Most often in a business setting, the relationships we have with our partner, children, family, or even with ourselves impact the way we work. Good communication is a key aspect of all relationships and is a necessary part to achieve business success.

This week, we’ve invited Michelle Thomas,  Your Relationship Surgeon, author, and founder of The Exceptional Black Woman Network, to talk about why communication is a vital part of any relationship, the importance of a quarterly S.W.O.T. Analysis, and how you can precisely pinpoint what is keeping you from you and your business from achieving the success that you know you deserve.

Michelle shares a family tragedy that changed the way she viewed her business, the story behind her book, “The Eight Qualities of the Exceptional Black Woman in Business and Entrepreneurship”, and the lessons she has learned in her business journey.

Join us and don’t miss out on the valuable tips she shares that are applicable whether starting a  business, or trying to manage professional or personal conflicts. . You can build an empire of your own by shifting your mindset, aligning your strengths to your industry, and acting with confidence to create your own version of success!

Thriving Points:

• Sometimes people tend to relate the word relationship only with personal,  but you have a relationship in all aspects of your personal life and your professional life. – Michelle Thomas
• We try to make sure that all of our strengths, our assets, and each member of the company find industries that maximize that strength. – Michelle Thomas
• My success may not come from following a template of someone else, but I had to find a piece of myself and input it in there to find newfound success.  – Michelle Thomas
• There are times that couples in the business allow that insecurity that’s happening within their relationships to affect the profitability. – Michelle Thomas
• If you want to make a change in how that platform operates, you can’t go in and kick the door down. You have to go in and have an impact and then begin to show people. how it can operate differently. – Michelle Thomas

Other Resources Mentioned:

• The Eight Qualities of the Exceptional Black Woman in Business and Entrepreneurship
• Exceptional Black Woman Website

Get to Know the Guest:

Michelle S. Thomas, Your Relationship Surgeon is a 4X Internationally Best-Selling Author, Certified Life/ Relationship/Business Coach, Motivational speaker, and Multiple business owner. She believes that everyone has the power to “touch” their dreams. Even before she turned her purpose into her profession, she always recognized that real people needed to hear real stories to conquer what really mattered to them.

Michelle’s life story has at times been one of the complicated paths, but she has never shied away from telling her truth. Through her transparency, her audiences receive tools that can alleviate their pain, inspire their strength, and resurrect their inner drive. Your Relationship Surgeon offers relatable content through her books, private coaching, workshops, and keynote speeches designed to elevate your relationship with yourself, your family, and your business.

Connect with Michelle:

• Website
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Exceptional Woman Website

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

A Team Dklutr Production

In any business agreement, it is vital that you have a legal document that states the system of rules or procedures that will happen within a deal. But many entrepreneurs, companies, or businesses don’t really understand their contracts, and because of this, they are taken advantage of what they pay vs what services they receive.

A strong contract can provide you and your business the security that you need to reduce risks and understand your rights within the agreement. By recognizing these small details you’ll be able to avoid misunderstandings with your supplier or contractors and of course, save some cash!

The Thriver joining us in this week’s episode is Ashleigh Wilson, founder of AuditMate, the first-ever elevator and escalator auditing and managing firm. She shares with us what AuditMate is all about, its goals, mission, and purpose. Ashleigh brings us along her journey of how she started this business, some of the steps she took to reclaim herself and trust her inner voice, and the challenges she faced in building a company with empathy, and the heart to serve people.

AuditMate empowers building owners and managers to better understand and get the most out of their contracts and get everything that they paid for when it comes to elevator maintenance and compliance. From safety testing, certifications, to inspections, AuditMate ensures your safety both financially and physically. Learn more by visiting www.auditmate.com.

Thriving Points:

• Elevator companies didn’t have to be transparent in how much maintenance they were doing because nobody ever knew to ask. – Ashleigh Wilson
• We don’t use empathy because we can profit off of it. Empathy is there because it is the right thing to do, it is our core, and it is our values. It is something that is embedded in our life and a part of who we are. – Ashleigh Wilson
• The sooner we recognize that about ourselves and recognize that uniqueness is what makes us great. – Nikki Rogers
• My vision is you don’t have to be an elevator expert.  We can connect the right people and build software around it and put the best minds together in the room. – Ashleigh Wilson

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. By Brené Brown

Get to Know the Guest:

Ashleigh Wilson is the founder of Audit Mate, the first-ever elevator and escalator auditing and managing firm. She was raised in a family of elevator mechanics, inspectors, and business managers and entered the industry in her early 20’s. Ashleigh was passionate about leading global change in an industry rich with history and innovation but didn’t just see herself as a business manager, but rather, as an advocate for customers. She became part of the Executive Development Program being mentored by the CEO of the 2nd largest global elevator company and made it her mission to put people first then the profits would follow. Ashleigh is a CEO who gets results without sacrificing human dignity.

