HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE SEASON FIVE FINALE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I'M YOUR HOST Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

THROUGHOUT THIS SEASON, WE HAVE HAD SOME INCREDIBLE WOMEN ON THE COUCH FROM ARTISTS AND EDUCATORS TO MENTORS AND EXECUTIVE LEADERS, THESE WOMEN ARE INSPIRING OTHERS AND UPLIFTING THE STATE THROUGH THEIR WORK.

TODAY WE HAVE SOME POWERFUL SHE-EOS BREAKING BARRIERS AND FLUKING THEIR COMMUNITIES IN SO MANY WAYS.

WE ALSO HAVE PERFORMANCES FROM LAUREN AND JILLIAN AND A CHECK-IN FROM A PAST GUEST.

JOINING ME HERE RIGHT NOW ON THE COUCH ARE YOULANDA HUDGINS-JOHNSON, SHAWNI DAVIS, AND Dr. LAVONNE ANSARI.

SO GATHER YOUR FAMILY IN THE LIVING ROOM AND SEND A TEXT TO YOUR FRIENDS BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THE SEASON FINALE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

TO START OFF TODAY'S SHOW, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE SINGER LAUREN LAGAN WHO WILL BE PERFORMING THE SONG CONQUEROR BYEY TELL.

I'M SO EXCITED FOR TO YOU JANE US TODAY.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING.

>> I'M EXCITED.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IRINSPIREING PEOPLE THROUGH MUSIC AND ART AND CROCHETING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I FELT LIKE ON SEASON 25 WE NEEDED TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT FROM YOU.

♪ LIFE IS LIKE A BIG MERRY GO ROUND.

♪ YOU'RE UP AND THEN DOWN.

♪ GOING IN CIRCUMSTANCE WILLS TRYING TO GET WHERE YOU ARE ♪ ♪ EVERYBODY'S BEEN CUTTING YOU OUT ♪ ♪ WHERE ARE THEY NOW ♪ ♪ SITTING IN THE SAME OLD PLACE, JUST FACES IN THE CROWD ♪ ♪ WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES, YOU MIGHT FALL ON YOUR FACE ♪ ♪ BUT YOU GOTTA GET UP.

♪ I'D RATHER STAND TALL.

♪ THAN LIVE ON MY KNEES ♪ 'CAUSE I'M A CONQUEROR AND I WON'T ACCEPT DEFEAT ♪ ♪ TRY TELLING ME NO, ONE THING ABOUT ME ♪ ♪ IS I AM A CONQUEROR, I AM A CONQUEROR ♪ ♪ GOT A VISION THAT NO ONE ELSE SEES.

♪ LOT OF DIRTY WORK, ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES ♪ ♪ REMEMBER THERE'S A WAR OUT THERE ♪ ♪ SO COME PREPARED TO FIGHT ♪ ♪ YOU NEVER KNOW WHERE THE ROAD LEADS YOU ♪ ♪ NOT EVERYONE'S GONNA BELIEVE YOU ♪ ♪ OWN THOUGH THEY'RE WRONG DON'T PROVE THEM RIGHT ♪ ♪ I'D RATHER STAND TALL ♪ THAN LIVE ON MY KNEES ♪ 'CAUSE I'M A CONQUEROR AND I WON'T ACCEPT DEFEAT ♪ ♪ TRY TELLING ME NO, ONE THING ABOUT ME ♪ ♪ IS I AM A CONQUEROR, I AM A CONQUEROR ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ IS I AM A CONQUEROR.

♪ WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES.

♪ YOU MIGHT FALL ON YOUR FACE ♪ ♪ BUT YOU GOTTA GET UP ♪ ♪ WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES, YOU MIGHT FALL ON YOUR FACE ♪ DON'T EVER GIVE UP ♪ ♪ STAND TALL ♪ THAN LIVE ON MY KNEES ♪ ♪ BECAUSE I AM A CONQUEROR.

♪ AND I DON'T ACCEPT DEFEAT... ♪ ♪ ONE THING ABOUT ME ♪ ♪ I AM A CONQUEROR 12340E9 ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES ♪ ♪ YOU MIGHT FALL ON YOUR FACE ♪ ♪ BUT I AM A CONQUEROR.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] THAT WAS A POWERFUL WAY TO START OFF TODAY'S SHOW.

THANK YOU, LAUREN.

WE ARE CONQUERORS.

ON THE SECOND SEASON OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN," I SAT DOWN WITH KIMBERLY CLARK TO TALK ABOUT HER JOURNEY FROM SYRACUSE, NEW YORK TO L.A. AND HOW SHE USED COMEDY TO TALK ABOUT SOCIAL ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WELL, THREE YEARS LATER, KIMBERLY IS CONTINUING THIS WORK AND SHE IS BACK WITH US TODAY TO SHARE HOW IT'S GOING.

HOW ARE YOU, KIMBERLY?

>> I'M GREAT.

HOW ARE YOU DOING, Dr. JUHANNA?

>> I'M DOING PRETTY WELL.

I'M DOING PRETTY WELL.

AND FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT, SO ARE YOU.

>> YEAH, I'M DOING GOOD.

I HAVE SOME NEIGHBORS MOVING UPSTAIRS SO YOU MIGHT HEAR A THUD.

IT'S NOT A EARTHQUAKE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WHEN YOU WERE HERE WITH US IN PERSON FOR THIS SHOW, YOUR NETFLIX SPECIAL WITH TIFFANY HADDISH HAD JUST COME OUT.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO SINCE SEASON 2?

>> YEAH, WOW.

IT'S BEEN A WHIRL WIND.

IT SEEMS LIKE MOONS AGO.

BUT AFTER DOING THE NETFLIX SPECIAL, I WROTE ON THE JENNIFER HUDSON SHOW FOR THE FIRST SEASON.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE AND UNEXPECTED.

SO WHEN YOU ARE READY TO GO NATIONAL, Dr. JUHANNA, HIT ME UP AND I'LL PRODUCE YOUR SHOW.

>> LISTEN, I'M READY.

OKAY.

>> YEAH BUT RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS IS STANDUP I JUST RECORDED A COMEDY ALBUM.

I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF SHOWS LOCALLY AND I WILL BE HITTING THE ROAD.

I'M OPENING FOR RON FINCH'S, NEXT WEEK IN DENVER, COLORADO.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT TIME.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE IT.

I KNOW WE ACTUALLY GOT TO SEE EACH OTHER IN PERSON ON THE WEST COAST WHEN I WAS OUT THERE RECENTLY.

>> YES.

>> AND WHEN WE WERE THERE, WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT'S HAVE BEFALLEN PERFORMANCE AND HOLLYWOOD AND WRITERS AND PRODUCTION OF SHOWS AND I'M SO GLAD TO SEE THAT, THROUGH IT ALL, YOU ARE STILL PUSHING FORWARD AND STILL FINDING OPPORTUNITIES TO SHOW UP AND TALK.

>> THE STRIKE DEFINITELY TOOK THE WIND OUT OF THE SAILS OF HOLLYWOOD, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL JUST HAD TO PIVOT AND, YOU KNOW, LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN OTHER WAYS AND BE ABLE TO UTILIZE OUR SKILLS.

IN OUR WAYS AND FACETS OUTSIDE OF HOLLYWOOD.

