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We're joined by Patricia Pauyo, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and founder of Pathway Nutrition LLC, a virtual private practice based in New York. Patricia helps busy professional women of color improve their lab values and manage lifestyle-related chronic illnesses while continuing to enjoy the cultural foods that matter most to them.

In this episode, we explore what it means to build a business while honoring the people you serve. Patricia shares how embracing culture, meeting clients where they are, and focusing on sustainable change has shaped both her approach to nutrition and her entrepreneurial journey.

We also discuss:

• Embracing cultural foods as part of a sustainable approach to nutrition and health
• Building a business through different seasons, including seasons of working both full-time in and outside of her business
• Celebrating progress—both her own and her clients'—while navigating the realities and challenges of life and business
• The value of networking, coaching, and learning from others
• Creating systems that support both her clients and her business
• What success means to her

Connect with Patricia

Website: www.pathwaynutritionllc.com
Phone: (516) 234-0819
Email: pathwaynutritionllc@gmail.com
Instagram: @pathwaynutritionllc

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Today we're joined by Bobbie Vyas, a Cognitive Fear Rewiring Specialist and creator of the Fear Rewiring Method™ (FRM). Drawing on her background in psychology and counseling, Bobbie helps high-capacity women identify and interrupt the fear-based patterns that lead to overthinking, delaying decisions, and second-guessing themselves. Her work focuses on uncovering what is happening beneath the surface; how our perceptions, experiences, and self-beliefs shape our thinking, fuel fear, and influence our actions.

What Bobbie has found is that most people aren't lacking ability. Instead, they're operating from fear patterns they haven't fully identified yet. Through her Fear Rewiring Method™, she helps clients recognize those patterns, challenge them, and develop new ways of thinking that support confidence, growth, and meaningful action.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Bobbie's journey from living with fear to now building a life and business rooted in growth

• Her framework for identifying, reframing, and rewiring fear patterns

• The power of mindset, self-talk, and being intentional about the stories we tell ourselves

• Learning from setbacks and embracing growth

• The creative and unexpected ways she attracts new clients and grows her business

• The importance of being present and creating space for personal and professional growth

Whether you're building a business, navigating a life transition, or working to overcome self-doubt, this conversation offers practical insights into understanding fear, shifting your mindset, and moving forward with greater confidence, clarity, and intention.

Connect with Bobbie

LinkedIn: Bobbie Vyas

Instagram: @growthmindsetgrows

Facebook: Bobbie Kaylean Vyas

TikTok: @growthmindsetgrows

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, leaving a review, and sharing it with someone who might benefit from the conversation. Your support helps us continue sharing the stories, lessons, and experiences of entrepreneurs, creators, and professionals who are building meaningful work and lives.

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Today we're joined by Serene B. Hollingsworth, founder and perfumer of SANCTUAIRE DE FLEURS, a luxury fragrance maison rooted in cultural authorship, memory, and design. Through her work, Serene explores scent as an expression of identity, history, and lived experience, creating fragrances that tell stories often overlooked through traditional narratives.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Her transformation from a fearful child and young professional into a confident entrepreneur and leader

• Navigating and surviving Corporate America while remaining true to herself

• Building intentional networks and meaningful relationships throughout her career and entrepreneurial journey

• The visibility that came from being featured in The Wall Street Journal—what it meant for her business, and what it didn't mean

• The importance of integrity and authenticity in business

• The power of persistence, even after being told she didn't have what it takes

• The art of creating and composing fragrances from story, memory, culture, and history

• Developing fragrances through a women's lens and honoring perspectives that have often been excluded from traditional storytelling

• What it means to build a brand that reflects both personal identity and cultural legacy

This conversation is a powerful reminder that our stories matter, our experiences have value, and that sometimes the very things that make us different become the foundation for the work we're meant to create.

Connect with Serene:

Website: https://sanctuairedefleurs.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/serenehollingsworth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanctuairedefleurs

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Guest: Ashley Joseph - Presenter, Actor & Writer

Episode Host: Angela

In this episode of Begin, Build, Blossom, we sit down with Ashley Joseph, a dynamic Presenter, Actor & Writer whose work spans global stages, award‑winning television, and celebrated theatre. Deeply rooted in his Saint Lucian heritage, Ashley has built a career defined by versatility, courage, and a relentless commitment to craft.

His presenting journey includes hosting the Saudi Arabia Formula E Concerts, Lil Simz’s Meltdown Festival, the Caribbean Summertime Ball, Dubai Music Week, and his signature Valentine’s showcase Lovers and Friends.

Ashley is the co‑creator of the hit improv show ACTing Up!, a familiar face from BBC favourites such as Robin Hood, Justin’s House, Doctors, and EastEnders, and the voice behind Jared in the award‑winning animated series JoJo & Gran Gran.

His theatre and directing credits include the Olivier Award‑winning Get Up Stand Up and the West End sensation Shifters. As a writer, he is shaping the future of children’s television with projects across the BBC, Channel 5, Cartoon Network, HBO Max, and more.

This conversation explores creative courage, craft mastery, resilience, and the power of showing up consistently in a competitive creative industry, offering practical insights for anyone building a creative or entrepreneurial path.

