Business in the Black

Purpose Over Popularity: Building a Brand with Faith & Strategy

How do you build a brand that reflects who you truly are? In this episode of Business In The Black, Jamal Webb of Bands for Brands shares his journey of building a purpose-driven business rooted in faith, authenticity, and resilience. Topics include: • Building a personal brand with purpose • Faith and entrepreneurship • Overcoming lack of support • The importance of community and networking • Authenticity in branding and business • Measuring success beyond social media • Navigating identity as a Black entrepreneur If you're an entrepreneur, creative, or someone trying to build something meaningful, this episode will give you both inspiration and strategy. Subscribe for more conversations with Black entrepreneurs building real businesses.

They’re Building a Black-Owned Business Inside Airports | Tru Roots Story

What does it take to build a business while building a family? In this episode of Business In The Black, we sit down with the founders of Tru Roots Educational Playspace, a husband-and-wife team creating child-friendly educational play spaces inside airports. What started as searching for better spaces for their daughter turned into a bold entrepreneurial mission. We discuss: • Building a business as high school sweethearts turned founders • Why less than 2% of airport concessions are Black-owned • Breaking into airport spaces and navigating gatekeepers • Raising capital for a $200K buildout • Networking through LinkedIn and strategic outreach • Balancing marriage, parenting, and entrepreneurship • The legacy they’re building for their children This episode is about vision, persistence, and creating opportunities where none existed. New episodes drop bi-weekly.

How to Build Wealth with Insurance | Inside AAA Agency Ownership

What does it really take to build wealth through insurance? In this episode of Business In The Black, we sit down with Tarico Burks of AAA – The Burks Agency to discuss entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and the business behind insurance ownership. We cover: • The moment he realized agency ownership could create generational wealth • What it actually costs to open an insurance agency • The truth about overhead, taxes, and business expenses • Why life insurance is often misunderstood in the Black community • How a $2.1M life insurance case changed his perspective • Building a referral-based client network • Representation as a young Black agency owner in Georgia This conversation is bigger than insurance—it’s about ownership, education, and legacy. If you're interested in wealth building, entrepreneurship, or financial literacy, this episode is for you. New episodes drop bi-weekly.

He Survived Being Stabbed 9 Times — Then Built a Brand | Survive & Conquer

What does it really mean to survive… and then conquer? In this episode of Business In The Black, we sit down with an entrepreneur whose journey is nothing short of extraordinary. After being stabbed 9 times in New York City, he made a decision that would change everything — not just to survive, but to build. We discuss: • The night that changed his life forever • How he turned trauma into purpose through the Survive & Conquer brand • Lessons learned from failed partnerships and multiple business pivots • Costly mistakes with taxes and how he recovered • The mindset shift from chasing everyone to focusing on community • Faith, alignment, and making purpose-driven business decisions • What it truly means to move from surviving to conquering This conversation is raw, honest, and filled with lessons for anyone building through adversity. If you’ve ever been knocked down — this episode will remind you what’s possible. New episodes drop bi-weekly.

He Started a Business with $64 While Working Full-Time | Dr. Wade Manora Jr

Many people dream about entrepreneurship — but very few know how to start while balancing a full-time career. In this episode of Business In The Black, Dr. Wade Manora Jr shares how he transitioned from a decade-long career in higher education to building a purpose-driven business designed to serve communities beyond the campus. We discuss: • The moment he realized his impact needed to reach further • How he built a business while still working full-time • The strategy behind his $64 startup model • Social media marketing that actually converts • His mission to reinvest in students through scholarships and community programs Dr. Manora also discusses his book “2.43: The Impossible Dream”, a powerful reflection on perseverance, representation, and the journey many Black professionals navigate on the path to success. If you’ve ever wondered how to start building something of your own while maintaining stability, this conversation offers practical insight and inspiration.