OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW with Victoria Odekomaya

The Right Time To Get Serious About Money | Epi 64

• Victoria Odekomaya | LiMStudios Network • Episode 64

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Ever wonder how entrepreneurs really fund their visions? In this candid conversation, Ashley Bridges pulls back the curtain on business financing, blending her decade of experience in the financial sector with her current work at Intend Indiana. She explains how traditional banks often overlook entrepreneurs that Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are built to serve, offering flexible, relationship-based lending. Her perspective is refreshingly practical—challenging the stigma around loans and reframing them as smart investments in growth rather than burdens. Ashley also underscores the essentials of financial literacy: separating business and personal accounts, tracking cash flow consistently, and building systems that position entrepreneurs for long-term sustainability.

But what makes Ashley’s story stand out is how she balances money talk with real life. Beyond numbers and loans, she shares her journey as a community leader, wife, and mom of two teenagers—keeping it honest about ambition, family dinners, and even her guilty pleasure of reality TV. Her message is both financial and deeply personal: where you came from doesn’t dictate where you’re going. Whether you’re just starting out, seeking growth capital, or simply curious about how successful entrepreneurs fund their dreams, this episode gives you both the technical know-how and the mindset shifts needed to turn vision into reality.

📌 Resource Spotlight:

  • Build Fund
    : Offering a Financial Literacy Class
  • Pass the Torch for Women
    : An empowering community for women leaders. Contact her if you're interested in becoming a mentor or mentee.

ABOUT

Victoria Odekomaya is a Nigerian American entrepreneur, speaker, and content marketing strategist on a mission to help business owners grow their business, brand, and legacy through the power of storytelling and strategic content marketing.

She’s the founder of LiMStudios, a full-service creative agency and state-of-the-art content studio in Indianapolis where strategy and storytelling come together through high-quality content production and marketing implementation. She’s also the creator of Boss Ladies Magazine and host of The Own Your Brand Show, a video podcast to help business owners grow their business, brand, and legacy through strategic content marketing and authentic conversations about the entrepreneurial journey.

Each week, Victoria breaks down practical content marketing strategies in her solo “Own Your Brand” episodes and sits down with entrepreneurs in her Behind the Brand series to uncover the stories, struggles, and systems behind their success. Because when we get real about the wins AND the struggles, we realize we're not alone and that's when real transformation happens.

Follow her journey through LiMStudios, Boss Ladies Magazine, and The Own Your Brand Show and join the movement to amplify voices, build legacy, and make impact.

📩 For sponsorship or business inquiries:
mtr.bio/limstudios | hello@thelimstudios.com | Text 260-777-7211

Speaker 1:

If someone can please do behind the scenes photos and video, please at some point. Thank you, okay, I'm going to start my. Do you want to lift it up? Is it comfortable?

Speaker 2:

I think this should be, this should be there we go.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, this should be fine. Okay, yeah, that's fine. All righty, you ready Recording? Okay, I'll do my intro and then we get started. Hello and welcome to another episode of the Own your Brand Show.

Speaker 1:

Today I am excited to speak with Ashley Bridges. First of all, I really love that name, thank you. But I think this conversation is going to be a little different from what I've been doing, because she holds such a unique role in the process of helping business owners thrive. You know, she holds such a specific and, I think, in my opinion, very important role because without funding we can have a dream and, I think, in my opinion, very important role because without funding we can have a dream. But you know there's only so much that would go right.

Speaker 1:

So I really wanted to kind of peel the onion back and just kind of talk to her. You know, from our perspective or some of the things that you know we could be doing as business owners to grow but also get into a personal life, like what does that even look like for her? Like doing this job, how she started the job, and all of the things. I'm hoping that you take out some, you take with you some good pointers in order to help grow your business, but without much ado, let's get into it. How are you doing? I?

Speaker 2:

am great today. How are you?

Speaker 1:

I'm good. Thank you so much for coming, no thank you for having me. I really appreciate it, so we had to reschedule a couple of times.

Speaker 2:

It's okay, we're here now. We are here now.

Speaker 1:

Thank you. Thank you so much for just just you know being flexible, but tell us a little bit. I know some. I mentioned your name, but some people were like well, you know, some people know, but some may not. But so for people that do not know, can you just like tell us a little bit about you?

