See, I was like, wow.

And he was like, no, she sits right behind me. And it's just like, you never know who you're gonna sit next to. Literally, one game I was sitting next to one of the owners of the Sacramento King, his wife loved my boots and then I found out who he was. And I was like, oh, when my castmates is from there, you better spit more free game. What I will tell you is that those seats have led to very lucrative business opportunities. I can imagine. Yeah.

It's crazy. Like, the people I've met just going to games and studying. Proximity, yeah. It's a real thing. So to that, I say thank you. Because you exposed me to something. You know, that I didn't even, I see people down there, but I never knew. And we knew we were going to the game.

You're like, I'm like, wait a minute. Oh, I just had to. I didn't. I thought I did it. I didn't do it for yourself. And I'm extremely proud. Thank you so much. Can I say something else too?

I just thought about this. So for your 40th birthday party last year, you invited me. And I was like, I will miss a foot of the world. Yeah, thank you. So think about it. We hadn't known one another that long. Now we have fast-tracked a friendship. Yes.

And I say this because you don't have to be friends with someone for 15 years to click. And then know that that will be a special person in your life for years to come. Yeah. Right? And I arrived by myself. And guess what table I was at? Table number one. And for me, while I was there to celebrate you, I could have been at table 200 and one. I was there to celebrate you. But seeing and sitting with your parents, seeing how you curated that table with those who ministered to you by way of faith, not to mention, of course, you had Tyler Perry at Table One. You know, it really meant something to me in a way of what and how God has blessed me with you. Wow.

Seriously. Wow. Because I was thinking to myself, like, she doesn't have me anywhere in the room. I know a lot of people in Atlanta. Not giving me the back, but I took that as the highest form of compliment. Thank you. Because that's what it meant for me. I want her at my table. You just, I don't even know if I've ever expressed that to you. You just did not know to how you

cement yourself. And as special, you know there's nothing you couldn't ask me for that I wouldn't do. Now that was before the party. Yeah. Mm-hmm, yeah. And you came back and tell, like you made time to come back. Let me tell you something. Going back, whether it's dating or anything else,

people are like, oh, Kim, I don't want to ask you, you're so busy. I am. I'm always busy. And go and be busy. I need to be busy. It beats the alternative. Hello.

But you're never too busy. Mm. That's a word. You're never too busy for the things that matter. And you create the time. You make the shifts. You inconvenience yourself in a way that it does not feel like an inconvenience because it's an act of love.

And I have no, I will make, I show up for people. And that's what I, that's another thing if I had to look at what people, what I hope people see is that she shows up. Oh, you show up, you do. I've seen you do it for other people too. I try. Like, you do. I try. And I've seen you do it for other people too. I try. I like you. You do. I try. You know, like how does she even have the time to get out of that? But that's like you remember that's an example of my parents. Yes. Well, I go back to it. Mm-hmm. I love it.

Coast switching is so real. Yeah. And she's a yeah. Yeah. But what people admire most about you is how unapologetic you are. You dress, you walk, you speak, you show up as yourself in every single room. I want to know other than the words of affirmation that you received at home, how did you just gain this hope? Just like the way you even walk into the arena, it's like, who did?

Like you had this confidence. And what made you be like, I don't have to switch it up. Because you know, I've been victim of that. Like, you had this confidence in what made you, like, I don't have to switch it up. Because you know, I've been victim of that. I used to work on Capitol Hill, and I'd be talking, hey, what's up, man? And then get a good morning, Senna. I was just having a healthy, like, come to the room.

That was a real thing. You know what? I feel like that's a part of my superpower. Mm-hmm. I think that when people connect with you in your purist form of authenticity, I don't have to switch up. I know I'm well educated, I'm dual degree,

I've gone to Harvard, you know, what, are you kidding me, Cornell? You name it. What's in my nose? That was, you name it? What's it about now? That was, let me just shut out to Danora. Maybe you want her homework, because as a producer, she had just about everything. That might be one little small thing that she meant.

But I will tell you, when I saw wearing how we were navigating this discussion, one of the most well prepared that I have, and I do a lot by way of media, a lot. So again, but going back to that, and that's always just an on too, when you talk about making those deposits, you always wanna make sure that you are continuing

to level up. I never rest on any laurels. And I say that even by way of my clients, the clients that I've mentioned that I've been with for over a decade, I never rest on any, some might always chase them. I'm looking. You ain't catching me. No. And so with that too, I think people do business with people they like.

