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- [00:01]
A
The following podcast is a Dear Media production.
- [00:12]
B
Thank you for tuning in to she's so Lucky.
- [00:14]
A
My name is Les. I am your host.
- [00:15]
B
This is the show. All about the ways that we create our own luck. And I feel like one of the things that has been most helpful for me in creating my own luck is being connected to really strong community.
- [00:27]
A
And I'm very excited to talk about.
- [00:29]
B
Community and connection with today's special guests.
- [00:33]
A
So please join me in welcoming Naomi Wright and Crystal Vega, co founders of Fortune and Forks.
- [00:39]
B
Welcome, ladies.
- [00:40]
C
Hi. Thank you.
- [00:42]
B
I am so happy to have you.
- [00:44]
D
We're so happy to be here.
- [00:45]
B
Oh, my gosh. I feel like what the two of you are creating is so beautiful, and the work that you're doing is so important.
- [00:51]
D
Thank you.
- [00:52]
C
Thank you.
- [00:53]
D
And we love.
- [00:53]
C
We love your podcast. So we were really excited. We've been, like, talking about this for weeks now. I know we were in the bathroom prepping, like, okay, this is what you're gonna say.
- [01:01]
B
This is what I'm gonna say.
- [01:02]
C
So thank you for having us.
- [01:04]
D
We love.
- [01:04]
B
But also on the back end, it's been a few months of, like, coordinating, and, you know, because I know y' all don't live in New York anymore, and so on the back end, it's been a long time coming. But I also feel like even when episodes take a while to come to fruition, they always happen right on time.
- [01:18]
D
Absolutely.
- [01:19]
B
It's always like something's happening where it's like, oh, this was actually when we were meant to talk.
- [01:24]
C
Yes. Agreed.
- [01:25]
B
Yes.
- [01:25]
C
Yep.
- [01:26]
B
So for our audience that is just now getting to know you, I would love for them to hear a little bit more about your story as well as your friendship and career trajectories, because those two things are closely intertwined. So can you please tell our community how the two of you met and came together?
- [01:43]
C
Yeah, well, I'll. I'll jump in. My name is Chris La Vega, like you said, a media correspondent, co founder of Fortune and Forks, but also, I guess, now a philanthropist. Right now that we've launched Fortune for philanthropist, y'. All. But Naomi and I met 2016. Yeah, 2015, maybe. Yeah, 2014, maybe 2015. Okay.
- [02:07]
B
It. All the years blew together, and we.
- [02:09]
C
Were interning together, but go ahead and introduce yourself first.
- [02:11]
D
Yeah, I'm Naomi, co founder of Fortune and Forks, also a producer, development executive. Crystal and I started Fortune and forks in 2017, but we met just before that as interns. We were both working at the BET Awards as production assistants, and that weekend, we kind of hit it off. And when we got back to New York, we hung out for the first time. I also, like, first time you invited me to hang out, I think I was like, am I gonna be friends with this girl? Like, we were just so different at the time, and it's been so fun over the years to, like, grow up and grow together. But when I think about, like, young Crystal and Naomi, like, we were just so star eyed and excited and launched a business that we were, like, way in over our heads on. Like, why did we think that we could do this when I was, I think, 21 and you were like, 23, maybe something like that. But we were just babies, and we just, like, really wanted to be in community. We wanted to meet other women who were doing cool, amazing, exciting things. And we were like, let's host a dinner. Let's get the girls together. And really something amazing was born at that first event that kind of sparked what we know as Fortune and Forks today.
- [03:16]
C
Yeah. But even to take a step back, Naomi and I, when we were interning together, we. Before we started Fortune Forks, I had a podcast, and Naomi was producing my podcast for me. So when she thought she wasn't gonna be my friend, I was like, oh, I have a producer. Like, I was already planning in my head. I was like, we're gonna do great together.
- [03:34]
B
I have a job for you.
- [03:35]
C
Meanwhile, she's like, I don't even know if I like this girl. And I'm like, too bad you're already hired. I had, like, a podcast so, so long ago, and it was like, something that I was using to build my own, like, personal reel so I can, like, be a media correspondent and kind of, like, use that for, like, auditions, so on and so forth. So when Naomi and I met, we talked about, like, our interests, and she was like, yeah, you know, I want to do, like, more producing. And I was like, oh, my God, I want to do a pocket. This is perfect. It was, like, always a perfect match. She was like, yeah, I'm trying to be behind the camera. I'm like, I'm in front of it. Let's do it.
- [04:04]
D
It was really such a perfect match.
- [04:06]
C
Like, yes.
- [04:07]
D
I was, like, nerdy, like, never shy, but just Krystal was like this, like, outside, cool it, girl. When we first started hanging out, I was like, I don't know, I don't know. And then we just, like, really found this, like, bond and this spark through our work ethic and, like, through our passions and energy that has, like, really persisted and obviously built what we what we do together today, for sure.
- [04:29]
C
And that's exactly why I brought up the podcast, because I feel like that was our, like, practice run to Fortune Forks.
- [04:34]
B
And.
- [04:34]
C
And then once we put that down and picked up Fortune Forks, we knew how each other worked already. Like the beat.
- [04:39]
D
And we had a foundation.
- [04:40]
B
Yeah.
- [04:40]
C
Yeah, we had a super strong foundation, like, same work ethic. So, yeah, that's. That's how Fortune Forks came.
- [04:47]
B
How you came to be. Yeah. And even before you hosted that first dinner. Cause I do. I want to spend some time talking about that first dinner that created this beautiful community you've built. Before that, when the two of you connected, you were very early in your careers. Were you finding, at least before you found each other, that it was hard to connect with other young women who were, like, minded so hard.
- [05:09]
D
Yeah.
- [05:09]
C
Especially in. And then we're talking years ago. Right. But especially in music. And that's, you know, the. The apartment in W, which we worked in, it was always, like, a boys club, so it was always very hard for us to find other women of color to connect with, which is why we started Fortune and Forks. I was like, oh, my God, Naomi, it's always you and I, but there's got to be more of us.
- [05:31]
D
Yeah.
- [05:32]
C
And that's literally the conversation we had. We were like, okay, this. This cool, but there's gotta be more of us. And, you know, let's find them and. And give them their flowers.
