>> COMING UP ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

>> MY NAME IS TAMIKA OTIS.

I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE DIRECTOR OF KEY BANKS BOOST AND BUILD SERVICE.

POWERED BY JUMP START.

>> IT'S VERY NATURAL.

I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY TO BE.

I'M ADDICTED TO SEEING PEOPLE WIN.

I LOVE WINNING MYSELF, TOO.

BUT I LOVE BEING A PART OF HELPING PEOPLE TO MANIFEST THEIR DREAMS.

NEVER STOP.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO PAUSE BUT DON'T EVER, EVER STOP.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I'M YOUR HOST Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

I WANT YOU ALL TO TAKE A MINUTE, TEXT A FRIEND AND LET THEM KNOW "BEHIND THE WOMAN" IS ON.

ON TONIGHT'S EPISODE, WE HAVE TAMIKA OTIS, FORMER PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF KEY BANKS BOOST AND BUILD PROGRAM.

CURRENTLY C.E.O.

OF KABOD CONSULTING GROUP.

BEFORE WE SPEAK WITH TAMIKA, LET'S LOOK AT HER LIFE AND SOME OF HER WORK.

>> MY NAME IS TAMIKA OTIS.

I AM CURRENTLY SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR OF KEY BANKS BUSINESS BOOST AND BUILD PROGRAM POWERED BY JUMP START.

BUT I'M ALSO FOUNDER AND C.E.O.

OF KABOD CONSULTING GROUP.

I GREW UP IN SOUTH JERSEY AND I JUST HAD A VERY VIBRANT CHILDHOOD.

I DID DANCE, VOICE LESSONS, PAGEANTS GOING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.

JUNIOR CLASS PRESIDENT, SENIOR CLASS VICE PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT OF THE BLACK STUDENT COUNCIL, PRESIDENT OF THE SPANISH CLUB.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE I REALLY STARTED TO HONE IN ON MY LEADERSHIP SKILLS.

I WENT TO WESTCHESTER UNIVERSITY STRAIGHT OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND BOMBED MY FIRST SEMESTER AND MY PARENTS SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT ONE SEMESTER TO GET IT TOGETHER.

I WAS GETTING IT TOGETHER BUT I WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY REALLY AGGRESSIVELY PURSUING MY SINGING CAREER BECAUSE I FELT LIKE THAT'S WHAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO.

THAT'S MY PASSION.

AND SO AFTER MY SECOND SEMESTER, I LANDED A DEAL WITH A MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND I WALKED AWAY FROM IT ALL.

AND THE REASON I DID WAS BECAUSE I FELT THAT THE INDUSTRY WOULD EAT ME ALIVE MUCH AND BY THAT TIME I HAD LEFT SCHOOL.

I WALKED AWAY FROM A SINGING CONTRACT AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

AND THEN I STARTED TO GO INTO CLERICAL WORK AND SECRETARIAL WORK BUT I ALWAYS VOLUNTEERED AND I ALWAYS HAD A ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.

WHILE I WAS KIND OF FINDING MYSELF CAREER WISE, I WAS ALSO TAKING ANY OPPORTUNITY TO START A NEW VENTURE OR TO JOIN IN ON A NEW VENTURE AND THEN LIKE THE REST IS HISTORY.

I LOVE SITTING DOWN WITH PEOPLE AND HEARING THEIR EXCITEMENT AND HEARING THEIR PASSION AND HAVING ALL THESE IDEAS COME TO ME ABOUT HOW I CAN HELP THEM MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

AND SEEING IT HAPPEN.

I'M ADDICTED TO SEEING PEOPLE WIN.

I LOVE WINNING MYSELF, TOO.

BUT I LOVE BEING A PART OF HELPING PEOPLE TO MANIFEST THEIR DREAMS.