And I also believe in how you show up is with receipts and proof of performance. When you put the points on the board, you know, they don't have to be your bestie. Yeah, remember they want to win. That's it. And the other thing is that I advise many C-suite leaders and beyond corporate America, many high profile people,

they need to feel connected to you. They need to know you are a person of integrity. They need to understand your character. And my character is that, you know, I'm comfortable in my skin. Yes. I'm comfortable, you know, one day being in the White House. Another day being hanging with, you know, my friend, Pierre Thomas, AKA P from QC, you know,

I mean, I can, I can go and switch, but it's not cold switch. You ain't switching though. Yeah, it's the environment. I may switch exactly, the environment may change, but I go in consistent. I will tell you, you know, when I'm spending time with people who don't look like me,

what I think they like about me is that I show up 100% as who I am. I love that. And we have fun. No, absolutely. I love immersing myself with smart people and smart comes, brilliance comes in many forms. And you don't have to be degreeed.

I am. But you don't have to be for me to learn from you. Right, absolutely. And I can immerse myself on the boulevard and learn. That's what I want. That's why I spend so much time with young people, you know? You know Rachel Jackson. Yes, love, we love you.

So if I'm looking at Rachel, you know, there's a reason. People like you always wear it. Guess what? It's mutual. She's teaching me things. Yeah. You know, I literally, you know, yesterday got a text from Desi Banks. I love what Desi has done and how he has built a mobile

enterprise around consent. Yes. So what people think they're calling me for? Because here's my thing. Secure people, help other people secure the back. So for me, one thing I'm good at is secure the back. Right? But what they don't realize is that they are also teaching me. Yes, wow.

I love that. You spoke on how you work a performance-based industry where they want, it's all about the point of the board. They want the way in. Does that create any stress or self-doubt or anxiety for you? And it's so like, how do you navigate stress and anxiety? Yeah, so here's what I said going back to how we started our roots.

I'm a performance athlete. Yeah. I'm a corporate athlete. Yeah. So I actually like a little pressure. You know, I do. I want you to think that I might not win. Uh-huh. Because I'm winning. You know, I do. You know, I want you to think that I might not win. Uh-huh, uh-huh.

Because I'm winning. You know. And so, for me, just that whole drive, I tell folks, and I heard you tell the Nord, that she works, you know, as hard as, you know, Beyonce does. No disrespect, the Nord, but I think that there are not a lot of people who I work with. I work. And that's what I also like for people to understand.

It's like, you know what? They can see all that stuff, but you know what? The folks that I work with and partner with as corporate leaders, they will tell you, she works. So all that little fluff you all see, she works. They know I am mitigating crises at one in the morning, two in the morning. I am doing all sorts of board Dexon.

I lead ESG on the board that I'm on. So for me, I embrace leadership opportunities because I play the win. Yeah, dude, I love that. You carry yourself with a lot of confidence, dignity, and a strong sense of self. And you have this undeniable don't try me energy about you. Don't sweetest pie, but don't try.

Please don't try her. I want to talk about the challenges of being a woman in the business, and if you were a man of all this would be celebrated, you understand. But being a powerful woman like you are all, it's called challenging, we're called challenging difficult and a bitch for like a better words. Have you dealt with any of that?

Yeah, I mean, you know, you show up and you show up confident. Now remember, confident, yeah, humble. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Right. But confident. Yes. Um, prepare. Um, over prepare. Oh, you have to be over prepare. Um, collaborative. Um, there are techniques that I use because I'm 5, 10. Yeah". I show up in this area in the presence. There are certain things I can't control. Absolutely. You know? And so I try to present myself with humility, but I am going to, you know, talk to a board member and she's like, Kim, what I love is that you're very direct.

And I actually ask, like, you know, direct in a way that's off-putting. She said, absolutely not. Because I'm also coachable. And I think that's what we also have to be is coachable. Absolutely. And realizing that I never want it to be that I don't feel like I'm growing. And so, you know, I don't know Tyler Perry. But like for me, like I want to talk with a Tyler Perry so I can pick his brain and actually make some deposits. I know that's right. Like I love to be around people who are constantly in elevation mode. You know what I mean?

So whether it's Oprah, whether it's Melody Hobson, you know, whether it's the son to duck it, you know, whether it's Ross Brewer, you know, I want the people that I see look to in it, Meyer, because they've navigated things that I aspire to. Yes, I love that so good. Love some Melody Hobs to. Yes. I love that so good. Love some melody, I've seen. Yes. Love some to sound.

