Black To Business

Falling out of love with your business is not something most entrepreneurs admit out loud. There is a very specific kind of disconnection that can creep in after you've been building for a while. The adrenaline is gone. The early wins are no longer new. The work that once felt creative now feels operational. What used to energize you now feels like something you manage. Nothing is necessarily falling apart. Clients may still be coming in. Revenue may still be steady. On paper, things look fine. Internally, something feels different. This solo episode is an honest conversation about that shift. The quiet resentment that builds when you've overextended yourself. The identity crisis that happens when your performance starts to feel personal. The exhaustion that disguises itself as misalignment. This conversation is for the entrepreneur who is not trying to quit, but is trying to understand why the relationship with their business feels strained. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: How unrealistic expectations in

Decision-making is part of the job when you're an entrepreneur, but some decisions sit heavier than others. The ones that involve money, time, energy, or people. The ones where you want to be responsible, thoughtful, and strategic, but still feel stuck waiting for more clarity.   In this solo episode, Monique breaks down what's really happening when business decisions feel hard, why waiting for "all the information" often keeps entrepreneurs stuck, and how to make grounded decisions even when certainty is not available.   This conversation is for entrepreneurs who tend to overthink decisions, delay them, or feel the weight of being the one who has to choose and carry the outcome. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: What actually makes a decision "hard" versus simply uncomfortable Why not having all the information is normal in business How waiting can quietly become its own costly decision How to move forward without perfect clarity and still lead responsibly   Thank you so much for listening! If you

There is a very specific kind of frustration that shows up in business when you are not new, not careless, and not doing nothing wrong, yet the results no longer match the effort. This episode is about that season. The one where the strategies you trusted start feeling unpredictable. The routines you mastered feel heavier instead of supportive. The systems that once made things easier now require more energy just to maintain. In this solo episode, Monique T. Marshall talks honestly about what happens when business rules expire. Not because you failed, but because the environment changed. The pace changed. The way people buy, decide, and engage changed. This conversation is for entrepreneurs who feel stuck between what used to work and what comes next, and need language, perspective, and direction that does not involve burning everything down or pretending nothing is wrong. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why effort alone stops working when a season shifts How to tell the difference between consistency a

There are seasons in business where nothing is technically "wrong," but everything feels heavier than it should. Decisions take longer. Progress feels slower. Motivation comes and goes. The work still matters, but the ease you once felt feels distant. This episode is for the entrepreneur who is still showing up and still committed, but quietly wondering why things feel so difficult right now. After more than a decade in business and hundreds of conversations with Black founders, Monique has noticed a clear pattern. When business feels hard, it is rarely because you are failing. More often, it is because something needs to be addressed, adjusted, or supported differently. In this solo episode, Monique breaks down what a business rut actually is, why it shows up, and how to work your way through it without burning yourself out or questioning everything you have built. This is not a "push harder" conversation. This is a grounding, honest conversation about choosing the right kind of hard and learning how to move

You can build something beautiful, grow it, scale it, and still protect the people and culture that made the community what it is. You've probably seen the opposite happen, a neighborhood gets "improved" and suddenly the folks who stuck it out through the hard years cannot afford to stay, local businesses get priced out, and the history gets wiped clean. That tension is real, especially when you are a Black entrepreneur trying to build with integrity, not just build for profit. This episode matters because wealth building is not only about money, it is also about who has access, who has voice, and who gets to benefit long term. Logan Herring Sr. joins the show to break down how to create wealth and opportunity without displacement, using lessons from real redevelopment work in Wilmington, Delaware, while keeping the conversation practical for entrepreneurs across any industry.   Logan is the CEO of The WRK Group, which includes The Warehouse, REACH Riverside, and Kingswood Community Center. He shares how his

If you have ever looked at your to do list and thought, "I know what my business needs next, I just do not have the money for it yet," this episode will feel familiar. Stretching resources is not about cutting corners, it is about making smart decisions in a system where Black founders often have to do more with less. For many Black entrepreneurs, building a business means navigating limited access to capital, smaller margins for error, and the pressure to figure everything out on your own. That reality can slow growth and lead to burnout, even when the vision is clear. This episode speaks directly to that experience and introduces bartering as a practical way to keep moving forward without waiting on funding, grants, or permission. Joining us for this conversation is Nicole Murphy, founder of Barter Black®, a tech platform and community designed to help Black entrepreneurs exchange products and services using trade credits instead of cash. Nicole shares how the pandemic revealed just how fragile many Black b

Trusting yourself in business sounds simple, but in practice it can feel complicated. Especially when you are capable, prepared, and still hesitating at the moment it matters most. In this solo episode, we unpack what audacity really looks like for Black entrepreneurs. Not the loud or performative version, but the quiet conviction it takes to move without guarantees, stop self editing, and let your own judgment lead even when the outcome is uncertain. This conversation is for the entrepreneur who knows they are ready, but keeps waiting. Waiting for better timing. Waiting for more confirmation. Waiting until it feels safer. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why hesitation often shows up after you've done the work, not before How self editing quietly costs Black entrepreneurs opportunities before a "no" is ever given What audacity looks like in everyday business decisions, not viral moments How to tell the difference between seeking perspective and avoiding responsibility Why waiting for certainty kee