>> WELL, YOU LANDED ON YOUR FEET.

LAUREN WAS SINGING ABOUT BEING A CONQUEROR AND I WAS SITTING THERE LISTENING TO WORDS.

WE ALL HAVE SETBACKS AND MOMENTS BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, ARE YOU GOING TO LET THIS TAKE YOU DOWN OR FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KEEP STANDING.

SO KUDOS TO YOU FOR DOING THAT.

WHEN CAN WE SEE SOME COMEDY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK FROM KIMBERLY CLARK?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I WAS AT THE FOLK ART GALLERY.

I DID AN OPEN MIC THERE WHILE I WAS IN TOWN LAST MONTH, AND YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT FEATURING ME THERE ONE DAY.

SO I NEED TO CIRCLE BACK AND SEE IF MAYBE CAN I DO A SHOW THERE.

WOULD I LOVE TO.

LET US KNOW WHEN YOU COME BACK BECAUSE WE WANT TO SUPPORT YOU.

WE HAVE A COUPLE SECONDS LEFT.

ANY LAST WORDS TO THE AUDIENCE HERE, TO OUR GUESTS TODAY, THAT YOU HAVE OR WANT TO SHARE FOR YOUR HOMETOWN?

>> FOR MY HOMETOWN?

>> YOU KNOW, CHANGING CONSTANT.

THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE OBSTACLES BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT PIVOTING AND ADJUSTING AND BEING A CONQUEROR LIKE THE SONG SAID.

>> EXACTLY.

WE ARE CONQUERING.

KEEP DOING YOUR THING ON THE WEST COAST AND WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON HOW THINGS ARE GOING BACK EAST.

KIMBER KIMBERLY, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR TO YOU INTRODUCE OUR NEXT GUEST WHO YOU HAVE SOME PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH.

>> YES, I CAN'T WAIT TO DO THIS.

OKAY.

SO, I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE SOMEONE WHO IS A WORD ARTIST, ACTIVIST, AND MOST RECENTLY EMMY AWARD WINNING POET.

SOMEONE WHO MADE HER NAME IN THE CITY OF BUFFALO AS THE FIRST POET LAUREATE.

SHE HAS GAINED RECOGNITION AFTER HONORING THE VICTIMS OF THE TOPS MASSACRE HAVING HER POEM ON DISPLAY AT THE MEMORIAL, HELPING THE CITY AND LOVED ONES HEAL FROM THAT DAY.

IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE MY COUSIN, WHO I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE FAMILY, WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF HER AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SAY, THE EMMY AWARD WINNING JILLIAN HAYNES WORTH PERFORMING HER POEM "WHO'S THE BOSS."

>> YOU THOUGHT YOU MADE THE SUN RISE, YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE THE ONE.

I HAD TO BRING YOU DOWN A SIZE SO I BECAME THE SUN, BEAMED ON YOU HEAVY HAD YOU SWEATING LIKE YOU WERE ON A RUN, REMINDER I DON'T GET TOLD WHAT TO DO BY ANYONE.

I DON'T NEED A SAVE YOORP.

I'VE NEVER BEEN A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS.

I'M THE DRAGON.

I SPIT FIRE.

ONLY ASHES LEFT.

I'M NOT A PRINCIPLE PRINCESS IN A TOWER WAITING, PASSING TIME.

I'M THE MONSTER YOU MUST SLEIGH BEFORE YOU TAKE WHAT IS MINE.

I HAVE POWERS YET TO LEARN.

NOT THOUGHT OFF AS THE HEAD BUT I CAN INFLUENCE THE HEAD TO TURN AND ALLOWS ME ON CONNECT THE DOTS AND TOO HUMBLE TO BROADCAST I AM SHE WHO CALLS THE SHOTS.

WITH VISIONS SO CLEAR I SEE THROUGH DOORS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN OPENED OR OPEN YET, I WALK BY FAITH BELIEVING WHAT CAN I NOT SEE, WITH MEDICAL NON OF MAGIC MY SOUL IS FREE.

I PUSH THE CULTURE FORWARD RAISING GENERATIONS LIKE MY CHILD AND CANDY COCOA BUTTER WHAT IS YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU SEE MY SMILE.

I CARRY THE POLITICAL WEIGHT NEVER TOO MUCH ON MY PLATE.

CAN'T STARVE ON MEDIOCRITY GETTING FULL ON GREATNESS.

THAT SEEPS OUT MY PORES, METHODIC AND INTENTIONAL, IF YOU NEED HELP, JUST ASK THE GIRLS.

LADIES WE MORE THAN RUN THE WORLD.

WE ARE THE AXIS ON WHICH IT TURNS, THE MOON THAT MAKES THE WATER RISE AND SUN THAT CAUSES LAND TO BURN.

WE HOLD DOWN EVERY FORT , EVEN THE ONES WE DID NOT BUILD.

WE REACH DOWN FAR INSIDE OURSELVES THAT MAKE WITH LOVE THAT MAKES ALL SORROWS HEAL.

EACH GREAT MAN IN HISTORY HAD A WOMAN RIGHT BESIDE LIMB ORCHESTRATING SOCIAL CHANGE, NO NEED TO GET BEHIND HIM AND IF SHE DID, HER BACK WAS TO HIS SO NOBODY WOULD SLIGHT THEM.

WE SPEAK UP FOR EVERYONE, EVEN THOSE WHO WON'T SPEAK UP FOR US.

AND WE'LL FIGHT THROWING LEFT AND RIGHT UNTIL THEY'VE HAD ENOUGH.

WE CAN'T BE BROKEN.

THEY DON'T GET THAT AND KEEP TRYING US.

NOT REALIZING THAT EVERY BUFFALO MAKES US MORE TOUGH.

WE EDIFY EACH OTHER LIKE ONLY WOMEN CAN.

WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF DIRTY HANDS.

WE ARE EVERYTHING AND NO WE DON'T ALWAYS SEE BUT A LION DOESN'T NEED A MIRROR TO JUST KNOW HOW TO BE.

IT IS INGRAINED IN US, THE MISSING LINK GOD TOOK TIME TO CREATE.

WE WILL NEVER FACE A CHALLENGE THAT WE CANNOT ANYLIGHT N. SOCIETY THEY MAY BE THE ONES WE LIKE TO CROSS BUT WE'LL HANDLE THAT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE SO TELL ME, WHO'S THE BOSS?

THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] WHERE DID THE INSPIRATION FOR THAT PIECE COME FROM?

>> THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS PIECE IN PARTICULAR CAME FROM A WOMAN FROM BUFFALO NAMED GAIL WALES.

UNFORTUNATELY WE JUST LOST HER A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.

SO I'M REALLY PROUD THAT SHE GOT TO HEAR THIS PIECE WHILE SHE WAS STILL HERE WITH US AND IT WAS HER FAVORITE PIECE SO, OF COURSE, IT WAS JUST FITTING FOR TODAY.

>> AND IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS SITTING HERE LISTENING, YOU KNOW, REST IN PEACE, SISTER GAIL, BUT THERE WAS SO MANY WOMEN THAT JUST FLASHED THROUGH MY MIND, RIGHT?

WHEN YOU WERE SAYING IT.

