Diversity Discourse

Sidney and Saundra Curry didn't build BC Holdings by accident. Over 25 years, this power couple turned a vision for financial wellness into a thriving business serving federal agencies and Fortune 500 companies, and they did it by treating their marriage like a business and their business like a marriage. In this first episode of 2026, MBE Magazine founder Tanya Isley sits down with the Currys to unpack what it really takes to scale a diverse-owned business. This isn't about "hustle harder." It's about getting your personal finances right before you try to grow your business. It's about using data instead of hope. It's about pricing for the business you're building, not the one you have today. In this episode, you'll learn: Why your personal net worth determines your business net worth The READS framework BC Holdings uses for every major decision How to track data that proves your value (even as a solopreneur) The pricing mistake that keeps minority business owners stuck and how to avoid it Why Sidney and Saundra give a 5% discount (and only 5%) What it takes to work with your spouse for 25 years without losing your mind How BC Holdings is pivoting from B2B to direct-to-consumer with their new Coho platform Sidney and Saundra are BC Holdings' monthly financial strategy contributors for MBE Magazine, where they break down the money conversations most business advisors won't touch. This conversation goes even deeper. If you're a diverse entrepreneur tired of survival mode and ready to build sustainable wealth, this episode is required listening. Featured Guests: Sidney and Saundra Curry, Co-Founders of BC Holdings Host: Tanya Isley, Publisher & CEO of MBE Magazine Subscribe to Diversity Discourse: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Connect with BC Holdings: https://bcholdingsllc.com/ Explore MBE Magazine: www.mbemag.com  

Do you want to explode your business or career growth? Public speaking is a means to establish your expertise and connect with customers on a personal level. In this episode of Diversity Discourse, Liz Wool, founder and CEO of Public Speaking and Presentation Pros, shares her inspiring journey from struggling with a speech impediment to becoming a successful public speaking coach. She discusses the importance of finding one's voice, the power of tailored coaching, and effective audience engagement strategies. Liz emphasizes that public speaking is a vital tool for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and overcome fears. She provides actionable insights on crafting compelling talks, avoiding common mistakes, and building collaborations for success. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to Engage Your Audience Effectively The Power of a Call to Action How to Craft a Winning Talk How to Get Comfortable with Public Speaking How to Define Your Expertise and Goals How to Build Collaborations for Success Join over 6,000 forward-thinking leaders who get weekly insights on sales, leadership, diversity, and success stories from diverse entrepreneurs. Subscribe here.

In this episode of Diversity Discourse, the team from Jayne Agency discusses the intricacies of brand strategy, focusing on the importance of alignment, the need for clarity in branding, and the iterative process of managing a brand. They explore when a business should consider rebranding versus realigning, the metrics that can be used to measure brand effectiveness, and the risks associated with imitating competitors. The conversation also highlights the value of the Devil's Advocate, a tool designed to help business leaders navigate their brand strategy effectively.

In this episode, leadership communications coach Salvatore Manzi discusses the importance of presence in communication and leadership, sharing insights from his experience as a communication coach. He emphasizes that presence can be taught and is essential for effective communication, especially for introverted individuals. The discussion also covers the art of pitching to investors, the significance of agency in communication, and the impact of cultural contexts on how presence is perceived and expressed.

In this conversation, Kevin Larkai and Monté Burrow, the founders of Black Leaf Organic Vodka, discuss their journey in creating the first French organic vodka in the U.S., emphasizing their commitment to sustainability, overcoming barriers in the spirits industry, and the importance of cultural authenticity. They share insights on the challenges faced as Black entrepreneurs, the significance of their accolades, and offer advice to other underrepresented founders. The discussion highlights their vision for the future and the importance of consistency in growth.

This Diversity Discourse conversation with Fatima Smith, founder of Collective 365, explores the mission and operations of Collective 365, an organization dedicated to supporting Black and Brown communities through unrestricted funding and community-driven grants. The discussion highlights the importance of democratizing philanthropy, the challenges faced by grassroots organizations, and innovative approaches to grant-making that prioritize community needs and sustainability. Fatima emphasizes the need for a shift in the philanthropic landscape to better serve marginalized communities and encourages individuals to engage in giving in various forms.

