Diversity Discourse

Financial Wellness Starts at Home: Sidney and Saundra Curry on Building BC Holdings for 25 Years

Sidney and Saundra Curry didn't build BC Holdings by accident. Over 25 years, this power couple turned a vision for financial wellness into a thriving business serving federal agencies and Fortune 500 companies, and they did it by treating their marriage like a business and their business like a marriage.
In this first episode of 2026, MBE Magazine founder Tanya Isley sits down with the Currys to unpack what it really takes to scale a diverse-owned business. This isn't about "hustle harder." It's about getting your personal finances right before you try to grow your business. It's about using data instead of hope. It's about pricing for the business you're building, not the one you have today.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why your personal net worth determines your business net worth
The READS framework BC Holdings uses for every major decision
How to track data that proves your value (even as a solopreneur)
The pricing mistake that keeps minority business owners stuck and how to avoid it
Why Sidney and Saundra give a 5% discount (and only 5%)
What it takes to work with your spouse for 25 years without losing your mind
How BC Holdings is pivoting from B2B to direct-to-consumer with their new Coho platform
Sidney and Saundra are BC Holdings' monthly financial strategy contributors for MBE Magazine, where they break down the money conversations most business advisors won't touch. This conversation goes even deeper.
If you're a diverse entrepreneur tired of survival mode and ready to build sustainable wealth, this episode is required listening.
Featured Guests:Sidney and Saundra Curry, Co-Founders of BC Holdings
Host:Tanya Isley, Publisher & CEO of MBE Magazine
Subscribe to Diversity Discourse:Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Connect with BC Holdings:https://bcholdingsllc.com/
Explore MBE Magazine:www.mbemag.com
 

Liz Wool Talks Transforming Your Business with Public Speaking

Do you want to explode your business or career growth? Public speaking is a means to establish your expertise and connect with customers on a personal level. In this episode of Diversity Discourse, Liz Wool, founder and CEO of Public Speaking and Presentation Pros, shares her inspiring journey from struggling with a speech impediment to becoming a successful public speaking coach. She discusses the importance of finding one's voice, the power of tailored coaching, and effective audience engagement strategies. Liz emphasizes that public speaking is a vital tool for entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and overcome fears. She provides actionable insights on crafting compelling talks, avoiding common mistakes, and building collaborations for success.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How to Engage Your Audience Effectively
The Power of a Call to Action
How to Craft a Winning Talk
How to Get Comfortable with Public Speaking
How to Define Your Expertise and Goals
How to Build Collaborations for Success
Join over 6,000 forward-thinking leaders who get weekly insights on sales, leadership, diversity, and success stories from diverse entrepreneurs. Subscribe here.

“We Need a New Logo!” … Or Do We?

In this episode of Diversity Discourse, the team from Jayne Agency discusses the intricacies of brand strategy, focusing on the importance of alignment, the need for clarity in branding, and the iterative process of managing a brand. They explore when a business should consider rebranding versus realigning, the metrics that can be used to measure brand effectiveness, and the risks associated with imitating competitors. The conversation also highlights the value of the Devil's Advocate, a tool designed to help business leaders navigate their brand strategy effectively.

The Art of Showing Up: Command Presence in Leadership

In this episode, leadership communications coach Salvatore Manzi discusses the importance of presence in communication and leadership, sharing insights from his experience as a communication coach. He emphasizes that presence can be taught and is essential for effective communication, especially for introverted individuals. The discussion also covers the art of pitching to investors, the significance of agency in communication, and the impact of cultural contexts on how presence is perceived and expressed.

Breaking Barriers in Spirits: Blackleaf Organic Vodka is Redefining Luxury and Sustainability

In this conversation, Kevin Larkai and Monté Burrow, the founders of Black Leaf Organic Vodka, discuss their journey in creating the first French organic vodka in the U.S., emphasizing their commitment to sustainability, overcoming barriers in the spirits industry, and the importance of cultural authenticity. They share insights on the challenges faced as Black entrepreneurs, the significance of their accolades, and offer advice to other underrepresented founders. The discussion highlights their vision for the future and the importance of consistency in growth.

Fatima Smith: Reimagining Philanthropy for Black & Brown Communities

This Diversity Discourse conversation with Fatima Smith, founder of Collective 365, explores the mission and operations of Collective 365, an organization dedicated to supporting Black and Brown communities through unrestricted funding and community-driven grants. The discussion highlights the importance of democratizing philanthropy, the challenges faced by grassroots organizations, and innovative approaches to grant-making that prioritize community needs and sustainability. Fatima emphasizes the need for a shift in the philanthropic landscape to better serve marginalized communities and encourages individuals to engage in giving in various forms.

Hyacinth Henderson: The Impact of Tariffs on Small Businesses and Consumers

Financial expert Hyacinth Henderson of The Henderson Group discusses the implications of proposed tariffs on small business owners and consumers, emphasizing the need for immediate financial actions to secure one's finances. She outlines investment strategies to protect wealth against inflation, particularly for minority women-owned businesses reliant on imported materials. Hyacinth stresses the importance of building long-term financial resilience and knowing one's financial numbers, while also providing resources for financial planning and support.

Danielle Dietrich: Executive Orders and Navigating the New Landscape for Small Businesses

Attorney Danielle Dietrich of Potomac Law discusses the implications of recent executive orders on small businesses, particularly those owned by women, minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. She explores the current legal landscape, the safety of existing certifications, and practical steps for businesses to safeguard their interests amidst uncertainty. The conversation also touches on the potential for legal battles and the importance of state laws in the face of federal changes.

Paola Santana: The Tech Maverick Disrupting the Government Marketplace

In this conversation, Paola Santana, CEO of GLASS Commerce, discusses the innovative approach of her GovTech company in transforming government procurement processes to empower small businesses. She explains how the G-Commerce platform simplifies the purchasing process for government buyers while enabling small businesses, particularly minority and women-owned, to easily access government contracts. The discussion highlights the importance of vendor verification, the success stories of small businesses benefiting from the platform, and how interested businesses can get involved.

RGMA Digital Suite: How Two Visionaries Are Reshaping Supplier Diversity

Ralph G. Moore, founder and president of Ralph G. Moore and Associates (RGMA), and Reginald Layton, RGMA chief technology officer, discuss how RGMA digitized its playbook through its new RGMA Digital Suite, which leverages the company’s RGMA Five Levels of Supplier Diversity Maturity Model™.
Discover how this innovative Digital Suite is revolutionizing supplier diversity by providing corporations with powerful tools to enhance diverse supplier performance and operational excellence.
Ralph and Reggie also discuss the economic impact of diverse suppliers and how to counter the uncertainty of the future of supplier diversity.