Global I Am

Send us Fan MailArchive Episode | Solomon TedlaFor decades, investors looked to Brazil, Russia, India, and China as the world's next great growth story. Today, many of those economies have matured into global economic powers. Increasingly, the world's attention is turning toward a new frontier—Africa.In this compelling archival conversation, Global I AM welcomes Solomon Tedla—impact investor, entrepreneur, technology executive, and renewable energy pioneer—whose work is helping redefine Africa's future through innovation, manufacturing, and sustainable enterprise. From Southern California's technology ecosystem to the emerging industrial centers of Ethiopia, Solomon shares his vision for ending energy poverty while creating jobs, expanding access to clean power, and building businesses that improve lives.Host Patrick A. Howell sits down with his longtime family friend to explore the intersection of culture, capital, technology, and purpose, revealing why Africa may represent one of the greatest investment opportunities of the twenty-first century. Together, they discuss leadership, patient capital, manufacturing, governance, and the entrepreneurial mindset required to transform vision into lasting impact.This episode is more than a conversation about energy. It is an invitation to see Africa not through the lens of need, but through the lens of possibility—a continent rich in talent, innovation, natural resources, and human potential, poised to become one of the defining economic stories of our generation.Because the future doesn't simply happen. It is built—one entrepreneur, one community, and one bold idea at a time.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailHistory is rarely made in public.Before the headlines, before the announcements, before the deals are signed, there are conversations—quiet exchanges between people who see the future before the rest of the world does. These are the conversations where ideas become movements, relationships become institutions, and vision becomes reality.Welcome to The Manifestors, a new series from the Global I Am podcast that takes listeners behind the scenes with the builders, power brokers, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, and visionaries who are quietly shaping the next era of global prosperity.We are living through one of history's great transitions. Old systems are giving way to new ones. New centers of influence are emerging. Technology is redefining economies, while culture, capital, and human relationships are being rewoven across continents. In many ways, we are all pioneers. We are all descendants of those who imagined a better future, and we are all ancestors to generations yet to come.In this inaugural conversation, Patrick A. Howell sits down with Batho B. Motubudi, strategic leader, entrepreneur, and healthcare-financing executive from Botswana. As Head of Business Development at BPOMAS and founder of ventures dedicated to inclusive finance, SME capital formation, and agricultural development, Batho represents a new generation of African leadership focused on building institutions rather than merely participating in them.Together they explore one of the most underappreciated forces shaping the continent's future: remittances. Africans living abroad send home more than $100 billion each year, providing a flow of private capital that, in many countries, exceeds both foreign direct investment and official development assistance. Those funds already sustain families, finance education, improve healthcare, support entrepreneurship, and strengthen local communities. The next question is even more compelling: How can this extraordinary financial current be transformed into long-term investment capital capable of accelerating Africa's economic future?This is not simply a conversation about finance. It is a conversation about possibility, stewardship, leadership, and the people choosing to build tomorrow—today.Because the future isn't waiting to happen.It's being negotiated. The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailThis Week on Global I AM Conversations Why Africa's greatest investment opportunity may already exist in its global diaspora  Understanding the $100+ billion remittance economy  Building financial systems that empower entrepreneurs instead of excluding them  Healthcare finance, venture capital, and economic diversification in Botswana  Why SMEs remain the engine of Africa's future prosperity  Connecting institutional investors with community-led innovation  Becoming pioneers of tomorrow while honoring those who built yesterday Buzzsprout SummaryFinancial strategist and entrepreneur Batho Mophuting joins Global I AM Conversations for an insightful discussion on Africa's evolving financial landscape, diaspora investment, healthcare finance, entrepreneurship, and the transformative potential of remittances. From Botswana to the broader African continent, Batho shares how innovative financial systems can unlock inclusive economic growth while empowering communities, entrepreneurs, and future generations.