So Ambitious

In this powerful episode of So Ambitious, Aisha Bowe shares how she went from a 2.3 GPA student to a NASA rocket scientist, entrepreneur, and commercial astronaut. This is not just a story about space.  It is about rewriting the narrative when the world tells you what you cannot do. Aisha breaks down how self-doubt becomes your biggest barrier, why “automatic negative thinking” keeps founders stuck, and how she built a framework to achieve what once felt impossible. From turning rejection into redirection, to raising millions, to creating access for the next generation, this conversation is a masterclass in ambition, resilience, and building without permission. This is the mindset shift required to build beyond limits. KEY POINTS - Why self-doubt becomes the “gravity” that holds founders back - The moment Aisha realized she could not let others define her future - How “automatic negative thinking” sabotages opportunities - Why failure is just success in progress for founders - The power of building systems that create access, not just success - How to pitch bold, unconventional ideas to major brands - Why founders must prioritize mental health and self-awareness - The importance of creating your own rules in systems not built for you QUOTABLES  “The reality of it is that evenly distributed opportunity is not.” – Aisha Bowe “Doubt was my gravity for so many years.” – Aisha Bowe “We have to borrow someone else’s belief in ourselves until it becomes our own.” – Felecia Hatcher “My goal is to be an awesome bedtime story.” – Aisha Bowe RESOURCES Aisha Bowe  IG | @aishabowe Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media 

What happens when ambition is backed by access, community, and purpose? Welcome to Season 4 of So Ambitious, the podcast powered by Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize and hosted by Felecia Hatcher. This new season brings you inside the real stories of Black and Brown founders who are not just building businesses, but shifting systems, creating access, and redefining what success looks like. From scaling companies rooted in lived experience to navigating capital, burnout, and high-stakes decisions, these conversations go beyond the highlight reel. This is where ambition meets reality, where founders talk about what it actually takes to build something that lasts. You will hear how entrepreneurs turn real problems into scalable solutions, how they push through loss, pressure, and uncertainty, and how they stay committed to building for their communities. Because the truth is, success is not just about growth. It is about impact, ownership, and longevity. This isn't a startup story. This is a growth story. Because when Black and Brown founders win, they do not just scale companies.  They shift systems. And remember, ambition does not need permission. RESOURCES Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media 

In this special compilation episode of So Ambitious, hear directly from founders who have won funding through the Black Ambition Prize — and what it really takes to build, scale, and grow after securing capital. If you are a Black or Brown entrepreneur looking for funding for your startup, this episode is a masterclass in what happens before, during, and after winning a pitch competition. These founders share how they navigated rejection, rebuilt after major setbacks, scaled their businesses, and leveraged access to capital, mentorship, and networks to accelerate growth. From losing everything in a warehouse fire to rebuilding after six-figure losses, from innovating in clean energy and maternal health to disrupting billion-dollar industries, these stories highlight the real journey behind startup funding and business growth. This episode breaks down: What investors look for in founders How to grow after winning funding Lessons learned from the Black Ambition Prize How access to capital and community changes trajectory The emotional resilience required to scale a startup If you’re preparing to apply for the Black Ambition Prize, pitch investors, or raise capital for your business, this episode gives you insight directly from founders who have been there and built through it. This is about funding, scale, representation, and building sustainable companies that solve real-world problems. Most of all, it’s about Black and Brown entrepreneurs who turned opportunity into impact. RESOURCES Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media 

Entrepreneurship is not just about strategy. It is about resilience, self-forgiveness, and learning how to move forward after mistakes, losses, burnout, and rejection. This compilation episode is about having the inner strength required to survive and grow as a founder, and captures the emotional reality behind the journey and the lessons learned through experience. Discover how founders fail forward, rebuild after setbacks, and develop the endurance needed to stay in the game. This episode is for anyone navigating a hard season or questioning whether the struggle is worth it; it is a reminder that resilience is a skill you build, not a trait you are born with. KEY POINTS:  307: Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche on Losing Everything to Find Yourself: Lessons After $300,000 in Debt 306: One Vision, One Weekend, 50,000 People: Michael Barclay on Scaling Essence Festival and Cultural Legacy 301: The $15 Trillion Opportunity: Protecting Black Culture & Ownership | Lanny Smith, Tommy Johnson 304: The Future of Music is AI: How Black Creators Can Win the Next Creative Era 308: Love Is the Investment Thesis: Lessons From 8-Figure Investment Decisions | Liz Thompson 305: The Hidden Cost of Ambition: Candace Washington on Founder Mental Health RESOURCES Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media

This Best-Of episode spotlights founders who stopped waiting for permission and chose to build anyway. These stories highlight what happens when creators are overlooked, underestimated, or even excluded from traditional systems. Instead of fitting into spaces that were not built for them, they created their own ecosystems rooted in ownership, culture, and authenticity. You’ll hear how conviction, self-trust, and long-term vision fuel innovation. This compilation is for anyone building without validation, navigating cultural gatekeeping, or creating something new because what they needed did not exist. KEY POINTS:  301: The $15 Trillion Opportunity: Protecting Black Culture & Ownership | Lanny Smith, Tommy Johnson 302: The Unusual Pairing - Ingrid Best on Building Space for Black Women in Luxury & Wine 303: The Internet Was Built on Black Culture, Alphonzo Terrell Says It’s Time We Own It 304: The Future of Music is AI: How Black Creators Can Win the Next Creative Era 306: One Vision, One Weekend, 50,000 People: Michael Barclay on Scaling Essence Festival and Cultural Legacy 307: Tiffany "The Budgetnista" Aliche on Losing Everything to Find Yourself: Lessons After $300,000 in Debt RESOURCES  Felecia Hatcher IG | @feleciahatcher Black Ambition IG | @blackambitionprize So Ambitious is produced by EPYC Media