1 00:00:06,235 --> 00:00:08,645 - Welcome to Balancing Life's Issues, the podcast. 2 00:00:09,055 --> 00:00:11,285 Today we're here to continue the celebration 3 00:00:11,305 --> 00:00:12,365 of Black History Month, 4 00:00:12,425 --> 00:00:14,605 and of course, I'm joined by Senior Trainer 5 00:00:14,865 --> 00:00:17,765 and DEIB contributor James Francis. How are you today? 6 00:00:18,535 --> 00:00:20,805 - Doing well, Kai. Doing well. Thanks for having me. 7 00:00:21,345 --> 00:00:22,805 - Of course. So, today we wanted 8 00:00:22,805 --> 00:00:24,725 to talk about black entrepreneurship 9 00:00:25,025 --> 00:00:26,725 by sharing some facts with all of you. 10 00:00:26,785 --> 00:00:29,205 And, and later on we'll be introducing today's guest, 11 00:00:29,635 --> 00:00:31,525 Letitia b Russell, as well as a bit 12 00:00:31,525 --> 00:00:33,885 of a dive into the first black female CEO 13 00:00:34,105 --> 00:00:35,605 of a Fortune 500 company. 14 00:00:35,745 --> 00:00:37,285 Do you happen to know who that is, James? 15 00:00:38,405 --> 00:00:40,445 - I have an idea, but I'm not sure. . 16 00:00:40,915 --> 00:00:43,285 - Okay, great. Well, we'll, I'll, I'll spoil it later on. 17 00:00:43,425 --> 00:00:45,405 So, um, and the stats I'm about 18 00:00:45,405 --> 00:00:48,525 to share come from a brookings.edu research article titled, 19 00:00:48,945 --> 00:00:50,765 who is Driving Black Business Growth. 20 00:00:51,225 --> 00:00:53,565 So James, I got a question for you. Ready? Shoot, 21 00:00:53,865 --> 00:00:54,865 - Go for - It. 22 00:00:54,865 --> 00:00:55,445 All right. Did you know that 23 00:00:55,445 --> 00:00:59,765 before the COVID-19 pandemic black owned business was on the 24 00:00:59,765 --> 00:01:02,645 rise having increased by 13.64%? 25 00:01:03,645 --> 00:01:05,965 - Absolutely. I believe that it was even increased in my 26 00:01:05,965 --> 00:01:07,285 household with my wife 27 00:01:07,345 --> 00:01:08,885 and my children. So I believe that. 28 00:01:08,905 --> 00:01:10,765 - Oh, that's amazing to hear. Fantastic. 29 00:01:11,435 --> 00:01:12,485 Okay, so lemme ask you this. 30 00:01:13,105 --> 00:01:15,365 If black business ownership continues 31 00:01:15,365 --> 00:01:16,405 to grow at its current rate, 32 00:01:16,865 --> 00:01:19,245 how long do you think it would take to become equitable 33 00:01:19,355 --> 00:01:21,965 with the proportion of white business owners in America? 34 00:01:23,565 --> 00:01:27,165 - Honestly, uh, my guess would easily be at least a hundred 35 00:01:27,215 --> 00:01:28,565 years, if not more. 36 00:01:29,955 --> 00:01:32,765 - It'd be a lot higher than that 256 years. Wow. 37 00:01:33,105 --> 00:01:34,365 At the current growth rate 38 00:01:34,505 --> 00:01:37,525 to reach an equitable proportion of white business owners. 39 00:01:38,425 --> 00:01:41,685 And all this research that has come out is recent 40 00:01:41,685 --> 00:01:43,765 because it stems from the murder of George Floyd. 41 00:01:44,305 --> 00:01:46,605 Uh, the social justice movement that resulted 42 00:01:47,185 --> 00:01:49,845 was not only calling out policing, it was also calling, 43 00:01:49,845 --> 00:01:51,205 calling out the inequities 44 00:01:51,475 --> 00:01:53,645 that black business owners were facing at 45 00:01:53,645 --> 00:01:55,685 that time when it came to the government loans 46 00:01:55,795 --> 00:01:58,285 that were helping businesses stay stay afloat. 47 00:01:58,665 --> 00:02:02,245 So, last question. Did black women owned employer businesses 48 00:02:02,355 --> 00:02:05,445 outpace women owned businesses or black owned businesses? 49 00:02:05,505 --> 00:02:09,085 - It outpaced both based on the friend and family around me. 50 00:02:09,185 --> 00:02:10,365 - It outpaced both. All right, great. 51 00:02:10,365 --> 00:02:11,885 It was a trick question. It was both. 52 00:02:11,985 --> 00:02:14,645 And that is a perfect segue into today's guess. 