Connect with Ashleigh:

• Website
• LinkedIn
• Email

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

A Team Dklutr Production

What happens when you pursue your dreams? What if we all embraced an intentional approach to life and went after our goals? Well, you may end up living around the world, working within different cultures, and impacting hundreds, maybe thousands of people across the globe! My guest this week dreamed of being a diplomat at age 15 and she has worked to make that dream a reality, as a career foreign commercial service officer. Camille Richardson is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Middle East and Africa for the International Trade Administration.

Camille describes her job and the role she plays in helping U.S. businesses explore international opportunities and create export strategies. She shares her 30-year career journey from serving as a Presidential Management Fellow to her current role, how she found her purpose, and the personal and professional challenges she faced along the way.

We also touch on the following: 

• Intentional mindset and overcoming self-sabotage
• Embracing change and connecting people
• Mentoring and coaching
• Diversity in the workplace
• The WELLTI Initiative (Women Empowered Lead Legacies Through Trade and Investment)
•  Opportunities for small and medium businesses relative to international trade
•  Resources available to help entrepreneurs engage in international trade

Listen to Episode 503 to learn more!

Other Resources Mentioned:

• WELLTI Initiative
• https://www.trade.gov/contact-us 
• Trade Winds
• Contact us
• Take Control of Your Life: How to Silence Fear and Win the Mental Game by Mel Robbins

Thriving Points:

• You’re not going to be everybody’s cup of tea and that’s okay. As long as you treat people with respect,  and command the same respect for yourself – you give it, you get it. – Camille Richardson
• It’s a good idea just to not just have a mentor, but even a circle of advisors, and trusted people that you can turn to for different perspectives. – Camille Richardson
• Your dreams are out there and sometimes you have to defy gravity, the weight of other people’s expectations, or even your own fears to reach them. – Camille Richardson
• A lot of people talk about fear of failure,  but a lot of us have a fear of success because to succeed, then you have to be different. – Nikki Rogers
• Franchises are good business models because it is a way for us to export our culture a little bit,  and make it a win-win because whoever the franchisee is making business and the franchiser is making money. -Camille Richardson
• In any career path, resilience and adaptability are important.  – Camille Richardson

Get to Know the Guest:

Camille Richardson is a tenured Senior Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Commercial Service. She began her career in government with the International Trade Administration (ITA) at the U.S. Department of Commerce in 1993 and became an accredited diplomat with the U.S. Commercial Service in 1998.  Camille has served in Miami, FL; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Nairobi, Kenya; Mumbai, India, and Sao Paulo, Brazil facilitating commercial partnerships between U.S. and local companies. In 2021, she was appointed as Commerce ITA’s new Deputy Assistant Secretary for the MEA region.

A native of Washington, D.C., Camille earned a B.A. in International Relations from Brown University and an M.A. in International Relations from Johns Hopkins/SAIS. She speaks Portuguese and Portunhol along with a bit of Hindi, Swahili, and French.

Connect with Camille:

• LinkedIn

About the Show:

     Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

A Team Dklutr Production

A company’s success is often in the hands of its leader. And to be a successful and effective one, you must first learn to value your team, their skills, and opinions.

There are different types of leaders and employees but for sure, each one of them has the same goal: To succeed. Despite the fact that leaders must learn how to lead, leading from behind can also be a great strategy to gain the trust of your employees and allow them to bloom on their own as individuals. By learning to embrace change, you can welcome growth.

Having teamwork allows the company to build trust, enhance relationships, improve morale, foster creativity in the workplace – yes even virtually!

In this episode, we are joined by Malika Jacobs, founder, and CEO of Kingmakers, a company that offers virtual, board game-centered experiences through their Team and Enterprise Solutions. Malika shares with us the story of how Kingmakers started, the vision of the company, the challenges they faced, and how they were able to adapt and evolve during the pandemic.

