November 30, 2023 • 19 mins
In this episode, we delve into the captivating journey of Barkue Tubman-Zawolo, where she recounts her entrance into the entertainment industry through artist management. From working with iconic names like Usher, Outkast, and Queen Latifah, Barkue's story unfolds as she fearlessly ventures into entrepreneurship with the creation of Miss Boss Lady Entertainment. She candidly shares the apprehensions she faced when starting her business and emphasizes the profound importance of a strong sense of self that has been pivotal to her entrepreneurial success.
Host IG:@itstanyatime
Guest IG: @barkue
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks to MasterCard for sponsoring this episode. Head to MasterCard
dot com Backslash small Bids to learn how they're amplifying
and supporting black women entrepreneurs.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I think that it's just really important as young women,
you know, just women in general, or if anybody young
in general, is understand where you want to go. But
don't ever stop wanting to go somewhere. Right, So, you
may want to be an utter today, but tomorrow it
might change, but that's great. Just don't stop wanting to
go somewhere even if you're up to move.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
You're listening to Money Moves powered by Greenwood, a finance
podcast dedicated to dropping all the knowledge and gems from
the world's leading celebrities, entrepreneurs and experts, and tech, business
and more. I'm your host, angel investor, technology enthusiasts, and
media personality Tanya Sam. Each week, we talk with guests
who are making significant strides in their fields and learn
(00:53):
how they are making their money mood. If you're someone
who's looking to make your money move, you're in the
right place, So open up your notes app and lock
us in because this podcast will give you the keys
to the Kingdom of financial stability.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Wealth and abundance you so rightly deserve.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Before we start the episode, I'd like to remind you
to check us out at gogreenwood dot com and follow
us on social media at Greenwood and me on all
things social at It's Tanya. Time to stay locked in
too new episode, Welcome back Money Movers. In our last segment,
we had the privilege of diving into the captivating journey
(01:29):
of our guests Barku, Tubman Zavolos. Today, get ready for
another dose of inspiration as we continue our conversation with Barku.
You're a total New Yorker, but you're also like, you're,
you know, acknowledging like I was in boarding school, which
I think for the average black kid growing up in
New York. Their parents weren't and this feels very African
to me. They were like, you're going to go to
this boarding school, because boarding school in the US feels
(01:53):
like punishment or this, but I think Overseas it's its privilege.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
It's like I'm going to Segage, It's normal. I mean,
there are so many other Africans who actually get to
go to school, mostly in raw London, right, Switzerland and
in something in the US, but to your point, like
it's very that privileged thing. I did not want to
go to boarding school though, because I loved being a
day student. I love my United Nations international school friends.
(02:18):
We were all from different countries. It was literally going
to school and like when you went to a friend's house,
it felt like you were traveling to a country because
they were so engrossed in their traditions and culture when
you went to their homes. And so I definitely was like,
why do I have to go to boarding school?
Speaker 3 (02:34):
But it all worked out.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
I ended up really loving boarding school after the first
three months.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
There's a little period. I get that.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
So when you were studying to go to school, and
like I always talk about, my parents were like, you
have to be either a doctor, lawyer, accountant, this or
a failure. That's like how aped what did you think of?
Like growing up you were like, I'm going to be
X and that is what success will be to me.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
My god, that is so funny. So I did not
have that career. I think I always as a young
girl was just always I'm loud, you know in Liberia
or they would be like this, she's very frisky. She's
very frisky, like I was fresh. I you know, I
was opinionated. I spoke up. God is paying his debt
(03:18):
because I have a daughter who's very like much like
me right now, and and I think one of the
things that I always wanted to be, I did not
know how I used to be, like I want to
be famous, right, I didn't. I didn't know how it
was going to happen. Right. I knew I was not
going to be a doctor, because so let me be
honest on here. Not everybody's going to be great at school, right.
(03:40):
I graduated from college because I knew the only way
that I would keep having my parents at least try
to help me throughout both should is I got to
stay in school. That is the one requirement you have
to stay in school. I am very grateful that they
made me stay in school. It's been very helpful for me.
But I wasn't an a student, right, I was not her.
(04:00):
I am the girl who knows a little bit of everything,
but then I come together to know a lot of
bit of life.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
If that means okay, I just have to stop there
for y'all money movers that are listening in, Like, you know,
I love this honesty because sometimes people're like I was great.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I always knew i'd be this. You're like I knew
I wanted to be famous.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
I wasn't a good student, and here you are the
you know, chief of staff for Essence Ventures, your in
venture capital. So there's a lot of ways to skin
his cat here, tons of them, So fear not.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
We're Yeah. I think you have to play to your
own strength, right, and and and and I always say
that to young people when I do speak to them.
