There's MORE in STORE in 2024!! GET INSPIRED by our first episode of the new year with New York Times bestselling author and global communications expert, David Murray. The head of the Professional Speechwriters Association talks to Pivotal Moment about making sense of today's issues and how to communicate effectively in our response to them. Murra…

“Burning out is not a badge of honor,” Judy West told Pivotal Moment. “Find an environment where your gifts can flourish.” West is the head of Women Executive Pastors, an international group of more than 160 women executive pastors from around the world. In this episode, she shares her insight on unlocking your spiritual gifts, walking in your God-…

Two years ago, Eventnoire beat more than 200 startups to clinch the #1 spot in Mountain Dew’s Real Change Challenge. Earning the win, and a part of the $1M pool, positioned the company as a leading voice in digital solutions and a national brand in the event marketplace. Eventnoire Co-Founder Jeff Osuji talks about his vision for the company as a p…

“Sit up. Speak up. Stand up.” For Retired Rear Admiral Annie B. Andrews, this is more than a slogan - it’s a lifestyle. Now, after 32 years in the United States Navy, the third African-American woman in the U.S. to hold the post of rear admiral - is starting a new chapter. “Admiral Annie,” is the founder of a new leadership training enterprise, spe…

"That's what I love to do.” Tolu Samuels talks to Pivotal Moment about his incredible growth spurt, from 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-7...in one season. Just outside of Chicago, Hillcrest’s star player and college-bound senior talks about dominating on the court, including epic wins at key tournaments. Now, he’s looking ahead to the future, to the program a…

“I don’t let fear paralyze me from making moves,” Rockland Page told Pivotal Moment. “Fear is normal in entrepreneurship, but when you see the fruit of your labor, it propels you beyond them. That’s living the dream.” Combining style, culture and storytelling, the founder and CEO of ROCKaBLCOK lifestyle brand is making a worldwide impact in the fas…

“You help people achieve their goals. That’s leadership,” Dr. Kelly Elmore told Pivotal Moment. “When you realize the impact you can have on people, you show up.” As chief wellness officer, Dr. Elmore travels the world, leading people to healthier lives - spiritually, physically, financially, mentally and emotionally, or “SPF ME,” part of her VivaL…

"History is made by the people who have power," Dana Rubin told Pivotal Moment. "So much of our story is told by men and through men's voices." But Rubin's book, “Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches by American Women," debunks the myth that men were the only powerful speakers in our country's history. "Women in America have been speaki…

Dr. Constance Shabazz, CEO of Salaam Community Wellness Center of Chicago, has devoted her professional life to health care and social justice. As COVID-19 swept through the city, she witnessed the devastating impact on communities of color. Long-standing health inequities in marginalized populations were exacerbated. People with underlying health …

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME! Too many of us wait for the right time to start or expand our business. We wait to be motivated or inspired to take our vision to the next level. But TODAY is a new day! Todd Unger, Chief Experience Officer and SVP, Marketing & Member Experience at the American Medical Association says, "It's not about you, it's abo…

KARIMA! With her smash hit “Redeemer,” Karima opened D-Nice’s Club Quarantine Live for nearly 20,000 fans at Hollywood Bowl. Now, “Redeemer” is #1 on Billboard Gospel. “If you’re afraid, do it anyway,” she tells Pivotal Moment. In this episode, the Grammy-nominated artist talks about selfies, chicken noodle soup, her new clothing line - and just ho…

“There are possibilities you have not considered because of the presence of anxiety,” says Grammy-nominated artist, Brian Courtney Wilson. The gospel superstar talks to Pivotal Moment about his mission, his music, and how to move your mountain. Learn about his recent collaboration with Ledisi, his 5th and most recent album, Still, and his new podca…

Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Mariah Carey were among his celebrity clients for his first business. That power of celebrity soon led Fred Mwangaguhunga, a former Wall Street tax attorney, to create MediaTakeOut, featuring the hottest African-American celebrity news online. MTONews, known as the “Black TMZ,” has been featured in Black Enterprise, Vog…

Allen Iverson’s wicked crossover became part of her WNBA game before thrilling crowds as a Harlem Globetrotter. Now, Joyce Ekworomadu is using her skills off the court to inspire and empower as a motivational speaker. “It’s about the business of serving others,” she says. “Who can your life story help?" In the league, Ekworomadu is known as “Sweet …

"Vote because she can't," says Zachary Huff, founder of the Stamped Out Movement. The 19-year-old Chicago artist launched the social justice movement after the tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, and 12 others as a result of, "police brutality, systemic racism, and institutionalized racial bias," Huff told Pivotal Moment.…

“We are growing and we’ve got a great product on the court,” says Kelsey Plum, 5’8” point guard for the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces and member of the USA team. In 2017, Plum was named espnW Player of the Year, AP Women’s Player of the Year, and the #1 draft pick. Although she was on the injured list this season, she continues to make moves off the court,…

