
According To This Six-Figure Entrepreneur, It’s Not About Making Money. It’s About Creating Wealth.

Money Talks is an xoNecole series where we talk candidly to real women about how they spend money, their relationship with money, and how they get it.
Kris Christian began her career as a Wall Street analyst in New York City in 2009. She soon fell in love with the creative marketing side of business and transitioned into full-time entrepreneurship. Kris took the leap of faith to begin FAME Enterprises, an integrated marketing agency offering premium, full-service marketing and production services and specializing in multicultural audiences. Within three years, Kris built FAME into a seven-figure agency, working in partnership with blue chip brands such as BMW of North America, Forbes8, Nielsen, Bumble and Time, Inc. In 2017, Kris wanted to tap into her passion for coffee and created Chicago French Press (CFP). Being a lifelong coffee enthusiast, Kris founded CFP as a way to provide others with freshly roasted coffee beans flavored with natural ingredients to achieve the sweetened taste she enjoyed.
When you decide to become an entrepreneur, you first focus on making money. But what you learn along the way, is the power in tapping into your value, that is the true reward. Kris believes that everyone is valuable and when you invest in your ideas, you bring more than money in the bank. You bring wealth into your life. Entrepreneurship is not easy. It takes hard work, discipline, and an understanding that you cannot do it alone. So according to Kris, it is important that while being an entrepreneur, you must have the right people in your corner to support you along your journey. With over 10 years as a full-time entrepreneur, Kris is very adamant on empowering others to create wealth for themselves by sharing her story and encouraging others to start investing in their dreams which will allow them to sustain a life of prosperity.
In this installment of "Money Talks", xoNecole spoke with Kris about how community, staying humble, investing in your ideas and passions are the keys to maximizing your value into multiple streams of income.
xoNecole: What do you define as “wealth” vs “success”?
Kris Christian: I think that wealth is the total value you're able to create and sustain. Value can be defined in monetary ways, through resources, and how you leave your mark in the world. When you are born into this world, everyone has value. But when you build on your value by creating assets, utilizing networks, and leveraging accessible resources, that is wealth. Now with success, success can be whatever you create it to be. Success can mean you are a great mother or just being a great human being. Anyone can be successful because it's how you expand on what's important to you.
"When you are born into this world, everyone has value. But when you build on your value by creating assets, utilizing networks, and leveraging accessible resources, that is wealth."
Courtesy of Kris Christian
What’s the lowest you’ve ever felt when it comes to your finances?
Early on when I became an entrepreneur, I had a good amount of money saved starting off. I worked on Wall Street and coming out of that, I was used to living a certain lifestyle. Slowly but surely, the money started to decrease (laughs). I think it was year two [into becoming an entrepreneur], and all of my savings were gone. I remember I opened up the refrigerator and there wasn't any food left. I checked my bank account and it was -672 dollars. I thought to myself, 'Wow I can't even afford a sandwich.'
I told myself never again will I allow myself to get to the point. So from that day on, I started being more strategic with my spending habits, changed my perspective on money, and started planning for my future. I even enrolled myself into classes to get my credit score up, to pay down my debt and to live a more frugal lifestyle.
Would you consider yourself a spender or a saver? How did you train yourself to save money?
When I started saving more, I would save in small amounts. I also created a separate account that when I would get paid, 20 percent would be sent to this account that I never touched. As I started to see my savings grow into thousands of dollars, I would then invest in things that retained value. I don't believe in sitting on a ton of money. I believe in making your money work for you. I do have my rainy day fund, but I also would rather use the money I have and invest in assets where extra money can be generated with minimal effort.
"When I started saving more, I would save in small amounts. I also created a separate account that when I would get paid, 20 percent would be sent to this account that I never touched. As I started to see my savings grow into thousands of dollars, I would then invest in things that retained value."
Courtesy of Kris Christian
What are some unhealthy habits or unhealthy mindsets about money that you had to let go of to truly prosper?
I have learned to be a very frugal person. I know that I am a foodie, so you would catch the old me eating out almost every single day. But now I put myself on a budget to only eat out two days a week and hold myself accountable on days I have to cook. I also minimized things like frivolous spending on clothes and jewelry, that are only for show. A lot of us do these things for other people and I had to get out of that mindset.
What is the most important lesson you’ve learned through being a business owner and running multiple businesses?
My biggest lesson has been "the know-it-all, knows nothing". You have to be humble when you are running a business or multiple businesses. When I was younger, I told myself that I could teach myself everything and I didn't need a mentor. You think everything you need to know, you can just Google it (laughs). But thinking that way was absolutely ridiculous, because there is always someone who can teach you something. So I make it a priority to always surround myself with people that know more than me. It's about having community and having that support to pour into you and your business. Nowadays, if I am the smartest person in the room, I am in the wrong room.
What is the worst money-related/business-related decision you’ve ever made?
One mistake I made was that when I started off as an entrepreneur, I wanted to be "seen" as successful. I wanted to look the part. I remember going and purchasing my first office space in the middle of downtown Chicago. I didn't have any clients to come to the space, mind you (laughs). I then hired an employee and contractors, with again, no clients! (laughs) I did all of this just to impress other people.
One thing I think society has messed us up with when it comes to entrepreneurship, is that you have to show the world you made it before you actually have the clientele, the case studies, etc. But that's what I did and that is the type of stuff that really hurts you in the long run.
Courtesy of Kris Christian
What were some of the early challenges that came with collaborating with a business partner?
When you collaborate with a business partner, there needs to be a lot of trust. The partnership also has to be mutually beneficial to both people. The biggest challenge I have experienced has been the difference in work ethic. I still have not met someone who can match my work ethic equally. I will wake up at 5 a.m. and go to sleep at 2 a.m. Not to say that that's how you should do things, but it's that level of commitment that is needed to establish a successful business. Both people have to be able to put in the same amount of time and effort.
