Money Making Conversations Master Class

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Wendell Graham.

He is a dynamic entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and seasoned coach with a diverse background that spans over 20 years in various fields, including research, construction, and development. Born in Mobile, Alabama, Wendell began his career with the National Railroad Passenger Association (Amtrak) in Washington, D.C., before transferring to New Orleans, where he enjoyed a successful tenure in the railroad industry.

After retiring, Wendell founded Slight Edge Consulting, driven by his passion for helping small businesses thrive. He believes that everyone has a unique gift, and by tapping into that potential, they can transform their lives and the lives of others. As a professional sales coach, life coach, and business coach, Wendell leverages his wealth of experience to guide clients through overcoming obstacles and learning from failures.

Wendell knows firsthand the challenges of entrepreneurship and the importance of resilience. His dedication to empowering individuals and businesses makes him a valuable resource for anyone looking to unlock their potential and achieve lasting success. 

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dominique Leonard.

The founder of Jus Free. Once sentenced to life in prison, Leonard took control of his fate by firing his legal team and crafting his own parole package, ultimately securing his freedom. Now, he uses his experience to help other inmates navigate the parole system, with Jus Free achieving an impressive 82% success rate with the Board of Pardons and Paroles. His journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of self-advocacy. 

Jus' Free is a parole package provider that goes above and beyond to bring forth and present our clients' best potential. Due to a lack of knowledge, inmates are unaware of what is presented to the Board of Pardons and Parole. Our company works with offenders and their loved ones to ensure the Board hears YOUR story. Together, we humanize and purposely create a narrative for the Parole Board that deems those requesting the privilege of parole worthy of the transition to freedom.

Company Description *
At Jus’Free, we recognize imperfection as part of the human experience. Our mission is to restore dignity to those who have been dehumanized and bring families back together. Through our programs and initiatives, we strive to empower individuals, promote understanding, and foster reconciliation. While we can't guarantee specific outcomes, we're committed to supporting each person's journey with compassion and empathy. Together, we work towards a more just and compassionate society.

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cary Carbonaro.

She is the author of Women and Wealth: A Playbook to Empower Clients and Unlock Their Fortune (Wiley, 2025) is an award-winning Certified Financial Planner™ with over 25 years of experience. She leads a multimillion-dollar financial planning practice, specializing in empowering women to overcome financial challenges and increase their financial literacy.Company Description * N/ATalking Points/Questions *Why “bro-culture” is killing the financial services industry and ignores the fastest growing demographic on every professional's client list - womenHow women’s financial experiences differ from men’s due to societal, structural and emotional factorsGender bias and financial inequality: Why women are more likely to face pay gaps, career breaks, and be ignored or underserved by financial advisorsWhy women leave their financial advisors and what you can do to improve female client retentionAvoiding the “widows and divorcees” stereotypes of female clients and understanding the psychology of female breadwinnersThe importance of empathy, trust-building, and communication in advising women—key areas that are often overlookedHands-on strategies and tools for creating a female-friendly advisory practiceTimely financial news and trends, especially as it relates to women and wealth management.

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Randal Pinkett.

He has established himself as an entrepreneur, innovator, speaker, author, media personality and DEI expert who is leading the way in business, technology and equity for all. He is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, a global, multimillion-dollar research, training, consulting, technology, and data analytics firm whose mission is to leverage diversity, insights and innovation to transform lives, accelerate equity and create lasting change. The company has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Management Consulting Firms, Ernst & Young as EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Manage HR Magazine as a Top 10 Firm for Diversity & Inclusion, the Black Enterprise BE100s list of the nation’s largest Black-owned businesses, and the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

Dr. Pinkett is an expert in several areas relating to emerging technologies, “big data” analytics, social innovation, culture, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and is a regular contributor on MSNBC, CNN, and Fox Business News. An international public speaker, he is the author or co-author of several books including Black Faces in High Places, Black Faces in White Places, Data-Driven DEI, Campus CEO, and No-Money Down CEO. He holds five degrees including: a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University; a M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Oxford in England; and a M.S. in Electrical Engineering, MBA, and Ph.D. from MIT. Most notably, he was the first and only African American to receive the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship at Rutgers University; he was inducted to the Academic All-America Hall of Fame, as a former high jumper, long jumper, sprinter and captain of the Rutgers men’s track and field team; and he was the winner of NBC’s hit reality television show, “The Apprentice.”

