Founder Hustle: Recent Episodes
Melissa Bradley
We Are NMV - By, for and about New Majority Founders. Hosted by Melissa Bradley, founder of 1863 Ventures. New episodes on Tuesdays. Welcome to Porch Talks with your host, Melissa Bradley. In these conversations from Founder Hustle, Melissa invites CEOs, Investors, VCs, Foundations, and other guests to her porch to talk about their experiences, both professional and personal. She gets into the details of what it takes to do impactful, transformative work with an eye towards founder sustainability and the strength of healthy ecosystems around them. And the porch is a great place for these conversations! From New Majority Ventures and Kinetic Energy Entertainment.
Welcome back to Founder Hustle, the podcast series shining a spotlight on New Majority entrepreneurs. I'm your host, Melissa Bradley, and today, we're diving into another captivating episode from season 1.
Join Melissa as she sits down with Jacqueline Rodgers, CEO of Green Top Gifts, a business that has now secured its place in retail stores across the country.
Jacqueline's story is one of sheer determination and resourcefulness. She masterfully leveraged her full-time job to pave the way for her business empire. Learn how she utilized her relationships, skills, and financial resources to build a thriving venture.
In this enlightening conversation, Jacqueline shares her belief in continuous learning, emphasizing the importance of gleaning wisdom from those around you, be it co-workers, board members, or even family members. Her ability to seize opportunities and turn them into valuable lessons has been instrumental in her entrepreneurial journey.
For those who find themselves in a full-time job while nurturing dreams of starting their own business, Jacqueline's advice is priceless. Discover the secrets she swears by, and learn from her experiences to make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Founder Hustle is returning with its 3rd season on Tuesday, September 5th! If you're new here, welcome! Founder Hustle is a podcast series that shines a spotlight on the journeys of New Majority entrepreneurs, led by Melissa Bradley, a seasoned entrepreneur and venture capitalist. In this season, Melissa will be engaging with New Majority entrepreneurs who are making their mark in unexpected domains. From a WNBA player revolutionizing the culinary craft sphere to a corporate engineer disrupting the FinTech industry, we're embracing a diverse range of topics this season. Since day one, our mission has been to empower New Majority founders to break free from the deficit mindset, and we're excited to continue that journey with this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to Founder Hustle, the podcast series dedicated to the stories of New Majority entrepreneurs. Hosted by Melissa Bradley, and today, we're revisiting another powerful episode from season 1.
Join Melissa as she sits down with April Harris, the fabulous Founder of Keeping You Sweet. In this inspiring conversation, April shares her incredible journey from facing adversity to building a thriving business. Listeners are advised that there is a brief reference to suicidal ideation in this episode.
April Harris launched Keeping You Sweet in 2017, introducing a delectable range of health-conscious desserts in her New Jersey-based company. As one of the few African Americans in the competitive food industry, April's path to success was not without its challenges.
However, guided by the wisdom of her late mother, who taught her, "There’s God and then there’s everybody else," April found strength and perspective amidst difficulties. Her unwavering determination, resilience, and reliance on prayer helped her navigate the obstacles and emerge triumphant.
During this candid conversation, Melissa Bradley dives deep into April's journey, uncovering valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs facing tough circumstances. April's approach of treating everyone with love and leading with faith offers valuable lessons for anyone striving to make their dreams a reality.
