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Meet the hosts: Angelica Yarde and Charisma O’Keefe

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Episode Transcription

00:00.82
Angelica:
Hello, friends! Happy Black History Month, and welcome back to the Heart + Hustle podcast. I am Angelica Yarde.

00:06.27
Charisma:
And I’m Charisma O’Keefe. We are here every Monday talking to you about business, entrepreneurship, and so much more. It is our favorite month—Black History Month! If you’re new here, go back and listen to our past Black History Month episodes because we always put extra effort into them this time of year. We feature special guests and interesting topics because, as two Black-owned businesses, this month is especially important to us.

I would love to hear what y’all are doing this month and how you are celebrating. It’s been a rough start to 2025, I won’t lie, but I will say it’s been a good start to Black History Month. There has been a lot of good stuff happening in the Black community.

00:51.53
Charisma:
I’m happy to see it. And as we speak, I am currently preparing my wallet to go see Beyoncé. So, yeah.

00:57.88
Angelica:
I have two shows I’m waiting on, and I need them to tell me which one I should go to.

01:01.73
Charisma:
Same.

01:06.89
Angelica:
So, TBD.

01:08.23
Charisma:
I kind of want the last one. That’s the one I’m hoping for.

01:12.44
Angelica:
Let me check my screenshot just in case I forgot. I have June 10th in London, which is a Tuesday, and then Thursday, July 10th in Atlanta. Those are the two I’m looking to book.

01:21.70
Charisma:
Yeah, July in Atlanta—because there are two Atlanta dates—and I want the last one. I was like, “7/11,” because, you know, she’s got her 7/11 song.

01:25.14
Angelica:
Yep.

01:28.27
Angelica:
I think the last one is that Friday, so that’s what I’m leaning towards.

01:32.23
Charisma:
It just feels right.

01:32.54
Angelica:
Yeah.

01:33.50
Charisma:
It just feels right.

01:33.51
Angelica:
I just know that Black people don’t know how to act on a Friday. My birthday is on a Friday.

01:37.75
Charisma:
Mm-hmm.

01:38.01
Angelica:
I’m actually thinking I might go home just because—free stuff. Also, if you know, you know—Atlanta does Atlanta things.

01:49.92
Angelica:
And I feel like it’s for me. I might go home just for that. But knowing how Black people act on Fridays—that’s why I was looking at the Thursday show. I love us.

02:02.05
Angelica:
I would argue with us all day long, but trying to get somewhere on a Friday to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium? I will not be fighting with you people on a Friday! So I’m torn between the Thursday show or the London show—because, honestly, an excuse to get out of the country right now is a win for all of us.

02:18.92
Charisma:
Right! That sounds very fun as well.

02:21.25
Angelica:
And the tickets might be cheaper. So, we will see what Beyoncé decides.

02:26.09
Charisma:
I also just want more information from Beyoncé. Like, is she going to add more dates?

02:29.70
Angelica:
She’s not giving you any more information.

02:31.01
Charisma:
I know she’s not giving me more information, but I want it. I want to know, is this all the dates we’re getting? Can we be clear?

02:35.84
Angelica:
I think this is it. I think she’s saying, “Look, I’m up in age. I have 51 kids.” One of them is basically grown. Her manager is not going to let her do more than 22 shows.

02:47.02
Angelica:
She’s like, “Blue has school.”

02:47.68
Charisma:
Right.

02:48.42
Angelica:
Blue has to go back to school.

02:48.74
Charisma:
Right. And she’s not wrong because I do want her to give us Act III. So, fair enough. If I want more from her, I have to accept that I can’t have everything. Let’s do this tour, and then let’s get Act III!

02:49.36
Angelica:
Blue is in middle school.

02:57.90
Angelica:
Oh, my goodness.

03:01.57
Angelica:
No, we can’t. She has middle school orientation! She’s going to leave Atlanta on 7/11, fly out the next day, and be at middle school orientation like, “Well, what volunteer hours do I need? Do I need to bake cookies for the bake sale?”

03:12.91
Angelica:
I can’t imagine Mother Beyoncé just acting up at the school.

03:20.77
Charisma:
Love. I love it.

03:21.85
Angelica:
I cannot.

03:22.01
Charisma:
I love it! But yeah, I’m very excited. I’m very pleased.

