Leaders In The Spotlight

S06E10

Imhotep Coleman is the founder of Urban Scholar Film Academy, a Saturday affinity program serving high school youth in Inglewood, CA. The Ready to Rise award–winning initiative is dedicated to empowering young filmmakers by sharing the communal and collaborative process of storytelling. Through intentional pipelines, content creation, and community building, Urban Scholar Film Academy fosters creativity with purpose and love...

S06 E09

Craig Shimahara is the founder and CEO of Shimahara Visual, a full service creative agency specializing in property marketing and architectural visualization, with studios in Los Angeles, New York, and Boston.

Craig is a Presidential Award Recipient of the AIA Los Angeles chapter, a winner of Gensler’s Watanabe Award for excellence in visual communication, and garnered best original screenplay honors at the Montreal Cinefes...

S06E08

Dr. Dawnn Lewis, a multitalented and multifaceted individual: President & CEO of Morning Jewel Inc. – a multi-platform production company in the areas of film, television, animation, music/music publishing & experiential events.

She is also the Founder & CEO of the A New Day Foundation – a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, that provides financial & programmatic support to underprivileged youth a...

Season 6 Episode 7

Emmanuel J. Waters Co-Founder and CEO Old Hillside Bourbon Company is an experienced contracts consultant in Silicon Valley. He started his career working for the Department of Defense and has over 12 years of experience in both commercial and government contracts.

Upon leaving the federal service, he opened up his own LLC and currently serves as a contracts subject matter expert for universities such as Stanford...

Season 6 Episode 6

Marsha Smith is the founder and CEO of Minibop, a company transforming early childhood education through the power of music. With a background in music management from Berklee College of Music and years of experience as both a performer and educator, Marsha’s journey has been shaped by the challenges and opportunities of being a woman in the industry.

Navigating a space where creative arts in early education are ...

S06 EP05

Ashley Lania is the visionary CEO of BossyByNature Design Studio, where she empowers feel-good, women-led brands to thrive through strategic design, digital marketing, and purpose-driven storytelling.

From Fortune 500 companies to community-rooted nonprofits and celebrity-backed brands, her portfolio includes impactful collaborations with icons like Tabitha Brown, Simone I. Smith, Mary J. Blige, and more.

A proud advocate ...

Season 6 Episode 4

Brittany Walker is a purpose driven leader, social justice advocate, and devoted mother of four whose life’s mission is rooted in transforming adversity into action. As the Founder and CEO of Butterfly’s Haven, she provides dignified housing and holistic supportive services for former foster youth, justice impacted individuals, and families navigating homelessness. Born from her own lived experience surviving dom...

Season 6 Episode 3

Sherika Charity-Junirs is a powerhouse in financial aid leadership, currently serving as the Director of Financial Aid at Northern Virginia Community College, one of the largest community colleges in the U.S. With 15 years of experience, she’s championed access, equity, and student success across Virginia’s community college system.

Sherika holds a double major in Economics and Sociology from the University of Vi...

S06EP02

Ahneishia Washington is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who is passionate about seeing individuals, families, and communities get their joy back to thrive in wholeness and peace. Ahneishia grew up in the city of Compton, where she developed her passion for seeing urban communities heal from inner city trauma, and fostered a compassion for mental health and emotional wellness.

Ahneishia obtained her Master's of Sc...

Season 6 Episode 1

Launi King has been a globally recognized design executive for more than 20 years. As the founder and CEO of Creative Play, King developed a product lab that champions inventors and illuminates Black women-driven innovation. Creative Play develops products that break the loop in everyday problems, crafting efficient and fun solutions that empower people in their daily pursuits. ClaspeesTM, the first product launc...

Season 5 Episode 11

Ms. J’Tasha St. Cyr, CEO and Founder of Miss Everything Entertainment, a dynamic production company based in Los Angeles. A proud native of the city, J’Tasha is of Creole and Belizean descent.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Entertainment Marketing and a minor in International Business from Cal Poly Pomona University. With a background as an international dancer, ...

Season 5 Episode 10

Alison "Ali" Bodager is a passionate advocate for underserved youth and the founder of Jacaranda Rising, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting transition-age adults (18-24) experiencing homelessness or aging out of the foster care system. Born and raised in Ohio, Ali has been committed to helping young people navigate life’s challenges since she was in middle school. As an adult, in 2010, she moved to the Los Ange...

Season 5 Episode 9

Nicole Bryant is the founding Chief Operating Officer of the City of Los Angeles’ Office of Civil Rights. Nicole is at the helm of some of LA’s most impactful initiatives, including the award-winning anti-hate campaign, LA For All, and the recently launched Just Say Hello campaign, in collaboration with the Port of Los Angeles. Nicole also oversees the department’s intellectual property in partnership with the Ci...

Season 5 Episode 8

Dynasty Taylor, a social worker and native of South Los Angeles, founded Dynasty's United Youth Association (DUYA) in 2014 at just 23 years old during her first year of graduate school at USC. Driven by a passion for social change, she pursued a Master’s in Social Work, equipping herself with the tools to empower underserved youth to rise from poverty to prosperity. In addition to leading DUYA, she writes grants,...

Season 5 Episode 7

Shelby Williams-González President & CEO of Inner-CityArts and has 20 years of experience in the arts education field and 22 years as a professional dancer, Shelby  has a career made up of overlapping networks. Artist, educator, and leader pushing for social change. Shelby has taught dance and performing arts for LAUSD, as well as developed programs for non-profit organizations such as The California Dance In...

Season 5 Episode 6

Founder and CEO of Beyond our Kin (BOK) Ava Walker As a former foster youth and having experienced homelessness as a teen. Writing every day and prayer was her coping mechanisms.

From an early age she had visions of turning her pain into purpose. Finding herself a stable home, becoming an author and screenwriter with the aim of helping and inspiring other foster youth to beat the odds and never lose hope. Ava oft...

Season 5 Episode 5

MELANIE MORA| FOUNDER OF GET SWEAT STUDIO,LLC Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, I’m a proud daughter of two hardworking 2nd generation immigrants who made sure I knew that education and a strong work ethic weren’t optional — they were the foundation.

I was a Business Analyst at a medical insurance company, climbing the corporate ladder, saving up that 401K, living the "comfortable" life. And then, plot twist: t...

Season 5 Episode 4

Pamela Dixon, is a self made entrepreneur and advocate for individuals with special needs. She is the CEO and founder of B-ALL Unlimited LLC. She owns several residential facilities and provides services for individuals with special needs. She employs about 50 employees to serve her individuals. Her background in education and counseling has led to this path of helping this community. She holds a Bachelor's degre...

Season 5 Episode 3

Audra is a TEDx speaker, empowerment coach, author, and multi-genre artist with a powerful mission: to help individuals acknowledge, embrace, and transform their physical and emotional scars into sources of strength and purpose. Born and raised in Detroit, Audra’s journey of resilience and self-empowerment began at just 18 months old when an accident left her with severe burns across her chest, neck, and shoulder...