- 8 months ago
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00New Voices Power Pitch winners, let me say that again, $150,000 Power Pitch winners for New Voices, right here, two minutes.
00:43Yes, I see the things that they wishing on me, hope I got some brothers that outlive me, they gon' tell the story what's different with me, God's plan, God's plan.
00:56I hold back sometimes I won't, I feel good sometimes I don't, I finesse down Western Road, might go down to G-O-D, I go hard on South Side G, I make sure that North Side E,
01:13and still, bad things, it's a lot of bad things that they wishing, and wishing, and wishing, and wishing, and they wishing on me.
01:25Roll another one.
01:32Roll another one.
01:38Say I'm never lacking the wish, put you back here with the motomatics, we gon' set them time and, wait, wait, wait, wait.
01:44She like the way that I dance
01:55She like the way that I move
01:57She like the way that I rock
01:59She like the way that I woo
02:00If she let it clap for me
02:02If she throw it back for me
02:06If she throw it back for me
02:07Mike and Mary, Mike and Mary
02:09Billy Jean, Billy Jean
02:11Christian Dior, Dior
02:14I'm up in all the stores
02:15When it rains, it pours
02:19She like the way I
02:20Mike and Mary, Mike and Mary
02:22Billy Jean, Billy Jean
02:24Christian Dior, Dior
02:27I'm up in all the stores
02:29When it rains, it pours
02:32She like the way I
02:33When I walk in the spot
02:35Throw the yomi
02:35Buy the cum
02:36Know that I'm paid
02:37Get me lit
02:39I can't f*** with these nipples
02:40This is gay
02:40All in my page
02:41Sunkin d***
02:42All in my comments
02:43Screamin' my name
02:44While I'm in the club
02:45Throwin' them hundreds of fifties
02:46And ones
02:46And ones
02:47Box move
02:48Box move
02:48Yeah, yeah
02:57Take low
02:58Whoa
02:59Hold on
03:00Walk it like I talk it
03:04Take my shoes and walk a mile, somethin' you can't do
03:06İyi
03:08Walk it like I talk it
03:26Take my shoes and walk a mile, something that you can't do
03:28Big tops of the town, big boy gang moves
03:32I like to walk around with my chain loose
03:35She just bought a new, but got the same booze
03:38Whippin' up dope scientists
03:40That's my sauce where you find it
03:43Addin' up checks, no minus
03:46Get your respect in diamonds
03:49I bought a plain Jane Roller, did bought they fame
03:54I think my back got scoliosis, cause I swore the lane
03:57Heard you signed your life for that brand new chain
04:00Think it came with strikes, but you ain't straight with the gang
04:04Walk it like I talk it
04:06Walk it, walk it like I talk it
04:07Walk it, walk it like I talk it
04:09Walk it like I talk it
04:10Walk it like I talk it
04:12Walk it, walk it like I talk it
04:14Walk it, walk it like I talk it
04:15Walk it like I talk it
04:17Let's go
04:17Nobody pray for me
04:19It's been our day for me
04:21Yeah, yeah
04:24Ay, I remember syrup sandwiches and crime allowances
04:27Finescing on them with some counterfeits
04:29But now I'm counting this
04:30Parmesan with my accountant lips
04:32In fact, I'm counting this
04:34You say with my boo-boo
04:35They taste like Kool-Aid for the analysts
04:37Girl, I can buy a Westie girl with my base stuff
04:40I know that it's good
04:41What you said, that all my taste floods
04:43I get way too petty
04:44Won't you let me do the extras
04:46Pull up on your block, then break it down
04:48We playing Tetris
04:49AM to the PM, PM to the AM phone
04:52Beat up your per diem
04:54You just gotta hate them funk
04:55If I quit your BM, I still rock Mercedes funk
04:58If I quit this season, I still be the greatest funk
05:01My left stroke just went viral
05:04Right stroke, put the baby in a spiral
05:07Sopranos, see, we like to keep it on a high note
05:11It's levels to it, you and I know
05:13Tell them be humble
05:14Hold up, sit down
05:15Hold up, hold up, hold up
05:16Be humble
05:17Sit down
05:19Sit down
05:20Be humble
05:20Hold up, hold up
05:21Sit down
05:22Be humble
05:23Sit down
05:25Hold up, hold up
05:26Hold up, hold up
05:26Yeah
05:26I'm like, hey, what's up?