So join us as we learn from April Harris, a true embodiment of transforming challenges into sweet success. Get ready for an episode filled with inspiration, encouragement, and a testament to the power of determination. Stay tuned for more episodes of Founder Hustle coming your way! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Welcome back to Founder Hustle, the podcast series by, for, and about New Majority entrepreneurs. Hosted by Melissa Bradley. Although this month, we're taking a short break from new episodes before we drop season 3, fear not, because we have some gems from season 1 to share with you. In this special episode, we have the pleasure of hearing from Kalilah Wright, the visionary Founder of Mess in a Bottle. If you have a creative idea itching to be realized or if you're looking to venture into uncharted territories, this episode is tailor-made for you. Kalilah's journey will inspire you to seek what's missing in the world or even just in your world and turn it into something extraordinary. Originally from Jamaica W.I., Kalilah moved to the United States at a young age and was raised in the vibrant city of Brooklyn, NY. Armed with a Masters degree from Morgan State University and a Bachelors of Arts from Penn State University, she utilized her background in design and architecture to launch Mess in a Bottle in January 2016, based in Baltimore, Maryland. Mess in a Bottle isn't just a brand; it's a powerful means of expression. With each item designed and printed at Kalilah's in-house studio in Baltimore, the brand aims to drive change and provoke thought in its audience. During this episode, Kalilah generously shares her roadmap to finding the inner strength and courage to take risks. For founders of color, she emphasizes the potential of leveraging our culture as a competitive advantage. By doing so, she believes we can challenge and reshape the world's perception of us, silencing any negative messages that may have been historically perpetuated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the season 2 finale of Founder Hustle, Melissa Bradley sits down with Diedre Mathis, Founder and CEO of Wanderstay Hospitality Group, based in Houston, TX. Diedre's love for people and her extensive travel experiences to 46 countries across all seven continents led her to the world of hospitality.
During a travel gap year in Australia, Diedre stayed at numerous hostels and boutique hotels, which sparked her passion for creating spaces where people from all around the world could come together and foster a sense of community. She saw the potential in making travel more accessible and inclusive.
Melissa and Diedre explore a wide range of compelling topics in this captivating episode. Diedre shares her insights on the lack of diversity in the hospitality industry and how she is making a difference by adding much-needed representation. They discuss her approach to hiring and supporting her staff, as well as her experiences raising funds for her business through pitch competitions and navigating relationships with different banks.
The conversation also delves into the intersection of motherhood and entrepreneurship, as Diedre shares her journey of building a family while building her business. The importance of social capital and networking is highlighted, along with other valuable insights from Diedre's entrepreneurial journey.
Tune in to this finale of Founder Hustle as Melissa Bradley and Diedre Mathis explore the world of hospitality, diversity in the industry, raising capital, building a family, and the significance of social connections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of Founder Hustle with Melissa Bradley, our guest is Naza Shelley, the founder of CarpeDM, a value-driven matchmaking service for professional Black women. Naza, an attorney turned matchmaker, recognized the need to make the dating experience easier for Black women, who often face lower rates of engagement, racism, hyper-sexualization, and even violence on mainstream dating apps.
Naza shares her journey of pivoting from law to entrepreneurship and discusses her passion for solving major dating challenges. She highlights the collaborative effort she made with a Black female psychologist to create a comprehensive questionnaire that feeds into CarpeDM's algorithm, leading to more compatible matches.
During the episode, Melissa and Naza delve into the challenges of raising capital and the importance of being open to pivoting in the entrepreneurial journey. They also touch on CarpeDM's current expansion plans, with a focus on bringing the service to Atlanta after successfully launching in the DMV area.
If you're single and interested in influencing CarpeDM's expansion decision, visit carpedmdating.com and enter your city. Join Melissa Bradley and Naza Shelley as they explore the inspiring story behind CarpeDM and the drive to revolutionize the dating landscape for Black women. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this captivating episode of Founder Hustle, host Melissa Bradley engages in a compelling conversation with KJ Hughes, the esteemed founder of Manifest and a professor specializing in sports and entertainment business. Join us as KJ shares his inspiring journey of building Manifest into a cultural phenomenon, driven by his unwavering vision for creating extraordinary experiences.
Throughout the episode, KJ delves into his deep-rooted desire to establish Manifest as more than just a service, but as an immersive cultural experience. With meticulous attention to detail, he recounts the challenges and triumphs encountered along the path to Manifest's realization, unveiling the intricacies of crafting an unparalleled business.
