Patrice Washington is a first-generation American, award-winning podcaster, author, transformational speaker, and one of SUCCESS Magazine’s Top 25 Influential Leaders in Personal Development. She joins to unpack her remarkable journey from real estate mogul to global financial wholeness leader.

Patrice built a seven-figure real estate business by the age of 25, but a devastating fall during pregnancy, the 2007 recession, and the heartbreaking loss of her first child forced her into the most difficult surrender of her life. Bible and journal in hand, she learned that surrendering isn’t giving up, it’s releasing what was never ours to control. That pivotal moment became the seed for her reinvention, leading her to create the Redefining Wealth movement and inspire millions to see wealth as well-being, purpose, and freedom.

In this episode, Patrice opens up about breaking generational cycles, navigating family expectations as a Caribbean American, and building confidence not from accolades, but from the lives she’s touched. She shares how to distinguish knowledge from wisdom, how to honor your own story, and why listening to life’s “nudges” can lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.

This week, we reconnect with our brother and classmate, Frandy Peña, founder of Mission Barbers and Mission Haircraft. Known for his ever-present smile and generous heart, Frandy is one of those rare souls who makes everyone feel seen. In this vulnerable and uplifting conversation, he opens up about growing up in a Dominican immigrant household where family meant everything and giving even when there was little to give was a way of life. We explore how those early lessons shaped his values, his journey from IT project management to barbering, and how his barbershop became more than a place for fresh fades it became a sanctuary for emotional healing and connection.

Frandy speaks candidly about his mental health journey, the power of vulnerability, and why barbers are often the unofficial therapists in our communities. We also dive into his mission-driven grooming brand, Mission Haircraft, which provides affordable, high-quality products while giving back to youth in foster care through personalized gift boxes.

Joubert Joseph is a Haitian immigrant, civic entrepreneur, cultural curator, and founder of FOCO Digital and SocialPay. Joubert takes us back to his earliest lessons in business and community, watching his mother bring life and joy to a flea market stall, prioritizing people over profit. Those childhood experiences became the blueprint for his purpose-driven leadership today.

Through stories of grit, generosity, and growth, Joubert shares how he transformed grassroots marketing skills into a career rooted in impact building platforms that empower communities, bridge culture, and fuel civic engagement. We explore his immigrant journey, the values that shaped him, and the mindset that drives him to lead with empathy, creativity, and courage. This episode is a masterclass in turning heritage into innovation and struggle into strength.

We had the pleasure to interview Sandro Gohoho, President of Film Licensing and Operations at Echelon Studios, whose life and career span continents, cultures, and transformative moments. Born in North Macedonia to West African parents, Sandro moved across Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, The Gambia, Senegal, France, Canada, and beyond, each chapter forging a deeper sense of identity, resilience, and leadership.

Sandro shares how witnessing his father start from scratch in a foreign land taught him the meaning of perseverance, trust, and hard work. Fluent in multiple languages and shaped by a global lens, he now sits at the helm of international film licensing, helping bring stories from around the world to audiences everywhere. In this conversation, he opens up about the evolving landscape of global content, the importance of mentorship, and why diverse voices matter more than ever in the age of AI and digital storytelling.

Born in Montana to immigrant parents and shaped by a global perspective, Hassan Akmal is more than an author and executive, he's a visionary in the world of career and life design. From competing as a Division I tennis player at UCLA to reimagining career services at Columbia, UCLA, and now UC San Diego, Hassan’s path is rooted in purpose, resilience, and reinvention.

Hassan shares how he’s leveraging the power of AI and human potential to design a more inclusive future, one where clarity is the true wealth and institutions don’t just create talent, but nurture identities that reshape the world. His message of synchronicity, when inner purpose meets divine timing is a call to action for every immigrant, dreamer, and leader navigating today’s uncertainty.

In today's episode of Zaka Presents My Journey, we sit down with Jessica Wedge, a People & Culture leader whose career spans DEI strategy, HR transformation, and global impact. Raised in the heart of Queens by Honduran immigrant parents, Jessica reflects on how her upbringing, grit, and cultural pride shaped her path in corporate America.

From navigating college as a young mom to driving enterprise-wide change at major organizations, Jessica opens up about imposter syndrome, building inclusive teams, and finding her voice in spaces where few looked like her. She shares the pivotal life lessons from her parents resilience, education, and kindness that have guided her through every twist in her journey.

We sit down with Adja Dior Cisse, founder of Dad Financial Pathway and a proud Senegalese-American, as she shares her powerful journey from Dakar to the U.S. With honesty and heart, Adja opens up about the financial challenges she faced as a young immigrant, navigating legal status, working 17 different jobs, supporting her family, and eventually finding her calling in financial empowerment. Whether you're new to the country or seeking to rebuild your path, this episode offers real talk, hard-earned lessons, and encouragement to take control of your finances and career. Tune in and discover how culture, faith, and community can fuel resilience and why building your legacy starts today.

Princess Jolie Charles, a fearless Haitian-American advocate, community strategist, and Co-Founder of FEWGI talks about what it really means to lead, to belong, and to fight for your voice. Raised in Brooklyn by her grandmother who spoke only Haitian Creole, Princess shares how navigating identity, faith, and adversity shaped her into “The Speaker of Humanity.” With raw honesty, she reflects on unsafe rooms, unspoken trauma, and unwavering faith offering testimony on resilience, God’s grace, and the power of knowing who you are and whose you are. From walking through Crown Heights with spiritual armor to coaching TEDx speakers at Harvard, Princess brings light to the struggles and strength of immigrant women everywhere. Princess reminds us: you are worthy, you are called, and you are never alone.