Podcast Summary: Black Entrepreneur Experience – Episode 528
Title: Self-Care & Success: Lakila Bowden on Avoiding Burnout
Host: Dr. Frances Richards (“Chief Encouraging Officer”)
Guest: Lakeela Bowden, COO & Co-Founder, IC Technologies, Author
Date: November 26, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode centers on the intersection of self-care and entrepreneurial success for high-achieving women, featuring insights from Lakeela Bowden, COO and co-founder of IC Technologies and author of The Show Enough Principle. Lakeela shares her journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship, the pivotal personal experiences that led to her focus on self-care, and practical strategies for avoiding burnout. She also discusses the nuances of building a supportive team, shifting outdated definitions of success, and celebrating wins— all while growing a business projected to hit seven figures.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Lakeela’s Background & “The Show Enough Principle” (1:34–4:38)
- Corporate to Entrepreneurship: Lakeela spent over 15 years in corporate America, rising up the ranks before transitioning to an entrepreneur.
- Author's Purpose: The book she wrote was one she wished existed during her corporate and entrepreneurial journey, aimed especially at high-achieving women.
- Personal Story: Simultaneously found out about her pregnancy and her mother's terminal diagnosis in 2021—pivoted deeply into self-care to navigate both.
- “Prioritizing self-care is the superpower that lifts the invisible loads in our lives.” (5:48)
- Connection Beyond Life: Despite her mother passing before her son was born, Lakeela finds deep comfort in signs of spiritual connection between them.
- “He gravitates towards her pictures... started calling her Nana before he could really talk.” (4:54)
Core Principles of Self-Care (5:48–8:28)
- Vulnerability as Strength: Lakeela reframed strength not as “wearing a cape” but as allowing herself to be vulnerable, ask for help, and share burdens.
- Curating Support: Built a network—family members, caretakers, doulas—to provide necessary physical and emotional support.
- Self-Care Is Not Selfish: “When I look at self-care and prioritizing yourself and being ‘selfish’ as dynamically selfless, you have the energy, you have the capacity when your bucket is full.” (7:13)
Self-Care on a Budget (8:28–10:30)
- Prioritization Over Resources: Emphasizes that prioritizing self, acknowledgment, and gratitude do not require wealth. Free, simple practices like grounding outside or joining free groups can be powerful.
- Wealth Follows Mindset: “The people, the opportunities, and the resources... come to you when you already operate in gratitude for yourself.” (9:14)
- Abundance Mindset: Start with the resources and relationships you have.
Book Release & Community Connection (10:30–11:55)
- Encourages supporting local bookstores. Book released October 1, with both in-person and virtual events focusing on celebratory self-care.
- The Show Enough Experience event model mirrors the themes of her book: celebration, community, self-acknowledgment.
COO Role at IC Technologies (11:55–13:42)
- Operational Expertise: Leveraged 15+ years in operations to make IC Technologies a company that fuses “training, development” with “edutainment.”
- Creating Motivation: “My role operationally is making sure that we have team and facilitators who are able to embody and make education edutainment.” (12:27)
- Clients: IC Technologies works with corporations and government agencies, ensuring training is both effective and engaging.
Superpowers: Self-Care & Self-Celebration (13:42–15:05)
- Self-care: Regular staycations and setting boundaries to recharge.
- Self-celebration: Validates the power of “bragging” as a tool for expanded wins.
- “When we brag more, our wins increase in impact and frequency. And as women, we're oriented towards impact. That's one of my superpowers.” (14:12)
- “Show Enough” as a mantra: owning accomplishments unapologetically.
Celebrating Wins—Big and Small (15:05–16:21)
- Show Enough Principle surpassed average lifetime book sales in the pre-order period.
- Success is incremental and deserves celebration at each step.
The Future—Books & Beyond (17:08–18:14)
- Hints at future books, including focusing on the connection between rest and abundance: “Operating in flow versus force brings in that financial abundance as well.”
- Stresses the waning relevance of “grind and hustle” culture in favor of strategies centered on rest and creativity.
Advice on Burnout, Hustle, and Redefining Success (18:14–23:13)
- For the Exhausted Listener: Trust intuition; small acts of self-care recalibrate both business and life.
- Redefining Success: “My success metrics are the days we are in, the moments and the time that I spend exploring that...” (21:31)
- Detachment from Achievement: "Who I am, who Lakeela, is the being. My soul, my essence, is defined by much greater than the things that I do." (21:45)
Transitioning from Corporate to Entrepreneurship (23:13–25:36)
- Preparation Is Key: Mentally and financially prepared for years before her “day quit.”