Financial expert Hyacinth Henderson of The Henderson Group discusses the implications of proposed tariffs on small business owners and consumers, emphasizing the need for immediate financial actions to secure one's finances. She outlines investment strategies to protect wealth against inflation, particularly for minority women-owned businesses reliant on imported materials. Hyacinth stresses the importance of building long-term financial resilience and knowing one's financial numbers, while also providing resources for financial planning and support.

Attorney Danielle Dietrich of Potomac Law discusses the implications of recent executive orders on small businesses, particularly those owned by women, minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. She explores the current legal landscape, the safety of existing certifications, and practical steps for businesses to safeguard their interests amidst uncertainty. The conversation also touches on the potential for legal battles and the importance of state laws in the face of federal changes.

In this conversation, Paola Santana, CEO of GLASS Commerce, discusses the innovative approach of her GovTech company in transforming government procurement processes to empower small businesses. She explains how the G-Commerce platform simplifies the purchasing process for government buyers while enabling small businesses, particularly minority and women-owned, to easily access government contracts. The discussion highlights the importance of vendor verification, the success stories of small businesses benefiting from the platform, and how interested businesses can get involved.

Ralph G. Moore, founder and president of Ralph G. Moore and Associates (RGMA), and Reginald Layton, RGMA chief technology officer, discuss how RGMA digitized its playbook through its new RGMA Digital Suite, which leverages the company’s RGMA Five Levels of Supplier Diversity Maturity Model™. Discover how this innovative Digital Suite is revolutionizing supplier diversity by providing corporations with powerful tools to enhance diverse supplier performance and operational excellence. Ralph and Reggie also discuss the economic impact of diverse suppliers and how to counter the uncertainty of the future of supplier diversity.

In this episode, Britt Hogue, founder of The Collective Good, discusses the evolving landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in corporate settings. She emphasizes the importance of understanding DEI as core human values and the necessity for organizations to adapt their approaches amidst societal pushback. Britt highlights the role of corporate culture in fostering inclusivity and the impact of consumer expectations on corporate decisions. She also shares her journey from Wall Street to social impact, advocating for a rebranding of DEI initiatives to maintain their effectiveness in a polarized environment.

In this conversation, MBE Magazine Publisher Tanya Isley interviews Omar Harris, a former pharmaceutical general manager and author, about his innovative approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) through J.E.D.I leadership. Harris critiques the traditional HR-centric approach to DEI, advocating for a broader organizational commitment to these principles. He introduces the concept of J.E.D.I leadership as a problem-solving framework that addresses injustices within organizations. Harris also discusses his latest book, “The J.E.D.I Leaders Playbook,” which serves as a guide for leaders to navigate social issues and foster inclusive environments. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the “why” behind DEI efforts and the need for a strategic approach to implementing change.

In this episode, Felicia Kelly shares her journey of empowerment and self-discovery through the Rich Method for Living. After facing personal challenges, including a tragic loss and a health diagnosis, Felicia emphasizes the importance of redefining wealth beyond monetary success. She discusses the impact of high-stress environments on personal relationships and the significance of healing and self-care. Felicia encourages listeners to build meaningful relationships and take steps towards living a rich life, emphasizing that true wealth encompasses peace, joy, and fulfillment in all areas of life.

In this episode of Money Mindset, host Alleson Tate speaks with Charese Chambers, an award-winning fractional CFO and founder of Financial Fancy. They discuss the importance of financial management for entrepreneurs, the role of a fractional CFO, and the significance of understanding profit and loss statements. Charese shares insights on navigating business challenges and emphasizes the need for intentional spending and budgeting. The conversation also touches on the importance of business coaches and the empowerment that comes from financial awareness, particularly for Black and brown businesses.

In this episode, Alleson Tate and Cole Williams discuss real estate investing as a path to building wealth. They explore the reasons why entrepreneurs are interested in real estate, such as diversification and the potential for generational wealth. Cole shares his expertise in real estate investing, particularly in acquisition wholesale strategies. They discuss how to get started in real estate investing, including the importance of mindset, research, and education. They also cover financing options, including FHA loans and leveraging other people's money. Cole emphasizes the need for due diligence, avoiding common pitfalls, and maintaining integrity in the industry.

Brandi Chew, chief marketing officer at Brandit Strategies, realized in order to change the impact she makes in her space, she had to first change the way she thought about executing day-to-day responsibilities—and that’s exactly what she did. Along Brandi’s journey to deliver on her brand promise, which she claims is the key to business success, she continues to fuel her passion for growth by combating blanket marketing efforts with scalable strategies that leverage data and insights in order to directly elevate the communities she serves.

