June 4, 2025 • 18 mins
Mea Boykins is a global entrepreneur making a bold move to Nigeria. In this episode, she shares how her international education and business ventures led her to a life of impact across continents. From studying at Spelman College to building connections worldwide, Mea’s journey is all about embracing opportunity and stepping into the unknown. She discusses the importance of global citizenship, the challenges and rewards of relocating to another country, and the role of faith in her fearless pursuit of success. If you’ve ever dreamed of expanding your horizons beyond borders, this episode is for you.
Guest: Mea Boykins
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Music By: Stichiz - Big T. Music / Roj & Twinkie
Guest: Mea Boykins
| Powered by The House of Joy |
Subscribe & Follow:
Don’t miss an episode of "Stay A While"! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. Stay connected and get the latest updates by following us on Instagram @StayAWhileShow and follow our host Tommi Vincent @cheftommiv. Watch full episodes on our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/@ChefTommiV
Join the Conversation:
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! Share your insights and stories with us using #StayAWhilePodcast on social media.
Music By: Stichiz - Big T. Music / Roj & Twinkie
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to a special edition of Stale Wild, recorded live
on Radio Row at Super Bowl fifty nine. I'm your host,
Tommy Vincent, and we are going to be hearing some
dynamic conversations with phenomenal guests here on Radio Row.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
So take a seat, get comfortable in stale will.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
This episode is sponsored by the House of Joy.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Hi.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Everyone, this is Tommy Vincent, your host of stale Wild podcast,
and today joining me.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We have Mia Boykins.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Mia is a global entrepreneur and speaker and she's about
to move to Nigeria, so we're going to talk about
that too, so let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Mia, how are you today?
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Hi Tommy, thank you so much for having me. It's
a pleasure to be here. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
So you are.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
A global entrepreneur?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yes, what does that mean?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
So I became global as you know. I stay.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
That's Spelman College, and Spelman is all about getting women
intereredly ever since I went there. I graduated in twenty eleven,
so I did a study abroad in Paris.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I literally fell in.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Love with being in Europe and I ended up doing
a lot of education abroad. In fact, I've attended eight
universities globally and I'm finishing my fourth degree of PhD
and governance and public policy right now, give me some Yeah.
So I've lived in France, England, Spain, Taiwan, Jamaica and
US and as you said, planning to move to Nigeria.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
So I'm a woman of business. I'm a global entrepreneur
and speaker.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
I'm at the intersection of government, entertainment and business throughout
through my business.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
So I became global simply by just you know, being global.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
I leveraged the relationships that I built while attending university
in all these countries, and I just continued to build
relationships and develop clients.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
And yes, now I'm a global entrepreneur. Let me ask
you this.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
This Spellman opened the world up to you or was
that part of your aspiration before you attended Spelman.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Honestly and truly, it was Spelman.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Out of all the institutions that I've attended globally, you know,
some of the world's best, Spelman prepared me the most
for the world. It made me appreciate who I was
as a black woman.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
It made me understand who I was as a black woman.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
And the fact that you know, our motto is a
choice to change the world, and we really stand on
global education and global experience. So it wasn't until I
was pushed and motivated to go to Paris that I
actually kind of that passion woke.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Up within me.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
We just did a project in New Orleans at a
school and the theme for it was the road to Success.
And one of the things that the principal at this
school shared with us, and this is pre K through
eighth grade students, one of the things she shared is
that the students in this particular area in Garyville, that
they don't get beyond that community because.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
It's just their parents, their parents' parents.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
That that's not something where they see the world this way.
They see their world really in a tunnel.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
And so part of our objective there was to create
this space where they could see there is a road
to success. As you continue to matriculate through your education,
then the world is going to open up to them
and they're on this road to success. Yes, for you,
I know that you're about to make this transition to Nigeria. Yes,
(03:34):
how did you take all of your learnings and redeposit
that back into the community that you came from so
that other people like yourself recognize that the world is
full of possibilities and it is open to them if
they're willing to pursue it.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Yes, that's a great question, ask someone who is a motivator.