03:29.03
Angelica:
Good times. Good times, good good times.

03:32.26
Charisma:
I get why she’s not coming here. I get it. I get it. But I’m glad she’s coming to Atlanta. I was like, if there’s going to be a good place to see her, sorry, we’re coming.

03:38.51
Angelica:
Well, that’s the problem. She’s going to Atlanta, so I know all the Floridians are going to Atlanta, and that’s upsetting to me and my spirit because I want them to not.

03:48.53
Angelica:
I’m like, go home. Go home, Roger. Go see Lil Wayne in Tampa—he’s going to be in Tampa on the 21st.

03:54.14
Charisma:
Oh, that sounds terrible to me. No offense to Tampa, but I do not enjoy going to shows there. I just don’t. I would rather go further.

04:01.12
Angelica:
My gosh.

04:03.91
Charisma:
I know that doesn’t make sense to some people, but if you live here—if you live in Central Florida—it might make sense to you. If you’re in Orlando, you might understand why you wouldn’t want to go to Tampa for a show. I mean, I know a lot of people do.

04:15.14
Charisma:
But for me, I would literally rather get on a flight. It’s just a lot—the traffic, the driving—it’s too much. If I’m going to go through all that effort, I’d rather be in a city I don’t get to see as often.

04:25.34
Angelica:
For real.

04:26.44
Charisma:
I like Tampa for a regular weekend—like, “OK, let’s just go hang out.”

04:29.16
Angelica:
Right.

04:29.52
Charisma:
Let’s go do it. But for a show? No, thank you. If I have to put in that much effort and deal with all that traffic, I’d rather go to Atlanta or somewhere else.

04:44.04
Angelica:
Like, I’d rather go to Stockholm.

04:48.17
Charisma:
Yes, yes.

04:48.93
Angelica:
Today, we are talking about how to celebrate Black History Month in your business because it is very important. Especially if you’re a new business owner, this might be really exciting for you—celebrating for the first time.

05:01.38
Angelica:
I know there’s a lot happening, so focus on what you can control in your business and on celebrating the holidays that uplift the people you want to elevate.

05:12.83
Angelica:
Black History Month is a big deal, and there are so many ways to celebrate it.

05:17.20
Charisma:
Before we even jump into the points, I want to say—one of the things I’m giving myself for Black History Month is less time on social media. I know a lot of people are trying to avoid the constant news, and unfortunately, the only way to do that is by taking a bit of a break from social media. Other people are going to be posting constantly.

05:40.00
Charisma:
So even if you’re feeling happy and think, “I’ll take a five-minute break and just relax by scrolling,” guess what? You’re going to come across some terrible news about something that man has said or done. So, I’m just taking a little break from that. Instead, when I take a break at work—or, well, I say work, but you know what I mean…

06:02.27
Charisma:
But I’d much rather just text you something funny, text Margo, or text a friend directly—or go to a different app where I’m not going to see nonsense, basically.

06:14.33
Angelica:
Because—

06:14.52
Charisma:
So, if you’re looking to give yourself a gift for Black History Month—again, it’s a shorter month. The reality is, it’s not about turning off the news and ignoring what’s going on forever. It’s about recognizing that it’s okay to take a break.

06:33.95
Charisma:
You’re not the Secretary of State. You’re not a senator. If you miss one piece of news, you will be okay. And also, the world will be okay. The world isn’t spinning because you know every single news update. You know what I’m saying?

06:47.91
Angelica:
They’re going to renege on half the things that were said at the beginning of the day. By the end of the day, everything from the morning will have already changed anyway.

06:55.85
Charisma:
Right.

06:55.90
Angelica:
You know what I mean?

06:56.29
Charisma:
Exactly.

06:56.58
Angelica:
It’s too crazy.

06:56.77
Charisma:
That’s what I’m saying. People are getting mad about things, and I get it—it is frustrating. But half the point is that they’re trying to make you mad and fatigued about every single thing. The things that are truly important? Someone will reach out and say, Hey, you need to know about this.

07:13.82
Charisma:
Like, a very important thing.

07:14.54
Angelica:
Like, Go to the bunker! I will text you.

07:17.84
Charisma:
Right.

07:18.28
Angelica:
I will let you know if you need to go to the bunker.