I WAS CURIOUS BUT I ALSO WANTED TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU I REMEMBER THE DAY MANY OF US WILL NEVER FORGET THE TOPS MASSACRE AND IT WILL BE YOUR VOICE AND YOUR WORK THAT HAS HELPED THE COMMUNITY SPEAK ABOUT, BUT ALSO TALK ABOUT CONTINUOUSLY THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ADDRESS.

AND SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU ARE LEADING THAT WORK BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I'M GLAD THAT THE STATE, THE CITY, THE WORLD IS ALSO RECOGNIZING YOU AND YOUR TALENT FOR DOING SUCH.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT THIS RECENT EMMY WIN?

>> I FEEL SO OVERWHELMED.

IT DOESN'T FEEL REAL YET.

I REMEMBER HEARING MY NAME UNDERSTAND I GOT THE EMMY AND I THANKED THE ACADEMY.

AND I WAS LIKE, WHO AM I RIGHT NOW?

WHERE DID I GET THIS FROM?

I'M FROM THE EAST SIDE OF BUFFALO.

I'M REALLY PROUD.

THE EMMY IS DEDICATED TO EVERYBODY.

I HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO EVERYBODY AND HOLD IT AND TOUCH IT FEEL LIKE IT REALLY IS OURS.

THAT'S FOR ME.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE RESPONSES FROM THE CITY THAT YOU HAVE GOTTEN IN YOUR TOUR AROUND?

>> WELL, FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS NO ONE HAS BEEN CALLING ME JILLIAN, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN CALLING ME EMMY.

I THINK EVERYBODY IS EXCITED THE WIN FELT LIKE A WIN FOR ALL OF US.

ED THE VIDEO THAT WON THE OUTSTANDING WRITING AWARD WAS ONE THAT FEATURED SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS BUFFALO BUT PRIMARILY ON THE EAST SIDE AND THE WEST SIDE WHICH ARE THE COMMUNITIES THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY SPENT THE MOST TIME IN, SO I'M JUST PROUD THAT WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY FEELS LIKE WE WON AN EMMY, EVEN MY HAIR STYLIST.

SHE CHANGED HER NAME TO EMMY WINNING HAIR STYLIST.

I'M NOT MAD.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT'S LIKE A WIN FOR YOU IS A WIN FOR THE COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

SO IT FEELS EVEN BETTER WHEN YOU CAN BRING IT BACK HOME AND FOLKS FEEL LIKE THEY CONNECTED TO IT.

I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOUR WORK.

MY FRIENDS TOLD ME ABOUT YOU AND I FOLLOWED YOU AS 9 POET LAUREATE OF BUFFALO DURING YOUR TENURE FOR THAT AND I HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS IS A DOPE SISTER.

SO TO HAVE YOU HAVING HELD THAT POSITION AND WINNING AWARDS, YOUR CONNECTION TO KIMBERLY CLARK, IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE AS PART OF THE SEASON FINALE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

>> IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE.

>> IT HAS BEEN FOLKS CONNECTED TO THE SHOW, IT HAS BEEN AMAZING.

BEFORE WE TALK TO THE AMAZING WOMEN THAT WILL BE JOINING ME ON THE COUCH TODAY, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW THEY'RE LEADING AND INSPIRING OTHERS THROUGH THEIR WORK.

>> MY NAME IS YOULANDA HUDGINS-JOHNSON AND I AM THE OWNER AND FOUNDER OF THE COUCOU'S CANDLE BAR.

I ACTUALLY STARTED THE BUSINESS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

EVERYBODY WAS WORKING FROM HOME AND WE HAD A LOT OF TIME AT HOME BECAUSE WE COULDN'T REALLY DO MUCH.

SO I STARTED, YOU KNOW, PLAYING AROUND AND JUST MAKING MY OWN CANDLES AND MY OWN SELF CARE PRODUCTS AND ONE DAY I GOT ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE PRODUCTS AND PEOPLE WERE LIKE, WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU HAVE.

WE WOULD LIKE TO PURCHASE THE PRODUCTS FROM YOU.

ALL OF OUR PRODUCTS ARE DONE IN-HOUSE.

I MAKE THE PRODUCTS.

MY SISTER IS MY RIGHT HAND.

SHE HELPS ME WITH THE NAMES.

LUXURY CANDLES, BODY SCRUBS, BODY BUTTERS, PERFUMES, COLOGNES AND SO MUCH MORE.

WE TRY TO MAKE SCENTS THAT YOU CAN'T FIND IN A REGULAR STORE.

PEOPLE ARE AMAZED HOW WE MAKE THE DIFFERENT SCENTS AND HOW PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO THE NAMES THAT WE COME UP WITH AND THE SCENTSZ.

AND IN THE CANDLE PAR AREA WE CELEBRATE SPECIAL MOMENTS.

WE HAVE PEOPLE COME IN AND THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN PERSONALIZED SCENTED CANDLES, BODY BUTTERS OR BODY SCRUBS.

I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP MAKING PRODUCTS FROM DAY ONE AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S CHALLENGING TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH ONLINE ORDERS AND EVEN MORE CHALLENGING NOW THAT WE HAVE THE CANDLE BAR AND TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH ONLINE ORDERS.

I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

I DID NOT WANT TO GO BACK INTO THE RETAIL BUSINESS BUT THERE WERE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY, THEY WERE LIKE, THE SPACE IS OPEN.

AND WE THINK THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT FIT FOR A CANDLE STORE.

AT THE TIME I HAD JUST BEEN PROMOTED AT MY JOB AND I WAS LIKE NO WAY 679 THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT AND SOMETHING TOLD ME JUST TRY IT.

I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY AND IT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST DECISION I'VE EVER MADE.

FROM DAY ONE, FROM OUR GRAND OPENING, THE COMMUNITY CAME OUT.

THEY SUPPORTED BIG TIME.

AND STILL TO THIS DAY, WE ARE HAVING EVENTS EVERY DAY FROM PEOPLE NOT ONLY JUST FROM THE COMMUNITY BUT WE ARE GETTING PEOPLE THAT ARE FROM THE OUTER SKIRTS COMING TO THE CITY.

THEY'RE HAVING BIRTHDAY PARTIES.

THEY'RE HAVING ENGAGEMENT PARTIES.

THEY'RE HAVING ALL TYPES OF THINGS AND IT'S ALL THROUGH CANDLE MAKING AND MAKING THEIR OWN PRODUCTS.

WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH AND IT'S JUST AMAZING AND PEOPLE ARE AMAZED AT THE FACT THAT I AM FROM THIS A WE DECIDED TO DO IT RIGHT HERE ON SALINA STREET.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO BE, YOU KNOW, A MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESS AND ESPECIALLY IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE YOU, WHEN THEY SEE YOU ACTUALLY RUNNING A BUSINESS, THEY'RE INSPIRED BY WHAT YOU DO AND THEY FEEL LIKE HEY, IF SHE CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT.

YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING THAT YOU LOVE PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT AND GO FULL BLAST.

DON'T STOP.

SOMETIMES YOU ARE GOING TO FEEL LIKE GIVING UP.

BUT THAT SHOULD BE YOUR MOTIVATION TO GO A LITTLE BIT HARDER AND JUST PURSUE YOUR DREAM.