YOU KNOW, SITTING HERE AT SALT CITY MARKET WHERE I LOVE COMING HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT'S A TEMPLATE FOR HOW THE WORLD SHOULD BE AND YOU ARE WALKING IN A SPACE WHERE DREAMS HAVE BEEN MAN TESTED.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WALK IN HERE, I THINK ABOUT THE EARLY CONVERSATIONS OF WHAT THEY HOPED THEIR BUSINESS COULD BE AND THEN STANDING IN THE MANIFESTATION OF THEIR DREAMS IS LIKE-- IT'S SO HUGE TO ME.

>> Juhanna: HI TAMIKA.

>> HI Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

>> Juhanna: IT'S SO GOOD TO BE SITTING DOWN.

GIRL, WE ON TELEVISION.

>> YES.

>> Juhanna: YES.

I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE.

>> I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> Juhanna: I HAVE BEEN EXCITED ABOUT THIS INTERVIEW BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS CHEERLEADERS SINCE WE GOT CONNECTED PROBABLY ABOUT THREE AND A HALF ALMOST FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND I FELT LIKE I WAS SUCH A BABY AND YOU WOULD BE LIKE, THIS IS WHO YOU ARE.

WAS DO YOU WANT TO DO?

YOU GO AFTER IT.

AND HERE YOU ARE.

>> VOILA.

I REMEMBER WHEN THIS WAS AN IDEA, JUST AN IDEA.

>> Juhanna: WE WERE SITTING AT A RESTAURANT IN SYRACUSE AND I WAS LIKE, I THINK I WANT TO TRY TO DO THIS.

AND YOU WERE LIKE, OKAY, WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO.

AND IT TURNED OUT, YOU ARE DOING THAT FOR LIKE A LIVING NOW.

>> YES.

>> Juhanna: YOU ARE HELPING PEOPLE FIGURE OUT THEIR PASSION AND THEIR DREAMS AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

WE ARE GOING TO GET TO THAT.

WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> Juhanna: BECAUSE PART OF YOUR STORY THAT HAS ALWAYS INTRIGUED ME HAS BEEN YOUR BACKGROUND IN MUSIC.

>> YES.

AND.

>> Juhanna: FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY BECOME A MUSICAL LIKE STAR.

>> YES.

>> Juhanna: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, GROWING UP, I KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE BEYONCE BEFORE ANYBODY KNEW WHO BEYONCE WAS.

>> Juhanna: I KNEW IT.

YOU ARE GIVING ME BEYONCE, THE HAIR ON THE COUCH.

I SEE IT.

>> AS NERVOUS AS I WOULD BE TO BE ON THE STAGE, WHEN I GOT ON STAGE, I TURNED TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

EVERYTHING FELL OFF OF ME AND I WOULD JUST BE IN THE MOMENT.

AND I LOVED THAT SPACE.

AND I HAD A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.

I HAVE AN UNCLE WHO WORKED WITH NEW EDITION AND NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK.

I HAD DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS AND MY COUSIN CHRIS, I HAVE TO SHOUT HIM OUT.

CHRIS WRIGHT WOULD DRIVE DOWN FROM CONNECTICUT TO TAKE ME TO INTERVIEWS, TO AUDITIONS, YOU KNOW, HE WAS MY, I CALLED RUSSELL SIMMONS.

>> Juhanna: YOU WERE GOING TO BE ON YOUR WAY.

>> I WAS ON MY WAY.

AND I LANDED A MANAGEMENT DEAL WITH A VERY HIGH PROFILE MANAGEMENT COMPANY OUT OF PHILADELPHIA.

AN ARTIST THAT WAS WORKING WITH HIM WAS BILLBOARD TOP 10 AT THE TIME.

I WAS WORKING WITH A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PRODUCER.

I HAD EVERYTHING RIGHT HERE AND I DECIDED TO WALK AWAY.

>> Juhanna: WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO WALK AWAY FROM THAT?

LIKE WHAT WAS IT?

>> I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO VOICE IN THAT SPACE.

