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AS SEEN ON TV...

More than 80 percent of the population in the United States watches reality TV and one of the most popular genres deals with home renovations. Many of these shows are often produced to cater more to cameras than construction and there don't see a lot of people of color on camera. That’s why real estate expert Egypt Sherrod and her husband, master builder, Mike Jackson, have garnered a worldwide audience of enthusiastic viewers.

In this podcast, they explain that none of their TV projects were window-dressed. In fact, some took up to a year to complete. They also discuss why a business plan and the objective of doing more than just starring in a reality show has made them millionaires.

They’re a part of this series because, first and foremost, Egypt and Mike are astute business people.

In addition to having decades of experience in their industries, they have built companies that aren’t dependent on on-air programming. Mike owns Jackson Draper Construction, which he runs with Egypt’s uncle, Mark. Egypt has developed products that sell nationwide at JC Penny and Target stores under her Indigo Road family of companies. This episode of ABL DUOs explains how this couple was able to use their reality show to create sustainable business models while also building a following.

But there’s another inspiring story behind the slick production, most recently seen on their Emmy nominated HGTV series, “Married to Real Estate.” This is a married couple who has been together for more than 20 years and have a hilarious story about how they fell in love. They describe the dynamics of their relationship and explain how they use it to run successful businesses while also raising three children.

Through it all, they both focus on remaining positive while working in an industry that makes money showcasing negative behavior. The reward for their perspectives is the ability to build success in the face of obstacles.

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THE DAUGHTER OF A KING

The Reverend Doctor Bernice A. King carries the legacy of one of Atlanta, GA’s most important families. She is often identified as the CEO of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. But that’s not why she is interviewed for this podcast.

Business ownership and financial independence are not usually discussed as being planks in the civil rights platform. Dr. Bernice ties them together and shares her thoughts about how a cultural trait she identifies as “I want to have my own” may be at odds with the ability to grow sustainable global enterprises.

Dr. Bernice is a small business owner and has made United States history in the field of banking. While being the primary keeper of her father’s legacy and the field of traditional finance seem far removed from each other, Dr. Bernice explains why they are more closely linked than most people realize. She also tells listeners that Operation Breadbasket, one of the last programs established by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. before his assassination, was an important component in the civil rights movement. Operation Breadbasket was operated by the S.C.L.C (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) It involved home ownership and business development in the African American community.

This podcast shows how much her father, the man she never got to meet as an adult, has shaped her aspirations in life. It also highlights the influence her mother, Coretta Scott King, had in building her youngest daughter’s clear-headed approach to problems.

Rev. Bernice King holds dual juris doctor, ( J.D.) and divinity degrees from Emory University. She is also an ordained minister. She takes her calling seriously and in this podcast, shares her belief that the hand of the Supreme Being has guided all of her choices in life which include where she got her education, how she met her business partner, Ashley Bell and the opportunity that allowed her to pray for a Catholic Pope.

If you have ever had questions about the woman tasked with interpreting the concept of non-violence for current generations, listen to this podcast. It will leave you enlightened and uplifted.

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LISA M BORDERS: THE OMNI-PRENEUR

There are legacy families in Atlanta, GA. Some are internationally known for the influence they have had on Georgia based businesses. Others have made different types of contributions to the metro area for generations, but most people only know the name of one family member. One of the goals of this podcast series is to look under the hood of success and examine some of the lesser-known components. That’s why you’ll learn a lot about family dynamics when you listen to the podcast episode about Lisa M. Borders.

If you’re from Atlanta and older than 70, you might identify her as the granddaughter of the late Wheat Street Church pastor, Reverend William Holmes Borders, Sr. If you’ve lived in town since the 1980s, though, you might remember her as a former President of the Atlanta City Council and Vice-Mayor. People who are long-term members of the area’s health community will know Lisa as the first person to lead a capital campaign for Grady Hospital and the person credited for financially rescuing the hospital system. In the world of sports, she’s known as a former CEO of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and she’s closely tied to leading endeavors for women’s rights. She’s also chaired a global division for the Coca-Cola company.

Each of those accomplishments is noteworthy. Collectively, they make Lisa an omni-preneur. It’s a word she used to describe herself during the 90-minute interview she participated in for this edition of Atlanta Business League’s TELLING OUR STORY episode.

Lisa tells stories that most people have never heard about several of her high-profile positions. But she does something more. She explains the motivation for choosing to endure verbal abuse, such as being called a racial slur every single day, during one phase of her education journey. She describes why she allowed herself to be treated like a chess piece by one of the most powerful business leaders in the city. She also recalls, with joy, how what looked like projects likely to fail, turned into some of the biggest blessings in her life – to date.

The guiding factor in many of Lisa’s decisions is a chorus of voices that come from the elder members of her family. They taught leadership by the lives they lived, fortitude by the challenges they conquered and the benefits of loyalty based on a foundation of love by simply supporting each other to the best of their abilities.

One of the most incredible facts about the life of Lisa Borders is that it continues to evolve. The podcast ends with one of the projects she is developing in 2025.

The conversation with Lisa Borders is mind-changing in many ways. It explores education, corporate C-suite leadership, sports, politics and health care from the personal perspective of a woman who has made unique and powerful contributions to each industry. What you will learn at the end of this podcast is that she has set her sights on doing even more in the years to come.