>> MY FIRST EVER PROJECT THAT I WAS ON, I SHOWED UP TO THE JOB SITE WITH JUST A HAMMER.

I DIDN'T HAVE ANY TOOLS.

I SHOWED UP TO THE JOB SITE WITH JUST A HAMMER.

NOW WHAT I'M GOING TO DO WITH A HAMMER ON A COMMERCIAL JOB SITE AS AN ELECTRICIAN, I DON'T KNOW, BUT THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW MUCH I KNEW AND HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN SINCE THEN.

IN MY APPRENTICE CLASS, THERE WAS ONE OTHER WOMAN.

I WAS THE ONLY PERSON OF ENCLOSE ARE IN MY CLASS.

I FACED A LOT OF OBSTACLES DURING THAT TIME.

OBVIOUSLY NOT KNOWING MUCH IS AN OBSTACLE INth.

BUT THEN SHOWING UP ON SITE, BEING THE ONLY ME ON ANY JOB SITE TO BE HONEST, WAS KIND OF TOUGH.

YOU ARE ALWAYS-- EVERY TIME YOU SHOW UP ON A JOB SITE, EVERYONE AUTOMATICALLY THINKS HAVE YOU NO CLUE WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

IT WAS A TOUGH GO AT IT FOR A WHILE AND YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS TREATED FAIRLY.

YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS GIVEN THE BEST TASKS THAT YOUR SKILL SET MATCHES, THEY'RE USUALLY TRYING TO GIVE YOU A MENIAL TASK MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN BUT I DID NOT ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

I SPOKE UP FOR MYSELF.

SO WE DO TELEDATA PROJECTS.

WE DID A REALLY BIG TELEDATA PROJECT AT THE NEW SYRACUSE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.

THAT WAS, YOU KNOW, OVER A THOUSAND CABLES.

A BIG PROJECT.

WE DID SOME RESIDENTIAL, MOSTLY NEW CONSTRUCTION RESIDENTIAL.

THE BUILD-- THE BILLS STADIUM PRESIDENT CLINTON, IT'S THE BUFFALO BILLS, RIGHT?

WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO BE ON THAT PROJECT, AND WE JUST GOT THE STEAM SCHOOL PROJECT WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.

MY MOM ATTENDED CENTRAL IN HIGH SCHOOL, SO I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE ABLE TO WORK ON THAT PROJECT.

IT'S DIFFICULT AS A WOMAN DEFINITELY NOT ENOUGH OF US.

YOU ARE DOING CONSTRUCTION WORK.

IT'S HASHED ON THE BODY.

IT'S NOT THE EASIEST THING TO DO, RIGHT?

SO IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF GUMPTION, A LOT OF PHYSICAL WORK AND A LOT OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE.

WHEN YOU ARE FOCUSED ON A GOAL, WHATEVER THAT GOAL IS, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU.

YOU ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT IT IS YOU NEED TO ACCOMPLISH.

SO THAT'S KIND OF HOW I LOOKED AT IT.

I STAYED FOCUSED ON-- I CAN'T ALLOW THE NOISE AROUND ME TO DETERMINE WHERE I WANT TO BE IN LIFE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE CONTINUE TO GROW.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO EVENTUALLY PASS THIS ON TO SOMEONE, TO ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE.

I JUST WANT THAT KIND OF LEGACY, I THINK, IS THE MAJOR UNDERTAKING THAT I WANT TO HAVE.

>> THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER OF BUFFALO BEGAN IN THE 1960s AS PART OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO GIVE HEALTHCARE TO THOSE OF US THAT WERE UNDER SERVED, POOR, AND DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE.

WE ARE ONE OF PROBABLY 1700 IN THE COUNTRY.

IT STARTED IN 1999.

I CAME IN 2006.

WE WERE VERY YOUNG AND IN FACT, WE WERE ON THE VERGE OF CLOSING.

SO WHEN I CAME ON BOARD, WE WERE STRUGGLING.

FAST FORWARD, WE ARE NOW SIX SITES, 20,000 PATIENTS.

MULTIPLE DIFFERENT LANGUAGE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND VERY, VERY COMMUNITY-BASED.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN AN ACTIVIST BY NATURE.

EVEN WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE GROWING UP, I WAS PART OF PARENTS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ALWAYS ADVOCATING FOR THOSE OF US THAT NEEDS IT THE MOST.

SO WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME I WAS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS AT NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT THE TIME AND WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME UP AND THEY NEEDED AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PART OF IT, I WAS, LIKE I SAID, I WAS A THERAPIST FOR 10 YEARS IN PSYCH AND MED SURG AND WHEN THIS OPPORTUNITY CAME, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE TWO DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES TOGETHER IN MY EXPERIENCES AND HERE WE ARE.

EACH HELP CENTER IS DIFFERENT.

WE MIGHT HAVE THE SAME PURPOSE, BUT WHEN YOU COME TO ONE HELP FROM, YOU ARE COMING TO ONE HELP CENTER.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT OUR HELP CENTER IN BUFFALO, WE DON'T USE BEING IN THE COMMUNITY AS A SLOGAN.

WE ACTUALLY LIVE THAT.

SO THESE HELP CENTERS TEND TO TAKE ON THE PATHOLOGY OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT THET SIT IN SO I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THE MECHANICS OF YOUR JOB BUT I NEED THE SPIRIT IN WHICH YOU WORK IN THE JOB.

THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO.

I'M ALSO LOOKING AT THE SPIRIT BECAUSE WE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY, AFRICAN-AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR DIE DISPROPORTIONATELY BECAUSE OF EITHER POOR HEALTHCARE, OUR ENVIRONMENT, STRUCTURAL RACISM, YOU NAME IT, WE ARE IMPACTED BY IT.

WHERE YOU ARE SITTING RIGHT NOW, WE ARE 12 YEARS TO DYING EARLIER THAN ANOTHER ZIP CODE THAT'S MAYBE A FIVE MILES UP THE STREET.

SO WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT THESE HELP CENTERS, YOU ARE LOOKING AT PROVIDING A SERVICE THAT IS SURVIVAL BUT YOU ARE ALSO WANT US TO LIVE.

WE DON'T WANT TO JUST SURVIVE.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO LIVE.

WHEN YOU SIT IN THESE SEATS, YOU DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THE ROLE AND THE IMPACT THAT YOU HAVE UNTIL YOU ARE IN IT.

I HAVE GROWN TREMENDOUSLY.

I HAVE GROWN EACH AND EVERY DAY.

THERE IS NO END GOAL.

THERE IS A DIFFERENT BETWEEN PASSION AND PURPOSE.

MY PURPOSE AND PASSION IS TO MAKE SURE MY COMMUNITY IS UPLIFTED AND I CAN GIVE THE BEST I REQUEST MY PURPOSE RIGHT NOW IS THROUGH HEALTHCARE SERVICES.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO STOP GIVING AND STOP WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN IMPACT AS MANY PEOPLE AND MANY LIVES AS I CAN.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START.

TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT SITTING HERE ON THE COUCH RIGHT NOW?

JUST HEARING YOURSELVES, WATCHING YOUR STORY, WHAT IS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> OH MY GOD, JUST SEEING IT ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW.

