Tax season is here, and this week BA QA, Mandi sits down with TurboTax expert Lisa Green-Lewis to break down what you need to know before the filing deadline. From updated tax credits and deductions to changes that could impact your refund, this episode helps you understand how to navigate this year’s taxes without the stress.

They cover key updates like the increased child tax credit, new deductions for tips and overtime, expanded benefits for homeowners and seniors, and what entrepreneurs need to know about business write-offs and 1099 changes. Plus, a clear explanation of credits vs. deductions and how each impacts your bottom line.

Whether you’re self-employed, a parent, or just trying to avoid last-minute mistakes, this episode is your reminder to get organized, file on time, and make sure you’re not leaving money on the table.

Stay Connected  

- Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com.
- Send a voice note or DM on IG: @brownambitionpodcast 

Tax season is here, and this week BA QA, Mandi sits down with TurboTax expert Lisa Green-Lewis to break down what you need to know before the filing deadline. From updated tax credits and deductions to changes that could impact your refund, this episode helps you understand how to navigate this year&rsquo;s taxes without the stress.
They cover key updates like the increased child tax credit, new deductions for tips and overtime, expanded benefits for homeowners and seniors, and what entrepreneurs need to know about business write-offs and 1099 changes. Plus, a clear explanation of credits vs. deductions and how each impacts your bottom line.
Whether you&rsquo;re self-employed, a parent, or just trying to avoid last-minute mistakes, this episode is your reminder to get organized, file on time, and make sure you&rsquo;re not leaving money on the table.
Stay Connected &nbsp;
- Email your questions: brownambitionpodcast@gmail.com. - Send a voice note or DM on IG: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brownambitionpodcast">@brownambitionpodcast&nbsp;</a>

The Brown Ambition Podcast helps you unapologetically build wealth by saving, investing and making smart career choices — on your own d@mn terms! New episodes Wednesdays and Fridays.

Money and career advice for women of color, by women of color

Brown Ambition

How to Get a Bigger Tax Refund in 2026 With New Tax Breaks [BA QA]

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0e120d4a-1a3c-44b7-b47d-b41a0035ae57/transcript

🔥 In this episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with Jessica Cruel, the powerhouse Editor-in-Chief of Allure and SELF magazines, to talk about her journey to the top of the beauty media world and how she’s building wealth through real estate investing as a single woman.

 

👑 We dive into:

 

✔️ How Jessica climbed the ranks in the magazine industry

 

✔️ Her journey to financial independence & the FIRE movement

 

✔️ The ups and downs of being a single woman in real estate

 

✔️ Smart investing tips for first-time buyers

 

✔️ The power of mentorship, executive coaching, and community

 

💰 Jessica shares the exact team she built to succeed in real estate:

 

✔️ A real estate agent who understands investment properties

 

✔️ A reliable general contractor & trusted repair professionals

 

✔️ A financial team to maximize tax benefits & long-term wealth

 

🔑 Key Takeaways:

 

1️⃣ Don’t wait for the “perfect time” to start investing—learn as you go!

 

2️⃣ Build a strong team to support your real estate journey.

 

3️⃣ Wealth-building is possible at any stage of your career.

📌 Follow Jessica Cruel:

 

📸 Instagram: @JCruel

 

🌟 Allure: allure.com

 

🌟 SELF: self.com

 

💡 Subscribe for more career, wealth, and entrepreneurship insights and don't forget to leave us a review! It's a huge help to get the show seen by more listeners.

 

🔥 In this episode of Brown Ambition, Mandi sits down with Jessica Cruel, the powerhouse Editor-in-Chief of Allure and SELF magazines, to talk about her journey to the top of the beauty media world and how she&rsquo;s building wealth through real estate investing as a single woman.
&nbsp;
👑 We dive into:
&nbsp;
✔️ How Jessica climbed the ranks in the magazine industry
&nbsp;
✔️ Her journey to financial independence &amp; the FIRE movement
&nbsp;
✔️ The ups and downs of being a single woman in real estate
&nbsp;
✔️ Smart investing tips for first-time buyers
&nbsp;
✔️ The power of mentorship, executive coaching, and community
&nbsp;
💰 Jessica shares the exact team she built to succeed in real estate:
&nbsp;
✔️ A real estate agent who understands investment properties
&nbsp;
✔️ A reliable general contractor &amp; trusted repair professionals
&nbsp;
✔️ A financial team to maximize tax benefits &amp; long-term wealth
&nbsp;
🔑 Key Takeaways:
&nbsp;
1️⃣ Don&rsquo;t wait for the &ldquo;perfect time&rdquo; to start investing&mdash;learn as you go!
&nbsp;
2️⃣ Build a strong team to support your real estate journey.
&nbsp;
3️⃣ Wealth-building is possible at any stage of your career.
📌 Follow Jessica Cruel:
&nbsp;
📸 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jcruel">@JCruel</a>
&nbsp;
🌟 Allure: <a href="https://www.allure.com">allure.com</a>
&nbsp;
🌟 SELF: <a href="https://www.self.com">self.com</a>
&nbsp;
💡 Subscribe for more career, wealth, and entrepreneurship insights and don't forget to leave us a review! It's a huge help to get the show seen by more listeners.
&nbsp;

Single AF and Building a Real Estate Empire ft.  Allure Magazine Editor-in-Chief Jessica Cruel

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4e55e932-ba35-4ba8-baae-b4630117f358/transcript

Hey BA Fam! Today I’m answering a question from a listener who calls herself “Tired Nanny” — a 27‑year‑old who recently moved to the U.S., has a bachelor’s in education, and is wondering if an MBA is the key to pivoting into business. She’s saved enough to cover grad school tuition and a year of living expenses and is tempted to quit nannying altogether so she can focus on school full‑time.


