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On the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast, hosts Mike, Ken, and CJ welcome luxury portrait and event photographer Jahan Daughtry of Jahan Photography, celebrating 17 years in business. Jahan shares her path from corporate roles at Verizon and Nationwide to full-time entrepreneurship after layoffs, explaining how she built her business while working, self-funded gear upgrades, and learned to track finances properly. She discusses the costs of equipment and studios, why she has moved through six studio spaces, and how accessibility and client experience drove those decisions. Jahan explains how CRM tools like HoneyBook help manage contracts, scheduling, and revenue tracking, and emphasizes separating business finances and working with an accountant. She details how networking, social media consistency, and “connectors” grew her client base, how DEI rollbacks reduced corporate work, and why pivoting and renewed networking matter.

00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:35 Weather and Catch Up
01:47 Meet Jahan Daughtry
03:27 Creative Roots and Photography Start
04:36 Corporate Life and Early Hustle
08:35 Breaking Point and Workplace Tea
12:12 Building Clients While Working
14:04 Why Portrait Photography
15:54 CRMs and Business Systems
18:30 Pricing and Separating Finances
23:19 Networking and Social Media Growth
25:02 Connectors and Studio Moves
26:43 First Studio Reality Check
28:40 Sharing Space Growing Pains
29:46 Bright Studio Stair Struggles
31:10 Dreaming of Creative Hub
32:05 Bootstrapping Early Challenges
33:43 Renting Gear and Resources
34:17 Signature Client Experience
35:33 Corporate Gigs Word of Mouth
36:30 Crafting Unique Portraits
38:55 Industry Shifts and DEI Impact
42:54 Where to Find Jahan
43:50 Advice Shadow and Learn
45:31 Guest Question and Legacy
47:47 Wrap Up Travel and Balance

Facebook: @jehaninc
Instagram: @jehanllc
Website: https://www.jehanllc.com

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Hosts:

• Mike
• CJ
• Ken

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On the Black Bridge Mindset Podcast, hosts Mike, Ken, and CJ welcome Columbus-based fashion designer and master tailor Corey Winborn, CEO of Designs by Winborn, who shares how he became self-taught by thrifting and deconstructing garments as a teen and turned that passion into a 37-year career in custom clothing, alterations, and fine jewelry. Corey explains how style and presentation build confidence and opportunity, why he chose not to pursue college, and what it took to leave traditional jobs to bet on his craft. He offers practical business advice for aspiring designers: study fashion, become your own brand, focus on what sells (not just social media image), and build a client base before taking on a brick-and-mortar. He shares his appointment-only shop details and leaves a question for the next guest about living the life they want.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:35 August Vibes and Market Days

02:41 Meet Corey Winborn

04:33 Self Taught Tailoring Origins

07:39 Style Confidence and Presentation

11:20 No College Needed

12:46 Turning Craft Into Business

18:04 Entrepreneurship Mindset Shift

25:04 Business 101 for Designers

29:52 Study Trends and Sell Work

30:45 Be Your Own Brand

31:36 Creating What’s Next

33:22 Naming DBW and N4

33:59 Born to Win Philosophy

36:23 Why Every Man Needs Custom

38:23 Custom Suits Through History

39:47 Favorite Clients and Moments

41:36 Dressing Women Too

42:56 Opening the Brick and Mortar

47:30 Entrepreneur Advice and Wrap

48:37 Where to Find Corey

50:26 Final Questions and Goodbye

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Hosts:

• Mike
• CJ
• Ken

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The Black Bridge Mindset Podcast returns after a brief break as host Mike shares he started a new role at Zipline and the hosts recap meeting in Chicago during Canadian wildfire smoke. Ken introduces guest Sonia Aline, a communications strategist, editor, author, and host of the Business First podcast, known for interviewing leaders like Oprah Winfrey and Ursula Burns and co-authoring a NAACP Image Award–nominated book on unwritten rules for minority professionals. Sonia explains her background from Birmingham, England to Brooklyn, her accidental entry into publishing, and her career lessons from decades of interviews. She discusses storytelling as an ancient tool that builds emotional connection, drives brand loyalty, and helps entrepreneurs differentiate, emphasizing listening, intuition, alignment over “grind,” and practical ways her Storytelling Business Journal helps people craft and distribute their brand story.

00:00 Podcast Welcome
00:35 Hosts Catch Up
02:56 Meet Sonia Aleene
05:04 Curiosity And Identity
06:37 Roots From England
10:42 Breaking Into Media
15:09 Career Lessons And Yes
17:27 Why Storytelling Works
22:21 Brand Stories In Business
26:30 Storytelling Journal Framework
29:18 Learning From Icon Interviews
31:15 Synchronicity in Motion
32:18 Alignment Over Hustle
35:53 Protect Your Nervous System
37:48 Breaks Spark Breakthroughs
41:09 Storytelling Starts Listening
46:24 Make Customers Feel Seen
47:44 Business First Podcast
50:46 Closing Ritual and Gratitude

Podcast - Business First w Sonia Alleyne

Instagram - Sonia Alleyne

Instagram - Book ~ Storyteller Magic

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Contact us:

• Email: blackbridgemindset@gmail.com

Hosts:

• Mike
• CJ
• Ken