I HAD NO VOICE, RIGHT?

I WANTED TO BE IN MUSIC TO USE MY VOICE.

>> Juhanna: RIGHT.

>> BUT IN THE OTHER SENSE, I HAD NO VOICE.

NO ONE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT ANY CREATIVE DIRECTION.

AT THE TIME, I'M 19, 20.

BUT I KNOW ME BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

I KNOW-- I KNEW WHAT I WAS GOING TO AND NOT GOING TO DO.

THE WAY THAT THEY WANTED ME TO DRESS, THE WAY THEY WANTED ME TO TALK.

SOME OF THE STIPULATIONS TO BE IN THAT CONTRACT.

AND THEN REALLY HONESTLY, BEING EXPLOITED YOU KNOW, BEING MANIPULATED.

AND JUST NOT FEELING SAFE.

EVEN IF IT WASN'T PHYSICALLY, JUST EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY, I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE IN THAT SPACE.

AND I HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION, LIKE THIS IS ALL I WANTED TO DO AND I'M HERE AND I'M LIKE MY SPIRIT WAS VERY, VERY RESTLESS.

I WAS VERY RESTLESS AND I CALLED MY UNCLE AND I SAID IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS DEAL?

I WAS IN A SEVEN-YEAR CONTRACT.

LIKE I COULDN'T PAINT MY NAILS WITHOUT ASKING MY MANAGER.

AND WE FOUND A LOOPHOLE.

THERE WAS AN EXIT CLAUSE AND I WALKED AWAY WITH NO OTHER PLAN.

>> Juhanna: OH MY GOSH.

IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE I'M A HUGE BEYONCE FAN I'M LIKE, YOU KNOW, IN THIS SPACE, I'M LIKE, I WANT TO BE THE NEXT OPRAH.

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I RECOGNIZE AS BEING A TRADE-OFF IN ENGAGING LIKE THE MUSIC THAT ENTERTAINMENT SPACE THAT YOU HAVE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF.

IT SEEMS THAT EITHER FOR ME WHEN I LOOK AT ARTISTS, PARTICULARLY ARTISTS OF COLOR, EVEN OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE PASSED.

I MEAN YOU GET TO HEAR THE STORY ABOUT THE CONTRACTS THAT THEY WERE IN OR THEY DIED PENNYLESS OR THE UGLY SIDE TO BEING ON WHATEVER SIDE OF THE CAMERA THAT YOU'RE ON.

AND IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE KIND OF IN TUNE WITH THAT.

>> VERY IN TUNE WITH THAT.

AND I ALWAYS LISTEN TO THE VOICE WITHIN.

I MIGHT NOT TAKE HEED TO THE DIRECTION, BUT I ALWAYS HEAR AND I LISTEN TO THE VOICE WITHIN.

AND I'LL NEVER FORGET, WE WERE AT A STUDIO SESSION.

I'M IN A ROOM WITH A BUNCH OF OLDER MEN.

I THINK MY COUSIN WASN'T THERE THAT TIME THAT DAY AND JUST AS CLEARLY AS I'M TALKING TO YOU HEARD "YOU WILL NEVER MAKE IT OUT OF HERE ALIVE."

I DIDN'T TAKE IT AS IN THIS STUDIO...

THIS EXPERIENCE.

>> Juhanna: MANY PEOPLE DON'T.

>> WHETHER IT WAS GOING TO KILL ME PHYSICALLY OR KILL MY SPIRIT OR KILL MY HEART, I WAS NOT WILLING TO MAKE THAT TRADE-OFF.

AS MUCH AS I WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THAT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE MY STORY.

IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PART OF IT SO I COULD TELL THIS PART OF THE STORY.

BUT IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE MY STORY.

>> Juhanna: IT'S INTERESTING.

I HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE.

I WASN'T NEARLY AS FAR ALONG.

MY MOM WOULD TAKE ME OVER TO AUDITIONS IN THE CITY FOR DIFFERENT SHOWS.