53 00:02:15,035 --> 00:02:17,645 Letitia b Russell is a renowned emotional wellness 54 00:02:17,745 --> 00:02:20,845 and leadership coach, author and transformational speaker 55 00:02:21,265 --> 00:02:24,365 and founder of Letitia b Russell, LLC, and Russell. 56 00:02:24,365 --> 00:02:25,805 Craig will HR Consulting. 57 00:02:32,155 --> 00:02:33,805 Welcome to the podcast, Leticia. 58 00:02:33,935 --> 00:02:34,965 - Thank you for having me. 59 00:02:35,105 --> 00:02:36,365 - Of course. Can you tell us a 60 00:02:36,365 --> 00:02:37,405 little bit about the work you do? 61 00:02:38,085 --> 00:02:39,365 - Absolutely. I would love to. 62 00:02:39,865 --> 00:02:42,885 So ultimately I serve as, um, an emotional wellness coach 63 00:02:43,015 --> 00:02:45,885 where I really support all things mental health 64 00:02:46,265 --> 00:02:49,685 and emotional wellness and fostering that in organizations. 65 00:02:50,185 --> 00:02:52,085 And earlier you talked about covid, right? 66 00:02:52,315 --> 00:02:54,805 Even though these things existed pre covid, 67 00:02:55,315 --> 00:02:58,045 they really exist and show up today in organizations. 68 00:02:58,465 --> 00:03:00,205 And so my goal and job 69 00:03:00,265 --> 00:03:04,285 and role is really to help organizations navigate 70 00:03:04,285 --> 00:03:06,565 that while they increase their productivity, retention, 71 00:03:06,665 --> 00:03:09,045 and hopefully preventing the quiet quitting 72 00:03:09,045 --> 00:03:10,245 that you hear about as well. 73 00:03:10,635 --> 00:03:12,725 - Yeah, yeah. No, and like your role is so vital 74 00:03:12,725 --> 00:03:15,725 because we are seeing businesses really pivot 75 00:03:15,825 --> 00:03:18,485 to emotional wellness and providing that as a benefit. 76 00:03:18,505 --> 00:03:22,365 And it sounds like you are a crucial piece in that puzzle 77 00:03:22,465 --> 00:03:24,205 to getting businesses to really open 78 00:03:24,205 --> 00:03:25,765 themselves up to that opportunity. 79 00:03:25,905 --> 00:03:27,925 So thanks again for being here. Absolutely. 80 00:03:27,945 --> 00:03:30,285 And uh, James, I know you have a whole list 81 00:03:30,285 --> 00:03:32,085 of questions ready to go, , 82 00:03:32,085 --> 00:03:33,325 so I'm gonna pass out all over to you. 83 00:03:33,425 --> 00:03:34,425 So go ahead James. 84 00:03:35,485 --> 00:03:39,245 - Absolutely, absolutely. And Letitia, please let me know 85 00:03:40,235 --> 00:03:42,525 what does Black History Month mean to you? 86 00:03:43,625 --> 00:03:46,325 - Ooh, , you know so much, right? 87 00:03:46,325 --> 00:03:48,285 Black history is really for me, right? 88 00:03:48,315 --> 00:03:51,405 It's American history in every aspect of the word. 89 00:03:51,865 --> 00:03:53,445 And so it's black excellence 90 00:03:53,785 --> 00:03:56,205 and to me it's really been woven into the fabric 91 00:03:56,425 --> 00:03:57,525 of just this country. 92 00:03:58,185 --> 00:04:00,285 And so when you think about just black history, 93 00:04:00,305 --> 00:04:01,845 the first person that sacrificed 94 00:04:01,845 --> 00:04:02,965 their life was a black person. 95 00:04:03,505 --> 00:04:05,925 And so we as a culture, you know, have 96 00:04:05,925 --> 00:04:07,845 to really stop tiptoeing around having 97 00:04:07,905 --> 00:04:10,365 to explain the black contributions of, you know, 98 00:04:10,365 --> 00:04:11,845 this country, um, a fear 99 00:04:11,845 --> 00:04:13,845 of really making others uncomfortable. 100 00:04:14,265 --> 00:04:15,805 And so when you think about black history 101 00:04:15,805 --> 00:04:16,885 and when you say it, I mean, 102 00:04:16,885 --> 00:04:19,525 it is truly what's woven into us day in and day out. 103 00:04:20,165 --> 00:04:21,965 - Absolutely. Becoming a business owner. 104 00:04:22,435 --> 00:04:25,485 What role has education played in your journey overall? 