IT WAS JUST VERY TOUCHING TO SEE MYSELF, TO ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT WHAT I DO ON A DAILY BASIS BECAUSE A LOT OF TIMES YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU JUST DO IT.

YOU NATURALLY DO THE WORK.

>> IT'S DIFFERENT.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> YEAH, SHE PRETTY MUCH.

>> THE GROWTH FROM WHERE I STARTED TO SEE THAT ON THE SCREEN WAS SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T OFTEN REFLECT O.

WE ARE JUST DOING IT, WE ARE JUST GOING.

SO THAT WAS A GOOD REMINDER THAT , YOU KNOW,YOU ARE GROWING AND MOVING FORWARD AND THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND TO KEEP GOING.

>> I'M SO EMOTIONAL AT THIS MOMENT BECAUSE IT SHOWS THE POWER OF THE WILL AND BELIEF BECAUSE YOU REALLY CAN'T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT BELIEVING WHEN NOBODY ELSE DOES.

>> YOU ARE SO RIGHT.

AND MY QUESTION WHEN DID EACH OF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU COULD LEAD OR CREATE THESE ENTITIES?

>> I WOULD SAY FOR ME IT'S LIKE GETTING AN ASSIGNMENT.

I SEEM TO FIND MYSELF IN SITUATIONS WHERE I'M WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY SO FOR ME IT WAS A NATURAL THING.

I HAD NO IDEA EXACTLY WHAT I WAS GOING TO BE DOING BUT I KNEW THAT I COULD DO SOMETHING VERY POWERFUL TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.

I HAVE BEEN TO THE CANDLE BAR AND THERE IS A WHOLE EXPERIENCE.

>> IT IS.

>> WE GO AND WE CAN GO TO OTHER COMPETITORS AND JUST BUY A KABUL.

WHAT MADE YOU SAY AND I'M THINKING ABOUT EVEN THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO PROVIDE A SERVICE BUT IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXPERIENCE THAT IMPACTS THE COMMUNITY.

THERE WAS-- WAS THAT SOMETHING YOU THOUGHT OF?

>> I BELIEVE LIKE I SHOP A LOT.

I DO A LOT.

I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY DESERVE THE BEST IN WHATEVER WE DO.

SO I WANT TO DO SOMETHING WHERE PEOPLE FELT LIKE THEY WERE GETTING THINK MONEY'S WORTH AND THEY LEFT FEELING GOOD.

I WANTED TO PROVIDE A GOOD EXPERIENCE AND WITH THAT IS PROVIDING GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE DON'T ALWAYS GET AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKE-- NOT SAYING THAT OTHER CANDLE BUSINESS DON'T HAVE GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT IT MADE OUR CANDLE BUSINESS MUCH BIGGER THAN A KABUL BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE ENTIRE EXPERIENCE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE TO PEOPLE, TO EVERYBODY THAT WALK IN THAT DOOR, THE EXPERIENCE THEY WILL NEVER FORGET.

>> YEAH, YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR VIDEO, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE DON'T USE THE WE SERVE THE COMMUNITY AS A SLOGAN; THAT YOU ARE REALLY EMBEDDED.

AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT IN PARALLEL TO SOME OF THE WORK YOU ARE DOING.

TALK TO BUS HOW-- TALK TO YOU US WITH HOW THE HEALTH COMMUNITY IN BUFFALO, IT STARTED IN ONE SPACE AND YOU HAVE GROWN THAT MODEL IN COMMUNITIES THAT LOOK LIKE OURS.

IN THE TIME, ALMOST 20 YEARS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THERE, TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT THAT MOMENT WAS LIKE FOR YOU IN LEADING AND NOT JUST LEADING TO KEEP ONE OPEN BUT EXPANDING IT ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

>> I THINK FIRST OF ALL, IT'S REALLY BEING IN TUNE WITH YOUR CREATOR AND EACH EXPERIENCE HAS YOU GROWING BECAUSE OUR GOAL IS TO HELP HUMANITY.

WE ARE ONLY GOING TO TAKE OUR GOOD DEEDS AND PRAY THAT IT OUTWEIGHS OUR BAD ONES.

SO WHEN THESE OPPORTUNITIES COME, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW YOU ARE GOING TO SHOW UP UNTIL IT SHOWS UP.

SO FOR ME, MY PASSION HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO HELP WHATEVER TOOLS I HAVE AND I WILL USE COVID AS AN EXAMPLE.

WHEN COVID FIRST HIT, IT WAS SOMETHING WE HAD NOT SEEN IN 100 PLUS YEARS.

WE WERE DYING DISPROPORTIONATELY.

EVERYBODY SHUT DOWN.

I DIDN'T ASK MY YOUNG STAFF WHO HAD CHILDREN AND BABIES, THAT THEY HAVE FAITH.

I SAID WE HAVE TO PULL ON WHAT GOD DELIVERED FOR US.

YOU ARE PHYSICIANS, M.D.s, DENTISTS.

WE HAVE TO LEAD, WE HAVE TO PRAY.

IF YOU WANT TO STAY HOME AND NOT SACRIFICE OUR LIVES, YOU DO THAT.

BUT WE HAVE TO STEP UP ON FAITH AND WE DID THAT.

BUT THAT CAME FROM, THAT EXPERIENCE COMES FROM YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE IT IS UNTIL YOU ARE SITTING AT LIFE AND DEATH.

SO I THINK THAT WHEN THE CALL COMES AND THE JOURNEY IS HOW YOU DEPEND INTO IT, YOU TAKE ALL THE TOOLS THAT GOD HAS IN YOU AND YOU USE THEM.

AND IT GETS SHARPER AND SHARPER, WHATEVER EXPERIENCE.

>> I MEAN THAT'S JUST POWERFUL AND I THINK TO SPIN OFF ON THE TOOLS, YOU SHOWED UP WITH A HAMMER YOU SHOWED UP WITH THE HAMMER ON THE ELECTRICAL.

I DON'T THINK THOSE TWO THINGS GO TOGETHER BUT SOMETIMES HAVE YOU TO BRING WHAT YOU HAVE.

>> WHATEVER TOOLS SHE SAID, TOOLS THAT YOU HAVE.

I BROUGHT THE TOOL I HAD AND THE GUYS LOOKED AT ME LIKE WHAT YOU GOING TO DO WITH THAT?

SO THEY JUST HAD ME MOVING MATERIAL AROUND, WHICH IS FINE, YOU KNOW, AS FIRST YEAR, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

AND THEN I WENT TO THE UNION HALL BECAUSE WE ARE A UNION CONTRACTOR AND I'M A UNION ELECTRICIAN AND I WENT TO THE UNION HALL AND I'M LIKE, LISTEN, I CAN'T AFFORD THESE TOOLS.

THEY'RE EXPENSIVE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.

I STARTED OUT WITH.

I STARTED WITH NOTHING.

THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO LEND TOOLS THAT I COULD USE ON THE JOB SITE.

I CAME AS MYSELF AND SAID THIS IS WHAT YOU GET, ALL 135 POUNDS OF ME AT THE TIME, NOT NOW, BUT AT THE TIME AND I DID MY BEST AND I DID MY BEST FOR MY ENTIRE CAREER.

I DID THE BEST I COULD.

I THINK THE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE PIECE I TALKED ABOUT WAS JUST TRYING TO GET ALONG WITH THE FOLKS ON THE JOB SITE.