07:18.64
Charisma:
Exactly. It’s okay to say, You know what? This week, I’m going to take a little break. Whether it’s a few days or whatever amount of time.

07:39.59
Charisma:
I actually listened to a podcast recently about a woman who used to be very online—had a huge web presence and everything. She took an entire year away from social media.

07:39.59
Charisma:
And girl, it sounded good. I was like, That sounds real nice. I do like that. I don’t know, we’ll see—we’ll see how things go. But in the future, I might consider it.

07:39.59
Charisma:
And I love social media—we know this. I love showing up online, talking to people online. But it’s just a different space now. It’s not what it used to be. I still love connecting with people, but something has changed.

07:39.59
Charisma:
So, we’ll see if I can get the algorithms to work in my favor and make it a more positive space. But in the meantime, especially this year, I’m prioritizing breaks—taking a week at a time to just not log in. Because sometimes, you just need a little bit of positivity for a few days. And that is okay. Please remind yourself of that.

08:25.37
Angelica:
Yeah, I don’t know if people listening have noticed, but if you’re new—I don’t do social media for business. I just don’t.

08:25.37
Angelica:
I use it when I feel like it—to read things that interest me or to learn from experts who post things. But I’m not on social media all the time.

08:25.37
Angelica:
You don’t have to be on social media to have a community.

08:25.37
Angelica:
You don’t have to be on social media to connect with people.

08:25.37
Angelica:
You don’t have to be on social media to share updates with your family.

08:48.05
Angelica:
When I told people I wasn’t going to post pictures of my child on the internet, they were like, Well, how will we know what she looks like?

08:58.57
Angelica:
I’m like, You will. I will text you.

09:00.70
Charisma:
Right.

09:01.67
Angelica:
And when she’s older, you can see her. But I’m not putting her face in an algorithm so she can be tracked from birth. I’m sure she already is.

09:13.41
Angelica:
The entitlement is funny. People act like, Well, how will I know?

09:13.41
Angelica:
Girl, the text. The MMS. The email. I can send you a pigeon if you want. I can mail a photo. If you want to go that far back, I can make a photo album and send it to you. It’ll arrive in three to five business days, and you’ll get tons of pictures in one go.

09:42.12
Angelica:
I’m not constantly posting my child’s face on the internet—where she hasn’t consented to it or had a say in it.

09:42.12
Angelica:
I’m not doing it. I’m so sorry.

09:42.12
Angelica:
So, if someone’s giving you a hard time about not being online, taking a break, or deleting your profile because you don’t want to support certain platforms—tell them:

09:42.12
Angelica:
“Email me. Text me.”

09:58.23
Charisma:
Yep.

10:02.69
Charisma: My email has been the same for so long. My number has been the same for so long.

10:07.52
Angelica: Figure it out. We can meet on a different platform, maybe. But you are okay to delete those platforms. It is your right.

10:18.16
Angelica: I’m off Twitter.

10:20.05
Charisma: Same.

10:20.46
Angelica:
The girls know Twitter was my boo. It was my go-to, my bae. I had such a hard time getting rid of it.

10:25.09
Charisma:
Oh.

10:25.85
Angelica:
It’s gone. I have no idea what happened at the Grammys or what anyone was wearing. Very upset about that, but I’ll survive. The things I care about—mostly fashion and art updates—I’ll find another way to stay informed. But right now, I haven’t even had time for it. You figure out what you have time for.

10:55.57
Angelica:
The news is everywhere, even if I don’t want it. I don’t need social media. I can go outside and hear someone talking about it. If you go to a coffee shop, there’s always that one random guy like, “I can’t believe he just did X, Y, Z.”

11:02.40
Charisma:
Right.

11:06.95
Angelica:
And I’m like, “Oh, I didn’t know he did that. I’ll look it up later.” There are so many ways to get information.

11:19.94
Angelica:
Just take your time. Take care of yourself. Enjoy Black History Month. One of the best ways to do that is by supporting Black businesses.

11:34.96
Angelica:
Supporting Black businesses helps them stay in the community. When you purchase from them, share their work, or spread the word, you’re helping them keep their doors open.

12:51.91
Angelica:
If you’re not a business owner, visit Black businesses this month. Support, share, and celebrate them. If you hear about a great business in another city, tell your friends who live there. Use your social currency. It doesn’t have to be through social media—you can text, call, or recommend businesses in person.