Planning comes easy to entrepreneurs. Especially when things feel uncertain, heavy, or unfinished. The notes app fills up. The goals start forming. The urge to do something different kicks in fast. Pausing rarely feels as natural. In this episode of the Black to Business podcast, we slow the conversation down on purpose. This is not about setting better goals or building a more ambitious plan. This is about understanding where you are before deciding where you are going. Because planning without reflection often leads to repetition. New goals. Same pressure. Same habits. Same exhaustion. This episode is an invitation to pause long enough to see clearly. Not to quit. Not to check out. But to gather the information your business is already giving you. If you have ever felt like you keep restarting, carrying fatigue into new plans, or setting goals that feel heavy before you even begin, this conversation is for you. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why planning feels safer than pausing and what that habit cos

There is a quiet frustration a lot of entrepreneurs are carrying right now. The work is happening. Effort is being put in. Progress is not obvious yet. So the instinct becomes to scrap everything and start again. New idea. New offer. New strategy. New direction. In this solo episode of the Black to Business podcast, we are slowing that impulse down and telling the truth about what is really happening when you feel the need to start over. After speaking with more than 200 Black entrepreneurs on this podcast, one pattern shows up again and again. The founders who eventually find their footing are not constantly resetting. They stay long enough to learn. They adjust with intention instead of reacting out of pressure. This conversation is about resourcefulness, self-trust, and building forward instead of burning everything down when things feel uncomfortable. Inside this episode, we talk honestly about why starting over feels productive, how outside noise and urgency can cloud decision-making, and how to tell the

Being the "best kept secret" sounds cute until you realize it is costing you money, opportunities, and peace of mind. Many Black founders are doing excellent work behind the scenes yet feel stuck, overlooked, or invisible. The grind is real, but the results are not matching the effort. This episode is a truth-telling conversation about why moving in silence is not a flex and why hiding your work hurts your business. Visibility can feel risky, especially when you care about how you show up. It can also feel necessary if you want people to actually find, trust, and choose you. This solo episode walks you through the mindset, the fear, and the practical steps to start showing your work in a way that feels honest and sustainable. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why hiding feels safer than being seen and how that shows up for Black founders  How staying quiet about your work can limit your growth, opportunities, and impact What it looks like to treat visibility as service instead of self-promotion Simple

December is here. This is the time of year when a lot of people are talking about what's next. Before you rush into planning mode, this episode is your opportunity to pause and get honest about what needs to be left behind. As a Black entrepreneur, you know that business comes with more than strategy and systems. Sometimes, it's the mindset that does the most damage. Maybe you told yourself you weren't ready. Maybe you hid your brilliance because you didn't want to be seen. Maybe you kept trying to do everything alone because that's what you thought it took. You do not have to carry that into another season. In this episode, Monique T. Marshall helps you identify the quiet beliefs that shaped your business this year. She walks you through how to let them go and how to choose a new mindset that actually supports where you're headed next. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: How to recognize the beliefs that kept you stuck in survival mode What shifting your mindset looks like in daily decisions How your tho

This is the time of year when reflection and gratitude are everywhere. The calendar is winding down, timelines are filled with celebrations, and many entrepreneurs start asking, "Did I do enough?" In this solo episode, Monique shares a powerful reminder that gratitude and ambition can coexist. You can honor your growth and still know there's more in you. This is not about rushing to the finish line. It is about moving with clarity, intention, and purpose in this final stretch of the year. Whether you are listening on a holiday or it is just another Thursday, this conversation is your space to pause, reflect, and recommit to what matters most. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why gratitude is more than a feeling. It is a strategy. How to recognize the power of what you have already built What it means to finish the year your way, not everyone else's Three guiding questions to help you close the year with purpose A challenge to help you stay grounded and intentional   Thank you so much for listenin

Many Black entrepreneurs know what it feels like to consistently show up online, grow a following, build connection, and still feel like the space you are building on does not fully belong to you. The rules change, your reach shifts, and suddenly everything you worked for feels like it is sitting in someone else's hands. This episode speaks to the founder who wants stability, ownership, and the freedom to build without worrying about algorithms or disappearing access.   D'Angelo Senat joins us to break down what it takes to create an online community that is truly yours. He is the Founder and CEO of AllPeep, an open-source platform designed to help leaders own their data, their conversations, and their digital presence. His journey as an engineer and builder who has supported thousands of founders gives him a unique perspective on how ownership shapes the future of your business. He shares what real ownership looks like, why it matters for Black entrepreneurs, and how to create a space that grows with you.  