- Faith in Self & Adaptation: Gave herself grace through discomfort and focused on learning, not seeing setbacks as losses but as lessons.
Lessons on Capital & Business Growth (25:48–27:07)
- Preparation for Funding: Early business mistakes came from not knowing how to be “capital ready”—now advocates for “building business credit, preparing for funding before you need it.”
Impact, Legacy, and Family Business (27:07–29:56)
- Legacy: Values the ripple effects and opportunities created, especially in partnership with her sister.
- Vision Over Sight: Her sister, blind since birth, exemplifies true vision—operating on faith, vision, and possibility, not limitations.
Building a Team & Support Squad (32:08–36:34)
- Delegate to Elevate: “I'm big on team—Lakila is the queen of outsourcing and building a team.” (32:08)
- Advocates focusing on the attributes you need in a support team, not just the people currently around you: “It’s quality over quantity. Even if you start with the one that’s solid... build from there.” (35:55)
Storytelling & Honoring Role Models (36:34–38:51)
- Madam C.J. Walker: Lakeela cites Walker as her greatest inspiration: “Thank you for showing up with your time in this plane with your gifts and not being deterred... you created legions of women that were empowered with a new skill.” (37:04)
Looking Ahead: What Matters Most (39:02–39:58)
- Internal Power: “There’s nothing outside of you that has the power to take the things that are internal, your internal gifts to you and reduce them.”
- Stay Connected: Encourage Black women to lean into their power, tribe, and community.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On self-care as a superpower:
“Prioritizing self-care is the superpower that lifts the invisible loads in our lives.”
– Lakeela Bowden, 05:48 -
On owning achievements:
“When we brag more, our wins increase in impact and frequency. And as women, we're oriented towards impact. That's one of my superpowers.”
– Lakeela Bowden, 14:17 -
On building a team:
“I'm big on team—Lakila is the queen of outsourcing and building a team. I mentioned the team that I built around me during my pregnancy journey. I did the same thing with this book.”
– Lakeela Bowden, 32:08 -
On reframing setbacks:
“I don't believe in losses. I believe in lessons.”
– Lakeela Bowden, 25:36 -
On shifting definitions of success:
“My success metrics are the days we are in, the moments and the time that I spend exploring that... They're not defined by my bank account, they're not defined by the number of clients that I have.”
– Lakeela Bowden, 21:48 -
Inspirational homage:
“If I had a chance to talk to Madam C.J. Walker, I would say thank you for laying out the blueprint. Thank you for showing up with your time... using those gifts not just for self, but empowering and creating an opportunity for a better livelihood for others.”
– Lakeela Bowden, 37:04
Rapid Fire Insights (40:14–41:28)
- Morning routine: “Wake up with gratitude... that’s how I start my day.” (40:18)
- Favorite book: The Power of Positive Thinking (40:27)
- Favorite failure: Seventh-grade basketball taught her to keep shooting to succeed. (40:35)
- Tea or coffee?: Tea all day. (40:58)
- Critical tool: Nature, not apps or devices. (41:06)
- Business pitch: “My business creates teams and individuals who are wildly motivated to perform at their best.” (41:21)
Connect with Lakeela Bowden
- Website: lakelabowden.com
- Instagram: @lakelaj
- LinkedIn: Lakeela Bowden
- Book: The Show Enough Principle — available wherever books are sold (support local bookstores!)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Segment | Timestamps | |--------------------------------------------|---------------| | Lakeela’s Background/Why the Book | 01:34–04:38 | | Self-Care Principles & Personal Story | 05:48–08:28 | | Self-Care on a Budget | 08:28–10:30 | | Book Release & Celebratory Events | 10:30–11:55 | | COO Role, “Edutainment” in Training | 11:55–13:42 | | Superpowers: Self-Care & Celebration | 13:42–15:05 | | Celebrating Wins/Book Success | 15:05–16:21 | | Entrepreneurial Transition Story | 23:13–25:36 | | Lessons on Capital & Preparation | 25:48–27:07 | | Building a Team: Practical Advice | 32:08–36:34 | | Honoring Role Models (Madam C.J. Walker) | 36:34–38:51 | | Rapid Fire & Connection Info | 40:14–42:12 |
Summary Tone: Empowering, candid, practical, celebratory—emphasizing resilience, joy, and the transformative power of intentional self-care for Black women in business.