Yes. Oh my gosh. Powerful, powerful women. Wow. You also talked about how your privacy is currency. Yes. And which is good. Like I love that.

Actually though, let me say my privacy is currency and I am hyper-private. Yeah. Would you got me a little bit today? You did. Would you say, to. To. She got me.

I was like, I don't talk about my private life. But I do think that there are gems and nuggets in a macro share that we should, we have to do better as women. We have to do better as women, we have to do better as black women and sharing more of the lessons learnings. And some of that is inclusive of the words. I'm always like, man, somebody needs to tell us all the stuff

that nobody said it was cool to tell. And so, as I look at, you know, ways in which I'm trying to navigate content, I want more stories too that actually focus more on the warts. Because I've had some warts And that's professionally and personally. And I think we have to get comfortable with understanding that, you know, people relate more when, you know, they see the human side of you, you know? Oh my gosh, yeah, because, you know,

because everybody sees this side of all the highlight. You know, yeah, you know, not tell folks, you know, you see the glam, you know, but you don't really see the guts. And so, you know, a lot of times folks don't see that I'm in my office in Ohio, and I'm in there, you know, 14, 16 hours a day if not longer. And I'm there on the weekends, you know. And all of the sacrifice, you know, what comes with being an owner operator, you know, all the stuff folks don't necessarily talk about but you know I think as we get more comfortable in who we are, we almost owe it to

others to kind of take off the mask. Yep. I started a women's conference in summit and it's really geared towards C-suite corporate leaders who don't really get an opportunity to kind of just be. And it's called Accelerate Her. And it's a community that we've built not just for the summit, but how do we as women and women of color and black women use our superpowers collectively? And a lot of times you have all these summits.

You have the summits that the corporate leaders go to. You have summits for the culture. No, what I did, honestly, was I just went through my phone. And I was like, you know what I'm calling all the baddies in business and beyond. I got high performance. You did. You had a conversation.

You are on some like global escalation. You know, you look on, we don't know where you are in the world. But I gave you a pass. That goes in my career. But I didn't come. You did. You did. But that's right, I forgot.

I had to show for her, show one. Okay, you did. You did. Salt flex number two. But next year I one. Okay, you did. You did. Saltplex number two. But next year I'm there. Yes you are. I'm a big show. Because what I realized too is that,

just as I mentioned how some of times my distractors or women that look, there are far more women who are trying to do good than the few bad outs. And so what I wanted to do was to look at how we brought all the good apples together, to look at how we drive policy changes, how we drive changes in business in corporate America, how we get women more contracts, how we get, we had lovey Ajay Jones to come in and do a book workshop because guess what?

Not enough of us are writing books and telling our stories. So I had told her. Yes. I have women who are not authors. Come up with something. Guess what? She did it. She called me.

She's a girl you're gonna change my life. Guess what? She now has a book academy So that anybody Can go and learn from a four times New York Times best selling author Wow, cuz one day I feel like I have at least through three books. I mean I definitely have a podcast. Yes. Yes, but I need more time. Yeah, we can't wait for that podcast I'll be your first as well. I would subscribe where I'm gonna need you

on cause I already know the name. The name is unapologetically boss. I've already straight marked it. I love that. But because you know what? What I feel at my core is that everybody has the potential to be a boss. I love that.

And that does not mean you have to work for yourself. You can be a boss inside of someone else's organization. You can be a boss in your community. You can be a boss in the choir. But what is it and how is it that you identify your superpowers to unlock, unload, and unleash and to whatever type of change and impact because where I am right now, it's not about success. It's about significance. That was a word. It's not about success.

It's about significance. Wow, Kim. Oh, that's good. I heard you moan over there. That's where I heard you moan over there. You said, yeah. Because a lot of times we focus on the success part. We do.

And for me, going back to core tenants, I told you take the high road in another fairies. You know, the other thing is, when you do the right things for the right reasons and in the right way, God takes care of the rest. Yeah, wow. Cool, that's good. You just job and all, I hope you got your collection played.

You catch none of these nuggets, because I need it. And if you take the collection play, pay it forward. Oh, that was, we were having a talk about, you better get out of my nose. Oh, okay, okay, okay. But I was going to talk about, I was going to get to that, but there's something you not both have in common. We worked in politics.

