by Keri Henderson, Small Business Consultant & Entrepreneur
#37: She had the idea that would change her life and did nothing with it for three years. Angelique Warner was in the middle of nursing with a house of 18 kids when a vision came to her. A baby carrier designed to support breastfeeding, postpartum mobility, and mother-child bonding. She saw it clearly. Then let it pass. It wasn't until her youngest was starting preschool that she finally put pen to paper and turned that vision into a reality. Today, Angelique is the first Black woman to create a patented baby carrier designed to support breastfeeding, postpartum mobility, maternal health, and parent-child bonding. Angelique opens up about the realities of the patent process, the mistakes she made filing her own application, navigating expensive attorneys, investor negotiations, and what she learned about protecting intellectual property while building a business. We also discuss how GoGoVie is partnering with hospitals and maternal health organizations to improve postpartum support for moms. In this episode, you'll learn: What the patent process is really like for inventors Why protecting your intellectual property (IP) matters Founder lessons on investors, partnerships, and knowing your value How postpartum support tools can improve breastfeeding, mobility, bonding, and maternal health The strategy behind landing hospital partnerships and B2B opportunities If you're a founder, inventor, entrepreneur, or someone interested in maternal health innovation, this episode is packed with practical lessons and inspiration. Connect with Angelique: Website → gogovie.com Instagram→ @mygogovie 📲 Connect with me https://www.kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter https://www.kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#36: After testing 30 brands of human and synthetic hair, there was only one brand that tested negative for heavy metals. Only one. Dosso Beauty. Consumer Reports recently released a second braiding hair report. Not only were the brands tested human and synthetic hair. Some of them were labeled as “non-toxic.” At a time when so many women are looking for healthier beauty options, we trust that if a brand says they are non-toxic, they are really non-toxic. In light of the recent Consumer Reports, Dosso Beauty Founder Kadidja Dosso returns to the podcast to continue the conversation around non-toxic braiding hair. She breaks down the findings of the report, answers your most common questions and discuss the harsh realities of building a clean beauty brand as a Black woman founder. We also discuss: The surprising truth about human hair and why “non-toxic” labels can be misleading How braids can impact scalp health, eczema, scalp dermatitis, and psoriasis Why healthier braiding hair products cost more The microaggressions and funding challenges Black women founders face in the beauty industry After this episode, you won't walk into a beauty supply store the same way again. Connect with Kadidja + Dosso Beauty: Instagram → @dossobeauty | @kadidja.dosso TikTok → @dossobeauty Reference episodes: #15: Te Hidden Risks of Brands No One Talks About #31: Are Your Beauty Products Making You Sick? The Truth About Toxic Ingredients 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#35: Ownership is the real currency. When it’s yours they can’t take it away from you. In this week's Kickback Briefing episode, we’re breaking down BET’s new creator partnership with media entrepreneur JASON LEE, Fear of God’s surprising company reset and what The Doux's latest investment deal reveals about scaling a Black-owned business. This episode we discuss: The blueprint for content creator ownership and leveraging intellectual property The importance of staying aligned with your vision and what it can cost you if you don’t How going against industry norms can be a set up for success The nuance of scaling, selling and building generational wealth as a Black business owner Whether you're building a media empire, resetting a fashion brand, or scaling a beauty business, the through line is the same: the ones who protect what they built are the ones who last. Read→ May Issue of The Kickback With Keri Newsletter Sources Mentioned: Jason Lee in AfroTech, HipHop Wired, The Doux in AfroTech 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
As a business owner or someone who juggles multiple hats, if you’re not careful, you’ll run yourself into the ground. In this Hot Take, Kobi Co. owners Kobi Gregory and Tasha Harris share the self care practices that keep them grounded as well as lessons learned about boundaries when working with family. Listen to the full episode here. 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#34: In this episode, Keri kicks back with Adrienne Randle, creator Evryday Black Magazine, shares why she ended her popular Black-owned shopping guide to launch an indie bi-monthly magazine that centers everyday Black people, not celebrities. Adrienne opens up about her lifelong dream of running a magazine, the unexpected pivot that began with a holiday shopping guide after pausing her product business and the real challenges of producing an independent magazine; from high printing costs and ongoing content planning months in advance. She also shares how she vets small Black-owned business submissions to weed out businesses that misrepresent themselves as Black-owned, and why she believes everyday Black stories deserve the spotlight just as much as celebrity brands. In this conversation, we talk