14:10.30
Angelica:
Oh Happy Dani pulled all her products from Target immediately. That day, she sold out. People showed up for her.

14:22.50
Angelica:
And we love it. You’ve given me her products. I’ve given them to others.

14:25.40
Charisma:
Yeah.

14:26.22
Angelica:
I love her stuff.

14:26.82
Charisma:
That’s my go-to gift. It’s universally appealing, she’s a good person, and everyone loves it—even people who aren’t Black.

14:41.65
Angelica:
So yeah, definitely go support Black businesses.

14:45.52
Charisma:
Yes. I love the idea of doing joint giveaways and promotions. If you are a white person or just a non-Black person, maybe this is the time to do a joint giveaway with a Black business. Whatever money you make, whatever proceeds you earn, you can donate to a local cause that benefits Black people while also partnering with a Black business.

One of the things we’re doing this year through the real estate business is partnering with local area influencers to do different promotions. It’s important because, in Orlando, I think—don’t quote me on this—but about 30% of the population is Black. To me, that means I want to have more people in the Black community be able to live in different areas and not be pigeonholed into certain locations. We still have redlining here. It’s not as bad as in some northern cities where it’s really obvious, but it’s still a major issue.

15:55.98
Angelica:
It’s still pretty bad here.

15:56.98
Charisma:
It’s still pretty bad.

15:57.06
Angelica:
I will say, I take that back. I actually think redlining here is very bad. It’s just that people who can afford to live outside of it do. But if you aren’t making a certain level of income or if you were born here, it’s really bad.

16:09.20
Charisma:
That’s what I’m saying. There were times in D.C. when I could go days without seeing anyone who looked like me. I’d literally have to go to another side of town just to see other Black people.

16:18.82
Angelica:
Girl, if I don’t see you, I can go days without seeing people who look like me too.

16:23.15
Charisma:
Well, I have people who live in my building, so that helps.

16:27.03
Angelica:
There are Black people living in the building, but we all stay inside because we know better. We don’t just go outside like that.

16:34.55
Charisma:
No, I have a lot of girlfriends in my area who go walking together, so I see several people every day. But that wasn’t the case when I lived in D.C. There wasn’t a single other Black person in my building. I knew that for a fact. We had one Asian person, and then there was me. Everyone else was white, which is bananas.

Regardless, it’s important to make sure Black people are able to live wherever they want. We’re partnering with some Black creatives this year to support that effort. And again, we’re extending this beyond just this month. But Black History Month is a great time to put these initiatives into practice.

17:15.58
Charisma:
This is the time to ask yourself: What do I want to do this year to support the Black community? Who can I partner with throughout the year? Can I do any giveaways or promotions that benefit Black businesses? This is a great month to implement those ideas so they last all year because it’s important to show up for your community—and for other communities—all year long.

Another way to do this is by diversifying your vendor list. A lot of businesses have vendor lists for different needs. These lists are the first places they turn when looking for services or products. Can you make sure your vendor list is diverse? That doesn’t mean adding people just for the sake of it; it means finding the best people for the job and ensuring diversity is represented.

If you don’t know where to start, reach out to others in your industry. Ask who they’re working with, who their vendors are, and who seems like a good fit. This ties back to what we discussed last week about practicing DEI in business. A diverse vendor list ensures you’re supporting the best of everyone, not just the best of one group.

18:45.73
Angelica:
And you get access to great products, too. Things that aren’t always available in mainstream stores but are found in other communities.

18:57.07
Angelica:
Our Caribbean supermarket, for example, is in one of the historically redlined areas.

18:57.33
Charisma:
Oh, so good.

18:58.29
Angelica:
So we have to go all the way over there to get certain things. There’s only one bakery that makes the German chocolate cake I love. It’s a Black-owned bakery, and it’s on the other side of town.

19:10.08
Angelica:
Guess who’s going to the other side of town this month for a slice of German chocolate cake? Me. Because that’s how it is.

19:18.49
Charisma:
I see this all the time. People will post online about certain fruits or vegetables with great health benefits, and others will comment, “I can’t find that anywhere.” Well, yeah, because you’re only shopping at Publix! There are other grocers in your area, run by different communities, that carry these items.

