So Ambitious

In this So Ambitious compilation, Black founders break down what it really takes to create opportunity when doors don’t open for you. This episode explores the internal mindset shifts required to overcome limiting beliefs, the reality of being judged in high-stakes rooms, and the discipline it takes to build systems that last. This is also a compilation blueprint for building access on your own te...

In this episode, Felecia Hatcher welcomes Asha Walker (Health In The Hood) and Valencia Gunder (The Smile Trust), who break down what it really means to build community, create impact, and redefine wealth from the ground up. From urban farming to feeding the unhoused, from climate justice to access to technology, these founders share how they turned lived experiences into scalable solutions that n...

In this episode of So Ambitious, Jeff Johnson breaks down what it really means to lead, build, and evolve as a founder, especially as a Black entrepreneur navigating identity, capital, and visibility. From building in media and activism to advising leaders across industries, Jeff shares hard truths about performance vs authenticity, founder identity, mental health, and the hidden cost of success....

What does it take to build generational wealth when the system was never built for you? Today, Felecia Hatcher welcomes Teri Williams, Owner and President of OneUnited Bank, who shares how she helped build the largest Black-owned bank in the United States and what it really takes to create lasting financial impact. From acquiring struggling banks to losing $50 million in a single day and building...

What if your body is speaking louder than your words… and costing you deals, influence, and opportunities? For today’s episode of So Ambitious, global body language expert and sales strategist Linda Clemons joins Felecia Hatcher to unravel how founders can master nonverbal communication, presence, and emotional intelligence to win in business, leadership, and life. From decoding micro-expressions...

What separates a good idea from a scalable business? In this episode of So Ambitious, Black Ambition Prize founders D’Angelo Senat (AllPeep), Barbara Jacques (JACQ’S Skincare), and LaToya Stirrup (Kamzaleje) break down how they turned real-life problems into high-impact, fundable companies rooted in community, culture, and purpose. From building products that didn’t exist for them to navigating ac...

In this powerful episode of So Ambitious, Aisha Bowe shares how she went from a 2.3 GPA student to a NASA rocket scientist, entrepreneur, and commercial astronaut. This is not just a story about space.  It is about rewriting the narrative when the world tells you what you cannot do. Aisha breaks down how self-doubt becomes your biggest barrier, why “automatic negative thinking” keeps founders stuc...

What happens when ambition is backed by access, community, and purpose? Welcome to Season 4 of So Ambitious, the podcast powered by Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize and hosted by Felecia Hatcher. This new season brings you inside the real stories of Black and Brown founders who are not just building businesses, but shifting systems, creating access, and redefining what success looks like. F...

In this special compilation episode of So Ambitious, hear directly from founders who have won funding through the Black Ambition Prize — and what it really takes to build, scale, and grow after securing capital. If you are a Black or Brown entrepreneur looking for funding for your startup, this episode is a masterclass in what happens before, during, and after winning a pitch competition. These fo...

Entrepreneurship is not just about strategy. It is about resilience, self-forgiveness, and learning how to move forward after mistakes, losses, burnout, and rejection. This compilation episode is about having the inner strength required to survive and grow as a founder, and captures the emotional reality behind the journey and the lessons learned through experience. Discover how founders fail forw...

This Best-Of episode spotlights founders who stopped waiting for permission and chose to build anyway. These stories highlight what happens when creators are overlooked, underestimated, or even excluded from traditional systems. Instead of fitting into spaces that were not built for them, they created their own ecosystems rooted in ownership, culture, and authenticity. You’ll hear how conviction,...

Liz Thompson is an investor, philanthropist, and CEO of the Café Group, whose story embodies ambition, faith, and love in action. From her beginnings in Chicago’s Cabrini Green to co-founding Cleveland Avenue with her husband, former McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson, Liz has built a legacy around pouring into people and proving that love is a strategy for leadership, not a sentiment. In this inspiring...

Tiffany Aliche, better known as The Budgetnista, built a multimillion-dollar empire rooted in transparency, discipline, and service. From being scammed out of $35,000 and sleeping on her sister’s couch to leading a global financial education movement, Tiffany’s story is a masterclass in rebuilding, resilience, and radical integrity. In this episode of So Ambitious, Tiffany joins host Felecia Hatch...

