The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Friday, May 23rd, 2025: "The Men In My Fiance's Family"

A woman writes in and starts off admitting that when she first met her boyfriend, it was actually his dad who was hitting on her. But, she chose the son. She works as a counselor and has been trying to mediate arguments between her boyfriend's parents who are divorced. Now, she's gotten herself into a mess. Listen to her the whole letter and Steve & Shirley's responses!

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Cheryl Bevelle-Orange.

Retired Chief Information Officer (CIO) of FedEx Custom Critical and author of The Courage to Continue: Navigating Your Corporate Journey, shares her inspiring story of rising from humble beginnings in Bessemer, Alabama, to becoming a high-ranking executive in a Fortune 500 company. The conversation centers on her book’s core themes: mentorship, advocacy, and sponsorship.

🔑 Key Themes & Highlights

1. Why She Wrote the Book

• Cheryl is a first-generation corporate American whose parents were a coal miner and a teacher.
• Initially written as a guide for her children, the book evolved into a broader resource for anyone navigating corporate life, especially first-generation professionals.
• The pandemic inspired her to add a section for leaders managing first-gen employees.

1. Career at FedEx

• Spent 26 years at FedEx, culminating in her role as CIO of FedEx Custom Critical.
• FedEx Custom Critical handles specialized logistics, such as transporting refrigerated COVID-19 vaccines.
• Her role involved overseeing IT infrastructure, data, and systems—a rare position for African-American women in tech.

1. Mentorship, Advocacy, and Sponsorship

• Cheryl breaks down the differences:
• • Mentors help build skills and confidence (like background singers preparing the lead).
  • Sponsors are like PR agents who open doors and promote you.
  • Advocates speak up for you in rooms where you’re not present.
• These three pillars were essential to her success and are critical for young professionals, especially minorities.

1. Overcoming Barriers

• Cheryl shares how racism and gender bias in tech were real challenges.
• Her first mentor was a white male who saw her potential and helped her navigate corporate culture.
• She emphasizes the importance of resilience, perspective, and turning frustration into action.

1. Personal Motivation

• A pivotal childhood moment: seeing her grandfather sign an “X” at the bank because he couldn’t write.
• That experience ignited her drive for education and excellence.
• She wanted to see the world beyond Bessemer and use her knowledge to help others do the same.

1. Diversity & Inclusion at FedEx

• Cheryl co-founded the FedEx African-American Committee, now a Business Resource Group (BRG).
• Initiatives included:
• • Resume building and interview prep
  • Black History Month events with speakers like Donna Brazile and Ben Hooks
  • Creating safe spaces for Black employees to grow and connect

📘 About the Book

• Title: The Courage to Continue: Navigating Your Corporate Journey
• Available at: CherylBevelleOrange.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble

#AMI

#BEST

#STRAW

#SHMS

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Douglass Fort.

Founder of The Blerd Academy (Black Nerds), a wealth-building and scholarship program for high-achieving Black youth. The conversation explores Fort’s personal journey, the mission of his organization, and the broader impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

🔑 Key Topics & Highlights

1. The Blurd Academy Mission

• Founded to support academically gifted Black students in securing scholarships to HBCUs.
• Has helped students earn over $8 million in scholarships since 2016.
• Focuses on debt-free education, wealth-building, and long-term financial planning.

1. Douglass Fort’s Personal Journey

• Grew up in East Palo Alto, California, during the crack epidemic.
• Survived being shot twice and turned his life around through education.
• Attended Jackson State University, where he became an honors graduate and started his first nonprofit.
• Credits his transformation to mentorship, faith, and the supportive environment of an HBCU.

1. Empowering Black Youth

• Fort emphasizes outcomes over talk—showing success stories to inspire belief.
• Encourages students to pursue entrepreneurship and homeownership early.
• Advocates for using HBCUs as a strategic path to success, especially for students who qualify for elite schools but may face high debt.

1. Scholarship Criteria Example (Jackson State)

• 3.25 GPA + 1130 SAT or 23 ACT = Full tuition.
• Higher scores can lead to full ride including room, board, and books.