Speaker 2:

Yes, so my name is Ashley Bridges. I have two boys, boy mom all the way, that's right 16 and 12. So those are that's like, really like my life, to say the least. For the most part. I'm also married as well. So, yeah, but in my professional life it does intertwine a lot with my personal. So with it really being a community advocate, community leader, providing connections to business owners just around really the state of Indiana now not just Marion County anymore as my role, we continue to grow, so with it, as we continue to grow, we're providing those lending opportunities and technical assistance opportunities to small businesses all around the state of Indiana. So just really excited to be here, really excited to explore. I'm also on a couple different boards. So I serve as developing professionals and developing leaders, chair for past tours, developing professionals and developing leaders, chair for past tours, co-chair for vice chair for sea leaders. So, and then also am an advocate for women, just in general. I think it's really important in leadership. So with that, yeah, you're busy.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, you are busy. So how do you, how do you, you know, combine being a boy mom, which I'm also a boy mom got two boys, 12 and 10. But yours are a lot older now and I'm like girl, you survived, yes.

Speaker 2:

Look, we're not all the way there yet. My oldest got his first job, summer job.

Speaker 1:

How's that?

Speaker 2:

We're going to see it starts this Sundayay so is he excited? He is, he's very excited. I'm excited because he'll actually understand the worth of a dollar yes, and yes, understanding that he can't eat me out of a house, at home anymore without him being like okay, let me, let you go buy your own juice, that's right, like if you guys talked a little bit about, like, how he's gonna spend.

Speaker 1:

spend the money like on his own things, yeah.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, we've already discussed, he's going to put some money in his savings account as a former banker, all the things. I'm like OK, so this is how you're going to do it. He's like no, well, I want to go buy this, no, no.

Speaker 1:

That's not how that's gonna go right, because they don't know yet. Right. They think this like oh, the first time I'm making money and all the things.

Speaker 2:

And when they get into the real world, that's when they truly understand yes, we're, we're at that phase of like he's ready to be 18, but I I'm like, really, when you turn 18, nothing really changes, right? Yeah, yeah, it's so true. That's so true right.

Speaker 1:

So, yeah, yeah, Just anyway. Well, I'm so happy for you. Congratulations on that, thank you. So tell us how long, if you can say. What company do you work for and how long have you been with them?

Speaker 2:

So I work for Intend Indiana. So it's a nonprofit organization that has four initiatives underneath those, but we can dive into that a little bit later. But I've been with that organization now for a year and four months so decided to take the leap of faith after being at a role in a well, at a job for nine years specific company, finance company so just decided just to take a leap of faith. It's more community and mission driven, to say the least. That's amazing.

Speaker 1:

And so, like it sounds like all of your career, basically you've been in the finance world.

Speaker 2:

Yes, over a decade. Look, I'm not going to give away my age, but over a decade, I know right?

Speaker 1:

Well, although we already know you have a 16-year-old, so we might do the math. I know you look amazing.

Speaker 2:

That's the most important part. Well, thank you, thank you I appreciate it yeah so I started my banking career at Teachers Credit Union when I was pregnant with my youngest and took a pivot from clothing retail to banking retail, so it was definitely different to say the least, but literally learned so much from the manager that I was under. She was also African-American leader, female leader, so with it I never had that before in my career.

Speaker 2:

So it was just so different for me, the professionalism that she carried and kind of the impact that she left on me in my time there that made me really continue. So she probably doesn't know that yeah.

Speaker 1:

I'm very appreciative, hopefully she'll listen to this part. Oh, thank you. Thank you, but you know, that's so important because I've been hearing a lot, and I mean it's not even just hearing like it's. So it's very far in between the amount of leaders that look like us, you know, and so when we have people in places like that, it just makes a big difference.

Speaker 1:

You know, so I'm thankful that you have that experience, because I know that it seems like you carry with you, you know, and you're also being intentional about passing it along to the next generation too.

Speaker 2:

Yes, and that was my goal in my prior role hiring. I've hired and promoted over 35 diverse candidates between men and women, and that was kind of like the goal as I continued to work was to really find a space, because I didn't finish college. So with it, just really finding my niche, as would call it, yeah, um, not only in the community, but how I can advocate for people, um, of just any like color, any race, any just socio-economics, um, with it, that was my goal. So with it, I was able to accomplish that goal and just coaching and being able to be that person for them. So it was really good, that's amazing, all right.

