Wednesday Wonder Woman: Dr. Carlene Randolph

Dr. Carlene Randolph is the Founder and CEO of both Caism, LLC, and Women Ignite Now, LLC. She is a provocative Life Coach and Business Strategist, Author, Chaplain, Inspirational Speaker, TV, and Radio Host. Dr. Cai, aka Coach Cai, started hosting the Dropping the Knowledge with Cai Randolph on Blog Talk Radio. In 2018, she moved the radio show to Atlanta and Kentucky to expand her audience base. She has earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Howard University, Master of Science in Business Administration, a certificate in Executive Leadership, Doctorate of philosophy.

She has studied under several amazing mentors in business strategy, relationship building, and life coaching for her certification. Dr. Carlene Randolph has authored “Green Tea and Donuts: Six Simple Steps for Living Your Best Life” and the new release Total B: An Unapologetic Embrace of Boss-like Femininity.”

Christina: What is your SwagHer? What makes Carlene, Carlene?

Carlene: Wow! There’s so much to be said in response to that question. The culmination of life events starting at 24 years of age, I had a traumatic breakup, leaving my two young daughters and me living homeless in a car with our belongings—till now living my best life at 50. Those highs and lows, the tears and the happiness, gave me a depth and breadth of love, joy, and peace-creating me today. I am, at the core, a humble spirit with lots of love and light.

Christina: Tell our readers about your business, Caism, LLC, and Women Ignite Now, LLC and now When Black Girls Find Joy, Inc.

Carlene: Caism started out of 20 years of coaching women seeking a transformation in every aspect of their lives, assisting them in moving from chaos to simplistic living through personal and executive coaching services. We will be closing the doors of Caism next year because of plans for other projects. 

Women Ignite Now (also known as WIN) was created to inspire, educate and empower female entrepreneurs to build businesses that thrive beyond six years and build successful philanthropic activities for the communities they serve. We help them create a business playbook for ten years. 

In January 2021, we opened the doors of When Black Girls Find Joy, Inc., a nonprofit in the DMV. My goal is to help 2,000,000 women globally achieve their goals, reclaim their lives, and improve their leadership skills. We create curated discussions, virtual/public events, and so many other benefits through an application process for membership.

 

Christina: You are a life coach, author, chaplain, business strategist, and more. How did you get into all of these different things? How do you manage it all? 

Carlene: I believe we all are multi-purposed, and if we are aligned with our calling, then we can fulfill our mission. I make sure that I do not pick up projects that will not allow me to be great. Those projects and roles that do not align with my skills I say no to immediately. My virtual assistant and a host of others on my team keep me on top of the important things.

Christina: Tell us about your radio show, Dropping the Knowledge with Cai Randolph. How did you get started with that?

Carlene: Believe it or not, the show started out on Blog Talk Radio as a bet between my youngest daughter and I. In those days, she was my co-host, and we talked about everything and anything from the bedroom to the boardroom. By now means, was the show a hit, but we had loyal listeners and remained on that platform for about a year. I saw an opportunity to move the show to a radio station out of Atlanta, and as God would have it, the mountains moved, and I traveled between Baltimore and Atlanta to make it happen. We kept the name of the show, and of course, my co-host got married, leaving me to work out a new and improved radio show program. The audience increased in both Atlanta and Kentucky, and so did my desire to do other projects. To date, I have had a number of other internet-based radio shows and TV show pilots.

I am looking forward to a new opportunity in the Fall of 2021.

Christina: You have a new book out, “Total B: An Unapologetic Embrace of Boss-like Femininity.” Tell us about it. What is it about? Where can our readers go to purchase it?

Carlene: The book is a couple of years old now. It is a self-improvement book filled with pearls for the women who seek to live authentically and begin a process of healing to live in joy on the other side.

Christina: In your bio, it says you have a bachelor’s in nursing. Were you ever a full-time nurse? How was that experience? Why did you leave the nursing field to pursue entrepreneurship?

Carlene: Yes, I was in the nursing field for three years after graduating from Howard University, working for Johns Hopkins Hospital and Georgetown University Hospital. I woke up one day thinking I could do more in healthcare besides bedside care. I wanted to be amongst those who could affect change in-laws and regulations, so I sought out positions in the federal government in policy and regulatory affairs. During that time, my father was terminally ill, and I was not happy with his health insurance coverage. Thinking back, I learned so much more about public health in underserved communities. I went to nursing school because my dad would not allow me to go beyond four years in college (that he was financially responsible for). I wanted to be an anesthesiologist. That very reason led to me to pursue an alternate route in healthcare, not continuing in the nursing field.  

To answer the question of entrepreneurship, well, it was never either or for me. I have always had a passion for business ownership, even while I was an employee. I believe you cannot be a good leader without being a good follower. My experience as an employee helped me have a greater respect for the role of the visionary leader. I can only hope I translated it well in my businesses.

Christina: You have a doctorate in philosophy. Why did you choose to get a doctorate in that field? 

Carlene: It’s actually a doctorate of philosophy in theology. Folks are always surprised by that, and yet by knowing God and defending my faith, I feel more equipped to lead the movement of When Blacks Girl Finding Joy. I believe so deeply that when Black women choose to declare joy in their lives, it is radical and yet filled with a deep knowing of God and the life He wants for us. My ministry is in this movement. For so long Black women have been named shamelessly by society (i.e., the angry Black woman, thots, and the list goes on). I know that we are often the breadwinner; we are often the most educated person in the room; we are dope, yet we bear the brunt of economic crisis (while holding frontline jobs and running small businesses). My ministry is to empower women of the Black Diaspora to become allies in our own communities and help one another “thrive beyond life’s pain.”

Christina: Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur? What did you want to be when you were younger? 

Carlene: We were taught in Sunday school that God was the Master Entrepreneur, and he expected no less of us. I have always wanted to be a business owner. I designed and sold clothing in high school, then art. Later, I became interested in real estate investments, and well 13 businesses later, I still see a masterpiece in my gifts and talents. I never stop thinking about being a founder. It’s in my DNA.

Christina: Do you have any upcoming events or projects you would like to share?

Carlene: We are having our JOY OVERFLOW Virtual Summit, May 22nd, 2021, from 9:00 AM through 8:00 PM. Queens get ready to unlock the code for a joy overload. We have speakers with messages from all aspects of life (from the bedroom to the boardroom and everything in between). This virtual experience is like no other. We can’t wait to share it with you. We will also unlock the membership community (by application only) at the close of the event.