I Am Black Success®

Hyper-Visibility and Isolation: The Reality of Being a Black Man at the Top

When you’re one of the few, or the only Black man in the room, leadership comes with a unique mix of visibility and isolation. Every achievement is on display. Every mistake is magnified. And the pressure to be “twice as good” can feel relentless.In this special episode, our host Stephen A. Hart sits down with Alfred Edmond Jr., Senior VP & Executive Editor-at-Large at Black Enterprise, to talk about the realities behind the title, how to handle hyper-visibility, combat the loneliness of leadership, and turn scrutiny into an advantage.Whether you’re already in the C-suite or working your way up, Alfred shares insights from decades of leadership and storytelling that will help you navigate the spotlight with confidence, build the right peer network, and create lasting impact.This conversation also spotlights the upcoming BE XCEL Summit, where Black men in leadership come together to connect, learn, and grow. If you’ve ever felt alone at the top, this is the community you’ve been waiting for.Learn more about the Summit:https://www.blackenterprise.com/xcel-summit-for-men-2025/Use Coupon Code: ALFRED for a $100 discount.Subscribe to our YouTube to watch the full episode of this conversation on video: https://www.youtube.com/@BlackSuccessPod#IAmBlackSuccess #BlackMen #BlackLeaders #BlackEntrepreneursAbout I Am Black Success® I Am Black Success® is a podcast featuring conversations with trailblazing Black leaders, entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers. With 200+ episodes, the show documents Black stories and explores the strategies, lessons, and tools that fuel excellence, leadership, and legacy. Stay connected: Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts Watch full episodes on YouTube Learn more at iamblacksuccess.com

Black Women: Health Justice | Part 4 of 4

We are not short on horror stories of racial disparities in medicine. We saw this most recently during the early days of the pandemic, when Black and brown communities were absolutely devastated by Covid-19. And even beyond the pandemic, health disparities and inequity for people of color persist.Our guest today is Dr. Oni Blackstock. Dr. Oni Blackstock is recognized as a thought leader and influencer in the areas of HIV and health equity. She is a primary care and HIV physician and the founder and Executive Director of Health Justice, a racial and health equity consulting firm, that helps health care and public health organizations to center anti-racism in the workplace and to reduce health inequities in the communities they service.She previously served as Assistant Commissioner at the New York City Health Department where she led the City’s response to the HIV epidemic. Prior to that, she was Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center where she led and conducted research to develop and test interventions to promote HIV prevention and treatment. She holds degrees from Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and Yale School of Medicine.Dr. Blackstock is passionate about ensuring that all individuals and communities have the resources and support they need to thrive and achieve optimal health and wellbeing.Join our host for this #WomensHistoryMonth special series, Jennefer Witter, Founder and CEO of The Boreland Group, for this conversation with Dr. Blackstock.PLEASE SHARE this episode with 5 Black women (or tag them in the comments). Let them know they need this motivational #MissionFuel TAH-dayyy.🔥 To listen to the full episode (and download the transcripts), please visit:https://iamblacksuccess.com #missionfuel #blackwomen #whm2022 #health #healthjustice #healthequity

Black Women: Power of the Pivot | Part 3 of 4

Change can be scary, and when your pivot concerns your professional life, it can become even scarier ... especially for Black Women and other women of color!Our guest is Cecilia Nelson-Hurt, a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we have Jennefer Witter, a past guest of the show, taking over hosting duties for the podcast for March. Jennefer is CEO/Founder of the Boreland Group.🔥 Download transcripts and see our full archives:https://iamblacksuccess.com 

Black Women: Being Bosses | Part 2 of 4

There is an ongoing myth that there are very few Black Women in executive and/or senior leadership positions. Like the pipeline is nearly empty. It’s NOT.Our guest for this episode is Ebony Reed. Ebony is the Chief Strategy Officer for the Marshall Project, a non-profit that produces journalism about the criminal justice system. Connect with Ebony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebony-reed-7b18564/In celebration of Women’s History Month, Jennefer Witter, a past guest of the show, takes over hosting duties for the podcast for the month of March. Jennefer is CEO/Founder of the Boreland Group. Connect with Jennefer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenneferwitter PLEASE SHARE this episode with 5 Black women who need this motivational #MissionFuel today. 🔥Please consider leaving Trailblazers.FM a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify. We’re actively exploring new partners and sponsors. If interested please email stephen@stephenahart.comComplete show archive, transcripts and more: https://iamblacksuccess.com  

Black Women: Unicorns No More | Part 1 of 4

Are you a Unicorn? Have you been called a unicorn? Unicorn is a popular term used when there is an “only” or a “few” and it often means – according to Wikipedia – “a very rare find”.In celebration of Women’s History Month, I’m turning over my hosting duties, all month long, to a dear friend and a past guest of the show, Jennefer Witter. Jennefer is the CEO and founder of The Boreland Group, a 20-year-old boutique public relations firm headquartered in New York City. Jennefer’s agency specializes in women-led and minority owned businesses as well as grassroots non-profits. Today, I’m sharing a conversation between Jennefer and the Rev Dr. Theresa Thames, talking about unicorns as well as occupying spaces, being our true selves, and how they all wrap into each other.This is the first of this special 4-part Women's History Month feature, hosted by Jennefer Witter. More about Rev Dr. Theresa Thames:Rev Dr Theresa Thames is the founder of Soul Joy Coaching & Yoga, LLC, an in-person and online gathering that centers womxn of color, inviting them to honor their whole divine selves and tap into radical joy. She is also a Dean at an Ivy League university.Dr. Thames is a graduate of Howard University and received a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Gender, Theology, and Ministry from Duke University Divinity School. She has a Doctorate of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in Leadership Excellence which explored how best to equip young clergywomen of color to thrive in ministry. As an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, she served as a local pastor in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for nine years.More about Jennefer Witter:Jennefer Witter is the CEO and founder of The Boreland Group Inc. (TBG – www.theborelandgroup.com), a 19-year-old boutique public relations firm headquartered in New York City. The agency specializes in women-led and minority owned businesses as well as grassroots non-profits. Jennefer is an active public speaker, with presentations to military, trade and academic organizations on implicit bias; gender-based workplace conversation; inclusive leadership; personal branding; and networking. Jennefer is the author of “The Little Book of Big PR: 100+ Quick Tips to Get Your Small Business Noticed,” published by Amacom/HarperCollins.Connect and follow:https://theresathames.comhttp://www.theborelandgroup.com/ Leave us a rating and reviewPlease leave Trailblazers.FM: I Am Black Success, a 5-star rating and review if you’d not yet done so, on Apple Podcasts and/or Spotify. Partner with usWe’re also exploring new partners and sponsors. If you’re interested in possibly working with us, please shoot me an email to stephen@stephenahart.comLearn more about our show:https://iamblacksuccess.com