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailGLOBAL I AM CONVERSATIONS (ARCHIVE SERIES)Clifton L. TaulbertFrom the Mississippi Delta to Black Wall Street: Building Communities That EndureLong before "purpose-driven leadership" became fashionable, Clifton L. Taulbert was living it.Born in the Mississippi Delta during the era of segregation, Taulbert transformed the lessons of a small rural community into a global philosophy of leadership, entrepreneurship, and human dignity. His Pulitzer Prize-nominated memoir, Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored, introduced millions to a world where character, resilience, and community were the greatest forms of wealth.In this timeless Global I AM Conversation, Taulbert reflects on the values that built not only families, but businesses, neighborhoods, and nations. Drawing from his celebrated work Eight Habits of the Heart, he reminds us that trust, generosity, accountability, and service remain the true currencies of lasting success.Today, as President and CEO of Freemount Corporation and Roots Java Coffee, Taulbert continues to demonstrate that commerce and conscience can walk together—connecting African coffee growers to global markets while helping organizations cultivate stronger leaders and stronger communities.His journey—from the Mississippi Delta to Tulsa's historic Black Wall Street—offers an enduring blueprint for entrepreneurs, executives, educators, and anyone seeking to build a life of significance rather than mere success."Being a good person is the best gift you can give your children... Being principled really speaks to your better self." — Clifton L. TaulbertThis archival conversation is more than an interview—it is a masterclass on resilience, values, and the quiet power of principled leadership.The Culture. Our Capital.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailRoots & Vines: Growing Beauty, Business & BelongingSome businesses sell products.Others cultivate experiences.For entrepreneur Ena Jones, founder of Roots & Vines, every bouquet tells a story, every customer interaction is an opportunity to serve, and every business is ultimately about nurturing people.In this heartfelt archival Global I AM Conversations, Ms. Jones shares the remarkable journey of building a purpose-driven business rooted in beauty, wellness, hospitality, and authentic human connection. Drawing upon more than two decades of entrepreneurial experience spanning food service, retail, client care, health and wellness, and nonprofit leadership, she demonstrates that success is not simply measured by revenue, but by the relationships we cultivate along the way.A natural leader with an unwavering commitment to excellence, Jones reflects on the challenges of entrepreneurship, the discipline required to build lasting organizations, and the emotional intelligence necessary to lead both teams and customers with compassion and integrity.As founder of Roots & Vines, she has transformed floral design into something far greater than decoration. Flowers become symbols of celebration, healing, remembrance, reconciliation, and hope—reminding us that beauty itself has the power to strengthen communities and enrich everyday life.Host Patrick A. Howell explores how entrepreneurship is often an act of faith, requiring resilience, creativity, and the courage to build something meaningful from the ground up. Together they discuss leadership, customer care, innovation, technology, and why the businesses that endure are those that never lose sight of the people they serve."The most meaningful businesses don't simply create transactions—they cultivate relationships, trust, and moments people remember."Whether managing complex logistics, leading teams, or designing unforgettable experiences, Ena Jones reminds us that true success begins with service and flourishes through authenticity.The Culture. Our Capital.This Week on Global I AM Conversations Building a purpose-driven business through beauty and service  The entrepreneurial journey behind Roots & Vines  Why emotional intelligence is one of today's greatest leadership skills  Creating memorable customer experiences that become lasting relationships  Lessons from more than twenty years in business, wellness, nonprofit leadership, and hospitality  Leadership, resilience, and growing a company rooted in community  How beauty, creativity, and entrepreneurship can become acts of healing The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailWhat makes a moment sacred? How do memory, ancestry, and spirit converge in a single image?In Part II of our extraordinary conversation with acclaimed photographer and visual historian Chester Higgins Jr., we journey deeper into the spiritual and emotional dimensions of photography and human experience. A longtime photographer for The New York Times and one of the most important chroniclers of the African diaspora, Higgins has spent more than five decades documenting the beauty, dignity, and sacredness of Black life around the world.Joined by host Patrick A. Howell, Higgins reflects on the moments that transcend journalism and become acts of witness—capturing not simply what people looked like, but who they were, what they believed, and the unseen forces that connected them to their ancestors and to one another.Together, they explore the meaning of sacred memory, the responsibility of artists as cultural stewards, the enduring influence of Gordon Parks, and the profound idea that every human being carries within them a divine story waiting to be seen.This is not merely a conversation about photography. It is a meditation on spirit, purpose, remembrance, and the timeless power of seeing ourselves—and each other—with grace.Global I Am. Wisdom & Grace.