Rising Stars: Meet Juanita Farrow

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juanita Farrow.

Hi Juanita, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I consider myself an upbeat person. Life is very interesting. There will always be highs and lows, but as long as you have life, that’s a reason to be thankful. I have always been intrigued by others, I wondered about their stories, their journey in life and how they ended up where they are. I have truly been blessed as a businesswoman to have worked throughout the United States and in other countries both developed and developing countries. I am passionate about helping businesses succeed and communities to thrive. I’ve spent a lot of time traveling and many of the very long trips across the ocean gave me the time to reflect on my own journey and blessings. However, I am acutely aware of the political divide, racism, sexism and classism that many people face every day. I was inspired to write a book called “The Common Good: Rising of a New Dawn: How Living a More Conscious Life Can Heal a Nation, One Heart, One Mind, One Thought at a Time”. The book is about how we are more alike than different, seeing each other as “neighbors and how we can move forward with healing as a nation and globe. Well, it started with a book, then radio show, “The Common Good with Juanita” and TV Show “For The Common Good with Juanita”. I am humbled that God has given me the opportunity to share this platform and highlight the stories of individuals, businesses and community advocates who are so deserving. Their perseverance and resilience gives me much joy.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am not exaggerating when I say I started my business on a “wing and a prayer” more than 25 years ago. I did not have a lot of money, but I had a vision. It has not been an easy journey, but it has been so rewarding. It’s hard sometimes to ask for help, I had to learn how to ask and realize you don’t have to know it all. I thought with my education, having a MBA and work experience as a hospital administrator, I was well equipped. I quickly learned that being in business is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do. It’s no wonder that 20% of all businesses fail by the first year, 45% by year five and 65% by year ten according to the Small Business Administration. The failure rate was even higher when I started. I supplemented my income when I started by working as an adjunct faculty teaching business classes in the evenings at the local college. Now, there are many more programs that support small business, so the moral of the story is…there is help available so don’t be afraid to ask.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
As a radio and television host, creativity is so important. Getting to know each guest and understanding their journey is very important to me. Creating good content but making sure to strike the right tone especially when covering a delicate or sensitive topic. When interviewing business owners, I draw on my own experiences in business and can follow-up with questions that might be helpful to other businesses. As a management and consulting business, we have worked with a lot of businesses. As a government contractor, we have helped to develop private, public partnerships, build capacity and create solutions to problems in the community and abroad. When we can grow as individuals, when small businesses can succeed, and communities thrive; we can all share in that success. I am excited because it’s all connected. We are all connected for the common good. Radio and television are just another way we can highlight and celebrate the stories and the journey of others. I am grateful for this journey.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
There are many childhood memories. Because my parents worked, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents. My parents used to joke about my grandparents spoiling me, not to mention I grew up with an older brother who was very protective of his little sister. We grew up in a rural community in North Carolina so there was a lot of farming. The community was truly a village, every adult would look after you as if you were their own. We would go to church on Sunday, but my grandmother would make several trips picking up church members, mostly children who did not have transportation to church. After church, all the cousins and family members would go to my grandparents and it was a time of fellowship and good food with family, but it was not just reserved for family members. It did not matter who you were, my grandmother always had kind words and an open heart. That’s a memory I never forgot.

Contact Info:

• Email: juanitasfarrow@gmail.com
• Website: www.jfglobalenterprises.com
• Instagram: @thecommongoodmedia
• Facebook: @thecommongoodmedia
• Twitter: @JuanitaFarrow