05:29Hello
05:30Since you're pretty
05:31Pretty soon as you came in the door
05:33I just wanna chill
05:35Got a sack for us to roll
05:36Married to the money
05:38Introduced her to my stove
05:39Showed her how to whip
05:41And now she remixing for low
05:43She my track queen
05:44Let her hit the bando
05:45Be counting up
05:47Watch out for them bans go
05:49We just had to go
05:50Talking about the Lambos
05:52At 56, 6 grand
05:54500, 100 grams though
05:55Man, I swear I love her
05:57How she worked the damn pro
05:58Hit the strip club
06:00We be letting bans go
06:02Everybody hangin'
06:03We just call them bans though
06:05In love with the money
06:06I ain't never lettin' go
06:08In love with my baby, baby
06:10I just left the mall
06:12I'm gettin' fly with my baby, yeah
06:14In love with my baby, baby
06:17I'll be in the kitchen
06:18Cookin' pies with my baby, yeah
06:20In love with my baby, baby
06:23I just left the mall
06:24I'm gettin' fly with my baby, yeah
06:27In love with my baby, baby
06:29I'll be in the kitchen
06:31Cookin' pies with my baby, yeah
06:32I have a look
06:33Put my track queen
06:34Cause all we know is bans
06:35I just might snatch a Ferrari
06:37And buy my bull a lamb
06:38I just might snatch you a nothing
06:40Let's drop a couple on the ring
06:42She ain't wanting for nothing
06:43Because I got her
06:44Everything is good
06:45She's right from the bed though
06:46We my mirror, I can't go
06:48When you boys got the stand though
06:50Count a pile of the bands though
06:51What, how fucking your bands go?
06:53Fetty rub up, I'm in 50,000
06:55K-Haw, I stand though
06:56If you take them all my pockets
06:57All my pockets
06:58All my pockets
06:59Yeah
06:59Yeah
07:02Yeah
07:04Yeah
07:05Two-step with me
07:07Two-step with me
07:08One
07:08Here comes the two
07:09To the three
07:10To the four
07:11Everybody drunk out
07:12On the dance floor
07:13Baby girl ass jiggle
07:15Like she want more
07:16Like she a groupie
07:17And I ain't even on tour
07:18Maybe cause she heard
07:20That that rhyme hardcore
07:21Or maybe cause she heard
07:22That I buy out the stores
07:24Bottom of the ninth
07:25In the city got the score
07:26If not, I gotta move on
07:28To the next floor
07:29Here comes the three
07:30To the two
07:30To the one
07:31Homeboy tripping
07:32He don't know I got the gun
07:34When it come to pop
07:35And we do this for fun
07:36You ain't got one
07:37Sick and you better run
07:39Now I'm in the back
07:40Getting in from my huns
07:41While she going down
07:42I'm bragging on what I done
07:44She smoking my stuff
07:45Saying she ain't having fun
07:46She ain't giving back
07:47Now you don't get none
07:49Now everybody in the club
07:50Get texts
07:51Now everybody in the club
07:55Get texts
07:56Now everybody in the club
08:00Get texts
08:01Now everybody in the club
08:05Get texts
08:06Got my best friend
08:09She a real bad
08:11Got her own money
08:12She don't need no
08:13On the dance floor
08:14She had two, three drinks
08:16Now she twerking
08:16She throw it out
08:17And come back in
08:18That's my best friend
08:19She a real bad
08:20Drop her own car
08:22She don't need no
08:23List in a strip club
08:24Know my girl gon' tip
08:26Now she twerking
08:26She throw it out
08:27And come back in
08:28Alright ladies and gentlemen
08:30Kings and queens
08:31We are ready to get
08:32This party started
08:33Coming to the stage
08:35We have John Hudson
08:37The third of energy
08:38Let's give it up for him
08:40Because he is about
08:40To bless some folks
08:41With $150,000
08:44Come on sir
08:45Welcome to the stage
08:47Thank you
08:48Thank you
08:48Good afternoon everyone
08:50My name is John Hudson
08:52With Entergy Corporation
08:53We are an electric utility
08:56Company headquartered
08:57Here in New Orleans