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailChester Higgins Jr. is not simply a photographer. He is one of the great visual historians of the Black world — a man whose lens transformed memory into sacred text. A longtime staff photographer for The New York Times for nearly four decades, Higgins captured the spiritual architecture of Black life with extraordinary dignity and force. His photographs of Muhammad Ali, Maya Angelou, and Amiri Baraka at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture remain among the most powerful visual records of Black intellect, movement, artistry and spirit. His work lives in museums, archives, history — and in the consciousness of a people still learning to see themselves whole. ()The Chester Higgins episode of Global I Am is now produced. It still needs a touch more work on the production end — but already it breathes. Soulful. Profound. Brilliant. What began as one conversation became two episodes — a rare gift unfolding at the intersection of storytelling, photography, revolt, memory, and the apex of a master’s eye.In this conversation, the lineage becomes clear. Gordon Parks became more than photographer; he became witness. Oracle. The Eye of Horus. The ancient Kemetic symbol of protection, healing, restoration — the eye wounded, then restored. Sun and moon. Spirit and return. Through that tradition, Chester Higgins does not merely photograph people. He illuminates them.His lens is not mechanical. It is spiritual architecture.Spirit. Soul. Excellence.He has become that rare artist who transforms as he reveals — reminding us not only how we looked, but how we loved, endured, struggled, prayed, created, resisted, and remembered. His presence itself becomes an archive of grace.Through Chester Higgins, we remember how to see one another again.Sacred. In the Spirit. Renewed.Global I Am.Wisdom & Grace.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailThe Global I Am's Max Rodriguez welcomes PBS NewsHour anchor and acclaimed author Geoff Bennett for a candid conversation about his memoir Black Out Loud, the power of storytelling, and the role of journalism in strengthening democracy. Bennett reflects on the mentors, experiences, and defining moments that shaped his remarkable journey, offering insights on leadership, representation, and the importance of finding—and using—your voice.Topics Include:• The inspiration behind Black Out Loud• Journalism, democracy, and public trust• Mentorship and the power of representation• Leadership through storytelling• Race, identity, and the American experience• Building bridges across communities and perspectives• Finding your voice and using it with purposeA thoughtful and timely discussion with one of America's most respected journalists on truth, leadership, and the stories that shape our lives.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailGlobal I Am -  Episode 4: Dr. Dennis Kimbro“Think and Grow Rich: The African Choice”In this powerful conversation, renowned author, educator, and economic thinker Dr. Dennis Kimbro joins culturalist Max Rodriguez for a far-reaching discussion on wealth, legacy, vision, and the future of Black economic consciousness.Best known for his groundbreaking adaptation of Napoleon Hill’s philosophy through works such as Think and Grow Rich: A Black Choice, Dr. Kimbro has spent decades exploring the principles of achievement, ownership, discipline, and generational prosperity within the African diaspora.  And he is still only beginning. Together, Kimbro and Rodriguez examine how “being in the black” is not simply an accounting term — but a visionary framework for imagining the future, building institutions, and redefining community wealth in the 21st century.   This episode of Global I Am explores a larger idea increasingly central to the movement: that community itself may be one of the world’s most undervalued asset classes.A conversation on economics, culture, self-determination, and the architecture of possibility.   A conversation around the prosperity of love. The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to the full season of The Global I AM Podcast at the Nexus of THE Culture and Our Capital.   