Meet Traci S. Campbell | Talk Show Host and Founder of BeSpire TV

We had the good fortune of connecting with Traci S. Campbell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Traci S., what is the most important factor behind your success?
Belief combined with faith is definitely the most important factor behind the success we’ve experienced so far. Just because you believe something doesn’t mean that you have faith that it’s going to work out in your favor or in the direction you want to go. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission behind our BIBO foundation 501c3 and I also truly believe in the value and the need for BeSpire TV. I also have strong faith that these entities will continue to grow and expand and be a blessing to others. Thus, we have had success and I believe we will continue to do so.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

My background is in technology and science. I have spent over 20 years in information technology and that career was a turning point for not only me but also for my mother. She was a struggling single parent and we had to navigate living in a crime-ridden area on the west side of Baltimore, Maryland. She sacrificed so that her children could have better education and better opportunities than she did. I was fortunate enough to not only love school but agree with her that school and education specifically was the way out of our existence. That led me to college and into a career that was not only lucrative, but also allowed me to give back to my mother and give her a better station in life. I then became her caregiver for the next 13 years at a very young age. When I lost her to heart disease in 2007, I realized that even though I loved technology, I also had a passion for media, interviewing people and telling stories. So that led me to starting my second career, in my mid-late thirties, in podcasting and then later non-profit work, radio and TV.

The journey so far has not been easy at all. It takes a lot of sacrifice of time and sleep. It takes battling periods of frustration. But having that spiritual foundation that I actively use each and every day as well as having a strong support team which comprises my husband, some really good close friends, and mentors from my past have enabled me to overcome the things that would otherwise get in the way of my pushing forward.

That support and overcoming those defeating feelings and making those sacrifices really struck a chord with me in October 2013. That was when we launched our very first BIBO Awards show. BIBO stands for “Beauty In Beauty Out” and we developed the BIBO Foundation to give reverence and honor to incredible women who deserve recognition but do not normally receive it. Hearing the stories of the women that graced the stage that night in Chicago and hearing and seeing the emotion of their sacrifices and accomplishments was tremendous. But also seeing how much they valued the trophy that we gave them and the platform we gave them to bask in their “shine” in front of many, was more than fulfilling. Prior to that night, I took great pride in writing a book called “The C.H.A.M.P. Within”. That book and workbook which I authored in 2009, led to the creation of our very first 501c3, the C.H.A.M.P. Community Project which gave “mental and emotional support” education to over 800 youths in the US and in Nairobi, Kenya.

And now, we are embarking on our next chapter, BeSpire TV! I am truly truly proud beyond words of creating a streaming network and brand, available now on Roku and Amazon Fire, that will inform people, entertain people and mostly inspire people! There is such a need to bring entertaining and informative content that also allows people to walk away feeling good and feeling empowered, especially in this very negative and challenging climate that we’re all living in. And I’m also very proud, being a woman of color, to launch this network with not only a team of great content creators, but once again, a great support team as well.

The journey is far from over. But thus far, I have truly learned the value of developing a strong and cohesive infrastructure for your business. It all starts with a really solid internal foundation. That means using the right tools and bringing in the right people to make sure that you have procedures and processes in place to give your brand or your company stability. Also, I have learned on this journey thus far, to never ever belittle the power of visualizing what it is that you truly want to achieve and seeing that vision and feeling that vision each and every day.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I am originally from the East coast, but I have lived in Chicago, Illinois for over 20 years now. The funny thing is that when you live in an area long enough, you don’t do some of the fun things that visitors or tourists do. Chicago is the Hub of the Midwest and one of the largest cities in the US. So I would put on my “tour guide” hat and I would definitely take my best friends and others visiting the area to spend a day on Michigan Avenue. Tons of shopping and amazing restaurants to check out. I would also make sure that we hit the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum. I would take them to the observation deck at the Willis Tower (or Sears Tower for us diehards who can’t let go of that name!) Then we would venture over to Lincoln Park to check out the Lincoln Park zoo. and maybe we would go to Geja’s Restaurant in Lincoln Park for the amazing ambience and delicious fondue for the evening.

Taking them to Navy Pier is a must. And I really don’t think that you should visit Chicago without doing the Chicago Crime and Mob Bus Tour at least once! Not only is it fun, but it delves into one of the most fascinating aspects of the history of Chicago.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I want to dedicate my shout out to every single woman of color whether she be black, brown, or yellow, that is striving to make her mark in Corporate America and in the media industry. I can relate firsthand to the challenges and difficulties that one will face as a woman of color in these two powerful arenas. I want to give a HUGE SHOUT OUT to all of my fellow sisters in that struggle.

There are quite a few people who deserve credit and recognition here and have been instrumental in helping me to build these brands. I absolutely want to thank my husband first and foremost! And I absolutely want to thank the team of people that I work with daily and weekly who are editors, co-hosts, content creators and collaborators. Their dedication and belief in the mission has allowed us to grow, flourish and continue to grow since 2013.

Website: www.bespiretv.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bespiretv/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086546214465

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bespiretv