08:58But we serve cities
09:01And communities
09:02Across four states
09:03In Mississippi, Arkansas
09:04Louisiana and Texas
09:06And we are proud
09:07To partner with Essence
09:08And New Voices
09:09To provide funding
09:11For some fantastic
09:12Entrepreneurs
09:13Yesterday
09:14There was a pitch competition
09:16And three of these
09:18Entrepreneurial companies
09:19Are here with us today
09:20We are going to find out
09:22What happened
09:23We are going to find out
09:25About their businesses
09:26And we look forward
09:27To hearing from them
09:28I would like to
09:28Introduce all of them
09:30Right now
09:30The first finalists
09:33That we had yesterday
09:34Was Mabel
09:35And Syeda Frias
09:37From Lunar Magic
09:38Alright
09:39The second finalists
09:43Was Felicia Jackson
09:45From CPR Rep
09:46And the third
09:49Is Brooke Hill
09:50From Brooke Swella Beauty
09:52Alright
09:58Thank y'all
09:59First of all
10:00Congratulations
10:01It's so
10:03So
10:04I think
10:05Incredible
10:05What you
10:06Have done
10:07With your businesses
10:08I read this morning
10:10I was looking at
10:11In 2022
10:12According to Crunchbase
10:14There was
10:15$240 billion
10:16In venture capital
10:18Last year
10:19Of that
10:21$240 billion
10:22Only 1%
10:23Went to black founders
10:25And only a third
10:26Of that
10:27Went to
10:28Female black founders
10:29So
10:30There is a gap
10:32And we
10:33As corporations
10:34And we
10:35As other folks
10:36Who want to support this
10:38We need to find ways
10:39To support
10:39Courageous
10:41Business women
10:42Like you
10:43So I want to applaud you again
10:45For doing everything
10:46That you've done
10:47Let's give them
10:47A round of applause
10:48Out here
10:49Alright
10:51So
10:52I kind of want to start
10:54With a few questions
10:55And
10:55The first question
10:57Really is to
10:58You know
10:58Kind of go through
10:59Your pitch
11:00You know
11:00You made a long pitch
11:01Yesterday
11:02And of course
11:03We had winners
11:04From that
11:04But I'd love to hear
11:06Just the one minute
11:07Version
11:08Of your pitch
11:09So let's start
11:10With you Brooke
11:11And tell us about
11:13You know
11:13This great braiding
11:15Company that you have
11:16Yes
11:17So I am the co-founder
11:18And CEO
11:19Of Swella Beauty
11:20And Swella provides
11:22A luxury experience
11:24To hair braiding
11:24We utilize
11:25Streamlined processes
11:26And technology
11:27To provide
11:28Hair braiding services
11:29At the same price
11:31Same quality
11:32But with a better
11:33Experience
11:33And half the time
11:34As traditional services
11:36That's fantastic
11:37Alright
11:38Okay Felicia
11:39CPR
11:40A big deal
11:42As you've educated me
11:44You know
11:44It's disproportionately
11:45African Americans
11:47Are disproportionately
11:48Impacted
11:48With the knowledge
11:50Of this
11:50So tell us about
11:51CPR RAP
11:52Right
11:52CPR RAP
11:53Is an all-in-one
11:54Disposable CPR template
11:56That empowers
11:57Protects
11:58And guides
11:59Any non-medical
12:00Responder
12:00During CPR
12:01And just like
12:03I was saying
12:03Previously
12:04There is a discrepancy
12:06It's very disproportionate
12:07In the minority
12:08And low income
12:09Communities
12:10Where they don't
12:11Have the tools
12:11To perform CPR
12:12Forty percent
12:13Less likely
12:14That has to change
12:16And we're here
12:16To do it
12:16Alright
12:18Well Mabel
12:19And Mabel
12:20And Saida
12:20You guys are already
12:23In Target
12:24CVS
12:25You guys are doing
12:25Your thing already
12:26You know
12:27So I mean
12:29I applaud you
12:29For that
12:30But tell us
12:31About your business
12:32And what you're
12:33Trying to accomplish
12:33Sure
12:34Sure
12:34My name is
12:35Mabel Frias
12:36And I am
12:37Saida Frias
12:37And we're the