105 00:04:26,145 --> 00:04:31,125 - You know, education is, it shows me education has been, 106 00:04:31,125 --> 00:04:32,645 let me backtrack, has been great, 107 00:04:33,225 --> 00:04:36,685 but real life experiences are the things that have shown, 108 00:04:36,685 --> 00:04:39,285 like really shown me what it's made of, right? 109 00:04:39,465 --> 00:04:42,085 And so, mm-hmm, the contributions around just 110 00:04:42,085 --> 00:04:44,125 what we've done, the struggles, um, 111 00:04:44,145 --> 00:04:45,605 the equity, the inclusions. 112 00:04:45,605 --> 00:04:48,325 And so while we get those things in education, 113 00:04:48,495 --> 00:04:51,285 let's be honest, we get them in real life 114 00:04:51,305 --> 00:04:52,925 and real world experiences 115 00:04:53,065 --> 00:04:55,685 and the things that we see, um, day in 116 00:04:55,685 --> 00:04:56,765 and day out. Wonderful. 117 00:04:56,905 --> 00:04:58,645 - And, and as a black woman, 118 00:04:59,115 --> 00:05:02,885 what role has resiliency played in becoming a business owner 119 00:05:03,025 --> 00:05:06,205 and, and just an experienced trainer overall? Yeah. 120 00:05:06,625 --> 00:05:08,405 - Um, it, it's vital. 121 00:05:08,675 --> 00:05:11,045 It's, it's at the top of everything that I do 122 00:05:11,045 --> 00:05:13,565 because as an entrepreneur, as a business owner, 123 00:05:14,065 --> 00:05:16,605 you'll likely get more nos than yeses, right? 124 00:05:16,665 --> 00:05:18,845 And so you've got to figure out how to pivot 125 00:05:19,265 --> 00:05:22,365 and turn that no into what lesson do I take from this 126 00:05:22,785 --> 00:05:25,125 and do better or do it differently the next time. 127 00:05:25,665 --> 00:05:27,605 And so in all things that we do, 128 00:05:27,825 --> 00:05:30,405 and I have to keep using the word shrink, so many times 129 00:05:31,145 --> 00:05:33,125 we do find ourselves shrinking 130 00:05:33,315 --> 00:05:35,885 because we are so afraid of getting the, no, 131 00:05:36,245 --> 00:05:38,485 I don't wanna bug anybody, I don't wanna be aggressive, 132 00:05:38,945 --> 00:05:41,365 but I always tell people, you have to ask yourself 133 00:05:41,385 --> 00:05:44,365 and tell yourself that there is a very stark difference 134 00:05:44,365 --> 00:05:46,565 between being assertive and being aggressive. 135 00:05:46,565 --> 00:05:49,005 Right? Absolutely. And so that follow through is everything 136 00:05:49,005 --> 00:05:50,365 that resiliency is everything. 137 00:05:50,385 --> 00:05:52,765 And so that is at the top of everything that I do. Can we 138 00:05:52,765 --> 00:05:54,485 - Circle that point a little bit, Letitia, for us? 139 00:05:54,485 --> 00:05:55,565 Because I, I think 140 00:05:55,585 --> 00:05:59,325 for the listeners it's like understanding like the systemic 141 00:05:59,325 --> 00:06:01,565 issues that black Americans face and, 142 00:06:01,565 --> 00:06:03,005 and like having a seat at the table 143 00:06:03,105 --> 00:06:04,605 and you know, the version of self 144 00:06:04,605 --> 00:06:05,845 that we bring to the workplace. 145 00:06:06,595 --> 00:06:09,565 - Yeah. So, you know, thank you for that. 146 00:06:09,745 --> 00:06:12,965 And you hear the terminology a lot about, you know, 147 00:06:13,325 --> 00:06:16,485 creating your seat at the table and, but it's real, right? 148 00:06:16,545 --> 00:06:19,085 And I can't remember when we, when we really started 149 00:06:19,505 --> 00:06:22,285 to say it even more, but let's talk about it. 150 00:06:22,285 --> 00:06:24,605 And what that really means is a lot 151 00:06:24,605 --> 00:06:26,445 of times you'll hear the terminology, right? 152 00:06:26,505 --> 00:06:28,805 You often hear people say, let's create 153 00:06:28,805 --> 00:06:30,325 that seat at the table, but what does it mean? 154 00:06:30,545 --> 00:06:33,485 And to me it means not shrinking, it means speaking up. 155 00:06:33,545 --> 00:06:36,885 It means, you know, when you are put in a situation 156 00:06:36,885 --> 00:06:38,605 where yeah, you are, you are 157 00:06:38,925 --> 00:06:40,605 provided an opportunity to speak 158 00:06:40,945 --> 00:06:43,845 and you have played out this speech in your head, right? 