Speaker 1:

So your job is so important for small business owners, for business owners period. You know, like you know, we are dreamers. You know we have big goals, right. But you know, obviously there's a part where we have to do the work. But you can't do so much without money, right? You know, and so I'm sure you hear this conversation all the time, right?

Speaker 2:

So what would you say is the biggest reason why people come to you?

Speaker 2:

One, resources, but two, really just understanding the process when it comes to lending, you can have a hustle, you can have a dream, you can have all the things, but if you don't have your financials in order, you're not established with the Secretary of State. It's not really a whole lot that we can do. So, really, just taking a step back, and my goal is to make sure that you know, as they're thinking about, like, their future, how they're going to be sustainable, how they're creating that legacy, really understanding the fact that, okay, in order for you to do that the back end, you can be an expert at what you're doing right. So you're an expert at, you know, making women beautiful and you know, but understanding that that financial component, or in order for you to be sustainable in the business, like, you have to know the ins and outs of those things, or at least have somebody on your team that can provide you with that kind of information. So I would say I mean, nonetheless, try to give them the resources, but also try to be very transparent with them and with it.

Speaker 2:

It's not like we're selling anything, which is the best part about it. It's really just having like genuine conversation just around the personal, the professional. Do you want to? How do you want to leave your business? Who do you want to leave your business? Who do you want to leave your business to? Where do you see your business in five years, and really just understanding those components of it? To where it's like okay, this is where you are now versus where you need to be, but financially, how are we going to get there?

Speaker 1:

Yeah. So I agree with you. I feel like I mean, this is something that I'm also learning in the last few years, where you know, when we start the business we're so excited about, like, oh, finally we get to start something, and maybe we have a couple of customers and we're like, yeah, we're rocking and rolling and all the things, but but I I feel like I wasn't really thinking about strategically the funds that I needed or how to even prepare myself for the big funds, right, and it wasn't until later that I was like, wait a minute, I kind of need a little bit more help. You know more than what I'm, you know. So, like I'm saying this to say like, when do you feel and I think you kind of touched on it a little bit Like when is the right time to start thinking about this and start putting things in place?

Speaker 2:

Well, if you have a business owner, I think, the first day that you establish your LLC honestly, because with it you want to be able to understand your financials, the ins and outs of it, better than anybody else. Because, like I said I, mean you can be an expert in your own business, but also understanding that having a loan is not a bad thing.

Speaker 1:

Okay, we got to talk about that Because where I'm from and I understand like even in the African American competing community here it's like it's so frowned on. You know, I grew up with my parents like everything is either you have the money to buy it or you don't have it, you know, and so that was a big thing that I had to like wrestle with, like oh, I gotta get all this loan, oh my god that's so scary.

Speaker 2:

so with it, I think, really just understanding that you know, if you think about, like a home equity line of credit, right, and you think about, okay, if I need to fix my gutters, like, and we know, later on down the road you may need to fix your gutters, so would you rather pay you know the full amount or would you rather take the equity out of your home to be able to utilize those funds and pay it back monthly? So, thinking about, like your commercial space, or thinking about like any loan that you take out, thinking about it as, okay, this is money that, yes, it needs to have a specific you know place where it needs to go, but understanding that with it it's a tool for you to grow your business.

Speaker 1:

I feel like we have to look at it as an investment, Because if we keep looking at it as like I mean, for lack of better words like a loan, it looks like it's something that weighs on you, but when you look at it, I'm taking this money to invest in this and that investment would yield a return. Like it gives you that piece of mind. It's like you know what I got, you know and what you're saying is like, in order for you to be able to get that kind of money, you got to put, have, have your house in order, yeah, and you got to be able to like your home.

Speaker 2:

Like, as you pay off your home, you get that equity, yes, so with it, understanding that you need to build that equity with the cash flow and understanding that your cash flow is that it's king. I mean understanding, like, where your money is going, understanding like, okay, do I really need these subscriptions? Do I need you know I need, do I need all the things? So, with it, just really understanding the components around it and I think once you understand the components, you don't have to be an expert in it, as long as you understand the components of your business and, like you gaining a profit, you paying yourself too, cause a lot of businesses don't pay themselves.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, that's the other thing. Yeah, but going back to that subscription, though, like I remember one time I was telling my husband like I had to take out a bunch of money. I had like some of these accounts on the side and I was like, oh, I need some money. I just grabbed it out and I didn't realize how I spent. Like I was after. I was like what did I use the money for? And then he was like you did this, you did that. And I was like, oh, okay, okay, because I feel like if you don't pay attention, money just it's almost like it flies away.