12:38Co-founders of
12:38Luna Magic Beauty
12:39And our mission
12:40Is to provide
12:40High quality cosmetics
12:42At great prices
12:43Con mucho amor
12:43And like what
12:44This gentleman said
12:45We are currently
12:46Distributed in
12:46Walmart
12:47Target
12:47In CVS
12:48And we're just
12:48Getting started
12:49I love it
12:51I love it
12:52So you know
12:53I think I talked
12:54Earlier about
12:55The financial challenges
12:57You know
12:57Access to capital
12:58Is a huge issue
13:00For all businesses
13:01But especially
13:02For black owned businesses
13:03And especially
13:04For black female
13:05Owned businesses
13:06So other than that
13:09Tell us
13:10Or if you want
13:11To talk about this
13:12Talk about some
13:12Of the challenges
13:13That you guys have faced
13:15In getting where you are
13:16So we'll start
13:17With you
13:18Yes I think for
13:19Luna Magic
13:20One of the key challenges
13:21That I can remember
13:22And you can add
13:23In Saida
13:24Slash sister
13:25Is actually
13:26Yeah capital
13:27Is also access
13:28To quality networks
13:29Access to expertise
13:31The reality is
13:32We come from a family
13:33Of honest
13:34Blue collar workers
13:35We're the first women
13:36In our family
13:37To go to college
13:37So even in
13:39Accomplishing that feat
13:40There was still
13:41A steep learning curve
13:41With learning
13:42With how to do business
13:43With these massive retailers
13:44Understanding like
13:46How they see success
13:47But you know
13:48I think we've been
13:49Really fortunate
13:50With platforms
13:50Like New Voices
13:51Which provides
13:52A lot of great
13:53Educational
13:54Even financial
13:55Literacy platforms
13:56That has helped us
13:57Make this journey
13:58A lot easier
13:59Meaning
13:59What we've learned
14:00From entrepreneurship
14:01Is you really
14:02Need to find
14:03The circle of people
14:04Like New Voices
14:05That really understand
14:06The dynamics
14:07In the industry
14:08That you're trying to play
14:09And that have
14:10An honest interest
14:12In making it
14:12More feasible
14:13For women of color
14:14To succeed
14:14In business
14:15And mentorship
14:17Like having people
14:19Around you
14:19That give you
14:20The resources
14:20And the blueprint
14:22Of how to start
14:24Your business
14:24And stay in retail
14:26That's fantastic
14:27Felicia
14:28How about some
14:29Of your challenges
14:30Oh my goodness
14:30There's many
14:31Many many challenges
14:32That I had to go through
14:34Still going through
14:35Them right today
14:36But one of the first
14:37Was access to capital
14:38And people just
14:40Didn't understand
14:41What I was doing
14:42Or people that
14:43Looked like me
14:43Were not necessarily
14:45In that field
14:45So they were not
14:46Giving me the money
14:47And one little story
14:49That I had was
14:50Before I even had
14:50A product
14:51I had the concept
14:52And a group of doctors
14:54Came to me
14:54And they said
14:55Felicia we want
14:5680% of your company
14:58For 1.2 million dollars
15:01I almost lost my home
15:03Lost my car
15:04Because I went all in
15:05I was going to take
15:06That money
15:06But I thought
15:07Wait a minute
15:08If they're asking
15:09For my company now
15:11And trying to give me
15:12That amount
15:12And I don't even
15:13Have a tangible item
15:14What about when
15:15This product
15:16Has come to fruition
15:17You know
15:18So I had to take
15:19A step back
15:20Because there's
15:20Sharks out there
15:21There's people that
15:22You know
15:23They want what you have
15:25And they want to
15:25Pay very little
15:26To get it
15:26And I'm thinking
15:27No not today
15:28So I turned that money down
15:30The best thing I ever did
15:31All right
15:32That's fantastic
15:33Okay well
15:35Brooke
15:36Love to hear about