159 00:06:43,985 --> 00:06:46,645 I'm gonna show up 110% mm-Hmm. . 160 00:06:46,645 --> 00:06:49,125 But then when you step in front of a room or into a room 161 00:06:49,545 --> 00:06:52,765 and everybody that you look at are your, 162 00:06:52,765 --> 00:06:53,965 your white peers, right? 163 00:06:54,385 --> 00:06:55,805 And so we tend to shrink 164 00:06:55,905 --> 00:06:57,125 and we say 30% 165 00:06:57,125 --> 00:06:59,525 of what's on our mind when in essence we really 166 00:06:59,595 --> 00:07:00,845 want it to say a hundred percent. 167 00:07:01,265 --> 00:07:04,645 And so I always say, you know, fear is really being judged. 168 00:07:04,715 --> 00:07:06,565 It's not being seen, it's not being heard. 169 00:07:07,025 --> 00:07:10,045 But I challenge people to just really say, you know, 170 00:07:10,145 --> 00:07:14,565 it is time for me to step out of my comfort zone, right? 171 00:07:14,665 --> 00:07:16,805 And get comfortable with being uncomfortable. 172 00:07:17,225 --> 00:07:19,565 And that is what creating a seat at the table is. 173 00:07:19,965 --> 00:07:21,925 - I mean, you just said so many profound things 174 00:07:22,065 --> 00:07:23,645 and something that jumped out to me. 175 00:07:24,035 --> 00:07:25,365 It's never a loss, it's a lesson. 176 00:07:26,025 --> 00:07:27,165 And with these lessons, 177 00:07:28,735 --> 00:07:31,725 where do you feel we are today when it comes to equity? 178 00:07:32,035 --> 00:07:35,125 - Yeah. Um, we're behind, right? 179 00:07:35,305 --> 00:07:39,845 Um, it, it's, it saddens me to see where we are. 180 00:07:40,305 --> 00:07:43,205 Um, it's not that, you know, 181 00:07:43,205 --> 00:07:47,765 and I'll bring up the fact that we are as women and, 182 00:07:47,905 --> 00:07:49,005 and as a black race, 183 00:07:49,325 --> 00:07:51,885 I think we are paid less in many instances, right? 184 00:07:52,565 --> 00:07:57,045 I do think in many instances we are fearful of stepping up 185 00:07:57,225 --> 00:08:00,605 and talking and showcasing who we are 186 00:08:00,865 --> 00:08:02,205 and the knowledge that we have 187 00:08:02,555 --> 00:08:05,445 because we have been told 188 00:08:05,595 --> 00:08:07,685 that we are less than, right? 189 00:08:07,935 --> 00:08:11,165 Again, so this isn't every everybody's story, 190 00:08:11,265 --> 00:08:13,125 but it's a lot of people's story, right? 191 00:08:13,625 --> 00:08:17,485 And so we feel that we have to continually prove ourselves 192 00:08:18,075 --> 00:08:20,725 when our white counterparts do not 193 00:08:20,725 --> 00:08:22,205 necessarily have to do the same. 194 00:08:22,785 --> 00:08:24,965 And so I do feel that we are behind 195 00:08:25,675 --> 00:08:26,965 when it comes to those things. 196 00:08:27,025 --> 00:08:30,845 And that's why it is so important to just make sure 197 00:08:30,845 --> 00:08:32,565 that we continue to show up, right? 198 00:08:32,565 --> 00:08:36,565 Making sure that we continue to mentor and coach 199 00:08:36,625 --> 00:08:38,205 and bring people along with us. 200 00:08:38,445 --> 00:08:41,325 I think sometimes we have this mentality that, man, I can't, 201 00:08:41,465 --> 00:08:43,885 you know, give away what I know, right? 202 00:08:44,225 --> 00:08:46,085 But that's how we learn and that's how we grow 203 00:08:46,085 --> 00:08:47,365 and that's how we get ahead of this. 204 00:08:47,365 --> 00:08:49,765 When, when you think about equity and inclusion, 205 00:08:50,005 --> 00:08:51,005 - I love that. 206 00:08:51,005 --> 00:08:52,405 And, and James, I heard this from you in, 207 00:08:52,405 --> 00:08:54,325 in a different context, but I dunno if you could speak 208 00:08:54,325 --> 00:08:55,725 to it a little bit bit, but the 209 00:08:55,725 --> 00:08:57,045 difference between equity and 210 00:08:57,325 --> 00:08:58,325 - Equality. 