COMING UP ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

>> I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE INDARIA JONES, ME'SHAE BROOKS-ROLLING AND VICKIE BRACKENS.

EACH OF YOUR BUSINESSES ARE THRIVING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

>> I'M LIKE IT'S YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR BABY BUT IT'S NOT REALLY FOR YOU.

IT'S FOR THE MASSES AND THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT.

>> JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT VALUED DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU ARE NOT VALUABLE.

>> BE FOCUSED AND UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE, WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> EVERY BUSINESS REALLY SOLVES A CRUCIAL PROBLEM.

♪, I GOT A GOOD, 2K3W50, GOOD FEELING ♪ ♪ I'M UP ON A CLOUD, AIN'T COMING BACK DOWN ♪ GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I AM YOUR HOST Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS AND WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE AND GET TO NOAH MAZING DIE-- KNOW AMEAZING DIVERSE WOMEN ACROSS NEW YORK AND INCLUDING OUR GUESTS TONIGHT I'M EXCITED TO INTRODUCE INDARIA JONES, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF CREATOR'S LOUNGE, ME'SHAE BROOKS-ROLLING, PRESIDENT PRESIDENT, AND VICKIE BRACKENS, PRESIDENT OF BRACKENS FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS NETWORK.

I WANT YOU TO GATHER YOUR FAMILY, SEND A TEXT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND TELL THEM THAT "BEHIND THE WOMAN" IS ON AND YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS TONIGHT'S EPISODE.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A DYNAMIC PANEL OF WOMEN HERE WITH ME AND I'M EXCITED TO SHARE YOUR STORIES TONIGHT.

WE ARE GOING TO START WITH EACH OF YOU TELLING US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MAYBE WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU ARE FROM, HOW DID YOU GET TO SYRACUSE.

THAT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING FOLKS WANT TO KNOW.

AND WHAT GOT YOU WORKING IN, AS A ENTREPRENEUR IN THIS SPECIFIC COMMUNITY?

>> I'M GOING TO JUMP IN.

AS YOU SAID, MY NAME IS VICKIE BRACKENS, PRESIDENT OF BRACKENS FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS NETWORK.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM TEXAS AND I HAVE BEEN HERE NOW SIPS 1989.

I HAD A SHORT STINT IN ANOTHER CITY IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, ROCHESTER, BUT MY ROOTS AND HOME HAVE BEEN PLANTED HERE IN THE SYRACUSE AREA FOR SEVERAL, SEVERAL, SEVERAL YEARS.

I HEARD, IN FACT CAWRN HUNTER AND-- KAREN HUNTER AND Dr. CRAIG TALK ABOUT SOMETIMES YOUR DNA IS SET FOR A PARTICULAR PATH IN LIFE THAT YOU MAY NOT REALIZE UNTIL YOU LOOK BACK.

MY FAMILY ACTUALLY CAME-- I CAME FROM A FAMILY OF SEVERAL ENTREPRENEURS AND DIDN'T REALIZE IT UNTIL I STARTED LOOKING AT GENEALOGY BECAUSE WHEN YOUR GRAND PARENTS ARE YOUR GRAND PARENTS, YOU JUST LOVE THEM.

YOU DON'T ASK THEM WHAT THEY DID OR GREAT GRANDPARENTS DID.

BUT MY GRANDFATHER OWNED A GROCERY STORE IN A SMALL TOWN IN TEXAS.

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER DID.

MY GRAND FATHER WAS THE FIRST BLACK POLICE OFFICER IN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND FORMED THE NATIONAL BLACK POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

MY MOM AND MY DAD, WHO WERE BOTH WELL EDUCATED AND WERE IN INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONS CAME FROM FAMILIES WHERE HIS HER FATHER WAS A MORE MORTICIAN.

THE ENTREPRENEUR AND HER BROTHER WENT OFF TO THE MERCHANT MARINES.

SO THAT WONDER SPIRIT OF NOT BEING SETTLED WHEN YOU ARE JUST PART OF AN ORGANIZATION WHERE YOU ARE STRIVING TO DO MORE WAS PLANTED IN THE DNA.

AND SO I'M NOW-- I FEEL BETTER KNOWING THAT.

IT TOOK ME YEARS TO FIGURE OUT WHY HAVE I NEVER BEEN SATISFIED BEING IN THE TRADITIONAL ROLE?

IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS BUILT INTO THE DNA.

