Relationship development is the practice of building meaningful professional connections that create trust, expand networks, and open new opportunities. Explore strategies, stories, and resources for strengthening relationships that support long-term career, leadership, and business growth.
Dr. Samantha Harte has an uncommon specialty – turning trauma into triumph. Samantha Harte is a multifaceted individual whose journey from chaos to clarity has fueled her professional and personal endeavors. A Doctor of Physical Therapy operating a fitness and wellness studio in Santa Monica, Samantha has reshaped the concept of physical therapy to embrace … Read more
Super Bowl Champion Brandon Mebane transformed his championship mindset from the football field into entrepreneurial success, founding Football IQ to develop the next generation of athletes while building a legacy that extends far beyond his Top 50 Seahawks recognition. Mebane says “At Football IQ, we redefine football education by combining advanced film analysis, real-time feedback, … Read more
Durmerrick (pronounced: duh-mAIR-rick) is a nationally recognized, award-winning speaker and performance poet whose work confronts the intersections of Blackness, queerness, faith, mental health, and institutional injustice with urgency and care. In 2023, he reached a landmark mental health settlement with Howard University without an attorney—an action that helped spark an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice … Read more
Muta’Ali is a thoughtful, award-winning director whose work shines at the intersection of cultural transformation and cinematic craft. He has carved out a distinctive space in contemporary documentary storytelling—one rooted in purpose, legacy, and truth. He recently received an Emmy nomination for HBO’s MoviePass, MovieCrash. Also known for the feature documentary, Cassius X: Becoming Ali … Read more
Sadat Slade is a forward-thinking writer and business analyst who explores the intersection of emerging technologies, digital infrastructure, and the global economy. Through his Substack newsletter, he delves into the transformative potential of decentralized technologies, the compute economy, and financial innovations, offering deep insights into the future of connectivity, commerce, and artificial intelligence. His writing is … Read more
Success has always been the driving force behind Jacqueline’s journey—both personally and professionally. A visionary project manager with a relentless commitment to execution, she transforms ideas into reality through strategic insight and flawless implementation. Her trajectory at Chanel exemplifies this dedication. Starting as a temporary employee, Jacqueline’s performance and leadership propelled her upward, earning her … Read more
In the 1900s, canary birds were placed in coal mines to protect the lives of miners. If the atmosphere became foul, the canary stopped singing and began to show unmistakable signs of distress. Then the miners knew that the atmosphere must be changed quickly, or they must get out. Founder and visionary Elizabeth Hobbs sees … Read more
Named top 50 Remote Work Thought Leader from 2019-2024 and previous Director of Culture at Forbes’ best remote startup, Darcy Marie Boles has helped a variety of small to medium size businesses codify their remote-first culture & engagement strategies on the road to IPO…in her wetsuit. She wasn’t born to just pay bills and die, … Read more
TIHANE is a Sound Alchemist and Story Architect—an internationally recognized artist, creative director, and speaker who fuses soul, sound, and strategy to awaken the deep memory of who we are. Born of Polynesian and Croatian roots and raised between Hawai‘i, California, and a lifetime of global travel, TIHANE brings ancestral insight and nomadic depth into … Read more
Integrity and Discretion are the pillars of the HOH experience. Hollywood on the Hill (HOH) is a full-service celebrity talent procurement and management agency that connects the biggest names in Hollywood with the hottest moments and events on Capitol Hill. Founded by entertainment industry veteran Nikki Webber Allen in early 2023 and based in … Read more
Maieka Saint-Alban is a respected storyteller, producer, writer, and visionary known for blending passion with production in all of her creative projects. She brings extraordinary elements of the human spirit to her works- the grit of documentary film meets the finesse of masterpiece theatre. This approach not only transforms but also deeply connects with audiences, making … Read more
Edwina Findley is an award-winning film, television, and theater actress, celebrated for her magnetic performances and praised by critics as “a marvel to watch.” Known for her versatility and depth, Edwina has built a remarkable career portraying everything from rogues to royalty across stage and screen—and now, she’s adding bestselling author and international speaker to … Read more
From storytelling to custom content development, Aiesha Francis is an award-winning producer and marketing executive. Leading teams for some of the most recognized media brands including SiriusXM, NBCUniversal’s Bravo & Oxygen, Nickelodeon, CBS, and Turner Entertainment (TBS, TNT, truTV) Aiesha’s work spans across multiple disciplines including TV, Radio, Print, Brand Placement, Digital Marketing for TV … Read more
Actress, Writer, and Relationship Coach, Dahn Dior has a passion for all things yummy. The multi-hyphenate entrepreneur balances motherhood, marriage, and her passion for helping women rediscover the Yummy Factor of life – the soft, sweet, chewy goodness of life. Dahn’s retreats, workshops, and life coaching revitalize, renew and help women remember who they are! Dahn Dior … Read more
