Podcast Summary: Black Entrepreneur Experience Ep. 538

Episode Title: How A Different Connection LLC Is Changing Home Group Care
Guest: Amber Scarboro, Owner/Director of Operations, A Different Connection LLC
Host: Dr. Frances A. Ince
Release Date: February 18, 2026

Overview

This episode of Black Entrepreneur Experience features Amber Scarboro, founder and Director of Operations at A Different Connection LLC. The conversation explores Amber’s unique approach to home and group care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She shares business insights, her personal journey, hard-earned lessons, and her vision for a more compassionate care landscape. The discussion is rich with practical advice for entrepreneurs, especially those in service industries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Amber's Background & "A Different Connection"

• Amber's Journey:

  • Holds an MHA (Master’s in Healthcare Administration).
  • Previous experience includes managing a mental health group home and diverse roles in business management and customer service.
  • Started A Different Connection following a friend's suggestion, aiming to positively impact not just clients but also employees and their families.
    [02:17]

• Business Purpose:

  • A Different Connection employs 30-35 staff, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
  • The agency is deeply rooted in compassionate, person-centered care.
    [02:17–03:13]

What Sets A Different Connection Apart

• Unique Approach:
  • Amber emphasizes genuine care for both clients and staff, drawing from her own struggles and caregiving experience.
  • Focuses on helping clients grow without asking them to change who they are, and ensures open communication with families.

  “It allows me to be able to see the spaces they can grow in while respecting where they are and not asking them to be different than what they are… but the best of where they are…”
  —Amber [03:25]

Advice for Families Seeking Home Care

• Selecting a Care Agency:
  • Go beyond facts and details; listen for emotional intelligence and self-care from agency representatives.
  • Prioritize agencies willing to own and rectify mistakes.
  • Years in business aren't as important as current passion and accountability.

  “Listen for the heart, listen for accountability, because there's no perfection.”
  —Amber [04:22]

Industry Realities

• Emotional Labor & Learning Curve:
  • The work is both emotionally taxing and rewarding for everyone involved.
  • Unlike formulaic businesses, human care requires daily adaptation and personal growth.

  “It's not an industry where you just have a specific formula… It's person centered. So there's a lot of adapting and adjusting...”
  —Amber [05:39]

Leadership & Team Building

• Recent Business Lesson:
  • Building relationships with staff is foundational—facilitates dedication even during hardships (like local storms).

  “People work for you and they should feel like they're working with you, not just for you… If you haven’t developed a relationship with them… they'll use excuses to not show up versus reasons to show up.”
  —Amber [06:46]

Sources of Inspiration

• Personal Mentors:
  • Emotional monologue to Carla (neighbor and role model), honoring integrity, grace, and lasting life lessons.
  • Tribute to her mother for demonstrating unconditional love and resilience.
    [08:08]

On Starting Her Business

• Entrepreneurial Matchmaking:

  • Amber describes her career path as a combination of destiny and conscious decision—shaped by both life challenges and a sense of calling. [10:44]

• Name Origin:

  • “A Different Connection” signifies both a distinct level of care and a hub for resources and genuine community support.

  “I wanted my business to be an extension of that… when it comes into your life, you know something different happened.”
  —Amber [12:11]

Personal & Business Principles

• Impact Philosophy:

  • Strives for internal balance, grace, and progress over perfection—emphasizes the importance of resilience and example-setting. [13:06]

• Resilience after Setback:

  • Candid about closing her previous group home following overwhelming personal challenges, emphasizing the importance of stepping back to heal.

  “Some things that were going on in Amber were spilling outside. So for me, that was a big, huge punch to the face. My pretty little face. But here we are. Life's not trying to hurt you, trying to help you.”
  —Amber [14:32]

Social Change & Admired Leaders

• Biggest Problem to Solve:

  • The lack of compassion in society—believes greater self-acceptance and empathy would address systemic issues like homelessness and addiction.
    [16:55]

• Admired Business Leader:

  • Carlos Johnson of Safe Harbor (also a previous podcast guest). Amber lauds his humility, consistency, and holistic community impact.