19:28.29
Angelica:
Exactly.

19:28.73
Charisma:
These products exist—people are buying them somewhere. You just have to go beyond your usual stores like Kroger, Publix, or Harris Teeter. A lot of times, you’ll find them at local markets.

19:57.11
Charisma:
Exactly.

19:59.20
Angelica:
And it’s the same thing during storms or hurricanes. People panic when Publix runs out of water, but there are other places to check. Have you tried going to Patel Brothers?

20:08.65
Charisma:
You know, oh, yes, yes.

20:11.07
Angelica:
They got water! They’re like, “Go to an ethnic grocery store—they have plenty of water, toilet paper, batteries, flashlights, all kinds of stuff randomly there. They’ve got candles—most of the Caribbean markets have lots of candles at any time for any religious reason. But if you need them in case of a hurricane, you can also get those candles there as well. So there are plenty of things available, and also, you’re supporting a small business. I love them. Yep.”

20:33.99
Charisma:
Honest to God, my mom loves the Jesus candle—the one in a cylinder. She loves those, and we always tell her, “Stop leaving these on all night!” But she does leave them on for a really long time. I will say, they have a long burn time, so those are great in a storm.

20:50.92
Angelica:
If I weren’t as religious as I am, I would love the parody versions of those candles. I loved the Golden Girls one, and someone just made a little PG one.

21:00.18
Charisma:
Yup! They actually had a huge boost last year at MegaCon with those types of candles.

21:04.57
Angelica:
Okay, we also have to talk about how I reneged on that, and I’m going on Friday. We need to have an offline conversation because I—

21:10.17
Charisma:
Yeah, that’s… Okay, yes, we’ll revisit that.

21:12.84
Angelica:
I reneged on my MegaCon protest.

21:15.62
Charisma:
Okay, so…

21:16.51
Angelica:
Your third thing that you could be doing to help celebrate Black History Month is creating special offers for those who support Black-owned businesses. This is something where people can easily say, “Hey, if you buy a slice of cake at X and bring back your receipt, you can save 20% off XYZ.”

21:32.08
Charisma:
Yep.

21:35.14
Angelica:
This is very easy to do at farmers’ markets. We have a Black-owned coffee brand that we love.

21:36.47
Charisma:
Super easy.

21:42.03
Angelica:
If I were another vendor at our local farmers’ market, I’d say, “Hey, if you bought coffee from them, you get 10% or 15% off,” because you’re supporting someone else. It’s very easy, and it creates a partnership with another business that you know is reliable.

21:54.31
Angelica:
That coffee brand is super reliable, super consistent, and super popular. It’s actually easier for you because people will be introduced to your business through them.

22:04.43
Angelica:
So now, you can diversify your clientele by reaching out to people who may not have ever come to your business before, simply because they may not have felt like it was a safe space.

22:05.17
Charisma:
Yep.

22:13.22
Angelica:
But now they’re like, “Oh, I was already going to be here picking up coffee anyway. I can save 10% off and get a necklace, a candle, or an art print.” It’s a really fun and easy thing to do. If your location isn’t close to another, it’s easier to partner with someone. Online, it’s super easy—obviously.

22:34.66
Angelica:
You can upload your receipt, send it to your DMs, or post it in your Instagram stories, and I can send you a coupon code. That’s easy to do. It’s also very easy at farmers’ markets, conferences, and events like Comic Cons. You can connect with another artist or business owner. Our local coffee shop just had a big Lunar New Year pop-up, and some businesses there were working together to promote each other. That’s an easy thing to do if you haven’t thought about it before.

23:03.92
Charisma:
Yeah, I think I’m actually going to do that this month. I’m pretty excited about it. I think it’ll be like a 10% discount—I just haven’t decided on the business yet. But now that you’re saying it, I’m thinking, maybe I should.

23:18.33
Charisma:
That would be a good one, you know? But I also might just say, “Any Black-owned coffee shop,” because not all my clients are necessarily local. I might just say, “Yeah, upload a receipt from a Black-owned coffee shop.” You typically want to do something where they’re also patronizing your business, but you don’t necessarily want them to buy something incredibly expensive. That’s why a coffee shop, a stationery store, or something where they can buy a single item but still support a business can be so helpful.

23:56.25
Angelica:
Yes, seriously.