One of my favorite things to do is to go
back to the school systems. Like I've spoken all over
the world and maybe about fifteen countries at this point,
some huge speaking engagements. I even spoke at King's College,
London graduation thousands of people. But my favorite talks are
(04:10):
those intimate classroom settings. So I like to go to
classrooms for K through twelve students and kind of you know,
share my testimony, share where I come from, because while
I'm a global entrepreneur, I didn't have that vision necessarily
growing up. One thing that I used to do when
I was a kid was read the encyclopedia and I
used to watch Mary Kay and Ashley.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
They had a show where they would travel the.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
World, and that's where I was like, wow, like this
looks cool, Like I want to go to Peru, and
I was learning about the world. So I love to
go back and just let them know like, hey, even
if you don't have family that have done this path,
you can do it.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
You know. My mom she hasn't traveled that much.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Most of my family haven't really left America and some
of them haven't even left the states where they're from.
So it's not that I had that, you know, someone
in my family that was motivating me or saying you
should do this. It's something that I learned on my own,
and I love to let other people know, like, hey,
you can do this too. Even if you don't have
the funds, if you don't have the family background, if
(05:10):
you don't have the education, if you continue to work
towards something, you can do it as well.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
What gives you the courage to go to other countries
you've never been in. They may speak a different language,
and you're showing up as you me yourself. How do
you have the confidence to put yourself in those environments
and then find success and accelerate there.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
I think for me, the confidence comes from God. I
don't question myself. I feel you know, There's definitely been
many points in my development where I face like imposter syndrome,
thinking like Okay, I can't do this, I shouldn't be
in this room.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
But I've grown to the point where.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Now I feel, you know that God fit ince where
It's like any room that I step in, it doesn't
matter who's in that room. It could be a president,
a diplomat, or royal, it can be and just an
ordinary citizen. I am fine, And I think for me,
I connect with people on a human level. So a
lot of people love talking about my career and who
I am and what I do and where I've been.
(06:12):
But for me, I like to just get down to
the simple, you know, humanity of who are you? Like,
what's the vibe?
Speaker 3 (06:19):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (06:20):
So I don't when I meet people, I don't really
engage with them on that like what do you do level?
It's just like I don't even tell people when I
travel who I am or what do I do.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I like people to treat me who whatever, whoever you feel.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Like treating me whoever you think I am, then you
do that and I'm gonna let you lead with that.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
So yeah, my confidence definitely comes from God for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Okay, I love you said God for this, Yes, I
love that.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
That is a I'm gonna use that okay.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Period.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Now, how did how did you decide what is leading
you to Nigeria?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
The crazy thing is so so I wanted to move
to Africa. I knew it, okay, because I was living
in Jamaica. That's where I'm finishing my PhD and government
some public policy. So I've been in Jamaica for like
four years, so four years of summer, four years of like.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Good fresh food, fresh water.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Clean air, and then coming back to the US, I
was like totally bombed and I was like, wow, this
climate right now is a bit stressful, Like it's really
not for me. So I went to Ghana last year.
I don't know if you heard of Detti December. No, Oh,
it's wild. It's actually like a good time. So it's
like NonStop parties for the whole month of December across Ghana,
(07:37):
South Africa, and Nigeria. Originated in Nigeria though, okay. So
I was there like turning up, having the time of
my life. The people were so nice, so welcoming, good food.
I was like, wow, I want to move here. But
then I went to Nigeria. So I spoke at a
conference in the most random place. It was in a
Koure on Those state, a state that even Nigerians don't
(07:59):
go to. So there was a huge conference called the
Global Entrepreneur Festival and I spoke of that conference along
with like Jeff Kaufman, the founder Booking dot Com, Priceline
dot Com, and some phenomenal speakers from all over the globe.
