Daphne Jones

Welcome and Introduction

Taryell: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to another episode of Rise Urbanation. I have my sister here, and she is about to tell us how we win no matter what. Daphne Jones, how are you doing today?

Daphne: I am doing fantastic and amazing. I woke up on this side of the ground and for that I am thankful, so I am good.

Taryell: I am glad to hear that. Where are you joining us from? I know you like to travel up and down the East Coast, but I never know where you are at any given time.

Daphne: Yesterday I was in Atlanta for a couple of days taking care of family matters. Right now I am in upstate New York. I will be here for a couple of weeks before heading to Amsterdam for senior international modeling at Africa Fashion Week.

Taryell: You are truly a world traveler. I love it.

Daphne: I just want to find a way to win.

Taryell: We are going to dive into your book and help others develop that winning mindset. For someone who has not met you yet, who is Daphne Jones?

The Push and Pull Philosophy

Daphne: Daphne Jones is a child of God who strives to learn, and as I learn, I teach. At the end of the day, I want everyone coming behind me to discover their ability to become who they want to be and define their win faster, easier, and higher than I did. I look to Harriet Tubman as an inspiration. In my office, I have a picture of her holding a shotgun under her left arm and a lantern in her hand as she pushes north into dangerous territory. With her other hand, she pulls people along with her. That illustrates what I call the push and pull method. I push myself and others into new areas while simultaneously pulling people forward. I am a mother, grandmother, pastor's wife, scuba diver, boxer, author, Fortune 50 senior executive, board member, and startup CEO.

Taryell: All of that blends beautifully into making the unique individual you are. You always radiate such youthful energy.

Daphne: Thank you, I am blessed. I always tell my husband that I am a little girl doing grownup things. We cannot control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we approach and respond to things. Approaching life like a child where everything is possible helps keep me young.

Defying Expectations and The Origin of Win When They Say You Won't

Taryell: Let us jump into the book. Tell us about how this book came to be and what inspired its title.

Daphne: The title is Win When They Say You Won't. It draws inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's quote: first they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win. There is always a 'they' attempting to stop you, whether it is healthcare systems, legal structures, education, a boss, a neighbor, or even self-doubt. My parents were Jamaican immigrants who came to this country so their children could have a better life. They emphasized education, teaching us that whoever controls your mind controls you. I skipped first grade and excelled academically. However, my high school counselor told me that college was not for me because Black girls would not get in, graduate, or get hired.

Taryell: That is powerful and difficult to hear.

Daphne: I initially listened to him and worked as a secretary at Woman's Day Magazine. Within sixty days, I realized I was lousy at typing and shorthand. I decided I did not want to be a secretary; I wanted to have a secretary. I recognized the only difference between me and the executives was a degree. I went to college, earned my bachelor's degree in three years, and completed my MBA in one year. The guiding word for my life shifted from impossible to inevitable. If you want something and pursue it with strategy, winning is simply a matter of inevitability.

The EDIT Framework: Envision, Design, Iterate, Transform

Taryell: You developed a four-step framework in your book. Break down that process for us.

Daphne: The framework is called EDIT, which stands for Envision, Design, Iterate, and Transform. Edit signifies change: changing your mindset alters your behavior, which ultimately changes your outcomes. I developed this model from my background as an IBM programmer building applications. To create software, you envision what you want to build, design the application, iterate through testing and feedback, and transform the user experience. We can apply that exact same cycle to ourselves. You envision a goal, design a detailed plan while anticipating potential obstacles, execute and iterate based on strategic feedback, and ultimately transform into that next level.

Continuous Reinvention and Life Stages

Taryell: You have reinvented yourself across so many careers. How do you know when it is time to upgrade to a new version of yourself?

Daphne: You know it is time to change when you become too comfortable. Your skin needs to feel too small, much like a snake outgrowing its skin. If your goals are too easy, they are not high enough. Life consists of three primary phases: learning, earning, and returning. You start as a student, transition to an earner climbing the corporate ladder, and eventually move into returning by serving on boards and mentoring others. Currently, I am on version 6.5 as a startup CEO, author, and board director.

Building a Trusted Corner Team and Boxing for Resilience

Daphne: You must also evaluate who is in your corner. Just because someone is in your circle does not mean they are in your corner. As an amateur boxer, when I return to my corner between rounds, I need people who want me to win, understand how to win, assess whether my strategy is working, and act as a cut man to heal wounds so I can keep fighting. Tigers hang with tigers. Surround yourself with seasoned tigers who have walked the path before you.

Taryell: You mentioned you are an amateur boxer. How did you get started with boxing?

Daphne: Years ago, when I was promoted to Senior Vice President at a company in the Midwest, I was the only woman and the first Black executive in the room. I faced inappropriate comments and credit being taken for my ideas. I needed a healthy outlet to release tension, and boxing provided both physical conditioning and mental resilience.

Negotiating Success and Advice for Aspiring Leaders

Taryell: What is one profound lesson life has taught you?

Daphne: In life, you rarely get what you deserve; you get what you negotiate. Do not assume promotions or rewards happen automatically just by doing good work. You must be clear about what you want, seek guidance from your corner team, and actively negotiate. Furthermore, if you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room. Always place yourself in environments where you can continue to learn and grow.

Taryell: What advice do you have for someone looking to start a business or pivot into a new career, especially Black women entering tech?

Daphne: First, immerse yourself in the business and stay in learning mode. Gain real operational experience and understand every facet, including finance, marketing, and human resources. Second, secure mentors and sponsors who can guide you through challenging waters. Third, develop a structured business plan using the EDIT process. Fourth, persevere through unexpected obstacles without taking feedback personally. Finally, celebrate small milestones along the way.

The Five Fs of Holistic Success

Daphne: Overarching all career ambition is the concept of the Five Fs: Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, and Future career. Many professionals make the mistake of focusing exclusively on their future career while neglecting their physical and mental fitness, their family relationships, their finances, or their spiritual foundation. True wealth requires maintaining balance across all five pillars.

Taryell: That is such a vital distinction because wealth without health and family leaves you unfulfilled.

Diversity in Corporate Governance and Future Technology

Taryell: Looking at the tech landscape and corporate boards, what does the future hold for Black women and diverse leadership?

Daphne: Change is happening, but the pace must accelerate. I serve on boards to speak truth to power and advocate for diverse slates of candidates based on capabilities. For women and underrepresented groups in STEM, creating collective networks is essential—like individual spider webs combining to form an unbreakable structure. Regarding technology, artificial intelligence will become as ubiquitous as email. As we navigate the Fourth and Fifth Industrial Revolutions, staying rooted in STEM fields like cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI will provide immense value.

Current Projects and Closing Thoughts

Taryell: Daphne, thank you for sharing your wisdom and serving as an inspiration. Where can listeners connect with you and follow your work?

Daphne: You can connect with me on Instagram at @daphnejonesofficial, on LinkedIn, and through my website at https://daphneejones.com. Currently, I am focused on sharing the message of Win When They Say You Won't and growing my company, The Board Curators, to prepare more diverse leaders for corporate boardrooms.

Taryell: Thank you once again, Daphne. We salute you and support your mission.

Daphne: Thank you, and God bless you all.