THIS AGENCY WAS LOOKING FOR YOUNG KIDS AND I ALWAYS GOT THIS POSITIVE FEEDBACK AND MY MOM WAS LIKE YEAH, NO.

AND A COUPLE YEARS AGO WHEN YOU MET HER, WHEN SHE CAME TO THE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" SHOW, SHE SAID TO ME, SHE WAS VERY SERIOUS.

SHE WAS LIKE NOW YOU'RE OLD MUFF TO MAKE CHOICES FOR YOURSELF.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE ABLE TO DISCERN.

BACK THEN, YOU COULDN'T HAVE-- WOULD YOU HAVE HAD TO DO WHATEVER SOMEONE ASKED.

LIKE THERE WASN'T A SPACE FOR YOU.

NOW YOU ARE GROWN.

YOU ARE EDUCATED.

YOU KNOW HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF.

YOU ARE IN A DIFFERENT SPACE BUT WHEN YOU SAY LIKE 19... >> AT 19 MY SON IS ALMOST 19 AND IT'S A VERY AWKWARD TIME BECAUSE ON THE BOOKS YOU ARE AN ADULT BUT YOU'RE REALLY NOT AN ADULT.

YOU ARE TRYING TO FIND YOUR VOICE BUT YOU STILL HAVE PEOPLE TRYING ON TELL YOU WHAT TO DO.

AND SO AT 19, I THOUGHT LIKE LISTEN, I'VE GOT THIS.

AND I DID NOT HAVE IT.

DISWHRJ I FELT THAT AT 24.

I WAS LIKE GIRL, YOU DIDN'T KNOW HALF OF WHO YOU WERE OR WHO YOU WERE GOING TO BE.

YOU WALKED AWAY FROM MUSIC BUT I THINK YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT REALLY SPOKE OUT.

YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU FOUND YOUR VOICE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS ADMIRE ABOUT YOU SINCE MEETING YOU, YOU HAVE BECOME A WELL ESTABLISHED SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL WOMAN BY MY MEANS AND WHEN I SAY SUCCESSFUL, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

YOU ARE VERY CONSCIOUS ABOUT COMMUNITY.

>> YEAH.

>> Juhanna: AND COMMUNITY IS AT THE HEART OF THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING.

>> YEAH.

>> Juhanna: AND I JUST ADMIRE THAT ABOUT YOU.

NOT BEING FROM HERE, TOO.

YOU'RE NOT FROM CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> NO.

>> Juhanna: TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU GOT HERE AND SO CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, IN TERMS OF HOW I GOT HERE, IT'S THE CLASSIC STORY OF A GIRL MEETS A BOY, YOU KNOW.

AND FALLS IN LOVE AND DECIDES, YOU KNOW, TO GO WHERE HE IS.

I'M SINCE DIVORCED BUT WE ARE VERY, VERY GOOD FRIENDS.

AND I SAY A LOT OF THE TIMES, YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN SOUTH JERSEY.

WENT TO SCHOOL RIGHT OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA.

IT WAS VERY NATURAL FOR ME TO MOVE TO PHILLY AFTER SCHOOL, A BIG PART OF WHO I AM AND SO I SAY SOUTH JERSEY REARED ME AS A CHILD.

PHILADELPHIA TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE AN ADULT BUT I TRULY BECAME A WOMAN HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> Juhanna: POWERFUL.

>> BECAUSE I KNEW NOBODY WHEN I CAME HERE.

I LITERALLY CAME FOR LOVE AND, YOU KNOW, MY THEN HUSBAND'S FAMILY, I DIDN'T HAVE FRIENDS, I DIDN'T HAVE A JOB.

I HAD TO USE MY VOICE, YOU KNOW.

I HAD TO INSERT MYSELF INTO PLACES.

I HAD TO LEARN HOW TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE I DECIDED I WAS GOING TO THRIVE HERE.

