Begin, Build, Blossom: Your Business Journey

Betting on Yourself: Inside the Creative Mind of Ashley Joseph

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2306875/fan_mail/new] Guest:  Ashley Joseph -  Presenter, Actor & Writer Episode Host: Angela In this episode of Begin, Build, Blossom, we sit down with Ashley Joseph, a dynamic Presenter, Actor & Writer whose work spans global stages, award‑winning television, and celebrated theatre. Deeply rooted in his Saint Lucian heritage, Ashley has built a career defined by versatility, courage, and a relentless commitment to craft. His presenting journey includes hosting the Saudi Arabia Formula E Concerts, Lil Simz’s Meltdown Festival, the Caribbean Summertime Ball, Dubai Music Week, and his signature Valentine’s showcase Lovers and Friends. Ashley is the co‑creator of the hit improv show ACTing Up!, a familiar face from BBC favourites such as Robin Hood, Justin’s House, Doctors, and EastEnders, and the voice behind Jared in the award‑winning animated series JoJo & Gran Gran. His theatre and directing credits include the Olivier Award‑winning Get Up Stand Up and the West End sensation Shifters. As a writer, he is shaping the future of children’s television with projects across the BBC, Channel 5, Cartoon Network, HBO Max, and more. This conversation explores creative courage, craft mastery, resilience, and the power of showing up consistently in a competitive creative industry, offering practical insights for anyone building a creative or entrepreneurial path. More specifically: * The importance of Reading  * Embracing growing older with intention * Continual learning as a creative discipline * Betting on yourself and taking bold chances * Skiing as a Black man — challenging expectations * Choosing the right partners for the right projects * Stepping out of your comfort zone * JoJo & Gran Gran and the impact of representation on Television   Books Mentioned  * The Art of Growing Old — Marie de Hennezel * The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen R. Covey * How to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale Carnegie * The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho    Connect with Ashley * Instagram:  Sir Ashley J (@sir_ashleyjoseph)  [https://www.instagram.com/sir_ashleyjoseph?igsh=bnN5N211aTUxd2sy] * Email: ashleyj.creativeteam@gmail.com [ashleyj.creativeteam@gmail.com]

Meet The Founders Building Zoner From the Ground Up

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2306875/fan_mail/new] Today, we’re learning about a new business called Zoner [https://zoner.pro]. We’re joined by two of Zoner’s three co-founders, Ashlee Okunonke and David Kema. Their fellow co-founder, Bryce Knight, wasn’t able to join us for this conversation.  Ashlee Okunonke is a senior at Manhattan University studying Computer Science and a former software engineer at ADP. She’s planning to pursue graduate school in California while continuing to build products at the intersection of data and real-world impact. David Kema is a senior at Rutgers University (Newark), double majoring in Management Information Systems and Supply Chain Management. He describes himself as a renaissance man; curious, multifaceted, and intentional about growth while also creating spaces where people feel comfortable and truly heard. Together, they are building Zoner from the ground up; a platform focused on helping people make clearer decisions about where to live and develop. In this episode, we talked about: *  The memories, experiences, and entrepreneurs who inspired them along their journey  *  How childhood friends became co-founders and decided to build together  *  Why they chose the entrepreneurship path and how entrepreneurship was nurtured early on  *  The role internships, organizations, and university experiences played in shaping their vision and partnerships  *  The importance of being in the right environments and around people who challenge and support growth  *  What market and product validation has looked like while building Zoner  * What it looks like bringing a startup to life from the ground up  *  Whether founders should wait for the “perfect” product before putting themselves out into the public  *  Representation, impact, and the importance of pouring back into the community  Conect with Zoner: Website: https://zoner.pro Social Media: @whatsyourzone [https://www.instagram.com/whatsyourzone/]

Being the Blueprint: Creating Space, Leading Boldly, and Building Legacy with Yasmeen Duncan

