Introduction and DMV Roots
Taryell Simmons: Welcome ladies and gentlemen to another episode of Rise Urban Nation. I have got my sister from another mister, Sacha Walton of SWI Management Group, in the building today. Sacha, how are you doing and where are you joining us from?
Sacha Walton: Hey Taryell, I am doing great. It has been a wonderful day so far. I am joining you from Virginia.
Taryell Simmons: Virginia! My hometown area. I did not even know you were from the DMV. I grew up in Washington, D.C., in Northwest, and went to Calvin Coolidge High School. What part did you grow up in?
Sacha Walton: I am in the Hampton Roads area now, about two hours down the road, but I am originally from Prince George’s County, Maryland—Landover, Maryland. So we are definitely connected.
Taryell Simmons: Maryland, PG County! We are connected as soul brothers and sisters. I have been connecting with a lot of DMV folks lately out here in San Diego. It keeps me grounded and connected back to my roots.
Sacha Walton: That East Coast flavor keeps you grounded. No matter how much West Coast flavor you get, it is always about those roots that keep you anchored.
Taryell Simmons: For those who do not know Sacha, who is Sacha Walton? Give the people some flavor. Who are you?
Sacha Walton: Who is Sacha? I am a mix of all things. I am a mom, a business owner, an author, a speaker, and a podcast host. I am a Jill of all trades, but above all, I love to tell people I am a unicorn. I am original. I am who God made me to be, unapologetically.
Taryell Simmons: You give me that Jill Scott vibe—confident, grounded, and artistic. I almost want to hear you sing on a track right now.
Sacha Walton: Thank you! Fun fact: I actually used to rap back in the day. That was my early creative expression, but I am retired from the microphone now.
Launching According to Sacha and Empowering Young CEOs
Taryell Simmons: Tell us about your podcast, According to Sacha. What is the podcast, and what do you do with it?
Sacha Walton: I launched According to Sacha in January of this year, and it has been an incredible ride. It provides a business media platform where I interview fellow entrepreneurs and expand our markets together. I host a weekly series called Conversations, and I also host a Young CEO Hour that streams monthly. We spotlight entrepreneurs under eighteen years old because young people need that platform too.
Sacha Walton: In my world, whether you run a product-based business, a service company, or you are an independent musical artist, you are an entrepreneur. Every industry has a business foundation. As long as you are in business, you have a place on my platform.
Taryell Simmons: Giving young people a spotlight and teaching them business early leads to true freedom—financial, personal, and spiritual. What pushed you to actually start the podcast?
Sacha Walton: During the height of the pandemic, like many people, I leaned into social media. I had done Facebook Live and Periscope for years, and then I joined TikTok. My boyfriend kept encouraging me, saying, “You need to do a podcast.” I hesitated for a long time, wondering what I would talk about. Then one day, I had the app on my phone and was laying in bed. I had a thought, hit record instead of writing a post on Facebook, submitted it, and that was episode one. Now I am entering my third season.
SWI Management Group and Two Decades of Longevity
Taryell Simmons: Tell me about SWI Management Group. What is it and what does it do?
Sacha Walton: SWI Management Group is a subsidiary of my parent company, Sacha Walton Enterprises. It houses my event production, artist management, and business development consulting. I have been in business for a little over twenty years. I started out managing independent musical artists, producing live events, and handling strategic planning. In 2013, I officially established SWI Management Group as its own brand, and it has evolved to encompass everything from business strategy to speaking.
Taryell Simmons: Twenty years in business! You look phenomenal. What is the secret to maintaining that kind of longevity in your career and building an empire?
Sacha Walton: The secret starts with knowing what you want and knowing who you are in it. I built my business while working a full-time nine-to-five job for twenty years. It is completely possible to run a business alongside full-time employment, letting one support the other.
Sacha Walton: Success is not just about external metrics like profitability and longevity. It is about understanding your purpose. Entrepreneurship is not for the weak. You either succumb to the pressure or you overcome it and keep going. When you understand your divine assignment, you push through whatever obstacles emerge.
Taryell Simmons: That is powerful. Some people lose themselves in their business, but you recognized that your business is an extension of who you are, not the totality of your identity. What would you say your superpower is?
Sacha Walton: When people ask about superpowers, I always say: I am my superpower. It is who I am and how I show up. When my feet hit the ground, I bring influence, integrity, and a heart that loves helping people. Being deeply self-aware and operating with character is where my power comes from.
Pandemic Disruption, Mental Wellness, and Bouncing Back
Taryell Simmons: You mentioned facing major setbacks. How did you handle having your entire industry disrupted during the 2020 pandemic?
Sacha Walton: After twenty years of working full-time in corporate while running my company, I was laid off from my job. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I stepped into my business full-time, scaled it to six figures, and thrived for two years. Then the pandemic hit. The core of my business was live event production, and the events industry completely shut down for two years.
Sacha Walton: I went from thriving to pure survival mode. My income dwindled, and I had a household to maintain. When you face a setback outside your control, fear and anxiety creep in. I was showing up with a mask on, smiling in front of people, but internally caving because I did not know what was next. I thought about throwing in the towel, letting my business go, and taking any regular job just to get by.
Taryell Simmons: How did you pull yourself out of that dark space?