I'M HERE, I'M RAISING MY CHILDREN HERE.

I'M GOING TO THRIVE HERE.

IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY, I GOT IT VERY HONEST.

MY MOM WAS A SOCIAL WORKER IN HIGH SCHOOL FOR 35 YEARS.

MY GRANDMOTHER ON MY DAD'S SIDE WAS VERY COMMUNITY MINDED, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE COMMUNITY LOVED HIM.

MY AUNT ON MY MOM'S SIDE USED TO LEAVE HER DOOR OPEN IN NEW HAVEN CONNECTICUT.

THERE WAS ALWAYS A HUGE POT OF SOMETHING ON THE STOVE SO ANYBODY WHO WANTED TO COME AND EAT, I GREW UP AROUND THAT.

COMMUNITY IS THE NORM FOR ME, VERY COLLABORATIVE.

IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON FOR ME TO COME HOME FROM SCHOOL AND THERE BE A FAMILY IN MY HOUSE BECAUSE MY MOM COULDN'T FIND THEM HOUSING THAT NIGHT AND SHE WAS NOT GOING TO LET THEM SLEEP ON THE STREET.

AND SO ME, YOU KNOW, INSERTING COMMUNITY INTO EVERYTHING THAT I DO IS JUST VERY NATURAL.

I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER WAY TO BE.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY HELPED ME TO GET CONNECTED MERE BECAUSE OF THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND WANTING TO SUPPORT AND WANTING TO BE PRESENT AND MAKING ALL OF THESE GREAT CONNECTIONS LIKE YOU.

AND SO MANY OTHER AMAZING WOMEN HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK.

>> Juhanna: ABSOLUTELY.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION BECAUSE PEOPLE ASK ME ALL THE TIME.

YOU ARE NOT FROM HERE.

YOU DIDN'T GROW UP HERE.

YOU BECAME A WOMAN HERE, WHICH I CAN RESONATE WITH ON THAT.

BEING ON YOUR OWN IN THIS SPACE HAS PUSH MEADE TO BE LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

WHAT ARE YOU HERE TO DO?

BUT I OFTEN GET THIS QUESTION, LIKE WHY HERE?

YOU'RE DIVORCED NOW.

YOUR KIDS ARE OLDER.

WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?

>> BECAUSE OF THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW.

IT IS NOT EASY TO WALK AWAY, RIGHT?

I'VE HEARD OTHER FRIENDS WHO HAVE TRAVELED THE COUNTRY AND LIVED IN DIFFERENT AREAS AND WAS LIKE LISTEN, I'M OUT OF HERE.

THERE REALLY WAS NO CONNECTION KEEPING THEM THERE OTHER THAN MAYBE A JOB, RIGHT?

>> Juhanna: RIGHT.

>> WHEN THE JOB WENT AWAY, THERE WAS NO REASON TO STILL BE HERE.

FOR ME, I THINK ABOUT THE CONNECTIONS I'VE MADE AND THE THINGS I'VE BEEN THROUGH SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND JUST THIS COMMUNITY, THIS TRIBE OF PEOPLE WHO HAD, YOU KNOW, NO REASON TO LOVE ME, RIGHT?

THERE WAS NO CONNECTION.

THERE WAS NO HISTORY.

THERE WAS NO FAMILY CONNECTION.

BUT JUST SUPPORTED ME, POURED INTO ME AND LOVED ME AND HELPED ME TO BECOME A WOMAN AND HELPED ME TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL.

I DID NOT BECOME SUCCESSFUL ON MY OWN.

>> Juhanna: WE DID NOT BECOME SUCCESSFUL ON OUR OWN.

WE DO NOT BECOME SUCCESSFUL ON OUR OWN.

>> NOT AT ALL.

>> Juhanna: EVERYTHING YOU ARE SAYING IS SPEAKING TO ME AND YOU ARE PART OF THAT NETWORK FOR ME.