>> BUILT INTO THE DNA.

ME'SHAE, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I'M HOOSIER BORN AND RAISED IN THE STATE OF INDIANA IN A SMALL TOWN, ANDERSON, RIGHT OUTSIDE OF INDIANAPOLIS AND I MY GREATED TO SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ON A FULL FELLOWSHIP TO THE MAXWELL SCHOOL.

1989.

>> SO YOU TWO ARRIVED ABOUT THE SAME TIME.

THE PLOT THICKENS.

>> AND SO SIMILAR TO VICKIE, ENTREPRENEURALISM RUNS IN MY FAMILY.

MY LATE FATHER COMES FROM A LINEAGE OF FUNERAL DIRECTORS AND EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT CHOOSE THAT PATH FOR MYSELF, I DEFINITELY FEEL HIS ENTREPRENEURIAL IMPRINT IN ALL OF THINGS THAT I HAVE BEEN DOING.

>> DID YOU BOTH KNOW ABOUT THE... >> NO, JUST ABOUT 30 SECONDS AGO.

[LAUGHTER] >> OKAY.

INDAR INDARIA, ANYBODY IN YOUR FAMILY A FUNERAL DIRECTOR BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTING?

>> NOT THAT I KNOW.

[LAUGHTER] >> HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> YEAH, SO I'M BORN AND RAISED HERE IN SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, I WENT TO ALL CITY SCHOOLS, INCLUDING SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

I LEFT FOR A WHILE TO PURSUE A CAREER IN MARKETING WORKING IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

AND I CAME BACK TO REALLY START MY OWN BUSINESS, I THINK, DURING THE TIME THAT I LEFT, I WENT TO NEW YORK CITY.

IT'S A VERY HUSTLE TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.

I THINK IT BROUGHT OUT WHAT, LIKE VICKI SAID WHAT WAS ALREADY IN ME.

BOTH OF MY PARENTS, ESPECIALLY MY MOM, ARE BOTH GO GETTERS AND VERY HUSTLER ENTREPRENEUR TYPE FOLKS.

AND WHILE I WAS IN NEW YORK CITY, I STARTED MY FIRST BUSINESS TO LIKE REALLY SURVIVE.

AND IT GREW INTO SOMETHING THAT I NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE, WHICH IS THE CREATORS LOUNGE TODAY.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE EVERY DAY TO SHOW UP AT YOUR RESPECTIVE OFFICES AND KIND OF DIG IN, KNOWING THAT THERE IS NO ONE ELSE TO CALL PER SE, RIGHT?

LIKE YOU ARE WHERE IT STARTS AND SORT OF WHEN IT STOPS.

SOMETIMES THAT CAN BE SCARY FOR FOLKS.

SO THE FACT THAT YOU SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND DO IT SAYS SOMETHING.

>> I THINK IN THE EARLIER STAGES, BEFORE THERE WAS A TEAM, IT WAS FRIGHTENING.

I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY NOW THAT WE HAVE BUILT-- I BUILT-- I HAVE BEEN VERY BLESSED TO HAVE A VERY SEASONED AND COMMITTED TEAM THAT WORSE WORKS WITH ME.

THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE BEHIND EVERYTHING THAT WE ARE DOING NOW MEANS THAT I NO LONGER FEEL LIKE I'M ON AN ISLAND.

BUT IF I HAD TO GO BACK TO THE TIME WHEN I WAS AN ISLAND, OKAY, AND IT WAS JUST MYSELF AND MY SPOUSE, WHEN WE STARTED TOGETHER, IT WAS SCARY.

BECAUSE YOU KNEW YOU HAD TO PAY ALL THE BILLS AND YOU HAD TO MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS.

AND EVERY DECISION RESTS ON YOUR SHOULDER.

SO THAT'S WHEN YOU REALLY NEED-- AND FOLKS FORGET ABOUT THIS.

YOU NEED A MENTOR IN YOUR LIFE NO MATTER WHAT STAGE OF LIFE YOU ARE IN.

SO I HAD TO RELY ON THE GUIDANCE OF SOME VERY STRATEGIC VOICES TO HELP ME WALK THROUGH THAT.

AND I'M GLAD THAT I DID AND I TRY TO DO THE SAME THING NOW AS FAR AS PROVIDING THAT TYPE OF STRATEGIC VOICE FOR OTHER ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE JUST STEPPING INTO THEIR ROLES AND TRYING TO BUILD THEIR NEW ENTERPRISES.