Sacha Walton: It took prayer, faith, and deep self-reflection. I felt defeated, but there was an urgent tug inside saying, “Sacha, you cannot stay here. There is greatness and purpose in you.” I had to deal with myself first.
Sacha Walton: Many people experience functional depression without acknowledging it. You wake up, perform, and smile, but your emotional well-being is suffering. When you find yourself in that place, talk to someone, seek help, and heal. The pandemic was devastating, but it pushed me into who I am today. It rebirthed me. I relaunched my business, stepped out from behind the scenes, and became the face of my brand as an international speaker, strategist, and author.
Taryell Simmons: That resonates so deeply. Earlier this week a guest told me that rest is restorative and revolutionary. We get trapped in grind culture, but healing yourself first is essential. You cannot pour from an empty cup.
Sacha Walton: Absolutely. When you step out of your comfort zone, you say yes to the greatness inside of you. Your purpose is attached to your vision, and other people are waiting on what you have to offer.
Authoring Beyond the Music and The Ugly Truth About Entrepreneurship
Taryell Simmons: How did the idea to write your books come about, and what was the writing process like?
Sacha Walton: My first book, Beyond the Music: A Music Artist Entrepreneurship Guide, was born from my passion for independent music artists. Creatives often focus solely on their art while neglecting business systems. I wanted to help them shift their mindsets to operate as legitimate business owners.
Sacha Walton: Pulling that knowledge out of my head was challenging. I struggled with writer’s block and procrastination for months because deep down, I wondered if people would actually read it. What pushed me across the finish line was booking a speaking engagement at a creative conference in Los Angeles where I needed the book in hand.
Sacha Walton: When it came time to publish on Amazon, I hesitated with my finger on the button. I asked myself, “Are you truly ready to put yourself out there?” I closed my eyes, hit submit, and did it. Accomplishing that made my second book so much easier. My new book, The Ugly Truth About Entrepreneurship: Keys to Managing Mental Wellness, chronicles my pandemic journey and provides practical tools for founders to protect their mental health.
Taryell Simmons: You balance both analytical logic and creative artistry. What books or philosophies have shaped your mindset along the way?
Sacha Walton: I lean heavily on foundational books. Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich taught me the power of disciplined thought. I also love Florence Scovel Shinn, whose writings from the early twentieth century influenced generations of business leaders. Another vital book is Switch On Your Brain, which provides scientific and spiritual principles to overcome toxic thoughts and reset your mindset.
Humble Beginnings, Skill Development, and Leadership
Taryell Simmons: I love highlighting humble beginnings. What was your very first job, and what steps shaped your career trajectory?
Sacha Walton: My very first hustle was in elementary school. I loved drawing, and classmates offered five cents for my pictures. I went home, drew more sketches, and sold them the next day for dimes and quarters—enough for ice cream all week. Later, I ironed clothes for a family friend studying for his CPA exam. My first official W-2 job was working at Wendy’s.
Sacha Walton: At age twenty, while working a fast-food drive-thru, a customer asked if I had ever considered government contracting. That encounter led to an office position where I developed administrative, analytical, and contracting skills. Over time, I earned my bachelor’s in business administration and my master’s in management. Every stage of professional development provided tools that I later channeled into entrepreneurship.
Taryell Simmons: That journey is so inspiring. How does that background inform your leadership style when managing teams and clients?
Sacha Walton: People skills are the most essential asset in business. You must know how to relate to individuals with diverse personalities. When I bring interns into SWI Management Group, I do not micromanage them. I provide training, assign a project, and give them the autonomy to execute.
Sacha Walton: Great leaders allow their people the freedom to blossom. When you let team members lead within their strengths, you build mutual trust, credibility, and real professional growth.
Advice for Aspiring Founders and Looking Ahead
Taryell Simmons: What advice do you give to aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women of color looking to enter event management or consulting?
Sacha Walton: Gain as much practical experience as possible, starting small. My first event was organizing a youth event at my church. If you want to manage artists or coordinate events, reach out to local talent or organizations and volunteer your skills. Do not discount unpaid opportunities early on; they give you the portfolio, credibility, and relationships that elevate your career.
Sacha Walton: Always position yourself as a solution to someone’s problem. When you approach business as a servant leader solving real needs, doors open and opportunities elevate you to the next level.
Taryell Simmons: What does the future look like for your industry and SWI Management Group?
Sacha Walton: Live events and business media will always thrive, but technology is expanding our capabilities. The pandemic forced us into virtual spaces, and advancing technologies like Web3 and virtual platforms allow us to connect across borders. I consult clients worldwide, including in Canada and across Africa. As long as we stay adaptable and embrace technical evolution, business continues to flourish.
Taryell Simmons: What projects are you releasing next, and where can our listeners find you?
Sacha Walton: My new book, The Ugly Truth About Entrepreneurship: Keys to Managing Mental Wellness, releases on my birthday, September 13th. Listeners can visit swimgtgroup.com to pre-order an autographed copy, connect with my podcast According to Sacha, and reach out on social media.
Taryell Simmons: Rise Urban Nation, go support my sister Sacha Walton! Thank you for sharing your journey, your heart, and your wisdom with us today.
Sacha Walton: Thank you so much, Taryell. It has been an absolute pleasure.
