Emma Grede has weighed in on the criticism surrounding Diarrha N’Diaye’s role at SKIMS. Ami Colé N’Diaye is the founder of beloved clean beauty brand Ami Colé, created for melanin-rich skin. On July 17, 2025, four years after its inception, she announced in an Instagram post that she was winding down the company. She shared some challenges the company had faced, including appeasing investors, especially as some backers appeared to shift away from the inclusivity-focused mindset they embraced in 2020. “We were a brand rooted in purpose, storytelling, and the bold celebration of who we are. Let’s not forget bomb ass products … This moment is bittersweet. You’ve witnessed me start from a sketch in my Brooklyn apartment to the shelves of every Sephora in North America in 4 years,” she wrote. “Thank you for everything you’ve taught me about living your dreams out loud. Thank you to the investors who genuinely believed in me. @sephora for making a home for us. My team for the amazing work...

Monique Rodriguez believes founders should position their businesses for acquisition. The former registered nurse is the founder of Mielle Organics, a textured haircare company that launched in 2014 from her kitchen without a formal blueprint, according to Fortune. She bootstrapped the venture, alongside her husband Melvin, who worked as an engineer. They used their paychecks and savings to fund the company, which she described as a “huge risk” in conversation with Emma Grede. “We had to make this work because we didn’t have a plan B to fall back on. We took all of our life savings. We took all of everything that we were making to just solely put it into Mielle. And that’s the hard part that people don’t see. They see the glory on the outside, but not really understanding the turmoil that comes with the stress of not knowing where your next payment is going to come from to fund your inventory,” Rodriguez told Grede on the “Aspire” podcast. Despite internal challenges, Rodriguez...

Howard University alumnus LeRoi Hicks is breaking barriers. Hicks is anchored by a medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine, followed by a residency at Mount Auburn Hospital, where he served as chief resident, according to a press release. At Brigham and Women’s Hospital, he completed a general medicine and faculty development fellowship, and later he earned a Master of Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. Per his LinkedIn profile, he has served at ChristianaCare, a health system headquartered in Delaware, since 2014 in a range of roles, including but not limited to acute medicine service line lead (2016), chief medical officer of Wilmington Hospital (2020), campus executive director (2023), and now president (2025) of Wilmington Hospital. Hicks is currently tasked with leading the hospital’s overall vision, financial health, and daily operations, according to the press release. Additionally, he is dedicated to health equity in his work. Soon,...

Olandria Carthen has been working intentionally to build a lasting empire. Before her fame, Carthen was already setting a new standard within her family. The Decatur, AL, native became the first to graduate from high school and college. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, she earned her bachelor’s degree in logistics, materials, and supply chain management from Tuskegee University in 2022.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Olandria (@olandria) It was her mother’s work ethic that was her inspiration to reach the finish line. Her mother, Felicia, gave birth to her first child at 15. She went on to have more children, and to support them, she put her own studies on hold and worked at places such as McDonald’s. “I always admired her work ethic as we were growing up. Imagine three kids, a single parent, one paycheck … We never went without … Even with me with the college thing, having to figure out how I’m gonna get my education … I had to get creative. I started sending out...

Wednesday is often called “hump day,” marking the midpoint of the workweek. For many, it’s a crucial moment—when the initial energy of Monday and Tuesday starts to wane, but the weekend still feels just out of reach. Finding motivation on Wednesday can be key to maintaining momentum, staying focused, and finishing the week strong. Whether you’re working, studying, or juggling personal goals, the right words can provide a meaningful boost. This article gathers some of the best motivational quotes specifically for Wednesday. These quotes are curated to inspire perseverance, productivity, positivity, and reflection. Grouped by themes such as overcoming midweek fatigue, embracing challenges , and staying focused , they’ll help you power through your Wednesday with renewed energy and confidence. Motivational Quotes To Overcome Midweek Slumps Wednesday can feel like a mental and physical hurdle. After pushing hard at the start of the week, it’s natural to experience fatigue or waning...