15:37Some of your challenges
15:38As well
15:39Yeah there are many challenges
15:40Before I address
15:42The one I want to share
15:43I want to address
15:44Your point Felicia
15:45Because I think that
15:47It is very important
15:48Especially early on
15:50To be mindful
15:51Of what people
15:52Are offering you
15:53And understand
15:54Who you're going
15:55Into business with
15:56Right
15:56Because it's like
15:57A relationship
15:58It's like a marriage
15:59It is a business partner
16:01I think it was
16:02In the interlude
16:02Of one of Solange's
16:04Tracks
16:04Where she has
16:05Master P
16:06Speaking about
16:07How he was almost
16:08About to join
16:09A record label
16:10For two million
16:10He knew if someone
16:11Was willing to offer him
16:12That and he wasn't
16:13Even getting started
16:14Then imagine how much
16:16He truly was worth
16:17And I think that's
16:18Very important to keep
16:19In mind
16:20As you build anything
16:20I think the biggest
16:22Challenge or what
16:22I've learned the most
16:23From is
16:24Don't let good enough
16:25Be the enemy of perfection
16:27Or don't let perfection
16:28Be the enemy of good enough
16:29Meaning just do it
16:30Just launch it
16:31And I think so often
16:33We focus as entrepreneurs
16:34Trying to get something perfect
16:36Before we bring it to market
16:37Then you bring something
16:38To market that consumers
16:39Don't like or don't resonate
16:41And then you're heartbroken
16:42And so if you have an idea
16:44If you want to do something
16:45Test it out
16:46We started off
16:47Swella as a pop-up
16:48In Atlanta
16:48We occupied three seats
16:50And a salon of nine
16:52And now we have all nine seats
16:54And so I just want to encourage
16:56For any entrepreneur out there
16:57Or someone who has a business idea
16:59Just do it
17:00Just start something
17:01No that's fantastic
17:03So Intergy Foundation
17:07In partnership with New Voices
17:09Provided $150,000
17:12You know for great ideas
17:15Great founders
17:17Great business plans
17:19Great pitches
17:20And so it's really in descending order
17:24In terms of how the funds were distributed
17:27You know so Swella was first
17:29And then so on
17:30But the interesting thing
17:32That happened through this
17:34Rod West my colleague
17:36I talked to him this morning
17:37About the pitch competition
17:40And how it was
17:41And he talked about
17:43How outstanding each of them were
17:45Very very difficult to decide
17:48And so I just want to tell you
17:50You know congratulate you
17:53On everything that you've been able
17:55To accomplish
17:56So these funds
17:58I'm curious
17:58How will you use these funds
18:00To grow and support your business
18:03Felicia why don't you start with this
18:05Yes yes yes
18:06Thank you
18:06Thank you for the funds
18:07First of all
18:08So many things
18:10First I wanted to put a little of it
18:12Into our marketing strategy
18:14Because you know
18:15You can have a great product
18:16Or service all day long
18:17But if no one knows it exists
18:19You're not going anywhere
18:21And then I was so grateful
18:23That we did go viral
18:25Kind of almost wiped out our inventory
18:27So I get to order more inventory
18:30I'm so excited about that
18:32So thank you
18:32Okay Brooke
18:34So we will put it
18:36Toward a second location
18:37So for those of you
18:38Who were not at the pitch competition
18:39Swella is a braid bar
18:41We are trying to franchise
18:42And we believe black women
18:44Will be the perfect franchisees
18:46And so we're working
18:47On a second location
18:48And this money will go toward that
18:50Okay fantastic
18:51And for us
18:52We're in over 2,500 stores
18:54So we need more inventory
18:56Right
18:56So that is exactly
18:58Where the money is going