>> INDAR INDARIA, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> IT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THIS BUSINESS IS SOLELY RELYING ON YOU AND THIS THING, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S FOR A GREATER PURPOSE THAN YOU.

LIKE IT'S YOUR BUSINESS, IT'S YOUR BABY, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY FOR YOU.

IT'S FOR, YOU KNOW, THE MASSES AND PEOPLE THAT NEED IT BECAUSE EVERY BUSINESS REALLY SOLVES A CRUCIAL PROBLEM.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT KIND OF KEEPS ME GOING, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS JUST ME.

BUT, YEAH.

>> ME'SHAE, I THINK THE POINT VICKIE MADE WAS ABOUT HAVING A MENTOR, SOMEONE TO CALL ON EVEN THOUGH THE BUCK STARTS AND STOPS WITH YOU AND EVEN TO INDARIA'S POINT, IT HAS A PURPOSE THERE IS A CLEAR IF NOT A DIVINE PURPOSE.

SO WHO DO YOU CALL, WHAT DO YOU DO, HOW DO YOU HANDLE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WITH BEING IN THE CHAIR THAT MAKES THE DECISIONS?

>> CERTAINLY.

WELL, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED AS A HYBRID ENTREPRENEUR IS THAT-- AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A GOOD WARNING FOR FOLKS OUT THERE WHO ARE ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS OR CONSIDERING IT, IS THAT WHEN YOU PLANT SEEDS IN THE GROUND AND YOU WATER THEM AND CULTIVATE IT CAREFULLY AND I'M SPEAKING METAPHORICALLY DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THE SEEDS TRANSFORM COMPLETELY INTO TREES AND MISS THE PLANT PHASE WHICH IS WHAT I FEEL HAS HAPPENED TO A GREAT EXTENT BECAUSE YOU ARE IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL, RIGHT?

AND YOU TRY TO DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS AND MAKE MISTAKES AND MISSTEPS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, BUT THAT'S A GOOD MORNING I LIKE TO PUT OUT THERE BECAUSE WHEN THE BUSINESS GROWS AND EXPANDS, AS VICKI AND INDARIA HAVE ALLUDED TO, THEN YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO OUTSOURCE THE THINGS THAT EITHER YOU DON'T WANT TO DO OR THE THINGS THAT YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO OR DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO.

>> SO NO-- SO KNOWING WHEN TO CALL SOMEONE.

I WOULD IMAGINE, EACH OF YOUR BUSINESSES ARE THRIVING IN THIS COMMUNITY AND INDARIA'S POINT, WE HAVE A PURPOSE.

WE ARE OFFERING SOMETHING TO SOMEONE ELSE.

WE'LL SEE MORE ABOUT THEM IN A MOMENT.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST CHALLENGE IN LEADING YOUR ENTITIES?

>> I WOULD SAY THOUGH, TO ARE ME, THE GREATEST CHALLENGE HAS BEEN TALENT ACQUISITION.

>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY TALENT ACQUISITION?

>> THE PROFESSION I'M IN, I RUN A FINANCIAL PLANNING FIRM, WHICH YOU KNOW.

FINANCIAL PLANNING AND INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT.

THE TIME PERIOD FOR TRAINING AND REALLY TO BECOME PROFICIENT IN THE TECHNICAL ASPECT IS ABOUT A FIVE TO SEVEN-YEAR TIMEFRAME, REALLY FOR SOMEONE TO REALLY... NOW YOU ARE MENTORING AND GROWING THAT PERSON THROUGHOUT.

BUT IT'S A MUCH LONGER PROCESS THAN MOST PEOPLE REALIZE AND SO TO ENCOURAGE, ATTRACT, INDIVIDUALS TO COME INTO THE PROFESSION, IS A CHALLENGE.

AND SO ACQUIRING TALENT-- AND I'M ALWAYS LOOKING, ALWAYS LOOKING, FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS THE UNAT THING AT THIS LEVEL, THE INTELLECT AND THE MISSION THAT YOU CAN FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A GRASP OF THE MISSION AND ARE READY TO COMMIT TO THAT LONG-TERM PROCESS.

>> THE POINT ABOUT TRYING TO FIND FOLKS TO FILL IN, AND I IMAGINE WITH EACH OF YOU, FINDING FOLKS THAT CAN SPEAK TO OUR COMMUNITY.