After our first 2 beta-episodes as well as episodes from our vaults earlier this year,  Global I Am will resume every Friday to share information from around the worlds of culture and finance. For our first episode back, we lean into the wisdom of the Pacific Ocean at Point Loma University,  a Christian liberal arts university in San Diego, California, founded in 1902 and rooted in the Wesleyan tradition - Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is named after its location on the Point Loma peninsula in San Diego, California, where it moved in 1973In a rare and layered gathering of minds — Dr. Dean Nelson of Point Loma University, our Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Kenyan leader Wavinya Makai of Cambridge University, global financier Bill Huston and visionary Patrick A. Howell - explore the intersection of literature, leadership, and lived identity.  At the center stands Jesse Jackson as a living force through the people whom he inspired.  When he declared, “I Am Somebody,”  in 1984 and 1989 as a presidential aspirant, he did more than inspire -  he changed the nation, he changed the world. Dean and Max talk about Jamaica Kincaid - a literary force whose voice, rooted in Antigua and expanded across the world, has shaped how we understand place, power and self-definition, from St. John’s to Harvard, from the Caribbean to the global stage.Dean E. Nelson, Ph.D., is a beloved award-winning journalist, author, and 21st Century thought leader who founded and directs the journalism program at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU). He is also the founder and host of the distinguished annual Writer's Symposium by the Sea. This episode moves across continents and disciplines: From the civil rights movement to the global diaspora From economic systems to cultural production From personal testimony to institutional consequenceIt positions Jesse Jackson as what he truly is:The bridge - between Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama, between protest and policy, between voice and power.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailHollywood icon Bill Duke joins the Global I Am Archive in a conversation that examines the intersection of capital and culture. At Global I Am we operate from a simple premise: culture is not separate from markets — culture is markets.Across films in which Duke has acted, directed, or produced, the combined box office impact exceeds $1.6 billion, including projects such as Predator, Sister Act II, Payback, Red Dragon, and X-Men: The Last Stand. Nearly 80% of these films are major studio productions, with over 70% profitable, reflecting the rare combination of artistic mastery and professional discipline that defines Duke’s career.Yet the deeper story is craft. With more credits behind the camera than in front of it, Duke has spent decades refining his work across film and television—from Kojak and Miami Vice to Black Lightning.In Global I Am terms, Bill Duke represents the fusion of story, wisdom, and enterprise - a modern global griot whose legacy reminds us that the oldest technology in human civilization remains the story itself.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful archival episode of Global I Am — At the Nexus of Culture & Our Capital, we sit with Ruth E. Carter, one of the most influential costume designers in cinema history.Originally recorded for our legacy Victory and Noble series Getting Deals Done, this conversation explores Carter’s extraordinary ability to translate cultural memory into visual language — a gift inspired in part by Black Arts Movement icons Sonia Sanchez and Nikki Giovanni.Ruth Carter has long shaped how Black history, imagination, and identity appear on screen — from Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) to Spike Lee classics including Malcolm X (1992) and Do the Right Thing (1989). Here, she reflects on her journey, her craft, and her role as a cultural custodian.This episode lands at a historic moment: Carter has received a new Academy Award nomination for her work on Sinners — a recognition underscoring her enduring impact on American cinema and global cultural storytelling.At its core, Sinners follows twin brothers returning home only to confront a darker reality than the one they left — a powerful meditation on memory, reckoning, and the ghosts we carry.In this archival Global I Am conversation, we explore:• How design becomes narrative and living archive • The responsibility of cultural representation in global media • The lineage of Black aesthetics in film and performance • What it means to stand at the intersection of heritage and innovationCarter’s work reminds us: culture is a language — and those who shape it shape how communities see themselves and the world.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailIn this archival episode of Getting Deals Done, the Mastermind Forum, we look at a larger cosmic picture and identify  opportunities based upon information gleaned from past episodes.  In this case, we note trends by Fortune 500 companies as Viasat Satellite Communications and Newport Beach's Alhambra Technologies with manufacturing in Bahir, Ethiopia. The Africa insurance market reached a value of US $70 billion in 2020. Revenue in the eCommerce market is projected to reach US $43,885 million in 2022. Agriculture takes up 15 percent ($100 billion annually) of the whole continent's GDP and is also the largest economic sector. African infrastructure saw a raise in compound annual rate at 17%. Banking, Oil and Gas, and Telecommunication also showcase markets with astronomical potential.  