More specifically:

• The importance of Reading
• Embracing growing older with intention
• Continual learning as a creative discipline
• Betting on yourself and taking bold chances
• Skiing as a Black man — challenging expectations
• Choosing the right partners for the right projects
• Stepping out of your comfort zone
• JoJo & Gran Gran and the impact of representation on Television

Books Mentioned

• The Art of Growing Old — Marie de Hennezel
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen R. Covey
• How to Win Friends and Influence People — Dale Carnegie
• The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

Connect with Ashley

• Instagram: Sir Ashley J (@sir_ashleyjoseph)
• Email: ashleyj.creativeteam@gmail.com

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Today, we’re learning about a new business called Zoner.

We’re joined by two of Zoner’s three co-founders, Ashlee Okunonke and David Kema. Their fellow co-founder, Bryce Knight, wasn’t able to join us for this conversation.

Ashlee Okunonke is a senior at Manhattan University studying Computer Science and a former software engineer at ADP. She’s planning to pursue graduate school in California while continuing to build products at the intersection of data and real-world impact.

David Kema is a senior at Rutgers University (Newark), double majoring in Management Information Systems and Supply Chain Management. He describes himself as a renaissance man; curious, multifaceted, and intentional about growth while also creating spaces where people feel comfortable and truly heard.

Together, they are building Zoner from the ground up; a platform focused on helping people make clearer decisions about where to live and develop.

In this episode, we talked about:

• The memories, experiences, and entrepreneurs who inspired them along their journey
• How childhood friends became co-founders and decided to build together
• Why they chose the entrepreneurship path and how entrepreneurship was nurtured early on
• The role internships, organizations, and university experiences played in shaping their vision and partnerships
• The importance of being in the right environments and around people who challenge and support growth
• What market and product validation has looked like while building Zoner
• What it looks like bringing a startup to life from the ground up
• Whether founders should wait for the “perfect” product before putting themselves out into the public
• Representation, impact, and the importance of pouring back into the community

Conect with Zoner:

Website: https://zoner.pro

Social Media: @whatsyourzone

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Yasmeen Duncan is a seasoned HR executive with over 20 years of experience and a two-time entrepreneur. She is the Founder and Principal of Duncan Workforce Solutions, a workforce advisory firm that supports growth-stage organizations and public sector agencies with strategic people and workforce solutions.

She is also the Founder of Sisterhood Society for Women of Color (SSWOC), an organization dedicated to equipping Black women with the tactical, psychological, and emotional resources needed to thrive personally and professionally.

Yasmeen’s entrepreneurial philosophy centers on accountability to mission. As a founder, she believes leadership requires more than completing tasks—it requires embodying the vision. By living the message she champions, she strives to be both a resource and an example for the women she serves.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Hearing the whispers of her legacy
• Building an organization around being the blueprint, especially when you are the only one in the room
• Fostering a resilient mind from childhood into adulthood
• The importance of being anchored and confident
• The internal work required for growth
• The sustained fire within her
• What it looked like to take a break
• Negotiating exit packages
• What she has learned through entrepreneurship

Connect with Yasmeen:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yasmeenduncan

Instagram: @heysis_society

Website: https://sisterhoodsocietywoc.org

Website: https://www.duncanworkforcesolutions.com

Email: yasmeen@duncanworkforcesolutions.com

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Guest: Christina Blacken

Host: Clarita

In this episode of Begin, Build, Blossom: Your Business Journey, we’re joined by Christina Blacken—a public speaker, writer, performer, and founder of The New Quo, a leadership development company focused on authentic leadership, behavior change, and building trust within organizations and communities.

Christina shares her journey from full-time employee to full-time entrepreneur and opens up about the experiences that shaped her voice, creativity, and approach to leadership. From growing up as a Black woman in Utah to building a business rooted in storytelling and human connection, this conversation explores what it means to create impact through story telling.

We also talk about how one video led to exponential social media growth overnight but how genuine, offline relationships were still the foundation that helped grow her business and opportunities.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Transitioning from employee to entrepreneur
• The power of storytelling and why your story matters
• Using personal experiences to influence and connect with others
• Reclaiming creativity and using it to navigate difficult conversations
• Building trust and creating meaningful impact through leadership
• How changing policies and uncertainty created “whiplash” for businesses and communities

Connect with Christina:

• Website: The New Quo
  
  
• Podcast: Tell It Proud Podcast
  
  
• Social Media: @christinablacken including Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn

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Guest: Jac White

Host: Clarita

Today we are joined by Jac White, a sales and business development expert with over 20 years of experience helping women grow their businesses with confidence.

Jac has built her career around helping women turn their natural strengths into authentic, effective sales skills; skills that don’t just sound good, but actually drive revenue and real client growth.

She is the founder of the HoneyBees Group and host of the Girls Make Bank podcast, where she continues to empower women to show up, sell confidently, and build businesses that support their lives.

With experience across brands like LearnVest, DailyCandy, The New York Times, and Armani Exchange, along with startups and consulting, she brings both corporate insight and an entrepreneurial perspective.

She’s also a recognized thought leader, with features in Forbes, Huffington Post, and Entrepreneur.

What we talked about:

• Her personal journey into entrepreneurship
• The first step service providers should take once they decide to start their business
• Selling with confidence and truly valuing your services
• What we should—and shouldn’t—be willing to do when it comes to selling and evolving as service providers
• Pivoting and evolving your business over time
• What success means to her at this stage of her journey
• The ecosystem women are building through community and connection
• Hosting in-person breakfasts for women building businesses
• Creating space through virtual meetups and ongoing community support

Connect with Jac:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacwhite

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjacwhite

Podcast: https://www.honeybeesgroup.co/girlsmakebank

Website: https://www.honeybeesgroup.co