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2306875/fan_mail/new] Yasmeen Duncan is a seasoned HR executive with over 20 years of experience and a two-time entrepreneur. She is the Founder and Principal of Duncan Workforce Solutions, a workforce advisory firm that supports growth-stage organizations and public sector agencies with strategic people and workforce solutions. She is also the Founder of Sisterhood Society for Women of Color (SSWOC), an organization dedicated to equipping Black women with the tactical, psychological, and emotional resources needed to thrive personally and professionally. Yasmeen’s entrepreneurial philosophy centers on accountability to mission. As a founder, she believes leadership requires more than completing tasks—it requires embodying the vision. By living the message she champions, she strives to be both a resource and an example for the women she serves. In this episode, we talked about: *  Hearing the whispers of her legacy  *  Building an organization around being the blueprint, especially when you are the only one in the room  *  Fostering a resilient mind from childhood into adulthood  *  The importance of being anchored and confident  *  The internal work required for growth  *  The sustained fire within her  *  What it looked like to take a break  *  Negotiating exit packages  *  What she has learned through entrepreneurship  Connect with Yasmeen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmeenduncan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmeenduncan/]  Instagram: @heysis_society [https://www.instagram.com/heysis_society]  Website: https://sisterhoodsocietywoc.org [https://sisterhoodsocietywoc.org/] Website: https://www.duncanworkforcesolutions.com [https://www.duncanworkforcesolutions.com] Email: yasmeen@duncanworkforcesolutions.com

Reclaiming Creativity and Creating Impact Through Storytelling & Connection with Christina Blacken

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2306875/fan_mail/new] Guest: Christina Blacken Host: Clarita  In this episode of Begin, Build, Blossom: Your Business Journey, we’re joined by Christina Blacken—a public speaker, writer, performer, and founder of The New Quo [https://www.thenewquo.com], a leadership development company focused on authentic leadership, behavior change, and building trust within organizations and communities. Christina shares her journey from full-time employee to full-time entrepreneur and opens up about the experiences that shaped her voice, creativity, and approach to leadership. From growing up as a Black woman in Utah to building a business rooted in storytelling and human connection, this conversation explores what it means to create impact through story telling. We also talk about how one video led to exponential social media growth overnight but how genuine, offline relationships were still the foundation that helped grow her business and opportunities. In this episode, we discuss: *  Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur  *  The power of storytelling and why your story matters  *  Using personal experiences to influence and connect with others  *  Reclaiming creativity and using it to navigate difficult conversations  *  Building trust and creating meaningful impact through leadership  *  How changing policies and uncertainty created “whiplash” for businesses and communities  Connect with Christina: *  Website: The New Quo [https://www.thenewquo.com] *  Podcast: Tell It Proud Podcast [https://www.thenewquo.com/tell-it-proud-podcast] *  Social Media: @christinablacken including Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn

The Power of Community and Confident Selling with Jac White

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2306875/fan_mail/new] Guest: Jac White  Host: Clarita  Today we are joined by Jac White, a sales and business development expert with over 20 years of experience helping women grow their businesses with confidence. Jac has built her career around helping women turn their natural strengths into authentic, effective sales skills; skills that don’t just sound good, but actually drive revenue and real client growth. She is the founder of the HoneyBees Group and host of the Girls Make Bank podcast, where she continues to empower women to show up, sell confidently, and build businesses that support their lives. With experience across brands like LearnVest, DailyCandy, The New York Times, and Armani Exchange, along with startups and consulting, she brings both corporate insight and an entrepreneurial perspective. She’s also a recognized thought leader, with features in Forbes, Huffington Post, and Entrepreneur. What we talked about: *  Her personal journey into entrepreneurship  *  The first step service providers should take once they decide to start their business  *  Selling with confidence and truly valuing your services  *  What we should—and shouldn’t—be willing to do when it comes to selling and evolving as service providers  *  Pivoting and evolving your business over time  *  What success means to her at this stage of her journey  *  The ecosystem women are building through community and connection  *  Hosting in-person breakfasts for women building businesses  *  Creating space through virtual meetups and ongoing community support  Connect with Jac: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacwhite [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacwhite] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjacwhite [https://www.instagram.com/iamjacwhite] Podcast: https://www.honeybeesgroup.co/girlsmakebank [https://www.honeybeesgroup.co/girlsmakebank] Website: https://www.honeybeesgroup.co [https://www.honeybeesgroup.co]