211 00:08:58,325 --> 00:09:00,805 Yes, absolutely. Two words that are joined at the hip, 212 00:09:00,805 --> 00:09:01,805 - They're very different. 213 00:09:01,805 --> 00:09:02,645 I'm looking at the definition 214 00:09:02,645 --> 00:09:03,645 - Here, . 215 00:09:03,645 --> 00:09:04,445 They are, they are vastly different. 216 00:09:04,635 --> 00:09:05,765 They're vastly different. 217 00:09:05,865 --> 00:09:08,765 Kai and Uhhuh treating you equally 218 00:09:09,025 --> 00:09:13,685 as I would treat your child or my child is saying one thing 219 00:09:14,145 --> 00:09:15,605 and I'm providing, right? 220 00:09:15,735 --> 00:09:18,205 We're speaking the same, we're providing the same respect. 221 00:09:19,105 --> 00:09:21,965 An equitable practice is to provide something 222 00:09:21,965 --> 00:09:26,005 that you may not have but you need and you know, who has it? 223 00:09:26,575 --> 00:09:31,125 James Francis. So an equitable practice would provide Kai 224 00:09:31,155 --> 00:09:33,125 with the same resources 225 00:09:34,145 --> 00:09:36,005 and provide 'em with the same opportunity 226 00:09:36,705 --> 00:09:38,005 as James Francis has. 227 00:09:38,005 --> 00:09:39,565 Mm-Hmm. those are equable 228 00:09:40,045 --> 00:09:41,045 - Practices. 229 00:09:41,045 --> 00:09:41,805 Right? Right. And I think a little the difference, 230 00:09:42,185 --> 00:09:43,405 or maybe it's the thing to circle, 231 00:09:43,405 --> 00:09:45,045 there are circumstances That's correct. 232 00:09:45,045 --> 00:09:48,005 Right. Even though your circumstances differ, you 233 00:09:48,565 --> 00:09:49,765 allocate the exact same resources. 234 00:09:49,765 --> 00:09:51,885 That is correct. And opportunities, you know, 235 00:09:51,885 --> 00:09:54,125 talking about seat at the table and, and, 236 00:09:54,145 --> 00:09:56,725 and speaking of, you know, seat at the table and, 237 00:09:56,745 --> 00:09:59,005 and opportunities, I wanted to, uh, 238 00:09:59,275 --> 00:10:03,085 introduce our black American figure today in 2009, 239 00:10:03,285 --> 00:10:05,245 Ursula Burns was named CEO of Xerox 240 00:10:05,845 --> 00:10:06,885 becoming the first black woman 241 00:10:06,885 --> 00:10:08,445 to head a Fortune 500 company. 242 00:10:08,585 --> 00:10:09,885 And it was the culmination 243 00:10:09,885 --> 00:10:12,285 of an amazing life journey from a Manhattan tenement 244 00:10:12,285 --> 00:10:15,205 to the c-suite of one of America's most iconic companies. 245 00:10:15,505 --> 00:10:17,005 She led Xerox for seven years 246 00:10:17,185 --> 00:10:18,925 and subsequently served as CEO 247 00:10:18,925 --> 00:10:22,565 of the global telecom telecommunications firm, Von 248 00:10:22,625 --> 00:10:24,725 and still sits on several major corporate boards. 249 00:10:25,055 --> 00:10:28,005 She's an outspoken champion of inclusive capitalism 250 00:10:28,505 --> 00:10:30,165 and racial equity. 251 00:10:31,105 --> 00:10:34,365 Equity. Um, so this comes from the Harvard Business Review, 252 00:10:34,365 --> 00:10:37,685 and I just wanted to read, um, a couple of the answers 253 00:10:37,745 --> 00:10:38,965 to some questions she was asked. 254 00:10:39,205 --> 00:10:41,405 'cause I know I have a feeling you guys, um, 255 00:10:41,455 --> 00:10:42,565 might have some thoughts on it. 256 00:10:42,665 --> 00:10:44,325 So the first question that was asked was, 257 00:10:44,425 --> 00:10:47,805 how prevalent was prejudice in your non-professional life? 258 00:10:48,425 --> 00:10:51,165 And her answer, when I was growing up, I came face to face 259 00:10:51,165 --> 00:10:53,365 with racism or sexism almost every day. 260 00:10:53,725 --> 00:10:54,805 I became numb to it. 261 00:10:55,165 --> 00:10:57,165 I vividly remember walking into Barney's, 262 00:10:57,165 --> 00:10:58,565 the clothing store with my son. 263 00:10:58,585 --> 00:11:00,885 One day I was already a senior executive 264 00:11:00,885 --> 00:11:01,965 and making quite a bit of money. 