The Steve Harvey Morning Show

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Eddy Benoit Jr.
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
This interview has three primary objectives:
Highlight Eddy Benoit Jr.’s work in real estate development Especially affordable housing, mixed-use developments, and senior living.

Explain how mission-driven real estate can transform communities Focus on underserved areas and mixed-income solutions.

Provide entrepreneurial and leadership insights Covering vision, discipline, team-building, and scaling a business.

🧠 Key Takeaways 1. Mission-Driven Development Is the Core of Success
The Benoit Group focuses on affordable and mixed-income housing, especially for underserved populations.
Their strategy is rooted in a clear “why” that hasn’t changed since founding.
✅ Insight:
Long-term success comes from staying aligned with a clear mission.
“Our litmus test has been our why… that’s what keeps us from being distracted.” [EDDY BENOIT JR | Txt]
2. There Is a Massive Gap in Affordable Senior Housing
Target population: Ages 55–85
Low to moderate income

This group often: Doesn’t qualify for subsidies
Can’t afford market-rate housing

✅ Insight:
Huge opportunity exists in underserved housing markets.
“The demand is extremely high… not many people are really building affordably priced housing.” [EDDY BENOIT JR | Txt]
3. Understanding “Affordable Housing” Is More Complex Than It Sounds
Two categories: Capital A Affordable: Low-income (≤60% of area median income)
Small a affordable: Moderate-income (80%–140%)

Projects must balance income ranges to remain financially viable.
✅ Insight:
Real estate success requires technical, financial, and regulatory understanding.
4. Public-Private Partnerships Drive Large Developments
Major projects come through: Competitive RFP/RFQ processes
Partnerships with municipalities

Developments often include: Housing
Retail
Office/hospitality components

✅ Insight:
Scale is achieved through collaboration with government entities.
5. Great Leadership Requires Evolution and Self-Awareness
Leadership style evolved over time: From authority-based to transparency-based

Key principle: Honesty and communication build strong teams

✅ Insight:
Effective leadership is adaptive, transparent, and people-centered.
“Transparency and honesty… is the best form of communication.” [EDDY BENOIT JR | Txt]
6. Hire People Who Challenge You
Entrepreneurs often make the mistake of hiring people just like themselves.
Strong teams include: Different perspectives
Greater expertise

✅ Insight:
Growth requires diverse thinking and constructive challenge.
“You want people who think different… and can challenge your thought process.” [EDDY BENOIT JR | Txt]
7. Be Realistic and Honest in Business Planning
Many entrepreneurs: Set unrealistic revenue expectations
Build budgets based on wishful thinking

✅ Insight:
Success requires honest evaluation and disciplined planning.
“They’re not honest with themselves… the path to making that revenue isn’t achievable.” [EDDY BENOIT JR | Txt]
8. Real Estate Can Transform Entire Communities
Benoit Group intentionally invests in: Overlooked or underserved neighborhoods

Their developments act as catalysts: Attracting other investors
Sparking broader economic growth

✅ Insight:
Strategic investment can redefine entire communities.
“We go in areas that have been overlooked… and act as a catalyst.” [EDDY BENOIT JR | Txt]
9. True Impact Goes Beyond Buildings
Success is not just physical development: It’s about changing mindset and confidence in communities

✅ Insight:
Transformation requires both infrastructure and psychological uplift.
“You’ve got to change the mindset… before you can get transformation.” [EDDY BENOIT JR | Txt]
10. Recognition Is Meaningful but Not the Motivation
Benoit didn’t expect the award and initially thought it was for someone else.
He emphasizes: Mission over recognition
Team contribution

✅ Insight:
Awards are a byproduct of consistent, purpose-driven work.
“We don’t do it for the awards… but the recognition does feel great.” [EDDY BENOIT JR | Txt]
11. Future Focus: Growth + Mentorship
Expansion goals: Broader geographic footprint (10+ states)

Strategic priority: Mentoring smaller developers to scale

✅ Insight:
True leadership includes creating opportunities for others to grow.
💬 Notable Quotes On mission
“Our litmus test has been our why.”
On market demand
“The demand is extremely high… especially for the baby boomers.”
On leadership
“Transparency and honesty… is the best form of communication.”
On team building
“You want people who think different… and can challenge you.”
On business planning
“They’re not honest with themselves.”
On community impact
“We act as a catalyst… attract others to invest.”
On transformation
“You’ve got to change the mindset.”
🧾 Bottom Line
This interview is a powerful example of mission-driven entrepreneurship in real estate.
Eddy Benoit Jr.’s core message:
Build businesses around purpose and real need
Focus on underserved markets for meaningful impact
Grow through discipline, partnerships, and strong teams
Create success that extends beyond profit into community transformation
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST #AMI
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Monica Cornitcher.
Entrepreneurial journey, the inspiration behind Medase Cocktails, and the realities of launching, funding, and scaling a premium nonalcoholic spirits brand in a highly competitive market.
Purpose of the Conversation
The purpose of the episode is to:
Educate aspiring entrepreneurs on how to build a differentiated consumer brand
Demonstrate the importance of storytelling, market clarity, and operational discipline
Highlight the growth of the nonalcoholic / zero‑proof beverage movement
Inspire founders—especially founders of color—to own their niche, seek capital strategically, and scale intentionally.
Key Takeaways 1. Business Built from Personal Need and Purpose
Medase Cocktails was co‑founded by Monica and her lifelong friend during her friend’s battle with breast cancer, a time when alcohol was no longer an option—but celebration still mattered.
The brand was created to allow people to celebrate authentically without alcohol
It carries emotional depth rooted in friendship, gratitude, and loss
Monica continues the mission after her co‑founder passed away in 2024
Lesson: Purpose-driven businesses create deeper emotional connection and long-term brand equity.
2. Differentiation Is Everything
Monica deliberately rejected the “sparkling water with flavor” model common in nonalcoholic drinks.
Her differentiators include:
Authentic cocktail taste (Old Fashioned, Margarita, Moscow Mule)
Organic juices, not artificial flavors
Bold packaging that stands out on shelves
Drinks designed to smell, taste, and feel like real cocktails
Lesson: Competing on authenticity—not cost—is how you carve out market share in crowded spaces.
3. Brand Names and Stories Matter
The name “Medase” means “thank you” and reflects gratitude, friendship, and emotional support.
Monica emphasizes:
Every flavor name, color, and product decision has a story
A strong brand narrative creates curiosity, loyalty, and investor interest
Lesson: People invest in brands they feel—emotionally, not just intellectually.
4. Venture Capital Is Not Just About Numbers
While financials matter, Monica stresses that VCs also invest in founders and stories.
What helped her secure venture capital:
A compelling personal story
Relevant founder skill sets (M&A, law, operations)
Clear understanding of the market opportunity
Lesson: Early-stage funding often depends on who you are and why you’re building, not just revenue.
5. Research, Planning, and Discipline Before Launch
Unlike many food startups, Medase did not begin in a kitchen.
They:
Conducted a feasibility study
Built a formal business plan
Worked with a Black female food scientist
Set strict personal funding limits before seeking capital
Lesson: Preparation reduces risk and builds long-term sustainability.
6. Scaling Requires Operational Maturity
As sales increased—especially on Amazon—Monica emphasized the need to move from “hustle mode” to operational excellence.
Key scaling principles:
Understand unit economics
Track ROI for events and activations
Adjust pricing as volume increases
Build strategy across marketing, operations, and distribution
Lesson: Hustle starts the business; operations grow it.
7. Niche First, Expansion Later
Medase does not try to be “everything to everyone.”
Core customers include:
People seeking a break from alcohol
Health-conscious consumers
Black men looking for alcohol replacements
Consumers wanting cocktail taste without hangovers
Lesson: Strong niches create loyal advocates who fuel organic growth.
8. Smart Distribution Strategy
Rather than rushing into retail, Monica prioritized direct-to-consumer channels:
Amazon (top-performing channel)
Brand website
TikTok Shop
Only after 6–7 months of traction did retail expansion become viable.
Lesson: Control your margins and demand before entering expensive retail environments.
Memorable Quotes
“I wanted an authentic cocktail without compromise.”
“Everything we do has a story behind it.”
“Sometimes it’s not about the financials—it’s about the founder and the story.”
“Don’t be everything to everybody. Find your market and stick with your market.”
“Hustle starts the business, but operations give you scale.”
“If it tastes too much like alcohol and you gave me a one-star review—thank you. That means I did my job.”
Overall Message
This episode is a real-world entrepreneurial blueprint showing how clarity of vision, emotional authenticity, disciplined planning, and niche focus can turn a personal idea into a scalable national brand.
Monica Cornitcher exemplifies the modern founder:
visionary, data-aware, emotionally intelligent, and unapologetically authentic.
#SHMS #BEST #STRAW #AMI
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cheryl McKissack Daniel.
Topic: Legacy, resilience, and entrepreneurship of the McKissack family, as detailed in the book The Black Family Who Built America.
Cheryl shares the powerful story of her family's 230-year legacy in architecture and construction, making McKissack & McKissack the oldest minority woman-owned professional design and construction firm in the U.S. The conversation explores themes of generational resilience, Black excellence, business strategy, and personal growth.
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
Highlight the McKissack family’s historical and cultural impact on American infrastructure and Black entrepreneurship.
Promote the book The Black Family Who Built America as a record of legacy and inspiration.
Inspire small business owners and entrepreneurs with lessons on perseverance, succession planning, and self-identity.
Address the importance of preserving Black history in the face of cultural erasure.
🔑 Key Takeaways 🏗️ Legacy & Impact
McKissack & McKissack has contributed to major U.S. infrastructure projects like: Barclays Center
JFK Terminal One
LaGuardia Airport
Penn Station
Lincoln Financial Field