Michael Barclay is the Chief Events Officer of Sundial Media Group, the company behind the Essence Festival of Culture – one of the largest and longest-running cultural events in the world. From managing a $10 billion finance portfolio to orchestrating global experiences that celebrate Black joy, Michael’s career proves what happens when passion meets precision. In this episode of So Ambitious, Mi...

Candace Washington is a licensed psychotherapist, Air Force veteran, production therapist, and author whose journey embodies resilience, transformation, and purpose. From surviving suicide attempts and battling alcoholism to walking away from a federal career and choosing her own healing, Candace has built a thriving practice where she now serves high performers, creatives, and entrepreneurs at th...

What happens when two visionary creators collide at the intersection of comedy, technology, and music?  In this episode of So Ambitious, host Felicia Hatcher sits down with Zayd Portillo (creatrgd) and King Willonius, creator of “BBL Drizzy”, to unpack their journeys in tech, AI, and cultural innovation. From viral comedy hits to groundbreaking AI music, Zayd and King are pushing boundaries on how...

Alphonzo "Phonz" Terrell, co-founder and CEO of Spill, is rewriting what it means to build community online. From his early days in music and media to leading social strategy at HBO and Twitter, Alphonzo’s journey embodies the intersection of culture, entrepreneurship, and advocacy. After being laid off during Twitter’s transition, he transformed a setback into an opportunity by launching Spill: a...

Welcome back!  In this inspiring episode of So Ambitious, we sit down with Ingrid Best, founder of IBest Wines, to unpack her bold journey from corporate spirits executive to visionary wine entrepreneur. Ingrid reveals how her time in South Africa unlocked her creative superpower, why she walked away at the height of her career to launch her own brand, and how she’s rewriting the rules of storytel...

Our culture is being packaged, praised, and profited from without ever being protected. Until now. In this Season 3 premiere of So Ambitious, host Felecia Hatcher sits down with two visionary founders reshaping the way we think about ownership, culture, and commerce. 🏗️ Lanny Smith, founder of Actively Black, built a purpose-driven athleisure brand with its own Black-owned supply chain, sourcing c...

This season, it’s about ownership. Because ambition doesn’t need permission. Welcome to Season 3 of So Ambitious - the award-winning podcast from Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize, hosted by Felecia Hatcher. This season, we’re amplifying the stories of founders who are building uninterrupted - from tech innovators to creative entrepreneurs - all defying the odds and reimagining what’s possib...

This season, it’s about ownership. Because ambition doesn’t need permission. Welcome to Season 3 of So Ambitious - the award-winning podcast from Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize, hosted by Felecia Hatcher. This season, we’re amplifying the stories of founders who are building uninterrupted - from tech innovators to creative entrepreneurs - all defying the odds and reimagining what’s possib...

Dive into some of the top entrepreneurial advice from our lineup of innovative founders in this special Best Of episode. Discover the secrets to their success as we feature their invaluable insights and strategies that have propelled their ventures forward. From navigating the complexities of startup life to pioneering new industries, these inspiring founders offer a wealth of knowledge for aspiri...

Celebrate the extraordinary spirit of Black ambition in another special "Best Of" episode, where we highlight what true success looks like through the eyes of our lineup of remarkable founders. Tune in as our guests share powerful stories of their journeys, reflecting on the challenges they've faced and the victories they've achieved.  This episode is a tribute to the relentless pursuit of dreams,...

Explore the transformative power of embracing entrepreneurial failure in this special "Best Of" episode, where we delve into the journeys of entrepreneurs who turned their setbacks into stepping stones toward success. Join us as our guests share candid stories of their toughest challenges, the lessons learned, and how embracing failure propelled them toward greater heights in their journey.  Tune...

Join us for a special episode featuring all the Good, Bad, and Ugly Parts of Entrepreneurship! Discover how these founders overcame doubt, racism, and financial challenges to build their successful business empire. Tune in for their inspiring stories, resilience, determination, and the power of not caring what others think.  KEY POINTS  - Ep 202: Pivot with Purpose: How Necole Kane Turned Failure...