RIGHT, AND UNDERSTAND THE NUANCES OF TALKING ABOUT OUR MONEY.

RIGHT?

INDARIA, HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> IN TERMS OF TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND HOUR COMMUNITY, I THINK MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE AS FOUNDER OF AN INCUBATOR THAT CAUSES A START-UP AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITY IS FINDING RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT SUPPORTING AND LIFTING UP THE TYPE OF ENTREPRENEURS WHO ARE NOT THE TYPICAL AVERAGE ENTREPRENEURS.

THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE A HANDOUT.

THE MAJORITY OF THEM DON'T.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I SEE AND PARTNERSHIPS I SEE THAT ARE CUTE, BUT... >> DID YOU SAY CUTE?

>> SHE SAID CUTE.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE MORE INTENTIONAL I THINK WHEN I DIGEST A LOT OF THINGS BECAUSE I'M SO ON THE GROUND AND I'M FROM, YOU KNOW, THE GROUND, I CAN EASILY NOTICE BARRIERS, LIKE THERE WOULD BE A PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE NICE AND IT WOULD SOUND NICE BUT THERE IS ALSO A BUT.

THAT'S MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE, JUST REALLY WORKING THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS TO MAKE THEM SUPER MORE INTENTIONAL AND ACCESSIBLE FOR ENTREPRENEURS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> I LOVE IT BECAUSE THE WHOLE TIME I'M THINKING NOT CUTE.

BECAUSE EACH OF THE AREAS THAT YOU ALL ARE WORKING, YOU ARE 2K50E DEALING WITH PEOPLE IN A VULNERABLE STATE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO GET SOMETHING DONE, ACTUALIZE A VISION THAT THEY HAVE, PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURES, TRYING TO GET SOMETHING STARTED SOMETIMES WITH MINIMAL RESOURCES OR, ME'SHAE, YOU MENTIONED BEING A HYBRID ENTREPRENEUR.

TRYING TO DO THIS AND STILL WORK FULL TIME AND WE DON'T HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF RESOURCES.

TELL US WHAT WE NEED.

GIVE US WHAT WE NEED: BEFORE WE CONTINUE WITH THIS CONVERSATION, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF HOW THESE WOMEN ARE MAKING ECONOMIC IMPACT AND HELPING WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITHIN MANY DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.

>> CREATOR'S LOUNGE IS A COOL WORKING SPACE.

WE ARE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE COME, ENTREPRENEURS AND PROFESSIONALS COME TO FIND INSPIRATION, CONNECT AND CREATE TO HELP FURTHER THEIR BUSINESS GOALS AND ALSO THEIR PROFESSIONAL GOALS.

SO WHETHER THAT BE FOR, YOU KNOW, TO START, GROW AND EXPAND THEIR BUSINESSES OR THEIR CAREERS, NOT ALL CO-WORKING SPACES SHOULD BE DEAD AND BORING.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO ENJOY WHAT THEY DO.

WE WANT THEM TO BE INSPIRED AND FULFILLED WHILE THEY'RE DOING IT AND SO WE HOST A LOT OF EXPERIENCES TO SORT OF ADD VALUE INTO THE WORK THAT WE DO.

SO, YOU KNOW, ASIDE FROM OUR PROGRAMMING OR EVENTS, WE HOST A LOT OF SOCIAL NETWORKING, ANNUAL CREATOR AWARDS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK FORWARD TO WHERE WE HIGHLIGHT A LOT OF CREATORS ALL ACROSS THE U.S. AND A LOT OF PEOPLE COME INTO TOWN FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF EXCITING THINGS COMING, AND WE JUST WANT TO BE ALL THAT WE ARE FOR EVERYONE THAT WE SERVE.

SO I THINK NEXT FOR US IS REALLY TO KEEP OUR EYES ON THE PRIZE AND THE LONG-TERM GOAL THAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS SO MUCH GREATER THAN WHAT IT HAS BEEN.

SO I'M EXCITED FOR THAT.

>> WE ARE AT THE ON CENTER AT THE GREEN SUMMIT V.I.P.