Speaker 2:

Yes, it does, it really does, it really does. And that's what I used to tell people, like when I was in banking, like it's okay for you to have multiple business accounts, don't overdo it, because I've seen people have 12, 15. Oh, 12, 15. Oh, how do you keep track of?

Speaker 1:

that. That's what I'm like.

Speaker 2:

How do you keep track of that? But really understanding, like okay, do you have a tax account, like for your taxes to come out the following year? Do you have just a regular expense account. Do you have an operating account? Like really those three things.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and you'll be fine. Right and you'll understand where your money is going, how your money should be allocated. All the things. Wow. I feel like we need to do like a financial class where you just lead this, because it is really important information. I don't think that we do enough to learn more about those types of things, wow.

Speaker 2:

I agree, I agree, and there's so many resources out there to be tapped into. I feel like I mean, the CDFI space is a nontraditional space and then you have the traditional spaces of banking. So really just understanding like CDFIs are more community and mission driven and you know, with them being nontraditional, we can provide the flexible, affordable lending. So with it it's not set in stone.

Speaker 2:

So if you're, looking for a line of credit. If you go to the bank it's like, okay, these are the terms, this is what it's going to look like on how you pay it back. But you know, with CDFIs, you know you can actually work with the lender to be sure. Like, okay, well, I want to make just principal and interest payments, or you can do interest in a balloon payment for maturity at maturity. So really just understanding the components and the ins and outs of those that I don't think a lot of people are aware of, I wasn't even aware of until last year when I got into this space because you know, like I'll be honest, I haven't, I think until I met you, I didn't even know there was anything called cf.

Speaker 1:

Now I, now I can speak. You know, like I just knew about just the typical banking route, right, and so when we went to the events at the Statehouse this past, there was like a ton of, and I realized that you guys all work in partnership together as well.

Speaker 2:

Yes, and we're not in competition at all. Right, you know, if I can't or if Bill Fund can't help you, then with it, just understanding that I can send them over to a bankable or IFF or CI Sci-Fi, and really just understanding that those are other options out there that'll be willing and able to help the businesses, not only just as like a resource, but as a lending source, as well.

Speaker 1:

So tell me I know you said that you're a community focused, like you're about creating that resources for the community. So it's very, I mean, like community driven right, like what does that really mean?

Speaker 2:

So I know you want to make money too, you know, but, like you know, tell us a little bit about that so with it I guess it really started like four years ago um my journey in the community, just to kind of elaborate a little bit more into that um so my journey in the community started at the women in business retreat.

Speaker 2:

Um, it was my first time going and I was like, okay, like this is really overwhelming and I had no idea there was anything out there like this with just like women just being in one room, yeah, and I was very foreign to that.

Speaker 2:

So, with it, I'm not from Indianapolis, I'm originally from South Bend, but I've been here for 13 years, okay, so back then I was like, okay, I'm gonna take a chance. So I got invited, went and really enjoyed myself and really started building my social capital and understanding that your social capital is everything. So, when you think about social capital and I may look at it different than others, but utilizing the resources around you, so not just the social capital piece, but understanding that that person is an expert in something, yes, so going back to the community aspect of it and really connecting the community, whether you're a small business owner, whether you're just a person just trying to find you know their way. There's so many different organizations out here, there's so many different resources and people that I could be like, ok, let me email, let me send them an email, let me connect you. So really just going back to the community piece of it. That's more or less like that's how I'm a resource to the community. Wow, it's more or less that, so powerful.

Speaker 1:

Powerful because you're so invested also in their success right.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and I mean, like I said, it's not even just the small business owners, but really just understanding that every person that you meet has something to offer. That's right. So, like, how do you find just that tidbit, like in each conversation, to take away, to be like, okay, this person offers this, so how can I get locked in with them and how can I get an introduction with them? So that's been my goal over the past four years is to really build that up and being a community advocate and being a community leader and just understanding the behind the scenes is as important as what's in the scene.

Speaker 1:

That's right, that's so right. So, and then you working with CIC, like you know intent, you know that's it's like the perfect fit too.

Speaker 2:

Yes, so I mean with it with bill funds. So there's four different initiatives and I'll go over the four of them.