265 00:11:02,345 --> 00:11:04,005 But it was the typical situation 266 00:11:04,005 --> 00:11:06,045 where somebody is watching you the whole time. 267 00:11:06,665 --> 00:11:07,845 I'd experienced that a lot, 268 00:11:08,105 --> 00:11:11,205 but that was the first time I said, this just isn't right. 269 00:11:11,835 --> 00:11:14,725 Sure, we feel good when other people say, oh yeah, she's one 270 00:11:14,725 --> 00:11:16,845 of us, but we need to get to a point 271 00:11:16,845 --> 00:11:20,005 where this elite society structure no longer exists. 272 00:11:20,675 --> 00:11:22,285 Does that resonate with either of you? 273 00:11:22,435 --> 00:11:24,085 - With me? A thousand percent. 274 00:11:24,625 --> 00:11:27,565 Um, it's kind of like the phrase Kai when someone says, 275 00:11:28,435 --> 00:11:29,725 well James, I don't see color. 276 00:11:30,705 --> 00:11:31,845 - Mm. - And it's, yeah, 277 00:11:31,845 --> 00:11:33,205 that's always an interesting one. We've seen a lot 278 00:11:33,845 --> 00:11:35,245 - , we've been seeing a lot of that lately, 279 00:11:35,415 --> 00:11:36,415 - Right? 280 00:11:36,415 --> 00:11:38,325 They, and, and some, for some they may mean well, 281 00:11:38,345 --> 00:11:42,325 but I clarify immediately, like, well, I do, right? 282 00:11:42,685 --> 00:11:43,805 I, I see height. mm-Hmm , 283 00:11:43,805 --> 00:11:44,965 I see the beautiful reds, 284 00:11:45,045 --> 00:11:47,285 I see the wonderful greens, I see color. 285 00:11:47,785 --> 00:11:50,885 And that is okay, right? Yeah. And, and that is okay. 286 00:11:51,425 --> 00:11:52,565 But you know, 287 00:11:52,635 --> 00:11:55,265 it's played an everyday role in my life as well. 288 00:11:55,565 --> 00:11:58,545 Not only in how I am perceived, 289 00:11:59,165 --> 00:12:03,465 but how I perceive myself that has changed my life. 290 00:12:04,125 --> 00:12:06,665 And, and that's a message that I ch I give 291 00:12:06,665 --> 00:12:08,105 to my children, right? 292 00:12:08,125 --> 00:12:12,265 People see color, your color may be different, your shades, 293 00:12:12,265 --> 00:12:13,505 your hues may be different, 294 00:12:14,165 --> 00:12:16,465 but you always bring your authentic self 295 00:12:17,005 --> 00:12:19,425 and that's what really should matter. 296 00:12:19,845 --> 00:12:21,785 And that's something I really, you know, kind 297 00:12:21,785 --> 00:12:23,465 of the message I send to my children. 298 00:12:23,465 --> 00:12:24,865 - Awesome. Awesome. Anything to add, Letitia? 299 00:12:25,165 --> 00:12:28,385 - Yes. Right. I, I very much live by something very similar 300 00:12:29,045 --> 00:12:31,825 and a lot of times, you know, bringing your authentic self, 301 00:12:32,245 --> 00:12:36,225 it is, it is something that we should do, should be able 302 00:12:36,285 --> 00:12:37,705 to do more of right. 303 00:12:38,015 --> 00:12:39,545 Without the fear of judgment. 304 00:12:39,885 --> 00:12:42,425 Um, and so, yeah, I just, for me, 305 00:12:42,745 --> 00:12:44,705 I do tell my little ones the same thing, right? 306 00:12:44,705 --> 00:12:46,145 There will peop there are people 307 00:12:46,615 --> 00:12:50,225 that will consistently not like what, what you do 308 00:12:50,805 --> 00:12:53,745 and will consistently find something to say. 309 00:12:53,775 --> 00:12:55,625 Yeah. And so I always say, 310 00:12:55,625 --> 00:12:57,785 clearly you're doing something right, , right? 311 00:12:57,785 --> 00:12:58,905 Yeah. When they're talking. 312 00:12:59,245 --> 00:13:01,745 And so show up in your true, authentic being. 313 00:13:02,185 --> 00:13:03,265 - Absolutely. Uh, okay, cool. 314 00:13:03,265 --> 00:13:05,145 So I'm gonna do one more, um, question. 