Malika discusses the importance of building a team that supports a vibrant and supportive company culture, her W.A.T.E.R. framework for employee engagement, and so much more.

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Raising the Bar: Integrity and Passion in Life and Business: The Story of Clif Bar Inc.

Thriving Points:

• Your people are your biggest cost but they’re also your biggest investment. – Malika Jacobs
• You can’t build that company culture overnight. Like that’s not going to be there when the whole world shifts and you have to figure it out. – Malika Jacobs
• Different companies have different cultures and that is fine. And hopefully, you attract the people that best resonate with your company culture. – Malika Jacobs
• As leaders, every moment counts, and it’s not the big grand gestures, it’s really how do you act day by day, moment by moment and that builds trust. – Nikki Rogers
• You might not have a megaphone, but you do have a platform. – Nikki Rogers
• Often businesses don’t give themselves the advantage of hiring the best. – Nikki Rogers

Get to Know the Guest:

Malika Jacobs is the founder and CEO of Kingmakers which offers transformative team bonding experiences for business leaders who understand the value of investing in radical employee care.

Connect with Malika:

• LinkedIn
• Kingmakers Instagram
• Kingmakers LinkedIn

About the Show:

Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

A Team Dklutr Production

Welcome back Thrivers to Season Five of The Women Thriving in Business Podcast!

The past year was educational, enlightening, and has led to some key insights about how I plan to move forward.  All of my 2021 experiences taught lessons that have made me stronger, braver, and bolder for 2022.

As entrepreneurs, it can sometimes feel like we are running a race around a track. We keep starting and stopping, running into hurdles, trying to figure out which of our ideas or initiatives is going to make it to the finish line first.  What if we took the time to align our goals?  What if each individual activity or project actually propelled us toward our ultimate goal? When you think about your business and each of its components as more of a relay effort vs a sprint, you can indeed start to recognize and capitalize on inherent synergies that will help you build a stronger, more resilient business.

I kicked off 2022 by creating strategies to focus on the future of my business and how I can best achieve this year’s growth goals. In this season’s first episode, I’m sharing with you some of the lessons that I’ve learned over the last few months and some quick updates on what I have planned for the year.

Don’t miss out on this episode as I share a preview of Season 5 guests, some tips on the four areas that are key to creating a sustainable business that supports a thriving life, and some of the systems that have helped my business to grow and evolve.

Thriving Points:

• I had all these runners (initiatives) in different lanes and they’re all running toward the finish line but they’re all running at their own pace.
• A milestone leads to the next achievement.
• Connections not only help you get stronger within your business but those are also connections that you can leverage to do business together and work together.

About the Show:

Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

About the Host:

Nikki is a strategist and transformation coach who believes life is too short not to do what you love. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs build sustainable companies and supports business leaders in developing the mindset, strategy, and connections to create thriving businesses and build legacy wealth.

Nikki is the CEO of The Bladen Group and an alumna of North Carolina A&T State University and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

A Team Dklutr Production

Women Thriving in Business (WTiB) is a show that focuses on candid conversations with and about women entrepreneurs discussing their inspiration, accomplishments and aspirations.  We also discuss mistakes, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners.

Whether you are just starting out or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers hacks, resources, and affirmations to help you THRIVE in business!

Your business is an asset! And I, Nikki Rogers, host of the WTiB show, am committed to helping make this a reality for not just the listeners but all aspiring female entrepreneurs looking to grow their business and create a positive impact in this world.

Find Me:

• Bladen Group
• LinkedIn

As we kickstart 2022 and continue to celebrate one year of WTiB,, I’ve curated a list of episodes that can help you fulfill those new year’s goals and resolutions and take you one step closer to thriving in business!

These selected episodes highlight the importance of strategy and planning in order to reach your next milestone l. No matter the time of year, it’s always the right time to review your strategy, adjust your plans, and write a new chapter in your business and in your life.

My inspiring guests share great insights and practical advice that can guide both aspiring entrepreneurs and experienced business owners. I learn something new from every guest and I am excited to recap a few of my favorites for you.  Read on and check out seven (7) episodes that provide strategies for leveling-up in 2022!