- [05:39]
D
And I think for me, that dates back even further. Like, I had the privilege of going to prep school, to boarding school for high school. And, like, being the only one in those spaces, especially boarding school, is, like, even more intense because you're living together in that environment. But I just remember graduating and feeling like, wow, these kids have all of these resources, all of this access, all these relationships. Their dad got them a job at this VC firm. And I was, like, completely lost, like, not only in terms of career, but also in terms of community. I was like, I just don't have the people with the information and the knowledge to, like, help me get where I'm trying to go. And it was really disheartening graduating college because I was like, I feel like I've really busted my ass. I did internships, you know, year over year, all throughout college. I was driving to and from school to make sure I was at bet and I was producing a podcast in my free time, like, when I graduated, feeling like I had, like. Like everything I had done didn't matter without the relationships to, like, actualize my experience. So Yeah, I think our. Our mission definitely, like, kind of stems from, like, early adolescence for both of us.
- [06:39]
A
Yeah.
- [06:40]
B
Naomi, I really want to circle back on that point that you just said, because I think it's super important where we focus a lot on qualifying for the jobs and getting the hard skills, which is also super important. That's not to say that we shouldn't. And there is also this extra piece of often having those connections or knowing somebody who can introduce you to somebody who can put you on to something to help you get in the room, and then your skills and those things you built up helped you stay in the room. And for so many of us. I know I had a very similar experience going to, like, a private college with all these super privileged people with all these connections for the first time and being like, oh, y' all have help who are helping you get these internships and these jobs and these things, and. And that's very different than just me on LinkedIn applying for stuff in my dorm room.
- [07:26]
D
Absolutely. I think I applied for, like, 60 jobs the summer after I graduated with literally not a callback, like, not an interview, like, nothing. And I was like, how is this even possible? Like, again, I feel like I've done all the right things. I went to the right schools, and without people, without community, without someone to kind of vouch for you and bring you into those spaces, like, it's really hard to. To break through and get where you're trying to go. Yeah.
- [07:50]
B
So I love that background. We have your experiences, how you met, working in music and media, realizing it's a bit of a boys club, having these experiences. You come together, you decide, we're going to host something for women who are interested in things that we're interested in. And it started with that first dinner. Can you take us back to that time and what all went into that?
- [08:13]
C
Ooh. A lot of our own money. First of all, literally a lot of our own money. Money and resources.
- [08:20]
D
Money we didn't have. Like, I said, we were, like, 21 and 23 at the time.
- [08:24]
C
Money we did not have. Literally rubbing our pennies together at the time. Separately from interning at bt. I worked at a restaurant, really popular restaurant. It's called Tao Downtown, a really popular restaurant. You might have heard of it, but I used to work at Tao Downtown for years. At night, morning, I would go intern, and we were like, okay, we want to do this dinner and, like, just bring together, like, women of color to connect with them, but also to give everybody their flowers and just, you know, have everybody Take a moment to appreciate themselves. And we were like, okay, so how are we going to do this? We need a proof of concept. And I went to my manager at Tower and I was like, hey, I need that private room, and I need no minimum.
- [09:05]
D
Why did they give it to us?
- [09:06]
C
Because, like, I didn't really. I was like, this is what I need. And they were also like, great. Like, we just had a great relationship, but they were also like, oh, you know, you want to do this thing? Cool, no problem. So I was like, hey, Nate, I got the restaurant. We were still going to have to pay for the food. They might give us a little bit of a discount, but, like, we've got to make this work. And then we tapped Flo and Gala and. Amazing photographer, amazing photographer. She really captured the essence of that night. And we always go back to Flo's photos, like, wow. Like, it wasn't just like a recap that she took. It was very much like, you feel how everybody was just connecting through those photos. And then we sat down and planned the guest list. And I think that we are very intentional about. We were always very intentional about it, and we still are very intentional. And we're like, okay, like, what do we want this room to feel like, most importantly?
- [09:56]
A
Right.
- [09:57]
D
I think Fortunate Forks was also born at a time when women empowerment was kind of like a new trend, if you will. And, like, companies were doing all these brunches that, like, we're getting these, like, C suite level women together. And we were like, but what about the spaces for those of us who are trying to figure it out and. And trying to build? I think we always talk about things being a boys club, but I think even the women empowerment spaces at the time were, like, really white, right? This was in, like, peak girl boss era. And so we wanted to figure out, like, what are the spaces for people who look like us and understand our unique challenges and really want to pull our resources together and, like, be in community and figure this thing out together.
- [10:35]
A
Yeah.
- [10:35]
B
So as you were curating that first guest list, how did you decide who to invite and who initially was in that community?
- [10:42]
C
Again, it wasn't intentional. The first time we did it, we were like, let's just do this thing. And it was for women in media specifically. Naomi and I were in media, and we were like, okay, what do we want this to feel like? Because I think another thing for us at the time is that we understood at a very early age that connecting and networking doesn't always mean reaching up. It's really about, like, connecting with the people to your left and to your right. And we were like, okay, so like, let's bring in women who are working in media but are not necessarily in C suite levels. But we can bring in a guest of honor who is at a C suite level to speak to the other women. And then, you know, in the future, like, maybe if we establish this thing, we can bring in an intern who is just like us and make room for them at the table so we sort of, like, are able to bridge the gap. Bridge the gap, literally. So that's how we curated the first one and continued to do so after.
- [11:36]
B
And what was the response, like, from that first dinner? How did it feel when you were in the room?
- [11:40]
D
It was amazing. I think what's always kept us going is the response after every event or every dinner. Like, the first one we did, we had no intention of, like, building a company. We didn't even know if we were going to do it a second time. But every time we showed up and did a dinner and kind of poured our love and intention into the room, everyone poured it back into us. And there was always the question of, when's the next one?
- [12:01]
C
Literally, even at times where we were like, yeah, this is just not. Because we didn't get sponsors and partners for a very long time. Time, like, and I just want to emphasize, very long time, we were paying out of our pockets to, I mean, down to the florals. We were doing the florals ourselves for years. It wasn't up until three years ago that we, you know, started to finally get support.