In that moment, I was able to connect with leaders
across government and business, and I said, you know what,
I think, I'm gonna give Legos a chance because I
(08:20):
also love it as well.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I love the energy and the vibe. And for me,
I get bored really easily.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Okay, So I like I have to travel, and I
have to be challenged. I like to learn, and I
like to be uncomfortable. So why because when you're uncomfortable,
that's the only time you grow.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
You know, that is no that is accurate. I love it.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
It's like if you're just doing the same thing over
and over, you're definitely gonna get bored. It's monotonous, Like
how are you actually growing from that? So, you know,
putting myself in these uncomfortable positions, it just shows that Okay.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
I'm gonna I'm not gonna come in. I'm not gonna
leave the same that I came in. No way around it.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
And for me, I'm really good, Like the side of
my brain that connects with languages.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
It's like, really, it's really good.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
So I speak French, I speak Patois, I'm learning Pigeon.
I speak English, I'm learning sign language and Euroba right now.
But I speak some random bits of like Turkish, Chinese.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
So you're like a little genius.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I mean, you know, geniuses they're different.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
You know, geniuses are smart, but they also you know
that scale is that spectrum of like high and low.
So I have some social anxiety that comes along with
the genius.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Okay, well listen, I speak English in tongues.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Now, see that's all you need right there. When you
speak the tongues, you speak all them languages.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Oh gosh, I love I am. You are an inspiration.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
You know, I just think it takes so much courage
to be willing to go and just explore the world,
to go places that, especially if that is not something
you were exposed to, and to just be willing to
get on a flight, go to a place, not know anybody,
land there and say no, I'm good, Yes, I'm going
to figure this out. I'm going to find success here
(10:24):
and I am going to leave my fingerprint in the earth.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
You're not just like here doing your thing. You are
spreading your genius around the world, and I love that
for you.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
When you're talking, you said that you do You're a speaker,
You're a motivator. Do you have a topic for you
that is this, like if you were to sit in
a space of speaking, that this is your topic that
you talk about.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
It depends. So I am very intimate with the youth.
I'm not as intimate with like adults, you know. So
if I'm at a business conference or a conference with
like adult women, yes, sure, you know, I have my
taglines for motivation to motivate them, but I won't go
as intricate or as deep into my story. I find
(11:15):
that communicating with youth it's for me, it's a better
situation because they actually are inspired, they're motivated by your journey,
and they're not coming from a judgmental space. Sometimes adults
can look into your story or your background and they
might try to judge you or you know, yeah, just
(11:37):
basically judge you for it. And I honestly, I don't
mind being judged, but I would rather impart those parts
of my story and my process with youth that are
still forming and developing because It'll really help them to
understand who they are now.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
So I connect with them from you.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Know, various hardships that I've experienced throughout my life, throughout
my childhood. Now when I'm speaking with adults, I'll share,
like the hardships that I had in business, some of
the pitfalls and the mistakes that I've learned as a
global entrepreneur, as a black woman, as a young black
leader working with people that are thirty, you know, twenty thirty,
forty years older than me, as a black woman working
(12:18):
in male dominated spaces.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
So I definitely share some insight on those areas.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
So it just depends, Miya, what would you say you
just alluded to You've had some experiences in life. What
is one of those experiences that you've had, and you know,
without a shadow of a doubt, you would not be
the woman you are today if you did not have
that experience to cultivate you and to instill something inside
(12:48):
of you that affords you the opportunity to be who
you are.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Who I am is definitely rooted in my community and
where I'm from. Throughout my life, I've lived in multiple
you know, as say the hood growing up.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
The thing about it is.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
When I was growing up, I was living with my mom,
who was a single mom at the time.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
My mom and dad.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Divorced, so there was many different layers to it, you know,
growing up with a single parent and also growing up
in the hood.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
The difference between today.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
And you know, growing up kind of in poverty is
when I was growing up, I'm millennial. So when I
was growing up, we didn't realize like how poor we
were because everybody was the same.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
We didn't have all this TV, social media.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Instagram, all these things showing us people all over the
world with all their fancy things. So when I was
growing up, I was playing hopscotch, I was doing black parties.