1. Episode 409: Set the Agenda: Entrepreneurial Success through Government Networking | Cori Henderson

Have you ever considered the importance of building a network with your local government agencies and elected officials? Thrivers – this is an advanced-level business strategy!

Cori Henderson — host of the Policy Influencer Playbook podcast and a government relations expert — makes a compelling argument as to why government networking may be the key to your business’ success. She talks about the importance of these local government relationships as a stepping stone to not only build your business but to contribute to your community, as well.

The advantage goes to the person who’s willing to pick up the phone, make the call, and make an introduction. — Cori Henderson

Click here to tune in!

2. Episode 406: Breaking Through: Wealth Management for All of Us | Kaitlyn Carlson

Financial independence may seem like an impossible dream but for Kaitlyn Carlson — founder and CEO of Theory Planning Partners — with the right mentality, self-awareness, and plan, you can lay the groundwork for financial independence while growing your business!

As a woman entrepreneur in a male-dominated field, she talks about her inspiring and insightful journey of helping fellow women entrepreneurs with wealth management designed for all.

Building wealth is about the process. It won’t be solved overnight. — Kaitlyn Carlson

Click here to tune in!

3. Episode 402: Great Writing is an Entrepreneur’s Superpower | Colonel Carla Bass

Writing skills are useful in any field, but even more so as an entrepreneur! As entrepreneurs, we can boost the value of our businesses by honing our writing abilities, in order to communicate thoughts and ideas more effectively.

Retired USAF Colonel Carla Bass — founder of Write to Influence — talks about why strong writing abilities are vital for entrepreneurs, as well as how this talent is powerful and considered the “lifeblood” of businesses.

Powerful writing changes lives. — Carla Bass

Click here to tune in!

4. Episode 301: Why Public Relations Matters in Business | Gigi Peterkin

Staying competitive in the industry requires an efficient marketing approach. It’s critical to work on building trust between your brand and your consumers to improve visibility and increase revenue.

Want to learn how PR can help grow your business? Gigi Peterkin, owner and founder of Amplify PR, discusses how public relations, marketing, and sales differ and complement one another, as well as why PR is so critical to your company’s success.

Marketing to me is the conversation, sales is the invitation, and PR is the reputation. — Gigi Peterkin

Click here to tune in!

5. Episode 201: Architect Your Future | Raechelle Rae Johnson

The first step in building your future as an entrepreneur is facing your fears. To start a business, you have to have the courage to confront the possibility of failure and rejection and pursue your dreams of success.

Raechelle Johnson — founder of Kreative Ink LLC — is most known for her nickname, the Solution Architect talks about the importance of mastering the strategies and learning from her experience, how she overcame her fears of marketing and selling herself, the significance of planning, and three useful tips to help your business thrive!

Learn as much as you possibly can about your business and it should always be something that you are very passionate about. — Raechelle Johnson

Click here to tune in!

6. Episode 108: Community, Leadership and Longevity: Planning for Success | Tara Melvin

Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs is a terrific foundation for company ownership, and passion, drive, and excellence will lead to success in your chosen profession.

With over 16 years of experience, Tara Melvin — creative engine and leader of Perfect Planning Events and Signature Concepts, L.L.C. — talks about how she expanded her network in the midst of restrictions on in-person events, managed to stay afloat financially while continuing to work in the midst of the pandemic, and utilized social media to find her ideal clients.

Although I built this for other people, it’s rewarding to me too because, especially in the mentor program, I learned things from them and then it’s just rewarding knowing that they are inspiring me. — Tara Melvin

Click here to tune in!

7. Episode 102: Cultivating a Workplace Culture that Works | Jackie Robinson

If you’re a business leader, a diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioner, an employee looking for a shift in company culture, or just passionate about women’s development in the workplace, then this is a terrific topic for you!

Jackie Robinson, a well-respected success strategist, discusses the keys to developing a culture in which women and allies work together to support and nurture women’s success.

There’s always room for one more even in a crowded marketplace. — Jackie Robinson

Click here to tune in!

Are You a Thriver? 

Start the year off right by checking out these episodes and more! Women Thriving in Business podcast is designed to bring you the stories, challenges, and triumphs of women entrepreneurs who are blazing trails and succeeding on their own terms.

