What it Costs to Be "The First" w/ Edelman CEO Lisa Osborne-Ross

What it Costs to Be "The First" w/ Edelman CEO Lisa Osborne-Ross

What does it actually cost to be the first? In this episode of BLKGirl Ambition, Niya Baxter sits down with Lisa Osborne Ross former U.S. CEO of Edelman, one of the largest public relations firms in the world, and the first Black person to hold the role for an honest conversation about power, leadership, vulnerability, and the pressure of representation. We talk about: * the myth of the fearless Black woman * navigating corporate America without shrinking yourself * colorism, beauty, and respectability politics * the loneliness of being the first * vulnerability as a leadership strength * and why ambition should include joy, softness, friendship, family, and peace Lisa also reflects on the gift of weightlessness her parents gave her growing up in Washington, D.C. and how being raised without limitation shaped the way she moved through elite spaces and leadership. This conversation is thoughtful, funny, deeply human, and full of the kind of wisdom that only comes from someone who has led at the highest levels without losing herself in the process. If youve ever felt pressure to be perfect, unbreakable, or endlessly strong to succeed this episode is for you. Get in Touch w/ Lisa: linkedin.com/in/lisa-osborne-ross [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-osborne-ross/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BfUyAyjbzSmy8v1gcMThxPg%3D%3D] Thanks for all your love and support. Tag me while listening @blkgirlambition & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Join the BLKGirl Ambition community at www.blkgirlambition.com to stay in the know on events, products and insider tips. And find us on IG, LinkedIn and TikTok: @blkgirlambition

All The Rules Are Fake. Go Off, Sis: Building Community, Vision & Ambition in Real Time

In this solo episode, Niya reflects on a season of growth, exhaustion, vision, and what it means to keep building even when youre tired. From signing with the ALIVE podcast network to hosting BLKGirl Ambitions first-ever in-person event, The Conversation Dinner Series, this episode is about what happens when vision meets consistencyand community. Stay tuned to the end for a very special message from Bozoma Saint John, Former Chief Marketing Officer of Netflix and Uber, turned entrepreneur and star of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills! This episode is part reflection, part encouragement, and part reminder to stop waiting and go after the thing thats been on your heart.  Thanks for all your love and support. Tag me while listening @blkgirlambition & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Join the BLKGirl Ambition community at www.blkgirlambition.com to stay in the know on future events, products and insider tips. And find us on IG, LinkedIn and TikTok: @blkgirlambition

Know Your Place, Black Girl: How Systems Shape What We See as Possible

Most of us live and work within systems shaped by fear, bias, and legacy narrativesoften without even realizing it. In this episode of BLKGirl Ambition, Niya Baxter sits down with Theresa Wilsonattorney, TEDx speaker, and equity expertto explore the powerful framework of place consciousness. Not as a limitation, but as a key to understanding how societal structures shape what we can see as possible. Theresa also demystifies the process of taking the TEDx stagebreaking down how to turn your expertise into a compelling idea, navigate the application process, and position yourself for a career-defining platform. If youre navigating complex systems and trying to understand your place within them, this conversation offers language, clarity, and a new way forward. Because awareness isnt the end goal. Its the starting point for change. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to Black Girl Ambition 00:55 Introducing Theresa Wilson 02:28 Early Life and Influences 09:31 Navigating Ambition and Fear 12:32 The Power of Place Consciousness 16:39 Understanding Privilege 23:59 Training on Bias and Discrimination 27:45 The TEDx Journey 32:21 Hope for the Future 34:22 Fear and Societal Structures 41:53 Internalized Oppression and Respectability Politics 43:40 Reforming Systems from Within  49:20 Legacy and Ambition Get In Touch with Theresa: TEDx: https://youtu.be/ircUGYXnKzU?si=BGyBYJWnVe4kRPZA [https://youtu.be/ircUGYXnKzU?si=BGyBYJWnVe4kRPZA] Website: http://rmschrysalisproject.org/ [http://rmschrysalisproject.org/] LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-wilson-coney [http://www.linkedin.com/in/theresa-wilson-coney] Thanks for all your love and support. Tag me while listening @blkgirlambition & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Join the BLKGirl Ambition community on IG, LinkedIn and TikTok: @blkgirlambition

Encore | Lighting the Way: Harlem Brands CEO Teri Johnson on Legacy & Defining Black Luxury

