Ciara, a Grammy award-winning artist who has been captivating audiences for two decades, sits down with Forbes to discuss her new album, her journey to artistic independence, and her multifaceted entrepreneurial empire. With her eighth album, "CiCi," set to release on August 22nd, Ciara describes it as a return to her R&B roots and a "token of gratitude" to her fans. She reveals the powerful story of her journey to independence, in which a disappointing meeting with a major label CEO propelled her to take a risk and become her own boss. She famously won her masters back, proving the label wrong after her song "Level Up" became nearly three times platinum, a testament to her belief in herself.

Beyond her music, Ciara is also a co-owner and investor in several successful ventures. She discusses her skincare line, OAM, which stands for "On A Mission" and aims to make "clinical skincare simple for all," highlighting its unique focus on dermatologically based products for all skin types. Ciara also shares the serendipitous story of how she became a co-owner of Ten To One Rum, joining the brand after her first taste of their product. As a longtime rum lover, she invested her own money to support the mission of elevating Caribbean rum on a global stage, and today, she is a driving force behind the brand, which is now the "fastest growing and most awarded rum."

Ciara offers a glimpse into her "why not you" mentality, explaining how her entrepreneurial mind has influenced her creative life and her ambition to continue inspiring and impacting others.

0:00 Introduction
0:48 The New Album "CiCi": A Return to R&B Roots
4:35 The Power of Independence: Owning Her Masters
6:37 The "Level Up" Story & Founding Beauty Marks
10:36 Becoming a Rum Co-Owner: The 10 to 1 Story
13:10 Ciara's Vision & Impact for 10 to 1
16:09 The Importance of Ownership & The Business of Music
19:05 Creating OAM Skincare: A Personal Mission
23:47 How Entrepreneurship Feeds Creative Life
25:18 The "Why Not You" Mentality: Keys to Success
27:23 Ciara's Goals: Music, Skincare & Rum

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