In this throwback Brown Ambition Q&A, I break down:
•    Why your current job (yes, even nannying) can be a powerful bridge and not a dead end when you’re pivoting careers
•    How to decide if an MBA is actually worth the time and 50K+ price tag for the kind of business or career you want
•    Alternatives to grad school: continuing education, mentorship, networking, and learning directly from working entrepreneurs
•    How to reframe “this is all that’s left for me” into “this is how I’m planting seeds for my future self” as a young immigrant woman building a new life in the Stats

Hey BA Fam! Today I&rsquo;m answering a question from a listener who calls herself &ldquo;Tired Nanny&rdquo; &mdash; a 27‑year‑old who recently moved to the U.S., has a bachelor&rsquo;s in education, and is wondering if an MBA is the key to pivoting into business. She&rsquo;s saved enough to cover grad school tuition and a year of living expenses and is tempted to quit nannying altogether so she can focus on school full‑time.
 In this throwback Brown Ambition Q&amp;A, I break down: &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Why your current job (yes, even nannying) can be a powerful bridge and not a dead end when you&rsquo;re pivoting careers &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;How to decide if an MBA is actually worth the time and 50K+ price tag for the kind of business or career you want &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Alternatives to grad school: continuing education, mentorship, networking, and learning directly from working entrepreneurs &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;How to reframe &ldquo;this is all that&rsquo;s left for me&rdquo; into &ldquo;this is how I&rsquo;m planting seeds for my future self&rdquo; as a young immigrant woman building a new life in the Stats

From Nanny to CEO: Do You Really Need an MBA?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/53388f4a-bf6a-4f1a-951d-b46000ff87ed/transcript

This week, we’re heading back into the Brown Ambition vault for a powerful conversation with celebrity hairstylist and image maker Lacy Redway.

Lacy may not always be in front of the camera, but you’ve definitely seen her work. From red carpets to fashion campaigns and TV and film, she’s shaping the way Black women show up on screen and in the culture.

In this episode, we get into:

•    Growing up as a Jamaican immigrant, being the “foreign kid,” and learning to do her own hair after a bad relaxer left it broken and damaged
•    Braiding classmates’ hair for $5–$10 in middle and high school and realizing, in hindsight, that she was already a young entrepreneur
•    How she transitioned from doing hair in school to assisting in salons, working on photo shoots, and building a real portfolio in the pre‑Instagram era
•    The behind‑the‑scenes reality of being one of the few Black stylists backstage at fashion week—and why Black models would literally wait in line for Lacy to do their hair
•    What it actually looks like to take yourself seriously as a business: investing back into your craft, getting representation, and positioning yourself for bigger brand and editorial work
•    How rates really work in fashion and celebrity styling, why there’s no union protecting hair and makeup artists in her lane, and how that impacts pay and job security
•    The power and pressure of being an “image maker” for Black women, and why getting the hair right can make or break a character or campaign
We also talk about the evolution of Black hair care, the shift from relaxers to curls and coils, and how much access to education and products has changed since the 90s.
If you’re a creative, service provider, or anyone trying to turn a skill into a sustainable business, this conversation will give you both inspiration and a real look at the money and power dynamics behind the glam.


Tune in to hear how Lacy built her career, claimed her value, and continues to advocate for herself and other artists in an industry that doesn’t always see their worth.

This week, we&rsquo;re heading back into the Brown Ambition vault for a powerful conversation with celebrity hairstylist and image maker Lacy Redway.
Lacy may not always be in front of the camera, but you&rsquo;ve definitely seen her work. From red carpets to fashion campaigns and TV and film, she&rsquo;s shaping the way Black women show up on screen and in the culture.
In this episode, we get into:
&bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Growing up as a Jamaican immigrant, being the &ldquo;foreign kid,&rdquo; and learning to do her own hair after a bad relaxer left it broken and damaged &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Braiding classmates&rsquo; hair for $5&ndash;$10 in middle and high school and realizing, in hindsight, that she was already a young entrepreneur &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;How she transitioned from doing hair in school to assisting in salons, working on photo shoots, and building a real portfolio in the pre‑Instagram era &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;The behind‑the‑scenes reality of being one of the few Black stylists backstage at fashion week&mdash;and why Black models would literally wait in line for Lacy to do their hair &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;What it actually looks like to take yourself seriously as a business: investing back into your craft, getting representation, and positioning yourself for bigger brand and editorial work &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;How rates really work in fashion and celebrity styling, why there&rsquo;s no union protecting hair and makeup artists in her lane, and how that impacts pay and job security &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;The power and pressure of being an &ldquo;image maker&rdquo; for Black women, and why getting the hair right can make or break a character or campaign We also talk about the evolution of Black hair care, the shift from relaxers to curls and coils, and how much access to education and products has changed since the 90s. If you&rsquo;re a creative, service provider, or anyone trying to turn a skill into a sustainable business, this conversation will give you both inspiration and a real look at the money and power dynamics behind the glam.
 Tune in to hear how Lacy built her career, claimed her value, and continues to advocate for herself and other artists in an industry that doesn&rsquo;t always see their worth.

Mandi's Life Update + How Celebrity Hairstylist Lacy Redway Turned $10 Braids Into a Six‑Figure Career

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c9745675-c472-43ab-ba4a-b45e00261f2d/transcript

How to Get a Bigger Tax Refund in 2026 With New Tax Breaks [BA QA]

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