Tracey began her career in the haircare industry at SoftSheen-Carson, a division of L’Oréal. During a brief tenure with Medela, Inc., she researched feeding solutions for neonatal infants and breastfeeding mothers.
After relocating to El Paso, TX, Tracey served as Director of Marketing for Helen of Troy, a Revlon licensee, where she developed new product strategies within the hair accessories category. Upon returning to Chicago, she joined Walgreens Corporation as a Supplier Diversity Manager, where she identified and expanded distribution opportunities for diverse-owned product vendors.
In the summer of 2019, through a distinctive set of events, Tracey signed a deal to purchase 95.1 FM, creating the only Black- and woman-owned radio station in Chicago at that time. Leveraging trends in radio, in spring 2021, Tracey became the first and only owner of an FM radio station to voluntarily relinquish an FM license and transition to a streaming-only platform via a Google-based app.
Known as The Omni-Channel™, the app is also available in the Apple Play Store and can be accessed on Amazon’s Echo (Alexa). Marking one of many milestones, The Omni-Channel™ achieved 4.6 million sessions/streams in April 2023, according to Futuri Media. In 2024, the station traveled to Ghana, West Africa, with 43 listeners and broadcast its daily morning show live from Ghana. Additionally, The Omni-Channel™ is enjoyed not only in the United States but also in 112 countries across six continents worldwide.
Lastly, Tracey holds an MBA from DeVry University and a B.A. with double majors from the University of Alabama. She also graduated from Bible school at Living Word Christian Center. Tracey has a son and a granddaughter.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
- How Tracey transitioned from corporate leadership to owning a groundbreaking radio station in Chicago.
- That bold decisions can redefine traditional media and unlock entirely new digital growth opportunities.
- Why leaving a traditional FM license can accelerate scalability and global audience reach.
- How to build a media platform that reaches listeners across over 100 countries worldwide.
- That leveraging technology can transform a local brand into a global streaming powerhouse.
- How strategic brand positioning drives millions of sessions and sustained audience engagement.
- Why embracing innovation early creates a competitive advantage in the evolving media landscape.
- How to turn a passion for broadcasting into a profitable and impactful digital business.
- That community focused storytelling can expand influence beyond borders and cultures.
- Why taking calculated risks is essential for building legacy level success in modern media.
about the show
Next Level CEO is a high-impact business educational series hosted by Daymond John, designed to spotlight the world’s most elite and insightful entrepreneurs.
In each episode, Daymond’s handpicked expert CEOs, founders, and industry leaders who’ve built powerful brands, scaled successfully, and led with vision, share their story and expertise. From disruptive startups to billion-dollar empires, Next Level CEO gives viewers a front-row seat to the real strategies, mindset shifts, and leadership moves behind business excellence.
This is what works.
It’s a rare look inside the minds of those who’ve actually built something that lasts.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur looking to grow, a business owner ready to level up, or a leader who’s hungry to learn from the best, Next Level CEO delivers the playbook from those who’ve already won.
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