1. Economic & Social Impact of HBCUs

• HBCUs produce a significant percentage of Black professionals:
• • 70% of Black doctors and dentists
  • 50% of Black lawyers
  • 60% of Black teachers
• Fort and McDonald stress the undervalued role of HBCUs in shaping Black excellence.

1. Support & Funding

• The Blurd Academy is self-funded through merchandise sales at ProudBlackNerds.com.
• Fort encourages others to support by purchasing merch and spreading awareness.

💬 Quotes & Reflections

• “We exist to build a healthy community that is Black, educated, resourceful, and determined.”
• “Create a small business to fund your dream business.”
• “Let’s use our money efficiently to make long-term economic gains.”

#STRAW

#BEST

#SHMS

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Shaan Patel, founder and CEO of Prep Expert, a leading online test prep company.

The conversation explores Patel’s journey from struggling test-taker to perfect SAT scorer, bestselling author, and successful entrepreneur. He shares how his personal experience inspired a mission to help students unlock scholarship opportunities and academic success.
👨🏽‍🏫 About Dr. Shaan Patel
• Founder & CEO of Prep Expert
• Scored a perfect SAT after self-study
• Secured over $500,000 in scholarships
• Partnered with Mark Cuban after appearing on Shark Tank
• Author of a bestselling SAT prep book published by McGraw-Hill
💡 Key Themes & Takeaways
📚 From Side Hustle to Scalable Business
• Started Prep Expert in college dorm room
• First course led to 376-point average score improvement
• Grew from local classes to a national online platform
• Now serves over 100,000 students with $100M+ in scholarships earned
💻 Online Learning & Accessibility
• Offers live, online SAT/ACT prep, tutoring, and admissions consulting
• Courses taught by 99th percentile instructors
• Emphasizes interactive, classroom-like experience with office hours and support
• Adapted quickly to online learning post-COVID
🎯 Mission-Driven Education
• Brand motto: “Change your score, change your life”
• Teaches life skills like time management and goal setting
• Aims to eliminate student debt through scholarship access
• Long-term goal: Help students earn $1 billion in scholarships
📈 Entrepreneurial Lessons
• Faced early rejection from publishers before landing a book deal
• Used storytelling to stand out on Shark Tank
• Built brand through word-of-mouth and authenticity
• Now generates 2M+ annual website visits
🌟 Vision for the Future
• Expand impact through scholarships and mentorship
• Continue empowering students to achieve academic and financial freedom
• Promote meritocracy and the American dream through education.

#BEST

#STRAW

#SHMS

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Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Paul Rainey.

He is the Executive Vice President of Operations and Finance at Penske Media Corporation (PMC). PMC's powerhouse portfolio includes brands like Billboard, Variety, Dick Clark Productions, and South by Southwest. The two men discuss the importance of courage in forging your own path, the value of mentorship, and the power of creative innovation by recognizing your strengths. They also dive into key financial strategies, including budgeting and investing wisely. Don’t miss this exceptional conversation,
only on Money Making Conversation Masterclass!

#STRAW

#BEST

#SHMS

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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Thursday, May 22nd, 2025: "I'm Surprised By What I Found In His Car"

A woman found a key, a garage remose, new underwear, and extra clothes in her husband's car and she's got questions. Listen to hear the letter and Steve & Shirley's Responses!

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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Wednesday, May 21st, 2025: "He's Here Physically, But Not Mentally"

A woman writes in saying she was sure her husband would serve her with divorce papers after he moved out. Instead, he said he wanted to move back in with her and go to counseling. But, things aren't going so well. Listen to her the letter and Steve & Shirley's responses!

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The Strawberry Letter heard on The Steve Harvey Morning Show Tuesday, May 20th, 2025: "He Didn't Know I Was Tracking Him Too"

A woman writes in because she is angry that her husband is tracking her. But she's also tracking him. and she's having an affair. You really need to hear Steve & Shirley's responses to this one!

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