24:04.49
Angelica:
Like at New Romantics, which is around the corner, a Black-owned bookstore. Or, wait—not New Romantics, but you know what I’m talking about. (Authentic Books)

24:11.27
Charisma:
Yeah, you could get, like, 10% off within her store. That’s an easy way to implement this, depending on what type of business you own.

24:17.18
Angelica:
Yeah.

24:23.35
Charisma:
There are multiple ways to implement this. And again, you don’t even need to involve the other business if you don’t want to. You can just say, “You know what? I’m doing this. Just go support them.” It doesn’t need to be a two-way street—sometimes, we just support other people because it’s the right thing to do.

24:33.62
Charisma:
The next thing would be highlighting Black entrepreneurs and leaders, both locally and online.

24:50.87
Charisma:
Just highlighting businesses you’ve visited makes a massive difference. Black-owned businesses don’t always have the same access to capital. And I don’t mean that in the sense of, “Oh, not as many Black people are born into wealth.” While that can be true, that’s not what I actually mean.

24:59.20
Charisma:
What I mean is that Black people are denied loans…

25:16.42
Charisma:
From businesses and financial institutions to start businesses when their online profile might look the exact same as a white person’s. This is something that just genuinely happens. And so it’s a lot harder to get your hands on the capital to start a business when you’re Black. A lot of people are starting them with fewer finances, which means less marketing, right?

25:41.30
Charisma:
So just word of mouth—using your social media, if you have it—to highlight the people who are doing an awesome job and have businesses in your area. The majority of the Black-owned businesses that I patronize here, I’ve heard about from other people, especially because not all of them are right in our area, right?

26:02.90
Charisma:
There are a few in our area, but a lot of them are spread out. I think about the different places over the years that I just would not have heard about had it not been for people highlighting them on social media or making sure to tell me. So yeah, using social media and whatever platform you have, even if you don’t have a huge following, doesn’t really matter. At the end of the day, it’s about engagement—people seeing it and telling others they actually know.

26:32.34
Angelica:
Yeah, that is really important. You also want to support businesses that other people recommend to you. I will say that’s how I find most things—someone tells me, “Hey, check out XYZ,” and I’m like, “Okay, I’ll go check it out when I’m in the area.”

And I am very annoying. When I know someone is going somewhere, like I told you guys before, I’m constantly texting people lists of things. I’ve had people ask me when they’re visiting a new city for the first time, “Hey, can you put together a list?” And I’m like, “Oh, I’m about to be very obnoxious. I apologize in advance.” Then they get a document with shopping, food, and places to go. I highlight mostly minority-owned businesses just because that’s where I go. When I travel, I go out of my way to find those places.

27:13.93
Angelica:
When we were in Arizona last time, in Phoenix, we were like, “Oh, we gotta go to the Jamaican spot.” Let me tell you, redlining in Phoenix is also a thing. We had to go way out of our way to get Jamaican food, but we did it. That is so important to us—supporting these businesses when they’re not easily accessible.

One, because we know they don’t get the benefit of tourists. Tourists don’t usually drive 20 or 30 minutes out of their way to visit these small businesses—but we do. So we try to encourage people to do the same. And when we know people are in those areas, we always say, “Hey, we really liked this place. Go check it out and get some food from them.”

27:53.29
Charisma:
Yes.

27:53.46
Angelica:
Your voice actually does matter.

The last thing you can do—something really easy within your business—is to help amplify the voices of your Black employees.

27:55.96
Charisma:
Yes.

28:01.85
Angelica:
Make sure they know that their voices matter. Make sure they already know their voices are important. Not in a weird, performative way like Nancy Pelosi kneeling in Kente cloth.

28:10.56
Charisma:
No, please. Please, no.

28:13.03
Angelica:
Don’t be like, “Hey, honey, happy Black History Month! Feel free to speak up in this meeting!” Because nine times out of ten, they don’t want to speak up in a meeting.

But if an employee gives you an idea in a one-on-one conversation, and you bring it up in a larger team meeting, give them credit for it. If they want to expand on it in front of the group, give them the space to do that.

28:34.70
Angelica:
If someone is speaking over an employee, you as the business owner have every right to step in. That’s not just for Black employees—it’s for everyone—but especially in this space right now. Ensuring that your company is a safe space for people to share their views and values in a respectful manner is crucial. It comes from the top down.