You know, I've spoken at graduations and I always say
my speech is usually I challenge you to fail, because
I think there's a lot of character that's built from failure.
Failure means you even woke up to try, not trying
for me, you've already failed. So I think it's I
(04:50):
think it's important to play to your strength. If you
know you are not the person who's going to be
a doctor or don't want to be. I think you
need to find the right ways to have those conversation
with your parents because your parents want you to be
those things because they want the best for you. I
don't think they want it right, and in some cases
they just want to brag to right, so right, But
I think it's important to understand, like what you want
(05:13):
to be, how you want to be it. Like, so
I'm not famous, but what I did learn was able
to get myself in an industry that aligned me with
famous people. I love powerful people, specifically powerful women. I
just think there's so much to learn from them. I
think how they navigate the world because it's already difficult
being a woman in any society, being a black woman
(05:34):
as another layer to it, being an African woman as
another layer to it. Right, So I think that it's
just really important as young women, you know, just women
in general or anybody young in general, is understand where
you want to go, but don't ever stop wanting to
go somewhere. Right, So you may want to be today,
but tomorrow it might change, but that's great. Just don't
(05:55):
stop wanting to go somewhere.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Even if you're wanting the journey.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
So let's get back to like, how did you start
your entrepreneurial journey? You've gone through music, you you know
your in venture now, like what were the early what
did the early days look like? Let's talk about this
career trajectory because I know it's been multifaceted.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I'm not an venture in like your the traditional way.
I think I'm more in venture in the sense that
I happen to work with people who are and my
goal is to connect them to the right entrepreneurs, right,
I think, and connect entrepreneurs to the right people who
can support their ventures.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
My entrepreneurial journey, I think just started. I am a
control freak.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Oh, I love this the real team I am.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
I am a control freak. I like to I like
to determine my course of action. I like to determine
where I've got to go, where I want to go,
how I get there. And I think as an entrepreneur,
I didn't even realize I probably was that early on,
because I did start with jobs, and but I also
quickly realized I wanted to do things my way. Right now.
(07:04):
There's a gift and a curse to some of that,
because part of a job, especially early on, is where
you get a lot of education.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Right.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
You know, even as I sit in the role as
I sit in now, my CEO always says to me,
she says, you know, use this job, she says, I
know you're such an entrepreneur. Use this job as if
this is your internship to you becoming the best entrepreneur
ever an entrepreneur who runs the business as opposed to
an entrepreneur who is the business, because entrepreneurs sometimes, oh
(07:33):
she's she's amazing entrepreneur advice it's been. I mean, listen,
you never get too old or you're never too seasoned
to learn, so that that's that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Right.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
So so for me, I didn't realize it then, but
all of the jobs that I've had and all of
the things that I did just sort of led me
to sort of decide, you know, I want to do
this on my terms given what I know. So I
got into the music business wanting to I'm about to
spill all the tea on Tania show. Yeah, I wanted
to be a rapper. What yes, And don't forget I'll
(08:05):
come from African parents, especially back then, like we didn't
have whiz Kid and David and Boy and Burna boys,
you know, and Tim's back then.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Okay, And here's the thing I want people to understand,
Like Africa has a long history of like incredible musicians,
I get it right, But your parents were never it
wasn't a respected thing, you know, like a troubadour. They
weren't like, oh, go, they'd still be disupported back then, right,
So I get it.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
So you wanted to be a rap? I almost I am like,
can you please freestyle for us?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
But I will, I cannot, I cannot and I will not.
But that's what I wanted to be, and what I
learned in wanting to be a rapper is I also
realized that there was a business component to how people
just showed up. It wasn't like people woke up and
(08:56):
just they were just on stage. There's like the business
part of That's why I was called them, That's why
it's called the music business. And so in wanting to
learn the business part, I kind of got sucked in.