We were literally outside being invented. So that kind of
made me who I am. People don't understand that. They
look at me as I am today, And this is
why I never lead with who I am.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
I always just lead with as.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I said, the vibes, my energy, because people look at
me and they're like, oh, this girl, this lady. Whatever
they want to they proceedsonly. She has it all together.
She's so proper, she's so stushed, and it's like, yeah,
I am proper and I am educated. But I also
come from the hood, so I'm very balanced and very versatile.
(14:13):
So I'm actually really proud of where I'm from and
some of those hardships. As I said, having you know,
divorced parents, growing up, you know, with some you know,
in poverty.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Again, I didn't.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Realize it in the time, but I'm glad that I
had that experience because now I'm balanced, I'm humble. Also,
you know, my parents struggle with different things. My mother
struggled with alcoholism for example. That leads to a lot
of crazy experiences. So growing up, I had a lot
of thick skin. I couldn't be embarrassed. I was experiencing
(14:47):
some things in the home that at this point, now
it's like you try to bully me, I'm like Kanye West,
I mean, you will be hard pressed trying to make
me feel bad or like embarrassed or something, because it's
like I I've.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Seen it all. I've heard it all.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
So now I'm just like super tough. I'm super grounded.
Like as I said, people look at me and they're like, oh,
this girl, she's like dainty and cute. See and it's like, yeah,
I'm cute, seeing very demir but at the same time, like, you.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Know, I try to keep it cute, but don't get
it twisted exactly. Like I had to tell someone the.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
Other day on the internet, like I'm a professional, but
I'm professional at reading people as well, Like don't try.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
It before I let you go.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Can you speak to young people who are really trying
to navigate life? They may be having some experiences, however,
speak to them in the space of the world being
available to them, and that there are a plethora of
opportunities for them if they're willing to just allow themselves
(15:55):
to experience life in the fullest Yes, I would say,
for they talk to camera so they hear you amazing.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
For the youth, I would say, the world truly is
your oyster.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Don't look at where you are today, and also, don't
ever feel like a victim.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Don't feel like you are what you've experienced.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
You aren't what you've experienced, but you are who you
create yourself to be.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
You are who you work for yourself to be. It
doesn't matter if you don't have the funds.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
There's the World Wide Web connect with people all around
the world. My philosophy is, you know, there's always a
yes in the universe. So you might get a million no's,
but guess what all you need is one yes, another
one of my philosophies of being successful in business. I've
actually received a lot of rejection. I've been turned down
(16:44):
from job opportunities, turned down from so much. But as
I said, there's always a yes in the universe, and
there is over one hundred and ninety five countries. I'm
a global entrepreneur because I had to be a global
entrepreneur because sometimes people try to block me and limit me,
and they're gonna try to do that in your journey.
But what I have to say for you is it
(17:06):
is a huge world. If you can get one client
or one partner in every country, and I assure you
you can thanks to the Internet systems like upwork and
other things, then you can do it. Don't limit yourself.
The sky is the limit. Look out for opportunities for scholarships,
look out for partners, and don't be afraid to reach
(17:28):
out to people who are either on your level or
higher than your level. Globally, just be transparent about who
you are and do the work and you can do it.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Okay, now, Mia, you done gave them some food for thought.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
And you presented them with some resources.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
You just said a whole lot in that so thank
you so much, and I want you to know that
I'm rooting for you. I'm excited about your journey to
Nigeria and what this new season of life is going
to offer you, and I truly wish you the best.
I want you to know that my tape is always
open to you and you are welcome to come and
stay a while anytime.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I hope you felt the love and connection in today's conversation.
