Behind the Magic

In this episode, we see what's Behind the Magic of powerhouse Anneshia Hardy—narrative strategist, movement builder, and truth-teller from Montgomery, Alabama. From her days navigating the overwhelmingly white world of finance to becoming the founding executive director of Alabama Values and Alabama Values Progress and co-founder of Blackyard LLC, Anneshia has lived the tension between brilliance...

In this conversation across the pond, I sit down with Tarnia Gonzo, change management AI expert and founder of T&S Consulting in London. Tarnia opens up about her journey from Zimbabwe to the UK at age seven, navigating identity, stereotypes, and perfectionism as an immigrant and Black woman in male-dominated industries. She shares how family influences: her grandmother’s resilience, her mother’s...

In this powerful and heartfelt episode, I sit down with licensed therapist and author Ameshia Arthur to unpack her new book, You Are Not Selfish (available on Amazon) — a love letter to Black women everywhere. Together, we dive into what it really means to center yourself in a world that constantly tells you not to. Ameshia shares her personal healing journey, growing up with a revolutionary mothe...

I had the pleasure of sitting down with a new friend, DeUnna Hendrix, former Division I head women’s basketball coach turned leadership coach for other coaches and founder of HendriX to Y Coaching. From the outside, her story looks like a lot of wins, titles, rising fast. But what we talked about? The truth underneath it all—what it means to be a Black woman navigating leadership, visibility, and...

I sat down with Brittany Buford, managing partner at Partners In Democracy, the morning after the 2024 election loss—and the energy was heavy. We talked about that gut-punch feeling so many Black women had waking up like, WTF?” Brittany didn’t sugarcoat a thing. She reminded us that nobody is coming to save Black women—but we’ve never needed saving. We've always been the ones to rebuild, regroup,...

In this episode, I sit down with Gabrielle Wyatt, founder of The Highland Project, to explore what it truly means to invest in the worth—not just the work—of Black women. Gabrielle shares the personal and professional journey that led her to build a movement rooted in sustainability, joy, and generational wealth for Black women leaders. Guided by the belief that “abundance is the capacity and spac...

In this episode of Behind the Magic, I sit down with Barbara Payne, whose powerful journey from high school dropout to soon-to-be Doctor is nothing short of extraordinary. But it’s her courage to share the truth behind that transformation that truly moved me. Barbara’s story is not just about surviving abuse – emotional, physical and sexual. It’s about breaking generational curses, finding light i...

In this uplifting and thought-provoking episode, Toni Johnson, founder of Mission OutLoud, takes us through the stories of the highs and lows of her leadership journey. She shares how she found her voice - often as the “only one” in the room - and how those experiences fueled her passion for building spaces where Black women and others can thrive unapologetically. Listen as we dive into the power...

What does it really take to shake up the tech world and build something that lasts? In this episode of Behind the Magic, I sit down with Shawna Curran, a visionary tech leader and founder of STEM ENRG, who’s making serious waves at the intersection of technology, DEIB, and operations. Shawna isn’t just advocating for diversity—she’s rethinking how systems work so equity and inclusion can actually...

In this powerful episode of Behind the Magic, Dr. Tiffany Manuel, founder and CEO of The Case Made, invites us into her world as a self-proclaimed "love warrior." But love, as she describes it, isn’t just about warmth and kindness—it’s about fighting fiercely for our communities, even when the odds are stacked against us. From her journey of corporate success to entrepreneurship, Dr. Manuel shares...

In this episode of Behind the Magic, I sit down with Tori Fernandez Whitney, founder & CEO of DC Focus, whose career as a nonprofit and public sector executive has been shaped by resilience, advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing. From her early experiences growing up in New Orleans to navigating the high-stakes world of D.C. politics and nonprofit leadership, Tori shares...

In this episode of Behind the Magic, host Danielle Prendergast sits down with Jasmine Burney-Clark, founder of Equal Ground, to explore her journey from a first-generation college graduate to a powerhouse leader in Black voter empowerment. Jasmine shares how her mother’s resilience and entrepreneurialism shaped her leadership, the challenges of navigating white-led organizations, and the decision...