Speaker 2:

So with it, we have Indy Land Bank, so with it, we provide, we basically go this isn't what I do, nonetheless, but with it, n10 goes into different donut counties and basically speaks to the cities to see if they have any vacant lots there. So with it, that's kind of how the process starts. With it, um, nonetheless, once we acquire those lots, or we, you know, are awarded those lots through RFPs regularly with it, um, that's where our affordable home matters team comes in and we actually well, they hire local contractors within that you know, county, geography, whatever the case may be, to actually build the homes. And then from there, we have Edge Fund, which Edge Fund provides, provides a mortgage, a second mortgage, little to none. And then Bills Fund actually provides the lending, is the lending arm to be able to provide the contractors with the loans needed to build the homes.

Speaker 1:

Oh, I see, so you help on the contractor side and also on the buyer side too.

Speaker 2:

Oh, wow, yeah so we help Edge Fund actually helps first-time homebuyers get into their first homes. So behind the scenes we have a bank, we have a couple banking partners that you know they work with to help that buyer get into their first home and really understanding like the landscape around that is extremely important. That's one of the stressful times of your life, like between, like, post home, yes, between buying your first home, buying your first commercial space, buying your first car, like those are all big purchases, so understanding the ins and outs and they do an amazing job with the homeownership one-on-one classes that they provide um, just to understand that, okay, are you ready? And once you are ready, what does that look like for you getting into that home?

Speaker 1:

Wow, and so I'm sure someone is sitting out there like how do I qualify for some of this?

Speaker 2:

So with it nonetheless. I mean, you would just do an intake form for EDGE Fund which they would then reach out to you just about, like your income, qualifications, things like that. But ultimately they want to get to know you, they want to get to know your character. Same thing with Bill Fund Like we want to get to know you, we want to. It's really character building at the end of the day of what we're doing and really just making sure that you know with it. If you're ready, then let's go yeah.

Speaker 1:

So because it's kind of like they also want you to succeed so and they want to get to know you're building a relationship in the process too, because you don't want to just give money to someone or loan money to someone that you don't know Right, you want to make sure that you're also empowering them to be successful so that they can do what they need to do with that loan too. So you said there was like four programs. I think you've talked about three. What's the last one?

Speaker 2:

Oh, it's, four.

Speaker 1:

Okay, yeah.

Speaker 2:

So with Land Bank, we have Affordable Home Matters, we have Edge Fund and then we have Build Fund. Okay, got it Okay.

Speaker 1:

I got that. Sorry, I was like I thought I missed that one. I got that. Sorry, I was like I thought I missed that one. No, you're fine, Look, Wow. Okay, that is interesting. So basically, how can people like imagine you have something on the?

Speaker 2:

website. Yeah, so there's different opportunities on our website. So if you go to intendindianaorg with it, you'll be able to find build funds information and complete the intake form. Same thing with EDGE funds information. We also have, like, our staff directory on there as well. So if you're like, okay, well.

Speaker 2:

I don't really know who to reach out to like, just reach out to one of them and it goes directly to our email as well, so that's the cool thing about it. So if they're looking to inquire about any service that we offer, we're definitely here to help.

Speaker 1:

You know, what I really like about this is that you know the way you guys are set up. It's like you know how there's sometimes where you're emailing from a website, you have no idea who is on the other side, but you just mentioning that it goes to your email. It's like, OK, I know a real person is going to get that and going to reach out to me.

Speaker 2:

Yep, there's only 21 people that work in our building, but still that's a lot of people to be able to go around and help.

Speaker 1:

Wow, that's so Okay. So I'm thinking about I know you we talked a little bit in the beginning how you do all this and you're so passionate about it. You're also on a couple of boards and you have your mom, and so how do you manage being a community leader, a community advocate, with, like, balancing that with being married and having two boys? Like how does that? What does your life look like when you close at work in your home?

Speaker 2:

Look well, I'm a sickler, I have OCD, so my boys are always like really, I'm like, no, you need to clean up, like. So I'm very passionate about a clean home and, while I'm not there, just trusting them to be there.

Speaker 1:

Yes.

Speaker 2:

But really just know, just making sure that as much effort as I'm giving to the community, I'm giving to them, and I'm giving even more to them because with it, you know, time goes by so fast like. I said. I mean I have a 16 year old he'll be 17 in November and I have a 12 year old that'll be 13 and with it, just really understanding what they need from me like in their state each stage of like life, so I think every year they need something different their style changes.