Mondays have a reputation. For many, they represent the tough return to school or work after a relaxing weekend . The sudden shift from freedom to responsibility can feel overwhelming, even daunting. But humor is a powerful tool to combat those Monday blues. Funny Monday quotes help us laugh at the universal struggles of starting the week, making the day feel a little lighter and more manageable. In this article, you’ll find a curated collection of the best funny Monday quotes. These motivational quotes come from comedians , writers, celebrities and everyday folks who’ve found clever ways to poke fun at the challenges and quirks of Mondays. Grouped by themes such as morning struggles, work woes, caffeine dependence and motivation, these quotes are perfect for sharing with coworkers, friends or simply to boost your own mood . Quotes About Monday Morning Struggles Mornings are often the hardest part of any Monday. The alarm clock feels like an enemy and getting out of bed requires...

Sunday is a special day. It’s a pause from the hustle, a moment to recharge, reflect and prepare for the week ahead. It’s a time to reconnect with yourself, your goals and the people around you. Inspirational quotes for Sunday capture this unique blend of calm and motivation, offering words of wisdom to lift your spirit and set a positive tone for the days to come. Whether you use Sunday quotes as a personal mantra, share them with loved ones or post them on social media , the right words can turn a quiet day into a powerful reset. This article collects some of the best inspirational quotes for Sunday, grouped into themes like reflection, motivation, gratitude and renewal. Each quote is paired with a brief explanation to help you get the most from its message. Quotes About Reflection And Peace Sunday is often seen as a day for quiet contemplation. These quotes encourage mindfulness and inner peace, helping you find clarity before diving back into the week. “Sunday clears away the...

Russell J. Ledet was told that security guards don’t become doctors. He didn’t accept this stereotype. In conversation with AFROTECH™, the Lake Charles, LA, native admitted that all he could afford to do as a kid was dream. His mother worked as a certified nursing assistant, earning minimum wage and navigating poverty and food insecurity while caring for him. She still nurtured his imagination by ensuring he had access to books, bringing them home from the hospital when he couldn’t access the larger, segregated library. “I always knew that where I was growing up wasn’t everything. It wasn’t the totality of what I could potentially have access to,” he acknowledged. After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy, which made him realize that he could pursue more career paths than those he witnessed growing up. He served on active duty for the first five years, spending the first two as a ceremonial guard before transitioning to cryptologic intelligence.   View this post on...

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced the rebrand of an initiative to employ youth. According to a press release, the city’s youth employment initiative, One Summer Chicago, is being rebranded as Chicago Youth Works. Mayor Johnson has worked to grow funding and partnership opportunities for the employment initiative. In 2025, his efforts led to summer jobs for 31,119 young people who earned a collective wage of more than $30.9 million, per the release. The rebranded Chicago Youth Works is partnering with the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) . The new program name comes from input from the young people it serves, and is launching with a new tagline: “Get Paid. Get Skilled. Get Ahead.” Chicago Youth Works will employ youth aged 14 to 24, with support from local businesses, nonprofits, and city agencies, notes the release. These opportunities may include summer positions, year-round roles, or paid career exploration programming for 14- and 15-year-olds....

Goldman Sachs’ top diversity executive, Megan Hogan, is stepping down, according to Business Insider. Hogan has been with the firm for nearly 12 years, onboarding as its head of Americas talent management, rising through the ranks to its chief diversity officer, and, in recent months, to its co-head of global co-head of talent. She will be joining Morgan Stanley after receiving “ an amazing opportunity ” in talent development, the outlet reported. Lauren Uranker will soon be named the new head of talent development, engagement, and management at Goldman Sachs. She served as global co-head of talent alongside Hogan since 2025. Uranker will be tasked with AI -supported work, team growth, and employee retention and engagement. Her work will also still consider workplace inclusion, although DEI is not directly listed as a priority. Hogan’s departure from Goldman Sachs comes as the firm has scaled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments. As AFROTECH™ previously told...

