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!

Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success.

Business Podcast

Entrepreneurship

Small Business

Business Growth

Financial Literacy

Wealth Building

Black Entrepreneurs

Minority Business

Leadership

Executive Leadership

Business Funding

Marketing Strategies

Personal Development

Startup Advice

Sales Training

CEO Interviews

Founder Stories

Professional Development

Economic Empowerment

Business Success

Networking

Brand Building

Innovation

How to start a business

Small business funding

Entrepreneur success stories

Business leadership podcast

Wealth building strategies

Black entrepreneur podcast

Minority business development

Marketing for small businesses

Business growth strategies

Startup funding opportunities

Executive leadership training

Financial literacy education

Success mindset podcast

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cherina & Mowbray Rowand.

🔷 Interview Summary

Cherina and Mowbray Rowand—co-founders of the Rowand Group and creators of One Stop Taxes—share how they built the largest Black-owned tax preparation service in the U.S., scaling to 1,000+ virtual locations. [CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

They discuss:
Their entrepreneurial philosophy
Their complementary roles as partners
The transition from brick-and-mortar to a virtual franchise model
Scaling strategies, team building, and infrastructure
Wealth-building through diversification (restaurants, real estate, hospitality)
Their creation of the Black Tax Festival to educate and unify entrepreneurs

The conversation blends practical business strategy, mindset, and community impact.

🎯 Purpose of the Interview

The interview serves several key purposes:

1. Educate aspiring entrepreneurs
Demonstrates how to start, scale, and systematize a service business
Highlights real-world lessons in scaling, hiring, and structuring companies

2. Promote economic empowerment
Focuses on helping underserved communities access:

Entrepreneurship
Tax knowledge
Financial systems

3. Showcase a scalable business model
Emphasizes low-barrier entry franchising and virtual platforms

4. Inspire through lived experience
Shows how vision, persistence, and partnership can create generational wealth

🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Entrepreneurship = Service + Ownership
Entrepreneurship is framed as serving people first, then building a business around that service[CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

2. Complementary partnership is critical
Mowbray = visionary (ideas)
Cherina = implementer (execution systems)
Their success comes from balancing vision with structure

3. Scaling requires evolving your team
What works at $1M won’t work at $10M+
Businesses must upgrade:

Attorneys
CPAs
Systems

4. Systems > hustle
They scaled by creating a repeatable system and training others
Their franchise model enables others to replicate success

5. Virtual model unlocked growth
Eliminating physical offices reduced cost and increased reach
Their early adoption of virtual tax prep became a major advantage

6. Timing + vision = breakthrough
They launched virtual tools before mainstream trust in digital transactions
COVID accelerated their already-built infrastructure

7. Lowering barriers drives scale
No startup cost, free training, and back-end revenue sharing allowed rapid adoption [CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

8. Marketing starts with relationships
Begin with:

Warm network
Strategic partnerships (car dealerships, apartments, etc.)

9. Financial literacy is a wealth gateway
Many entrepreneurs lack:

Proper documentation
Financial systems
Their platform and events aim to fix that gap

10. Community + recognition drive engagement
The Black Tax Festival builds community, education, and motivation
Recognition (awards, visibility) encourages performance

11. Diversification builds long-term wealth
They reinvested profits into:

Restaurants
Real estate
International assets (Dominican Republic hospitality)

💬 Notable Quotes On entrepreneurship

“Entrepreneurship [is] being able to set your own path… being a servant to other people.” [CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

On partnership dynamics

“He’s the big idea guy… I’m the implementation person.” [CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

On vision vs execution

“Let me get the vision out first… then we start figuring out the pieces.” [CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

On scaling infrastructure

“The same thing that works at $1 million is not the same thing that works at $10 million.” [CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

On early-stage hustle

“We didn’t have a ton of support… but we had a lot of drive.” [CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

On innovation and skepticism

“When you tell a person we own a virtual tax company, they’re like, ‘What is that?’” [CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

On reducing barriers

“We don’t have any startup cost… we train for free… we lowered that point of entry barrier.” [CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

On wealth gap realities

“We’re left out of rooms because we don’t have the proper paperwork… financials.” [CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

On mission-driven events

“Hopefully [people] leave better than we found them.” [CHERINA &...AND iHeart | Txt]

🧭 Bottom Line

The Rowands’ story is a blueprint for modern entrepreneurship:
Start with service
Build systems
Scale through people and technology
Reinforce success with community and education
Convert income into assets and ownership

Their model isn’t just about making money—it’s about making wealth accessible and transferable.