Speaker 2:

You know, my 12 year old just told me he was had a girlfriend before and I was like, oh, I said I was like, oh, I said excuse me. I was like, oh, I said excuse me. He's like, yeah, no, but we broke up because she was annoying and I was like, okay, but nonetheless really just making those moments, so like now that it's summer, you know, having more bonfires where they come out and we're able to talk as a family, collectively about what's going on.

Speaker 2:

Like with it. I know a lot of people don't see my kids out and about because they're very much homebodies. They don't like to go anywhere. So a lot of people when they ask like you have kids, you're doing all the things and I'm like I do.

Speaker 1:

I thought I was like wait a minute, like I feel like I see a lot.

Speaker 2:

You're so involved in the community and it's like wait, you have two boys like yes, and my husband is very supportive as well. He he's an instagram chef, so he gets all his ideas off instagram and, you know, come home to like a nice cook meal and he'll clean and just just do all the things.

Speaker 2:

So with it, my goal is to really just make sure that you know I'm leaving a legacy just because growing up I didn't have the community that I've created. Yeah, so really understanding that not only is it important for me to be present as a mom, but also to be present in the community, but knowing that mom life, momhood, is a whole nother hood, I like that yes, yes.

Speaker 1:

And so I have to also ask, like what do you do for self-care?

Speaker 2:

So I used to work out quite a bit beforehand, but now I just honestly, I go home and I dive into reality TV.

Speaker 1:

Oh that is Look, we can spend a day together.

Speaker 2:

Look, I get lost in reality TV. So I'm a 90 day fiance, married at first sight.

Speaker 1:

I used to watch a lot of that too.

Speaker 2:

Yes, and that's kind of like my like, how my mind shift, kind of like sits after the fact when I'm just like I can't wait to go home and wear my feet together and get under my blanket yes, yes, because, like, we need an outlet, right something for us too.

Speaker 1:

That's amazing, wow. So I also. I know you're also an advocate for women and you're doing a lot of things in that area. Do you want to share a little bit about some of that work with us? Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2:

So with it, like I said, it really started in the banking, working for the bank that I work for, really just understanding like what we need in the professional setting. So really working on the etiquette, really working how you show up is everything Right. So like today, today, for instance, I was like okay, I'm like I honestly have forgot about the podcast, not gonna lie, but I was like okay, so you know, we're just gonna go with it you know, I'm out here supporting the women-owned business with t-shirt that I have all the things, yes, with it.

Speaker 2:

Just understanding like that, that's where my journey started and how I continue to grow. That journey is through past the torch, um, also being a part of a seat at the table, as well as building legacies and leaders yeah, I'm in that cohort and then also being a part of Coburn Place as well. So really just understanding like, as women, we make up what of, I believe, the state of Indiana, if not Marion County.

Speaker 2:

So, like how are we pouring back into ourselves and really understanding, like, okay, we sometimes have to sit down. If not, god is going to sit us down and he knows how to do that. But just understanding that you can be a leader wherever you are no matter what role you have. It doesn't have to necessarily be a title. I'm like in my role right now, like my role is not a leadership role like.

Speaker 2:

I went from being a leader in a leadership role title to not having a leadership title but really understanding, like, how my impact means so much to the people around me. Yes, but with women nonetheless. Like hearing my story told at COD this past year for the Up and Coming Achiever Award. Oh, congratulations.

Speaker 2:

Thank you, thank you. With it. Hearing my story being told was actually the first time, like my story had really been told, like out loud, and really understanding, like how far I've come, like I started as a part-time CSR in banking Like and just understanding that as long as you work hard, you're passionate about what you do, you can go anywhere with it.

Speaker 1:

I love that. I feel like we don't tell, I mean, whether someone is reading it or we are reading it to ourselves. We need to do more of that, because a lot of people don't understand or see, realize the impact that they are making and therefore don't even see themselves as leaders.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, you got to celebrate you. You have to celebrate you, whether it's behind closed, open doors, like women don't do enough of so, like we don't do enough of celebrating us at the end of the day. Right, we go to all these things, we go to all these functions, we're getting awards, shout outs, all the things, but what are we doing to really celebrate us? Not going to get a mani pedi, but really just diving in deep and understanding the, the root of why you did it and you know who you are as a person.