- [12:26]
D
Yeah, we get that question a lot. Just about, like, partnerships and how we figured out that space. And, like, we spent a lot of time just, like, building the community before we even had brands come to the table. Because to want to engage with the community. And luckily for us, we've always been really motivated by the work. What motivated us was people asking us, so when's the next one? And we were like, well, I guess we have to do a next one because the community's invested in what we're building. But, yeah, to Crystal's point, it probably took, you know, we had some, like, friend favors similar to what happened at Tao Group, where a restaurant would kind of host us. But we didn't actually have brands kind of coming to the table and interested in getting on board until, yeah, maybe three years ago. We were. We were grinding it out, like, from maybe 2017 all the way through into the pandemic and, like, tried to keep that momentum going through that moment. As well. Yeah.
- [13:11]
B
And. But what I think is really valuable about that is that when you did bring on those partners, then you knew what to ask for. You knew what you needed from them because you had so much experience having done it already versus if you do that the first time, when you also kind of don't know what you're doing, and you also don't know what you need help with or you don't know what you need a sponsorship for, and you're kind of figuring it out. That can get messy.
- [13:34]
D
Totally. I'm so grateful for the years we spent learning and doing the work before anyone was watching. We talked about this recently, actually. We. We were discussing this question about, like, what would you tell your younger selves who just started Fortunate Forks? And my first instinct was to say, like, I wish she knew her power. But then part of me was like, yeah, there's a ton of power there. But, like, there was also so much she needed to learn. Like, if I had been given all of the resources and access on day one, I would have had no idea what to do with it. Krystal and I had to learn how to run every department of this business ourselves. We had to learn social media. We had to learn branding. I mean, to this day, we're, like, always talking through, like, what makes sense for this partnership? What's the angle? How do we pitch it? I'm really grateful for the journey and always feel blessed that, like, we got to learn and build this thing together in our own time, for sure.
- [14:20]
C
And especially when it comes to partnerships, I'm really grateful for the fact that we were able to establish our mission so that when brands and partners came to us, and, you know, there has been plenty of times where they're like, hey, can you do this? And if it was kind of, like, not aligned with our mission at that point, we were able to comfortably say, this doesn't really align with us. Maybe we can do it like this or, like, maybe sometime down the line. So we were able to very much establish, like, our foundation and mission.
- [14:47]
D
Early days, I don't think we knew what this was going to be like. Fortune and Forks was this dinner series, but we were like, is it going to be an agency? Is it going to be a supper club? Is it going to be a social club? And to Crystal's point, like, had we let brands come in and just kind of move us any which way, we wouldn't have been driven by, like, the North Star of our mission, which has always really been community.
- [15:07]
B
Yeah. And how has community Influenced what Fortune and Forks has turned into. Was it feedback from those first few dinners? How did you move it into what it is now?
- [15:17]
D
Yeah, someone said this to us recently. Our friend Danye Donye Taylor, another amazing creative. But she mentioned to me recently, she was like, one thing I love about what you guys do is, is that you're always doing different stuff. Like, I'm not every year fortunate. Forks is not this thing. Every year. You guys are evolving. And I said to her, like, that's because we're literally always listening to feedback. Right? Not only do we want to always produce things that we want to go to and experience as the audience ourselves, but we also always want to be evolving with the times and understanding, like, year over year. What does our community need differently? Like, what people needed in 2020 in the pandemic is not what they need in 2017, and it's certainly not what they need in 2025. So every year, our calendar looks different, and we constantly pivot to respond needs and interests of our community.
- [16:00]
B
That makes sense. And what has been some of the most, I guess, helpful pieces of feedback that you've gotten from your community? And what are some examples of the different ways that you pivoted and changed based off of that?
- [16:10]
D
A big pivot for us was, like, quite literally in the pandemic, we pivoted from being a supper club to being a professional resource group and a social club, because we wanted to start doing events outside of dinners, and we wanted to start doing events that catered to the whole person. Right? You can't be this superstar executive if your mental health is in hell. We were like, we need to do things that cater to people's mental health, that cater to people's physical health, that cater to people's wellness. And honestly, the most important thing in our spaces has always been about creating engaging environments where people can build real friendships. Because I know we were really tired of going to industry events where we were like, those people seem cool, but, like, what's next? Like, we don't know how to stay in touch. We don't know how we build with them from there. Like, can we really ask all 17 of those people to coffee? You know, so making sure that in our rooms, those spaces are, like, always curated with intention and focused on serving the whole person.
- [17:03]
C
And when the girls say more, we do more. When they're like, we want to get together again, which is always very exciting for us to hear that demand and to hear that women are coming to our events and leaving with real relationships that they're taking outside of the rooms and nurturing outside of the rooms. We try to do more and especially even in terms of like the different types of events like Naomi said. So if the girls are like, hey, we want to do more wellness stuff like this year, we really just try to, to her point, tailored to what they're asking for, what we need during those times.
- [17:37]
A
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- [22:27]
B
Crystal I want to come back to something that you said a little bit earlier when you were talking about curating the guest list for that first dinner, and you mentioned wanting to give people more opportunities to network across. So having people who are not yet at C Suite. I want to talk more about networking across, because I think it's something that Issa Rae, who kind of made the term popular, where she was talking about working with other creators who are at the same level. And I really want to talk more about why that is so important and why we should be seeking connections with people who are kind of around the same either level or in similar spaces that we're in.
- [23:05]
C
Yeah, well, you know what's so funny? I actually, when I first. First started interning, I may have. I think it was like, after I met Naomi. But, like, that was a word of advice my supervisor gave me at bet. He was like, hey, listen, like, a lot of times you're gonna see people trying to network up. Like, at the end of the day, life happens. People move out of those seats, and those to your left and to your rights are going to be next to you in some different position.
- [23:31]
D
And I think we. And our friendship has always embodied that. Right. Like, when we were at bet, like, yes, we still have relationships with some of those executives we worked for, some of the interns who came in after us. But, like, networking across has literally gotten us where we are on, on so many fronts. And I think building this foundational friendship has helped us not only professionally, but also personally, like, get through the different chapters of our career to date.
- [23:54]
C
Oh, absolutely. It's so funny because I had one of those aha. Moments where I was like, oh, like, every opportunity that I was given as a media correspondent has came from a counterpart, another woman of color. And I was like, wow, that's so crazy. And, like, it was just, like, one of those moments for me where everything started to click. And I'm like, yeah, definitely left and right. Up and down is cool, but left and right is definitely where it's at.
