“Negotiation confidence comes from clarity—knowing your numbers, your value, and your walk-away.”

Summary:

In this episode of BLKGirl Ambition, Niya Baxter speaks with Tai Wingfield about what it really takes to negotiate with confidence, strategy, and power—especially for Black women in the workplace. They break down how to prepare for negotiations, identify and challenge internal narratives that limit self-advocacy, and clearly articulate your value using data and leverage. Tai shares personal insights on navigating pay gaps, the importance of transparency and community, and why negotiation is a critical skill for long-term career growth. If you’re navigating salary conversations, promotions, or high-stakes professional decisions, this episode offers practical guidance to help you negotiate from clarity and confidence—not fear.

Keywords:

negotiation skills, salary negotiation, Black women in the workplace, career advancement, pay equity, self-advocacy, professional confidence, workplace strategy, leadership development, compensation negotiation

Takeaways:

-Negotiation is a skill that can be learned and strengthened with preparation.

-Knowing your value is essential before entering any negotiation.

-Creating emotional distance can improve negotiation outcomes.

-Having options or a safety net increases leverage.

-Community and shared knowledge support stronger negotiation power.

-Researching market compensation is critical.

-Tracking your impact makes advocating for raises easier.

-Transparency around pay helps close equity gaps.

-Black women often face added pressure to self-edit when negotiating.

-Negotiation includes salary, benefits, scope, and long-term growth.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to BLKGirl Ambition

02:12 Why Negotiation Is a Career Skill, Not a Personality Trait

04:42 How to Prepare Before the Negotiation Ever Starts

09:01 Decentering Ego and Emotion at the Table

10:41 Unlearning Internal Narratives That Limit Advocacy

13:12 Defining Your Non-Negotiables and Walk-Away Points

15:16 Using Market Research as Leverage

18:29 A Personal Story on Pay Gaps and Equity

24:16 Reframing Negotiation as Empowerment

25:42 Looking Beyond Salary: Total Compensation Matters

29:38 Why Pay Transparency Changes Outcomes

33:27 The Role of Community in Stronger Negotiation

35:33 Naming and Owning Your Unique Value

37:04 Practical, Tactical Approaches to Negotiation

40:10 Documenting Impact to Support Raises and Promotions

43:36 Closing Reflections on Negotiating With Confidence and Power

Get in Touch with Tai!

LinkedIn: Tai Wingfield

Instagram: @TaiWingfield2.0

Thanks for all your love and support. Tag me while listening @blkgirlambition and @glamourgirlniya

If you have episode ideas or would like to be featured as a guest send me an email, niya@blkgirlambition.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Everything we’ve done has been unconventional — and that’s exactly why it works.”

“If you’ve only got one idea, stay home.”

“Food is the thread — but community, culture, and change are what we’re really building.”

Summary:

In this episode of BLKGirl Ambition, Niya Baxter sits down with Nina Oduro and Maame Boakye, co-founders of Dine Diaspora and Black Women in Food, to trace how a series of intimate supper clubs evolved into a global platform redefining community, culture, and equity within the food industry.

The conversation moves beyond food as product to food as power. Nina and Maame unpack what it means to build with intention in a predominantly white industry, why collaboration—not competition—is their north star, and how centering Black joy and abundance is both a values choice and a strategy. They also share how research, data, and long-term thinking have become critical tools for amplifying Black women in food, shaping brand partnerships, and building systems that last.

This episode is a masterclass in community-led growth, visionary leadership, and what’s possible when you don't just build for visibility, but you also build for impact.

*IMPORTANT* The 2026 Black Women in Food Summit will take place from April 23-26 in Washington, DC! Experience 3 days of transformative experiences with 40+ speakers, learning and networking. Get your tickets HERE (https://www.blackwomeninfood.org/summit).

Keywords:

BLKGirl Ambition, Dine Diaspora, Black Women in Food, Nina Oduro, Maame Boakye, Black food culture, Black food creators, Black women founders, food and culture, food justice, community, joy

Takeaways:

Community is built by design. Dine Diaspora and Black Women in Food center belonging, trust, and intention

Food is a lever for cultural storytelling, economic equity, and systems change.

Building in a mew space requires vision, clarity and conviction. Growth comes from values-led decision-making, not compromise.

Academic frameworks and data matter. Research and rigor give credibility, protection, and staying power to Dine Diaspora and Black women in food.