The new BRIC are centrally located on the continent where all civilization, technology and visions began.We trace Africa’s rise from informal ingenuity to investable scale, with Nigeria’s momentum, Senegal’s smart-city vision, and a people-first ethos that powers real markets. Along the way, we frame Afrofuturism as practical design for dignity, trust, and growth.• Nigeria’s scale, GDP context, and entrepreneurial tribes• Why informal markets are the infrastructure of daily life• Startup capital growth and Fortune 500 attention• Senegal’s smart sustainable city and crypto-enabled services• Afrofuturism as a blueprint for practical innovation• Integrity, purpose, and human potential as market drivers• Partnerships across media, water stewardship, and hospitality• Invitation to our virtual mastermind forumBe sure to join us for our virtual mastermind forum at the Global I AmProsperity is a state of being, not a ledger line on your bank account.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan Mail“It is true that we do not recognize greatness among us. Our measurements of importance are generally faulty and speak mainly to the superficialities of life…”  — Dr. Haki R. Madhubuti, Black Men: Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?In Episode 2 of Global I Am, hosts Sebastien Celestine, Bill Huston, and Patrick A. Howell convene a transatlantic conversation on legacy, sovereignty, capital, and the evolving architecture of African prosperity and wealth.From the enduring political fire of H. Rap Brown - the 1960s Black Power activist, SNCC chairman, and advocate for armed resistance against white oppression - to the cultural revolution ignited by Hip Hop, the dialogue honors movements that insisted upon dignity while reshaping global consciousness and finance.The conversation moves across oceans with Mr. Sebastien Celestine to the GUBA Awards in Barbados and emerging corridors of transatlantic trade, positioning the Caribbean as a modern gateway between Africa and the West. Under the leadership of Mia "Amour" Mottley, Barbados signals a future defined by digital infrastructure, finance enterprise, capital market formation and direct diasporic flight paths linking Nairobi, Accra, and Bridgetown.   Community crowdfunder Bill Huston reflects on the intellectual and economic legacy of the Black Panther era in Cincinnati. Two years after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., a young Huston entered school with the Black Panther's Head Start programs and helped launch a journey toward national leadership in equity and sovereignty through capital formation. Mr. Howell reflects that under Barack Obama, the U.S. economy contracted about 2.6% in 2009 during the Great Recession before returning to growth (roughly 2–2.5% in 2010), while the global economy fell around 2.2% and rebounded near 2.7%, supported by the approximately $831B American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, stabilizing financial systems and demand.  His presidency also served as the model for his successor, President Joe Biden's economic recovery from the Pandemic - a $1.9T American Rescue Plan. So, rather than merely the first black president, Obama is the greatest economic steward of American and global financial markets. Ultimately, Episode 2 is the story of a people engineering their return home - to Peace, Joy, and  our Prosperity.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailAfter the BridgeGeorge Floyd, Congressman John Lewis, and the Rise of the Digital NomadGLOBAL I AM ARCHIVESRecorded in 2020, this archival conversation returns us to one of the most consequential years of the twenty-first century—a moment when pandemic, protest, technology, and cultural transformation converged to reshape the global imagination.Hosted by Tori L. Reid, this early Global I Am conversation (then known as the Global International African Arts Movement) explores the social, political, and spiritual currents that emerged following the murder of George Floyd and the passing of Congressman John Lewis. Together, these events challenged societies around the world to confront questions of justice, citizenship, identity, and what Lewis famously called "good trouble."But this conversation reaches beyond the headlines.It asks a larger question:What kind of world was being born?As work, creativity, and community increasingly transcended geography, the figure of the digital nomad emerged as a symbol of a new era—globally connected, technologically fluent, and culturally agile. For the African diaspora, however, this way of living was not entirely new. Black identity has long been shaped by movement across continents, carrying stories, traditions, and innovation beyond national borders.Joining the discussion is Patrick A. Howell, author of Dispatches from the Vanguard (Repeater Books, London), whose reflections consider whether 2020 represented more