- [24:21]
B
Some of, like, the coolest opportunities I've had are people putting me on to really great guests or even great brand partnerships have absolutely come from co workers that I've had at. At the same level, or peers who are like, hey, actually, I'm working on this campaign. Do you want to join? Because there is just this level of accessibility and kind of open communication that you can have with peers. That makes the relationship building really strong. And it also feels a little bit less transactional that way, because that's the part of networking that I think trips people up oftentimes.
- [24:53]
D
Absolutely. And I think that's one of the reasons why we created Fortunate Forks. For me, personally, it was really hard to go in those rooms and feel like I had to elevate or pitch myself. I still struggle with that to this day. Like, if I feel like I'm in a space where I'm expected to, like, 1, 2, 3, go and tell you who I am, like, it's not going to happen. So Fortunate Forks, again, is very much about creating those, like, authentic and engaging environments where people feel comfortable to be themselves and kind of naturally open up. And then from there, we hope that they'll choose to build together.
- [25:20]
B
And as people are building their either kind of social communities, professional communities, I guess. What are some of the biggest mistakes that you see, particularly, like, young women, young women of color early in their careers make when they're trying to build.
- [25:36]
C
Professional connections, trying to network up? I think that's the number one. But it's kind of like you're new in your industry, and, like, that's the first thing you think is going to help you get to where you're going.
- [25:48]
D
I actually think networking up is fine. I always tell, like, my mentees, like, when you are networking up, make sure that you are figuring out how to make yourself useful to that person. So the people who I mentor who have gotten the most out of me are people who have been like, how can I help with Fortunate forks? Can I volunteer at your next event? Like, they've taken the initiative to come to me and kind of show me what they can do and how they can be useful in a way that might be a little outside of the box. I might not have a PA Role or an executive assistant role for you right this minute, but we can stay in touch by you offering to help and support whatever it is that I have going on. And I've seen that be really successful, both for me and for some of the girls that I like mentor now.
- [26:30]
C
I was trying to find the most, like, politically correct way to say this.
- [26:33]
B
But you don't have to say politically.
- [26:35]
C
Correct, but just, like, when you're a fresh in whatever industry, it is, like, your reputation is always gonna follow you. So just, like, being a person of your word and just really being a little, to Naomi's point, like, a villager who's trying to help people and who actually, like, comes through for People when they say they're gonna do those things, I think that's probably like, just knowing that your reputation is absolutely going to follow you and especially your work ethic. Not necessarily a mistake, but, like, something to keep an eye out for.
- [27:02]
D
No, it sounds simple, but, like, being a good person, like, that's what I remember. Like, the people who I work with, when I leave companies and organizations, I remember, like, who was a good person who operated with integrity. Is that someone that I want to help when they reach out to me in two years because they need X, Y, Z. Yeah.
- [27:18]
B
Something else that I see too. Or I guess my little tidbit of advice for people would be if they need help with something to be specific about their asks or specific about their questions. And I'll get it. A lot where someone's like, I wanna pick your brain about podcasting. And I'm like, girl, my brain, it's picked. It's picked over. But then if somebody's like, hey, I had this episode and it didn't perform well. What do you think the issue was? Or, hey, what microphone do you use? It sounds really good. If it's, like, specific, then I'm like, oh, here, I can give you da, da, da. Here's.
- [27:49]
A
Here's an answer.
- [27:50]
B
Or here's a specific feedback. But when someone's like, like, mentor me so I can pick your brain, I'm.
- [27:54]
A
Like, what does that mean?
- [27:55]
B
Yeah, do I have time? And now I feel stressed because that's, like, a lot of pressure and can I deliver? But when people are specific about their ass, then it's like, okay, I know I can help you with this specific thing.
- [28:06]
D
Absolutely. I always tell people, like, ask for what you need. It'll get you way further. Yeah.
- [28:10]
C
You know, we always tell people, too, like, to use the ass correctly and, like, in a good time. So, like, for example, if there's somebody who is just starting something, maybe start that project first, get it off the ground, do the work. Save that ass for, like, when you actually need it. And then to your point, be specific.
- [28:26]
B
Have you felt like there were any maybe missteps that you. Y' all did kind of earlier in your career that if you could tell your younger selves, like, oh, maybe do that differently, what would that be?
- [28:38]
D
I have a lot. I have a lot to share.
- [28:41]
C
Okay, I'll listen.
- [28:44]
D
Because she's perfect.
- [28:45]
B
Yes.
- [28:45]
D
No, I mean, a lot of things. I think early in my career, I felt pressured to do a lot of empty networking, which, you know, I'd live with no regrets. Like, My network of people that I have today is amazing. And I know that that's a piece of it. But I say empty because a lot of. Especially living in New York, a lot of the, like, hanging out that I was doing in my early 20s, like, it wasn't leading to relationships that I needed or relationships that were fruitful. It was actually just burning me out and making me exhausted at work the next day. You know, those things weren't always the most, like, strategic moments and movements. I'd say early in my career, like, I had to learn the difference between sort of, like, colleagues and friends and figure out, like, what those lines were. I was, like, really friendly at a lot with a lot of the people, and at times, the lines got blurred. Like, I might think I'm in a friend conversation over here, and then also think I'm in a friend conversation over here and think something I heard in this conversation could be shared over here. And it's like, keeping the boundaries at work where they're supposed to be, I think can sometimes get lost on young people. And I certainly made those mistakes, like, coming up. And I'm really, really grateful that the leaders and colleagues I had at that time, like, always handled me with grace and allowed me to bounce back or apologize. So I try to also extend that understanding to, like, younger people who I see, like, learning and bumping their head and making, you know, understandable mistakes early in their career.
- [30:13]
B
That's a really good one.
- [30:14]
D
Yeah.
- [30:15]
C
I mean, for me, not that I'm perfect, but I'm like, all the mistakes I've made definitely have shaped me to be where I am or, like, to think the way that I think now.
- [30:24]
D
So she's perfect.
- [30:24]
C
Yeah. I'm like, I don't know. Here we go. Yeah.
- [30:28]
D
Good thing.
