Business of the Beat

Business of the Beat

Hosted by three-time founder, bestselling author, and award-winning industry thought leader Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, Business of the Beat takes you inside the business of beauty and wellness—unpacking the real stories behind starting, growing and accelerating breakthrough brands. Each episode features candid conversations with founders, senior executives, influencers, and operators who are shaping the future of the industry. From funding to failures, pivots to purpose, and hustle to harmony, you’ll get unfiltered insights and actionable strategies to grow and scale with intention. Now in its fifth season with over 180 episodes, Business of the Beat is the go-to resource for all business leaders ready to turn passion into profit and ambition into impact. Subscribe today—and unlock the beauty of your success.

Episodes

July 27, 2025 21 mins
In this fiery and heartfelt episode, co-hosts Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Leslie Roberson return from a whirlwind 10-day experience at the AMAC National Airport Conference and The ESSENCE Festival of Culture as Hyatt Regency New Orleans official beauty partners. From late-night Lauryn Hill debates to industry backlash around Target’s presence, they unpack it all—honestly and unapologetically. Kendra and Leslie dive into the big win...
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In this powerful conversation from Season 1, originally recorded in the early days of her brand's journey, Diarrha N'Diaye-Mbaye—founder of Ami Colé—joins us to share the inspiration behind her clean beauty line created for melanin-rich skin. Rooted in her Senegalese heritage and her mother’s Harlem beauty salon, Ami Colé was more than a brand—it was a love letter to her community. Now, four years later, we revisit this episode wi...
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In this special episode of Business of the Beat, we welcome back Angel Cornelius, founder of Maison 276, alongside hosts Kendra Bracken-Ferguson and Leslie Roberson. Recorded live from New Orleans during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture®, Angel shares her inspiring journey—pivoting from a successful corporate career to building a nationally distributed beauty brand featured at Walmart and QVC. She reflects on the New Orleans roots ...
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Kendra Bracken-Ferguson welcomes her new co-host, fellow powerhouse entrepreneur Leslie Roberson, to Business of the Beat. In this exciting new series, the duo will dive deep into the business of beauty—covering everything from retail and ingredients to product strategy and the powerful founder stories behind the brands. Recorded fresh from the ESSENCE Festival of Culture® in New Orleans, this debut episode unveils the origin stor...
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In this powerful and deeply personal episode, the incomparable Jessica Cruel, Editor-in-Chief of Allure and Self magazines speaks to power, purpose and the beauty of leadership.. From making her first magazine in high school to leading two of the most iconic brands in beauty and wellness, Jessica’s journey is a masterclass in authenticity, agility, and ambition. Jessica opens up about what it truly means to lead with purpose—mana...
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June 22, 2025 49 mins
On this enlightening episode of Business of the Beat, host Kendra Bracken-Ferguson is joined by LaShasta Bell, licensed counselor and certified sleep science expert, for a transformative conversation on the power of rest, healing, and holistic wellness. Together, they explore how childhood experiences shape our relationship with sleep, the long-term effects of sleep deprivation, and how rest is not a luxury, but a birthright. LaSh...
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March 23, 2025 54 mins
**Rerelease: Business of the Beat with Kendra Bracken-Ferguson & Lisa Price** In this must-listen episode of *Business of the Beat*, host **Kendra Bracken-Ferguson** sits down with **Lisa Price**, the visionary founder of **Carol’s Daughter**, to discuss her incredible entrepreneurial journey. From mixing products in her Brooklyn kitchen to building a groundbreaking beauty empire, Lisa shares the challenges, triumphs, and lesson...
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August 25, 2024 40 mins
Keta Burke-Williams, the visionary founder of the conscious fragrance brand Ourside, shares her inspiring journey of creating a brand that celebrates diverse stories and fosters community connections. She reveals how scent became a form of escape and self-care, leading her to establish Ourside. Keta highlights the significance of community and mentorship in her entrepreneurial path and details the meticulous process behind launchin...
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August 18, 2024 46 mins
Kenya Carter, the visionary founder of Shapes Clothing, explores her inspiring journey from North Tulsa to the heights of fashion design. Kenya shares how a childhood love for art and fashion evolved into a dynamic career through unexpected twists and bold decisions. From running a salon with her sister to discovering fashion through a serendipitous show in Las Vegas, Kenya's story is a testament to the power of taking risks and em...