18:59To
18:59Okay
19:01Everything she said
19:02Inventory and marketing
19:04Like she said
19:06We're in 2,500
19:07Walmart Target and CVS
19:08So we want to
19:09Take care of that business
19:10And keep inventory in stock
19:11Because we're selling out
19:12Yeah
19:13Well before I get to my fun question
19:16I really would like
19:17For you guys to
19:19Provide any advice
19:21And counsel
19:22I know that where you are now
19:25Was not an easy road
19:26And so I think everyone
19:29Would benefit
19:30But especially African American females
19:32Who have ideas
19:33Who want to be in business
19:34For themselves
19:35I believe they would really benefit
19:37From some advice and counsel
19:39So let's start with you guys
19:41For us
19:42I would think
19:43I would say
19:44Surround yourself with people
19:45That understand
19:46What you're trying to do
19:48When we were early on
19:50In our journey
19:50Halfway point
19:51We subscribed
19:52To the New Voices newsletter
19:53And then we were integrated
19:55Into the New Voices family
19:56And community
19:57And there's a lot of resources
19:59They do a lot of content
20:00Around how to think about legal
20:02How to think about merchandising
20:04So I just think
20:05It's this untapped network
20:06That I would highly encourage you
20:08If you're serious
20:09And a woman of color
20:10And I would say
20:11Take care of yourself
20:12I think that this journey
20:13Entrepreneurship journey
20:14Can be
20:15There's a lot of highs
20:16And lows
20:17And I think sometimes
20:18As black women
20:19We put ourselves last
20:20So figure out
20:21What are the things
20:21That you need to do
20:22To take a step back
20:23To recharge
20:24Is it meditation
20:25Is it therapy
20:26Is it family time
20:27Is it spending time
20:28With your children
20:29Because if you're serious
20:30About building a big business
20:32It's a long term commitment
20:33It's a marriage
20:34Of at least 10 years
20:35Right
20:36So you want to make sure
20:37That you pace yourself
20:38And you take care of yourself
20:39So that you can
20:39You know
20:40Come ready to win big
20:41And show up for your team
20:43And also that there's
20:45A lot of free resources
20:46On Google
20:47Literally
20:49You guys should
20:50Just Google yourself away
20:51A lot of answers
20:54Are already out there
20:55How to start a business
20:56Where to start
20:58Where to get product
20:59You know
21:00Just resources
21:01Are online
21:03So Google
21:04Google
21:05Google
21:06All great stuff
21:08Let me tell you
21:09Never let fear
21:11Be your driver
21:12Don't be afraid
21:13To step out there
21:14Don't wait
21:16You can't do that
21:17I almost waited
21:19And please believe
21:21Just because you
21:22Have come up with something
21:23Don't think you're
21:24The only one that is
21:25You always have to be
21:27The first to execute
21:28I'm about making
21:29Generational
21:30Generational width
21:31For me and my family
21:33And of course
21:34Saving lives
21:35And stuff like that
21:36Can't wait
21:36You gotta do it
21:37And then I would say
21:41The key is
21:42Two types of people
21:43Those who can build
21:44Alongside you
21:45So that's like
21:45My co-founders
21:46Zambria
21:47My mentors
21:48People who have
21:50Helped us along the journey
21:51Because yes
21:51It was difficult
21:52But it would have been
21:53A lot more difficult
21:54If I didn't have
21:55Others to lean on
21:56And then the second
21:57Are people who are
21:58In a similar position
21:59As you
21:59Other entrepreneurs
22:00But maybe they don't
22:01See themselves as competition
22:02And that's important
22:03Just so that you can be honest
22:05And have conversations
22:06And when you're scared
22:08Say you're scared
22:09And have that safe space
22:10Where someone can relate