As Season 3 of BLKGirl Ambition comes to a close, Im revisiting one of my favorite conversationsmy interview with Teri Johnson, Founder and CEO of Harlem Candle Co. Teris journey is a masterclass in building something meaningful, staying rooted in your vision, and navigating the realities of entrepreneurship with intention, grace and grit. In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to build a brand, the discipline behind creativity, and the mindset required to keep goingeven when the path isnt clear or easy. If youre like me and in a season of building this conversation is a reminder: the climb is rarely linear, but its always worth it. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to BLKGirl Ambition 02:38 Teri Johnsons unconventional path to entrepreneurship 05:16 How travel shapes identity and perspective 07:56 The rise of Travelista Teri 10:17 Lessons learned from building a digital brand before its time 12:49 Founding Harlem Brands: turning passion into legacy 15:30 Building legacy through luxury fragrance 17:44 Storytelling as strategy: weaving culture into business 20:38 Facing challenges, fueling growth 22:43 Expanding into the Harlem Perfume Company 25:21 The mindset every founder needs to thrive 27:38 Practical gems for aspiring entrepreneurs 30:34 Dreaming forward: future aspirations & community impact 33:04 Final reflections on ambition and legacy Support Teri Johnson and the Harlem Brands: Purchase Harlem Candles, Totes, Mugs and Journals: www.harlembrands.com Purchase Harlem Perfume: www.sephora.com and www.harlemperfumeco.com Connect with Teri Johnson: @terijohnsonnyc on IG Email me with your episode ideas or guest suggestions at niya@blkgirlambition.com Thanks for all your love and support. Tag me while listening @blkgirlambition & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Join the BLKGirl Ambition community on IG and LinkedIn: @blkgirlambition and @glamourgirlniya ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

First Gen Everything: The Rules No One Teaches You at Work w/ Fadjanie Cadet

When no one has done it before you, youre not just doing the jobyoure figuring out the rules in real time. You rent your job title, but you own your narrative. Summary: What if the reason you feel behind at work isnt you? Most first-generation professionals enter corporate spaces without a roadmapnavigating unwritten rules, hidden expectations, and systems that were never designed to be transparent. In this episode of BLKGirl Ambition, I sit down with Fadjanie CadetChief Change Experience Officer and organizational strategistto break down the rules no one teaches you at work. We talk about: * The influence of her first gen Haitian American background * Why merit alone isnt enough * The power of visibility, relationships, and self-advocacy * The mindset shift from what am I missing? to what is the system failing to make clear? * How to own your narrative and move with intention Fadjanie shares how her first-generation experience shaped the way she leads, builds, and navigates corporate spacesand why community is more than support, its infrastructure. If youve ever felt like you were learning the rules too late or questioning whether you belong, this episode will shift how you see yourselfand the system. Because you were never behind. You were building without a blueprint. Keywords: First-Generation, Workplace Politics, Unwritten Rules, Black Women in Corporate, Corporate, Career Pivot, Layoff, Networking, Immigrant, Self-Advocacy, Career Growth, Visibility, Community Takeaways: First-generation professionals often navigate workplaces without access to unwritten rules and insider knowledge Corporate success is not purely merit-basedvisibility, relationships, and perception matter Many early career gaps are structural, not personal Self-advocacy and storytelling are critical to career growth Building a clear narrative around your impact is essential for advancement Networking is not transactionalits community and access to opportunity Organizations often rely on implicit knowledge, creating barriers to fairness Disruption (like layoffs) can be an opportunity to redefine your identity and value Your job title is temporaryyour skills, perspective, and impact are not Authenticity and ownership of your experience are key to long-term success Chapter Summary: 00:00 Episode Introduction & Guest Overview 03:00 First-Gen Upbringing & Early Identity 08:00 Responsibility, Pressure & Parenting Perspectives 12:00 Early Career Lessons & Meritocracy Myth 15:00 Self-Advocacy & Building a Business Case 18:00 Reframing Structural vs. Personal Gaps 20:00 Workplace Design & Implicit Rules 24:00 Networking, Community & Career Access 26:00 First-Gen Identity in Corporate Spaces 28:00 Finding Language for Lived Experience 30:00 Layoffs, Identity & Career Disruption 32:00 Owning Your Narrative & Career Value 34:00 Black Women & Workforce Shifts 37:00 Staying Grounded Through Uncertainty 39:00 Authenticity & Career Growth 41:00 Redefining Ambition & Success 43:00 Closing & Final Reflections Get in Touch with Fadjanie: LinkedIn: Fadjanie Cadet Email: Fadjaniecadet@meettheccxo.com Website: www.meettheccxo.com Thanks for all your love and support. Tag me while listening @blkgirlambition and @glamourgirlniya If you have episode ideas, questions for me, or would like to be featured as a guest send me an email, niya@blkgirlambition.com ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.