315 00:13:05,245 --> 00:13:07,545 You write that your peers at college could deal 316 00:13:07,545 --> 00:13:09,345 with your success as a black woman only 317 00:13:09,365 --> 00:13:12,545 by mentally elevating you to a kind of exceptional status, 318 00:13:13,095 --> 00:13:15,585 viewing you as almost frequently gifted. 319 00:13:15,855 --> 00:13:17,905 Meaning they couldn't accept that other talented, 320 00:13:18,055 --> 00:13:20,225 hardworking black people could make it as well. 321 00:13:20,685 --> 00:13:22,225 Did you experience that throughout your life? 322 00:13:22,845 --> 00:13:24,625 Answer, absolutely. 323 00:13:25,135 --> 00:13:27,465 Even in the latter part of my career, people would say, 324 00:13:27,525 --> 00:13:28,865 oh my God, you're so amazing. 325 00:13:29,505 --> 00:13:30,665 I finally realized that 326 00:13:30,665 --> 00:13:33,585 what they were saying without knowing is that in order 327 00:13:33,585 --> 00:13:36,945 for me to lead a task force to be CEO, they would have 328 00:13:36,945 --> 00:13:39,265 to identify me, identify me as spectacular 329 00:13:39,685 --> 00:13:41,865 or else acknowledge that others who look like me, 330 00:13:42,085 --> 00:13:44,145 who act like me, who come 331 00:13:44,145 --> 00:13:46,665 for I come from can be at the table as well. 332 00:13:47,245 --> 00:13:50,625 I'm not amazing. I'm here because I'm as good as you. 333 00:13:51,715 --> 00:13:53,775 - Um, man, , yes. 334 00:13:54,415 --> 00:13:58,015 I think, you know, at the, the end of the day, it is, I take 335 00:13:58,115 --> 00:13:59,335 so much away from that. 336 00:13:59,875 --> 00:14:01,895 But what I will say is, I'm here 337 00:14:01,895 --> 00:14:04,055 because I deserve to be here, right? 338 00:14:04,055 --> 00:14:05,815 Because I'm as good as the next person 339 00:14:06,635 --> 00:14:09,415 and the thing that I live by, um, it's a, it's, 340 00:14:09,415 --> 00:14:10,735 it's very much similar to that. 341 00:14:10,755 --> 00:14:12,615 And that's, success is not final 342 00:14:12,615 --> 00:14:14,095 failure is not fatal, right? 343 00:14:14,125 --> 00:14:15,935 It's the courage to continue the counts. 344 00:14:16,155 --> 00:14:18,775 And a lot of times we don't have the courage to continue 345 00:14:19,205 --> 00:14:20,535 because of the fear of 346 00:14:20,535 --> 00:14:22,095 what other people are saying or doing. 347 00:14:22,515 --> 00:14:24,375 But at the end of the day, you deserve 348 00:14:24,475 --> 00:14:27,255 to be here just like the next, next individual. 349 00:14:27,555 --> 00:14:28,775 - Any anything to add there, James? 350 00:14:29,415 --> 00:14:32,855 - I mean, she, she actually kind of said it all. 351 00:14:33,075 --> 00:14:34,495 And, and I just love that quote. 352 00:14:34,495 --> 00:14:37,255 That's a quote that I'm really gonna take away from today. 353 00:14:38,235 --> 00:14:42,045 You are there for a reason. You are there for a reason. 354 00:14:42,145 --> 00:14:44,405 And I say you, because this is something 355 00:14:44,405 --> 00:14:46,005 that I suffered early in my career. 356 00:14:46,855 --> 00:14:50,125 Maybe I wasn't good enough for that promotion. 357 00:14:50,955 --> 00:14:53,525 Well, maybe I was not selected for this program. 358 00:14:54,605 --> 00:14:56,925 Absolutely not. And I think back 359 00:14:57,025 --> 00:14:58,565 and revert earlier to my career 360 00:14:58,785 --> 00:15:03,725 and my life, I deserve things, things that I work hard 361 00:15:03,865 --> 00:15:06,445 to achieve, things that I continue to work 362 00:15:06,505 --> 00:15:08,565 and strive for on an everyday basis. 363 00:15:08,825 --> 00:15:10,845 So I totally, um, 364 00:15:10,875 --> 00:15:12,805 that totally resonates with me and my life. 365 00:15:12,945 --> 00:15:15,245 - And I think it's, it's kind of coming back to the hallmark 366 00:15:15,245 --> 00:15:19,445 of that episode one, which is this idea of it black history 367 00:15:20,265 --> 00:15:23,165 has its negatives that brought upon resilience 368 00:15:23,865 --> 00:15:26,565 and then that brought upon celebration, 369 00:15:26,575 --> 00:15:28,045 which is what we're doing today. 