Born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey, Dr. Pinkett is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and First Baptist Church in Somerset, NJ, where he resides with his family, including a daughter and two sons. Dr. Pinkett firmly believes that “for those to whom much is given, much is expected,” so throughout his endeavors, he places great emphasis on his responsibility to give back to the community.

Company Description *

BCT Partners’ mission is to provide insights about diverse people that lead to equity.

We are a national, multi-disciplinary consulting firm that delivers a full range of research, consulting, training, technology, and analytics services. BCT works with government agencies, corporations, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and foundations, and is one of the leading firms in the country with expertise in the following markets: housing and community development, economic development, workforce development, children and families, health, education, and diversity, equity & inclusion.

We invite and welcome to our team people who share our values and goals; those with a passion for making the world a better place, who see strength in our diversity, seek equal opportunity for all communities and are motivated to create a more equitable and just society. We appreciate the knowledge, abilities, and ideas of each individual and embrace his/her/their positive contributions to our collaborative and dynamic work environment.

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Karla Trotman.

She is the president and CEO of Electro Soft, Incorporated (ESI), an electronics manufacturing and engineering firm in the United States.   She is on the show to discuss many topics, including breaking down barriers for women and minority business owners in manufacturing.  

Talking Points/Questions *             

1.      Building generational wealth through family businesses

2.      Addressing the racial wealth gap in America

3.      Breaking down barriers for women and minority business owners in manufacturing

4.      Exploring non-traditional career paths in the industry

5.      How policies can support domestic manufacturing pipelines

 She holds a B.S. in Business Logistics from Penn State and an MBA from Drexel University. Her business experience extends to supply chain logistics, purchasing, global scheduling, and e-commerce, where she served in key roles in companies such as Honeywell, Gap, and IKEA.

Trotman welcomed her two sons during her time at IKEA, giving her firsthand experience with the difficulties prenatal and postnatal mothers face in their professional and personal lives. While on maternity leave, she founded the Belly Button Boutique, an online shop for pre- and postnatal women. Over the span of eight years, her business expanded to celebrity and international clientele, earning her features in PEOPLE and on NBC 10, CBS News, HuffPost Live and more.

The success of Belly Button Boutique inspired Trotman to propel ESI, founded by her parents in 1986, even further forward. Over the past 15 years, she served in the roles at ESI as special projects and marketing manager, executive vice president, COO and currently CEO and president. Under her guidance, ESI implemented both online marketing and acquisition strategies, dramatically increasing revenue.

Through her leadership at ESI, Trotman was named an Enterprising Woman of the Year, Transformational Woman in Family Business, Top 25 Leader Transforming Manufacturing, and most recently Entrepreneur of The Year® 2024 Greater Philadelphia Award winner. Trotman recognizes the plights and potential of minority business enterprises (MBEs) and how their power can be used to help close the ever-widening minority wealth gap. Leveraging her connections to funding, access, and networks, she advocates for minority business owners and educates on how investment in minority businesses uplifts minority families and communities.

Trotman is a board member for the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, Museum of the American Revolution, African Women’s Entrepreneurship Collective (AWEC) and Forum of Executive Women Foundation. She is co-chair of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Manufacturing Alliance (SEPMA) and a member of both the Drexel University Board of Governors and President’s Council. She is the author of the soon- to-be-released book, Dark, Dirty, Dangerous: The Vibrant Future of Manufacturing.

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