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-money-making-conversation-28341098/" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">iHeartRadio</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/money-making-conversations-master-class/id1264705641" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3ABAQdTXqAnhGwxrsjFa5y" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2">Spotify</a>, <a href="http://www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/">www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/</a> or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.&nbsp; I want to alert you, so you don&rsquo;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.&nbsp; Keep winning!
Money Making Conversations Master Class with Rushion McDonald is America's premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast featuring successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, and industry experts sharing actionable insights for professional and financial success.
Business Podcast
Entrepreneurship
Small Business
Business Growth
Financial Literacy
Wealth Building
Black Entrepreneurs
Minority Business
Leadership
Executive Leadership
Business Funding
Marketing Strategies
Personal Development
Startup Advice
Sales Training
CEO Interviews
Founder Stories
Professional Development
Economic Empowerment
Business Success
Networking
Brand Building
Innovation
How to start a business
Small business funding
Entrepreneur success stories
Business leadership podcast
Wealth building strategies
Black entrepreneur podcast
Minority business development
Marketing for small businesses
Business growth strategies
Startup funding opportunities
Executive leadership training
Financial literacy education
Success mindset podcast
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cherina &amp; Mowbray Rowand.
<hr>
🔷 Interview Summary
Cherina and Mowbray Rowand&mdash;co-founders of the Rowand Group and creators of One Stop Taxes&mdash;share how they built the largest Black-owned tax preparation service in the U.S., scaling to 1,000+ virtual locations. <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a>
They discuss:
<ul>
<li>Their entrepreneurial philosophy</li>
<li>Their complementary roles as partners</li>
<li>The transition from brick-and-mortar to a virtual franchise model</li>
<li>Scaling strategies, team building, and infrastructure</li>
<li>Wealth-building through diversification (restaurants, real estate, hospitality)</li>
<li>Their creation of the Black Tax Festival to educate and unify entrepreneurs</li>
</ul>
The conversation blends practical business strategy, mindset, and community impact.
<hr>
🎯 Purpose of the Interview
The interview serves several key purposes:
1. Educate aspiring entrepreneurs
<ul>
<li>Demonstrates how to start, scale, and systematize a service business</li>
<li>Highlights real-world lessons in scaling, hiring, and structuring companies</li>
</ul>
2. Promote economic empowerment
<ul>
<li>Focuses on helping underserved communities access:
<ul>
<li>Entrepreneurship</li>
<li>Tax knowledge</li>
<li>Financial systems</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
3. Showcase a scalable business model
<ul>
<li>Emphasizes low-barrier entry franchising and virtual platforms</li>
</ul>
4. Inspire through lived experience
<ul>
<li>Shows how vision, persistence, and partnership can create generational wealth</li>
</ul>
<hr>
🔑 Key Takeaways 1. Entrepreneurship = Service + Ownership
<ul>
<li>Entrepreneurship is framed as serving people first, then building a business around that service <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a></li>
</ul>
2. Complementary partnership is critical
<ul>
<li>Mowbray = visionary (ideas)</li>
<li>Cherina = implementer (execution systems)</li>
<li>Their success comes from balancing vision with structure</li>
</ul>
3. Scaling requires evolving your team
<ul>
<li>What works at $1M won&rsquo;t work at $10M+</li>
<li>Businesses must upgrade:
<ul>
<li>Attorneys</li>
<li>CPAs</li>
<li>Systems</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
4. Systems &gt; hustle
<ul>
<li>They scaled by creating a repeatable system and training others</li>