EVERYONE HAS THIS GUARD UP WHEN YOU WALK IN, LIKE EVERYBODYING LIKE DISMISSING YOU OR WHATEVER.

SO WHAT I DID, I TALK ABOUT THIS ALL THE TIME I STARTED LISTENING TO THEIR CONVERSATIONS AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THINGS THAT I DID NOT CARE ABOUT, LIKE HUNTING.

I'M SORRY I GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND BUY MY MEATS.

DIFFERENT THINGS THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT.

IT WASN'T SOMETHING I WAS INTERESTED IN.

NOW I COULD HAVE EASILY SAID I'M GOING TO SIT OVER HERE AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.

BUT WHAT I DID WAS LISTEN.

I TOOK IT IN, I TALKED BACK WITH THEM AND I TOOK WHATEVER INFORMATION I GOT FROM THIS GUY ABOUT HUNTING.

IF THIS GUY START TALKING ABOUT IT, I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT 1234 I WAS JUST TALKING TO... [LAUGHTER] AND YOU KNOW WHAT I FOUND OUT?

BUT THAT WAS A WAY TO REALLY JUST LOWER EVERYONE'S GUARD.

THEN THEY'RE LIKE OH SHE IS TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT I CARE ABOUT AND THAT WAS THE EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE PIECE THAT I LITERALLY USED THROUGHOUT MY CAREER AND YOU KNOW, ONCE I FINISHED AND ONCE I DECIDED TO START THIS BUSINESS, I HAD THE BACKING OF EVERYONE BECAUSE EVERYONE EITHER WORKED WITH ME AND KNEW THAT I PUT MY ALL INTO THE WORK, OR THEY GOT TO KNOW ME OUTSIDE OF JUST THE ONE BLACK GIRL ON THE JOB SITE.

>> AND WILL TELL A SHORT STORY.

AT THE TIME I WAS A FOREWOMAN FOR A JOB SITE AND THERE WAS A VENDOR THAT CAME IN AND THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHERE TO PUT SOME MATERIAL EQUIPMENT AND I'M STANDING THERE TALKING TO ONE OF MY APPRENTICES, TELLING HIM WHAT TO DO, I'M POINTING.

THE GUY COMES UP AND WALKS UP TO MY APPRENTICE WHO WAS A CAUCASIAN MALE AND SAID, SAY, ARE YOU IN CHARGE HERE?

AND I'M STANDING RIGHT THERE.

AND MY APPRENTICE LOOKS AT ME AND HE LOOKS AT THE GUY AND LOOKS AT ME AND SAID SHE'S IN CHARGE AND WALKS AWAY.

AND THE GUY WHO WAS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE JUST STOOD THERE WITH HIS MOUTH OPEN LIKE ...

HE PROBABLY APOLOGIZED TO ME ABOUT SEVEN TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS HE SAW ME.

HE WAS LIKE SISTER, I'M SO SORRY.

BUT THAT'S JUST HOW YOU ARE LOOKED AT WHEN YOU GET ON THE JOB SITE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR ROLE IS.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, THE SHOW IS "BEHIND THE WOMAN" AND THE SPIRIT OF IT WAS TO FIND WOMEN LIKE YOURSELVES AND SIT DOWN AND TALK ABOUT WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCES ARE OR WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCES HAVE BEEN BECAUSE SO OFTEN TIMES WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LEADERSHIP OR CHANGE IN THE COMMUNITY OR THE RETAIL OR HEALTH INDUSTRY, FOR SURE IN THE TRADES, THE PROTOTYPE IS MALE FIGURES OFTEN TIMES AND SO AS I'M SITTING HERE LISTENING TO YOU, I'M THINKING ABOUT MAYBE NOT YOU TODAY, BUT WHERE YOU HAVE COME FROM AND WHAT WAS A MOMENT THAT INSPIRES YOU TO SHOW UP IN WHAT YOU DO AND TO LEAD.

AND THE EXPERIENCE AT WORK WHERE YOU PROBABLY FELT LIKE YOU WEREN'T INVITED TO BE PART OF THE TABLE SO HAVE YOU TO TAKE THAT AND MAKE YOUR OWN TABLE.

HAVE YOU TO MAKE YOUR OWN TABLE AND YOU INVITE THEM BACK.

THAT'S HOW I FEEL.

>> DID YOU LEARN HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN TABLE?

DID THAT COME IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL?

WHERE DID YOU GET THE SKILLS TO BE LIKE LISTEN, I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD.

I DIDN'T NEED TO BE INVITED.

I'M GOING TO SET UP MY TABLE OVER HERE?

>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A NATURAL THING.

YOU JUST FEEL LIKE YOU ARE JUST AS VALUABLE AND MAYBE OTHER PEOPLE MAY NOT SEE THE VALUE IN YOU.

SO HAVE YOU TO FIND YOUR OWN CREATIVE WAYS TO SHOW THAT I AM VERY VALUABLE, I'M VERY STRONG IN WHAT I DO AND WHAT I BELIEVE IN AND LIKE I SAID, YOU CREATE THAT ENVIRONMENT FOR YOURSELF WHEN YOU ARE NOT INVITED IN OTHER SITUATIONS.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE LEARN VERY EARLY OUR LEADERSHIP BECAUSE WHEN WE, AS WOMEN, WE ARE THE FIRST TEACHERS SO OUR LEADERSHIP COMES FROM OUR HOME LIFE BECAUSE THAT'S FIRST.

THEN I CAN SHARE.

BUT IF I DON'T CHECK AT HOME, WHATEVER OUR STRUCTURE IS, IT'S DIFFICULT TO LEAD OUTSIDE.

AND THE ONE THING I ALSO HAVE LEARNED, PARTICULARLY THE MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE IS THE 514 EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, MY HEALTH CENTER IS LIKE A MILE UP THE STREET.

SO I TOOK MY TEAM, NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO.

THERE IS NO BLUE PRINT FOR TERRORISM.

THERE IS NO BLUEPRINT.

WE HAVE IT FOR HURRICANES AND NATURAL THINGS BUT NOT MANMADE TERRORISM.

SO WHEN YOU TEND TO DO IS ASK YOUR GOD TO GIVE YOU WHATEVER INTELLIGENCE YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE AND WHAT IS AROUND.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT SHOWS UP.

IT SHOWS UP WITH-- I JUST SEE MYSELF AS A CONDUCTOR AND I HAVE ALL THESE DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTS AND THE INSTRUMENTS ARE WHAT THE TALENT IS AROUND ME AND MY MISSION IS TO MAKE SURE I GET TO THE PEOPLE AND SO I PLAY AS A CONDUCTOR AND SOMETIMES YOU KNOW, OR DEALING WITH SOME OF US, THE MUSIC SOUNDS A LITTLE CHOPPY.

AND I HAVE TO PULL, START CONDUCTING REAL FAST.

BUT UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ROLE YOU HAVE IS, THEY SEE YOU WHEN YOU DON'T SEE YOU.

SO I THINK MY LEADERSHIP, IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT, I I'M JUST A FACILITATOR FOR THE GOOD THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US TO DO.

>> THAT IS SO POWERFUL.

THE CONDUCTING PART, RIGHT?