Dr. Willie Underwood III is the president-elect of the American Medical Association (AMA). The Buffalo, NY, native is a Morehouse College alum who earned a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1988, according to his LinkedIn profile. This was a dream for his family and simultaneously a reality check for an education system that attempted to write him off during his adolescent years and hold him back from realizing his potential, according to the National Press Foundation. “I went from a private Catholic school that was all-Black that believed in educating me to make me the best person I could be, to a school that was predominantly white, and the teachers had a policy, ‘We’re not educating them,’” Dr. Underwood said, per the outlet. “So they took all of us, all the Black males in the school, in that third-grade class where I started, and put us in remedial classes where I’m now in kindergarten. And I was there under the guise that I had a learning disability.” Underwood went on to obtain...

History is being made at Johns Hopkins Hospital . ABC News reported the hospital’s flagship Halsted Service in trauma and acute care surgery is now led by an all-Black team of senior residents and fellows, marking a first for the institution. The history-making team is composed of doctors Valentine S. Alia, M.D. (second-year resident); Lawrence B. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H. (seventh-year resident); Ivy Mannoh, M.D. (third-year resident); Zachary Obinna Enumah, M.D., Ph.D., M.A. (ninth-year and critical care fellow); and Ifeoluwa “ Ife ” Shoyombo, M.D., M.P.H., M.S. (third-year resident). This is significant because while 13.4% of the U.S. population is Black, only 5.6% of surgeons in training are Black, according t o the National Institutes of Health. “Between us, there are five MDs, two PhDs, and six master’s degrees —but more importantly, a shared commitment to serving the people of Baltimore,” Alia and Brown said in a joint post on Instagram . “We are Black history. We are our...

The 2026 tax season officially opened on Jan. 26, just days before a partial government shutdown raised new concerns for millions of Americans waiting on their tax refund. With approximately 164 million taxpayers expected to file this year, according to The Economic Times, questions around processing timelines, staffing, and payment delays have quickly taken center stage. How The Shutdown Could Affect Your Tax Refund Timeline Historically, shutdowns have impacted the disbursement of tax refunds, according to The Economic Times. Some refunds continue flowing through automated systems, while others stall due to staffing limits or manual review requirements. Per The Economic Times, the IRS typically issues most refunds within 21 days when returns are accurate and filed electronically. However, funding lapses can restrict certain services and slow processing if the shutdown extends. The IRS has previously scaled back operations during shutdown periods, limiting phone support and...

As housing affordability continues to strain workers across income levels, a growing number of employers are being pushed to rethink what meaningful benefits look like. A new funding announcement signals that housing support may be moving from the margins to the center of employee wellness strategies. According to the press release, Oro, a social fintech company focused on housing and homeownership as employee benefits, has raised $3 million and officially launched its housing wellness platform for employers. A New Category In Employee Benefits The funding round was led by Slauson & Co., with participation from Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures and Bronze Valley, the press release confirms. The investment comes as companies face increased pressure around employee retention and engagement, while workers struggle with rising rents, higher interest rates, and elevated home prices, according to the release. “We believe housing is the next frontier in employee benefits,” said Austin...

Daymond John wants entrepreneurs to reframe the narrative around working a 9-to-5. John, an investor, founder, and judge on “Shark Tank,” has invested in dozens of businesses, including Bombas Socks, which has been his most lucrative investment to date, according to Parade. FUBU In addition to investing in other businesses, John also started one of his own. He is the founder of FUBU (For Us, By Us), a streetwear brand launched in 1992 in Hollis, Queens, NY. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, John received $100,000 in support from his mother, who took a loan out on her mortgage to support the business. Mindset Around A 9-to-5 Prior to his mother’s support, John worked at Red Lobster for years to fund FUBU. In a tweet shared on X, he stated that the experience prepared him for his entrepreneurial pursuits and investments. “I worked at Red Lobster for years while building FUBU. Not because I didn’t believe in my dreams. Because it was smart. That job: Taught me sales and inventory, paid...