In this episode of S.O. What! Success Stories, I’m reconnecting with my friend, Dr. Jara Best, whose journey is a powerful example of resilience and success. From being one of only 20 Black students in her medical school class to becoming the Tennessee Medical Director at Equity Health, Jara has continuously turned challenges into opportunities. […]
Finding Resilience in Love During the Holidays As we approach the Christmas season, a time traditionally filled with joy, laughter, and celebration, I can’t help but reflect on how different this year feels for me. Having lost both of my beloved grandmothers, my friend whose book I contributed to (on resilience) then my friend and […]
In this episode of S.O. What! Success Stories, I had the honor of speaking with Cortney Richardson, CEO of Peer Power Foundation and a proud University of Memphis alum. Cortney’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, leadership, and the impact of intentional choices. Growing up with a teenage mother, Cortney Richardson witnessed firsthand the […]
8/22/25 Update: Due to the Dismantling DEI Departments Act, the University of Memphis closed the Multicultural Affairs Office, impacting and upsetting thousands of students and alumni who benefit from that office, Dean Hall, and staff. ___________________________________________________________________________________ In this episode of S.O. What! Success Stories, I had the honor of talking to one of my mentors […]
I am so excited to share my latest S.O. What! Success Stories episode with the incredible Geo Derice, a marketing genius, author, and founder of 2020 Living and First Book Done. This episode was special because Geo has helped me in my business and we have become fast friends, and let me tell you, his […]
An unexpected new friend. When Marty Kelman joined the board of the University of Memphis National Alumni Association, I had no idea who he was. Nor did I expect to be having lunch with him, laughing with him, or talking life with him. In board meetings, he spoke up, asked questions, pushed back, and volunteered […]
I’m thrilled to share a very special episode of S.O. What! Success Stories with you! I recently sat down with my friend and Mastermind partner of five years, Denise Hamilton. Denise is a true powerhouse who has spent over 25 years leading major companies like AOL and CBRE through incredible change and growth. Denise’s journey […]
This Grandparents Day is bittersweet for me. It’s the first one without my grandmothers, Agnes Idella “Dorothy” Jones Owens and Ocie Lee Woods Williams, who both transitioned this year. They were two of the strongest, wisest women I’ve ever known, and they lived nearly a century each, shaping my life with love, resilience, and humor. […]
August 22, 2021, that was the last time I saw my cousin Avis Terrell Jones. He was showing me around a house he was fixing up for his mother. It was about two months before his life was tragically taken. I had gone to visit his father, my great uncle, who is now my grandmother’s […]