The way a business owner runs their business is reflected in how their employees act.

29:00.54
Angelica:
So if you’ve ever seen an employee driving a company truck, cutting people off, cussing, smoking—whatever—that’s often a reflection of how the person who owns the company behaves. That’s just the culture of that small business.

29:15.43
Angelica:
If that’s not how you want to be represented when your employees are out—

29:18.11
Charisma:
No.

29:19.25
Angelica:
—wearing your merchandise or representing your company, then you need to establish a culture of respect from the top down. Make sure your upper management understands that they should be allowing space for people to have conversations.

29:31.21
Angelica:
And if an employee brings you an idea or raises a topic, and you bring it up on their behalf, give them credit for it. One of the biggest struggles Black women especially face in the workplace is having their ideas taken. They’ll bring an idea to their manager, the manager brings it up in a team meeting, and suddenly it’s like it was the manager’s idea.

Don’t do that. Just give people credit.

Allow your company to be a safe space. Recognize that people are struggling right now—everyone is. I will say a lot of my clients are really feeling it…

29:50.96
Charisma:
Yes.

25:16.42
Charisma:
From businesses and financial institutions to starting businesses, their online profiles might look identical to a white person’s. This is something that genuinely happens. And so, it’s just a lot harder to get access to capital to start a business when you’re Black. As a result, many people are starting businesses with fewer financial resources, which means less marketing.

25:41.30
Charisma:
So, it’s often just word of mouth—using social media if you have it—highlighting people who are doing an excellent job and supporting businesses in your area. The majority of Black-owned businesses I patronize, I learned about from other people. Many of them are not right in our area.

26:02.90
Charisma:
There are a few nearby, but many are spread out. Over the years, I’ve discovered businesses I wouldn’t have known about if it weren’t for people highlighting them on social media or simply telling me about them. So, utilizing social media—even if you don’t have a huge following—still makes an impact. It’s about engagement, visibility, and sharing recommendations with the people you know.

26:32.34
Angelica:
Yeah, that’s really important. You’re also more likely to support businesses that others recommend to you. Honestly, that’s how I find most places—someone will say, “Hey, check out XYZ,” and I’ll make a note to visit when I’m in the area.

I can be pretty persistent about sharing recommendations. Like I’ve mentioned before, when I know someone is traveling somewhere, I’m constantly sending them lists of places to check out. If someone tells me they’re going to a new city for the first time, I’m like, “Oh, I’m about to be very obnoxious. I apologize in advance,” and then I send them a full document with shopping spots, restaurants, and places to visit. I also highlight mostly minority-owned businesses because that’s where I personally go. When I travel, I go out of my way to find these businesses.

27:13.93
Angelica:
The last time we were in Phoenix, we made sure to visit a Jamaican spot. But let me tell you, redlining in Phoenix is real—we had to go way out of our way to get Jamaican food, but we did it. Supporting these businesses is important, especially because they don’t always benefit from tourist traffic. Tourists usually don’t drive long distances just to visit a small business, but we do because we can.

27:37.19
Angelica:
So, we try to encourage others to do the same. When we know people are in a certain area, we make sure to say, “Hey, we love this place—go check it out and support them!”

27:53.29:
Charisma
Yes.

27:53.46
Angelica:
Your voice actually does matter. And another simple way to help is by amplifying the voices of Black employees in your business.

27:55.96
Charisma:
Yes.

28:01.85
Angelica:
Make sure your Black employees know that their voices matter and that they are valued—not in a superficial, performative way like Nancy Pelosi kneeling in kente cloth.

28:10.56
Charisma:
No, please. Please, no.

28:13.03
Angelica:
Don’t be like, “Hey, honey, happy Black History Month! Feel free to speak up in this meeting.” Most of the time, people don’t want to be put on the spot like that. However, if an employee gives you an idea in a one-on-one conversation, and it comes up in a larger team meeting, give them credit. Let them decide if they want to expand on it in front of the group.

28:34.70
Angelica:
If someone is speaking over an employee and taking credit for their thoughts, you, as a business owner, have every right to step in. That applies to everyone, but especially in this context, making sure your company fosters a safe space for open conversations is crucial. Company culture starts at the top.