Tune in to this enlightening episode as Melissa Bradley and KJ Hughes explore the transformative power of Manifest and its unwavering commitment to enhancing lives through unparalleled service and curated experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As we wind down Season 1 of The Deep Cut, Melissa highlights another podcast: Freedom Slay, hosted by Gayneté Jones, Founder and CEO of Periodt. Melissa was a guest on Freedom Slay and opened up, and we have a piece of that for you today courtesy Gayneté. After you listen, the full episode is available:
On Apple Podcasts here
On Spotify here
On Google Podcasts here
On Stitcher here
On iHeart Radio here
Credits:
Founder Hustle and the Deep Cut are produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment
Edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela
Music is Ratata by Curtis Cole
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's founder is Diana Williams. Diana also happens to be the mysterious producer behind Founder Hustle. To close out the first season, Melissa and Diana look back on the lessons learned from all the fantastic guests who have opened up about their journeys from Founder to CEO. Diana Williams is the CEO & Co-founder of Kinetic Energy Entertainment. She has a wide range of experience in the entertainment industry, developing IP and producing creative content for distribution across storytelling media. Throughout her career she has been at the forefront of working with emerging and established talent to ensure a diversity of voices are included in an ever-evolving industry. Founder Hustle is clear and centered on its mission to help emerging New Majority founders better understand the path ahead, be adequately prepared, and gain support on their journey. Melissa L. Bradley is Founder of 1863 Ventures, a business development program that accelerates New Majority entrepreneurs (i.e., individuals who have been historically marginalized) from high potential to high growth. Credits:
Founder Hustle is produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment.
Associate Producer is Misa Dayson.
The show was edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela.
Our intro theme, Vuelta al Sol, is by Tomás Novoa.
Credit theme is Glide, by Columbia Nights, and the outro is Ratata by Curtis Cole.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's founder is Jacquelyn Rodgers, CEO of Green Top Gifts, which can now be found in retail stores all across the country. Jacquelyn is one of those people who was able to leverage her full-time job to create a business empire. She knew how to stay long enough to leverage the relationships, her skills, and the money to build a successful business. She believes there is always an opportunity to learn from those around you, from your co-workers, from your board members, and even from your family. If you're in a full-time job and you're thinking about starting a business, Jacqueline has the best advice you will ever get. Founder Hustle is clear and centered on its mission to help emerging New Majority founders better understand the path ahead, be adequately prepared, and gain support on their journey. Melissa L. Bradley is Founder of 1863 Ventures, a business development program that accelerates New Majority entrepreneurs (i.e., individuals who have been historically marginalized) from high potential to high growth. Credits:
Founder Hustle is produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment.
Associate Producer is Misa Dayson.
The show was edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela.
Our intro theme, Vuelta al Sol, is by Tomás Novoa.
Credit theme is Glide, by Columbia Nights, and the outro is Ratata by Curtis Cole.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As we buckle up for the recession, we know interest rates will rise and capital will be harder to access. So what the heck is FinTech? And how can it help New Majority entrepreneurs, for whom it costs at least $250,000 more to start the same exact businesses as their white male peers? Credits:
Founder Hustle and the Deep Cut are produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment
Edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela
Music is Ratata by Curtis Cole
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's founder is Roz Brooks, CEO of Well Women of Color. Roz teaches us that it is possible to have many roles, as long as you have one goal. She has created a series of enterprises in Las Vegas that focus on being healthy. She has committed her entire life to helping black women not only realize their power, by trusting themselves enough to make healthy changes. You will learn from her is that it is indeed possible to make money, to do good, to care about others and to create a healthy and sustainable environment where both businesses and people are able to not just survive, but actually thrive. Founder Hustle is clear and centered on its mission to help emerging New Majority founders better understand the path ahead, be adequately prepared, and gain support on their journey. Melissa L. Bradley is Founder of 1863 Ventures, a business development program that accelerates New Majority entrepreneurs (i.e., individuals who have been historically marginalized) from high potential to high growth. Credits:
Founder Hustle is produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment.
Associate Producer is Misa Dayson.
The show was edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela.
Our intro theme, Vuelta al Sol, is by Tomás Novoa.