22:11To you on a different level
22:12So
22:13Oh that's fantastic
22:14So we are all here
22:16None of us would be here today
22:18Doing this if it wasn't
22:19For Essence
22:20Essence Fest
22:21And new voices
22:22Right
22:22So we really owe Essence
22:25A round of applause
22:28I think
22:28And really congratulations
22:30For coming up
22:33With this idea
22:34And evolving
22:35To the place
22:36Where businesses
22:38Like yours
22:39Can be supported
22:39In this way
22:41But really
22:42Thinking about Essence
22:43I'm really thinking
22:44About how important
22:45It is to
22:46Entergy
22:47Certainly
22:48Essence being here
22:50Is a huge economic
22:51Impact for this city
22:52Yeah
22:52You see all the vendors
22:54Here
22:54And you know
22:55Everybody in business
22:56Here understands
22:57What it means
22:58To be able to sell
22:59And generate revenue
23:00So Essence actually means
23:02That to the city
23:03Of New Orleans
23:04But it also means
23:05So much
23:06To so many different people
23:08For me specifically
23:10My family and I
23:12Have been attending Essence
23:12For the last 20 years
23:14And so
23:15It's just a great time
23:16For us
23:17It's a great time
23:18To see African Americans
23:19Who are doing great things
23:21And all the negative things
23:23That you see
23:24On television
23:26And the media
23:26About African Americans
23:27You don't see that
23:28When you come to Essence
23:30This is what
23:30African Americans
23:31This is what it really is
23:33You know
23:33This is the real
23:34And so that's what
23:34It means to me
23:35I really like to
23:37Figure out from you
23:38Who
23:39I know you have
23:41Something that's really important
23:42You know
23:42And what it means to you
23:43But just generally
23:44I love to hear from you
23:46What does Essence mean to you
23:47I love that question
23:49Because I was actually
23:49Texting a girlfriend
23:50About it yesterday
23:51I was walking through
23:53One of the activations
23:54And they were playing
23:55Double Dutch
23:56Hopscotch
23:57And I was just kind of like
23:58I was telling her
23:59Like sitting in this moment
24:00You know
24:01Because we come from
24:02We're Afro-Latinas
24:03Meaning we're culturally Latin
24:05But we embrace our black diaspora
24:07And I told her
24:07I love Essence
24:08Like it's so amazing
24:10To watch black love
24:11Black people making money
24:13Black people just
24:14Pouring into each other
24:16The quality of the panel
24:17So Essence to me
24:18Is a recharge
24:18From the regular world
24:20The rooms in which
24:21Usually Saeed and I
24:22Are the only women of color
24:23Sitting at the table
24:24So every year
24:26We make a specific investment
24:28To show up
24:28To interface with our customers
24:30But also to get
24:31Our black girl magic
24:32Recharge
24:33That we need
24:34That sauce
24:35And that swirl
24:36So that we can go back
24:37Out there
24:37And you know
24:38Fight the good fight
24:39Of you know
24:40Showing that blackness
24:41Is intelligent
24:41That blackness
24:43Is smart
24:43That blackness
24:44Is capable
24:45Of being investable
24:46Right
24:46We have businesses
24:47That can be invested in
24:48And that blackness
24:50Can be great
24:50So that's what
24:52Essence means to me
24:53Yes
24:53And to add
24:56To what my sister said
24:58Essence is just
24:59A great energy
25:01We see the same people
25:03Over and over again
25:04They come to us
25:05And they're like
25:06Oh my god
25:06You guys inspire us
25:07So we're getting
25:09Inspired by them
25:10But they're also
25:10Getting inspiration
25:11From us
25:12So I think
25:13It's just
25:14A two way street
25:15Of inspiration
25:16And love
25:17And we just
25:18Love the energy
25:19I have always
25:22Wanted to come
25:22To Essence