<li>Their franchise model enables others to replicate success</li>
</ul>
5. Virtual model unlocked growth
<ul>
<li>Eliminating physical offices reduced cost and increased reach</li>
<li>Their early adoption of virtual tax prep became a major advantage</li>
</ul>
6. Timing + vision = breakthrough
<ul>
<li>They launched virtual tools before mainstream trust in digital transactions</li>
<li>COVID accelerated their already-built infrastructure</li>
</ul>
7. Lowering barriers drives scale
<ul>
<li>No startup cost, free training, and back-end revenue sharing allowed rapid adoption <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a></li>
</ul>
8. Marketing starts with relationships
<ul>
<li>Begin with:
<ul>
<li>Warm network</li>
<li>Strategic partnerships (car dealerships, apartments, etc.)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
9. Financial literacy is a wealth gateway
<ul>
<li>Many entrepreneurs lack:
<ul>
<li>Proper documentation</li>
<li>Financial systems</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Their platform and events aim to fix that gap</li>
</ul>
10. Community + recognition drive engagement
<ul>
<li>The Black Tax Festival builds community, education, and motivation</li>
<li>Recognition (awards, visibility) encourages performance</li>
</ul>
11. Diversification builds long-term wealth
<ul>
<li>They reinvested profits into:
<ul>
<li>Restaurants</li>
<li>Real estate</li>
<li>International assets (Dominican Republic hospitality)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<hr>
💬 Notable Quotes On entrepreneurship
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Entrepreneurship [is] being able to set your own path&hellip; being a servant to other people.&rdquo; <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a>
</blockquote>
On partnership dynamics
<blockquote>
&ldquo;He&rsquo;s the big idea guy&hellip; I&rsquo;m the implementation person.&rdquo; <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a>
</blockquote>
On vision vs execution
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Let me get the vision out first&hellip; then we start figuring out the pieces.&rdquo; <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a>
</blockquote>
On scaling infrastructure
<blockquote>
&ldquo;The same thing that works at $1 million is not the same thing that works at $10 million.&rdquo; <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a>
</blockquote>
On early-stage hustle
<blockquote>
&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t have a ton of support&hellip; but we had a lot of drive.&rdquo; <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a>
</blockquote>
On innovation and skepticism
<blockquote>
&ldquo;When you tell a person we own a virtual tax company, they&rsquo;re like, &lsquo;What is that?&rsquo;&rdquo; <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a>
</blockquote>
On reducing barriers
<blockquote>
&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have any startup cost&hellip; we train for free&hellip; we lowered that point of entry barrier.&rdquo; <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a>
</blockquote>
On wealth gap realities
<blockquote>
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re left out of rooms because we don&rsquo;t have the proper paperwork&hellip; financials.&rdquo; <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a>
</blockquote>
On mission-driven events
<blockquote>
&ldquo;Hopefully [people] leave better than we found them.&rdquo; <a href="https://rushionmcdonald-my.sharepoint.com/personal/admin_rushionmcdonald_onmicrosoft_com/Documents/Microsoft%20Copilot%20Chat%20Files/CHERINA%20%26%20MOWBRAY%20ROWAND%20iHeart.txt">[CHERINA &amp;...AND iHeart | Txt]</a>
</blockquote>
<hr>
🧭 Bottom Line
The Rowands&rsquo; story is a blueprint for modern entrepreneurship:
<ul>
<li>Start with service</li>
<li>Build systems</li>
<li>Scale through people and technology</li>
<li>Reinforce success with community and education</li>
<li>Convert income into assets and ownership</li>
</ul>
Their model isn&rsquo;t just about making money&mdash;it&rsquo;s about making wealth accessible and transferable.
<hr>
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

