Culture, Careers, and Community

Hey honeys and hustlers,

Before I introduce this week’s guest on the podcast, I want to say thank you for helping us break a new record for monthly podcast downloads! 🤯 The month isn’t over yet, so every stream counts. Let’s see how high we can set the bar! 🥳

Stephanie Reed, the founder of Aspire2Higher, is our most recent guest on the Honey & Hustle podcast. Many people focus on the practical aspects of a career, such as salary, stability, and growth opportunities, but fail to consider the importance of aligning their passions and values with their work. Through her business, she aims to challenge the narrative that higher education is the sole path to career success and instead encourages individuals to explore their passions and values when making career choices.

You can watch or listen to the new episode below in between songs from Cowboy Carter (I know, I know. Beyonce comes first.)

You can also check it out on Apple Podcasts.

Stephanie's journey began in higher education, where she worked as a career counselor. It was through this experience that she realized many individuals were unsatisfied with their careers, even years after graduating from college. This led her to question why so many people were ending up in unsatisfactory jobs and what could be done to change this.

As she delved deeper into this issue, she discovered that many individuals were simply going through the motions, jumping from job to job without any clear direction or sense of purpose (including herself). This lack of career satisfaction was not limited to a specific age group or demographic; it affected people of all ages and backgrounds.

DEI seems to be a buzzword being increasingly used for a variety of different things (most of which have nothing to do with the actual premise of DEI initiatives, company roles, or campaigns). DEI work is not a new concept that emerged in response to recent events like the murder of George Floyd. It has been an ongoing effort to create inclusive environments and dismantle systemic barriers. DEI work has been happening in higher education for a long time, with the initial focus on giving marginalized populations access to higher education. However, as awareness grew, it became clear that more needed to be done to support and retain students from diverse backgrounds. This led to a broader understanding of the various needs of different identity groups, such as African-American students, Asian students, and LGBTQ+ students. It was no surprise that Stephanie expressed frustration with the perception that DEI work is a trend or a response to a specific moment, emphasizing that it has always been necessary.

It’s an honor to share Stephanie’s perspective with you — may it help you along your creative and entrepreneurship journey (or as you prepare for your next job interview!).

Today is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day! Show your favorite mom and pop shops some love and share them in the comments! Add your location so we can check them out if we’re ever in your city!

I hope y’all enjoy the holiday weekend, aka the Cowboy Carter album release!

Please Hustle Responsibly,

🤙🏾✨

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