Zaka Presents: My Journey

We sit down with Mina Brower, a distinguished Mexican-American attorney, author, and advocate whose journey captures the strength and complexity of the immigrant experience. Mina shares how coming to the United States at a young age, without speaking the language, forced her to grow up quickly. As the first in her family to learn English, she became the default advocate, translating documents, navigating public systems, and even ta...

In this episode, Kathryn takes us through her journey from growing up in Jamaica to breaking barriers, driving multimillion-dollar growth, and creating opportunities for others in the corporate and startup worlds. She shares the mindset, strategies, and lessons that have shaped her success from launching Accenture’s Black Founders Development Program to leading billion-dollar innovation initiatives. As an immigrant, she navigated c...

In this uplifting episode, we sit down with Lauren Brockett, an immigrant, HR leader, and determined advocate for economic empowerment. Lauren has dedicated her life to helping immigrants, refugees, and underserved communities build brighter futures creating pathways to employment, financial stability, and long-term success. From establishing Atlanta’s first career center for war survivors to launching community lending circles dur...

What happens when a young girl in foster care refuses to let the system define her future? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Brigitte Jolliet, an attorney, advocate, and policy expert who is breaking stereotypes and proving that foster youth have the resilience, skills, and drive to succeed. Brigitte takes us through her extraordinary journey, from navigating instability in the foster care system to fighting for children’s...

Born and raised in Trinidad & Tobago, Micha Cooper-Edwards built a powerhouse career in corporate America, leading global marketing for brands like Nike and Jordan before taking a bold leap into entrepreneurship. As the founder & CEO of Soleil Space, she’s on a mission to dismantle the systemic barriers that keep independent filmmakers especially creators of color from owning their work. In this episode, she reveals the har...

Farah Allen, a remarkable Jamaican-American tech entrepreneur and CEO of The Labz, who has redefined digital innovation and built powerhouse partnerships with Google, Microsoft, and Delta Airlines. Farah takes us through her incredible journey, from her Jamaican roots and early influences that shaped her love for technology to breaking barriers as a woman of color in leadership. She shares how her first job set the foundation for h...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Victoria Tollossa, the Founder and CEO of Illume, a personal branding agency helping entrepreneurs and executives amplify their impact. But Victoria’s path to success was anything but conventional.

Born bi-racial and navigating cultural challenges, Victoria migrated to the U.S. in pursuit of opportunity only to face homelessness. Despite the hardships, her passion for storytelling led her t...

Illiana Acosta is the Make It Happen Master, a leader with over 20 years of experience in tech, global partnerships, and media sales. Currently a Senior Manager at LinkedIn’s Business Development organization, Illiana shares her journey from growing up in New York City as the daughter of immigrant parents to becoming a leadership strategist and thought leader in career development, ERG and DEI

Illiana opens up about the challenges s...

We sit down with D’Angelo Senat, a visionary Haitian-American entrepreneur and founder of AllPeeP, to explore his inspiring journey of resilience, innovation, and empowerment. From growing up in Broward County, Florida, and witnessing his parents’ entrepreneurial struggles, to redefining his path after a sports injury and leading a mission to revolutionize online communities, D’Angelo’s story is a testament to the power of persever...

We welcome Miles Mendes, a remarkable student-athlete whose maturity, faith, and passion for basketball set him apart. At probably the youngest age of any guest we’ve hosted, Miles shares a life journey filled with wisdom and lessons that resonate well beyond his years. Growing up in a culturally diverse household and attending a Christian university, Miles reflects on how his background, faith, and love for the game have shaped hi...

We sit down with Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernández, a visionary leader in higher education and the President of Urban College of Boston. She shares her extraordinary journey from immigrating to the United States from Haiti at the age of 12 to breaking barriers in academia as a first-generation college graduate and leader. With degrees from the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics, and Boston College, Dr. Salomon-Fernández ...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Nancy Douyon, a well accomplished immigrant professional who has redefined success at the intersection of technology, ethics, and inclusion. From her journey as an immigrant breaking barriers in Silicon Valley to leading groundbreaking initiatives at Google, Facebook, and Uber, Nancy’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and impact. As the founder of Incluversal, she’s harnessing the ...

Author and occupational therapist Samarra St. Hilaire shares her journey of growing up Haitian-American in Brooklyn, self-publishing her debut YA novel Brushed Between Cultures, and balancing cultural expectations with personal dreams. Discover how her 22 years as a therapist shaped her storytelling and the powerful themes of resilience, identity, and friendship in her work. Perfect for anyone navigating tradition and independence.

Today, we celebrate resilience, vision, and the power of purpose. Our guest is Zuleka Fraser, an immigrant leader from St Kitts & Nevis, in the affordable housing industry who has turned challenges into opportunities that have transformed lives. From navigating the complexities of public housing finance to spearheading game-changing programs like the 4% Bond LIHTC initiative, Zuleka’s journey is one of grit, determination, and ...

How does an engineer turned attorney become the Mayor and Council President of Upper Arlington, Ohio? In this episode, we sit down with the amazing leader, Ukeme Awakessien Jeter to explore her incredible journey from immigrant professional to community leader. Ukeme shares how her diverse experiences and immigrant background have shaped her unique leadership style and fueled her passion for driving innovation and inclusivity.

Drawi...

In this episode, we sit down with David “MOZE” Baptiste to explore the incredible journey of a boy from New York City, raised in a Grenadian-American household, who rose to legendary status in the entertainment industry. Known for promoting icons like Kool G. Rap, Erykah Badu, Jay Z, Naughty By Nature, and Mary J. Blige in the 90s, David’s career is a masterclass in adaptability and reinvention. Hear firsthand how he transitioned f...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Alan d’Escragnolle, CEO and Co-Founder of Filmhub, the tech-powered platform transforming film distribution. Born in San Diego to Brazilian and American parents, Alan opens up about the challenges of navigating two cultures. After leaving San Diego at a young age to connect more deeply with his Brazilian roots, Alan’s journey eventually led him to Silicon Valley, where he’s now empowering ...

we are joined with Dr. Ty Richardson, a Trinidadian-American entrepreneur who boldly left a thriving corporate career to pursue his vision of building impactful ventures that empower others. From turning his start-up, YoPro Global, into a global social enterprise supporting youth and young professionals, to founding Pinnacle & Beyond Enterprises and leading One Global Index Consulting, Dr. Ty has become a leader for emerging ma...

We sit down with Shawna Kaye Lester, an entrepreneur and founder of Memorable Essay, who has dedicated her career to helping ambitious students and international medical graduates secure spots in their dream schools and residencies. Shawna’s journey from Jamaica to the U.S. is one of grit, determination, and relentless pursuit of growth.

She opens up about her personal story of navigating cultural differences, her diverse career pat...