Every woman you heard from has faced the impossible and
emerged stronger. This is your personal invitation to stale while
longer at Tommy v dot com. That's t O m
m IV dot com for more inspiration for your mind,
body and soul and let's not forget your belly. You're
(18:32):
always welcome at my table. Please be sure to subscribe,
make yourself at home, and stale wild God, stay last
Welcome to a special edition of Stale Wild, recorded live
on Radio Row at Super Bowl fifty nine. I'm your host,
Tommy Vincent, and we are going to be hearing some
dynamic conversations with phenomenal guests here on Radio Row.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
So take a seat, get comfortable in stale will.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
This episode is sponsored by the House of Joy.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Hi.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Everyone, this is Tommy Vincent, your host of stale Wild podcast,
and today joining me.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We have Mia Boykins.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
Mia is a global entrepreneur and speaker and she's about
to move to Nigeria, so we're going to talk about
that too, so let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Mia, how are you today?
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Hi Tommy, thank you so much for having me. It's
a pleasure to be here. Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
So you are.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
A global entrepreneur?
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Yes, what does that mean?
Speaker 3 (00:53):
So I became global as you know. I stay.
Speaker 4 (00:56):
That's Spelman College, and Spelman is all about getting women
intereredly ever since I went there. I graduated in twenty eleven,
so I did a study abroad in Paris.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I literally fell in.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Love with being in Europe and I ended up doing
a lot of education abroad. In fact, I've attended eight
universities globally and I'm finishing my fourth degree of PhD
and governance and public policy right now, give me some Yeah.
So I've lived in France, England, Spain, Taiwan, Jamaica and
US and as you said, planning to move to Nigeria.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
So I'm a woman of business. I'm a global entrepreneur
and speaker.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
I'm at the intersection of government, entertainment and business throughout
through my business.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
So I became global simply by just you know, being global.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
I leveraged the relationships that I built while attending university
in all these countries, and I just continued to build
relationships and develop clients.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
And yes, now I'm a global entrepreneur. Let me ask
you this.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
This Spellman opened the world up to you or was
that part of your aspiration before you attended Spelman.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Honestly and truly, it was Spelman.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
Out of all the institutions that I've attended globally, you know,
some of the world's best, Spelman prepared me the most
for the world. It made me appreciate who I was
as a black woman.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
It made me understand who I was as a black woman.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
And the fact that you know, our motto is a
choice to change the world, and we really stand on
global education and global experience. So it wasn't until I
was pushed and motivated to go to Paris that I
actually kind of that passion woke.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
Up within me.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
We just did a project in New Orleans at a
school and the theme for it was the road to Success.
And one of the things that the principal at this
school shared with us, and this is pre K through
eighth grade students, one of the things she shared is
that the students in this particular area in Garyville, that
they don't get beyond that community because.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
It's just their parents, their parents' parents.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
That that's not something where they see the world this way.
They see their world really in a tunnel.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
And so part of our objective there was to create
this space where they could see there is a road
to success. As you continue to matriculate through your education,
then the world is going to open up to them
and they're on this road to success. Yes, for you,
I know that you're about to make this transition to Nigeria. Yes,
(03:34):
how did you take all of your learnings and redeposit
that back into the community that you came from so
that other people like yourself recognize that the world is
full of possibilities and it is open to them if
they're willing to pursue it.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
Yes, that's a great question, ask someone who is a motivator.
One of my favorite things to do is to go
back to the school systems. Like I've spoken all over
the world and maybe about fifteen countries at this point,
some huge speaking engagements. I even spoke at King's College,
London graduation thousands of people. But my favorite talks are
(04:10):
those intimate classroom settings. So I like to go to
classrooms for K through twelve students and kind of you know,
share my testimony, share where I come from, because while
I'm a global entrepreneur, I didn't have that vision necessarily
growing up. One thing that I used to do when
I was a kid was read the encyclopedia and I
used to watch Mary Kay and Ashley.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
They had a show where they would travel the.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
World, and that's where I was like, wow, like this
looks cool, Like I want to go to Peru, and
I was learning about the world. So I love to
go back and just let them know like, hey, even
if you don't have family that have done this path,
you can do it.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
You know. My mom she hasn't traveled that much.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Most of my family haven't really left America and some
of them haven't even left the states where they're from.
So it's not that I had that, you know, someone
in my family that was motivating me or saying you
should do this. It's something that I learned on my own,
and I love to let other people know, like, hey,
you can do this too. Even if you don't have
the funds, if you don't have the family background, if
(05:10):
you don't have the education, if you continue to work
towards something, you can do it as well.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
What gives you the courage to go to other countries
you've never been in. They may speak a different language,
and you're showing up as you me yourself. How do
you have the confidence to put yourself in those environments
and then find success and accelerate there.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
I think for me, the confidence comes from God. I
don't question myself. I feel you know, There's definitely been
many points in my development where I face like imposter syndrome,
thinking like Okay, I can't do this, I shouldn't be
in this room.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
But I've grown to the point where.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Now I feel, you know that God fit ince where
It's like any room that I step in, it doesn't
matter who's in that room. It could be a president,
a diplomat, or royal, it can be and just an
ordinary citizen. I am fine, And I think for me,
I connect with people on a human level. So a
lot of people love talking about my career and who
I am and what I do and where I've been.
(06:12):
But for me, I like to just get down to
the simple, you know, humanity of who are you? Like,
what's the vibe?
Speaker 3 (06:19):
You know what I mean?
Speaker 4 (06:20):
So I don't when I meet people, I don't really
engage with them on that like what do you do level?
It's just like I don't even tell people when I
travel who I am or what do I do.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I like people to treat me who whatever, whoever you feel.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Like treating me whoever you think I am, then you
do that and I'm gonna let you lead with that.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
So yeah, my confidence definitely comes from God for sure.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
Okay, I love you said God for this, Yes, I
love that.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
That is a I'm gonna use that okay.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Period.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Now, how did how did you decide what is leading
you to Nigeria?
Speaker 4 (06:58):
The crazy thing is so so I wanted to move
to Africa. I knew it, okay, because I was living
in Jamaica. That's where I'm finishing my PhD and government
some public policy. So I've been in Jamaica for like
four years, so four years of summer, four years of like.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Good fresh food, fresh water.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
Clean air, and then coming back to the US, I
was like totally bombed and I was like, wow, this
climate right now is a bit stressful, Like it's really
not for me. So I went to Ghana last year.
I don't know if you heard of Detti December. No, Oh,
it's wild. It's actually like a good time. So it's
like NonStop parties for the whole month of December across Ghana,
(07:37):
South Africa, and Nigeria. Originated in Nigeria though, okay. So
I was there like turning up, having the time of
my life. The people were so nice, so welcoming, good food.
I was like, wow, I want to move here. But
then I went to Nigeria. So I spoke at a
conference in the most random place. It was in a
Koure on Those state, a state that even Nigerians don't
(07:59):
go to. So there was a huge conference called the
Global Entrepreneur Festival and I spoke of that conference along
with like Jeff Kaufman, the founder Booking dot Com, Priceline
dot Com, and some phenomenal speakers from all over the globe.
In that moment, I was able to connect with leaders
across government and business, and I said, you know what,
I think, I'm gonna give Legos a chance because I
(08:20):
also love it as well.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I love the energy and the vibe. And for me,
I get bored really easily.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Okay, So I like I have to travel, and I
have to be challenged. I like to learn, and I
like to be uncomfortable. So why because when you're uncomfortable,
that's the only time you grow.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
You know, that is no that is accurate. I love it.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
It's like if you're just doing the same thing over
and over, you're definitely gonna get bored. It's monotonous, Like
how are you actually growing from that? So, you know,
putting myself in these uncomfortable positions, it just shows that Okay.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
I'm gonna I'm not gonna come in. I'm not gonna
leave the same that I came in. No way around it.
Speaker 4 (09:02):
And for me, I'm really good, Like the side of
my brain that connects with languages.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
It's like, really, it's really good.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
So I speak French, I speak Patois, I'm learning Pigeon.
I speak English, I'm learning sign language and Euroba right now.
But I speak some random bits of like Turkish, Chinese.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
So you're like a little genius.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I mean, you know, geniuses they're different.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
You know, geniuses are smart, but they also you know
that scale is that spectrum of like high and low.
So I have some social anxiety that comes along with
the genius.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Okay, well listen, I speak English in tongues.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Now, see that's all you need right there. When you
speak the tongues, you speak all them languages.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Oh gosh, I love I am. You are an inspiration.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
You know, I just think it takes so much courage
to be willing to go and just explore the world,
to go places that, especially if that is not something
you were exposed to, and to just be willing to
get on a flight, go to a place, not know anybody,
land there and say no, I'm good, Yes, I'm going
to figure this out. I'm going to find success here
(10:24):
and I am going to leave my fingerprint in the earth.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
You're not just like here doing your thing. You are
spreading your genius around the world, and I love that
for you.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (10:37):
When you're talking, you said that you do You're a speaker,
You're a motivator. Do you have a topic for you
that is this, like if you were to sit in
a space of speaking, that this is your topic that
you talk about.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
It depends. So I am very intimate with the youth.
I'm not as intimate with like adults, you know. So
if I'm at a business conference or a conference with
like adult women, yes, sure, you know, I have my
taglines for motivation to motivate them, but I won't go
as intricate or as deep into my story. I find
(11:15):
that communicating with youth it's for me, it's a better
situation because they actually are inspired, they're motivated by your journey,
and they're not coming from a judgmental space. Sometimes adults
can look into your story or your background and they
might try to judge you or you know, yeah, just
(11:37):
basically judge you for it. And I honestly, I don't
mind being judged, but I would rather impart those parts
of my story and my process with youth that are
still forming and developing because It'll really help them to
understand who they are now.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
So I connect with them from you.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Know, various hardships that I've experienced throughout my life, throughout
my childhood. Now when I'm speaking with adults, I'll share,
like the hardships that I had in business, some of
the pitfalls and the mistakes that I've learned as a
global entrepreneur, as a black woman, as a young black
leader working with people that are thirty, you know, twenty thirty,
forty years older than me, as a black woman working
(12:18):
in male dominated spaces.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
So I definitely share some insight on those areas.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
So it just depends, Miya, what would you say you
just alluded to You've had some experiences in life. What
is one of those experiences that you've had, and you know,
without a shadow of a doubt, you would not be
the woman you are today if you did not have
that experience to cultivate you and to instill something inside
(12:48):
of you that affords you the opportunity to be who
you are.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Who I am is definitely rooted in my community and
where I'm from. Throughout my life, I've lived in multiple
you know, as say the hood growing up.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
The thing about it is.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
When I was growing up, I was living with my mom,
who was a single mom at the time.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
My mom and dad.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Divorced, so there was many different layers to it, you know,
growing up with a single parent and also growing up
in the hood.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
The difference between today.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
And you know, growing up kind of in poverty is
when I was growing up, I'm millennial. So when I
was growing up, we didn't realize like how poor we
were because everybody was the same.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
We didn't have all this TV, social media.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
Instagram, all these things showing us people all over the
world with all their fancy things. So when I was
growing up, I was playing hopscotch, I was doing black parties.
We were literally outside being invented. So that kind of
made me who I am. People don't understand that. They
look at me as I am today, And this is
why I never lead with who I am.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
I always just lead with as.
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I said, the vibes, my energy, because people look at
me and they're like, oh, this girl, this lady. Whatever
they want to they proceedsonly. She has it all together.
