Published Nov 6, 2017

Bozoma Saint John: Make Your Brand The Best In the World with Lewis Howes

Bozoma Saint John shares her journey from navigating cultural dynamics with hip hop to becoming one of the most prominent brand leaders, discussing the importance of authenticity, urgency in life, and trusting intuition. Her insights on building powerful, authentic brands from her experiences with Pepsi and Apple Music highlight resilience and transformative career shifts.
Episode Highlights
The School of Greatness logo

Popular Clips

Questions from this episode

Episode Highlights

  • Bicultural Journey

    shares her bicultural journey, highlighting the impact of living between two cultures on her identity. She recounts her family's move from Ghana to the US, then to Kenya, and back to Ghana before settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This diverse upbringing shaped her worldview and character, as she navigated different cultural landscapes.

    I usually say I'm bicultural, that I'm Ghanaian. But I grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

    reflects on how these experiences crystallized her character and sharpened her identity during her formative years 1.

       

    Navigating Ignorance

    Navigating ignorance and overcoming misconceptions were significant challenges for during her time in Colorado Springs. She encountered well-meaning but uneducated individuals who lacked a global perspective, which was surprising given her diverse background. Despite the racial tensions and limited exposure of her peers, she took on the role of educating them about her culture and experiences.

    There was a lot of involuntary teaching that I had to do and making sure that my classmates understood why I had a sense of pride.

    emphasizes the importance of exposure and understanding in overcoming ignorance 2.

       

    Teaching Hip Hop

    utilized hip hop as a powerful tool to teach and understand cultural dynamics. She initiated a class on hip hop during her junior year, which evolved into a platform for dynamic conversations about culture and politics. This experience highlighted the depth of hip hop beyond its lyrics, focusing on its role as a voice for the unheard.

    It became more than just about the lyrics. It became the dialogue around what was happening in the country.

    reflects on the transformative nature of this experience, both for herself and her students 3.

Related Episodes