Crystal Foote is the CEO of Digital Culture Group, an Atlanta-based adtech company that helps advertisers and agencies “discover, strategize, and reach audiences with authenticity to build long-lasting relationships.   She recently released a new children’s book titled “The Inclusivity Superheroes: A Tale of Diversity and Unity." Recognizing the importance of speaking to younger generations, the advertising executive strategically chose to market to children to help instill these values, using the relatable theme of superheroes. Listen to our conversation with Crystal as we discuss starting her career in advertising, what she wants to accomplish with her book, and carrying on her Civil War hero uncle’s legacy.

Julie Bee is the author of Burned: How Business Owners Can Overcome Burnout and Fuel Success. A business owner burnout strategist, Bee has been dubbed the “small business fixer” by her clients and peers. With over 15 years in the entrepreneurial field, she has solidified her reputation as a dynamic consultant, a riveting speaker, and a leader who sheds light on the darker side of business ownership. She joins Diversity Discourse to discuss how entrepreneurs can recognize and overcome burnout.

In this episode, Alleson Tate interviews Aja Evans, a licensed mental health counselor and financial therapist, about how mental health impacts finances. They discuss the definition of financial therapy and how it differs from traditional therapy and financial advice. Aja explains that financial therapy focuses on understanding the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors around money and how they impact one's relationship with money. They also discuss the role of financial therapists in partnership with financial advisors. Aja shares her personal financial awakening and how it influenced her approach to financial therapy. They explore the connection between mental health and financial decisions and behaviors, as well as common signs of financial anxiety or stress. Aja provides techniques to deal with financial stress, including knowing your numbers, understanding your emotions, and creating a plan.

This episode of Money Mindset focuses on taxes and investing in personal development. Alleson Tate discusses the two tax seasons—tax paying season and tax planning season—and emphasizes the importance of knowing in advance how much you will owe. She also explores different ways business owners can invest in themselves to lower their tax bills, provides tips on how to maximize tax deductions for business travel, and more.

Brooke Foley of Jayne Agency and Lasonya Berry, CEO of McPherson, Berry & Associates talk about the interconnectedness between a founder’s vision and brand promise, and how those work together to create impact. They also discuss why keeping your promises now is critical for the future of your business and for the next generation of emerging entrepreneurs in the diverse supply chain.

The Burns Brothers have built an empire of businesses focused on DEI and making a positive impact on the social issues impacting minorities. Their businesses employ over 100 people across eight multi-million dollar, Black-owned businesses. The Burns Brothers have proven in just four short years that focusing on the principles of DEI, in contrast with some prevailing narratives is the best way to run a business in the 2024 landscape.  And in this episode, my guest co-host Brian Martin of BriSTAR and I talk with them about that and how their empire benefited from those principles.

In this episode, Allison Tate and Emily Shull discuss mentally preparing for your first million dollars. They explore common misconceptions about achieving a million-dollar year and how to shift mindset to overcome these misconceptions. Emily emphasizes the importance of understanding personal money beliefs and how they can hinder success. She provides strategies for identifying and making connections with past experiences that may be impacting financial growth. Emily also highlights the role of meditation in understanding thoughts and beliefs. The conversation concludes with a discussion on building a team of advisors for long-term success.

MBE magazine contributor Alleson Tate, certified financial planner and owner of Avere Wealth Management, talks to special guest Rickie Taylor of Retirement Plan Consultants about how diverse business owners can ensure they’re adequately planning for their financial future. You can get more insights and information from Alleson at https://mbemag.com/money-mindset-alleson-tate/. And, sign up for her email newsletter, Money Mindset, to receive financial tips in your inbox every two weeks. Also, this episode’s sponsor is Comcast RISE, a grant program built to help businesses and their communities thrive with a focus on economic growth. Comcast RISE has awarded 13,500 small businesses to date with over $125 million in monetary, marketing, and technology grants.  To find Comcast RISE businesses near you, visit https://bit.ly/RISEQ124_MBE_Pod.

Ryan Renteria is a CEO coach, diverse board director, public speaker, and the founder of Stretch Five, a leading executive coaching firm. Ryan is the author of a book called Lead Without Burnout: Growth with Less Stress for You and Your Team, which offers A Proven Process for Achieving Work/Life Optimization, Growing Your Business More Effectively, & Enhancing Well-Being for You & Your Team He joined us to chat about his book as well as the importance of corporate leaders and entrepreneurs avoiding burnout and how they can support their employees in avoiding burnout and other work-related mental health issues.

