Podcast Summary

Podcast: Black Entrepreneur Experience
Host: Dr. Frances Richards, Chief Encouraging Officer
Episode: BEE 534 – Cracking the Ivy League Code with Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross
Date: January 28, 2026
Guest: Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross, founder of College Smarter

Episode Overview

This episode features Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross, an entrepreneur and educational strategist who specializes in guiding Black teens and their families through the college admissions process with her signature College Smarter Method. Dr. Bell-Ross shares wisdom rooted in personal experience, highlights the value of holistic youth development, and discusses entrepreneurial realities, the importance of community, intergenerational lessons, and the changing values of rising generations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Carmen’s Backstory and Motivation

[01:53–04:01]

Dr. Carmen’s career focus has always been “helping people win”—from new professionals to the C-suite.
Her passion work is now helping young people, sparked by her desire to guide her own daughter’s journey (“looking at this little bitty face that looked a lot like me...I am fully responsible for making you successful in life” [03:01]).
College Smarter Method began from trying to help her daughter; her experience became a test case for broader strategy development.

Outcomes: “The End Result”

[04:04–05:50]

Her daughter is now a thriving Harvard junior in neuroscience, a lab researcher, dance team captain, and dorm-based entrepreneur.
Most importantly, “she is happy…she owns her own story…she’s passionate about it” [04:51].
Dr. Carmen’s key: Help young people choose paths that make them joyful and have agency rather than just filling expectations.

The College Smarter Method: Holistic College Preparation

[06:10–09:11]

Focuses on middle/high schoolers who are already invested academically and extracurricularly: “parents…run down how amazing…their children are…our goal is to showcase…for the world” [06:25].
Rooted in authenticity: “Who you are is good enough all by yourself…what if we started to validate them for who they naturally are?” [06:54].
True success is when students “move through the world differently because they believe that who they are…is good enough.”

Dr. Carmen’s Own Journey

[09:20–11:22]

Despite elite schooling and “impressive” credentials, she “felt really lost,” not standing in her purpose.
After adversity, self-exploration, and challenges, she “realized what I wanted to do was good” and sought work that was “my heart’s work.”

Guidance for Listeners Seeking Their Purpose

[12:07–14:24]

“Start by extending ourselves some grace.”
Assess what brings true satisfaction—“Some people have showy gifts...A lot of us are gifted in ways that are not showy but just as powerful.”
“There is purpose for you to do that...once you find it, lean right into it...the world will open up for you.”

Intergenerational Wisdom: Message to Her Grandmother

[14:39–16:21]

Tribute to her grandmother, who took 26 years to earn an undergraduate degree while working to support herself:
- "No matter how hard life is, you just keep going."
- "We set the bar for how far we go...Yes, you can." [15:15]
Message to listeners: “You’ve got this.”

Advice to a Younger Self

[16:30–17:25]

“You’ve gotten through every single one of your most difficult days … You’re going to be just fine.”
“Don’t worry about what other people say...That is a distraction.”

Defining Her Ideal Client

[17:29–18:42]

“A family that recognizes...I want my child to be a whole person...not just about academic success.”
Emphasizes contribution to community and working collectively: “I’m not looking for the client that just wants to win while everybody else loses.”

Leadership Growth and Lessons

[18:53–19:56]

Early mistake: trying too hard to “be the boss,” lacked humility and overlooked the value in team input.
“That was a loss to me, to my business.”

The Power of Community and Accountability

[20:40–22:53]

Business thrives through community, mentorship, and regular accountability groups:
- “I have a group of women...our little mastermind group.”
- “Get your tribe...We should lift as we climb.”

Entrepreneurship Journey—Generational & Personal

[23:15–25:53]

Comes from an entrepreneurial family; worked in her mother’s business and now partners with her.
Only in the last year felt unequivocally that entrepreneurship was “the path I should have personally taken,” after finding her “tribe.”
Honesty about the doubts, balance sheet stress, and persistence required: “Entrepreneurship is hard. It’s not for the faint of heart.”

Raising Capital: The Reality

[26:17–28:26]

Candid admission: “I was hustle bunny”—used credit, workshops, family loans; “You have to do what you have to do to fund your vision and your dream.”
Not easy to get investors, especially for a service business.
“Honestly, even when I was doing it alone, I could not have done it without others.”

