Executive producer Mona Scott-Young lent her resources to host a screening for Netflix’s new series “Griselda.” The series stars Sofia Vergara as the legendary cocaine queen Griselda Blanco and has managed to remain a trending topic since its release Thursday, Jan. 25. Scott shared she was excited to host the screening in Atlanta for a curated list of influential “boss women” dominating their own genres with many of the same characteristics that propelled Griselda to become one of the most powerful crime bosses of her time.
“Whatever you’re pushing, I believe boss women will be able to relate to the tenacity and resilience that Griselda displayed. You may not be pushing heroine or cocaine, but you have to have drive to be successful as a woman in today’s society,” said Scott-Young and shared five characteristics that Griselda and other women of color inherently possess that often leads to their success.
- Tenacity is a must! – Scott-Young praised the tenacity that many women of color have to overcome obstacles that could stop them from reaching their goals. Sexism, racism are just two of the many roadblocks that women of color face when attempting to build an empire.
- Family is motivation – Griselda was motivated by her desire to give her son’s a better life. Whether you agree with her parenting or not, it was clear that her motivation to offer her four sons a better life was a force that gave her the strength to push forward.
- Strategy is key – Scott-Young pointed out that every astute business woman understands the importance of having a strategy to outsell or outshine the competition.
- Focus is optional – From the first episode until the credits rolled on the final episode, Griselda remained focused on her ultimate goal of monopolizing the game in order to provide for her family and those entrusted to her empire. Griselda’s method’s were extreme, but Scott emphasized the importance of remaining focused when attempting to change one’s life, specifically when attempting entrepreneurship.
- You must outsmart your competition – Scott-Young praised the audience of entrepreneurial guests of allowing their intellectual prowess to guide them against all odds. Griselda was always aware of her feminine wiles, but what gave her an edge was her awareness of her own brilliance. Although at times others may have questioned her ideas, Griselda trusted her instinct and never wavered in her ability to outthink her naysayers.
Scott-Young was confident that audiences would embrace the story of the ambitious Columbian drug lord, but reminded the crowd that her show “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” was now streaming on Netflix. Forever the quintessential businesswoman who much like Griselda has monopolized her market of reality television; Scott-Young took the opportunity to connect with her new Netflix family but ended the evening with a promotion for her “Love & Hip Hop” franchise.