Yeah. I interned when I was a junior in college for Senator there's something you know I both have in common. We worked in politics. Yeah. I interned when I was a junior in college for Senator LaMont Alexander on Capitol Hill in DC and then interned got a job. My senior year and I end up leaving school to finish my last semester online and I worked for the Senate for two and a half years after school before I moved to Atlanta to pursue. I remember when I learned that. You told me all this and we were in Baltimore traveling together.

And that's when I learned your story. And actually, that's when I was like, she's got it. Oh, wow. And you, I found out you worked in the Obama and Trump administrations as a member of the National Women's Business Council. First of all, how did that even come about like this? So it's so crazy.

So I was appointed National Women's Business Council during the Obama administration, 2011. This speaks to another thing that has been fortunate for me in that Donna James was then leading the council. I knew Donna. Donna was actually the person who told me that I should go into my business full time. I started my agency as a side hustle,

and I always tell folks, your side hustle can become your main hustle, right? But she was the one who really pushed me, and I was like, man, I'm gonna check every two weeks, I'm good. She was like, you have something that corporations pay for in the way in which you think differently and are able to bring business impact in the sense of driving it forward. So Donna was appointed first to lead the council and she called me and she said,

I need for you to serve. Wow. And what I also say is that one, people see things in you before you see it in yourself. Yeah. But what I couple that with is that if you are a known performer, again, it goes back, people want people on their team designed to win. Yes. When I was appointed to the council, it was designed,

the National Women's Business Council, are three kind of stakeholders, are the president of the United States, Congress, and the SBA, Small Business Administration. So my focus was, our focus was, how do we get more women in the sense of access to contracts, opportunities, capital, because we are underfunded,

yet we are the highest and fastest-growing population of business owners. We are. And when we look at organizations in VC, currently under attack, it's the fearless fund. You know? And if we did have organizations like the fearless fund or collab capital where I serve as an advisory member with dual Melanie and that team, they are giving

monies to scaled founders and areas around innovation and underrepresented groups. Those programs and funds wouldn't exist if the monies were going to them, if you look back at women of color, a fraction of 1%, goes to female founders. Remember, I'm a female founder. I'm a black female founder. Founded my business out of a one-bedroom apartment. Crazy. Self-funded.

Nobody gave me any money. Yeah. I didn't go to mom and dad. Mm-hmm. Self-funded. Now there are programs designed to help. There are funds designed to help. And so for me to sit on that council, it became a way as a catalyst through public policy for me to drive forward that change.

And I really firmly believe that in order for us to look at how we impact, we have to have women and men who are courageous and convicted, who are willing to get in the way to shake it up for others when they can. And so, I served on it. I was supposed to roll off, but then Carla Harris, who I loved dearly as well, came on and she said, sis, I need you to stay. And I stayed longer and extended my term. And because it didn't matter to me who was in the White House. Because the women who needed the funds had changed.

And so we need to make sure, and this is my position on politics too, you know, we need to make sure that we have folks in the room, in both rooms. Hello. Because if we don't have folks on the other side, who's speaking up and how we're driving a change? No one. That's speaking up and how we're driving a change? No one.

That's so good. Wow. No one gets anywhere alone. I want to know who are some people that have played Pivot Rose. You just spoke of a few words. That have played Pivot Rose to help you get to where you are today.

Yeah. I mentioned Donna James. I mentioned the way I look at Carla Harris, I serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Council. It is a group of black officers of the Fortune 1000 that rank within two of the chairman of those organizations. At the time, when Carla was the board chair, they were not really accepting entrepreneurs. We were not the basis of how that organization was founded.

But she said to me, Kim, we need people who think differently. At the time, I never really thought of myself going into the organization. I'd always been an advocate and a partner outside and driving my member companies in the sense of the port PMM portfolio because I believed in its mission and she was a primary advocate in me you know getting into that organization that it'll take a lot of pride around how we change how corporate America does business. So Carla, Donna, you know, I've also had women step up who don't necessarily look like me in the sense of our melanin, you know, there's a, it was a woman Asian Philippine from the Philippines that put me on my first corporate board.