“Sports was transformative to my life,” says Michael Alter, owner of the Chicago Sky. “It changed the way I view the world.” On Pivotal Moment, Alter shares his vision for the Chicago Sky and how the city’s newest sports team is making a run for the finals in 2020. “We’re championship-ready.” Alter, who played in the AAU league with industry legend…

"You don't have to wait to be great," says 12-year-old Marvel Superhero, Jahkil Jackson. "Become a change agent now." And change the world he has. Inspired by a visit to a homeless shelter, Jackson decided he wanted to help. At just 5-years-old, he created Blessing Bags, filled with toiletries to distribute to the nation's homeless, from Chicago to…

Question: When "Sex in the City" meets a black "Friends" ensemble, what do you get? Answer: Felischa Marye’s new hit, "BIGGER," on BET+ The show follows five thirty-something friends and their quest for all things BIGGER: from paychecks, to careers, to success in relationships. Marye talks about leaving public relations for film school at UCLA, whe…

Her client was accused of murdering a 5-year-old kid. But that didn’t stop LaTonya Burton, criminal defense attorney, from stepping to her client’s side in the courtroom. “They will be looking at me -- not you,” she assured the troubled woman. “I will take the heat.” “I am able to see past what the crime is, or alleged crime, to see the person,” Bu…

Danny Glover. Taraji P. Henson. Hill Harper. Will Packer. Muhammad Ali. Those are just a few of the names that award-winning journalist, author, and columnist, Maudlyne Ijehirika has interviewed over an illustrious career in media. But there’s still one person she hasn’t covered. Find out in our interview. Named one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in…

With more than 2.5M views on a recent YouTube video and nearly 50k subscribers, Chicago's Candice Childress is taking the beauty world by storm. Her signature style has been featured on broadcast networks like the OWN Network, ESPN and her artistry has graced the covers of magazines worldwide. She talks to us about a pivotal moment involving Cover …

"It's rewarding to help other people fulfill their dreams about their business and help their businesses grow," says Kimberly Evans Killion, who took a unique off-the-beaten-path into financial services. In a newly-created global role, Killion was named Head of Private Capital Administration, North America, for Northern Trust. In this capacity, she…

For more than two decades, Dr. Margena Christian met with John H. Johnson to share the hottest stories of the day as a member of the Jet magazine team. Johnson, the founder of Johnson Publishing Company, created an international empire, including Ebony, Jet and Fashion Fair Cosmetics. In 1982, Johnson was the first African-American on Forbes magazi…

Move over Tom Brady; there's a new QB in town. And her name is Sami Grisafe. But the retired female QB of The Chicago Force Women's Football team does more than win football championships across the globe. Spoiler alert. Voted MVP, Grisafe led her team to two international football victories and one national championship. Still, as impressive as he…

At just 5' tall, she's a giant above the rest. Miami model-maker Sunnie Morrison is revolutionizing the runway and making space for girls and women of color in the process. Her Miss Runway Competition offers has helped hundreds of girls to be powerful, to be beautiful --and to be fearless. From 4-years-old to over 18, Sunnie's girls are dominating,…

Rita Crundwell stole $53 million and no one knew. It’s the largest case of municipal fraud in American history. But how could this happen and no one notice? "All the Queen’s Horses," now on Netflix, answers that question. The documentary reveals how the comptroller in the quiet town of Dixon, Illinois, single-handedly stole a fortune to live lavish…

Sally Hazelgrove is making a difference in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. Her after-school boxing program, The Crushers Club, takes kids off the streets, and trains them to box, teaches them to lead, and pays them - YES, PAYS THEM, in the process. The Englewood club has employed hundreds of Chicago youth. Crushers Club also offers a music educat…

Rapper Chi Candi, known for her smooth sounds and dope curves, continues her rise on the charts with sold out shows in the U.S. and Dubai, marking her claim to fame and leaving fans calling out for more. She talks to Pivotal Moment about being the only female rapper on the national stage for BET’s One Shot and how she had to impress judges like T.I…

Running ESPN, or most of it anyway, isn't easy. But Rob King has a plan, a mission and a playbook that continues to lead ESPN to bigger, better and greater. "We're judged on how well we do, by how well others do." If you're interested in a dream job, or your next role, listen to King's insight on positioning yourself as the solution to the problem …

For former NFL player Major Wright, "Kill or be killed," has always been his mantra, the result of an incident in a local park at just seven-years-old that would forever change the course of his career. That pivotal moment would eventually lead Major to the University of Florida and a BCS Championship, to the Chicago Bears and an NFC Championship, …

"Michael! Michael!" Comedian, actor, and author Michael Colyar could hardly get to his seat at The BET Awards as fans and celebs gave a shout-out to the hilarious Chicago-born personality. Find out what Rick Ross and Snoop Dogg said to Colyar and what REALLY happened at Jamie Foxx’s after party. On Pivotal Moment, Colyar talks about the moment AND …