If Forced to Rebuild—Staying True to Purpose

[28:33–30:23]

Jokingly: “It would take me about 28 days to pick myself up off the floor.”
Would still do college prep work; “I’m finally really, really truly leaning into my happy place.”
“At my age now...I just want to do that...I don’t want to wake up and not do work that I enjoy.”

Shifts in Generational Attitudes about Work

[31:05–32:38]

Younger generations value happiness, self-care, and respectful treatment at work more than money: “You can’t just pay me and treat me any kind of way. I think they got that part right.”
Emphasizes mutual learning between generations.

Her Top Two Influencers: Parents

[32:44–34:19]

“My parents...were married for over 50 years...our home was happy.”
Her father “left nothing on the table,” living life to the fullest—“I want to do that. I don’t want to leave here and say I should have. I wish I had.”

Main Takeaway for Listeners

[34:30–35:26]

“What we focus on expands” [34:42].
“If we focus on problems, they just seem to get bigger...focus on possibilities, those start to become endless.”
“Whatever challenges you are facing, you will get to the other side and will be better for it.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"Who you are is good enough all by yourself." – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [06:54]
"Let's shape this so that we can show you off to the world so that you are not only...but you are unforgettable." – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [07:05]
"It takes a special kind of determination...belief in yourself, belief in the fact that you are gifted to do something that is special and that's needed." – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [24:42]
“No matter how hard life is, you just keep going.” (Tribute to her grandmother) – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [14:44]
"Find your tribe...When you get to whatever it is you want, you can look at who you've pulled up with you." – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [22:13]
“What we focus on expands. If we focus on problems, they just seem to get bigger. Focus on possibilities...those become endless.” – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [34:42]

Timestamps for Important Segments

[01:53] Dr. Carmen’s career journey and motivation
[04:04] Her daughter’s success story (Harvard, neuroscience, entrepreneurship)
[06:10] How to start preparing for college: validating kids for who they are
[09:20] Dr. Carmen’s own struggles with “impressive” paths that lacked purpose
[12:07] How to help young people (and yourself) discover their true gifts and paths
[14:39] A heartfelt monologue to her grandmother and lessons of resilience
[16:30] Advice to her younger self on persisting and ignoring distractions
[17:29] Her ideal client and philosophy on success and contribution
[18:53] Leadership lessons: early mistakes and embracing humility
[20:40] The vital role of community/mastermind support in entrepreneurship
[23:15] Dr. Carmen’s entrepreneurial roots, family business, and recent self-acceptance
[26:17] Raising capital: the reality for service-based, Black women entrepreneurs
[28:33] If she had to rebuild from scratch, she’d still choose her purpose-driven path
[31:05] Generational differences and what Gen Z gets right about work-life balance
[32:44] The influence of her parents and her philosophy on living with no regrets
[34:30] Main takeaway: focus on possibilities and keep moving forward
[36:39] Her go-to success habit: “I kickbox and box...I lost about 100 pounds at one point”
[37:23] Biggest recent win: hearing her daughter internalize her life advice
[38:27–39:29] Rapid Fire (Morning routine, favorite book, coffee or tea, business pitch, favorite food)
[39:46] Contact and connection info for Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross

Closing and Contact Information

Website: collegesmarter.com
Email: [provided in transcript: @spgreve.com]
Social Media: See website or request directly
Offer: Complimentary “advantage map” session for college-bound families

Tone and Style:
This conversation is down-to-earth, encouraging, and honest. Dr. Carmen mixes professional expertise with personal storytelling, humor, and humility, offering validation to parents and young people as well as real talk about entrepreneurship.

For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In:
The episode is an inspiring dive into how embracing authenticity—personally, with our children, and as entrepreneurs—leads not just to success but to fulfillment. Dr. Carmen’s practical strategies for college (and life) prep, her candid discussion of business realities, and the affirming legacy of her family offer both actionable advice and heartfelt encouragement for anyone on the entrepreneurial or educational journey.

Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Carmen’s Backstory and Motivation

[01:53–04:01]

Dr. Carmen’s career focus has always been “helping people win”—from new professionals to the C-suite.
Her passion work is now helping young people, sparked by her desire to guide her own daughter’s journey (“looking at this little bitty face that looked a lot like me...I am fully responsible for making you successful in life” [03:01]).
College Smarter Method began from trying to help her daughter; her experience became a test case for broader strategy development.

Outcomes: “The End Result”

[04:04–05:50]

Her daughter is now a thriving Harvard junior in neuroscience, a lab researcher, dance team captain, and dorm-based entrepreneur.
Most importantly, “she is happy…she owns her own story…she’s passionate about it” [04:51].
Dr. Carmen’s key: Help young people choose paths that make them joyful and have agency rather than just filling expectations.

The College Smarter Method: Holistic College Preparation

[06:10–09:11]

Focuses on middle/high schoolers who are already invested academically and extracurricularly: “parents…run down how amazing…their children are…our goal is to showcase…for the world” [06:25].
Rooted in authenticity: “Who you are is good enough all by yourself…what if we started to validate them for who they naturally are?” [06:54].
True success is when students “move through the world differently because they believe that who they are…is good enough.”

Dr. Carmen’s Own Journey

[09:20–11:22]

Despite elite schooling and “impressive” credentials, she “felt really lost,” not standing in her purpose.
After adversity, self-exploration, and challenges, she “realized what I wanted to do was good” and sought work that was “my heart’s work.”

Guidance for Listeners Seeking Their Purpose

[12:07–14:24]

“Start by extending ourselves some grace.”
Assess what brings true satisfaction—“Some people have showy gifts...A lot of us are gifted in ways that are not showy but just as powerful.”
“There is purpose for you to do that...once you find it, lean right into it...the world will open up for you.”

Intergenerational Wisdom: Message to Her Grandmother

[14:39–16:21]

Tribute to her grandmother, who took 26 years to earn an undergraduate degree while working to support herself:
- "No matter how hard life is, you just keep going."
- "We set the bar for how far we go...Yes, you can." [15:15]
Message to listeners: “You’ve got this.”

Advice to a Younger Self

[16:30–17:25]

“You’ve gotten through every single one of your most difficult days … You’re going to be just fine.”
“Don’t worry about what other people say...That is a distraction.”

Defining Her Ideal Client

[17:29–18:42]

“A family that recognizes...I want my child to be a whole person...not just about academic success.”
Emphasizes contribution to community and working collectively: “I’m not looking for the client that just wants to win while everybody else loses.”

Leadership Growth and Lessons

[18:53–19:56]

Early mistake: trying too hard to “be the boss,” lacked humility and overlooked the value in team input.
“That was a loss to me, to my business.”

The Power of Community and Accountability

[20:40–22:53]

Business thrives through community, mentorship, and regular accountability groups:
- “I have a group of women...our little mastermind group.”
- “Get your tribe...We should lift as we climb.”

Entrepreneurship Journey—Generational & Personal

[23:15–25:53]

Comes from an entrepreneurial family; worked in her mother’s business and now partners with her.
Only in the last year felt unequivocally that entrepreneurship was “the path I should have personally taken,” after finding her “tribe.”
Honesty about the doubts, balance sheet stress, and persistence required: “Entrepreneurship is hard. It’s not for the faint of heart.”

Raising Capital: The Reality

[26:17–28:26]

Candid admission: “I was hustle bunny”—used credit, workshops, family loans; “You have to do what you have to do to fund your vision and your dream.”
Not easy to get investors, especially for a service business.
“Honestly, even when I was doing it alone, I could not have done it without others.”

If Forced to Rebuild—Staying True to Purpose

[28:33–30:23]

Jokingly: “It would take me about 28 days to pick myself up off the floor.”
Would still do college prep work; “I’m finally really, really truly leaning into my happy place.”
“At my age now...I just want to do that...I don’t want to wake up and not do work that I enjoy.”

Shifts in Generational Attitudes about Work

[31:05–32:38]

Younger generations value happiness, self-care, and respectful treatment at work more than money: “You can’t just pay me and treat me any kind of way. I think they got that part right.”
Emphasizes mutual learning between generations.