370 00:15:28,385 --> 00:15:30,125 You know, we're celebrating black history 371 00:15:30,185 --> 00:15:31,365 and black entrepreneurs. 372 00:15:32,045 --> 00:15:33,325 I think for me, as I read through this 373 00:15:33,325 --> 00:15:34,965 and as I listened to you guys, I just, 374 00:15:35,105 --> 00:15:37,245 I'm just thinking about the beauty of 375 00:15:37,245 --> 00:15:39,445 what happens when we share our experience with the world, 376 00:15:40,145 --> 00:15:41,885 and especially in positions of power. 377 00:15:42,405 --> 00:15:44,205 Ursula is someone who is vulnerable 378 00:15:44,985 --> 00:15:46,605 and she was true to herself, 379 00:15:46,785 --> 00:15:48,645 and she wrote her own history as a result. 380 00:15:48,735 --> 00:15:50,845 Thank you so much, Letitia, for being here today. 381 00:15:50,845 --> 00:15:54,325 Were there any, any parting words for a, uh, a potential 382 00:15:55,005 --> 00:15:56,965 entre black female entrepreneur who's, 383 00:15:56,965 --> 00:15:58,085 who's listening out there today? 384 00:15:58,505 --> 00:16:00,245 - You know, I'm going to, I'm gonna repeat 385 00:16:00,245 --> 00:16:01,685 what I said earlier because I think 386 00:16:01,685 --> 00:16:02,725 it's so important, right? 387 00:16:03,115 --> 00:16:06,165 Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. 388 00:16:06,745 --> 00:16:08,965 It is the courage to continue that counts. 389 00:16:09,025 --> 00:16:11,325 And as an entrepreneur, as a business person, 390 00:16:11,945 --> 00:16:13,325 you will have those moments 391 00:16:13,375 --> 00:16:15,485 where things didn't pan out in the manner 392 00:16:15,485 --> 00:16:16,805 that you saw fit, right? 393 00:16:17,185 --> 00:16:19,165 But that doesn't mean that you don't get back up 394 00:16:19,505 --> 00:16:20,645 and do it again, right? 395 00:16:20,945 --> 00:16:22,205 And you continue to do it. 396 00:16:22,625 --> 00:16:24,765 And so I just encourage you to do it, 397 00:16:24,765 --> 00:16:26,165 even if it means doing it afraid. 398 00:16:26,465 --> 00:16:28,885 - All right, well said. And any parting words, uh, 399 00:16:29,025 --> 00:16:30,565 as we end episode two here, James? 400 00:16:31,245 --> 00:16:34,565 - Absolutely. It is a continual, continual celebration 401 00:16:35,705 --> 00:16:39,885 of black and American history that should not 402 00:16:39,985 --> 00:16:42,845 and will not be ignored. So thank you all. 403 00:16:43,635 --> 00:16:45,445 - Alright, so that wraps it up. 404 00:16:45,445 --> 00:16:47,085 This is Balancing Life's Issues, the podcast. 405 00:16:47,345 --> 00:16:50,085 And don't forget to join us Friday, February 23rd 406 00:16:50,185 --> 00:16:52,765 for our free live webinar titled DEIB, 407 00:16:53,135 --> 00:16:56,165 navigating the Difficult Conversation, hosted by myself, 408 00:16:56,185 --> 00:16:58,365 and facilitated by the wonderful James Francis here. 409 00:16:58,725 --> 00:17:02,845 Registration info is available@bliinfo.com slash 410 00:17:03,075 --> 00:17:04,245 free webinars. 411 00:17:04,455 --> 00:17:05,525 Until next time, daycare, 412 00:17:14,755 --> 00:17:17,085 this has been a production of Balancing Life's Issues 413 00:17:17,085 --> 00:17:18,845 with your hosts, Kai Sorenson 414 00:17:18,865 --> 00:17:22,285 and Wendy Wallner, produced by me Kai Rate. 415 00:17:22,295 --> 00:17:24,245 Leave a review and subscribe to the podcast 416 00:17:24,845 --> 00:17:26,605 wherever you listen so you can get brand new 417 00:17:26,605 --> 00:17:27,765 episodes as they drop. 418 00:17:28,185 --> 00:17:29,205 Got an idea for the show. 419 00:17:29,695 --> 00:17:33,965 Email me, k i@balancinglifesissues.com. Anything to add? 420 00:17:33,965 --> 00:17:34,245 Miles.