25:23For a long time
25:24And never have been
25:25Able to
25:26To get here
25:26And I'm just
25:27So grateful
25:28To be here
25:28And when I'm here
25:29And I look around
25:30And I see all of these
25:31Beautiful black faces
25:33And I'm telling you
25:34Just
25:35Just
25:36I'm at a loss for words
25:38Simply because
25:40I mean like I said
25:40There is talent there
25:41I always say
25:42The talent is not
25:44Hidden in
25:45Any longer
25:45You know
25:46No one can
25:47Not say
25:47Okay we don't know
25:49Where the smartest
25:49Person is
25:50We don't know
25:51Where the innovators
25:51Are
25:52You know
25:52We're all here
25:54You know
25:54And to see
25:55Everyone here
25:55In this space
25:56Is just so
25:57Overwhelming
25:58Actually
25:59And I love it
26:00That's what
26:00Essence means to me
26:02To me
26:04It's confirmation
26:05I mean
26:06My ultimate goal
26:07Is that
26:07I want
26:08Swella
26:08To be the first
26:09Predominantly
26:10Black owned
26:11Franchise
26:12And I think
26:13You take that
26:13To a lot of
26:14Investors
26:14And that's hefty
26:15And that's heavy
26:16But when I come
26:17And I see you all
26:18And I see the talent
26:20And I see all
26:21That we can do
26:21I'm like
26:22No we can do this
26:23We can do it
26:24And so to me
26:25It's confirmation
26:25No that's fantastic
26:27Well that does it
26:29For my questions
26:30Today
26:30Before we end
26:32I just want to say
26:34I'm a girl dad
26:36You know
26:36My daughter
26:38Is 20 years old
26:39And my wife
26:41And I are
26:42You know
26:42We only have one
26:43So we're focused
26:44And I wish
26:46She was here
26:47Right now
26:48To see this
26:49Demonstration
26:49Of intelligence
26:52This demonstration
26:53Of courage
26:54This demonstration
26:55Of tenacity
26:56Because that's
26:58What I see
26:58And I'm so proud
27:00Of what you
27:02Have been able
27:03To do
27:03And I wish
27:05Entergy could do more
27:06And we will
27:07In partnership
27:08With New Voices
27:10And in partnership
27:11With Essence
27:11And so thank you
27:13For spending your time
27:14With us this afternoon
27:15Thank you
27:15Of course thank you
27:16Thank you
27:16Thank you
27:16Thank you
27:17Thank you
27:17Thank you everyone
27:45Again we want to say
27:50Thank you guys
27:51Thank you Essence
27:52Let's clap it up
27:53One more time
27:53For being here
27:54Live and in full color
27:57At Essence
27:58It has been an absolute blast
27:59Right here on the
28:01So-called market stage
28:02You guys
28:03That's a wrap
28:04For this year
28:05Right here at this stage
28:06It has been a pleasure
28:07It has been an absolute pleasure
28:10To be your host
28:11For this stage
28:12All three days
28:14I felt so much love
28:15From you guys
28:16And I hope that you
28:17Felt it back
28:17From this stage
28:18So until next year
28:20Much love
28:21Much joy
28:22Much peace
28:23And much more
28:24Black excellence
28:25Let's clap it up
28:26For excellence
28:27Y'all gonna be great
28:28Oh and let's give it up
28:35For the DJ
28:35DJ Block over here
28:37He's been an amazing
28:38Co-host with me
28:39Thank you
28:41Thank you
28:41Thank you
28:42Thank you
28:42Thank you
28:43Thank you
28:44Thank you
28:44Thank you
28:44Thank you
28:44Thank you
28:45Thank you
28:45Thank you
28:46Thank you
28:46Thank you
28:46Thank you
28:47Thank you
28:47Thank you
28:48Thank you
28:48Thank you
28:48Thank you
28:49Thank you
28:49Thank you
28:50Thank you
28:50Thank you
28:51Thank you
28:51Thank you
28:52Thank you
28:53Thank you
28:53Thank you
28:54Thank you
28:54Thank you
28:55Thank you
28:55Thank you
28:56Thank you
28:57Thank you
28:57Thank you
28:58Thank you
28:58Thank you
28:59Thank you
29:00Thank you
29:00Thank you
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29:06Thank you
29:07Thank you