Credit theme is Glide, by Columbia Nights, and the outro is Ratata by Curtis Cole.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Not all banks are created equal, but here is how some New Majority entrepreneurs have been able to allow bankers to get to know them beyond an application and a bank balance. A recently survey from the Federal Reserve shows how the pandemic has altered the financial landscape for all small businesses. About 85% have experienced financial difficulty since COVID, which is up nearly 20% percentage points from prior years. The majority of applicants needed funds just to cover every day operating expenses. Credits:
Founder Hustle and the Deep Cut are produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment
Edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela
Music is Ratata by Curtis Cole
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
There is a brief reference to suicidal ideation in this episode. Listener discretion is advised. April is the epitome of looking at how a bad situation that many are unable to recover from can turn into a successful business. And understanding how our determination, our will and lots of prayer can help us move from adversity to success. Today Melissa Bradley is with April Harris, the founder of the New Jersey-based company, Keeping You Sweet. April Harris launched Keeping You Sweet in 2017, offering a delicious array of health conscious desserts. Though succeeding in the competitive food industry (where she is one of few African Americans) can be a challenge, April Harris says she learned a motto from her late mother: “My mom used to always say, 'There’s God and then there’s everybody else. I think that puts it all in perspective. I try to treat everyone the same. I just love the Lord and I lead with love, always.'" Founder Hustle is clear and centered on its mission to help emerging New Majority founders better understand the path ahead, be adequately prepared, and gain support on their journey. Melissa L. Bradley is Founder of 1863 Ventures, a business development program that accelerates New Majority entrepreneurs (i.e., individuals who have been historically marginalized) from high potential to high growth. Credits:
Founder Hustle is produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment.
Associate Producer is Misa Dayson.
The show was edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela.
Our intro theme, Vuelta al Sol, is by Tomás Novoa.
Credit theme is Glide, by Columbia Nights, and the outro is Ratata by Curtis Cole.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Founders, take note of your credit scores. Credit scores are often one of the biggest challenges faced by entrepreneurs as they seek capital to support the scaling and sustaining of their businesses. A significant portion of adults in the US have less than ideal credit scores, and 22% have thin credit or no credit at all. We need to make these numbers more accurately reflect the financial capacity of a person. Credits:
Founder Hustle and the Deep Cut are produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment
Edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela
Music is Ratata by Curtis Cole
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Founder Hustle is a podcast series hosted by Melissa Bradley that is by, for, and about New Majority entrepreneurs. New episodes on Tuesdays. MBallou Conde-Kouyate is an accomplished financial service professional and a business strategist. Her career spans over two decades in leadership, management, and banking. She has experience working at two significant fortune 500 financial institutions and a minority-owned bank in the Greater Washington DC Metropolitan area. Founder Hustle is clear and centered on its mission to help emerging New Majority founders better understand the path ahead, be adequately prepared, and gain support on their journey. Melissa L. Bradley is Founder of 1863 Ventures, a business development program that accelerates New Majority entrepreneurs (i.e., individuals who have been historically marginalized) from high potential to high growth. An experienced founder, investor, and entrepreneur, Bradley is a Venture Partner at NextGen Ventures and Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Sidecar Social Finance, a social impact agency that provides impact investing advisory and capital services to individuals, institutions, and social enterprises. Bradley also serves as an advisor to Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women initiative, Milken Institute’s DEI in Asset Management Executive Council, the New Voices Foundation, as well as the Halcyon Fund. Bradley was recently named to the Forbes 50 over 50 who are changing the world. She is the former Co-Chair of the National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and was named one of The Most Entrepreneurial Women Investors in 2018. Credits:
Founder Hustle is produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment.
Associate Producer is Misa Dayson.
The show was edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela.
Our intro theme, Vuelta al Sol, is by Tomás Novoa.
