No Boxes: Just Verses
No Boxes: Just Verses is where inspiring leaders reveal the songs and stories that shaped their journey. Join host Shannon Nash, a global C-suite leader, attorney, and CPA, as she goes beyond titles and trophies to explore the moments that truly defined today's top executives, entrepreneurs, and artists.
Each episode is a deep dive into a guest's personal "Leadership Playlist," uncovering the pivotal lessons and life-changing moments tied to the music that moved them. From career breakthroughs to personal reinvention, we explore the authentic, unboxed stories behind extraordinary success.
This isn't your typical leadership podcast. It's a rich blend of leadership development, personal storytelling, and musical discovery. Whether you're an aspiring leader, a seasoned executive, or simply a music lover, you'll find powerful insights and a vibrant community here.
Come for the stories, stay for the playlist. Subscribe now and join us as we redefine leadership, one verse at a time.
No Boxes: Just Verses
Desirée Rogers on New Orleans Roots, Harvard MBA, Chicago Powerbroker to the White House and CEO of Black Opal and Fashion Fair
Do you feel pigeonholed in your career? Do you struggle to see how your diverse experiences across corporate, government, and non-profit sectors connect? In this inspiring episode of No Boxes: Just Verses, we go beyond the bios, beyond the titles with Desirée Rogers—renowned strategist, connector, and co-owner/CEO of Black Opal and Fashion Fair. Desirée shares her "unboxed" playbook for strategic career pivots, revealing how lessons learned from managing utilities and insurance giants prepared her to revolutionize the White House Social Office and, ultimately, revitalize iconic Black beauty brands. If you want the blueprint for weaving seemingly unrelated experiences into a powerful Masterpiece Mentality that leads to massive impact, this is your must-listen episode.
Desirée Rogers is a renowned leader, strategist, and connector who has redefined every role she has held, from corporate boardrooms to the White House. She is currently the co-owner and CEO of Black Opal LLC, overseeing the iconic Fashion Fair and Black Opal Beauty brands, which serve multicultural audiences and are sold at retailers like Sephora and ULTA. Fashion Fair, in particular, is a cultural touchstone that has long celebrated Black beauty. Her career spans transformative leadership in business, media, and public service. Rogers served as Social Secretary for President Obama, bringing the administration's values of inclusion and diversity to life through experiential events. She revitalized Ebony and Jet as CEO of Johnson Publishing, positioned Chicago as a top global travel destination, and drove growth at Peoples Energy, Allstate, and the Illinois Lottery. A graduate of Wellesley College and Harvard Business School—where she received the 2024 Alumni Achievement Award—Rogers serves on the boards of Stagwell, Inspired Entertainment, and the American Cancer Society.
Key Takeaways:Early competition in academics built her core discipline and confidence.
- A deliberate career strategy across regulatory, ops, and marketing was key to leading smaller organizations later.
- The White House role was a lesson in brand management, ensuring events reflected the administration's values of inclusion and diversity.
- Pursuing a target business owner for three years proves that patience and persistence are crucial for achieving a long-term goal.
- She stopped trying to hide her identity in "safe" jobs (utilities, insurance) and found purpose by fully leaning into beauty for her community.
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CONNECT WITH DESIREE ROGERS:
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Theme Song: Pedal to the Medal by Martin Luther (Spotify | Apple Music)