The BOSS Network Blog

Kaylenne Brown , Health and wellness trailblazer on a mission to help busy professionals reclaim their energy and thrive. I share no-fluff tips, plant-powered strategies, and mindset shifts that turn wellness into a lifestyle—because feeling good isn’t optional, it’s essential. When I started Plant-Based Eatz, I thought I was just launching a food brand. I wanted to share soulful, healthy meals that reflected my own transition to a plant-based lifestyle. But as the vision evolved, I realized I wasn’t just building a business, I was building a platform. At the heart of PB Eatz is a mission to nourish from the inside out. Yes, we create food, but our real product is wellness with intention. We serve busy people who are hungry for more than convenience; they’re hungry for alignment, energy, and care. As a veteran and woman of color, I’ve lived through seasons where I had to put everyone else first, where survival came before nourishment. I know what it’s like to push through, to lead whil...

Niehla O. spent over 20 years in the fashion and beauty industry, but decided to pivot into an industry that can make people look good on the inside. After a chance encounter with a tasty green hummus blend, a late-night craving led her to begin mixing unique hummus flavors of her own. Her goal is to continue to spread love and hummus throughout our community. At Homegirl’s Hummus, we don’t just sell hummus—we serve people. Our booth is more than a place to buy your favorite plant-based flavors. It’s a place to feel seen, welcomed, and celebrated. Customer service isn’t an afterthought here—it’s part of the recipe. And just like every batch of hummus is made with love and intention, so is every interaction with our community. So, what does customer service look like, the Homegirl’s Hummus way? Here’s our step-by-step guide to how we keep the energy high, the smiles wide, and the customer love flowing at every single market. 1. Greet Every Customer Within 10 Seconds—Period. No one shou...

Dr. Tina Armstrong  is a licensed clinical psychologist, researcher, and founder of Living Connected Psychological, Inc., reshaping the future of mental wellness for Black women. Through her work of integrating faith, science, and cultural healing, she creates spaces where women move beyond chronic stress and into flourishing, freedom, and generational restoration. This week, I listened to a fellow entrepreneur share her story. She had reached a breaking point—panic attacks, extreme pressure, sleepless nights. Her dream business was beginning to take a toll on her body and mind. Instead of ignoring the signals, she made a brave choice: she stepped back. She delegated, gave herself permission to pause, and began the journey of caring for her nervous system. She started taking yoga. Long walks became part of her rhythm. She signed up for an art class that reawakened her creativity. She meal-prepped so she could nourish her body instead of relying on stress snacks. She even scheduled ...

Tamekia Foley is a cybersecurity founder, U.S. Air Force veteran, and CEO of High Tech 2.0. With over 20 years in IT, cybersecurity, and compliance leadership, she champions tech inclusion in underserved communities. Tamekia empowers businesses to secure, scale, and succeed through cutting-edge security solutions rooted in military precision and trust. High Tech.2.0 is a service-disabled veteran-owned cybersecurity consulting firm founded by Tamekia Foley, dedicated to helping businesses navigate the complex world of cybersecurity and compliance with clarity and confidence. Rooted in military-grade precision, trust, and strategic innovation, High Tech.2.0 empowers manufacturers, defense contractors, and growing businesses to protect their operations, meet federal compliance standards, and build resilient digital infrastructures. What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? When I first started my business, some of the greatest ...

Shanice Whittaker (MBA-HRM), founder of Soul Movement Success—a movement for women of color to thrive, lead, and design success. After a decade in HR, I created development, compliance, and community experiences that break barriers, build equity, and empower professionals to step boldly into spaces once thought unreachable. What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? In the beginning, splitting my time between a full-time career and building my business with limited resources was overwhelming. When expenses grew and savings shrank, I almost gave up. But I couldn’t forget the version of me stuck in my “conventional” job, successful on paper but disconnected inside. Choosing alignment over comfort wasn’t easy, but it’s been worth it. Every challenge reminds me: I’m building something that reflects my identity. What inspired you to break into your industry? Sitting at the decision-making table in HR, I saw two truths: I had the s...

Kaylenne Brown,  Health and wellness trailblazer on a mission to help busy professionals reclaim their energy and thrive. I share no-fluff tips, plant-powered strategies, and mindset shifts that turn wellness into a lifestyle—because feeling good isn’t optional, it’s essential. For years, I wore “busy” like a badge of honor. Long nights, skipped meals, calendar packed to the brim, it felt like the price you paid to build something meaningful. But beneath the surface of that grind was exhaustion, anxiety, and the creeping feeling that I was always behind. It took burnout (more than once) for me to ask a deeper question: What if productivity wasn’t about doing more—but about doing what matters, in alignment with how I move best? As women, and especially as Black women entrepreneurs, we’ve been conditioned to believe hustle is the only path to success. But I’ve learned that flow is where the real magic happens, when your work, wellness, and creativity are in rhythm with your body, not...

Niehla O. spent over 20 years in the fashion and beauty industry, but decided to pivot into a sector that can make people look good on the inside. After a chance encounter with a delicious green hummus blend, a late-night craving led her to start mixing her own unique hummus flavors. Her goal is to continue to spread love and hummus throughout our community. When Homegirl’s Hummus began, it wasn’t just about chickpeas and flavor—it was about purpose. It was about obedience. It was about stepping out on faith with a recipe in one hand and a dream in the other, trusting that if I stayed faithful and humble, God would do the rest. And let me tell you—He did. The journey of business ownership is no easy path. It’s early mornings, late nights, long market days, sore feet, and a million decisions. It’s praying for good weather, counting every dollar, and pouring your heart into every container. But more than that, it’s a spiritual walk. A trust walk. A lesson in patience, stewardship, and st...

Shanice Whittaker , MBA-HRM, is the founder of Soul Movement Success and a seasoned HR  practitioner with over a decade of experience helping diverse communities thrive. My mission  is to dismantle systemic barriers, spotlight BIWOC excellence, and ensure that women of color  can achieve their full potential in their careers and communities. Y ou just arrived at work after enduring two hours of traffic, and the first Slack ping of the day pops up: “Meet in the conference room in 10.” Or maybe you’re knee-deep in your tenth—no, eleventh—job application, staring at the dreaded question: “Why do you want to work here?” as you wonder when you’ll nally hear back from someone. You're frustrated, tired, and discouraged. The thoughts creep in: How did I get here? Will things ever get better?  In today’s challenging economy, searching for a job or feeling stuck in your current role can feel like an uphill battle. The market is competitive, opportunities feel scarce, and it’s ...

Dr. Tina Armstrong  is a licensed clinical psychologist, researcher, and founder of Living Connected Psychological, Inc., reshaping the future of mental wellness for Black women. Through her work of integrating faith, science, and cultural healing, she creates spaces where women move beyond chronic stress and into flourishing, freedom, and generational restoration. I knew it was sacred before we even began. As I stood in the retreat circle, watching Black women settle into stillness, I felt the sacredness of what we were about to do. I wasn’t just leading—I was practicing. Practicing what I teach. Practicing what I believe. Our ROOTED in Observation Retreat was more than a gathering. It was a communal exhale. A space for high-achieving Black women to pause—not to perform or produce—but to notice. And in that noticing, begin to come home to themselves. When High Functioning Hides Deep Fatigue We wear it well—success, strength, resilience. But beneath that polished exterior is often ...