- [30:29]
B
If I were to go, I would say I've always been somebody who had a very strong work ethic, but when I was earlier in my career, I didn't really connect a why to it because I didn't necessarily know what I wanted. And I don't think that there's anything wrong with not knowing exactly what you want at the beginning of your career. I think that's actually very normal, but I would just be kind of like a hamster on a wheel, just running, running, running, working, working, working. But, like, am I working towards the right things? Am I working towards things that are actually helpful? Am I building skills that are actually a value? Or am I just taking other people's busy work so I can get a gold star? You know, that it took me a long time to unlearn that.
- [31:05]
D
Yeah, I tell people always to like, intern early and even if it's not a formal internship, like, go get that experience. Because the, the toughest thing for me to your point about being able to ask for what you want when I try to like mentor or talk to younger women is like when they tell me they don't know what they want to do, I'm like, well, you know, you're gonna have to spend some time out in the field. And I recommend you spend time doing a lot of different things so that you don't run hard and fast at the wrong target. Like, figure out your purpose and your mission so that you can spend your.
- [31:33]
B
Time well and wisely and even just like following curiosity. Even if you don't know what your dream job, dream career path is, like, what are you just a little bit interested in? What do you have questions about what piques your interest and follow that.
- [31:48]
D
I think one of the things that whenever we're fortunate enough to do events with sort of high school, college age girls, we always talk about is like trying to convince them that their hobbies and their passions can turn to a career. Like that thing that you think is just for fun or really silly, that little thing that you think just makes you light up, like that can be what you do for work, you know. And so I think opening the next generation up to the possibility through our Fortune and Forks member base is something that we're really excited about in this next, like, iteration of Fortune and Forks.
- [32:17]
C
Yeah, and that's why we're going to have our Fortune Forks foundation gala. We just announced a couple of weeks ago our Fortune Forks foundation and we're going to have a gala to do some fundraising for our college to career pipeline program so that we can be able to, to create those moments where women of color coming out of college are able to connect with our fortune and for members, maybe shadow them for like an office day and hopefully at some point land in an internship. You know, that's our real go with it. So I'm really excited about the gala and just the foundation overall.
- [32:50]
B
Yeah. Can we talk about what led to the creation of the foundation and how the foundation differs from the social club.
- [32:56]
D
In terms of like the mission and origin story. Like, for me personally, I had such a tough time time in my transition from college to career. Despite feeling like I had done all of the right things. Our foundation is going to be really focused around how do we ease that transition into the workforce for the next generation of Girls. And that came about because our Fortune Forks, like, social club, the women in it who are all, like, incredible, high achieving women of color, we always, anytime we get together, we're always like, how do we ease the path for the next generation? So people have been like, like, literally knocking down our door year over year, being like, when are we going to mentor people and wonder how are we going to, like, give back? And what's our version of give back? And so we were like, let's put some terms around that and actually put some energy behind it and design a program that's really intentional and based on our actual experiences kind of coming up and trying to build our own careers.
- [33:47]
B
Yeah.
- [33:48]
C
And giving the. The mentees the opportunity to see that there are women like them in a variety of fields. I know for me, coming out of school, that was always really hard, not seeing, like, women who look like me in certain fields. So whenever I had the opportunity to be at Big Brother, Big Sister and they, like, put me with a mentor that looked like me, I was always really excited about that. So I'm really looking forward to our Fortune and Forks foundation mentees to have that same experience and to be able to say, like, oh, okay, like, I can do this.
- [34:18]
D
Like, yeah, this is what's possible.
- [34:19]
C
Yeah, this is what's possible. And also to, you know, like I said, hopefully get an internship. I think that's like, one of the best ways that we can help the generations coming behind us. Because the reality is, and especially, like, when we think about the economic situation right now, for me, I would love for somebody to be like, hey, like, you guys really helped me, you know, land this position and now making X amount of dollars and, like, really level up. Because I think that's honestly being super honest. That's where the power is, you know, in finance and helping women of color understand that and help them get to the levels that they want to and complete those goals that they have on their goal lists.
- [34:57]
B
Yeah, I appreciate that you just brought up what's happening economically because I think we've seen a lot of news this year about jobs, job lost. We've seen that black women in particular have been hit particularly hard this year with losing a lot of jobs across various sectors. And it's something that I've wanted to talk about on this platform, but haven't fully known how or how to address it, because I'm somebody who likes to offer solutions. You know, I think we hear a lot of statistics about all sorts of things. When this podcast was more wellness oriented, we would be inundated with stats about fibroids and maternal health and how we're three to four times more likely to this and that. And I'm like, great, we know it because we're living it now. What do we do? And now with similar statistics around what's happening with jobs and black women in particular losing their jobs, I feel similarly where it's like, yeah, we know we're living it now. What is it that we do? And so I think hearing the work that you all are doing with creating opportunities to connect with people so that when we do see positions come up, we have people that we can tap and put into things, I think is a big part of being solution oriented. But I would also just love to hear more of your thoughts about the moment that we're currently in and what that means for so many of us in our careers who are facing these unexpected transitions.
- [36:18]
D
Honestly, it's devastating. And I think we see it more and more every day, like, in our own community, in our own backyards, in our personal lives, right? Like, we're all being affected by the economic crisis. For us, it's felt like a really special moment to show up and make sure we continue being in community together, because we feel like we can help be sort of the response, the counterforce to what's happening by making sure that, you know, in our community, we're still sharing job resources, we're still opening the lines of communication on information and what to do and how to do it. We had a really great quarterly meeting yesterday with Alicia Butterfield, formerly Google and the recording academy, now leading a global state of women. But she talked a lot about, like, just practically, like, y', all, especially for those of us in, like, our 30s, a lot of us feel like, you know, I just got some money, like, why? Why is this happening to me right now? But we talked specifically about, like, it's the time right now to, like, downsize and downgrade on the lifestyle stuff a little bit right now and really put our heads down and, like, do the work and help each other, help put each other on where we can. Because honestly, we're right at the start of this economic crisis, and it's not going to let up in these next, like, two to three years.