>> GIRL, I COULD BE HEARING BANGS... >> I'M LIKE WHAT ARE WE CONDUCTING TODAY?

THE HOME PIECE IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT.

AND I'M GOING TO BRING IT OVER TO YOU BECAUSE WHEN I THINK ABOUT SETTING UP OTHER TABLES, RIGHT, AND CONDUCTING THINGS, YOUR TABLE SETTING AND CONDUCTING HAS LED YOU TO LIKE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WE TEND TO PUT A LOT OF EMPHASIS ON MOMENTS LIKE THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, TO THE WORLD, THAT SEEMS LIKE WE MADE IT.

BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MADE IT MOMENT?

>> I RECENTLY HAD A MADE IT MOMENT AND IT WASN'T, YOU KNOW, STANDING WITH THE PRESIDENT, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS AWESOME.

>> THAT WAS AWESOME.

>> IT WAS AWESOME I.

WAS COOL.

NO MATTER WHAT SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU ARE ON, POLITICALLY, IT'S REALLY COOL TO BE ON THE STAGE WITH THE PRESIDENT.

BUT THAT WASN'T IT.

THE MOST RECENT THING WAS-- ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS IN CONSTRUCTION IS GETTING BONDING FROM COMPANIES.

THAT JUST MEANS HEY, WE TRUST THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO THIS JOB AND MOST PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOUNGER COMPANIES.

MOST BONDING COMPANIES DON'T TRUST YOUNGER COMPANIES AND MY COMPANY IN TWO WEEKS WILL BE THREE YEARS OLD.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET BONDING.

AND WHEN THAT MOMENT HAPPENED, I CRIED.

AND I TOLD EVERYBODY I CRIED.

AND I CRY RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T CARE.

BUT THAT WAS A HUGE MOMENT BECAUSE THAT CHANGES THE GAME WITH THE TYPES OF JOBS THAT WE CAN TAKE, THE TYPES OF PROJECTS AND HOW WE OPERATE IN THOSE PROJECTS AND NOT JUST WE ARE GETTING THE CRUMBS FROM THE BIG GUYS GETTING ALL THE WORK AND WE ARE JUST GETTING THE PENNY.

YOU GET BONDING AND YOU ARE ONE OF THE BIG GUYS, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

AND SO THAT WAS THE MOMENT WHERE I FELT LIKE WE'VE WORKED SO HARD JUST TO GET TO THIS POINT.

AND WE DON'T HAVE LIKE, YOU KNOW, INFINITE AMOUNT OF BONDING BUT THE AMOUNT OF BONDING THAT WE HAVE WAS ENOUGH FOR ME TO BE LIKE Y'ALL, WE MADE IT.

[LAUGHTER] WE HERE, WE MADE IT.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> I THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR EACH OF YOU TO SAY, RIGHT, AND THAT'S A POWERFUL MOMENT.

BUT THE QUESTION I WANT TO ASK IS, WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT?

BECAUSE I THINK YOU KNOW, YOU SHATTERED THAT CEILING.

YOU WAS UP THERE WITH THE PRESIDENT, SINGING AT THE CANDLE BAR, YOU GOT THE DOORS OPEN, THE REVENUE, THE STOCK GOING, YOU KNOW, Dr. ANSARI YOU HAVE THE CENTERS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

YOU MADE IT THROUGH COVID.

BUT WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT NOW?

>> START WITH YOU.

[LAUGHTER] >> LET ME JUST SAY THAT I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S WORRY AS MUCH AS KEEPING OUR MENTAL WELLNESS AND SPIRITUAL CONNECTION BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW WE ARE LIVING AND THE STRUCTURAL RACISM AND LOOKING AT THE WORLD, BUT IT'S LOOKING AT AND IT GIVES YOU ALL THE ANOMALIES BUT THAT'S NOT NORMAL TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING THROUGH THAT'S THE WORST.

THAT'S NOT EVEN HOW WE ARE AS HUMAN BEINGS SO WHAT I CHALLENGE MYSELF IS TO KEEP A HEALTHY SPIRIT WE GET 24-HOUR IMAGES OF NEGATIVITY.

WHEN I CAME UP, YOU DIDN'T HAVE CELL PHONES SO YOUR BRAIN GOT TO SHUT DOWN AND HAVE REST BUT TO LOOK AT THE PHONES AND INTERNET ALL DAY AND ATTACHED TO FACEBOOK AND SOCIAL MEDIA, IT REALLY MANIPULATES THE BRAIN.

IT STARTS TO CHANGE IT.

THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME.

MAKING SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, MY GRANDCHILDREN-- I'M NOW CALLED NANA-POPO SOCIAL MEDIA BECAUSE I'M WATCHING ALL THE TIME.

IT USED TO TV, BUT NOW THE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO 24 HOURS.

WE HAVE TO REALLY PRESERVE OUR HUMAN NATURE.

THAT'S WHAT WORRIES ME.

>> THAT'S REAL.

HOW DO YOU TAKE THOSE MOMENTS, RIGHT?

>> WHAT KEEPS YOU UP.

YOU GOT BONDED.

RIGHT NOW WHAT IS BOTHERING ME AT THE MOMENT IS WE SHOULD NOT HAVE STARTED HERE.

WHAT KEEPS ME UP?

I'M RUNNING A MULTIMILLION DOLLAR BUSINESS AND I DON'T KNOW HOW I GOT HERE BUT I KNOW I GOT TO KEEP IT GOING.

SO I TRY NOT TO WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING, I FORGOT TO DO THIS.

OR THERE IS ALWAYS A PIECE OF SOMETHING THAT JUST POPS UP IN MY MIND AT 2, 3, 4 CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND THEN I'M JUST UP.

WHO ANSWERS EMAILS AT 4:00 IN THE MORNING?

I DO.

ANYBODY ELSE?

JUST KEEPING IT GOING AND THIS BUSINESS, AS I BELIEVE, IT'S MEANINGFUL TO THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.

THE COMMUNITY IS HOPEFUL FOR US AND WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY.

SO I ALSO THINK A LOT ABOUT HOW I CAN HELP MY COMMUNITY.

HOW MANY MORE OF US CAN I HELP GUIDE AND LEAD INTO THIS AMAZING CAREER AND SO LIKE ALL OF THESE THINGS, THEY COMPILE SOMETIMES, KEEP ME AWAKE.

>> YOULANDA.

>> YEAH.

>> I'M LOOKING AT YOU LIKE THAT BECAUSE I REMEMBER DURING ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMIC LIKE JUST-- WE DON'T EVEN KNOW THE WORDS FOR IT, RIGHT FROM A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, WE CAN RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF COVID BUT TO STEP OUT ON FAITH AND BEGIN A BUSINESS DURING THAT TIME AND EXPAND IT IN THE WINDOW OF TIME THAT YOU HAVE, WHAT IS KEEPING YOU UP NOW BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE DID IT?

>> I THINK WHAT IS KEEPING ME UP NOW IS MAKING SURE YOU KNOW, YOU STAY HEALTHY BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PUT ON THAT FACES EVERY DAY.

YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE EVERYBODY ELSE HAPPY AND I THINK IT'S MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE CANDLE BAR.