Her Top Two Influencers: Parents

[32:44–34:19]

“My parents...were married for over 50 years...our home was happy.”
Her father “left nothing on the table,” living life to the fullest—“I want to do that. I don’t want to leave here and say I should have. I wish I had.”

Main Takeaway for Listeners

[34:30–35:26]

“What we focus on expands” [34:42].
“If we focus on problems, they just seem to get bigger...focus on possibilities, those start to become endless.”
“Whatever challenges you are facing, you will get to the other side and will be better for it.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

"Who you are is good enough all by yourself." – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [06:54]
"Let's shape this so that we can show you off to the world so that you are not only...but you are unforgettable." – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [07:05]
"It takes a special kind of determination...belief in yourself, belief in the fact that you are gifted to do something that is special and that's needed." – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [24:42]
“No matter how hard life is, you just keep going.” (Tribute to her grandmother) – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [14:44]
"Find your tribe...When you get to whatever it is you want, you can look at who you've pulled up with you." – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [22:13]
“What we focus on expands. If we focus on problems, they just seem to get bigger. Focus on possibilities...those become endless.” – Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross [34:42]

Timestamps for Important Segments

[01:53] Dr. Carmen’s career journey and motivation
[04:04] Her daughter’s success story (Harvard, neuroscience, entrepreneurship)
[06:10] How to start preparing for college: validating kids for who they are
[09:20] Dr. Carmen’s own struggles with “impressive” paths that lacked purpose
[12:07] How to help young people (and yourself) discover their true gifts and paths
[14:39] A heartfelt monologue to her grandmother and lessons of resilience
[16:30] Advice to her younger self on persisting and ignoring distractions
[17:29] Her ideal client and philosophy on success and contribution
[18:53] Leadership lessons: early mistakes and embracing humility
[20:40] The vital role of community/mastermind support in entrepreneurship
[23:15] Dr. Carmen’s entrepreneurial roots, family business, and recent self-acceptance
[26:17] Raising capital: the reality for service-based, Black women entrepreneurs
[28:33] If she had to rebuild from scratch, she’d still choose her purpose-driven path
[31:05] Generational differences and what Gen Z gets right about work-life balance
[32:44] The influence of her parents and her philosophy on living with no regrets
[34:30] Main takeaway: focus on possibilities and keep moving forward
[36:39] Her go-to success habit: “I kickbox and box...I lost about 100 pounds at one point”
[37:23] Biggest recent win: hearing her daughter internalize her life advice
[38:27–39:29] Rapid Fire (Morning routine, favorite book, coffee or tea, business pitch, favorite food)
[39:46] Contact and connection info for Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross

Closing and Contact Information

Website: collegesmarter.com
Email: [provided in transcript: @spgreve.com]
Social Media: See website or request directly
Offer: Complimentary “advantage map” session for college-bound families

BEE 534 Cracking the Ivy League Code with Dr. Carmen Bell-Ross

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Summary

Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Carmen’s Backstory and Motivation

Outcomes: “The End Result”

The College Smarter Method: Holistic College Preparation

Dr. Carmen’s Own Journey

Guidance for Listeners Seeking Their Purpose

Intergenerational Wisdom: Message to Her Grandmother

Advice to a Younger Self

Defining Her Ideal Client

Leadership Growth and Lessons

The Power of Community and Accountability

Entrepreneurship Journey—Generational & Personal

Raising Capital: The Reality

If Forced to Rebuild—Staying True to Purpose

Shifts in Generational Attitudes about Work

Her Top Two Influencers: Parents

Main Takeaway for Listeners

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Important Segments

Closing and Contact Information

Summary

Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Dr. Carmen’s Backstory and Motivation

Outcomes: “The End Result”

The College Smarter Method: Holistic College Preparation

Dr. Carmen’s Own Journey

Guidance for Listeners Seeking Their Purpose

Intergenerational Wisdom: Message to Her Grandmother

Advice to a Younger Self

Defining Her Ideal Client

Leadership Growth and Lessons

The Power of Community and Accountability

Entrepreneurship Journey—Generational & Personal

Raising Capital: The Reality

If Forced to Rebuild—Staying True to Purpose

Shifts in Generational Attitudes about Work

Her Top Two Influencers: Parents

Main Takeaway for Listeners

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Important Segments

Closing and Contact Information