- [37:29]
C
She was just saying so many amazing things to us and, like, just giving us grace and. And comfortability with understanding that so many of us right now are in our doing what we have to do face. And, like, that might not be our passions at the moment, but just, like, keeping our heads down. And doing the work so that you know when things look better for us and also still while doing what we have to do, still working on our passions on the side and making sure we're, you know, creating those relationships, keeping relationships warm so that, you know, when things start to look up for us, we're ready to make that pivot back into where we really want to be.
- [38:05]
D
Foreign.
- [38:10]
A
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- [43:01]
B
I am also very curious to see from this current crisis and from the the job loss we've seen also how many people that push us into entrepreneurship out of necessity and I don't think as somebody who is an entrepreneur. It's not for everybody. I think you have to be a special kind of crazy. You have to have a special amount of like audaciousness and just, you know, it's different things for different people. I am very curious to see though, how many people do get pushed into creating something out of necessity. And while on one hand that has its own challenges, I do also think for so many of us, we're such amazing problem solvers and builders that I'm like, oh, there might also be some really beautiful things and companies and businesses and solutions that also come out of this.
- [43:48]
D
Yeah, we are resilient. Like black and brown people are resilient and we figure out how to thrive in these scary moments. I don't know if you guys saw online recently via like Tabitha Brown about just like not glamorizing entrepreneurship and what it really takes. And in our quarterly meeting with Alicia, she really like hit that on the head and was like, I had a two and a half year Runway to entrepreneurship. Like, I stayed in my corporate job and kept my head down and it really took me a while. And you know, not everyone's going to be fortunate enough to have that kind of Runway. But I think, you know, being smart and realistic about what full time entrepreneurship really requires and using whatever resources we have at our disposal to get there, if that's what you even desire.
- [44:26]
B
I'm also curious too. I mean, speaking more so about entrepreneurship, thinking about people who are earlier in their careers who may be interested in entrepreneurship. Because for me it was something that came later, fresh out of school. I thought I was just going to be a corporate girly all my life until I actually got into corporate and was like, oh, this isn't for me. But it took me a bit of time to get there. There probably are also a lot of young women who straight out the gate are like, I feel entrepreneurial, but I don't really know where to start or how to navigate that. Is that also something that you all speak to in your programming and how you support people through that?
- [44:58]
D
Yeah, a lot of our members are entrepreneurs and I think we've seen a lot of of success come from their sort of cross collaborations within the community, particularly the event. The girls in entertainment, the girls who work in events have been able to really like, utilize each other's resources, use each other as vendors, bring each other on as clients in a way that's always like really special to see. I think that's one of the greatest joys of fortune. And Forks is like watching the relationships, the business partnerships flourish, like, when we're not in the room.
- [45:26]
C
And it's so funny that you asked that, because Naomi and I were talking a couple weeks ago, go about how we can, once again, like, tailor to what's in front of us and help our community. And we were talking about how to highlight entrepreneurs a little more. So we're still talking about it. We're still trying to figure it out. We're like, maybe we can do, like, a gifting box and, like, have everybody's product in a box for, like, the holiday season. We've got our wheels turning on how we can help that a little more.
- [45:52]
B
Yeah. And it's also something that I think a lot about for. Particularly for people who are earlier in their careers. Like, I had 13 years of corporate experience before I started working for myself, where I had 13 years to learn how businesses run and how to manage people and how to do things within the safety of a company. But thinking about someone who may be fresh out of school and want to be an entrepreneur, maybe only has about a year of professional experience and jumps into entrepreneurship, that's, like, very, very different.
- [46:19]
D
Yeah, absolutely. I always say Fortunate Forks has been, like, a different type of grad school in, like, entrepreneurship for me, and I'm so grateful that we started when we did that. We started early. People always ask us, like, you know, what did you do differently? Or, how did you do it? And I'm always like, all we did was keep going. Like, we didn't quit. And, you know, it was a blessing that we started when we did, but we've literally just continued to show up. There hasn't been, like, a big, you know, dramatic pivot or a pile of money that has fallen out of the sky, unfortunately.
- [46:50]
C
But, you know, not yet.
- [46:52]
B
I mean, they're still good, right? We're not blocking it literally.
- [46:55]
D
Hopefully it's coming tomorrow.
- [46:56]
B
Yeah.
- [46:58]
D
But, yeah, I think we've just continued to kind of show up and do the thing year over year, and, you know, it's been a slow process. It's absolutely been a slow burn.
- [47:06]
B
I can relate to that a lot. I recently had someone ask me, like, oh, what was the moment that your podcast took off? Or, like, what was the one episode or the one thing? I was like, it's never. It's been every Tuesday since 2018. Like, it's. There's not been this one thing. It's just compounded every week, time and again. Getting a few new listeners along the way and letting it compound.
- [47:29]
D
It's been so cool to watch your podcast grow over time. I think you have been just, like, so consistent and so diligent and also always really intentional with, like, who you speak to and the topics you talk about. So that's part of why we were so excited to be here today.
- [47:42]
B
I'm so excited to have you. But I do think the stories, even, like, the one I just shared, the ones y' all just shared, it's important because sometimes we can be tempted to feel like we have to have this moment of instant gratification, or this moment even speaking to what we were saying earlier about, like, networking up. Like, oh, just this one person is going to put us on, and then everything's perfect. And that's often just not what happens. It's often just the result of super consistent compounding working towards something.
- [48:10]
D
And we've fallen into that thinking at times, too. There's been days that we're like, where's the pile of money out the sky? Or, like, why doesn't this company just buy us? Or, like, why haven't they asked about investing in us? You know, things like that. But. But I think we've really luckily enjoyed showing up and doing the work. It also helps to, like, have a partner who will show up and do the work. On a day that maybe I'm not feeling it, Crystal can hustle. And on a day that she's not feeling it, I could be like, what are we doing next?
- [48:34]
C
Oh, my God. Yeah. That balance has also kept us going. There are months that Naomi's, like, off the grid, and I'm like, okay, girl, come back.
- [48:42]
D
Yeah. No, we've been in different. We've been in different seasons, different moods at different times over the years. And I tell people that a lot, too, who are starting out. Like, if you can get a business partner who you really trust. I know people talk really bad about going into business with your friends, but, like, it has made all the difference for us. I think we both fill in the gaps in a lot of spaces, in a lot of ways for each other and have managed to keep each other motivated over the years through both our friendship and our passion for what we actually do.