I think my father's prayer. I always say his prayers
were stronger than mine, being a politician turned evangelist. He
was like rapping No. As I started to like want
to learn the business, I got sucked into artists management
(09:20):
and had the opportunity to work with some amazing, amazing,
amazing talent Usher New Edition Boys, the Men, Donelle Jones, Nets,
Queen Latifa, I Mean Outpass, you name it. And it
was during that time in my early twenties that I
wanted to then step away from the companies that I
(09:43):
was with and then start my own company. And so
I started a company called Miss Boss Lady Entertainment. So
my company now that I have NBL International Group. Actually
MBL stands for Miss Boss Lady.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
I get it. I get it all right.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
So now here you are, you're like, I learned all
these skills, and managing artists is really hard, you know,
because like again, you have to have control, attention to detail,
like you gotta.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
These are big characters. It's not an easy job.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
And you're also helping people hopefully build the future for themselves,
manage their money, build their brands. They don't always listen,
you know, do deals for them, make sure the deals
are actually set up nicely for them, you know. So
you're negotiating with some really powerful people. You know, you
(10:32):
have to get super creative. I am just really I
have the audacity. I just you know, there's probably not
too much I think I can't do, even while I'm
doing it scared, but I will show up to every
meeting like I know I should be there, even though
I'm probably like, oh my god, what am I doing happening?
Speaker 1 (10:47):
I love that I appreciate your your candor and that
because you know, oftentimes you'll have people who are so
successful and they're just like, I am the boss lady.
But to be the boss lady, you have to show
up scared. Sometimes that fake it to the make it.
You don't know what's going on, but you got to
show up. You got to like put your pretty dress
on or whatever it takes to make you feel empowered
(11:07):
and like a superhero and like show off scared and
get the job done.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Yeah, I mean, And then first I has to start
with you. I I have a good amount a strong
sense of self and self worth. So as much as
I'm scared, I know whose I am.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Yeah, I'm a Christian, Right, I know whose I am.
So I know that the doors were not that that
door didn't open because I didn't belong there. Now I
have to navigate knowing the power that I have, the
things that I've accomplished, the experience that I have, the
support that I have around me, you know, to walk
through those doors. But the reality of it is it's
(11:43):
not always easy, right but you, but you, but you
have to do it. And as an entrepreneur, everything falls
in your lap, right like you, this is your baby
like artist management, you're glorified babysitting somebody else's brand and business.
Yeah right, entrepreneur, even though it's my business, it's all
on me. Like if I'm sick one day, something may
(12:04):
not happen, especially when you're just starting out, not like
I will still get paid at the end of the
month if I don't show up and I take a
week's vacation, especially if I'm starting a business or a
brand or whatever. It is. So so just you know,
you you have to have a level of self confidence
and trust and belief in what you're trying to do
as an entrepreneur and understand. The one thing I learned
(12:24):
because I feel a lot also, the one thing I
learned is you have to know where your strengths are
and where your weaknesses are. You know everything that you
It's like a parent. You know everything you want for
your children. That doesn't mean you're the best person to
give it to them. Like I could never be the teacher.
I know they need to learn, but I couldn't be
that teacher.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
So wait, oh you had your kids are six now,
so COVID would have.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Been like, oh, COVID was insane. We were in Liberia
and I had to teach. And that's when I was like,
you know what, you guys are just not gonna learn
anything for a little while, because.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
So if you're looking back, and you know, oftentimes there's
a lot of our moneymames audience, they're in music, they're
in entertainment, they're looking to break into it.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
How did you get your break into artist management?
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Oh my god? So take anything right? So I actually, like,
like I said, I actually wanted to be a rapper,
but at that time was working at the Limited Express
the Express stores, Oh yes, and I was a damn
good salesperson. I was like the youngest manager in New
(13:32):
York City on Columbus Avenue because usually in New York
managers had to be twenty five and older. But I
was like, I'm good, I'm gonna apply for this job,
and I got it. I wanted to work in the
music business because I was like, I want to learn
the business. And everybody I knew that I had any
type of connection, regardless of where they sat, if they
were the dentist to the music industry folks or.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
Whatever, I'm like, I want to I want to do this.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
And fortunately my brother, my brother in law actually worked
with Oh my god, like the late greats Gerald Busby
and Clarence Avon who we just wow. And he was
at Motown and he was like, I was like, I
really really want a job, you know, in the music business.
And he was like, I don't really do the music side.
He's a Harvard graduate, so he really did business. He
(14:17):
was like business development and all of the business ventures
that that the that MO channel was doing at the time.
