Erica Courtenay-Mann shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Erica, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 mins is about gratitude, assessing the events of the day and showing love to every furry and bipedal mammal in the house. Priority: Fuss the dogs, chat with our rabbit, and encourage the Mini Me to kickstart the day in a fabulous way. Before I do anything, I give gratitude to my creator for waking me up in the morning. That sets the tone. Launching my day with the air of gratitude is super important because I am a super Mom. I spend a large amount of time talking to the woofers and them barking back with wagging tails. That’s good energy to start your day. And sometimes it’s super tiring, but it it feels my soul and heart with JOY.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
A Joyful Journey to Philanthropy — Being philanthropic is practically second nature for Black American women—we’ve always been the heartbeat of our communities, uplifting others while striving for progress. My own journey to becoming a philanthropist started long ago on the Southside of Chicago, where growing up in poverty taught me the power of community kindness. The generosity of those who donated to our neighborhood planted a seed in me to help others. By the age of seven, I proudly declared myself a humanist, believing everyone deserves kindness, dignity, and respect for their humanity.
Throughout my career in financial services, I never missed a chance to give back. Whether volunteering in local communities or engaging in social capitalism models during my time in England, I found deep fulfillment in connecting with others.
Now, as a Mother and dedicated volunteer, my philanthropy resume has blossomed. I proudly serve within HISD schools, the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Houston and North Houston, the Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, and National Charity League, Inc. Living a life rooted in service has not only motivated me use my talents to enrich communities in need in the Greater Houston area but also it has helped strengthened my bond to my third hometown.
Giving back isn’t just what I do—it’s who I am, and it’s a joyful reminder of the power of community and collective progress.
AND I ALSO WORK…
FULL TIME.
Whilst I was pregnant, I realized that I was going to leave the world of CLO (collateralized loan obligations) and I was going to leave corporate trust banking. I needed a new skill set where I could leverage my technical skills and love of everything social. I began to study algorithms and trends in Social Media. Thus, it became my passion. Ironically, in high school, they called me the “mouth of the Southside of Chicago.” I’ve always had the “gift of gab.” So, my social media management/graphics company is in-fact called @TalkativeMedia. I now use my advanced social media and tech skills to help small business owners increase their exposure on the internet. Truly, in my heart of hearts, I really love to “talk people up.” It is my sincerest hope that using my divine gift of being a “cheerleader” helps entrepreneurs I work with shout boldly about their business/brand.
I’m not a mogul by any means, but I am very happy working with a diverse group of small business owners and organizations in the local Houston area. It brings me great joy to do something that keeps me intrigued, as social media is an ever-changing digital beast.
The one thing I reflect upon is that I am in fact a small business myself, so I am always humbled when people have faith in my skill-set, my business and in me. I don’t take those business interactions lightly. They are always a Blessing.
Couple all that with being a badass SuperMom, writer of bad haiku, and a very transparent Mom blogger — I’m a bit of a quirky, weirdo, Renaissance woman who has definitely dubbed herself a “New Age Technical Quasi-Polymath.”
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents taught me to have a great work ethic. My Mother was incredible at pivoting. She had several different skills and always gave her all at any position that she filled. She taught me that you show up as your best self and focus on professionalism and goals. And she was very good at compartmentalizing, so she did not let work stresses affect the family. Even if she was experiencing extreme stress at work, never let it permeate your relationships with friends and family — even if seeking support from the village. My Father was a leader’s leader. He taught me that when I step in a room to know that I am supposed to be in that room. And when in the room, give 100% of my best self, be a team player, listen and share ideas, make sure that I go after the goal. He taught me that you lead with kindness. You lead people with empathy but with authenticity and you command respect through always implementing and demonstrating excellence. I am a great team player and leader because of my parents. I’m very grateful.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could jump into a Tardis and time travel, I’d go back and talk to my 17 year old self. I’d sit her down for a good two hour chat to gird her for the journey ahead. First thing I would tell her is that SHE IS AMAZING. I would let her know to divorce all the self-doubt. I would tell her to divorce negative self talk about her brilliance due to growing up in a racist, hyper-segregated city such as Chicago. I would seriously let her know how absolutely brilliant and smart she is and how she is a natural born leader no matter the racism, colorism, or classism she will face. I would pour into her the need to love herself immensely and to build community. I want her to know that what she sees as success will change. Who she needs in her village, will change and I need her to be okay with that. And then I would tell her that she’s so brave, innovative, and deserve good things. I want her to know she is capable and will do some amazing things in the future, so be good to yourself and make good choices. Thus letting her know, her arc in life will be amazing and no one will ever take that away from her.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Being a proud and kind Black American is foundational to my life. It hasn’t always been an easy road. When I was just five years old, my Dad sat me down and explained the challenges I might face because of the many -isms that persist in our world—racism, colorism, and sexism. He told me he worried about the uphill battles ahead for his smart, ambitious little Black girl who dreamed of taking on the world. His advice was clear: be so exceptional in everything you do that even those who might try to diminish you cannot ignore your brilliance. He reminded me that my ideas, my spirit, and my excellence could and should be undeniable.
He was right about the challenges, and I’ve faced an unprecedented amount of them. Navigating these -isms is hard work that weathers your soul; especially as someone who values integrity and is compelled to stand up for what’s right. Staying true to my ethics and calling out wrongs hasn’t always made the path smooth, but I’ve held on to my convictions. Through it all, I’ve learned the power of leading with kindness and staying open to those who show it in return helps me stay grounded. That lesson has been my compass, guiding me through every twist and turn that life has to offer.
I will not let life erode my kindness and never let life erode my love of self.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
The one thing I want to tell every person becoming an adult and every person wanting to be an entrepreneur — wait for it — life never goes the way you picture it in your head. You’ve got to be clever, adaptable and patience enough to navigate the “Mario Kart course” that is in-fact REAL LIFE. My most honest and heartfelt advice to entrepreneurs: plan out your path to success. Study your plan. Commit to your plan. Adjust your plan when needed. Be truly prepared to take setbacks on the chin, with a smile, rest, regroup and get back in the game. You cannot reap any rewards from your passion or talents if you have no skin in the game.
A lot of my struggles stemmed from “lack of consistency and time”. Being a divorced, working Mother – YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EXTRA TIME. I need about 28.954 hrs per day. There are only 24. Apparently, I need to sleep. Like that’s a whole thing for entrepreneurs and working Mothers after age 35. Therefore, I struggled to see real progress or even consistent progress in both my entrepreneurial pursuits and my blogging brand because I had little to no time in which to dedicate myself.
For my young or well-seasoned women entrepreneurs, I beg of you to put SELF CARE FIRST. Listen to your mind, your body and also the “frequency of your fervency”. If you know that writing that business plan would be better in the morning after a cup of joe, then write it in the morning. Busy work versus productive work is a “slow kill” to a great dream. Listen to your internal voices as you approach your project. Don’t compare your progress to the highlighted story of others around you. Run your own race at your own pace and enjoy the beauty of consistency and “small wins.” Big triumphs consist of small wins. Please remember that along with your journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://talkativemedia.com
- Other: https://linktr.ee/eycmann
Image Credits
NCL, Inc. – Post Oak Chapter pictures credit to Fred Rogers, https://fredrogersphotos.com.
Sigma Gamma Rho pictures credit to The Bigger Picture Photography.