- [49:11]
C
Yeah, for sure.
- [49:12]
B
That reminds me of something you said earlier, Krystal, about being a good villager, which I actually want to dig into this quite a bit with you all. When we think about the connections and communities we have, whether that is on the professional side or even on the social side, because I think even the term villager often came from thinking about, like, children raising children. It takes a village to raise a child. And we have seen in our modern culture, particularly over the past couple of decades, people feeling like that village around them is dwindling. Like, people don't have the strong safety nets and social support that they need. And also, people may not be showing up to be that village for other people, too. And it goes both ways. And so I would love to just talk to y' all about what having a strong village means to you and what it means to be a good villager. Yeah, loaded question.
- [50:05]
C
I mean, I think right now we are in a climate where people are hyper focused on their boundaries and themselves. Very much so. And to your point, that's created, like, this whole environment where it's like. Like, where's the village going? And I think it's. It's really, for me, about just, like, doing what you said you were gonna do. Like, if you're gonna talk the talk, walk the walk, and if you said you were gonna show up for somebody's event, show up for that person. Because you don't know how much your presence or whatever you agreed to is going to affect them. It's very simple in my book. Like, just do what you say you're gonna do.
- [50:40]
D
Yeah. And I think that idea is a big part of why we turned Fortunate Forks from a supper club into a social club.
- [50:47]
B
Right.
- [50:47]
D
We wanted to make sure that there was connectivity in between our events and that people were actually building relationships that lived beyond the rooms that we created. And so that meant launching an online portal where we could share job opportunities. That meant having a Slack channel where everyone keeps up with each other day to day. Like, figuring out how to really leverage our network again into more than, like, cute events for Instagram and making sure that people are really, like, living in community. People have someone that they can call when things are hard and someone who they can reach out to for help when they need it.
- [51:18]
C
And with that comes with just friendly reminders. Sometimes, like, I feel like every time we're doing our welcome to new members, we're like, okay, so, like, this is the vibe that you're gonna feel when you come into this space. It's very much like, how can I help you? Not what can I get from this room? To be honest, like, people are human. Right? It's very easy to get caught up in your own life and to say, hey, I can't make it to this thing right now. And to forget, like, hey, you're part of a village. We're trying to build something here. So, you know, a friendly reminder Here and there also goes a long way and a little accountability goes a long way to say, hey, girl, like you said, you were coming to this and you didn't show up in like, you know, X, Y, Z, but it's cool next time, you know, I think it's.
- [51:55]
D
Really about setting the expectations and setting the intentions in every room that we create. I feel like we've seen a lot of success with that at the top of our events. We always make sure to be really clear about what the room is and what it's not, so that people know how to show up, so that people have a kind of, I don't want to call it a code of conduct, but they have an idea of what's expected of them in that space and if they want to be in community or continue to be in community with that room of people.
- [52:19]
B
I think we probably all have had experiences where we've been on the receiving end of people genuinely showing up and adding something to a space. And we probably have all had experiences where we could feel like, oh, this wasn't genuine, or maybe this person didn't show up in this way. And thinking about, how do I want people to feel when they experience me or when they interact with me or when I say I'm gonna do something, how do I want the people around me to feel about that? Not in a people pleasing way, but in a, like, self reflection, a hundred percent.
- [52:50]
D
I think people have gotten so high on setting their own boundaries. I think that has become like the cool thing that people are so strict on their boundaries and inflexible on what they will and won't do, that we've kind of lost the art of showing up for people, of pushing yourself past your boundaries or past your comfort to make someone's day better, to make someone feel seen or heard. I think that's something that, you know, I talk to people about all the time. I think part of why we've been able to be so successful with Fortunate Forks is the accountability we have to each other as friends. Like when I say to Crystal, I'm gonna do something by the end of the day, like, I. I need to do it because she's my friend and I care about the business that we're building together. And if I don't, I need to let her know this is why I can't or I'm not available at this time. So, yeah, I think our business in a lot of ways too has, like, helped us embody the idea of being villagers and like, simultaneously build the village.
- [53:40]
C
That we want together, but also giving grace, too. So if Nate's like, hey, I can't. I can't do this, or whatever. I'm too tied up in work. Being a villager also means, like, giving that person grace to say, hey, I know you said you were gonna do this. You didn't do it. Totally fine. Like, but next time, you know, give.
- [53:56]
D
Me a lot of grace. Yeah.
- [54:01]
C
So it goes both ways.
- [54:03]
B
Yeah. And I think it's also important to remember that there's a difference between a boundary and a wall. You know, like, a boundary is something that we put in place that kind of dictates our own behavior. But, like, our boundaries don't necessarily influence what other people do. It's more so, like, personal codes of conduct within ourselves. But that's also very different than just, like, walls to just keep people out.
- [54:29]
D
Absolutely. I try not to get too New York with this, but I try not to say the term. My word is bond, but it just comes out of me way too frequently.
- [54:37]
B
Sorry.
- [54:37]
D
It's the New Yorker in me.
- [54:39]
C
No, but it is. But it is.
- [54:41]
D
Like, I really feel that way. I really feel like if I say I'm gonna do something, if I commit to something with you, that's important to me, and it speaks to who I am and how we are gonna. It sets the precedent for how we're gonna show up for each other moving forward.
- [54:53]
C
Yeah. And we're both very selfless like that. I think we are also very much, like, not people pleasing in a way. But, like, when we say we're gonna do something, consider it done.
- [55:03]
D
Yeah.
- [55:04]
C
You know, so we. You know, we love curating that sort of environment as well.
- [55:07]
B
Yeah. And I think the pandemic has done a number on all of us in ways that I still don't think everybody has fully unpacked. Because I do think that pre. That things felt very different. And I think that that time where people are in such isolation, and it was just. We've all had to kind of, like, relearn how to be around one another.
- [55:29]
D
And I think part of that is, like, the. It stems from, like, the loneliness epidemic that came with that. Like, I think people felt abandoned, and so they started abandoning others. And it's like we were all trapped inside. Like, everyone get a grip. We're back outside. Like, figure out how to show up. Go to that girl's birthday party. Do not fight at the birthday dinners. Like, let's figure it out.