As we head into the holiday season, the pressure to show up and sell can feel heavy. Timelines are flooded with promotions. Everyone seems to be launching something. Meanwhile, you might be feeling like sales are stalling, your energy is low, or the results just aren't matching the effort. We definitely get it. In this episode, Monique is talking about how to stay consistent and strategic when sales feel slow and motivation feels shaky. This season is noisy, but it's also full of opportunity. The key is figuring out how to show up in a way that aligns with your goals, your energy, and your audience. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: How to recognize the season you're in and adjust your expectations What to do when results aren't matching the work you're putting in How to sell without shame, even when it's quiet What "showing up" can look like based on your capacity and business model Why repurposing, reconnecting, and real conversations still matter This is not about trying to match the intern

You've probably heard the phrase "raise capital to scale your business" more times than you can count. But when it comes to venture capital, most Black founders quickly realize that the rules, access, and exposure are not the same. The reality is that getting VC funding is not about how hard you work, it is about how strategically you prepare and how well you understand the game you are walking into. In this episode, we are breaking down what that really looks like with James Norman, Managing Partner at Black Operator Ventures and a 3x founder who has seen both sides of the table. James has built and led companies for nearly three decades and now invests in extraordinary Black founders who are building tech and tech-enabled businesses that change industries. During this conversation, James gives a real-world breakdown of what venture capital actually is, how to know if it is right for you, and what to have in place before you ever pitch an investor. He also shares what it means to be a Black founder in rooms

You've been doing the work. You've been showing up consistently, building your content muscle, and laying the foundation. Now what? In this final episode of the October solo series, Monique is diving into what comes next. The holiday season brings a flood of content and sales, but it also brings opportunity. This is not just the end of the year. It is a chance to turn the trust you've built into traction for your business. DURING THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: Why this season matters more than ever for Black entrepreneurs How to repurpose your best content with intention and clarity What to do if you are feeling behind, overwhelmed, or unsure Why showing up with focus can outperform loud, over-the-top campaigns How to move your audience from awareness to action The strategy behind Monique's own seasonal approach inside Black to Business Thank you so much for listening! If you liked this episode, please subscribe to "The Black to Business Podcast" and rate and review on Apple Podcasts:   Don't m

If you've ever felt like you're doing all the things, posting, planning, showing up, and still wondering if it's working, this episode will give you real clarity. This week, Monique is pulling back the curtain on what publishing over 270 podcast episodes and sending weekly emails has taught her about showing up consistently. You'll learn why content is not just about being seen, but about building something that people can come back to again and again. Content is how you: Learn who your audience really is Build long-term trust Clarify your message Guide people back to your offer, your site, or your platform Daily posts are not the requirement. A system that fits your life and business goals is what will help you stay consistent. In this episode, you'll learn: How consistency revealed who Monique's audience actually was Why posting daily is not necessary for growth or visibility What it means to guide your audience back to something you own How to stay consistent with content as a solo

Some people post to be seen. You post to be believed.   Credibility is not about looking the part. It is about proving it. It is the alignment between what you say, what you show, and what people experience when they engage with your work. That is the focus of this episode.   In this solo conversation, Monique explains how Black founders can use content to build real credibility that earns trust, opens doors, and keeps you top of mind. This is about showing your receipts in public view, not for validation but as proof of the excellence you bring to the table.   Visibility gets you noticed. Credibility keeps you chosen. This episode will help you build it with intention.   IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN: What credibility really means and why it goes deeper than branding or presentation How to align your message, your content, and your audience’s experience The Teach Show Prove method for building trust through content Common credibility mistakes that weaken your message and how to fix them The 4 C’s F

Visibility can make or break your business. You can have the best product or service, but if people don’t see it, they can’t support it. This week’s episode of the Black to Business podcast dives into why visibility is power and how consistent content builds credibility for Black founders. Because for us, being visible isn’t just about posting more. It’s about being remembered, trusted, and chosen for what we bring to the table. Many Black entrepreneurs are still building without access to big teams, media features, or industry connections. The game has changed though. Digital tools and social media have given us the power to create our own platforms and control our own narratives. If staying consistent feels overwhelming, this conversation will help you simplify it. You’ll walk away understanding how to make visibility a natural part of your business, not another task on your list.   IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN: Why visibility is the new currency of credibility for Black founders How to use consistent

Creating content shouldn’t feel like another full-time job, especially when you’re already wearing every hat in your business. But for so many Black entrepreneurs, staying consistent online feels like a constant uphill battle. One week you're posting every day. The next? You're exhausted and falling off again. If that sounds familiar, this episode is for you. We're kicking off a new solo series for October focused on helping you finish Q4 strong and step into the new year with more clarity and consistency. And we’re starting with the number one question we get asked: “How do I stay consistent with content without burning out?”   IN THIS EPISODE, MONIQUE BREAKS DOWN: Why content consistency feels so hard (and it’s not because you’re undisciplined) How to set up a simple content rhythm you can actually keep up with The difference between “creating content” and having a content system How batching, themed days, and repurposing help you stay visible without the stress How Monique uses AI tools to sp