Speaker 1:

So you know what I was thinking like, and I wonder if we could just make this a challenge where we like write out what maybe a bio for whatever you know. However, I want to, and just read it out loud to ourselves in the mirror and say victoria odekomaya da, da, da, da, da, da, da. Like just listen to all of those accomplishments.

Speaker 1:

I feel like that is just also a part of self-care, just pouring into it, because there's something that happens when you feel confidence in yourself. Yes, and that confidence also helps you comes from also knowing that you are actually making an impact, as opposed to just waking up every day and doing things and just going back to bed, you know. So you're actually making an impact.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, and doing a brain dump. I know that I do that quarterly where I'll try to do like a brain dump of just everything that I've accomplished, everything that I want to accomplish, stuff that didn't go right, things that went wrong, and I know women that do it daily, and that is like that's a great outlet, because if you don't have anybody to talk to, maybe somebody that you like may not trust with you know saying everything that you need to say put it in a notebook, yes, like, make an effort into doing that right, because with it, like you said, I mean, we have to advocate for ourselves, but we have to also make sure that all the thoughts that we've done, all the accomplishments like with it, put, like, write it in capital letters celebrate yes, celebrate yes and understand how far you've come in your journey and in the truth, is that when we do that, we're going to see that we actually have done way more than we even thought we have.

Speaker 1:

Mm-hmm, you know. And so I was talking to India Brown in a different episode and she said something that's so profound and I feel like it's a little bit connected here too. She said that she defines what success is for her, and to me, what I took out of that is like success is not defined by what others say I am, but like what I set out to achieve. Right, but the trick is, if you don't even know what you're trying to achieve, or you look back to take stock of the things that you may have achieved, like you might continue to take stock of the things that you may have achieved, Like you can, you would, you know you keep, you might continue to feel inadequate, you know, and that is like the enemy trying to steal your peace or making you feel small when you really are actually doing something you know.

Speaker 2:

So yeah, and that and it's funny that you say that because I recently filled out an application which in the application it's anonymous application but with it the questions that they ask in the application really like set back and made me think. Like I had a couple moments where I cried about it because I was just like, oh my gosh, like I've come this far and how I grew up and like I grew up in, my mom was single but my dad was around, but with it it was just kind of always like we didn't have the stability, like we were moving from house to house. So with that, how do we break these generational curses that are out here as well? So for me, my kids have been in the same school system. They have not changed schools unless they've gone from one grade to another.

Speaker 2:

That's it and really understanding that if you can really like set back, you know, join a seat at the tables cohort, you know, apply for that, Apply for these that actually provide like insight on you to best understand who you are, where you want to go and where you've come from. That's really key to moving forward.

Speaker 1:

I love that. Oh, my goodness, I feel like we definitely need to do a lot more introspective work. Yes, yeah, wow, well, this has been so much fun. Yes, likewise, thank you so much for having me on here.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, wow, well, this has been so much fun. Yes, likewise. Thank you so much yeah.

Speaker 1:

Is there anything you would like to share with the audience before you leave?

Speaker 2:

Um, anyone that is interested in being a mentor mentee, check out um. Pass the Torch, um also with it. If you are interested in lending opportunities, please reach out to me at a bridges at billfundorg. And then, just last words just be you. Just be you, Come as you are, be authentic, but also know that just because where you came from doesn't dictate where you're going, because where you came from doesn't dictate, where you're going.

Speaker 1:

That's so powerful. I'm going to put all the links to everything how to reach Ashley in the links. You already know how that goes, so please make sure you take advantage of that resource. I can also testify with Pastor Touch. It's such an amazing organization that connects mentors and mentees and I think, as women, you know we really need those, that support in our lives, whether we're pouring into somebody else or someone pouring into you, which actually, even if you are a mentor, you can also get poured into. You know, because you know, yeah, um, with the pastor mike events, you know, they kind of shared a little bit about that too.

Speaker 1:

So, um, but a lot of the organizations that we've talked about today, like a sit at a table, jordan was here as one of our guests on another podcast Phenomenal woman. I love the things that she's doing. So we have the resources here, you know, and Ashley is a connector, she's a community activator. She, she, she can help you key into resources that can help you in multiple areas of your life. So please reach out and just continue to be you. Like she said, until next time, be you.

Speaker 2:

Bye.

Speaker 1:

Thank you. Thank you, that was really good. What do you feel?

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Victoria Odekomaya

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