29:00.54
Angelica:
For example, if you’ve ever seen an employee driving a company truck while cutting people off, cursing, or smoking, chances are their behavior reflects how that business is run.

29:15.43
Angelica:
If you don’t want your employees representing your company poorly—whether in their actions or interactions with customers—make sure leadership sets the tone. Your upper management should understand the importance of allowing space for open discussions.

29:31.21
Angelica:
If an employee brings you an idea, and you bring it up in a meeting, give them the credit. This is a common struggle for Black women in the workplace—they present an idea to their manager, who then shares it in a meeting as if it were their own. Don’t do that. Just give credit where it’s due.

29:50.96
Charisma:
Yes.

30:09.95
Angelica:
Right now, a lot of people are struggling. I’ve been dealing with my own personal challenges, yet many of my clients are telling me they need five minutes just to decompress about the state of the world. And I get it—you do what you need to do.

In your company, allow people the space to process things. You don’t have to stay updated on every news cycle, but so much is happening right now. People are dealing with global catastrophes, and for those who are particularly empathetic or have personal connections to these events, it can be overwhelming.

30:57.21
Angelica:
For example, if you’ve ever experienced a plane incident, it’s incredibly difficult to come into work and focus when the news is covering multiple plane crashes back to back. You need time to process.

31:18.49
Angelica:
So, consider giving employees the first hour of their day to settle in—especially on Monday mornings. Don’t schedule early meetings unless necessary. If you’re all in the same time zone, let people check emails, gather their thoughts, and then start engaging. The weight of the world is already heavy, and that doesn’t even touch on personal struggles. Everyone is fighting a battle you may not see.

31:50.55
Charisma:
Amplifying Black voices is incredibly important. Again, this shouldn’t just be something we focus on during Black History Month—it should be all the time.

31:59.64
Angelica:
All the time, every day.

32:00.72
Charisma:
But this month is a great time to check in. Ask yourself: Are we actually doing this? Do my employees feel safe speaking up?

Even as a Black business owner, you might not be creating the most comfortable space for your Black employees. That’s a possibility. So, it’s essential to go back to the basics and ask:

32:32.59
Charisma:
Have I created an environment where people feel comfortable? Can employees come to me about racial issues or microaggressions? Do they feel free to be themselves at work? Regular check-ins are important.

32:54.97
Charisma:
And again, give credit where it’s due. These things are crucial.

33:52.00
Charisma:
If you’re celebrating Black History Month—which you should be, if you’re listening to this podcast—let us know how. There are so many ways to celebrate, whether at work or in your community.

I’m personally excited to visit museums this month and work on a project for a client featuring Black artists. I’d love to hear what you’re doing!

34:16.89
Angelica:
Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready. You gotta have the Beyoncé fund, friends. There’s so much great music coming out this year—lots of ways to celebrate, whether it’s through artists, businesses, family, or friends.

34:37.83
Angelica:
As a parent, I’ve been bringing Black history books into schools for my child to read.

34:48.08
Angelica:
She started as early as pre-K, reading her Black history books to the class.

34:52.05
Charisma:
She has really read everything.

34:54.53
Angelica:
She loves bringing in a Black history book to school to educate her classmates.

34:58.82
Charisma:
My reading list for the month is stacked, too.

35:01.46
Charisma:
I’m super excited because this month, I’m only reading books where the protagonist is Black, but they’re doing something fun and exciting. It’s not all doom and gloom.

35:15.04
Charisma:
It’s about going on adventures and doing cool things. So, that’s all I’m reading this month, and I’m really excited about it.

35:23.65
Angelica:
You’re reading Heaven and Earth Grocery Store. She’s not. That is the opposite. But yes, please enjoy your Black History Month! Enjoy it. We’ll be here all month, giving you updates every week on Mondays.

35:35.05
Angelica:
If you haven’t listened to the DEI episode, please check it out and share your thoughts with us. We want to interact and engage, and we’ll be back next week with another episode. See you then! Bye!

35:35.45
Charisma:
If you want to read along with me, jump on Instagram! I’m over there at @CharismaOKeeffe, and I’ll be sharing some of the books I’m reading this month. If you want to join me, it’ll be fun. I’d love to see what you’re reading too.

35:56.15
Charisma:
Bye!