Oh, wow. Yeah. And so again, I go back to where I met her at Gwyneth Paltrow. She holds something where founders get together. Very small group of us and we're talking about how we changed the ecosystem. What it looks like and also just really looking at restoration and wearing how we built community, served on a panel. Afterwards, talk to her. She was a former CEO of CARE.com. Spent 90 minutes with her, and within six months was on my first corporate board as a publicly traded corporate director. Director. Wow. I say that because again I don't take lightly where I am invited

into rooms and so mentorship advocacy sponsorship while many do it for me. I'm going to do it multiplier for others. And so when names come up for board opportunities, I bring up names. When names come up for corporate sponsorship and how we look at personal service agreements, I bring names up. Where I am focused now is just as I go back

to that significant strike. Yes. I'm really big now on where that dash and you know what my life I hope represents is I really want to create a lot more black and female, not just millionaires, multi-millionaires. I know that's right. Right? And I believe in the power of monetizing content, I believe in the power of media.

I believe that a lot of folks sit in positions of talent. I want them to develop the rigor and the muscle around business ownership and what that means to kind of create currency from their talents. You and I were talking the other day, and we were talking about this whole writer strike and how you have learned the power of diversifying your streams of income.

You said, I was gonna call you you an S, you bet that. I love us. And I was proud again to hear, wearing how you're doing it. You know, I tell folks, you know, I've been fortunate to build wealth in investing in real estate, commercial, residential, investing in art, developing a collection worth seven plus figures. When Jay-Z talked about art, I was like, what? Tell them, Jay, right?

And through business ownership, business ownership creates wealth. And so when you look at all these different streams and you look at the ways, and just like I said, if I had a book, passive income, how am I making money when I'm asleep? I think that's that. Okay. And I'm also looking at two, how do I, because I sit in a lot of deal flow. They call me deal flow, deal flow.

Right? I sit in a lot of deal flow. And what I say to folks too, is I can help you with the deal. But I am very true. Yeah. So I put myself in a deal. I know the value of what I do.

A lot of people can't afford me. Right. Hello. Hello. But it comes in various forms. You know? And so do you want 100% or nothing? Right.

Or do you want 80% of something that, you know, can change your life? Exactly. I know that's right. We're gonna close with you giving just a few tips on what you would tell young women who are trying to be business women just like you get in these corporate spaces. Cause some people just don't know,

you know, they're trying to navigate certain things. What are some tips that you may tell them to even navigate those. Or even if they're battling with like the interviewidious fear of like how do I go in these rooms and carry myself. Yeah, I'll give you a few nuggets. So one, understand what you can afford to do and not to do when I knew what I, when I could afford to make my side hustle, my main hustle.

I tell folks, learn and corporate America, learn and wherever else. Yeah. On their dime, develop the relationships that you may change to where they become a client. Yeah. Learn systems. Look at software.

Look at, you know, wearing how, how you know companies are thinking about innovation. Yeah Learn AI Ooh, we ain't even go there. We're not going there. That's why we're on strike That's part of the reason why we're on strike right now. Why? They can literally scan our faces take our voices and just pass a small fee and create a whole movie TV show With everything they don't need it. Duff and just pass a small fee and create a whole movie TV show with everything that I need. Duff. Damn.

Yeah. I'll see. See, I thought it was like, you know, see, I got the little macro the right or strike. But what I will tell you, they can work with the shine too. Yeah. That part of it is, but let me say this, going back to AI. Figure out what you can do that AI can't. Yeah.

Because what I will tell you is that there are forms in business where AI is gonna create efficiencies in business. Oh, absolutely. You're not gonna need to pay. It's just what it doesn't sound good, it doesn't feel good, but that is what it is. But what I will tell you to go back to some of the other things, find a tribe, one that understands what it is that you're wanting to do, not necessarily the how,

but you're gonna need cheerleaders. That doesn't mean they have to be in your day to day, but it does come in many forms, and when times get hard, you're gonna need someone or some bodies to help cheer you on. Always invest in continuous learning. I mentioned Harvard, Cornell, Northwestern, Dartmouth, all of them. I continue to invest in my

learning. So it may not be the ivies, but go take a webinar. Go on YouTube and learn something. The ivies now have online courses that you can have. They have that too. And you can go and look up different things and find community. Because a lot of times too, there's a great information share across community. For those folks who are wanting to go into business for themselves, there are tons of programs that actually where there are dollars that we are leaving on the table. So go and do the homework as it relates to grant funding and wearing how you may be eligible

to get support. And then I would say, you know, state a course, whether you're working, you know, for yourself or for someone, there will always be hard times. And you have to be so committed to your course, unwavering. And if you're God-fearing like I am, Stay in your word. Yeah. Because there are so many lessons in the word that will guide you and bring clarity to chaos that we face on that day to day. You know, and you know, shoot for the stars. Yeah. You know.

