Faith and Business: A faith-driven entrepreneur, and how she works with nonprofits to inspire and educate.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Erica Gwyn.

🎙️ Interview Summary: Erica Gwyn on Money Making Conversations Masterclass Purpose of the Interview

To spotlight Erica Gwyn’s journey as a faith-driven entrepreneur, her work with nonprofits through her company Nonprofit Guru LLC, and her educational initiatives including Seven Oaks Academy Montessori. The interview aims to inspire listeners by sharing Erica’s story of resilience, leadership, and community impact, while offering practical advice for nonprofit founders and small business owners.

🧭 Interview Outline 1. Introduction

Host Rushion McDonald introduces the show and its mission to inspire and educate entrepreneurs.
Erica Gwyn is welcomed as the founder and CEO of Nonprofit Guru LLC and Seven Oaks Academy Montessori.

2. Background & Career Journey

Erica shares her early experiences, including working with Spelman College and Habitat for Humanity.
She discusses her expertise in grant writing and nonprofit management.

3. Nonprofit Guru LLC

Origin of the name “Nonprofit Guru” from her cousin, an attorney.
Focuses on helping nonprofits with fundraising, board development, and strategy.
Works with organizations that have at least \$300,000 in revenue and an existing board.

4. Common Mistakes in Nonprofit Startups

Placing unqualified family members on boards.
Lack of understanding of board responsibilities, especially fundraising.
Over-reliance on grants without diversifying funding sources.

5. Board Development Advice

Ideal board size: 5–7 members to avoid deadlocks.
Seek members with legal, accounting, program design, and volunteer coordination expertise.
Importance of board training programs like United Way’s VIP program.

6. Faith-Driven Entrepreneurship

Erica shares her personal story of becoming a single mother at 19 and losing her child’s father.
Her journey of healing through service and community involvement.

7. Seven Oaks Academy Montessori

Purchased an existing preschool and transformed it into a boutique Montessori school.
Focus on cradle-to-pre-K education with plans to expand after-school and summer programs.
Offers unique features: professional chef, small class sizes, diverse staff, on-site therapy, and classroom cameras for parental viewing.

8. Summer Camp & Educational Expansion

Originated from a math and science summer camp inspired by her son Cameron.
Plans to revive the camp and expand educational offerings.
Emphasis on creating a cradle-to-college pipeline for students.

9. Marketing & Branding

Erica acknowledges the need to improve her visibility and branding.
Encouraged by Rushion to relaunch her website and promote her services more actively.

💡 Key Takeaways

Authenticity & Expertise Matter: Erica’s credibility stems from her hands-on experience and passion for nonprofit work.
Board Composition is Crucial: A well-trained, committed board is essential for nonprofit success.
Diversify Funding Sources: Don’t rely solely on grants—explore individual giving, estate planning, and in-kind donations.
Faith & Purpose Drive Success: Erica’s personal challenges fueled her commitment to community service and entrepreneurship.
Education is Empowerment: Her Montessori school and summer camps aim to provide foundational learning and long-term academic success.
Marketing is Essential: Visibility and branding are key to expanding impact and reaching the right audience.

🗣️ Notable Quotes

“You’re a nonprofit guru—you know nonprofits in your sleep.”
“Your board’s primary job is to be a fundraiser.”
“I’m a faith-driven entrepreneur. I walk in my purpose and that is a gift.”
“Community means accepting and respecting people and organizations working together in an ecosystem.”
“I started giving back to others, and I loved it. I’ve never known how to turn it off.”
“You have a glow about you… you are a superpower.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Uplift: Solving food desert issues, the world’s first Black-owned autonomous grocery store.

Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Jamie and Jilea Hemmings. Business: Nourish + Bloom MarketClaim to Fame: The world’s first Black-owned autonomous grocery store 🧭 Purpose of the Interview To spotlight the Hemmings’ innovative approach to solving food insecurity through technology, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. The interview explores their journey from corporate careers to tech entrepreneurs and retail disruptors, emphasizing their mission to eliminate food deserts and build generational wealth. 🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Mission-Driven Innovation Nourish + Bloom Market was born from a personal need for healthier food options for their autistic son. Their stores use AI-powered, frictionless checkout to provide 24/7 access to fresh food in underserved areas. 2. Tech Meets Purpose Despite no formal tech training, they developed two scheduling platforms (for cannabis and pharma) before launching their grocery concept. They became the first in the U.S. to accept EBT/SNAP in an autonomous store environment. 3. Family & Legacy The Hemmings are raising three children and caring for an aging parent while running their business. Their children are involved in operations, reinforcing the idea of building legacy in real time. 4. Community Empowerment They focus on dignity in access, ensuring that all customers, regardless of income, can shop equally. They support local farms and promote workforce innovation to prepare communities for the tech economy. 💬 Notable Quotes “They are the visionary co-founders of Nourish + Bloom Market, the world’s first Black-owned, autonomous grocery store.” “Driven by a mission to eliminate food deserts and empower underserved communities.” “We’re building legacy in real time.” “Just because you need assistance doesn’t mean you should lose dignity.” “AI is here. It’s not going anywhere.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 Sep 35min

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The Steve Harvey Morning Show for Wednesday, September 24th, 2025: Steve Harvey's Morning Inspiration | Show Open | Run That Prank Back - "Bump & Grind" | Ask The RTLO & Junior | Special Guest: Sheryl Underwood Parts 1-3 | Nephew Tommy's Prank - "Bump & Grind" | Strawberry Letter - "The Kitchen & The Bedroom" Parts 1-2 | Sports Talk With Junior | Social Media Advice | Wellness Wednesday sponsored by Pfizer | Would You Rather | Nephew Tommy's Closing RemarksSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24 Sep 1h 31min

Brand Building: How to convert your side hustle to your main business.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Lamar Tyler. 🎯 Purpose of the Interview To spotlight Lamar Tyler’s entrepreneurial journey, the growth of his platform Traffic, Sales & Profit (TSP), and to share actionable insights for Black entrepreneurs on building scalable, profitable businesses from side hustles. 🧭 Key Themes & Takeaways 1. Branding with Purpose Lamar emphasizes the importance of clear, relatable branding. His previous brand, Black and Married with Kids, succeeded because the name instantly resonated with its audience. Quote: “If they can hear the name, they can see it and say, ‘Hey, that’s for me.’” 2. Side Hustle to Main Hustle Most Black entrepreneurs start businesses while working full-time jobs. Success requires treating the side hustle like a real business from day one. Quote: “There is no perfect time. The time to get started is now.” 3. Consistency & Growth TSP’s first event in 2016 had only 47 attendees, half of whom came for free. Growth came from consistency and listening to the community. Quote: “Sometimes all you need is confirmation.” 4. Customer Experience & Branding Inspired by Disney’s “unexpected touchpoints,” Lamar expanded branding beyond the event space to include the hotel exterior and even airport baggage claim. Quote: “We brand everything from the lobby to the pool… to make it feel like home.” 5. Faith & Execution Faith plays a central role in Lamar’s business philosophy. He encourages entrepreneurs to act on the opportunities they pray for. Quote: “You pray to get the opportunity, now you want to do all the work too.” 6. Scaling vs. Growing Growth increases revenue and expenses; scaling increases revenue without proportional expense growth. TSP Scale is a new event focused on helping businesses reach this level. Quote: “Scale is where the real money comes in.” 7. Lever-Driven Growth System Lamar outlines systems for: Proposal processes Upselling Referral systems Creating experiences that justify premium pricing Quote: “If you create an experience around what you do, you can charge two, three, four times more.” 8. Platform & Community Lamar transitioned from doing all the speaking to empowering others in his community. He believes in giving others a platform to grow. Quote: “Too many artists try to hold on too tight… and miss out on the blessing.” 🌟 Notable Guests & Surprises at TSP Events Surprise appearances by Magic Johnson, Issa Rae, Master P, Jermaine Dupri, Janice Bryant Howroyd, and Ambassador Andrew Young. Quote: “If you want to be it, you need to see it.” 📍 Event Details New Event: TSP Scale Location: Atlanta Westin Gwinnett, Gwinnett County, GA Website: TSPScale.com #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24 Sep 32min

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22 Sep 1h 31min

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