Alleson Tate, a certified financial planner and the founder and owner of Avere Wealth Management in the Atlanta area, is joining the MBE magazine team as a financial content contributor. Alleson will provide financial content to help you do better business in our print magazine, our website, here on Diversity Discourse, and in a dedicated newsletter. In this episode, Alleson talks about what she has planned for this year and how she helps business owners with their financial issues.

In our Winter 2024 installment of Beyond the Logo, Brooke Foley chats with Nicole Middendorf, Minneapolis’s financial guru and well-known curator of the “Live It List”. Nicole found herself as a financial advisor compromising all that felt important to her, inside of a relationship that was removing her ability to live life with the basics: security and stability. Once she found her way past that she decided to look at life as one big “LIVE IT” list. Nicole shares her expertise on how brand — and life choices — are positively impacted with financial discipline, which sets us up to achieve financial success. Financial success empowers us to live, love and laugh the way we envision, and allows us to demonstrate our values, beliefs and have experiences in the way that suits us - both personally as individuals, and professionally as entrepreneurs.  You can also read more from Nicole in our Winter 2024 print issue at https://digital.mbemag.com.

For Kai Fuentes, president and CEO of Ebony Marketing Systems (EMS), building a thriving business and providing her clients with high-quality multicultural market research comes down to two key pieces of advice her parents gave her: “Don’t give up,” and “Your word is your bond.”   In this episode, Kai discusses how tenacity and integrity are essential to her business and the entrepreneurship legacy her mother, the original founder of EMS, left her. Also, this episode’s sponsor is Comcast RISE, a grant program built to help businesses and their communities thrive with a focus on economic growth. Comcast RISE has awarded 13,500 small businesses to date with over $125 million in monetary, marketing, and technology grants.  To find Comcast RISE businesses near you, visit https://bit.ly/RISEQ423_MBE_Pod.

While some businesses took a huge hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ash Sharma and James Baker of popular travel brand Cincha used this challenge to grow to a multimillion-dollar business and be featured on the latest season of Shark Tank and even made a deal with Barbara Corcoran for their innovative travel belts.

We’re continuing our Beyond the Logo series with Jayne Agency to bring more entrepreneurial insights to the #NEXTGEN. This episode, Measuring Promise Through Impact – Analytics and Outcomes, features Mike Anguiano, serial entrepreneur, and the brain behind SupplyHive™– unleashing his insights on everything from building your career from the ground up, to analytics and data, and leveraging diversity in every which way. 

Jacqueline Moore is the founder, CEO and chairman of CMRignite, Wisconsin’s largest Black-owned communications agency. The agency is celebrating 28 years of business and Jacque was recently awarded the Diversity in Business Lifetime Achievement Award by the Milwaukee Business Journal. The firm also has been named One of the Fastest Growing Private Companies by INC 5000 for the past three years. Be prepared to gain some insights into how Jacque has maintained excellence for almost 30 years and her thoughts on bringing more minority-owned agencies into the advertising and marketing supplier diversity pipeline.

Brandon Calloway is CEO and co-founder of G.I.F.T., Generating Income for Tomorrow, a startup non-profit which grows Black-owned businesses in Kansas City's urban core with a new model for growth. Brandon shares how G.I.F.T. has given $1,237,000 to 63 Black-owned businesses in Kansas City's urban core in the past three years.  SUPPORT THE SHOW: Please Subscribe to help support the show! Share to your IG stories & follow along on Instagram @mbemagazine.

In this episode of our Beyond The Logo content series with The Jayne Agency, Brooke Foley catches up with Michael Baldini, of Rangam, to talk about how his personal brand and the brands he represents all intertwine and how knowing his audience is his super power as a Power Promise Keeper. Michael also discusses how he regulates his personal and professional brand and other powerful insights.

In another episode of our Beyond The Logo content series with The Jayne Agency, Brooke Foley discusses promise keepers and the power of brand positioning. She’s joined by Pam Isom, founder of ICE Safety Solutions, and they’re going to talk more about the impact their businesses have on the communities and world around them based on promise and impact.