  “He treats everyone with decency and respect while impacting his community in a very large way.”
  —Amber [18:03]

Business Wisdom & Growth

• Advice She Wishes She’d Taken:

  “Trust yourself. And don't pour from an empty cup. You're not more valuable because you give all of yourself away.”
  —Amber [20:35]

• Zone of Genius:

  • Understanding human behavior.
    [20:58]

• Costliest Lesson & Best Discovery:

  “Be your own best friend.” | “In life, my best discovery was me.”
  —Amber [21:12], [21:25]

• Leadership Wound:

  • Learned that sometimes she cannot help a client as much as she hopes, especially when legal guardians’ outlooks differ from hers.

  “It hurt my feelings… it’s important to learn how to navigate people in this industry… I couldn’t want more for him than his guardian did.”
  —Amber [22:20]

Achievements & Challenges

• Biggest Achievement:

  • Building a team environment where staff and clients thrive; remarkable turnaround stories with challenging clients.
    [24:19]

• Biggest Challenge:

  • Must push herself—there’s no outside boss or manager for business owners, so self-motivation is vital.
    [25:48]

Amber, Day-to-Day

• If You Spent 24 Hours with Amber:
  • She’s highly self-reflective, inventive with coping strategies, and strives to bring love and light even in quiet moments.
    [26:44]

Business Continuity & Vision

• Biggest Risk:

  • Expanding too quickly at the expense of quality care; balancing staffing in an industry with high turnover.
    [27:49]

• Five-Year Vision:

  • Serve ~50 clients with hundreds of employees, implement community programs and professional development initiatives.
    [28:51]

• Philanthropy:

  • Gives to individual causes and community drives, sometimes directly to people in need; not formally tied to a specific nonprofit.
    [29:39]

Motivation and Purpose

• What Keeps Her Going:

  • Gratitude for her journey and the ability to provide for and inspire her children and staff.

  “Every day, when I’m tired… Remember, we prayed for this. Come on, rise and slide, sunshine.”
  —Amber [30:18]

• If She Lost Everything:

  • Would still choose this industry because of her passion for helping and advocacy.
    [31:42]

Imposter Syndrome

• How She Handles It:

  “When I’m doubting my human, I believe in my divinity, and I believe in the God that runs through me… If you are changing something, elevating… there will be doubt that comes with that. Try to starve it.”
  —Amber [32:40]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There are going to be things [staff] have to push through too… If you haven’t developed a relationship with them… they'll use excuses to not show up versus reasons to show up.” —Amber [06:46]
• “I wanted my business to be an extension of [something different]… When it comes into your life, you know something different happened.” —Amber [12:11]
• “Hold your vision during the becoming. It's going to happen for you.” —Amber [21:29]
• “Life's not trying to hurt you, [it’s] trying to help you. And sometimes that has to hurt, right? Most things hurt when they heal.” —Amber [14:32]
• “Trust yourself. And don't pour from an empty cup. You're not more valuable because you give all of yourself away.” —Amber [20:35]
• “Every day, when I'm tired… Remember, we prayed for this. Come on, rise and slide, sunshine.” —Amber [30:18]
• “When passion meets purpose, you benefit your community while benefiting yourself.” —Amber [31:42]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Amber’s Background: [02:06–03:13]
• What Sets Her Apart: [03:25]
• Advice for Selecting Agencies: [04:22]
• Emotional Labor of the Industry: [05:39]
• Team Dedication Story: [06:46]
• Mentors & Inspirations: [08:08]
• Founding Story & Brand Name: [10:44] [12:11]
• Resilience After Failure: [14:32]
• Social Change & Compassion: [16:55]
• Admired Business Leader (Carlos Johnson): [18:03]
• Wisdom & Lessons: [20:35] [21:12] [21:25] [22:20]
• Team Building & Client Success: [24:19]
• Challenges & Day-to-Day Life: [25:48] [26:44]
• Business Risk & Vision: [27:49] [28:51]
• Motivation & Gratitude: [30:18]
• Imposter Syndrome: [32:40]
• Rapid Fire Fun Facts: [34:44]
• Amber’s Closing Advice: [35:48]

Resources & Next Steps

• A Different Connection Website: adcnow.org
• Contact: 1-234-900-6793

“Love yourself. Be kind to yourself. But challenge yourself and stay great because you are.”
—Amber [35:48]

This episode offers deep insight not only into the business of home care but also the mindset, resilience, and compassion required to lead and grow in this field.