And he was like, but I think our travel agent
is looking to hire somebody, and I was like, I
want the job. So I say all of that to say,
you know, sometimes you got to find an end that
may not be what you're thinking it's going to be right,
and and you also then you might have to take
(14:39):
a pay cut, because this is when you're actually working
for it's really more about the experience as opposed to
the money. And so you know, figure out whether you
can have a job that at least allows you to
pay your bills and then have your side hustle. Because
if you think of like people who want to get
into the music business, there are you know, recording studios
that happened that I have these ridiculous hours that you
(15:01):
need to be there, so it's right and it's not
like you're nine to five so you can get that
nine to five. Fortunately, nowadays people have all these online
opportunities that you can you know, you can do some
part time stuff and then do focus on your passion.
But what I what I would suggest is you know,
humble yourself and take an opportunity. That is a step
in the right direction. You don't don't look for opportunities
(15:24):
that is the direction. Like you have to be willing
to grow, you have to be willing to grind. We're
missing that right now. I think, you know, there's a
lot I think and that's happening. I think people are
fortunately prioritizing mental health. Back in the day when I
got into it was this is when Puffy used to say,
you sleep, you sleep when you die, and so you know,
we measure success. You measure success by how many hours
(15:47):
you did not sleep, right, and so clearly that's not healthy.
But I think you know, find what you're where and
what you want to be. And what I always say
to people is there's different ways to get into entertainment.
Like there are people who are in the medical field,
but they prioritize clients that are in entertainment because that's
the role that they play in entertainment. There are dentists
(16:09):
who all of their clients are in the entertainment industry.
You know. There are accountants who focus on the entertainment industry.
There are lawyers who only want entertainment. You know, client,
So understand where you are and where you want to
sit in the large pid that is industry.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
I know your superpowers, right exactly. If that's your background,
you can apply it to different industries. And that's how
I think, you know, especially in this climate right now,
where gone are the days where we look at finding
one job that we stay in for the next sixty
years until they give us a retirement watch and then
we like sit around.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Doing whatever on a beach.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
But you know, look at you know, when I look
at your you know, incredible career trajectory. You've done so
much because you've been able to iterate and evolve and
sort of like follow where you want to go the
current absolutely and.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
You know it's so crazy, Like think about it. If
you go on social media now, there are a gazillion
people that want to be artists, right or social media influencer.
They actually need representation. They need help right there. They
need help. Now you may not necessarily know how to
help them, but I can tell you it's easy. When
(17:16):
it's easy your for you to talk to a potential
client or a partner or somebody wants to book that person,
then for them that person to talk to them. Because
you're that representation.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
The person can play.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
The good guy or the good girl and you can
be like, well, this is what they need.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
I need them to be here at this time. Can
you get me this information? You'd be surprised as how
learning on the job is super helpful.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
One of my favorite entrepreneurs is Richard Branson, and he says,
if somebody gives you an opportunity and you don't know
what it is, take it and learn on the job.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Yes, I love that. I always say that you know,
remember exactly what it is.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
But if someone offers you a ride on a space shift,
don't sit there and go, well, what seat is it?
Speaker 3 (17:59):
To the windows open? To just get on and go.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
You're going to out right exactly, So you just have
to you have to just be willing to know that.
Come in ground level and somebody with an entrepreneurial mindset
should get that right. You should get that because usually
you believe in yourself so much that you actually think
you can start something right like I like I can
do that, I can run that, I can build that,
(18:23):
I can be that, and so that that's the first place.
But you know, getting in an entertainment industry now that
it's actually it's opened up in so many ways because
of social media and the ways that people come in,
but it's still that it still is not that easy
if you're trying to really insert yourself in a in
a really important, meaningful way. So I would just say first,
it starts with self confidence too. You also have to
(18:45):
humble yourself. That's part of self confidence is knowing when
it's not about you and when you need to be
quiet and learn, and when you need to say, you
know what, I can help you do that. Intern if
you can afford to intern, because you may have a
second job. Intern. Everybody needs an intern.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Thanks for listening to today's episode. If we helped you
make your money move, please share it with your community,
Subscribe and leave us a review on iHeartRadio and Apple Podcasts.
Follow us on social media at Greenwood and Visit us
at Gogreenwood dot com for more financial tips and remember
money movers. If this were easy, everyone would do it.
So take the lessons you've learned from this episode and
(19:21):
apply it to your life. Money Moves is an iHeartRadio
podcast powered by Greenwood Executive produced by Sunwise Media, Inc.