Credit theme is Glide, by Columbia Nights, and the outro is Ratata by Curtis Cole.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 103, of Founder Hustle with Kalilah Wright, CEO of Mess in a Bottle, she shared her personal story about a robbery to her business. She discusses how it disrupted her business, put her life in danger and became a traumatic event that she continues to work through with the help of self-care and therapy. On today's Deep Cut, Melissa dives into the current and historical data about the health and well-being of the New Majority entrepreneur. Credits:
Founder Hustle and the Deep Cut are produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment
Edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela
Music is Ratata by Curtis Cole
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you are someone who has a creative idea or wants to try something new, or recognize that there's something just missing in the world or just missing in your world, Kalilah gives you a road map on how to find the strength, how to take the risks and how to understand that who we are, particularly as founders of color, can leverage our culture as a competitive advantage and totally change how the world sees us, and more importantly, what are the messages they say about us. Founder Hustle is a podcast series hosted by Melissa Bradley that is by, for, and about New Majority entrepreneurs. New episodes on Tuesdays. Kalilah Wright, born in Jamaica W.I., migrated to the United States at the tender age of 4 and was raised in Brooklyn, NY. She is the Founder and CEO of expressive brand Mess in a Bottle. As an accomplished designer and trained architect, she used her Masters degree from Morgan State University and Bachelors of Arts from Penn State University to establish the brand in January 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Mess in a Bottle brand was established to evoke change, question Kalilah’s audience and allow individuals wearing their messages to be vocal without saying anything at all. Each item is designed and printed at her Baltimore in-house studio space. Founder Hustle is clear and centered on its mission to help emerging New Majority founders better understand the path ahead, be adequately prepared, and gain support on their journey. Melissa L. Bradley is Founder of 1863 Ventures, a business development program that accelerates New Majority entrepreneurs (i.e., individuals who have been historically marginalized) from high potential to high growth. An experienced founder, investor, and entrepreneur, Bradley is a Venture Partner at NextGen Ventures and Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Sidecar Social Finance, a social impact agency that provides impact investing advisory and capital services to individuals, institutions, and social enterprises. Bradley also serves as an advisor to Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women initiative, Milken Institute’s DEI in Asset Management Executive Council, the New Voices Foundation, as well as the Halcyon Fund. Bradley was recently named to the Forbes 50 over 50 who are changing the world. She is the former Co-Chair of the National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and was named one of The Most Entrepreneurial Women Investors in 2018. Credits:
Founder Hustle is produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment.
Associate Producer is Misa Dayson.
The show was edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela.
Our intro theme, Vuelta al Sol, is by Tomás Novoa.
Credit theme is Glide, by Columbia Nights, and the outro is Ratata by Curtis Cole.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Have you ever heard of Freedman's Savings and Loan? If not, unfortunately, you're not alone. The Freedman Savings and Trust Company was a private corporation chartered by an act of the United States government signed in 1865 by President Abraham Lincoln. It was created to help the newly freed African-Americans as they endeavored to become financially stable. By June of 1874, it was closed. Here's how that legacy is still with us today. Credits:
Founder Hustle and the Deep Cut are produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment
Edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela
Music is Ratata by Curtis Cole
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Founder Hustle is a podcast series hosted by Melissa Bradley that is by, for, and about New Majority entrepreneurs. New episodes on Tuesdays. But who is Melissa Bradley? And who are New Majority entrepreneurs? We asked Chris Denson of Innovation Crush to interview Melissa get all the questions we had about founding, building, and advising answered before she starts interviewing other guests. Founder Hustle is a new podcast series about founders, investors and brand builders at various stages of their entrepreneurial powers. Founder Hustle is clear and centered on its mission to help emerging New Majority founders better understand the path ahead, be adequately prepared, and gain support on their journey. Melissa L. Bradley is Founder of 1863 Ventures, a business development program that accelerates New Majority entrepreneurs (i.e., individuals who have been historically marginalized) from high potential to high growth. An experienced founder, investor, and entrepreneur, Bradley is a Venture Partner at NextGen Ventures and Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Sidecar Social Finance, a social impact agency that provides impact investing advisory and capital services to individuals, institutions, and social enterprises. Bradley also serves as an advisor to Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women initiative, Milken Institute’s DEI in Asset Management Executive Council, the New Voices Foundation, as well as the Halcyon Fund. Bradley was recently named to the Forbes 50 over 50 who are changing the world. She is the former Co-Chair of the National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and was named one of The Most Entrepreneurial Women Investors in 2018. Credits:
Founder Hustle is produced by Kinetic Energy Entertainment.
Associate Producer is Misa Dayson.
The show was edited and mixed by Ann Kane.
Social media producer is Misako Envela.
Our intro theme, Vuelta al Sol, is by Tomás Novoa.
Credit theme is Glide, by Columbia Nights, and the outro is Ratata by Curtis Cole.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Founder Hustle is a podcast from Sermons Beyond Sunday and Kinetic Energy Entertainment, hosted by Melissa Bradley, founder of 1863 Ventures. Founder Hustle is a podcast series by, for, and about the new majority entrepreneur. Subscribe now and learn what it takes to go from Founder to CEO. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices