How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield
How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield goes beyond the highlight reel with Black women founders, executives, and leaders. Real conversations about the pivots, the setbacks, and the purpose behind the work. From bootstrapping a beauty brand with $500 to leading a professional sports franchise, each episode explores the moments that shaped who they became and the cost of building something meaningful. For women navigating leadership, business ownership, career reinvention, and the cost of ambition. New episodes biweekly on Wednesdays. Host: Dreena Whitfield Executive Producer, Writer & Creative Director: Keena Williams / Struxa howigotherewdreenaw.substack.com
Episodes
Description
Counseling psychologist Dr. T.M. Robinson-Mosley shares how she went from growing up in a home where psychology and sports were inseparable to founding The Playbook, an award-winning mental health performance platform trusted by the NBA, NCAA, NWSL, and the U.S. Air Force. Dr. Mosley talks about her mother and twin aunt being among the only Black psychologists in Alabama, her uncle catching the last out of th...
Amber Guyton left corporate financial services, built Blessed Little Bungalow into a full-service design brand, and learned that pricing your worth and protecting your peace are the real work. Today she's one of only 2% of interior designers who are Black, with licensing partnerships at Home Goods, TJ Maxx, and Mitchell Black, celebrity clients, and a design philosophy rooted in soulful maximalism.
Key Takeaways:
- You do not have ...
Mary Pat Hector started organizing at 12, advised President Obama at 18, and ran for office at 19 — losing by just 22 votes. That loss reshaped her entire path. Today she's CEO of Rise, a national organization fighting for free college and student basic needs across 10+ states, and the founder of Equity for All, a platform helping young people of color in the South gain political power.
Key Takeaways:
- She advised President ...
Dreena sits down with Aniesia Williams, a brand strategist, venture architect, and ecosystem builder who understands how power actually moves.
In this conversation, Aniesia reflects on navigating leadership spaces where high-performing Black women are often brought in to fix broken systems without real authority or protection. She shares what it cost her to speak up, the psychological toll of being pushed out, and the lessons she le...
Laila Brock joins Dreena Whitfield for a powerful conversation about leadership, representation, and learning who you are beyond the job.
From her early days as a college track captain to shaping some of the biggest stages in sports, Laila reflects on what it means to lead in rooms that were never designed for you. She shares lessons from mentors who poured into her, the responsibility of opening doors for others, and the moment she...
How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield
Guest: Kim Roxie, Founder of LAMIK Beauty
In this episode, Dreena sits down with Kim Roxie, the founder of LAMIK Beauty, to talk about what it means to build with purpose when the path forward is uncertain. Kim shares how opening her first brow and makeup shop with just $500 taught her the importance of perseverance, faith, and learning the business from the inside out.
She opens up...
How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield
Guest: Aamira Garba, Founder of LoveLee Wines
In this episode, Dreena sits down with Aamira Garba, the New Jersey–born founder of LoveLee Wines. They talk about the moment on a New Jersey Transit train that sparked a major life shift, the courage to enter an industry with so few Black women, and the discipline she pours into every bottle.
Aamira shares how she blended her first wines wit...
How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield
Guest: Nagela Duperval, Founder of OU LA Restaurant
In this episode, Dreena sits down with Nagela Duperval, the Haitian-born entrepreneur behind OU LA — the stunning Caribbean restaurant in Carteret, New Jersey that’s redefining what it means to build something from faith and fire.
With no restaurant experience, Nagela spent three years building a $3-million space from the groun...
How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield
Guest: Tahira Joy Wright, Founder of The Cut Life
In this episode, Dreena sits down with Tahira Joy Wright, the visionary founder of The Cut Life — the digital beauty community celebrating short hair, self-expression, and the women redefining what it means to show up boldly.
From her early days in entertainment PR to building one of the most beloved beauty platforms online, Tahira sha...
How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield
Guest: Chantel Powell, Founder & CEO of Play Pits
In this episode, Dreena sits down with Chantel Powell, founder and CEO of Play Pits, to talk about what it takes to build something from the ground up and keep going when everything falls apart.
From styling wardrobes at Tyler Perry Studios to creating one of the most beloved natural deodorant brands in the country, Chantel shares how motherhood...
#HowIGotHere guest and interior design entrepreneur Rasheeda Gray shares how she was able to turn her corporate skills into a full time creative venture, all while nurturing her family and managing her career.
Stream Season 3, Episode 8 to hear more!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit howigotherewdreenaw.substack.com
In this special episode of How I Got Here, host Dreena Whitfield, the founder and CEO of WhitPR, takes the mic solo to share her personal journey as an entrepreneur and her insights on Black Business Month.
Dreena opens up about the challenges and triumphs she has faced in building her agency, emphasizing the importance of diversity and authenticity in the PR industry. She discusses the role of Black agencies, the impact of larger f...
Summary:
Necole Kane is the visionary force behind Necole Bitchie, xo Necole, and the new wellness brand, My Happy Flo. She started her career in entertainment news and celebrity gossip, eventually launching Necole Bitchie, which became the go-to black-focused celebrity website. After the success of Necole Bitchie, she rebranded to xo Necole, focusing on empowering black women with content on mental health, relationships, and more. ...
In the episode, Christina Rice, the founder of OMNoire, shares her inspiring journey from a career in public relations to building a platform that redefines wellness and community for black women and women of color. She discusses her transition from PR to launching her own agency and the challenges she faced along the way. Christina also talks about the moment she discovered her passion for yoga and how it led her to create Omniwar...
In this captivating podcast episode, join me as I delve into the extraordinary journey of Michelle Ganey, the brilliant mind behind Lamiga Events. From aspiring lawyer to event planning entrepreneur, Michelle's story is one of following your passion and embracing unconventional career paths. Get ready to be inspired by her insights on building a thriving business, finding a balance between work and family, and creating impactful ev...
Kamilah Forbes was supposed to be a doctor. She went to Howard University with a plan to study medicine and act on the side. Freshman biology changed that. She walked across campus to the theater department, and the rest is a story of hip hop theater festivals, Def Poetry Jam, HBO, and eventually becoming the Executive Producer of the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Key Takeaways:
- The clear career path does not always exist in arts and...
In the latest episode of the How I Got Here podcast, host Dreena Whitfield sits down with Dayna Bolden, CEO of Define Bold Fitness, to discuss her inspiring journey from a Division One basketball player to a successful fitness entrepreneur. Dayna's story emphasizes the importance of following one's passion and embracing unexpected paths to success. The episode also delves into the rise of influencer careers and the challenges faced...
Welcome to the latest episode of "How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield," where we delve deep into the inspiring stories of individuals who have achieved remarkable success in their respective fields. In this captivating installment, we explore the fascinating journey of none other than Rasheeda Gray, an extraordinary entrepreneur and interior design maven.
In this episode, Rasheeda sits down with Dreena to discuss her path to becomi...
Welcome to another inspiring episode of "How I Got Here" with Dreena Whitfield! In this captivating podcast episode, we delve into the importance of community support for black businesses and entrepreneurs and the urgent need for a shift in consciousness within the black community.
Join us as Dreena Whitfield sits down with the remarkable Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, the visionary CEO of the Village Market. Dr. Hallmon's social enterprise ...
Welcome to How I Got Here with Dreena Whitfield. In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Felicia Hatcher, CEO of Pharrell Williams Black Ambition Opportunity Fund and co-founder of Black Tech Week conference. Hatcher shares her story of overcoming the challenges of being a C student in high school and how scholarships changed her perspective on education. Her experience led her to author the C Students Guide to Schol...
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