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

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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

This episode came out of things Ruby's been hearing lately — advice that kept showing up in different ways, from different people, all pointing to the same idea. In this roundtable, she shares what's been said to her, what she's still figuring out, and the reminder that keeps landing hardest: you don't need to find your niche… you are it. A relaxed, honest conversation about creativity, growth, and learning to trust who you already are.

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

On this episode of Ruby's Roundtable, we sit down with Monny and Chann, the duo behind How Sanguine in Charlotte, NC, to talk about building something real in a digital world.

What started as sharing food made in their kitchen turned into authentic social media storytelling rooted in care, culture, and experience. Through intentional posts, inviting visuals, and genuine connection, they grew a community that believed in what they were creating. That community eventually became the foundation for a business and a physical space where people can gather, eat, and feel something together.

Monny and Chann share how food became the medium, authenticity became the strategy, and community became the reason.

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

Episode 10: Making Short Films That Actually Get Made | Tevin Scott

If you've been sitting on a short film idea and waiting for the perfect moment, this episode is your sign to start now. In Episode 10 of Ruby's Roundtable, I'm joined by filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist Tevin Scott for a real, practical conversation about what it takes to bring short films to life without a massive budget or crew.

We're talking directly to creators who want to make the leap from idea to execution: breaking down the writing process, why table reads matter more than people think, how to work smart with a minimal crew, and what it really means to be a student of great films (and filmmakers) without copying them. Tevin shares how studying the work that inspired him helped shape his own creative process and how you can do the same.

This episode isn't about résumés or gatekeeping. It's about momentum, intention, and making the most of what you already have.

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

New year, new level.... but only if you're willing to stop shrinking.

In this episode of Ruby's Roundtable, we're talking about the real cost of playing small. The opportunities you keep missing, the confidence you keep delaying, and the version of you that stays stuck because comfort feels safer than growth.

Because here's the truth: playing small isn't "humble." It's expensive.

It costs you time. It costs you peace. It costs you momentum.

And it costs you the life you've been praying for.

This conversation is a reminder that you don't need more time, more permission, or more proof you need a decision. Whether you're stepping into a new goal, rebuilding your confidence, or finally taking the leap you've been avoiding, this episode will challenge you to stop settling and start moving like the person you know you're called to be.

This is your sign: 2026 is not the year you play it safe.

Let's talk about it.

New episodes drop weekly.

This is Ruby's Roundtable.

IF NOT YOU, WHO?

F NOT NOW, WHEN?

http://rubysroundtable.carrd.co

https://rubydurham.carrd.co

https://houseofredproductions.carrd.co

IF NOT YOU, WHO? — Building Impact From the Ground Up

What does it really mean to give back before you have everything figured out?

In this episode, we introduce the IF NOT YOU, WHO? Foundation a mission rooted in action, access, and self-expression. Our work begins by equipping students, women, and teens with the tools they need to be seen and heard. Through storytelling education, production setup, public speaking, and communication training, we're helping individuals find their voice and share it with confidence.

We also believe that how you show up matters. That's why our foundation includes styling support and clothing giveaways, removing barriers and helping people step into rooms feeling prepared, confident, and affirmed.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the why behind the foundation, how we're creating impact in our earliest stages, and why waiting for "perfect" was never an option. Because change doesn't start with resources—it starts with responsibility.

If you've ever felt called to do more with what you have right now, this conversation is for you.

Because if not you… who?

https://ifnotyouwhofoundation.carrd.co

New episodes drop weekly.

This is Ruby's Roundtable. I

F NOT YOU, WHO?

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

http://rubysroundtable.carrd.co

https://rubydurham.carrd.co

https://houseofredproductions.carrd.co