What’s the best advice that you’ve received about finance during your first year of entrepreneurship?
If you are looking to become a serial entrepreneur, you can do it all, but you cannot do it all at once. If you want to have multiple businesses, they have to go hand in hand. They have to feed into each other or you will get serious burnout doing everything on your own. It is also important to understand the cycles of your businesses as well. For example, my businesses are all about lifestyle and creating experiences.
My event productions were really heavy in the summertime. Chicago French Press' peak season is in the fall and winter. In the beginning of the year, when people are looking more into marketing campaigns with their businesses, that's where FAME Production Group comes into play. So knowing the cycles of your business and being intentional on maximizing each of them at the right time throughout the year is key.
What is the money mantra you swear by?
I don't make money, I create wealth. My business is my canvas and I am the artist, creator and owner of my legacy." I believe my greatest investment is in my ideas which are abundant. Cultivating and shaping those ideas into products, services, platforms and real estate that help others, while also solving problems is how I create value. The return of that investment becomes streams of income and fruitful assets that generate wealth for future generations.
To learn more about Kris Christian, you can follow her on Instagram here.
Featured image courtesy of Kris Christian
'K' is a multi-hyphenated free spirit from Chicago. She is a lover of stories and the people who tell them. As a writer, 9-5er, and Safe Space Curator, she values creating the life she wants and enjoying the journey along the way. You can follow her on Instagram @theletter__k_.
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
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Feature image courtesy
Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Relationship Timeline
Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bathe are one of our favorite Hollywood couples. We can't get over their adorable moments together on the red carpet and on social media. While they're both from St. Louis, they didn't meet until college, which they both attended Stanford. And the rest is as they say, history. Read below as we dive into their decades-long relationship.
Mid to Late1990s: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Meet
Sterling and Ryan met as freshmen at Stanford University. "We were in the same dorm freshman year...that's kind of how we met," Ryan said in an interview with ET. "I was mesmerized," she said after watching him audition for the school play, Joe Turner's Come and Gone. Sterling revealed that The First Wives Club star was dating someone else, so they started off as friends.
"She got cast in the play as well, and we would ride bikes to rehearsal, and we would just talk. We found out that we were both from St. Louis. We didn't know that we were both from St. Louis, like, our parents went to rival high schools. We were born in the same hospital. Like, we were friends," he said.
The first few years of their relationship involved many breakups and makeups. However, they ended up graduating and attended NYU's Tisch Grad Acting Program together.
Early 2000s: Sterling K. Brown Tells Ryan Michelle Bathe She's 'The Love Of My Life'
The Paradise star opened up about telling Ryan that she was the one. "We broke up for three and a half years before we came back into each other's lives," he said. "She was on the treadmill working out, and I had this epiphany, 'I have to go tell this woman she's the love of my life.'"
"I go to her apartment, I tell her, and she's like, 'Well, I'm working out right now,' and I was like, 'No, I can see that—I'll just talk to you while you're on the treadmill,' and she's like, 'Well, I feel like going outside. So I'm gonna go on a run,'" he continued. "So I'm like dressed [in a suit], and she starts running through Koreatown, and I start running along with her. Brother had to work, but it was well worthwhile."
2006: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Tie The Knot
The St. Louis natives eloped in 2006 and a year later held a larger ceremony. According to the bride, the best part of their wedding was the food. "The best thing about it was the food," she told ET.
"Can I just say, sometimes you go to weddings, and you get the winner-winner chicken dinner and you're like, 'I pay. OK, it's fine.' But I wanted people to remember their experience -- their culinary experience. So I was happy about that. The food was good."
2011: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Welcome Their First Child
In 2011, Sterling and The Endgame actress welcomed their first son, Andrew. In a 2017 tweet, Sterling revealed they had a home birth. "An unexpected home delivery is something my wife and I went through ourselves with our first born, so this was round 2 for me!" he wrote while referring to a scene involving his character Randall, in This Is Us.
2012: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Appear On-screen Together
A year later, the couple acted together on the Lifetime series Army Wives.
2015: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Welcome Their Second Child
In 2015, Sterling and Ryan welcomed another son, Amaré. Sterling shared an Instagram post about their latest addition to the family. "1st post. 2nd child. All good! #imoninstagram," the Atlas star wrote.
2016: Ryan Michelle Bathe Joins Sterling K. Brown On 'This Is Us'
Ryan guest appears on her hubby's show, This Is Us.
Sterling K. Brown Reveals Ryan Michelle Bathe's Mother Didn't Like Him At First
During their sit-down interview for the Black Love series, Sterling revealed that Ryan's mother wasn't a fan of him, which caused friction in their relationship.
2024: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Explain How Jennifer Lopez Once Broke Them Up
While visiting The Jennifer Hudson Show, Sterling and Ryan share their hilarious Jennifer Lopez break-up story. "We had just gone out, we were living in New York City, we were in grad school, and we had gone to see a Broadway play and we came back to my place and my roommate was playing the ["Love Don't Cost A Thing"] video on MTV," Sterling said.
"Now I'm a fan of Jennifer Lopez's dancing, and I was watching the video and I knew my young...21, 22-year-old girlfriend was looking at me watch the video. And I know I'm not supposed to have a reaction. In trying NOT to have a reaction, what had happened was, my eyes began to water."
Ryan jumped in, "Otherwise known as, TEARS! I turn around and my boyfriend is weeping, tears like big fat [tears]. And I'm looking and she's just a shakin' and a shimming, and he's just crying. I said 'Oh no, I got to go.' "
2024: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Launch Their Podcast, We Don't Always Agree
The couple launched their podcast, We Don't Always Agree, where they disclose more intimate details about their love story.
Feature image by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock