Leadership consultant Dethra U. Giles, founder and CEO of ExecuPrep and author of “That’s Not What I Said: Master Conflict With Conversational Competence,” shares her framework for how to stop avoiding tough conversations at work and instead how to start leveraging conflict to unlock performance, productivity, and profits.

The lives and livelihoods of millions of working professionals, especially Black women, continue to be disrupted by layoffs and economic uncertainty. The difference between surviving and thriving starts with leveraging your greatest asset—your mindset. Money expert and author Dominique Broadway, founder and CEO of Finances De*mys*ti*fied, joins the BE Wealth Accelerator podcast series with a powerful message of encouragement: You can overcome setbacks, face your financial challenges head on, and win—one wealthy decision at a time.

From Michael Jackson and Beyonce, to the “Pink Panther” and “Law & Order” theme songs, you’ve probably seen lots of viral videos with hundreds of thousands of views of music students learning popular songs, while using the solfège system of “do re me fa so la ti do.” The beloved music instructor introducing music appreciation to a new generation —in the classroom and on social media — is Brandon A. Booth, Arts Department Chair & Director of Vocal Music at ConneXions: A Community Based Arts School in Baltimore. The Hampton University alum discusses his journey as a Grammy-nominated music educator turned social media sensation, while sharing his love for music with students.

HBCUs continue to outperform expectations as engines of opportunity; enrolling and graduating students at rates that far exceed their share of higher education, particularly in STEM fields. That’s one of the major findings of a new report, “Still Punching Above their Weight,” released by UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute (FDPRI). We’ll hear from FDPRI’s Vice President –an HBCU historian, scholar, and N.C. A&T Aggie– Dr. Jelani M. Favors, on the work of FDPRI in being a leading research voice and authority on HBCUs and keep telling the valuable stories of these historic institutions.

Howard University graduate and Atlanta native Nicole Banks and her father, Atlanta attorney Gabe Banks, are the entrepreneurs behind the new Donatos Pizza location in McDonough, Georgia. But this story is more than about building a business: it’s a father-daughter legacy building bonds and generational wealth, one pizza at a time.

Three friends launched a merchant app that is changing the financial recordkeeping game for small business owners while helping them build wealth. Atlanta-based startup Guala is a modern merchant wallet, built to simplify how independent business owners, creators, and entrepreneurs get paid. Founded by Austin Evans and CMO and Morehouse alum Sencere Smith, Guala was created to eliminate the payment friction that millions of small businesses experience every day—serving as a centralized merchant wallet that helps users organize sales, track revenue, and move money more efficiently, which gives entrepreneurs the tools to operate and scale with greater confidence. The startup also announced a new leadership addition, with acclaimed creative director Desyree Nicole joining the company as Creative Strategist, who is known for her work across fashion, sports, and culture.