Rushion McDonald is the Executive Producer of The Stephen A. Smith Show (Sports) and Straight Shooter with Stephen A. (Politics), both airing nationally on SiriusXM channels 82 and 124. His creative vision and production leadership help drive conversations that shape sports, culture, politics, and entertainment. He also co-created the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, one of the most successful radio programs in America.

As host and executive producer of Money Making Conversations Master Class, America’s premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast, Rushion provides a platform where successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, nonprofit leaders, and industry experts share actionable strategies for growth and success. Reaching more than 1.2 million monthly listeners and syndicated across 20 HBCU radio stations, the show empowers audiences to build businesses, increase financial confidence, and create generational wealth.

Rushion co-hosts and Executive Produces What Is Rich? Live! A dynamic weekly talk show hosted by NAACP Image Award-winning media personalities Jerome D. Love and Rushion McDonald. The show delivers financial literacy tools, business insights, and interviews designed to inspire growth and success. It airs Saturdays at 5 PM EST reaching a digital audience of 2 million viewers.

A powerhouse in television, radio, film, and digital media, this two-time Emmy Award winner and NAACP Image Award recipient has built an extraordinary career. His influence extends across decades of media innovation, talent development, brand storytelling, and audience engagement. He is also making an impact in music through his work with R&B icon Keith Sweat.

In addition to his media ventures, Rushion supports purpose-driven fundraising and community impact through WePowerFundraisers.com, an innovative platform that helps schools, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and community groups raise funds.

Honored at Ben Crump's Human Rights Honors with the 2026 Media Mogul Award, Rushion also received the 2026 Bridge Builder Award from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. International Undergraduate Summit, the 2025 Speak Sell Shine Mentor of the Year Award, STEM Atlanta Women’s 2024 Man of the Year Award, and the 2023 Atlanta Business League Men of Influence recognition. His company, 3815 Media, Inc., was named the 2023 GMSDC Supplier of the Year, further establishing the organization as a premier creative, production, and business development company.

https://www.moneymakingconversations.com

https://www.youtube.com/MoneyMakingConversations

https://www.facebook.com/MoneyMakingConversations/

https://twitter.com/moneymakingconv

https://www.instagram.com/moneymakingconversations/

Rushion McDonald is the Executive Producer of The Stephen A. Smith Show (Sports) and Straight Shooter with Stephen A. (Politics), both airing nationally on SiriusXM channels 82 and 124. His creative vision and production leadership help drive conversations that shape sports, culture, politics, and entertainment. He also co-created the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, one of the most successful radio programs in America.
As host and executive producer of Money Making Conversations Master Class, America&rsquo;s premier entrepreneurship, business leadership, financial literacy, and wealth-building podcast, Rushion provides a platform where successful entrepreneurs, executives, founders, celebrities, nonprofit leaders, and industry experts share actionable strategies for growth and success. Reaching more than 1.2 million monthly listeners and syndicated across 20 HBCU radio stations, the show empowers audiences to build businesses, increase financial confidence, and create generational wealth.
Rushion co-hosts and Executive Produces What Is Rich? Live! A dynamic weekly talk show hosted by NAACP Image Award-winning media personalities Jerome D. Love and Rushion McDonald. The show delivers financial literacy tools, business insights, and interviews designed to inspire growth and success. It airs Saturdays at 5 PM EST reaching a digital audience of 2 million viewers.
A powerhouse in television, radio, film, and digital media, this two-time Emmy Award winner and NAACP Image Award recipient has built an extraordinary career. His influence extends across decades of media innovation, talent development, brand storytelling, and audience engagement. He is also making an impact in music through his work with R&amp;B icon Keith Sweat.
In addition to his media ventures, Rushion supports purpose-driven fundraising and community impact through WePowerFundraisers.com, an innovative platform that helps schools, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and community groups raise funds.
Honored at Ben Crump's Human Rights Honors with the 2026 Media Mogul Award, Rushion also received the 2026 Bridge Builder Award from Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. International Undergraduate Summit, the 2025 Speak Sell Shine Mentor of the Year Award, STEM Atlanta Women&rsquo;s 2024 Man of the Year Award, and the 2023 Atlanta Business League Men of Influence recognition. His company, 3815 Media, Inc., was named the 2023 GMSDC Supplier of the Year, further establishing the organization as a premier creative, production, and business development company.
https://www.moneymakingconversations.com
https://www.youtube.com/MoneyMakingConversations
https://www.facebook.com/MoneyMakingConversations/
https://twitter.com/moneymakingconv
https://www.instagram.com/moneymakingconversations/

Money Making Conversations Master Class

Family First: Husband and Wife are wealth-building through diversification (restaurants, real estate, hospitality)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/52c28a8d-9077-42be-8532-b4930153e88e/transcript