>> AND YOU FOR ME.

>> Juhanna: AND AS YOU WERE SAYING THAT, I WAS THINKING ABOUT NIGHTS IN COVID, YOU KNOW, SHE BROUGHT ME SOME CURRIED CHICKEN WHEN I WAS SICK.

AND YOU DO SUCH A GREAT JOB OF THAT.

BUT NOT ONLY DO YOU DO IT AS A PERSON FOR PERSONAL FULFILLMENT BUT YOU HAVE FOUND A WAY TO DO IT PROFESSIONALLY.

I WATCHED DURING COVID, YOU KNOW, YOU AS THE PROGRAM MANAGER FOR KEY BANKS BOOST AND BUILD, HAVING WORKED ALONGSIDE YOU FROM LIKE THE INCEPTION OF THAT TO THE PRESIDENT AND NOW IT'S ENDING.

BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WERE ABLE TO DO IF THAT TIME, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPACT OF IT?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO GIVE ANOTHER SHOUT OUT TO RICKY BROWN, WHO BROUGHT THAT POSSESSION POSITION TO ME AND SAID THIS IS YOURS.

I READ IT AND I LITERALLY CRIED AT MY DESK WHEN I READ IT BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS IS EVERYTHING I LOVE THIS IS EVERYTHING I DO.

IT WAS A JUMP.

I WAS IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AT THE TIME AND THIS IS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

AND SO IT WAS AN EPIC HIRING PROCESS.

I SAY ALL THE TIME, IT TOOK ABOUT THREE MONTHS.

AND THERE WAS NO BLUEPRINT.

IT WAS KEY BANK FOUNDATION MADE A HISTORIC GRANT TO JUMP START, WHICH IS THE ORGANIZATION WHICH HIRED ME OUT OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AND WANTED THEM TO EXPAND THEIR WORK TO UPSTATE NEW YORK, SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE ALREADY SUPPORTING ENTREPRENEURS.

BUT TO BUILD SOME CULTURAL COMCY TO COMPETENCY TO MAKE SURE THE FOCUS WAS ON BUSINESS OWNERS OF COLOR AND WOMEN OWNED ENTERPRISES TO DO INNOVATIVE THINGS.

THERE WAS NO BLUEPRINT.

IT WAS TAKE YOU GOT IT.

NOW GO.

>> Juhanna: THIS IS THE GOAL.

MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> HERE ARE THE METRICS, 1200 ENTREPRENEURS, WE NEED THIS MUCH CAPITAL RAISED, WE FEED THIS MUCH INFUSION OF CAPITAL, REVENUE, YOU KNOW, ALL THIS.

AND I WAS LIKE WHO MADE THESE METRICS UP?

>> Juhanna: WHO DID THAT?

>> WHO DID?

BUT I NEVER RUN AWAY FROM A CHALLENGE.

I ALWAYS LIKE TO UNDERPROMISE AND OVER DELIVER AND ANYTHING I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT, I AM GOING TO ANNIHILATE IN A GOOD WAY.

>> Juhanna: YOU SAID THAT SO CLEARLY.

I'M GOING TO ANNIHILATE.

>> IN A GOOD WAY.

I'M GOING TO CRUSH IT.

AND THE THOUGHT OF MYSELF BEING A SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR STARTING AT LIKE EIGHT YEARS OLD SELLING SNOW CONES ON THE CORNER AND NEGOTIATING BABYSITTING CONTRACTS AT LIKE 11 AND 12.

>> Juhanna: BABYSITTING CONTRACTS.

>> THAT WAS ME.

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER LIKE 20 SOMETHING, MY GIRLFRIEND AND I STARTED A LOTION AND SOAP BUSINESS AND I WENT TO THE BANK TO GET A LOAN AND I HAD NO CREDIT AND I THOUGHT I HAVE NO CREDIT.