Hey, you got to say stray from Kimberly Blackwell. I don't know what more to tell you. Or to give you. Okay, it's been fun. It's been amazing. Thank you. Wow. Can we go eat?

I'm so hungry. You know, I'm not eating all day. Like, cause you're working. She has one. I had a half a bagel. Like literally, it's all eating all day. I'm starving. Yeah. Wait, let me say something before you sign off.

Uh-huh. And I've said it throughout. What I love and what I'm seeing is how women and black women are showing up for you. Down, play about Chris. And I, you know, it, it, it, it's a force that you cannot engineer. And what I would say to you is to embrace it and understand that the favor that guy has put upon your life is something that I know that you will store it in a way, but just know that you're not doing it just for you. You're not doing it just for your family. you're doing it for the almost

million but will be millions that pay attention to how you live because your life, your life is in the way in what you sing a soundtrack for so many. Wow. Ooh. Kill. Wow. I say what you said, and I receive that. I receive that. I mean, wow, thank you. I love you. I love you too.

Thank you so much. Oh my goodness. I am so full. We're going to do my favorite part of the show, which is called Positive Outcomes, where our listeners write into us and we give them advice. Okay. So it's a listener letter and this one says, Hello, Crystal, I'm a 49-year-old detention

sergeant in Polk County, Florida. I've been in law enforcement for nearly 20 years and want to start a new career. My passion is decorating. I have a decorating business, a travel agency, and I make custom crocs all my part time jobs. My dream is to open up my own venue. Since COVID, my business took a huge hit because the venues closed down, and now they are too expensive to rent. I have been praying, asking God to leave me in the right direction and provide me with the resources I need to open my venue. I'm tired of living in fear of what might not happen

and of failure. I'm also tired of working in a career that is no longer fulfilling. How do I get over my fear and pursue my dreams? Ooh, yeah. That's for me or both of us. Both. Yeah, so I'll say, I had these meetings working on Capitol Hill.

I did it for two years and I got to the point where I literally was at my desk like responding to constituents and I'm like, what are you doing? And for me in my life, I've noticed when guys start wrestling with me and I ask myself the question, Crystal, what are you doing?

It's time to do something. It's time to shift some things around. And I would say that to you, nothing's going to be easy. I mean, Kim is a prime example. She started off in an apartment. Maybe your venue doesn't have to be as big of a scale that you want to start it on or that you see it can get there. But maybe you need to just scale down

to something that you can't afford and build up from there. That's what I would say. But I also would say, don't just quit your day job. You gotta, okay. Bill's must be paid. Exactly, so I would work on that. It has to be a side hustle until it becomes your main hustle. All these can't worry, it's time.

Well, and what I would add is that, you know, I am big on followin' my gut. And I do think that there are times when you know, you may not want to admit or embrace. So if you know that you know without a shot of a doubt that this is what you are supposed to be doing, then you stay the course. For me, I feel that, you know, coming out of college, starting my business,

you know, in my early 20s from that apartment, I knew that I was in my purpose. If this to your purpose and you see your product as being something that is differentiated in the marketplace. And you know that you can now explore other ways, crowdfunding. How you go to friends and family to look at ways to raise capital. To your point, I always kept my overhead low. So I didn't start hiring a lot of people initially. I contracted people. So how do you minimize your expenses so that you can continue to invest more into the business? So you can't make the money and go out and buy the burger. Right, hello.

Okay. What did she say? Instead, you're going to have to reinvest into the business. And that's going to be a long time coming before you upgrade that car. Are you going to get those J's? You may be in whatever sneakers you wear now and it'll be a minute, but what I will tell you is that if the product differentiation is there,

if the brand and the consumer demand is there, why your crocs? And in this world to which, you know, we're seeing it show up in different forms, how do you get creative and resourceful? Have you sent Crystal some of your crops, where her million followers? Like how do you use product placement to bring awareness? And if you were to get that awareness, could you supply the demand?

