In this episode of Brown Ambition, host Mandi Woodruff-Santos dives into the pressing financial trends of 2026, focusing on inflation, interest rates, the job market, and student loans. Mandi emphasizes the importance of understanding these trends and how they impact personal finances, encouraging listeners to adopt manageable habits to protect their financial well-being. She highlights the significance of tracking spending, conducting inflation audits, and being proactive about budgeting to navigate the economic landscape effectively.

Mandi also discusses the challenges posed by rising interest rates and the cooling job market, particularly due to AI-driven layoffs. She advocates for a 'career resilience hour' where listeners can research industry trends and network to enhance their job security. Additionally, she addresses the looming issue of student loan wage garnishment, urging listeners to stay informed about their loan status and take proactive steps to manage their debt. By the end of the episode, listeners are equipped with actionable strategies to take control of their finances amidst these economic challenges.

WHAT WE GET INTO

• Introduction and Overview of 2026 Financial Goals
• Understanding Inflation and Its Impact
• Interest Rates: What to Expect in 2026
• The Job Market and AI: Navigating Changes
• Student Loans: Preparing for Wage Garnishment
• Conclusion and Actionable Steps for Financial Control

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• "We want to get that money in what I love about the success of that episode is how simplistic a lot of what I discussed in that episode truly is."
• "You do control how you budget, how you save, how you prepare for your career and how you respond when the economy starts acting up."
• "Lifestyle creep is the biggest killer of wealth, okay?"
• "If you are lucky enough to see an increase in your income for 2026, look at how you are using those extra resources."
• "We have to bring it back to what those goals and that vision for ourselves in 2026 want and how can we actually feed those goals."

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This week on Brown Ambition’s Friday BA QA, Mandi answers a listener question that hits right at the intersection of money, values, and activism. A listener asks: If we’re boycotting a company, should we also sell the stock?

Using Target as a real-life example, Mandi breaks down what it really means to invest during a boycott, the difference between individual stocks and index funds, and why long-term investing often requires emotional discipline. She also dives into the ethics of investing, socially responsible portfolios, and how to decide when holding — or selling — is the right move for you.

As always, this is not financial advice — but it is real talk about aligning your money with your values.

👉 Want more Brown Ambition?

• Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, behind‑the‑scenes content and deeper dives into money, career and entrepreneurship: Join the BA Fam!

• Follow us on Instagram @brownambitionpodcast for daily money and career tips, episode updates, and community conversations.

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This week on Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with award-winning producer, filmmaker, and breakout actress Kiah Clingman for a powerful conversation about rejection, reinvention, and trusting the long game.

From getting rejected by Howard’s theater program to becoming a Howard alum who quietly built a producing empire… from working a demanding corporate job at Deloitte to quitting two weeks after getting a mortgage… from not booking an acting role for four years to landing a nine-episode arc on Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt — Kiah’s story is a masterclass in resilience, patience, and betting on yourself even when the timeline doesn’t make sense.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered if they waited too long, started too late, or took the “wrong” path. Spoiler: you didn’t.

WHAT WE GET INTO

• Why Kiah almost didn’t submit the audition that changed her life
• The reality of going years without booking work as an actor
• How a hotel-room self tape (trash can + ring light included) landed her Reasonable Doubt
• Being rejected from Howard’s theater program — and why it turned out to be a blessing
• How Howard University and Delta Sigma Theta shaped her identity and confidence
• Working a high-pressure corporate job while producing films at night
• What it really means to be a producer (and why people misunderstand the role)
• Quitting Deloitte two weeks after buying a home — and the fear that followed
• Losing a series regular role after putting it all on the line

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Rejection can be redirection — even when it hurts
• Your “pivot” isn’t failure, it’s strategy
• You don’t need constant wins to be on the right path
• Corporate skills can fund and strengthen creative dreams
• Seeds planted today may not bloom for years — and that’s okay
• Betting on yourself often feels reckless before it feels rewarding

👉 Want more Brown Ambition?

• Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, behind‑the‑scenes content and deeper dives into money, career and entrepreneurship: Join the BA Fam!

• Follow us on Instagram @brownambitionpodcast for daily money and career tips, episode updates, and community conversations.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.