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In the gripping Part Two episode with Wendy Berry and Eugenia Marshall, the visionary co-founders of ConditionHER, listeners explore the profound challenges and triumphs they’ve experienced on their entrepreneurial journey. Wendy and Eugenia dive into the emotional and psychological impacts of building a business, particularly during health crises and global disruptions. Wendy opens up about ConditionHER’s journey through the pande...
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In this engaging first part of our two-part series, Wendy Berry and Eugenia Marshall, the dynamic co-founders of ConditionHER, share their inspiring journey. Eugenia, Chief Human Resources Officer at NKSFB, and Wendy, who transitioned from a marketing career at Warner Brothers to full-time entrepreneurship, opened up about their unique paths and the serendipitous moments that led them to start ConditionHER. Wendy recounts her caree...
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July 28, 2024 43 mins
Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Amanda E/J Morrison, Co-Founder & CEO of Julie Products Inc. Discover Amanda's transformative journey from a structured career in finance at Goldman Sachs to pioneering entrepreneurship in consumer-facing industries. Prior to Julie, Amanda co-founded Mented Cosmetics, a trailblazing brand addressing the beauty needs of people of color. Amanda shares deep insights into the genesis and missi...
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July 22, 2024 47 mins
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Julee Wilson, the pioneering Beauty Editor-at-Large at Cosmopolitan and the first Black Beauty Director in the magazine's history. Julee shares her journey of breaking barriers, telling diverse stories, and supporting her community. Julee reflects on her career challenges, including overcoming self-doubt and embracing her power. Her career journey underscores the importance of recognizing ...
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July 14, 2024 37 mins
Jemila Bwanhot, the visionary Founder and CEO of Alimaj Essentials, and winner of the 2024 Earth Day Beauty Award, shares her transformative journey from Nigeria to the U.S., overcoming postpartum hair shedding, and delving into the world of natural hair care. Drawing from her heritage and a passion for holistic beauty, Jemila founded Alimaj Essentials, emphasizing the science behind her award-winning formulations. Jemila discusse...
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Dr. Shoná Burkes-Henderson, Manager, Product Research Organization and Product Experience Center at Mary Kay Global, shares her inspiring journey from an internship at Mary Kay to a distinguished career in environmental chemistry, and her eventual return to Mary Kay in various leadership roles. Shoná delves into the significance of mentorship, community, and maintaining a work-life balance in achieving success and navigating career...
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June 30, 2024 34 mins
In part two, Ceata E. Lash, Founder of The PuffCuff LLC, discusses the intricate challenges of patent protection, particularly against international copycats and large corporations; ultimately sharing a playbook of when and how to diversify your product offering. To stay competitive, Ceata delves deep into her new diffusion collection, the Cuffet, ensuring the line did not alienate existing loyal customers. This strategic move has ...
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June 23, 2024 38 mins
In this two part series, Ceata E. Lash, Founder of The PuffCuff LLC, shares her inspiring journey, which began unintentionally when she stopped chemically straightening her hair and embraced her natural curls. Facing headaches from conventional styling accessories, she envisioned a new hair tool. Leveraging her engineering connections at her community college job, she developed a prototype. Ceata recounts how her product, initially...
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June 16, 2024 46 mins
Join us as Rhonda Daniels, Co-Founder and CEO of Natural Radiant Life, shares her inspiring journey from selling pickles as a child to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Rhonda recounts meeting her long-time business partners at Florida A&M University, launching her first beauty business in 2001, and navigating a diverse career in the skincare industry, including roles at Avon and Rodan + Fields. In 2020, Rhonda co-founded Natura...
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June 9, 2024 54 mins
Kene Onuorah, founder and CEO of Comme Homme, opens up about his personal journey of hair loss, sharing the emotional toll it took and his eventual embrace of baldness. He discusses how Comme Homme empowers men through their hair loss journey and emphasizes the importance of instilling confidence. Drawing from his background in venture capital and entrepreneurship education, Kene shares valuable insights into building a brand and n...
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June 2, 2024 56 mins
Leona Dondi, Founder and CEO of Uzima, shares her inspiring journey from academia to entrepreneurship, fueled by a passion for solving problems and addressing the unique needs of textured hair. The discussion spans her background as a Kenyan immigrant, her academic research on implicit bias, and her unexpected entry into the cosmetics industry due to personal skincare needs. The unveiling of the story behind UZIMA, a beauty brand c...
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