Deferred Interest Vol. 23
When Life Feels Heavy, Even in a Happy Place
Hey Everyone,
I’m writing from one of my favorite places, Martha’s Vineyard. A place that usually brings me joy, perspective, and relief. But this week, despite the idyllic backdrop, I’ve felt pretty paralyzed when it comes to inspiration.
Physically, I’m in my happy place. But, emotionally I’m navigating an unprecedented amalgamation of family, health, and work challenges. The convergence of it all has knocked me off balance.
Everyone has rough days, ones characterized by rejections, deadlines, or Zoom fatigue. Then, there are the other days. The ones where a loved one is sick, a close friend is in the hospital, and some bizarre, last-straw moment shows up to complete the trifecta. All while the sun is shining, and the day feels like it should fuel your productivity. That contrast is disorienting. And as we get older, with more people to care for, more to lose, more to preserve, these moments only feel heavier.
You’ll see in this newsletter that I still attended some beautiful events this week, and I am grateful for that access. But it takes a very specific kind of compartmentalization to show up like nothing’s wrong. I’m figuring it out in real-time, how to bifurcate the urgent from the important, the internal from the performative, and still remain present.
So to the ambitious, modern readers of this newsletter, how are you tackling the heavy life stuff while the rest of the world keeps spinning? How do you navigate the parts of life that feel too big to process, but still demand that you show up anyway?
Let me know. I’m listening.
If you enjoy Deferred Interest, please drop a like 🤍 (and if you’re feeling frisky, a comment) below. Your engagement brings this content to more readers. I appreciate you!
Quick Hits
Indie Beauty Brand Youthforia to Close
This closure follows the brand’s scandal in 2024, which involved misleading marketing for its Date Night foundation. Consumers criticized the foundation’s darkest shade, which felt more akin to Black paint than skin tint. The brand was previously distributed through Ulta with venture backing from True Beauty Ventures, Willow Growth Partners, and Mark Cuban (via Shark Tank).
Xponential Fitness Offloads CycleBar and Rumble
Extraordinary Brands acquired the two boutique fitness concepts, adding to the franchisor’s existing portfolio which includes Row House and Neighborhood Barre. On the other side, Xponential Fitness is shrinking its number of brands to focus on its core profitability drivers. While these are two fitness chain houses, depending on the business structure and its target audience the same businesses could fare differently under different ownership.
Target & Ulta to End Partnership
The Ulta Beauty at Target shop-in-shop partnership was launched in 2021 to expand Ulta’s reach to a broader consumer base while offering Target customers a premium beauty experience. As of today, there are 610 shop-in-shop locations across the U.S. This announcement follows Ulta Beauty losing market share for the first time in 2024, and a previously announced pause on the Ulta x Target expansion in April 2025.
The Latest
This week’s Deferred Interest comes to you live from Martha’s Vineyard which for most of my life, felt like Black America’s best-kept secret. That’s certainly no longer the case. Between the Obama’s visits, the Polo Ralph Lauren x Oak Bluffs campaign, and the Netflix show Forever, it’s safe to say the secret is out. Everyone is (rightfully) talking about this Black haven, and the economic influence of its seasonal inhabitants.
In recent years some of that influence has shifted toward commercialization in a way longtime Vineyard-goers weren’t exactly used to. For context, this is still an island with zero traffic lights, and Dairy Queen is one of the few chains outside of gas stations and grocery stores. But now? Everyone and their mother has a pop-up, panel, or private dinner in play. Black-owned and centered organizations like Uncle Nearest, Ebony, and AfroTech are out here, but so are big-name corporates like Cartier, Estee Lauder, and Cooley, all looking to capture a slice of Black wealth or signal allegiance to it.
It’s a lot. But instead of fight it, I’ve chosen to lean in. There’s nowhere else you can find this level of unapologetic Black joy, wealth, and opportunity in one place.
If you’re wondering how to actually get in the room at some of these events, you’re not alone. I’m not anybody’s CEO (yet…), but what’s helped me is a mix of networking with intention and clearly communicating my professional goals to the right people. Full disclosure, I have also been coming to the island for 30 years, and that has also played a massive role in my familiarity with some of these event organizers. Access is very much a relationship game out here.
While my main goal up here is to relax, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t also making the most of this incredibly rare chance to build with other Black business leaders. I don’t go to everything I’m invited to—there’s a certain discernment I have to exhibit, but when I do say yes, I try to be fully present.
Here's a peek into three events I went to this week, how I got in, and what I took away.
birthFUND fundraiser
What it is: birthFUND is a charitable organization working to solve the maternal mortality crisis by expanding access to midwifery and birth support, particularly for Black families. It was founded by Elaine Welteroth, former Teen Vogue editor-in-chief, and this event was co-hosted by CNN’s Abby Phillip.
How I got in: I was generously invited by one of the sponsors, an amazing longtime acquaintance who I’ve been building a more professional relationship with too (she works closely with a few emerging VC managers)!
Quick reflection: Before this event, I didn’t know much about midwifery and its direct impact on Black maternal mortality. Given the audience, including two expecting mothers, this conversation felt timely and deeply relevant. It was an intimate group (maybe 20 people), and even though I know this is the wrong question, I found myself wondering why I was chosen for one of the few seats. There are people up here with way more influence and wealth than me, but I’m trying not to let that inner voice take over my story these days.
Cooley Black Executive Network
What it is: Cooley is a law firm that works closely with startups, venture funds, and high-growth tech companies. If you’re in VC or building in the start-up world, you likely know them (or should).
How I got in: I was invited by one of the partners, someone I met through a mutual connection last year. I made it clear I wanted to return (and dropped some hints throughout the year LOL).
Quick reflection: Cooley’s decision to spotlight Black executives makes sense, given our growing footprint in venture and entrepreneurship. Compared to the birthFUND brunch, this was a much bigger event, which made me feel more at ease. There was more professional overlap which made it a little easier not to spiral out or ask “should I be here?”.
Leading Women Defined: Savor the Summer
What it is: Founded by Debra Lee, former BET Chairman & CEO, Leading Women Defined is an organization and network committed to empowering women of color through leadership development and community.
How I got in: Another invite I’m grateful for, courtesy of a senior exec in the LWD orbit. I attended last year and immediately knew I wanted to come back.
Quick reflection: This is, hands down, my favorite event on the island. The room is filled with women I admire across industries. We’re talking CEOs, congresswomen, successful entrepreneurs, the whole gamut. Everyone looked stunning. The energy was unmatched. My mom and I attended together this year, and watching her reconnect with women she’s known for decades was a moment. We had different reasons for being there (mine was more professional, hers more social), but attending something like this together reminded me of the power of legacy, especially on this island.
I’ll be back with part 2 next week with some closing thoughts on Martha’s Vineyard and the growing corporate presence.
Save for Later
Uncle Nearest, the high-growth, Black-owned whiskey brand, has been placed into receivership. Farm Credit, its lender, alleges Uncle Nearest defaulted on more than $108 million in loans. The Weavers are holding steady, putting up a strong and positive front on social media. Everyone is wondering what this all means for the beloved brand, which has brought the Uncle Nearest story the honor and credibility it deserves.
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That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading.
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Jamie
Thank you for sharing your reflections here, Jamie. ☺️
Love your weekly newsletter - something I look forward to every week!
Thank you for sharing 🖤