エピソード

  • #167 Zaka Presents My Journey Brigitte Jolliet
    2025/02/22

    What happens when a young girl in foster care refuses to let the system define her future? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Brigitte Jolliet, an attorney, advocate, and policy expert who is breaking stereotypes and proving that foster youth have the resilience, skills, and drive to succeed. Brigitte takes us through her extraordinary journey, from navigating instability in the foster care system to fighting for children’s rights, clerking on Capitol Hill, and now advocating for justice as a personal injury attorney. Along the way, she shatters misconceptions about foster youth, shares the pivotal moments that shaped her path, and offers wisdom for those facing adversity. This is a story of grit, transformation, and the power of turning struggle into purpose one you won’t want to miss

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    57 分
  • #166 Zaka Presents My Journey Micha Cooper Edwards
    2025/02/14

    Born and raised in Trinidad & Tobago, Micha Cooper-Edwards built a powerhouse career in corporate America, leading global marketing for brands like Nike and Jordan before taking a bold leap into entrepreneurship. As the founder & CEO of Soleil Space, she’s on a mission to dismantle the systemic barriers that keep independent filmmakers—especially creators of color—from owning their work. In this episode, she reveals the hard truths about Hollywood’s gatekeeping, the power of controlling distribution, and how creatives can reclaim their narratives in an industry designed to keep them out. We also dive into the lessons she learned transitioning from the corporate world to building a tech-media platform that gives underrepresented voices a global stage.

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    51 分
  • #165 Zaka Presents My Journey Farah Allen
    2025/02/09

    Farah Allen, a remarkable Jamaican-American tech entrepreneur and CEO of The Labz, who has redefined digital innovation and built powerhouse partnerships with Google, Microsoft, and Delta Airlines. Farah takes us through her incredible journey, from her Jamaican roots and early influences that shaped her love for technology to breaking barriers as a woman of color in leadership. She shares how her first job set the foundation for her career, the bold leap she took from corporate to entrepreneurship, and the resilience that kept her moving forward despite challenges.

    She speaks into the inspiration behind The Labz, how she built relationships with some of the world’s biggest companies, and the strategies that helped her establish herself in the tech industry. Farah also opens up about the setbacks and failures that shaped her success, the challenges she’s faced as a Black woman in tech, and the values that drive her mission to empower underrepresented groups. Whether you’re an immigrant, entrepreneur, or aspiring innovator, this conversation is packed with wisdom, inspiration, and practical advice to help you break into and thrive in the world of tech.

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    49 分
  • #164 Zaka Presents My Journey Victoria Tollossa
    2025/01/31

    In this powerful episode, we sit down with Victoria Tollossa, the Founder and CEO of Illume, a personal branding agency helping entrepreneurs and executives amplify their impact. But Victoria’s path to success was anything but conventional.

    Born bi-racial and navigating cultural challenges, Victoria migrated to the U.S. in pursuit of opportunity only to face homelessness. Despite the hardships, her passion for storytelling led her to a successful career as a professional songwriter, where she collaborated with top artists in the music industry. But a pivotal moment inspired her to shift gears, leveraging her expertise in branding, messaging, and storytelling to build a business of her own.

    The Grammy-nominated, branding expert and two-time founder, Victoria shares how her cultural background, industry experience, and resilience shaped her entrepreneurial journey. We discuss personal branding in 2025, why first-gen immigrants should embrace visibility, and strategies to stand out in a crowded digital world.

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    51 分
  • #163 Zaka Presents My Journey Illiana Acosta
    2025/01/25

    Illiana Acosta is the Make It Happen Master, a leader with over 20 years of experience in tech, global partnerships, and media sales. Currently a Senior Manager at LinkedIn’s Business Development organization, Illiana shares her journey from growing up in New York City as the daughter of immigrant parents to becoming a leadership strategist and thought leader in career development, ERG and DEI

    Illiana opens up about the challenges she faced as a Latina in the corporate world, including overcoming imposter syndrome and navigating spaces where she was often the only woman or person of color in the room. She shares actionable insights for anyone striving to find their voice, build confidence, and unlock their full potential. As the former Global Co-Chair of LinkedIn’s Hispanic Employee Resource Group (HOLA), Illiana also provides practical strategies for ERG leaders to amplify underrepresented voices, drive engagement, and foster lasting cultural and business impact.

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    49 分
  • #162 Zaka Presents My Journey D'Angelo Senat
    2025/01/17

    We sit down with D’Angelo Senat, a visionary Haitian-American entrepreneur and founder of AllPeeP, to explore his inspiring journey of resilience, innovation, and empowerment. From growing up in Broward County, Florida, and witnessing his parents’ entrepreneurial struggles, to redefining his path after a sports injury and leading a mission to revolutionize online communities, D’Angelo’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and mentorship. He shares how winning Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize transformed his work, the importance of cultural heritage in his leadership, and his dedication to creating inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive. Tune in for an intimate and uplifting conversation about breaking barriers, leading by example, and building a legacy of impact.

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    49 分
  • #161 Zaka Presents My Journey Miles Mendes
    2025/01/10

    We welcome Miles Mendes, a remarkable student-athlete whose maturity, faith, and passion for basketball set him apart. At probably the youngest age of any guest we’ve hosted, Miles shares a life journey filled with wisdom and lessons that resonate well beyond his years. Growing up in a culturally diverse household and attending a Christian university, Miles reflects on how his background, faith, and love for the game have shaped his outlook on life.

    Miles dives into his childhood dreams, the values he carries into his collegiate career, and how basketball became more than just a game, it became a driving force in his life. He speaks candidly about balancing the demands of being an athlete with academics, the challenges of navigating cultural nuances in his day-to-day life, and how his faith keeps him grounded through it all.

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    36 分
  • #160 Zaka Presents My Journey Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernández
    2025/01/03

    We sit down with Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernández, a visionary leader in higher education and the President of Urban College of Boston. She shares her extraordinary journey from immigrating to the United States from Haiti at the age of 12 to breaking barriers in academia as a first-generation college graduate and leader. With degrees from the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics, and Boston College, Dr. Salomon-Fernández has built a career dedicated to expanding access and creating opportunities for underrepresented students. Her story is one of resilience, determination, and a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, offering invaluable insights for anyone navigating challenges as an immigrant or aspiring leader.

    Throughout the conversation, Dr. Salomon-Fernández discusses her leadership philosophy, the importance of creating inclusive spaces, and the pivotal role community colleges play in empowering diverse communities. She also opens up about the systemic barriers she faced as a woman of color in higher education and how she worked to break them while uplifting others.

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    55 分