AS YOU MENTIONED, I'M MAKING MY OWN PRODUCTS SO WE MAKE-- I MAKE ALL THE PRODUCTS THAT ARE IN MY STORE OUTSIDE OF THE KABUL BAR SO JUST ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO GROW THE BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, GETTING THE PRODUCT OUT, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE AND SO IT'S OUT IN EVERYBODY'S HOUSEHOLD.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A GOOD PRODUCT.

SO AT NIGHT I THINK ABOUT WHAT CAN I DO TO MAKE IT BIGGER AND BETTER THAN IT IS NOW.

EVERY NIGHT.

I CAN'T JUST STOP NOW.

I'M IN IT NOW.

SO WHAT DO DO YOU NEXT WITH IT.

>> HOW MUCH SLEEP ARE YOU ALL GETTING ON AVERAGE?

BE HONEST.

>> I TRY GET MY EIGHT HOURS, BUT HONESTLY, IT'S NOT ALWAYS LIKE THAT.

>> I HAVE TRIED TO INVEST IN-- I WENT TO A CONFERENCE-- I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A CONFERENCE BUT IT WAS A GROUP AND THIS GUY WAS SAYING, THE GUY WAS SAYING LIKE LISTEN, HAVE YOU GOT TO GET AT MINIMUM SEVEN HOURS OF SLEEP AND THIS GUY IS LIKE A MULTIMILLIONAIRE SO HE IS TELL US FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE YOU GOT TO GET SLEEP.

I WAS LIKE ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW I'M GOING TO INVEST IN MY SLEEP.

I HAVEN'T CHANGED MY MATTRESS YET BUT I'M STILL TRYING TO CONVINCE MY WIFE LIKE LET'S SWITCH SOMETHING UP.

BUT I HAVE INVESTED IN LIKE BLIND FOLD LIKE EYE COVERS THAT HAVE EAR BUDS WHERE I CAN LISTEN TO CALM, LIKE I AM REALLY PUTTING IN THE EFFORT HERE BECAUSE I DEFINITELY DON'T GET ENOUGH SLEEP.

I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO SAY HOW MANY HOURS BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

>> WELL, I'M OLD.

I'M WORKING ON IT.

THAT MEANS I TAKE NAPS IN BETWEEN.

WHEN YOU GET OLDER, THAT'S REAL.

>> TAKING NAPS COME BACK.

>> WHEN YOU GET-- SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET OLDER, I CAN SNEAK HOME AND TAKE A LITTLE NAP.

I GOT A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBILITY IN MY DAY.

BUT I REALLY DON'T GO HOME AND TAKE A NAP BUT I SHOULD.

I GET PROBABLY SIX HOURS MAYBE.

>> SIX HOURS.

>> BUT IT'S NOT GOOD.

>> BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT WHEN YOU BECOME C.E.O.

OR PRESIDENT OR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT BECAUSE THEN THEY START GIVING YOU MULTIPLE TITLES, RIGHT?

THAT SLEEP BECOMES A SACRIFICE.

AND SO IN THE SPIRIT OF LIKE SETTING TABLES AND, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT LEADING IN YOUR COMMUNITIES AND SELF CARE AND HOW DO YOU DISCONNECT, HOW DO YOU ALL-- DO YOU-- NOT EVEN HOW-- DO YOU ALL STRUGGLE WITH THAT?

ARE YOU LEANING NIGHT AND IS IT REALLY REALISTIC OR ACHIEVABLE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S COMMERCIALIZED IDEA BUT I'M LIKE, Y'ALL ARE WE REALLY TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES?

>> I THINK FROM ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING AT, IT'S-- WE CALL IT WEATHERING.

CHRONIC DISEASES.

ALL OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE DON'T TAKE THE TIME FOR OURSELVES BECAUSE IT DOES CATCH UP.

WE KNOW MORE NOW THAN OUR GRANDPARENTS KNEW BUT THEY HAD SOME NATURAL THINGS THEY DID.

SO WE HAVE TO TAKE TIME AND MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO US TODAY, THEY REPLACE US.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM WORKING IN HEALTHCARE THAT PARTICULARLY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN AND MEN, WE WEAR MENTAL HEALTH TOO WELL BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TRAUMA AND PAIN WE DO HAVE BECAUSE WE DRESS IT UP YELL WELL.

>> WE DO.

>> BUT IT GETS US WITH ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS SO WE HAVE TO MAKE THAT A PRIORITY.

>> HAVE TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY.

>> A PRIORITY BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO.

NOBODY KNOWS YOUR BODY BETTER THAN YOU.

AND THE BRAIN HAS TO RELAX.

>> I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT.

AND AS WE ARE WRAPPING UP TODAY'S SESSION, I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS IN YOUR ENDEAVORS AND COMPANIES THAT YOU ARE LEADING NOW THAT YOU WANT A YOUNG LADY, IN A COUPLE OF WORDS, WHAT WOULD YOU ASK THEM TO DO?

GH I WOULD.

>> I WOULD SAY BE FEARLESS.

YOU KNOW, I SAY FEARLESS BUT I DON'T REALLY MEAN LIKE WITHOUT FEAR.

BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS DO IT WITH THE FEAR.

LIKE JUST WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU ARE DOING, HEAD ON, FEAR IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND BUT DON'T LET THAT DETER YOU FROM MOVING FORWARD BECAUSE I TELL YOU WHAT, I COULD HAVE JUST BEEN LIKE I'M JUST GOING TO STAY A JOURNEY WOMAN ELECTRICIAN AND THIS IS GREAT.

THIS IS AWESOME.

AND EVEN STAY AS MASTER ELECTRICIAN, ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS GOOD.

THIS IS AWESOME.

I CONTINUE TO PUSH MYSELF THROUGH THE FEAR.

I CONTINUE TO PUSH MYSELF SO I SAY, MOVE THROUGH THE FEAR.

>> MOVE THROUGH THE YEAR.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I WOULD SAY DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE CREATIVE AND WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, WHETHER YOU ARE MAKING CANDLES, ELECTRICIAN OR WHATEVER PROFESSION IS ALWAYS ADD YOUR OWN PERSONAL TWIST TO WHATEVER YOU DO.

THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE YOU STAND OUT FROM THE REST.

>> I WOULD SAY UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR LIFE IS A JOURNEY.

AND EVERY-- SO THERE IS JIM QUICKIE WROTE A BOOK CALLED LIMITLESS AND HE SAYS THREE ALPHABETS.

BIRTH AND DEATH B, D, C IS IN THE MIDDLE.

C IS CHOICE.

THAT CHOICE IS YOUR JOURNEY ON THE EARTH.

>> THINK ABOUT YOUR CHOICE.

THANK YOU, LADIES FOR INSPIRING ME TODAY AND SHARING YOUR STORIES OF HOW YOU ARE TOUCHING OTHERS THROUGH YOUR LEADERSHIP.

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PERFORMERS, THE AUDIENCE HERE TODAY AND TO ALL OF THE GUESTS THIS SEASON FOR MAKING SEASON 5 SUCH A SUCCESS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REWATCH ANY EPISODES FROM THIS SEASON OR PAST SEASONS OF THE SHOW, PLEASE GO TO WCNY.ORG/BEHINDTHEWOMAN.

MY NAME IS Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS AND ON BEHALF OF THE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

[ APPLAUSE ]