For more podcasts on iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
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tune in Monday, Wednesday and Friday and subscribe to the
Money Moves podcast powered by Greenwood, so that you too
(19:41):
can have the keys to financial freedom you so rightly deserve.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Until next time,
Thanks to MasterCard for sponsoring this episode. Head to MasterCard
dot com Backslash small Bids to learn how they're amplifying
and supporting black women entrepreneurs.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I think that it's just really important as young women,
you know, just women in general, or if anybody young
in general, is understand where you want to go. But
don't ever stop wanting to go somewhere. Right, So, you
may want to be an utter today, but tomorrow it
might change, but that's great. Just don't stop wanting to
go somewhere even if you're up to move.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
You're listening to Money Moves powered by Greenwood, a finance
podcast dedicated to dropping all the knowledge and gems from
the world's leading celebrities, entrepreneurs and experts, and tech, business
and more. I'm your host, angel investor, technology enthusiasts, and
media personality Tanya Sam. Each week, we talk with guests
who are making significant strides in their fields and learn
(00:53):
how they are making their money mood. If you're someone
who's looking to make your money move, you're in the
right place, So open up your notes app and lock
us in because this podcast will give you the keys
to the Kingdom of financial stability.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Wealth and abundance you so rightly deserve.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Before we start the episode, I'd like to remind you
to check us out at gogreenwood dot com and follow
us on social media at Greenwood and me on all
things social at It's Tanya. Time to stay locked in
too new episode, Welcome back Money Movers. In our last segment,
we had the privilege of diving into the captivating journey
(01:29):
of our guests Barku, Tubman Zavolos. Today, get ready for
another dose of inspiration as we continue our conversation with Barku.
You're a total New Yorker, but you're also like, you're,
you know, acknowledging like I was in boarding school, which
I think for the average black kid growing up in
New York. Their parents weren't and this feels very African
to me. They were like, you're going to go to
this boarding school, because boarding school in the US feels
(01:53):
like punishment or this, but I think Overseas it's its privilege.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
It's like I'm going to Segage, It's normal. I mean,
there are so many other Africans who actually get to
go to school, mostly in raw London, right, Switzerland and
in something in the US, but to your point, like
it's very that privileged thing. I did not want to
go to boarding school though, because I loved being a
day student. I love my United Nations international school friends.
(02:18):
We were all from different countries. It was literally going
to school and like when you went to a friend's house,
it felt like you were traveling to a country because
they were so engrossed in their traditions and culture when
you went to their homes. And so I definitely was like,
why do I have to go to boarding school?
Speaker 3 (02:34):
But it all worked out.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
I ended up really loving boarding school after the first
three months.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
There's a little period. I get that.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
So when you were studying to go to school, and
like I always talk about, my parents were like, you
have to be either a doctor, lawyer, accountant, this or
a failure. That's like how aped what did you think of?
Like growing up you were like, I'm going to be
X and that is what success will be to me.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
My god, that is so funny. So I did not
have that career. I think I always as a young
girl was just always I'm loud, you know in Liberia
or they would be like this, she's very frisky. She's
very frisky, like I was fresh. I you know, I
was opinionated. I spoke up. God is paying his debt
(03:18):
because I have a daughter who's very like much like
me right now, and and I think one of the
things that I always wanted to be, I did not
know how I used to be, like I want to
be famous, right, I didn't. I didn't know how it
was going to happen. Right. I knew I was not
going to be a doctor, because so let me be
honest on here. Not everybody's going to be great at school, right.
(03:40):
I graduated from college because I knew the only way
that I would keep having my parents at least try
to help me throughout both should is I got to
stay in school. That is the one requirement you have
to stay in school. I am very grateful that they
made me stay in school. It's been very helpful for me.
But I wasn't an a student, right, I was not her.
(04:00):
I am the girl who knows a little bit of everything,
but then I come together to know a lot of
bit of life.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
If that means okay, I just have to stop there
for y'all money movers that are listening in, Like, you know,
I love this honesty because sometimes people're like I was great.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I always knew i'd be this. You're like I knew
I wanted to be famous.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
I wasn't a good student, and here you are the
you know, chief of staff for Essence Ventures, your in
venture capital. So there's a lot of ways to skin
his cat here, tons of them, So fear not.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
We're Yeah. I think you have to play to your
own strength, right, and and and and I always say
that to young people when I do speak to them.
You know, I've spoken at graduations and I always say
my speech is usually I challenge you to fail, because
I think there's a lot of character that's built from failure.