Thank you for listening to the show – I appreciate each and every listener and all my year 1 guests!  All four seasons of WTiB are available here.  Subscribe via your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode.  Stay tuned for season 5 debut in February and join me, your host, Nikki Rogers, as we continue to provide a platform for fellow women entrepreneurs to share their knowledge and experience with us all!

Cheers to a great 2022 and another year of WTiB!❤️

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”  

— Oprah Winfrey

Growth is an essential part of any success story. It is the realization of how far you’ve come and the evidence of hard work. Anniversaries are a great way to come together and reflect on this long yet fruitful journey – a chance to celebrate growth and happiness by remembering our humble beginnings. This podcast has been a labor of love over the past year and has allowed me to meet fabulous people, create new relationships, and learn new skills. I wear alot of hats – as the producer, content creator, managing editor, and host, and I love it all!  I look forward to what the next year brings as Women Thriving in Business continues to evolve and grow.

As we celebrate one year in this week’s special episode, I am joined by my beloved son, Dillon, as he asks me a series of questions that point to the purpose of my podcast (Women Thriving in Business), the Bladen Group, and my goals for the future.

What’s one memorable moment from this season that you want to share? Feel free to send me a private message on any of my socials, or email me at [email protected]. I’d love to hear from you!

Thriving Points:

• Being an entrepreneur allowed me to have control over my time, to be able to spend time with family and friends as well as to travel. — Nikki Rogers
• You can only make so much money as an employee. Being a business owner or an entrepreneur allows you to determine how much money you’re making. — Nikki Rogers
• I created my business to one day leave a legacy for my son, Dillon. — Nikki Rogers

About the Show:

Women Thriving in Business features candid unscripted conversations with entrepreneurs, business experts, authors, and academics aimed at contributing to business success. This weekly show provides interviews with business leaders who have built, grown, and are thriving in business. Nikki A. Rogers, host of the show, also discusses achievements, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring business owners to develop the mindset, strategies, and connections necessary to thrive in business. Whether you are just starting or you have been in business for decades, WTiB offers inspiration, strategies, and resources to help you THRIVE in business.

Connect with Nikki:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram

A Team Dklutr Production

Click HERE for the SHOW TRANSCRIPT.

“Networking is an investment in your business. It takes time and when done correctly can yield great results for years to come.” 

– Diane Helbig

There’s a misconception that the people who stand as our leaders aren’t considerate and supportive of the entrepreneurial community. Yet in reality, local governments understand that it’s essential for small businesses and government agencies to work together since businesses are the backbone of a community. They provide what the people need, whether in a form of service or a tangible product.

Networking and building key relationships with the elected officials of your community are important to business success. . Yes, meeting new people may be scary, and it may be twice as intimidating if they’re in elected office. Or maybe it’s the perception of a bureaucratic system and having to jump over so many hoops that are keeping you from inquiring and reaching out. Remember – life is all about building relationships and connections that can benefit not only your business but your community as well.

In this week’s episode, I am joined by Cori Henderson, a government relations expert and the host of the Policy Influencer Playbook Podcast. She talks about the essence of networking with your local government leaders as an entrepreneur and the common misconceptions people may have about working with or reaching out to government agencies.

She discusses her A.C.T. framework as an easy-to-implement guide to engaging with government officials that serve your community. Listen in to learn more!

Other resources mentioned:

• 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran
• Atomic Habits by James Clear

Thriving Points:

• Start by having a goal, know what your goal is and be knowledgeable about it. — Cori Henderson
• As a business owner, the conversations you have are the same conversations you have in government affairs. It’s just a different topic and a different audience, but the skills are the same. — Cori Henderson
• The advantage goes to the person who’s willing to pick up the phone, make the call, and make an introduction. — Cori Henderson
• Do the application and make the request. The worst they can say is a ‘no’ but oftentimes they say ‘yes.’ — Nikki Rogers
• While you’re doing all that relationship building, you have to take the initiative. Otherwise, you’re not going to be in the running. — Nikki Rogers

Get to Know the Guest:

Cori Henderson is a government relations expert and the host of Policy Influencer Playbook Podcast. She and her guests talk about the best practices in telling your story, how to cultivate key relationships, and form government relationships that propel your agenda forward.

Connect with Cori:

• LinkedIn

A Team Dklutr Production

Click HERE for the SHOW TRANSCRIPT.