At the urging of many listeners, I recorded an episode which has a bit of reflection and analysis of what's happened in a year of incredible personal and professional growth. Part career therapy and part motivational talk, this episode of Protégé Podcast has the seven hard earned lessons from a truly memorable year as an entrepreneur. 

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week and reflect on what we're grateful for, I'm reminded of Desiree Robinson's incredible story of resilience. What do you do when your Plan A in your professional and personal lives don't work out? Desiree's story is a reminder that we are stronger than we know, and that miracles can come from simple acts of kindness by our friends and family. It's a special encore episode of Protégé Podcast for Thanksgiving 2019!

On this episode, I'm joined by Guest Co-Host Shaunna Jones to take a humorous journey through the various segments of the black middle and upper middle classes. Does bourgie mean snobbish or successful? Which bourgie type are you? We break down the differences between the Afro-Bourgie and the Bourgie Fabulous, as well as the other major bourgie categories. Our goal is to help you with the code-switching we do at family gatherings, with understanding how to find your tribe in your dating life, and with finally realizing why your uncle is always paying for funerals in your family (he's Blue Collar Bourgie and that's what they do). On the Motivation segment, I mention a simple, but powerful quote from Oprah about how to stay grounded on your journey to success. 

On this episode of Protégé Podcast I'm joined by Guest co-Host Justin Wilson and we talk about two important workplace topics: open architecture offices and how to ask for a raise. Are open seating offices good for collaboration and bad for more focused work? Justin and I also discuss effective techniques to help you get that raise. On the Lit & Quit segment, we talk about the movie Harriet, politics, and the Oscars. On the Motivation segment, I ask you to consider what value should really drive your career decisions.

It's a Throwback Thursday episode of Protégé Podcast where we revisit my conversation with former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. Governor Patrick and I talk about working as an insider when you feel like an outsider and why your commitment to serve is more important than the career platform you use. It's insightful career advice from the man who could be president one day.

On this episode of Protégé Podcast, I devote the entire podcast to giving you a behind the scenes look at hiring from the recruiter/headhunter's perspective. Learn why patience is a virtue and why you should probably not call the recruiter to remind them you're still interested in the job. It's five principles to keep you confident and grounded when you're a candidate for that next big job. On the Motivation segment, I pay tribute to the brilliance and generosity of Harvard Law professor Charles Ogletree.

On this episode of Protégé Podcast, I talk with guest co-host Saydeah Howard, the Chief Talent Officer at IVP, one of Silicon Valley's top venture capital firms. We have a candid conversation about this week's Big Question: what do you do if you have to quit your job abruptly? How do you exit gracefully? On the Motivation segment, I encourage you to commit to a core set of values in your career, while remaining agnostic about the specific jobs you might have along the way. On the Lit & Quit segment, Saydeah and I talk about track and field heroes, Tyler Perry, vaping, and Kanye West's bbq invitation. 

On this special Howard Homecoming edition of Protégé Podcast, I talk with media superstar Depelsha McGruder, the interim CEO of New York Public Radio. The Howard and Harvard Business School graduate talks about her humble childhood in Georgia, her rapid rise through Viacom, and why she started a nonprofit to help protect black boys. On the motivation segment, I encourage everyone to keep the magic going when they experience rough patches in their careers.

On this episode of Protégé Podcast, Guest co-host Shaunna Jones joins me to discuss this week's big question: how do you manage issues of integrity and ethics when it comes to reporting malfeasance in your workplace? Should you report an ethics issue above your boss? And what should you consider before you blow the whistle?  On the Motivation segment, I encourage everyone to, in the words of Prince, make heart decisions in business. On the Lit & Quit segment, Shaunna and I tackle cancel culture and free speech and racial solidarity within communities of color.

On this episode of Protégé Podcast, Guest co-Host Justin Wilson and I talk about the vital information you need to know about your workplace. We talk about how to access information and data about your organization's strategy, its operating model, and the disruptive threats it faces, and how to use this information to propel your career forward. We also debut the Lit & Quit segment about what inspires us and tires us about what's happening in the world of work and culture.