“We are the fifth generation. Right. And we're Black in America.”
📚 Historical Significance
The family legacy began with Moses McKissack, who was enslaved and later became a builder.
Cheryl’s ancestors were the first licensed Black architects in America (licenses 117 and 118 in Tennessee).
“They became the first Black licensed architects in America… and helped get licensed in 22 other states.”
💼 Business Wisdom
Cheryl emphasizes the importance of: Succession planning
Understanding both technical and political buyers
Building relationships before you need them

“You better have that relationship before you need it.”
🧠 The 5 Ps of Family Resilience
Perseverance
Persistence
Preparedness
Purpose
Prayer
“Sometimes you do get up in the morning and you say it's not for me… You have to come back and meditate on the fact that you're a winner.”
🧘‍♀️ Personal Growth & Mental Health
Cheryl discusses overcoming stress, rediscovering herself after a difficult marriage, and the importance of meditation.
“Being yourself is what we're talking about… I recognize that I am currently feeling stressed out. So what do I need to do?”
👩‍👧‍👧 Women in Leadership
Cheryl’s mother took over the business after her father’s stroke, despite societal barriers.
“She only knew the telephone number to the office at that time… but she knew deep inside that she wanted to hold on for the fifth generation.”
🎥 Representation & Media
The book and Cheryl’s story aim to counteract negative portrayals of Black people in media and history.
“You may not have known about Black excellence. You just ignored it. But we exist.”
💬 Memorable Quotes
“Black people built America. Now, that's the point we're making here.”
“You have to say the opposite to yourself. And you have to put one foot in front of the other.”
“This book is a receipt to say we are around. We have a foundation. We're not going anywhere.”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
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
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning!
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Monique Strong.
President of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC). Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and takeaways:
🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways 1. Breaking Barriers in Construction
Monique Strong is a trailblazer in a traditionally male-dominated and white-dominated industry.
She leads NABWIC’s Atlanta chapter, advocating for leadership, equity, and professional development for Black women in construction.
2. What “Construction” Really Means
Construction isn’t just hard hats and manual labor—it includes: General contracting
Project management
Estimating
Safety coordination
Architecture and engineering
Business ownership and development

3. Legacy and Inspiration
Monique’s passion for construction was inspired by her grandfathers and her grandmother, who helped build the home she grew up in.
Her journey includes a degree in engineering from Clark Atlanta University and further training in construction management.
4. Challenges and Triumphs
Faced skepticism from family and industry peers.
Overcame stereotypes and isolation as a young Black woman in construction.
Emphasizes the importance of knowing who you are and embracing your identity as a woman in the field.
5. The Power of Mentorship and Community
NABWIC provides a supportive network for women at all stages of their construction careers.
Weekly calls, mentorship, and shared resources help members grow and succeed.
6. Why Diversity in Construction Matters
Diversity reflects the makeup of the country and brings innovation and detail-oriented excellence to the field.
Inclusion in leadership and contracting opportunities is essential for equity and community development.
💬 Notable Quotes
“You don’t have to be hard. You just have to be hungry.”
“We are the unicorns people are looking for.”
“I like to take something that’s nothing and make it something.”
🎯 Advice for Women in Construction
Get involved with a community like NABWIC that supports your growth.
Seek mentorship from women at all stages—beginning, middle, and end of their careers.
Embrace your uniqueness and use it to lead and innovate.
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.