As part of our Beyond The Logo content series with The Jayne Agency, Brooke Foley interviews Jade Melvin. Jade served the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) organization for over 12 years in various positions and an awardee of the Top 50 Women Leaders of Dallas for 2023. Jade shares her perspective on all sides of the buy/sell, and how she sees that affecting so many promises through the coming year, and how diversity both visible and invisible feeds into that.

Whether in the workplace or the supply chain, inclusion and diversity are focused, hot-button issues for the majority of corporations. And as the national culture shifts, we aim to discuss some of those issues on this podcast. In this episode, Tanya Isley, publisher of MBE magazine and Brian Martin, the founder of BriStar Collective and a member of the Human Rights Campaign’s National Board of Governors as well as the HRC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Liaison for the Las Vegas community, discuss what to continue to expect on the Diversity Discourse journey.

In this episode, Jacqueline Hayes, MBA, PCM®, principal and chief marketing strategist of Crayons & Marketers, discusses essential content marketing tips for business of all sizes and with all budgets. She also tells us about a tool her company produces to ensure your business website is ADA accessible. And she provides insight into her firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Marketing Assessment, an enterprise-level self-assessment tool designed to help organizations identify opportunities for increasing inclusion of and engagement with diverse audiences. Crayons & Marketers is a full-service marketing agency in Nashville that helps companies, nonprofits, and government agencies attract and engage audiences through culturally sensitive content marketing. Jacqui was also a 2019 MBE magazine WBE Who Rocks!

William Randall is the owner and chief executive officer of Boateng Logistics. He is also a logistics expert and international business executive with a proven history of identifying innovative “outside-the-box” approaches. William has built a company that focuses on providing transportation and logistics to its customers across the globe. Recently, MBE magazine spoke with him about entrepreneurship and his commitment to helping other MBEs build and scale their businesses, but also his ventures in providing educational opportunities to children who otherwise would not have them.

As entrepreneurs approach retirement, they have important choices to make about the future of their businesses—such as whether to sell, close a business down, or pass it on to a family member.  But for the founders of minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs), this succession planning takes on a deeper significance. Owners might want their business to maintain minority or female ownership, or to continue serving a community that has always supported them. Parents might view their business as a family legacy that can generate wealth for generations to come.   Monty Bruell, a partner at business consulting firm Oaklyn Consulting, has more than 25 years’ experience as an entrepreneur, business consultant and investment advisor. In this episode, Monty discusses why legacy and succession planning are especially important for MWBEs.

Guests: Heather Cox and Liz Whitehead, Diversity Masterminds. They’ll discuss their joint venture  Diversity Masterminds, an 8-part  series designed to help minority and women business owners strategically leverage their national diversity certification.

Guest: Heather Cox, Certify My Company. Governments and corporations throughout the U.S. often set aside a certain percentage of their contract budgets for minority- and women-owned businesses. However, there’s often a requirement that these businesses be certified as minority and/or women-owned. Heather Cox, the co-founder and president of Certify My Company, discusses what certification is, the process to get certified and the advantages and benefits of certification.

Guests: Sidney and Saundra Curry, BC Holdings. They have created an online comprehensive financial learning management system that has more than 230 mini-lessons in topics such as wealth management planning, goal setting, and investment education. Today, we speak with them on empowering people to build, manage, maintain and grow their individual bottom lines.

Guest: Ingrid Watkins, IW Consulting. There are very few people who understand all of the various perspectives and nuances of supplier diversity more than Ingrid Watkins, the principal and chief diversity strategist at IW Consulting Group, an Atlanta-based consulting firm, specializing in corporate diversity program solutions to some of the country’s top corporations. Before launching her own firm, Ingrid spent more than 15 years of her corporate career advocating for the utilization of minority owned businesses in contract opportunities at The Coca-Cola Company. Join us as we discuss some of the challenges corporations face in creating supplier diversity programs that move the needle beyond meeting spend goals as well as what they can do to developing long-term partnerships with diverse businesses.

Whether in the workplace or the supply chain, inclusion and diversity are focused, hot-button issues for the majority of corporations. And as the national culture shifts, we aim to discuss some of those issues on this podcast. In our inaugural episode, Tanya Isley, publisher of MBE Magazine, and Brian Martin, the founder of BriStar Collective and a member of the Human Rights Campaign’s National Board of Governors as well as the HRC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Liaison for the Las Vegas community, discuss what to expect on the diversity discourse journey.