She's so proper, she's so stushed, and it's like, yeah,
I am proper and I am educated. But I also
come from the hood, so I'm very balanced and very versatile.
(14:13):
So I'm actually really proud of where I'm from and
some of those hardships. As I said, having you know,
divorced parents, growing up, you know, with some you know,
in poverty.
Speaker 3 (14:24):
Again, I didn't.
Speaker 4 (14:25):
Realize it in the time, but I'm glad that I
had that experience because now I'm balanced, I'm humble. Also,
you know, my parents struggle with different things. My mother
struggled with alcoholism for example. That leads to a lot
of crazy experiences. So growing up, I had a lot
of thick skin. I couldn't be embarrassed. I was experiencing
(14:47):
some things in the home that at this point, now
it's like you try to bully me, I'm like Kanye West,
I mean, you will be hard pressed trying to make
me feel bad or like embarrassed or something, because it's
like I I've.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
Seen it all. I've heard it all.
Speaker 4 (15:01):
So now I'm just like super tough. I'm super grounded.
Like as I said, people look at me and they're like, oh,
this girl, she's like dainty and cute. See and it's like, yeah,
I'm cute, seeing very demir but at the same time, like, you.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Know, I try to keep it cute, but don't get
it twisted exactly. Like I had to tell someone the.
Speaker 4 (15:22):
Other day on the internet, like I'm a professional, but
I'm professional at reading people as well, Like don't try.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
It before I let you go.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Can you speak to young people who are really trying
to navigate life? They may be having some experiences, however,
speak to them in the space of the world being
available to them, and that there are a plethora of
opportunities for them if they're willing to just allow themselves
(15:55):
to experience life in the fullest Yes, I would say,
for they talk to camera so they hear you amazing.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
For the youth, I would say, the world truly is
your oyster.
Speaker 4 (16:07):
Don't look at where you are today, and also, don't
ever feel like a victim.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
Don't feel like you are what you've experienced.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
You aren't what you've experienced, but you are who you
create yourself to be.
Speaker 3 (16:20):
You are who you work for yourself to be. It
doesn't matter if you don't have the funds.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
There's the World Wide Web connect with people all around
the world. My philosophy is, you know, there's always a
yes in the universe. So you might get a million no's,
but guess what all you need is one yes, another
one of my philosophies of being successful in business. I've
actually received a lot of rejection. I've been turned down
(16:44):
from job opportunities, turned down from so much. But as
I said, there's always a yes in the universe, and
there is over one hundred and ninety five countries. I'm
a global entrepreneur because I had to be a global
entrepreneur because sometimes people try to block me and limit me,
and they're gonna try to do that in your journey.
But what I have to say for you is it
(17:06):
is a huge world. If you can get one client
or one partner in every country, and I assure you
you can thanks to the Internet systems like upwork and
other things, then you can do it. Don't limit yourself.
The sky is the limit. Look out for opportunities for scholarships,
look out for partners, and don't be afraid to reach
(17:28):
out to people who are either on your level or
higher than your level. Globally, just be transparent about who
you are and do the work and you can do it.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
Okay, now, Mia, you done gave them some food for thought.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
And you presented them with some resources.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
You just said a whole lot in that so thank
you so much, and I want you to know that
I'm rooting for you. I'm excited about your journey to
Nigeria and what this new season of life is going
to offer you, and I truly wish you the best.
I want you to know that my tape is always
open to you and you are welcome to come and
stay a while anytime.
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I hope you felt the love and connection in today's conversation.
Every woman you heard from has faced the impossible and
emerged stronger. This is your personal invitation to stale while
longer at Tommy v dot com. That's t O m
m IV dot com for more inspiration for your mind,
body and soul and let's not forget your belly. You're
(18:32):
always welcome at my table. Please be sure to subscribe,
make yourself at home, and stale wild God, stay last
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