Collaboration creates abundance. Building together—is how movements last.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Black Girl Ambition

00:53 The Birth of Dine Diaspora

05:39 Building Community Through Food

11:11 Collaboration and Partnership Dynamics

16:38 Navigating the Food Industry

21:47 Brand Collaborations and Impact

27:12 Empowering Black Women in Food

32:44 Data-Driven Approaches in Food Culture

37:58 Strategic Planning for Founders

43:33 The Evolution of Roles in Partnership

48:50 Advice for Aspiring Founders

54:20 Vision for the Future

59:18 Personal Reflections and Ambitions

Thanks for all your love and support. Tag me while listening @blkgirlambition and @glamourgirlniya

If you have episode ideas or would like to be featured as a guest send me an email, niya@blkgirlambition.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Detty December isn’t just about celebration—it’s about economic movement, visibility, and cultural exchange."

"Diaspora wars are a distraction. They keep us debating each other instead of building what we actually need."

"Once you touch the continent, something shifts. You don’t come back the same—cellularly, spiritually, or mentally"

Summary:

In this solo episode of Black Girl Ambition, Niya Baxter takes you with her to Accra during Detty December—not only as a vacation recap, but as a moment of homecoming. This trip was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we reconnect to culture, community, and global Blackness on our own terms.

Niya reflects on the energy of Ghana—its joy, creativity, nightlife, history, and undeniable momentum—and challenges the narrow narratives many of us have been taught about Africa. She shares how the experience reshaped her intentions for the new year, deepened her sense of responsibility to invest back into the continent, and affirmed the importance of Black people moving together, supporting one another, and thinking beyond borders.

This episode is an invitation.

• To travel with intention.
• To root yourself more deeply.
• To stop underestimating Africa’s present and future.
• And to reimagine what it looks like to build, create, and belong—globally.

If you’ve felt the pull toward Ghana, Africa, or the African diaspora—or the nudge to expand your world, ambition, and imagination—this conversation is for you.

Press play. Let it stretch you. Then move accordingly.

**IMPORTANT UPDATE** I will be hosting the first ever BLKGirl Ambition dinner in New York on March 3rd. If you are a listener local to NYC, or are willing to travel, reach out and I'll share an invite. We are bringing the podcast IRL and this is an event you won't want to miss! I can't wait to meet you. Email me at, niya@blkgirlambition.com

Keywords:

Black Girl Ambition, Ghana, Accra, Detty December, diaspora, travel, identity, cultural connection, coming home, identity, womanhood, community, empowerment, African culture, New Year intentions, investing in Africa, legacy building, solo podcast episode

Takeaways:

BLKGirl Ambition is a movement rooted in culture, intention, and collective power.

Intentions create alignment; resolutions create pressure.

Ghana is a present-day site of culture, history, and global Black possibility.

Connection to Africa is grounding—and necessary—for the diaspora.

Africa’s future is rich with opportunity, innovation, and influence.

Investment in Africa is about legacy, not charity.

Detty December is a cultural and economic engine, not just a celebration.

Traveling to Ghana can feel like a spiritual homecoming.

Community is the infrastructure for sustainable growth.

Experiencing the Motherland changes you—cellularly.

Chapter Summary:

00:00 Welcome to Black Girl Ambition

00:52 Setting Intentions (Not Resolutions) for the New Year

03:14 Ghana as a Spiritual & Cellular Awakening

05:36 Why Connection to Africa Changes You

08:54 Africa’s Present & Future: A Call to Engage

10:14 Experiencing Detty December in Ghana

11:38 Cultural Pilgrimage & the Legacy of the Year of Return

12:37 Arriving in Accra: First Impressions & Reality Checks

16:19 Luxury, Care, and Service in Ghana

18:30 Fashion, Expression & Black Identity

19:54 Afrofuture Festival: Joy, Culture & Community

21:43 New Year’s Eve in Ghana

24:55 Accra Through History, Power & Possibility

31:42 Closing Dinner, Gratitude & Reflection

42:48 The Real Pros & Cons of Traveling to Ghana

46:16 Building Community: What’s Next for BLKGirl Ambition

Thanks for all your love and support. I tried something different with this episode and would love to know what you think :) Send me an email or tag me while listening @blkgirlambition and @glamourgirlniya

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.