about: Why small Black-owned businesses deserve just as much recognition as celebrity brands The challenge of getting Black men to participate and be featured How to shop Black-owned businesses intentionally all year round - not just during Black History Month or Juneteenth The one word Adrienne hopes every reader feels when they flip through an issue Connect with Adrienne Randle: Website → evrydayblk.com | byadrienne.com Instagram → @evrydayblkmag | @addierawr Facebook → @evrydayblkmag 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#33: Nicole Murphy is a tech founder, speaker, and advocate for collaborative entrepreneurship. She is the Founder and CEO of Barter Black®, a membership-based bartering platform built for Black entrepreneurs to exchange products and services. In this episode, we break down how entrepreneurs can use bartering and community to start, grow and scale their businesses without relying solely on cash. She shares how she turned an idea born during the pandemic into a platform that helps Black entrepreneurs exchange products and services, save money, and build stronger businesses through collaboration. In this conversation, we talk about: How to use bartering as a business growth strategy when funding is limited Why community-driven entrepreneurship and collaboration are the keys to building sustainable Black-owned businesses Lessons every Black tech founder needs to hear before launching their next app or tech startup idea The truth about tech accelerators, startup pitch competitions, and small business grants — and when they're actually worth your time Why cutting out the noise and focusing on business implementation over learning may be the best thing you can do for business growth Connect with Nicole Murphy: Website → barterblack.io Instagram → @barterblack.io TikTok → @iamnicolemurphy YouTube → @barterblack 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#32: In this episode we’re talking about the controversy surrounding Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Trick Daddy, Cardi B’s sold-out hair care launch, and Issa Rae’s latest move into TikTok micro-series. Each story teaches powerful lessons in branding and marketing. In this episode, we cover: Why the AKAs booking Trick Daddy was a failure The importance of knowing your audience and brand alignment Why Cardi B’s hair care line sold out in an hour (and what most brands get wrong) How Issa Rae’s TikTok partnership signals a shift in how we consume content How to use storytelling to build your brand story. Resources Yahoo Entertainment The Grio Yahoo Entertainment/Fast Company 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
When it comes to your skincare, you could be doing more harm than good. In this hot take, licensed esthetician Cameron Cooper breaks down some of the most common skincare mistakes people make every day. From expensive eye creams to overly complicated routines, he reveals the myths that might actually be harming your skin instead of helping it. We discuss why sunscreen isn’t seasonal, why skincare marketing often leaves men out of the conversation, and why a simple routine may be better than a cabinet full of products. Listen to the full episode here 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#31: Did you know that 75% of beauty products marketed to Black women contain harmful chemicals? Clean Beauty for Black Girls founder Hannah McCall shares staggering truths about our favorite skincare, haircare and makeup products, how to switch to non-toxic beauty options without overhauling your entire routine and the legislation that could change the US beauty industry for the better. In this episode, you’ll learn: The two major toxic chemicals Black women should avoid The difference between “organic,” “clean,” and “natural” labels and why none of them are regulated A surprising truth about fragrances and parfums hiding in your products The best free apps to scan your products and find out what’s really in them Why the Safer Beauty Bill is a game changer for Black women’s health and US beauty product regulation Connect with Hannah McCall Website → cleanbeautyforblackgirls.org Instagram → @cleanbeautyforblackgirls Resources: Clearya Redify App (Google) Redify App (Apple) Environmental Working Group 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show
#30: If you’ve recently been laid off, or you’re thinking about leaving corporate, this episode will teach you how to turn your experience into a profitable consulting business. In this episode, marketing strategist and messaging expert Candice Jackson Long shares how she went from a devastating layoff to building a thriving consulting business, and how you can too. Whether you're starting from scratch or trying to attract better clients, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a business rooted in your expertise. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to turn your corporate experience into a consulting business that generates income The #1 mistake new consultants make when trying to market their services Why defining the problem you solve is the key to attracting the right clients How to build a visibility strategy that converts (not just grows followers) What to focus on first if you're starting a business after a layoff Connect with Candice Jackson Long Website → candicejacksonlong.com LinkedIn → @candicejacksonlong 📲 Connect with me kerihenderson.com/links 📧 Subscribe to The Kickback With Keri Newsletter kerihenderson.com/newsletter Enjoying the podcast? Support the show