Failure means you even woke up to try, not trying
for me, you've already failed. So I think it's I
(04:50):
think it's important to play to your strength. If you
know you are not the person who's going to be
a doctor or don't want to be. I think you
need to find the right ways to have those conversation
with your parents because your parents want you to be
those things because they want the best for you. I
don't think they want it right, and in some cases
they just want to brag to right, so right, But
I think it's important to understand, like what you want
(05:13):
to be, how you want to be it. Like, so
I'm not famous, but what I did learn was able
to get myself in an industry that aligned me with
famous people. I love powerful people, specifically powerful women. I
just think there's so much to learn from them. I
think how they navigate the world because it's already difficult
being a woman in any society, being a black woman
(05:34):
as another layer to it, being an African woman as
another layer to it. Right, So I think that it's
just really important as young women, you know, just women
in general or anybody young in general, is understand where
you want to go, but don't ever stop wanting to
go somewhere. Right, So you may want to be today,
but tomorrow it might change, but that's great. Just don't
(05:55):
stop wanting to go somewhere.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Even if you're wanting the journey.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
So let's get back to like, how did you start
your entrepreneurial journey? You've gone through music, you you know
your in venture now, like what were the early what
did the early days look like? Let's talk about this
career trajectory because I know it's been multifaceted.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
I'm not an venture in like your the traditional way.
I think I'm more in venture in the sense that
I happen to work with people who are and my
goal is to connect them to the right entrepreneurs, right,
I think, and connect entrepreneurs to the right people who
can support their ventures.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
My entrepreneurial journey, I think just started. I am a
control freak.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Oh, I love this the real team I am.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
I am a control freak. I like to I like
to determine my course of action. I like to determine
where I've got to go, where I want to go,
how I get there. And I think as an entrepreneur,
I didn't even realize I probably was that early on,
because I did start with jobs, and but I also
quickly realized I wanted to do things my way. Right now.
(07:04):
There's a gift and a curse to some of that,
because part of a job, especially early on, is where
you get a lot of education.
Speaker 3 (07:11):
Right.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
You know, even as I sit in the role as
I sit in now, my CEO always says to me,
she says, you know, use this job, she says, I
know you're such an entrepreneur. Use this job as if
this is your internship to you becoming the best entrepreneur
ever an entrepreneur who runs the business as opposed to
an entrepreneur who is the business, because entrepreneurs sometimes, oh
(07:33):
she's she's amazing entrepreneur advice it's been. I mean, listen,
you never get too old or you're never too seasoned
to learn, so that that's that's the thing.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Right.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
So so for me, I didn't realize it then, but
all of the jobs that I've had and all of
the things that I did just sort of led me
to sort of decide, you know, I want to do
this on my terms given what I know. So I
got into the music business wanting to I'm about to
spill all the tea on Tania show. Yeah, I wanted
to be a rapper. What yes, And don't forget I'll
(08:05):
come from African parents, especially back then, like we didn't
have whiz Kid and David and Boy and Burna boys,
you know, and Tim's back then.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Okay, And here's the thing I want people to understand,
Like Africa has a long history of like incredible musicians,
I get it right, But your parents were never it
wasn't a respected thing, you know, like a troubadour. They
weren't like, oh, go, they'd still be disupported back then, right,
So I get it.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
So you wanted to be a rap? I almost I am like,
can you please freestyle for us?
Speaker 2 (08:35):
But I will, I cannot, I cannot and I will not.
But that's what I wanted to be, and what I
learned in wanting to be a rapper is I also
realized that there was a business component to how people
just showed up. It wasn't like people woke up and
(08:56):
just they were just on stage. There's like the business
part of That's why I was called them, That's why
it's called the music business. And so in wanting to
learn the business part, I kind of got sucked in.
I think my father's prayer. I always say his prayers
were stronger than mine, being a politician turned evangelist. He
was like rapping No. As I started to like want
to learn the business, I got sucked into artists management
(09:20):
and had the opportunity to work with some amazing, amazing,
amazing talent Usher New Edition Boys, the Men, Donelle Jones, Nets,
Queen Latifa, I Mean Outpass, you name it. And it
was during that time in my early twenties that I
wanted to then step away from the companies that I
(09:43):
was with and then start my own company. And so
I started a company called Miss Boss Lady Entertainment. So
my company now that I have NBL International Group. Actually
MBL stands for Miss Boss Lady.
