Name the Fear: When the Paycheck and Title Are Gone
Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women
Release Date: 02/23/2026
63 is the New 30: Former Barbie Creative Lead on Layoffs, Legacy & Ditching the Number
Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women
What does "retirement" look like for a high-achieving creative at 63? Former Barbie creative lead Eleanor "Elle" Oliver joins Kamika in the sanctuary to explain why she’s trading the corporate cubicle for "soft retirement" and a family legacy. From navigating massive layoffs to launching a business at 60+, learn why you must "ditch the number" and reclaim the thrill of your next chapter. This episode is part of The Corporate Baddie Series- a series created for Black women who are still inside corporate America and need strategy, language and protection, not hustle...
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Layoff to $50K+ Government Contracts: How to Pivot Corporate Skills into Six‑Figure Government Contracts
Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women
Are you ready to turn your corporate expertise into a thriving business? In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, host Kamika Dillard and government contracting expert Zainab Kamarah discuss how Black women can reclaim their power after layoffs by securing government contracts. From landing $50,000 "quick quotes" to scaling with systems, this episode provides a practical roadmap for professional growth. Learn why your current job description is your biggest asset and how to "fail forward" into your next six-figure win. This episode is part of The...
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How to Build a 6-Figure Investment Portfolio (Even After Getting Laid Off)
Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women
Avoidance is expensive. When we delay looking at our financial reality, it doesn't disappear. It just shows up later, louder and harder to fix. On this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, money coach Joshlyn Ross joins Kamika in the sanctuary to reveal how she built a $250K portfolio and paid off $80K in debt while navigating layoffs. Learn how to stop avoiding your accounts, start investing with as little as $100, and use ETFs to grow your wealth. This episode is a masterclass in financial resilience and transparency for every woman ready to claim her freedom. Joshlyn Ross is a Money...
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From Google Exec to Franchise Owner: Why Ownership is the Ultimate Security
Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women
In this episode of Black Women Save Black Women, host Kamika Dillard sits down with Sherika Ekpo, a former tech executive and Chief People Officer turned entrepreneur and franchise owner of Pecan Jacks West Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia. Sherika pulls back the curtain on why a corporate paycheck is often a "false sense of security" and shares her transparent journey from the White House and Google to betting on herself through franchising. Whether you are a corporate professional questioning your next move or an aspiring entrepreneur looking for a proven business model, this episode...
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I Quit My $300k+ Tech Job to Find Peace: Ending Corporate Burnout
Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women
In this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika Dillard talks with Alana Cheeks‑Lomax about walking away from a $300k+ tech job to find peace. They unpack corporate burnout, overwork as a response to doubt and redefining success through sustainability, time freedom, and choice. This episode covers: • Corporate burnout and “golden handcuffs” • Leaving a high‑paying job responsibly • Redefining success beyond titles and salary • Community, validation, and trusting yourself This episode is part of The Corporate Baddie Series- a...
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Mastering Corporate Mindfulness: How to Reset Your Nervous System & Beat Anxiety
Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women
Is your "Survival Brain" making your career decisions? This week, Kamika is joined in the sanctuary with Dr. Twanna Carter, an award-winning executive coach and veteran, to discuss the high cost of operating in "survival mode." Dr. Twanna shares her raw journey from the intense social anxiety of her college years and military service to finding her voice as a fierce advocate for Black women in leadership. Together, they unpack why traditional "stay until you retire" advice is now obsolete and how the "reptilian brain" can block the strategic thinking needed for your next pivot. ...
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The Corporate Lie: Why Your Job Title is Not Your Identity
Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women
Are you more than your job title? This week, Kamika is joined in the sanctuary with Marli Crowe (fellow Arian and actual Birthday Twin) to discuss the raw reality of professional reinvention. Marley shares her humbling journey from a $200k Meta contract to a $19/hr mall job, exposing the identity trap and the toxicity of your value being tied to your work that leaves Black women exhausted. together they unpack resilience, why jobs aren’t loyal and what it means to rebuild your identity beyond titles and paychecks. This episode is part of The Corporate Baddie Series- A series...
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How to Stay Visible and Valuable in Corporate America: Your Homegirl in HR Breaks It Down
Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women
This episode launches The Corporate Baddie Series, a new conversation focused on helping Black women protect their careers and stay ready inside corporate America. Kamika is joined by Latoya Haynes, an executive coach and Human Resources leader, to break down what it actually takes to remain visible, valuable, and in motion at work. They discuss why staying in one role too long can quietly stall your career, how to keep a “ready plan” active, and why your career strategy should never depend solely on what your employer is doing. Latoya advocates for the PIE model: Performance, Image, and...
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How to Close a Business with Intention- Part 3: How to Let Go of a Business Strategically
Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women
In Part 3 of this three‑part entrepreneurship series, Kamika and business consulting expert AnGèle Cade talk about how to close a business with intention and let go strategically. They reframe business closure as a leadership decision, not a personal failure and unpack the cost of holding on past a business’s prime, why exit planning should begin early and how founders can transition with clarity instead of urgency. Together, they walk through strategic exit options including acquisition, franchising, succession and intentional sunsetting, along with the protections founders need in place...
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How to Sustain a Business Without Burning Out- Part 2: What Keeps Black Women Founders Stuck
Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women
In Part 2 of this three‑part entrepreneurship series, Kamika opens the Fail Forward File with a candid reflection on building a business on vibes instead of systems and what it cost to untangle later. She’s joined by business consulting expert AnGèle Cade to talk about what happens after the launch, when maintenance, delegation and reinvestment become unavoidable. Together, they name the realities Black women founders often carry alone: underestimating ongoing business upkeep, accidentally creating a job instead of a business, trying to grow everything at once and burning out in the...
info_outlineIn this episode of Black Women S.A.V.E. Black Women, Kamika opens the Fail Forward File with a hard truth about her own journey. Dorsena Koonce joins Kamika in the sanctuary. An Emmy‑nominated storyteller and certified personal trainer, Dora opens up about being laid off and the multiple fears that have followed. As the conversation unfolds, the interview turns into a coaching moment, with Kamika helping Dora name the fear underneath her hesitation and perfectionism. The episode closes with this week’s S.A.V.E. Strategy: A flip of E from Elevate to Eliminate: a call to eliminate habits, beliefs, and patterns that quietly sabotage your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Dora Koonce is an Emmy-nominated storyteller, certified personal trainer, and communications pro based in Cleveland. After more than a decade in broadcast journalism and earning her Master’s in Public Health, she’s blended media, movement, and mindset into her work helping people live stronger, more intentional lives. She’s the founder of DK Personal Training and the creator of “Leaders Who Train,” a social series that spotlights community builders who take care of their bodies as much as their mission.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorsena_drake/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dorsena_drake
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorsena-koonce-75098a118/
Website - https://www.trainwithdora.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579535488852
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