Meet Mia Hall, the founder Brown Girls Glow and Parables From The Projects Productions. With over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry, she has influenced crowds in China, the Dominican Republic, Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Hampton, and Harvard. Her reputation for excellence, drive, and passion precedes her, and she’s used her influence to break down … Read more
the game*HERs, is a global phenomenon, founded by Rebecca Dixon and Verta Maloney. The social technology company is the first and largest media platform and social networking community for femme-identifying gamers. There are an estimated 1.5 billion female gamers. 600K are connecting, building community and growing their careers on the game*HERs platform, and these numbers are growing … Read more
Dr. Nadia Lopez stands as a beacon of innovation in education, celebrated globally for her transformative impact. Her journey to prominence began with a viral sensation when Humans of New York spotlighted her groundbreaking initiative to establish a school aimed at breaking the cycle of incarceration in Brownsville, Brooklyn—an area long plagued by neglect and … Read more
Beth-Hark Christian Counseling Center, Inc. (BHCCC) offers help, healing, and hope. The organization has been on the front lines of food justice, providing services through its soup kitchen and pantry. For BHCC’s 30th anniversary, DreamDevelopment helped launch a campaign to fund a mobile pantry called More Than A Meal. If 1000 people gave $30, BHCCC would fund up … Read more
Focused Fire is a lifestyle brand dedicated to the physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness of its clients. From physical to financial fitness, the Focused Fire founder Marie Toms helps her clients kindle the fire that illuminates pathways forward in their lives. Marie kicked-off the 2011 Princeton TEDx event with her speech “Becoming a FireStarter”. A multi-hyphenate, Marie is … Read more
Mo Beasley’s LoveStorm Group has been at the forefront of using eroticism as activism promoting sex-positivity. Reaching beyond tolerance, the LoveStorm Group brings acceptance and inclusion into the consciousness of its audiences, through live performance, workshops, participation in conferences, and strategic partnerships. The work has been featured at The Jon Lovitz Comedy Club/Universal Studios in Hollywood, CatalystCon, Harlem Stage, The … Read more
Beautiful Ventures is a creative social enterprise that influences popular culture. By disrupting anti-blackness, and elevating perceptions of Black humanity; Beautiful Ventures envisions a world where the humanity of all Black people is presumed, affirmed and unchallenged. Through programs and services, they are building community, skill, power and wealth of Black story-driven creatives and their communities. … Read more
They went because of the earthquake. They stayed because of the people. On January 12, 2010, an earthquake (7.0. magnitude) struck and devastated the island nation of Haiti. In 35 seconds, over 300,000 people lost their lives and more than 1.5 million lost their homes. Community2Community (C2C), a non-profit service organization, was born not just … Read more
Zurena Caribbean Drink Mixers are a blend of fresh citrus juices, sweetness, and love. This simple and versatile mixer transforms most rums, vodkas, tequilas, gins, cognacs, and liquors into smooth, mellow, no-bite cocktails. Zurena even makes non-alcoholic spritzer with ginger ale or club soda, accompanies herbal teas as an alternative to sugar, and adds a … Read more
The Donny Hathaway Legacy Project shines a light on mental health and provides effective resources to aid in educating, acknowledging and healing millions of us who suffer through the trials that we all face in life. Established by Donnita Hathaway, the youngest daughter of Mr. Hathaway, the Foundation was created to honor his rich musical legacy along … Read more
Elizabeth Hobbs is a Cartoon Creator, Composer, and Voice Over Artist. Her new series, Penelope and Simon is a modern musical adventure for children of all ages. Like all artists, Elizabeth’s creations mimic life. The Julliard graduate discovered her love of both orchestration and cartoons at the tender age of six. A trip to the … Read more
A single grain of wheat will never be more than a single grain of wheat unless it drops into the ground and dies. Because then it sprouts and produces a great harvest of wheat—all because one grain died. John 12:25 The passing of Ossie Davis was the falling of a great seed. At the time … Read more
Thalia Pericles is a culinary genius and a pastry chef extraordinaire! Known for conjuring up confectionary wonders, after winning the Cupcake Wars NYC twice in a row, she was kindly asked not to compete and instead invited to judge the competition. That is classic Thalia. She outdoes even her own best. The serial entrepreneur and … Read more
In Memoriam: Dr. Clarence B. Jones, 1931–2026 Dr. Clarence B. Jones, civil-rights attorney, author, trusted adviser to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and a beloved mentor to many, took his final bow in May 2026 at the age of 95. Clarence wrote the pre-amble to one of the most consequential speeches in American history. He penned … Read more
Jakki Taylor Richardson is an Emmy award-winning producer whose TV career began with “The View”…
Alimi Ballard – Sonya, I want to personally thank you for your Brilliance and all that you bring to the Creative and Development process.
We met Dream Development in the early stages of funding our inaugural documentary. Timing was a critical factor for us…