I DON'T HAVE BAD CREDIT.

I HAVE NO CREDIT.

I'M GOING TO GET A LOAN.

IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME AND THEY LITERALLY LAUGHED IN MY FACE.

IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT I HAVE, I COULD HAVE MAYBE SAID I'M NOT BUILT TO BE A ENTREPRENEUR.

SO THE THOUGHT OF PROVIDING RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO PEOPLE LIKE ME SO THEY CAN MANIFEST THEIR GOALS AND THEIR VISIONS WAS JUST SO AND CONTINUES TO BE SO EXCITING FOR ME.

AND TO BE IN A SPACE WHERE BOTH KEY BANK AND JUMP START SAID WE TRUST YOU ARE GOING TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR CLIENTS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AND JUST GO.

THERE WASN'T A LOT OF MICROMANAGING.

OBVIOUSLY THERE WERE BENCHMARKS I HAD TO MEET AND REPORTING BUT THEY TRUSTED ME TO DO WHAT WAS BEST FOR THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND I'M IN FOUR UPSTATE MARKETS.

ALBANY, SYRACUSE, ROCHESTER AND BUFFALO.

ALL VERY UNIQUE MARKETS.

>> Juhanna: AND YOU'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW THE MARKETS.

>> AND THE PEOPLE AND JUST BEING ABLE TO POUR INTO BUSINESS OWNERS AND CONNECT THEM TO RESOURCES TO HELP THEM TO GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF THEIR BUSINESS OR TO START THEIR BUSINESS IS SO FULFILLING FOR ME.

I JUST LOVE DOING IT.

>> Juhanna: TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE HELPING OTHER PEOPLE FIND THEIR VOICE.

>> YES.

>> Juhanna: AS A ENTREPRENEUR, EVEN MYSELF, LIKE FINDING THAT PERSON WHO HELPS CONNECT TO THE RESOURCES THAT IS SO CRITICAL ANY DAY OF THE WEEK, BUT KUDOS TO YOU AND THE WORK THAT YOU'VE DONE AND NOW THAT'S ENDING.

>> YES.

>> Juhanna: SO IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MOMENTS THAT WE HAVE LEFT, WHAT IS NEXT FOR TAMIKA OTIS?

>> SO I DO HAVE A CONSULTING FIRM, KABOD CONSULTING GROUP LLC, WHICH I'M PARTNERED WITH MY VERY BEST FRIEND, SUMMER WILLOW FITCH AND WE DO ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE MANAGEMENT, ENTREPRENEURIAL ALIGNMENT SUPPORT AND ALSO HOSTING OF DIFFERENT SHOWS AND EVENTS LIKE THAT.

SO RIGHT NOW, I AM KIND OF ON THE DIVING BOARD, LIKE, YOU KNOW, WITH MY CLIENTS.

I SAY TO THEM, YOU NEED TO TAKE YOUR BUSINESS FULL TIME.

NO MORE HYBRID.

AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT LEAP OF FAITH AND GO FULL INTO YOUR BUSINESS.

SO THAT'S WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW.

DO I GO FULL INTO KABOD WHERE I'M DOING WHAT I LOVE TO DO?

AND ACTUALLY OUR TAG LINE IS BRINGING YOUR VISION INTO FOCUS AND THAT REALLY EXPLAINS WHAT I LOVE TO DO AND WHAT WE LOVE TO DO WITH KABOD BUT I LOVE THE SPACE OF BEING IN AN ORGANIZATION AND LEPPING TO SHIFT THE CULTURE AND OPEN EYES AND BRING INNOVATIVE IDEAS SO I'M OPEN, YOU KNOW.

I'M A VERY FAITH FILLED WOMAN.

I KNOW THAT ANY TIME A DOOR HAS CLOSED, GOD ALWAYS OPENS A BIGGER AND BETTER ONE SO I'M IN A SPACE OF JUST EXCITEMENT FOR WHAT'S COMING NEXT.