RECEPTION THE DREAM SUMMIT IS AN ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT THAT HAS BEEN IN THE MAKING FOR TWO YEARS NOW AND TODAY WE HAVE WE HAVE A STELLAR PANEL OF PEOPLE FROM INTERNATIONAL REPUTE AND BREAKOUTS, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND A MYRIAD OF OTHER TOPICS AND BEHIND ME, THE GUESTS ARE MINGLING AND ENJOYING THE COMPANY OF THE PEOPLE, SOLE DAD O'BRIEN AND JAMIL HILL AND THIS EVENING WE WILL CONCLUDE WITH AN AWARDS CEREMONY BUT THIS IS WHAT WE DO.

WE ARE A FULL SCALE EVENT CONFERENCING AND HOSPITALITY FIRM LOCATED HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

THE EVENT PARTICULARLY ENJOYED IS WHEN CLIENTS SHARE WITH US THEIR VISION, PARTICULARLY NOVEL VISION THAT ARE GOING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AS WELL AS THEIR COMMUNITIES AND SO EVENT PREP IS HONORED TO HELP THE CLIENTS VISIONS COME TO FRUITION.

WE PUT THE LOGISTICAL LEGS OF THE BEHIND THOSE VISIONS.

>> BRACKENS FINANCIAL SOLUTION NETWORK IS AN INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AND PHENOMENON PLANNING FIRM-- FINANCIAL PLANNING FIRM.

MONEY TOUCHES EVERY ELEMENT OF YOUR LIFE.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU CAN IMPACT INDIVIDUALS LIVES THROUGHOUT, THROUGHOUT EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO, EVERYTHING THAT THEY THINK ABOUT, ALL THE DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS THAT THEY HAVE.

AND YOU CAN CREATE A SENSE OF WELL-BEING THAT, IF YOU DO IT PROPERLY, WILL TRANSCEND NOT ONLY THEMSELVES BUT THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GUIDE, AND YOU HAVE NOT HAD SOME EXPERIENCE IN SOME OF THE TECHNICAL AREAS, IT MAKES PEOPLE FEEL VERY FRIGHTENED.

WE HOPE THAT ONCE THEY START WORKING WITH US AND WORKING WITH OUR TEAM, WE HOPE THEY FEEL MORE CONFIDENT, ASSURED THAT SHE HAVE SOMEONE WHO, IN A TEAM, THAT IS WORKING ON THEIR BEHALF.

THAT'S WORKING FOR THEIR WELL-BEING.

BUT THEY ARE ALSO GAINING KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS THAT WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO BE CONFIDENT IN THE DECISIONS THEY HAVE TO MAKE TO MOVE FORWARD.

>> THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP AND WORK WITH YOU ON THE THINGS THAT NEED TO HAPPEN, BUT YOU MUST DO THE WORK.

SO AS THEY CAME TOGETHER, WITH THIS PARTNERSHIP, WHEN WE SEE THOSE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE IMPACT, I FEEL GRATEFUL THAT I WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, THAT MY TEAM WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY WORK WITH AND WALK WITH SOMEONE THROUGH THOSE LIFE JOURNEYS TO THE END THAT THEY REALLY WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT EACH OF YOU WAS DOING IN YOUR OWN SECTORS.

I KNOW PERSONALLY JUST HAVING SEEN OR BEEN PART OF YOUR WORK THAT YOU ARE MAKING AN IMPACT, INDIVIDUALLY ON THIS COMMUNITY.

BUT ALSO AS YOU SIT HERE, THE PANEL OF WOMEN, WITH ME TONIGHT ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN," I'M JUST ENVISIONING THE IMPACT AND THE SEEDS THAT ARE BEING PLANTED BY WHAT YOU ARE DOING TODAY.

CAN EACH OF YOU BRIEFLY OFFER SOME WORDS OF WISDOM FOR SOMEONE WHO IS WATCHING TONIGHT'S SHOW THAT MAYBE ASPIRE TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS, MAYBE ARE LOOKING TO CREATE THAT EVENT THAT THEY HAVE IMAGINED OR WANT TO GET THEIR FINANCES IN ORDER OR MEET OTHER ENTREPRENEURS THAT ARE STRIVING FOR THE SAME THING.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOME OF OUR VIEWERS THAT MIGHT BE IN ONE OR ALL OF THOSE CATEGORIES?

>> BE CAREFUL NOT TO CONFUSE ENTREPRENEURSHIP WITH VISION, BEING A VISIONARY OR BEING A TECHNICIAN BECAUSE IT REALLY IS THE CROSSOVER OF THOSE TWO THINGS, IT'S WHERE THOSE TWO THINGS MEET.

