Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite with Jessica Hartley

Since she was a little girl, Latisha M. Roberson was obsessed with her teachers in school and just knew that she was going to be a teacher. Through a chance opportunity as part of a mock trial team in middle school where she met an African-American attorney, the direction of her life was forever changed by that fortunate coincidence. As an HR executive and diversity and inclusion professional, Latisha M. Roberson has spent most of ...

Drive, focus and determination are core to Nakeya Bennett’s pursuit of excellence in life, even when things didn’t always turn out as she meticulously planned. In addition to being a seasoned and talented, digital marketing strategist, Nakeya Bennett is also the owner and CEO of TRM Designs & Co., a full service interior design firm currently focused on residential, commercial, and event design. In this episode, we journey with...

Even as a child, Dr. Joia Crear-Perry was an activist and advocate for those that could not champion for themselves. As the founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC), Dr. Crear-Perry identifies and challenges racism as a root cause of health inequities, including Black maternal mortality.  In this episode, we explore how she took all the curveballs that life could throw at her, and turned them into tri...

“How much of your values are you going to lean into every step of the way?” As a transgender, Black, and queer woman, Raquel Willis harnesses storytelling through her work as an award-winning writer, activist, media strategist, and public figure. In this second episode of a two-part series, we pick up where we left off, journeying with her across the country as she shifted not only into the non-profit space but also leaning into gr...

As a transgender, Black and queer woman - being the first is nothing new for Raquel Willis. As an award-winning writer, activist, media strategist and leader in this current human rights movement transforming the world, Ms. Willis has always harnessed the power of storytelling to share her truth and elevate the voices others. In this first episode of a two-part series, we start with her beginnings of growing up Black and Catholic i...

For Dr. Natasha Jones, as for so many of us – life is what happens when you’re busy making plans. As a scholar, author, and as Associate Professor of Technical Communications at Michigan State University, Dr. Jones has had to learn how to turn lemons into lemonade and create a future in which she not only thrives but for those following in her footsteps. In this episode, we explore her Southern roots growing up in a conservative re...

Mita Mallick has had an incredible journey from childhood into Corporate America, learning to stand up for herself and for others, and use her voice as a force of positive change.  In this episode, we sojourn with Mita from a challenging childhood of being othered and bullied, to rising in the ranks at different organizations to currently being Head of Inclusion, Equity and Impact at Carta. We experience how this shy kid from immig...

As a culture strategist at her core, Tanarra Schneider has always been on a personal quest to marry her passion and purpose of centering humans in everything that she touches. In this episode, we start at the roots of Schneider’s life growing up as a biracial kid in Chicago, up through her current role as a Managing Director of Leadership and Culture at Accenture.

We explore:

• The importance of supporting your mental health and re...

Tia Cummings-Hopkins is a force to be reckoned with in the world of marketing and branding.  In our first episode of the season, we start at the early beginnings of Cummings-Hopkins' life up through her current role as SVP, Global Marketing Lead for the technology giant, Square. 

We explore:

• How curiosity and ambition can be a powerful combination for your career
• Why slowing down sometimes is the right step you need...

Welcome to Hustle Grind Shine & Reignite! Get advice on how to stay motivated when it feels as if the world is against you. Discover how your passions and purpose can meet in your day job, night job, side hustle or all 3.  Understand how to cultivate the champions and advocates you need to support you along your own personal journey.  Hear testimonies about bursting through barriers, breaking down walls and forging your own pat...