Two-time Emmy and three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Mori Taheripour.

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

To explore Mori Taheripour’s journey as a globally recognized negotiation expert, her personal resilience, and the empowering message behind her book Bring Yourself: How to Harness the Power of Connection to Negotiate Fearlessly. The interview also highlights her insights on authenticity, self-worth, and redefining negotiation as a daily life skill.

🧠 Key Takeaways 1. Professional Background

• Faculty member at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
• Holds degrees from Barnard College, Wharton, and a Diversity & Inclusion certificate from Cornell.
• Clients include Fortune 100 companies, major sports leagues, nonprofits, and government agencies.

2. Redefining Negotiation

• Negotiation is not just about conflict or business deals—it’s a daily life skill.
• We negotiate constantly: with ourselves, family, coworkers, and even in mundane decisions.
• The key to successful negotiation is knowing your value and bringing your authentic self.

3. Book: Bring Yourself

• Written to dispel myths about negotiation being aggressive or confrontational.
• Encourages readers to lead with empathy, curiosity, and authenticity.
• Highlights that anyone can be a good negotiator by honoring their values and self-worth.

4. Personal Resilience

• Mori shares her experience living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which she kept private for years.
• She discusses how prioritizing health and self-care became essential.
• Her openness about MS in her book was cathartic and empowering, showing that chronic illness doesn’t define or limit success.

5. Diversity & Inclusion

• Mori’s early career focused on public health in underserved communities.
• Her work in diversity and inclusion stems from a desire to create equitable access, especially in healthcare.
• She emphasizes that inclusion is about recognizing and respecting individual value and lived experiences.

6. Emotional Intelligence in Teaching

• Mori’s classroom is a safe space where students are encouraged to be vulnerable.
• She values kindness, respect, and emotional connection as essential tools for learning and leadership.
• Her teaching style blends academic rigor with empathy and real-world application.

💬 Notable Quotes

• “We negotiate with ourselves all the time.”
• “You have to honor yourself—whatever that is.”
• “If you don’t understand your worth, you will never be a good negotiator.”
• “Bring Yourself is about showing up authentically, not what society expects you to be.”
• “Kindness and respect will get you further than anything else.”
• “Sometimes enough is perfect.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Nicole Roberts Jones.

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

The interview aims to:

• Introduce Dr. Nicole Roberts Jones’ work helping entrepreneurs and professionals “bankroll their brilliance”.
• Encourage listeners to monetize their unique talents and create multiple streams of income.
• Inspire individuals to align their purpose with their profession for greater impact and fulfillment.
• Share strategies for overcoming fear, embracing authenticity, and building scalable businesses.

🧠 Key Takeaways 1. From Casting to Coaching

Nicole’s early career in talent management and casting helped her develop a gift for recognizing people’s potential. She now uses that gift to help entrepreneurs and executives identify their “DNA” (Distinct Natural Ability) and turn it into income.

“I could see you and how you could fit into the script… That’s really what I do with entrepreneurs now.” – Dr. Nicole Roberts Jones

2. Purpose Is Your Power

Nicole emphasizes that purpose is the one thing you never get fired from. Aligning your work with your purpose leads to higher performance and deeper fulfillment.

“When you bless somebody with the thing that you do, they’re gaining—and you’re gaining for God.” – Dr. Nicole Roberts Jones

3. Multiple Streams of Income

She teaches clients to diversify their income by creating products, programs, and services that don’t require their constant presence—what she calls “money while you sleep” or “mailbox money.”

Examples include:

• Lawyers creating online courses for clients who can’t afford billable hours.
• Gymnasts licensing their training methods and renting out facilities.

“Your comfort zone is where your dreams go to die.” – Dr. Nicole Roberts Jones
“If you are physically tied to the money you make, you’re capping your potential.” – Rushion McDonald

4. Stop Giving Away Your Brilliance

Nicole warns against giving away intellectual property for free. She encourages professionals to recognize the value of their expertise and package it into paid offerings.

“You’re giving away your cookie for free… You have value that people will pay for.” – Dr. Nicole Roberts Jones

5. Create a Methodology

She helps clients build a blueprint for their expertise, turning routines and habits into teachable systems. Her metaphor: “You can’t see the label from inside the jar,” meaning people often overlook their own value.

“It’s really helping someone produce the value that is coming out of you effortlessly.” – Dr. Nicole Roberts Jones

6. Authenticity Is a Business Strategy

Nicole encourages people to embrace their full personality, even if it’s “too much” for some. She believes that being yourself is the key to attracting the right audience and opportunities.

“Stop letting people turn down your light. This is who I am. God made me this way.” – Dr. Nicole Roberts Jones

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “Corporate doesn’t need more of corporate.”
• “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
• “Each of us were born to disrupt whatever system we’re called to work in.”

🌟 Impact of the Interview

This episode is a masterclass in personal branding, purpose alignment, and entrepreneurial strategy. Nicole’s energy and clarity make her insights actionable and inspiring, especially for professionals looking to pivot, scale, or rediscover their value.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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

Founder and president of The Royster Group, a nationally recognized, certified Black-owned professional staffing firm. Here's a breakdown of the key themes and takeaways:

🎯 Key Highlights from the Interview 🏢 About The Royster Group

• Founded in 2001, the firm specializes in:
  • Executive Search (C-suite to Director level)
  • Healthcare Staffing (physicians, nurses, ancillary staff)
• Operates nationally, serving both public and private sectors.

💼 Executive Search Insights

• Royster is a retained executive search firm, meaning they are hired by companies to find top-tier talent.
• Focuses on diverse, seasoned professionals with 7–10+ years of experience.
• Clients include major corporations like Home Depot, Merck, and Pfizer.
• Emphasizes the importance of diversity in leadership and actively includes women and people of color in candidate pools.

🏥 Healthcare Staffing

• Healthcare remains a high-demand field due to an aging population and workforce shortages.
• Royster recruits nationally and advertises through their website, conferences, and referrals.
• There’s a growing need for diverse healthcare professionals to reflect the population they serve.

🧾 Resume & Job Search Tips

• Resumes should be keyword-optimized to match job descriptions.
• Candidates should reach out to recruiters, follow up, and apply through multiple channels.
• Avoid vague resumes—include specific achievements and metrics.

🏆 Business Philosophy & Certification

• Thornton emphasizes the value of being a certified Black-owned business, not as a crutch but as a strategic advantage to gain access to opportunities.
• He acknowledges the challenges and scrutiny minority businesses face and the importance of capacity and execution.
• Advocates for mentorship, SBA resources, and relationship-building as keys to success.

📈 Entrepreneurial Journey

• Thornton transitioned from pharmaceutical sales and HR to founding his own firm after noticing a lack of diversity in executive placements.
• Started Royster with a bootstrap model—a desk, a phone, and determination.
• Now leads a $20M+ company and was named Small Business Person of the Year in Georgia.

#STRAW

#BEST

#SHMS

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