>> Juhanna: IN THE SPIRIT OF WHAT'S COMING NEXT, AND LISTENING TO YOUR VOICE, IT SOUNDS LIKE INSTEAD OF YOU HELPING COACH THOSE THAT ARE STANDING ON THE EDGE OF THE DIVING BOARD, IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE AT A POINT WHERE YOU'RE THERE.

>> I'M THERE.

>> Juhanna: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANOTHER BLACK WOMAN OR A BROWN WOP OR JUST A WOMAN IN GENERAL WHO IS AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW THERE ARE A LOT OF DOORS CLOSING.

WOMEN ARE PIVOTING IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS DUE TO LIFE OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF AND REEVALUATING THEIR PURPOSES OR WHAT THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME DOING.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR SOME WOMEN THAT ARE IN YOUR SHOES RIGHT NOW?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, TO HONOR YOURSELF FIRST.

A LOT OF TIMES WE SELL OURSELVES SHORT FOR A SALARY RANGE, FOR WHO WE ARE GOING TO WORK WITH, WHO WE ARE GOING TO BE AND IT NEVER EVER WORKS OUT IF YOU ARE NOT HONORING YOURSELF FIRST AND THAT MEANS LISTENING TO THE VOICE THAT MEANS SOMETIMES SOME THINGS THAT LOOK GREAT, KNOWING THAT LIKE MY MUSIC BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT I WAS NOT GOING TO BE HONORING MYSELF IN THAT SPACE.

AND IT'S WORKED OUT WONDERFULLY FOR ME.

SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, HONOR YOURSELF FIRST.

NO ONE KNOWS YOU LIKE YOU KNOW YOU.

AND SECONDLY, FIND YOUR TRIBE, YOU KNOW?

>> Juhanna: RIGHT?

>> THERE ARE DAYS I DEFINITELY WOULD BE LIKE I'M GOING TO BE A MANAGER AT MACY'S.

I LOVE TO SHOP.

I LOVE THE DISCOUNTS AND THEN I CAN JUST GO HOME AND NOT THINK ABOUT WORK BUT I HAD PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND OTHER PEOPLE IN OUR CIRCLE THAT ARE JUST LIKE NO.

WHO SAW THE ME I DID NOT YET SEE.

>> Juhanna: RIGHT.

>> I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND ME WHO ARE LIKE, I SEE YOU ON STAGES.

I SEE YOU INTERNATIONAL.

I SEE YOU JUST... PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME THAT ALL THE TIME AND LOOK AT ME.

MAMA, I MADE IT!

[LAUGHTER] >> Juhanna: ABSOLUTELY.

>> HONOR YOURSELF AND FIND YOUR TRIBE AND JUST, YOU KNOW, NEVER STOP.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO PAUSE BUT DON'T EVER, DON'T EVER, EVER STOP.

>> Juhanna: THANK YOU FOR NOT STOPPING.

>> THANK YOU FOR PUSHING ME.

>> Juhanna: AND THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF MY TRIBE.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF MINE.

>> Juhanna: I WANT TO THANK TAMIKA FOR JOINING US TONIGHT ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

PLEASE PLEASE SHARE OR REWATCH THIS EPISODE, VISIT US ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG/"BEHIND THE WOMAN."

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

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> NEXT WEEK ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN..." >> MY NAME IS GLADIRA VELAZQUEZ AND I AM COORDINATOR OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AT ITHACA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

FOR ME IT FELT LIKE THE MORE EDUCATION I HAVE, THE MORE STANDING I CAN HAVE TO HAVE MY VOICE BE HEARD.

I FEEL LIKE IT HAS TO BE REAL RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE TO DO REAL STUFF TO MAKE REAL CHANGE.

THE MORE WE CAN REPRESENT OUR STUDENTS AND THEY CAN SEE THEMSELVES, THE MORE WE CHANGE THEIR PATH.