- [55:46]
B
So I would love to hear from the two of you what you're excited for. Next. When it comes to Fortune and Forks, when it comes to your paths collectively and together, what are you looking forward to? What is your like, next thing?
- [56:03]
C
I feel like we have a strong foundation with Fortune Forks. Now. We have over 500 women between New York, Miami, Atlanta, and LA. So I'm really excited to really dig in with the Fortune Forks foundation and create what that program looks like, because right now we're focused on college students. But I really have this vision on, like, making it even bigger and creating day programs for women of color in high school and focused on financial literacy. I'm just excited about, like, the endless opportunities of being able to open so many doors for other young women of color.
- [56:41]
D
I'm excited for two things. I'm excited to continue building Fortune and Forks as a brand that lives beyond just our social club. Like, I think Crystal and I have a lot of ideas for other things that we want to do with the brand, whether it be the Fortune and Forks Foundation. We're going to continue to think about the brand as, like, a flywheel that can serve women of color and have different touch points, whether they are part of our social club or not. I've also been reminding myself to just get excited about what's directly ahead of us. Like, I had a moment of gratitude on the plane flying here. I was like, I get to build a business with. With my best friend, go on incredible podcasts that I've been watching for years and show up at Fashion Week and have an event with a dream partner like CoverGirl. Like, I think just trying to have more appreciation for where we've taken the business and not always be so focused on, you know, what's in the next three to six months and really enjoy, like, the people and places that we get to experience together through building Fortune and Fork.
- [57:43]
B
Yeah, I love that. And it's also, like, a good reminder, having that spirit of gratitude and remembering that even the things that we have now when there's other things that we aspire to at one point were exactly what we wanted, and sometimes we forget to enjoy them.
- [57:56]
D
Absolutely. If you would have told me that we could afford a flight for me to get over here a couple years ago, I would have said, absolutely not.
- [58:03]
B
And now it's. It's, like, normal.
- [58:04]
D
Yeah.
- [58:05]
B
It's a normal thing.
- [58:06]
D
Yeah. I've been on, like, 12 flights this year. Yeah.
- [58:09]
B
And the year's still going. We still got a little time.
- [58:11]
C
Oh, we have a lot of time. She's got 12 more flights to be on in the next three months with everything that we're planning for.
- [58:16]
D
Sure.
- [58:16]
B
So before we wrap up, I would love to hear the last time each of you felt lucky, and that could.
- [58:23]
A
Have been a lucky moment that you.
- [58:24]
B
Created for yourself or something that felt aligned for you.
- [58:27]
C
I think recently, one of our recent partnerships, CoverGirl, for me, I was just like, wow. It's always been a brand that, that, you know, we hear of growing up, but just being able to work with partners that we align with in terms of mission, but also, like, partners that we've seen growing up. And I was like, wow, I can't believe we did that. It's going to be so great. So much fun. So, yeah, I think I actually have that moment every time we land. Like a good partnership.
- [58:55]
D
Not too redundant. But my lucky moment was literally on the plane this morning. I was like, I get to again, fly into town to come on an amazing podcast to run around to other events that my, like, amazing friends who have kind of grown up with are hosting this week for Fashion Week and do it with someone who I've been working with and friends with for almost a decade now. Was a real kind of moment of gratitude for me.
- [59:21]
C
Yeah, yeah, same. We need to work on a little more gratitude for being friends and building an amazing business together. Because as much as we say, like, do it, do it, do it, it's very hard for people to do, like to find that person, to your point that. That they could lean on and trust and debate with and still come back to the table and get the work done. Because we debate a lot.
- [59:40]
D
We're so good for a healthy debate.
- [59:42]
C
We're so good for.
- [59:42]
B
That's a good thing, though. I feel like that helps you get better, get smarter, to see things from different perspectives, to anticipate things very much.
- [59:52]
C
And that's why Fortune Forks is where it is today. Naomi thinks with one side of the brain, I think with the other, and it just works. Works so well. Down to the outfits, it just works great.
- [60:04]
B
I love it. I love it. So if those watching listening want to get involved with Fortune and Forex, how can they get involved? How can they join? Tell us all the things to get.
- [60:14]
D
Involved with Fortune and Forex. People can apply for membership. We accept members quarterly. And if people want to support our Fortune and Forks foundation, we'll be announcing online soon how they can do that. Through our inaugural gala that's happening in November, and then just follow us on socials. We're constantly announcing cool things and sharing cool things that the people in our community are doing. So we love when people who want to support kind of also tap in with our member base and all that they have going on.
- [60:40]
C
And we're also planning some public stuff for 2026, so definitely follow us on social media so you get you guys can stay in the loop about when you can hang out with us all in person and meet our amazing members.
- [60:53]
D
Yes.
- [60:53]
B
But thank you so much for joining me.
- [60:55]
C
No, thank you for having us.
- [60:56]
B
Oh my gosh, I had so much fun talking to y'. All. Likewise and thank y' all so much for tuning in. So if you enjoyed this episode, please make sure that you rate you review, you subscribe. Lucky girls are five star girls. We love a five star. And also make sure you subscribe on YouTube because we've been doing video episodes every week for a while now so you can also watch over on YouTube. Thank you for tuning in and I will see you next week.
- [61:25]
D
TS.
- [61:28]
A
Thank you for tuning in to this week's episode of she's so Lucky. If you're ready to create your own luck, hit that subscribe button wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube so you don't miss an episode and head to the show. Notes for resources, links and discount codes. And if you are really feeling lucky, we would appreciate your rating and your review. It really helps us be able to improve the show, to get great, great guests and to understand what you want to hear more of. Thank you for tuning in and I'll see you next week.
- [62:03]
E
Hey guys, I'm Whitney Port and this is With Wit. A lot of you may know me from reality tv, and the reality is a lot's happened since the Hills With Wit is dedicated to having real, raw and occasionally ridiculous, ridiculous conversations with the people who have had a profound impact on me. Because on With Wit, very little is off limits. Subscribe so you don't miss any of the amazing conversations to come. New episodes of With Wit are available every Tuesday on all platforms.
- [62:36]
B
Please note that this episode may contain.
- [62:38]
A
Paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services.
- [62:42]
B
Individuals on the show may have a.
- [62:43]
A
Direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.