Speaker 3 (09:54):
I get it. I get it all right.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
So now here you are, you're like, I learned all
these skills, and managing artists is really hard, you know,
because like again, you have to have control, attention to detail,
like you gotta.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
These are big characters. It's not an easy job.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
And you're also helping people hopefully build the future for themselves,
manage their money, build their brands. They don't always listen,
you know, do deals for them, make sure the deals
are actually set up nicely for them, you know. So
you're negotiating with some really powerful people. You know, you
(10:32):
have to get super creative. I am just really I
have the audacity. I just you know, there's probably not
too much I think I can't do, even while I'm
doing it scared, but I will show up to every
meeting like I know I should be there, even though
I'm probably like, oh my god, what am I doing happening?
Speaker 1 (10:47):
I love that I appreciate your your candor and that
because you know, oftentimes you'll have people who are so
successful and they're just like, I am the boss lady.
But to be the boss lady, you have to show
up scared. Sometimes that fake it to the make it.
You don't know what's going on, but you got to
show up. You got to like put your pretty dress
on or whatever it takes to make you feel empowered
(11:07):
and like a superhero and like show off scared and
get the job done.
Speaker 2 (11:11):
Yeah, I mean, And then first I has to start
with you. I I have a good amount a strong
sense of self and self worth. So as much as
I'm scared, I know whose I am.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Yeah, I'm a Christian, Right, I know whose I am.
So I know that the doors were not that that
door didn't open because I didn't belong there. Now I
have to navigate knowing the power that I have, the
things that I've accomplished, the experience that I have, the
support that I have around me, you know, to walk
through those doors. But the reality of it is it's
(11:43):
not always easy, right but you, but you, but you
have to do it. And as an entrepreneur, everything falls
in your lap, right like you, this is your baby
like artist management, you're glorified babysitting somebody else's brand and business.
Yeah right, entrepreneur, even though it's my business, it's all
on me. Like if I'm sick one day, something may
(12:04):
not happen, especially when you're just starting out, not like
I will still get paid at the end of the
month if I don't show up and I take a
week's vacation, especially if I'm starting a business or a
brand or whatever. It is. So so just you know,
you you have to have a level of self confidence
and trust and belief in what you're trying to do
as an entrepreneur and understand. The one thing I learned
(12:24):
because I feel a lot also, the one thing I
learned is you have to know where your strengths are
and where your weaknesses are. You know everything that you
It's like a parent. You know everything you want for
your children. That doesn't mean you're the best person to
give it to them. Like I could never be the teacher.
I know they need to learn, but I couldn't be
that teacher.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
So wait, oh you had your kids are six now,
so COVID would have.
Speaker 2 (12:46):
Been like, oh, COVID was insane. We were in Liberia
and I had to teach. And that's when I was like,
you know what, you guys are just not gonna learn
anything for a little while, because.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
I get it.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
So if you're looking back, and you know, oftentimes there's
a lot of our moneymames audience, they're in music, they're
in entertainment, they're looking to break into it.
Speaker 3 (13:09):
How did you get your break into artist management?
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Oh my god? So take anything right? So I actually, like,
like I said, I actually wanted to be a rapper,
but at that time was working at the Limited Express
the Express stores, Oh yes, and I was a damn
good salesperson. I was like the youngest manager in New
(13:32):
York City on Columbus Avenue because usually in New York
managers had to be twenty five and older. But I
was like, I'm good, I'm gonna apply for this job,
and I got it. I wanted to work in the
music business because I was like, I want to learn
the business. And everybody I knew that I had any
type of connection, regardless of where they sat, if they
were the dentist to the music industry folks or.
Speaker 3 (13:52):
Whatever, I'm like, I want to I want to do this.
Speaker 2 (13:54):
And fortunately my brother, my brother in law actually worked
with Oh my god, like the late greats Gerald Busby
and Clarence Avon who we just wow. And he was
at Motown and he was like, I was like, I
really really want a job, you know, in the music business.
And he was like, I don't really do the music side.
He's a Harvard graduate, so he really did business. He
(14:17):
was like business development and all of the business ventures
that that the that MO channel was doing at the time.
And he was like, but I think our travel agent
is looking to hire somebody, and I was like, I
want the job. So I say all of that to say,
you know, sometimes you got to find an end that
may not be what you're thinking it's going to be right,
and and you also then you might have to take
(14:39):
a pay cut, because this is when you're actually working
for it's really more about the experience as opposed to
the money. And so you know, figure out whether you
can have a job that at least allows you to
pay your bills and then have your side hustle. Because
if you think of like people who want to get
into the music business, there are you know, recording studios
that happened that I have these ridiculous hours that you
(15:01):
need to be there, so it's right and it's not
like you're nine to five so you can get that
nine to five. Fortunately, nowadays people have all these online
opportunities that you can you know, you can do some
part time stuff and then do focus on your passion.