There are a lot of things that sometimes we have to look at and it straight talk. That I sometimes think we're not necessarily ready for and that's where the heart questions come. But if you're prepared and your gut says this is a part of what you're supposed to be doing, I believe that that passion and purpose can turn the profit. Okay, I love that, I love that. We do a part what I'm going through and what I'm growing through. It's so good. And I'll start right now, just based on this topic we're talking about, we're going through

the strike right now, just based on this topic we're talking about, we're going through the strike right now. And I am going through a season of reinventing the will and trying to figure new things out and working on other passions, things that I'm passionate about that are going to, they're going to stop at the side hustle, but I see this ended up being the main hustle, you know. So looking into that and really researching and learning, something new because I realize now that while acting brings great money

and it provides a great life, also there's a lot of uncertainties in the future that now need to tap into something that I know is, hey, I can't do this. I mean, that's the real thing. But acting will come back for you and it'll come back times three. But to your point, what else? What else?

Yeah, so that's why I'm going through and growing through right now. I think going through for me is just that after COVID, my business changed, where we grew into new areas. And so that also meant me finding the right talent and skill set, because I'm also trying to work differently. I work very hard, and Denora can have all this hard work, right? My working harder is I'm trying to work smarter. And I'm also trying to change lives. So right now what I'm going through to hopefully get to is my

dream team. So I am looking for folks who want to work. I'm looking for folks who want to work because I have a my operational excellence standard is high. I am not the easiest person to work for because the reality of it is is that I'm black. Reality of it is that I'm a woman. So I don't get do-overs in my work. And so for me, and again, not resting on any laurels and knowing that people are chasing me, what I put out has to be five star best class, disruptive, impactful, moves the needle where, you know, corporations can count where and how we've driven sales and helped to grow market share, right? And so for me, I'm excited about where I'm going to because I have some really cool things in the work. But I want, I'm at this point where

But I want, I'm at this point where I want to change other people's lives. But I'm not going to give it away. You know what I mean? But I want, you know, I'm looking at acquisitions. Do I go buy up some boutique firms? Because they've shown themselves to be of great value. Do I find somebody who actually, being your own boss is not always, you know, for everyone. And what I find sometimes is that our folks who are out here, they're like, you know what? Yeah. I'm ready to go work for somebody else. I'm okay. What I think we've

glamorized is this whole thing about being your own boss. I just want people to be a boss. Period. Period. And whatever position want people to be a boss. Period. Period. And whatever position it is, I love that. I love that. We do something where we call keep it blank, sweetie, where we fill in the blank. Yeah.

Because it just plays off a keep it positive, sweetie. So we're going to say, for me, I'm going to say, for this show, keep it significant, sweetie. Because you said something that's not about the success, it's about the significance. That, that's up with me. I'm gonna say wow. She stole my word.

I did, I'm gonna say what you said. Let's see. Cause keep the significant was a good one. Tagged, that was a good one. We can use the same one. No. I want to say keep it. This is not really one word. Okay.

Keep it in love, sweetie. Because I believe if you at your core do everything rooted in love, I've told you. I'm true. I'm direct. Yeah. But if you know my heart and my intention, it's always rooted in love. You love.

Ooh. The power in how you receive, digest, everything I do will be taken in this proper context. That's so good. That is so good. Keep it in love, sweetie. Keep it in love, sweetie. Keep it in love, sweetie. Wow, that was amazing.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Kimberly Blackwell, thank you so much. Thank you so much. Oh my goodness, I hope this episode bless you as much as it blessed me. I'm so excited that I got you on the couch. I found ten minutes. Right, I'm like, you know, this couch is very powerful.

Like I feel like I went to therapy today. Everybody says that when they sit here. Yeah, wonder why? I might be on to something. You might be on to something. Ah! Ah! Ah!

Ah! Ah! Ah! Here come another stream. Ah! Ah! Ah! Why the strike can't stop that!

Yeah, so okay. And they? We'll be out there saying, chingolain chingolain, she's not like chingolain. Don't put us together. Honey. No, for a guy, thank you so much for tuning in. If you want to write into our

positive outcomes, listen to our letter. Write into keepypositweetie at gmail.com that is sweetie with an i.e. You can follow keepypositweetie on all platforms and you can follow me on all platforms at lovecressoranate and that is l-u-v. Kim, let us know what we can find you.

At Kim Blackwell, PMM. At Kim Blackwell, Paul Mary Mary. I love it. All right, we are going to make sure they tap me and guys, please follow Kimberly. I'm telling you, we blessed, inspired. Every time I go to your page, I'm inspired. Make sure you tap into that Sunday because on Sunday she go feed you so much. Oh, we go to church. This side backed us, but we go to church. If we go and be in there. Thank you guys so much for tuning in. And in the meantime, you know what to do. Keep it positive, sweetie.

See you guys later. you