Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Shelli-Ann McKenzie.

Purpose of the Interview

The interview focuses on advocating for healthcare professionals, addressing the challenges they face, and introducing Shelli-Ann McKenzie’s nonprofit organization, Help for Healthcare Professionals (HCPP). The goal is to highlight burnout, financial struggles, and systemic issues in healthcare while promoting programs that support mental wellness, financial literacy, and career development.

Key Takeaways

1. Healthcare Workforce Challenges

   • Nurses and healthcare professionals face high stress, burnout, and long hours, leading to workforce shortages.
   • Many professionals struggle financially—24% live in poverty.
   • Lack of professors in nursing schools limits the number of students entering the profession.

2. Understanding Nursing Roles

   • Nursing includes multiple levels:
     • Registered Nurse (RN): Associate or bachelor’s degree.
     • Advanced Practice Nurses: Master’s level (e.g., Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Educator).
     • Doctorate Level: Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD.
   • Nurse practitioners often function as an extension of physicians, providing quality care.

3. Respect and Recognition

   • Nurses provide more direct care than any other health profession but often lack recognition.
   • Advocacy is key to ensuring nurses can practice at the highest level and improve access to care.

4. Why HCPP Was Founded

   • Born out of COVID-19 crisis and Shelli-Ann’s personal experience with burnout.
   • Mission: Provide mental health referrals, financial assistance (gift cards, gas), and professional development.
   • Programs include:
     • Financial literacy workshops
     • Entrepreneurship training for healthcare professionals
     • Scholarships and internships for aspiring professionals

5. Youth Med Program

   • Targets ages 13–20 to build a healthcare workforce pipeline.
   • Offers hands-on training, CPR certification, exposure to neurosurgeons, and mentorship.
   • Tuition-free and designed to scale nationally.

6. Funding and Community Support

   • HCPP is a nurse-owned nonprofit, funded by federal grants and donations.
   • Annual event: Night of Grand and Gratitude—a charity awards dinner to raise funds for programs.

Notable Quotes

• “No one else was coming to save us—so I created HCPP.”
• “24% of healthcare professionals live in poverty.”
• “If we don’t have enough professors, we cap nursing students—it’s cyclical.”
• “The most rewarding part of nursing is showing up for people in their most vulnerable moments.”
• “Every dollar we raise fuels education programs like Youth Med—strategic investment in the future of healthcare.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

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

President and CEO of the Business Consortium Fund (BCF) and Triad Investments. Here's a summary of the key points discussed:

🎙️ Episode Highlights 🌟 About BCF and CDFIs

• BCF is a nonprofit lender and a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).
• CDFIs are designated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and exist to serve underserved communities.
• There are about 2,000 CDFIs across the U.S., working in small business and affordable housing sectors.

💼 Mission and Services

• BCF provides capital and support to minority-owned businesses, especially those with B2B models.
• They focus on relationship-based lending, helping clients through business cycles rather than writing off loans quickly.
• Since 1987, BCF has originated $228 million in loans and financed 950 minority business enterprises.

🧭 Application Process

• Applicants need to provide:
  • Three years of tax returns
  • Credit score
  • Bank statements
  • Cash flow analysis
• BCF emphasizes transparency and trust in the application process.

💡 Financial Advice for Entrepreneurs

1. Know your industry – Understand the specific requirements of the sector you serve.
2. Know your credit score – Monitor and improve it as needed.
3. Don’t take on debt you can’t repay – Ensure your business cash flow can support loan repayment.

🤝 Community Engagement

• BCF relies heavily on word of mouth and community trust.
• They encourage early relationship-building, even before financing is needed.

📍 Location and Access

• BCF is physically based in New York but lends nationwide.
• Website: bcfcapital.com

#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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