But what I what I would suggest is you know,
humble yourself and take an opportunity. That is a step
in the right direction. You don't don't look for opportunities
(15:24):
that is the direction. Like you have to be willing
to grow, you have to be willing to grind. We're
missing that right now. I think, you know, there's a
lot I think and that's happening. I think people are
fortunately prioritizing mental health. Back in the day when I
got into it was this is when Puffy used to say,
you sleep, you sleep when you die, and so you know,
we measure success. You measure success by how many hours
(15:47):
you did not sleep, right, and so clearly that's not healthy.
But I think you know, find what you're where and
what you want to be. And what I always say
to people is there's different ways to get into entertainment.
Like there are people who are in the medical field,
but they prioritize clients that are in entertainment because that's
the role that they play in entertainment. There are dentists
(16:09):
who all of their clients are in the entertainment industry.
You know. There are accountants who focus on the entertainment industry.
There are lawyers who only want entertainment. You know, client,
So understand where you are and where you want to
sit in the large pid that is industry.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
I know your superpowers, right exactly. If that's your background,
you can apply it to different industries. And that's how
I think, you know, especially in this climate right now,
where gone are the days where we look at finding
one job that we stay in for the next sixty
years until they give us a retirement watch and then
we like sit around.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Doing whatever on a beach.
Speaker 1 (16:44):
But you know, look at you know, when I look
at your you know, incredible career trajectory. You've done so
much because you've been able to iterate and evolve and
sort of like follow where you want to go the
current absolutely and.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
You know it's so crazy, Like think about it. If
you go on social media now, there are a gazillion
people that want to be artists, right or social media influencer.
They actually need representation. They need help right there. They
need help. Now you may not necessarily know how to
help them, but I can tell you it's easy. When
(17:16):
it's easy your for you to talk to a potential
client or a partner or somebody wants to book that person,
then for them that person to talk to them. Because
you're that representation.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
The person can play.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
The good guy or the good girl and you can
be like, well, this is what they need.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
I need them to be here at this time. Can
you get me this information? You'd be surprised as how
learning on the job is super helpful.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
One of my favorite entrepreneurs is Richard Branson, and he says,
if somebody gives you an opportunity and you don't know
what it is, take it and learn on the job.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Yes, I love that. I always say that you know,
remember exactly what it is.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
But if someone offers you a ride on a space shift,
don't sit there and go, well, what seat is it?
Speaker 3 (17:59):
To the windows open? To just get on and go.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
You're going to out right exactly, So you just have
to you have to just be willing to know that.
Come in ground level and somebody with an entrepreneurial mindset
should get that right. You should get that because usually
you believe in yourself so much that you actually think
you can start something right like I like I can
do that, I can run that, I can build that,
(18:23):
I can be that, and so that that's the first place.
But you know, getting in an entertainment industry now that
it's actually it's opened up in so many ways because
of social media and the ways that people come in,
but it's still that it still is not that easy
if you're trying to really insert yourself in a in
a really important, meaningful way. So I would just say first,
it starts with self confidence too. You also have to
(18:45):
humble yourself. That's part of self confidence is knowing when
it's not about you and when you need to be
quiet and learn, and when you need to say, you
know what, I can help you do that. Intern if
you can afford to intern, because you may have a
second job. Intern. Everybody needs an intern.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Thanks for listening to today's episode. If we helped you
make your money move, please share it with your community,
Subscribe and leave us a review on iHeartRadio and Apple Podcasts.
Follow us on social media at Greenwood and Visit us
at Gogreenwood dot com for more financial tips and remember
money movers. If this were easy, everyone would do it.
So take the lessons you've learned from this episode and
(19:21):
apply it to your life. Money Moves is an iHeartRadio
podcast powered by Greenwood Executive produced by Sunwise Media, Inc.
For more podcasts on iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
or wherever you get your podcasts from. Make sure to
tune in Monday, Wednesday and Friday and subscribe to the
Money Moves podcast powered by Greenwood, so that you too
(19:41):
can have the keys to financial freedom you so rightly deserve.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Until next time,
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