For most reality TV shows to work, there must be characters — the outspoken one, the arrogant know-it all, the manipulative quiet-thinker, and so on.
On “The Grand Hustle,” BET’s new reality competition show starring rapper/actor Tip “T.I.” Harris, East Baltimore native Cierra Brooks was quickly labeled the cast’s “Auntie,” she said, because of her penchant for cleaning the Atlanta house she and the 15 other contestants shared. Someone had to do it, Brooks said. ​ Read more...

Aspiring entrepreneurs are a dime a dozen. Almost everyone has dreamed of following through on a business idea they’ve been nursing for months or years, especially when Monday mornings roll around. But then reality hits, and they’re reminded of all those grim statistics about how most new small businesses don't last long. Why do they fail? It’s not because they didn’t have thousands of dollars in the bank to invest. Nor is it because they weren’t buddy-buddy with some hotshot VC with lots of connections. It’s because they didn’t test their business ideas before launching -- just because you can start a business in almost anything doesn’t make it logical to do so. Read more

As a refugee who’s worked 40-some jobs in his relatively short but eventful life, Ali Mahlodji, co-founder of whatchado.com, knows first-hand about the power of opening your heart and mind to the possibilities of a career. He shared his amazing life story from refugee to entrepreneur during the recent SuccessConnect Berlin event.
“A lot of young people don’t have any idea of what to do in their future,” said Mahlodji. “It’s so powerful when you have a chance to talk to someone about your experiences. We started this platform to show people if they want to have a job one day, don’t think there’s only one way to get there.” Read more

Adrienne Walker always had a love for entertaining her girlfriends and making great cocktails. But when she started to get serious about turning her passion into a business, Blue Henry Spirits, she was forced to make a hard decision. “I quit my full-time job at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August of 2017 because ethically I could not work simultaneously for the FDA, an organization responsible for regulating food production facilities, and at the same time own and operate such a facility,” said Walker.
Now, Walker juggles the full time demands of being a wife and mom, while running her beverage brand from her very own manufacturing facility in Maryland. While producing all-natural, handcrafted candied fruit and syrups, Blue Henry Spirits takes the guesswork out of how to craft the perfect drink while making cocktails a fun social experience. Read more...