THE ENTREPRENEUR HAS TO HAVE VISION, A ENTREPRENEUR HAS TO HAVE THE EXECUTION SKILLS AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE A VISION FOR DOING SOMETHING OR TO BE AN INVENTOR, AND THE PRODUCT IS NOT THE ENTREPRENEUR IT'S WHAT WE DELIVER.

OR WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXECUTE, BECAUSE WE ARE A MANAGER, BUT THE MANAGEMENT SKILL IS WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MOVE THE PRODUCT TO MARKET.

BUT THE ENTREPRENEUR IS THE PERSON WHO BRINGS THOSE THINGS TOGETHER AND HAS ENOUGH WHEREWITH ALL AND BELIEF AND UNDERSTANDING TO GO FIND THE OTHER THINGS TO CREATE THE TEAM IN ORDER TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

BE FOCUSED AND UNDERSTAND WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> ME'SHAE, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

>> I WOULD SAY JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT VALUED DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU ARE NOT VALUABLE.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT ARE THEY GREAT AT, ACTUALLY WHAT ARE THEY EXCELLENT AT AND WHAT DO THEY LOVE TO DO THE MOST BECAUSE WHETHER YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL OR A ENTREPRENEUR, THOSE THINGS WILL ATTRACT THEMSELVES TO YOU.

SO WHAT OTHERS MAY PERCEIVE AS WEAKNESSES OR PERHAPS EVEN CRITICIZE YOU FOR, FIND YOUR SUPER POWER AND LEVERAGE THAT.

AND ONCE YOU CAN TAP INTO THAT, DO WHAT FEELS NATURAL TO YOU AND YOU ARE GOING TO EXCEL AT IT AND YOU ARE GOING TO SILENCE THE NAYSAYERS.

>> YOU ARE VALUABLE.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

INDARIA, LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

>> I GUESS I WOULD RELAY A QUOTE THAT INSPIRED ME AND REALLY ALWAYS STUCK IN THE BACK OF MY MIND WHEN ON MY JOURNEY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE BEGINNING AND THAT IS BY DENZEL WASHINGTON WHEN HE WAS WINNING-- HE WON AN AWARD.

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS FOR.

BUT HIS QUOTE WAS "WITHOUT COMMITMENT, YOU'LL NEVER START.

BUT WITHOUT CONSISTENCY, YOU'LL NEVER FINISH."

AND THEN HE WENT ON TO SAY, EASE IS A GREATER THREAT TO SUCCESS THAN HARDSHIP.

SO I THINK I REMEMBER WATCHING HIS SPEECH AND I WAS LIKE, HAD AN IDEA, LIKE THIS VISIONARY AND I HAD THESE TECHNICAL THINGS AND I THINK THAT QUOTE RIGHT THERE JUST REALLY BROUGHT ME TO THE MIDDLE AND OKAY, I NEED TO BRING ONE AND TWO TOGETHER AND I NEED TO MAKE THREE AND I NEED TO BRING THIS THING TO LIFE.

AND SO I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, WE START, ENTREPRENEURS START WITH THAT COMMITMENT.

BUT THEN WE HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT NO MATTER WHAT; EVEN IN THE HARDSHIPS.

>> CONSISTENT.

I WANT TO THANK YOU LADIES.

THIS IS INSPIRATIONAL FOR ME AND I'M HONORED THAT HAVE YOU TAKEN TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES TO BE WITH US TONIGHT.

INDARIA, ME'SHAE, VICKI, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME THIS EVENING ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

AND ALLOWING US TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOU AND THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THIS SHOW AGAIN AND YOU SHOULD, AND SHARE IT WITH OTHERS, VISIT US ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG/"BEHIND THE WOMAN."

MY NAME IS Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS AND ON BEHALF OF THE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" TEAM, THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

NEXT WEEK ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN..." >> I'M ELATED AND HONORED TO INTRODUCE MY FRIEND, ME SHELL COURTNEY BERRY.

>> MY WORK AS A SPEAKER AUTHOR AND COACH AND TRAINER IS ALL ABOUT STRESS REDUCTION.

HOW CAN YOU TURN SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCES INTO LESSONS THAT CAN BENEFIT OTHERS?

I WANT TO HELP HIGH PERFORMING LEADERS DESTRESS SO THEY CAN ENJOY THE SUCCESS.

>> JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE SUCCESSFUL DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE ENJOYING IT.