This week on Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with returning guest Naseema McElroy, founder of Financially Intentional, for a powerful and transparent conversation about money, survival, and transformation.

Naseema opens up about her journey from nearly $1 million in debt including student loans, real estate losses, IRS debt, and the financial aftermath of an abusive marriage to becoming a millionaire. She breaks down exactly how she used zero-based budgeting and the debt snowball method to take control of her finances, even as a single mom navigating one of the most challenging seasons of her life.

Beyond the numbers, this episode is about freedom. Naseema shares how financial literacy gave her the power to leave, rebuild, and create a different future for her daughters—and why financial empowerment, especially for women, is truly life-changing.

Stay Connected

-Watch Naseem’s Accorns commercial -Subscribe to The Financially Intentional Podcast
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This week on Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with therapist and bestselling author Oludara Adeeyo, creator of Self-Care for Black Women. Oludara shares her powerful journey from working in New York’s magazine industry to becoming a mental health advocate focused on the wellness of Black women. After years of caregiving for her mother and navigating toxic workplace dynamics, she began to rethink what self-care really means and why it’s essential for long-term health.

Mandi and Oludara talk about the hidden impact of stress, the pressure many women feel to always be “the strong one,” and how cultural expectations can shape the way we show up for others—often at the expense of ourselves. Oludara also opens up about learning to set boundaries, pivoting careers, and balancing meaningful work without burning out.

Plus, she shares practical self-care strategies from her book and new card deck, offering simple ways to reconnect with yourself, manage stress, and prioritize your well-being even on the busiest days.

Stay Connected

-Get a copy of Self-Care for Black Women by Oludara Adeeyo
- Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.
- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast

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This week on Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with award-winning producer, filmmaker, and breakout actress Kiah Clingman for a real conversation about rejection, reinvention, and trusting the long game.

From getting rejected by Howard’s theater program to becoming a proud Howard alum who quietly built a producing career… from balancing a demanding corporate job at Deloitte while producing projects at night… to not booking an acting role for four years before landing a major role on Reasonable Doubt on Hulu — Kiah’s story is a masterclass in patience, persistence, and betting on yourself when the timeline doesn’t make sense.

And the timing couldn’t be better. The hit series Reasonable Doubt recently took home Outstanding Drama Series at the 57th NAACP Image Awards (2026) — proof that the long road sometimes leads exactly where you’re meant to be.

From hotel-room self tapes to Hollywood sets, Kiah shares what it really looks like to build a creative career behind the scenes and in front of the camera.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you started too late, pivoted too many times, or took the “wrong” path this episode is for you.

Spoiler: you didn’t.

What We Get Into

• Why Kiah almost didn’t submit the audition that changed everything
• The reality of going years without booking acting work
• How a hotel-room self tape (trash can + ring light included) helped land Reasonable Doubt
• Being rejected from Howard’s theater program — and why it became a blessing
• How Howard University and Delta Sigma Theta shaped her identity and confidence
• Working a demanding corporate role while producing films on the side
• What producers actually do — and why the role is often misunderstood
• Quitting Deloitte two weeks after buying a home and the fear that followed
• Losing a series regular role after betting everything on acting

Key Takeaways

• Rejection can be redirection — even when it stings
• A pivot isn’t failure — it’s strategy
• You don’t need constant wins to be on the right path
• Corporate skills can help fund and strengthen creative dreams
• Seeds planted today may take years to bloom — and that’s okay
• Betting on yourself often feels reckless before it feels rewarding

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