Be a dancer. Be a coach. Be a wife.

Those were the dreams Ana Ogbueze once wrote for herself but life pivoted her into something even greater.

On this episode of Ruby's Roundtable, Ruby sits down with Ana, a 4x NBA Dancer, award-winning entrepreneur, owner & CEO of NC Dance District, Charlotte Hornets Honey Bees Coach, and producer of Project Full Out to talk about what happens when you surrender your plans and allow faith to lead your brand and business.

Ana shares:

• Her transition from professional dancer to powerhouse studio owner

• Building one of the East Coast's most recognized dance spaces

• Creating opportunities for aspiring and professional dancers

• Using her nonprofit to remove financial barriers through low-cost classes

• Giving dancers the experience of performing on upscale theater stages

• The unforgettable opening night when the music stopped and how she coached her team to trust themselves and keep going

• The moments she wanted to quit and how her dancers kept her going

This episode is about leadership, purpose, resilience, and consistently choosing to be that girl who says, "I want to be the best in the world."

If you've ever questioned your path, felt the pressure of leadership, or needed a reminder to trust yourself this conversation is for you.

New episodes drop weekly.

This is Ruby's Roundtable.

IF NOT YOU, WHO?

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

http://rubysroundtable.carrd.co

https://rubydurham.carrd.co

https://houseofredproductions.carrd.co

You've probably seen ArtPop's work, bold art on billboards, breathtaking upcycled fashion shows, and local artists elevated on a national scale. But this episode isn't about the spectacle. It's about the woman behind it.

In this episode of Ruby's Roundtable, Ruby shares the story of Wendy Hickey, Founder and Executive Director of ArtPop Street Gallery. The grassroots arts nonprofit born in Charlotte and built one dollar at a time.

Before ArtPop, Wendy worked in the marketing and advertising world with global brands like Budweiser and Coca-Cola. While she wasn't an artist herself, she spent years inside creative departments, learning how big brands are built and eventually realized those same strategies could empower local artists to build sustainable creative businesses.

Since launching ArtPop in 2013, Wendy has helped support over 500 local artists and connect creatives to more than $1 million in paid opportunities, all while keeping artists and community at the center of the work.

This episode explores:

• How ArtPop grew from a grassroots idea into a nationally recognized arts nonprofit
• The business mindset required to start and sustain a nonprofit
• Why adaptability, relationships, and trust matter more than scale
• The reality of funding cycles, grants, and donor-based work
• What it truly means to take responsibility for your dream

With ArtPop preparing for its 2026 upcycled fashion show, supported by a National Endowment for the Arts grant, Wendy continues to prove that Charlotte is and always has been an art city.

If you've ever asked yourself, IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

This episode is your answer.

New episodes drop weekly.

This is Ruby's Roundtable.

IF NOT YOU, WHO?

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

http://rubysroundtable.carrd.co

https://rubydurham.carrd.co

https://houseofredproductions.carrd.co

Make a statement.

That was the mantra of the 2025–2026 SUITED BY RED Fall/Winter Show a bold celebration of style, confidence, and the power of walking into every room like you belong there.

This season, SUITED BY RED showcased standout statement pieces designed for the spaces you're stepping into from boardrooms to brunch, from elevated casual moments to looks that truly feed the streets. With six models of different sizes and shapes, the show reflected what fashion should always do: help women see themselves, feel seen, and show up fully.

Each look was styled in multiple ways around a signature RED statement piece, proving that one powerful garment can transform your entire presence dressy, effortless, edgy, or elevated.

This wasn't just a runway.
It was a reminder.

Style is more than what you wear... it's how you enter.

Make a statement.

New episodes drop weekly.

This is Ruby's Roundtable.

IF NOT YOU, WHO?

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

http://rubysroundtable.carrd.co

https://rubydurham.carrd.co

https://houseofredproductions.carrd.co