than a public health crisis or political inflection point. Was it, instead, the beginning of another cultural renaissance?If the Harlem Renaissance transformed literature and the arts, and the Black Arts Movement helped redefine cultural consciousness, what creative and intellectual movement was quietly taking shape during one of history's most turbulent years?The conversation moves from history to philosophy, exploring cultural stewardship, entrepreneurship, ancestral memory, healing, and the enduring influence of Patrick Howell's father, Dr. Bing P. Howell. It also traces the earliest ideas that would eventually evolve into Global I Am itself—a vision grounded in the belief that culture, creativity, entrepreneurship, capital, and spirit are not separate pursuits, but interconnected forces capable of shaping more humane societies.More than a historical document, this episode captures a movement before it fully understood its own name.It reminds us that every renaissance begins first as a conversation.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.

Send us Fan MailIn this inaugural episode of Global I Am, Patrick A. Howell, Bill Huston, Kate Washington, and Max Rodriguez come together for a conversation about identity, culture, creativity, and capital—and how these forces shape the future of our communities and our shared humanity.Together, they explore the stories that define us, the institutions that sustain us, and the opportunities before us as artists, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, and cultural stewards.Executive Produced by Nicole Hernandez-Colin.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I Am—the Global Independent African Arts Movement—is a global cultural and economic movement dedicated to advancing the creative, intellectual, and financial alignment of the African world within the broader human family.Inspired by the enduring legacy of the Harlem Renaissance and the Harlem Book Fair, Global I Am is a next-generation platform connecting artists, entrepreneurs, investors, educators, and storytellers across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, North and South America.We believe that culture is not merely something we inherit—it is something we invest in.Through literature, music, film, visual arts, journalism, finance, innovation, technology, and community leadership, we seek to cultivate relationships that generate both cultural wealth and economic opportunity.Our mission is simple:To transform cultural capital into community capital.Our InvitationGlobal I Am is more than a podcast.It is a growing international community.We invite artists, investors, institutions, philanthropists, business leaders, and visionaries to help shape this movement.Whether your contribution is creative, strategic, financial, or simply your willingness to participate, you have a place here.Together we can build stronger institutions, richer cultural exchange, and more prosperous communities across the globe.Together, we are building the next renaissance.Perhaps more importantly—Together, we are the next renaissance.For partnerships, collaborations, or ideas:[email protected] Kingdom Re-remembers ItselfThis is indeed a dark brightening hour, when Black souls take flight,As empires of white magic crumble beneath hulking sins.This is the hour when melanin marks the excellence of our skin,& we reverse the voyage home by digital, Transatlantic lightsHere ~ new harmonies rise: a Cave Canem choir,Drummed in iambs, in hexameter fires of griots,Conducted deftly by our Black Cornelius, bronzed Derricotte,From mothers’ midnight dreams ~ breath | love |    powerOur blue's ancestors foretold it: brand-new days, new themes,Eras of trillionaire kingdoms  ~ Benin… Mali rise supreme, Canem built castles of Black word, Black philosophy, Inlaid with golden crowns - Baldwin, Amiri, Giovanni & Langston’s dreams. From this Time of the Fool, a brand new era awakened,“Cave Canem,” we sing - now the call is: come home.But, beware the big dawg - Brooklyn prowler, roamed alone,Sniffing, barking, growling through our age of Gangster Poets.You see? Pulitzers bloomed from grandmothers’ funeral prayers.At Cave Canem, laureates remember sovereignty.Elders paid, endured, and now invoke total Liberty.Book Award finalists kneel & now rise as the Kingdom’s heirs.The Culture. Our Capital.Global I AM Conversations is an ongoing and archived podcasts of the world's builders, artists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, innovators, public servants, and cultural architects whose lives remind us that people—not capital—remain our greatest investment.   Hosted by Patrick A. Howell, Founder & CEO of Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ).  Co-hosts include Max Rodriguez of the Harlem Book Fair, Bill Huston of Crowd Max and Tara Frater, a wealth advisor and attorney in Barbados. Discover more conversations, articles, podcasts and global stories at GMIQ."The future belongs to those who invest in humanity."Global I AM Conversations The Culture. Our Capital. © Global Market Intelligence & Media (GMIQ). All Rights Reserved.