Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Jacque Rushin and Robyn Donaldson.
Below is a polished, thorough summary of the interview featuring Jacque Rushin and Robyn Donaldson discussing the career and legacy of Dr. Gladys West with Rushion McDonald—along with its purpose, key takeaways, and notable quotes, all drawn directly from the transcript.
(Citations reference the uploaded file.)
Summary of the Interview
On Money Making Conversations Masterclass, Rushion McDonald welcomes Dr. Jacque Rushin (award‑winning business executive, educator, mental health professional, humanitarian) and Robyn Donaldson (2025 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award honoree for global STEM education) to discuss their celebration of Dr. Gladys B. West, a pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for the GPS (Global Positioning System).
The conversation explores the intersection of Juneteenth, Black excellence, STEM education, and Dr. West’s life story, captured in her memoir It Began with a Dream. The guests highlight Dr. West as one of America’s last living “hidden figures”—a brilliant yet historically overlooked Black woman whose mathematical genius revolutionized everyday life.
They detail how Dr. West rose from sharecropper roots, excelled academically at Virginia State University, earned her master’s and PhD, spent 39 years contributing to government research, and ultimately developed the algorithms and modeling processes that power GPS. They also describe their collaborative effort to create the Westward Bound Program, a life‑skills and STEM‑focused curriculum inspired by Dr. West’s principles of wisdom, endurance, strategy, and precision.
Through humorous, emotional, and deeply insightful dialogue, the episode uplifts Dr. West’s accomplishments while discussing mental health, technology dependence, the importance of exposure to STEM pathways for underserved youth, and how the legacy of Black innovators must remain central in cultural celebrations like Juneteenth.
Purpose of the Interview
1. To honor and amplify Dr. Gladys West’s legacy
She is a living mathematical pioneer whose GPS contributions transformed global navigation and modern technology.
2. To connect her story to Juneteenth’s spirit of liberation and recognition
The guests highlight the “delayed recognition” of Black innovators and the importance of acknowledging hidden figures whose brilliance shaped society.
3. To promote STEM exposure in underserved communities
Robyn Donaldson emphasizes equitable access to STEM opportunities so children can compete in a global, tech‑driven world.
4. To introduce and promote the Westward Bound Program
The curriculum teaches STEM principles, life skills, and personal development inspired by Dr. West’s methodologies.
5. To highlight themes of resilience, humility, and lifelong learning
Dr. West’s quiet determination and academic persistence serve as a blueprint for young people and adults alike.
Key Takeaways
1. Dr. Gladys West is a “living hidden figure.”
Her research and mathematical modeling are the backbone of GPS, impacting navigation, transportation, military systems, and everyday digital tools.
2. Her journey exemplifies brilliance shaped by humility and hard work.
Born in 1930 to sharecropper parents, she excelled academically despite segregation, pursued multiple degrees, and overcame racial and gender barriers in government research settings.
3. Juneteenth is the perfect backdrop for honoring Dr. West.
Jacque stresses that Juneteenth represents “delayed freedom,” paralleling the delayed recognition of Black inventors and innovators.
4. STEM exposure is vital to equity.
Robyn insists that Black children are fully capable of STEM success—they simply lack exposure, not aptitude. Without STEM skills, young people risk being left behind in a robotics‑driven economy.
5. Technology should complement—not replace—human thinking.
Jacque cites Dr. West’s personal preference for physical maps over GPS to maintain cognitive sharpness and critical thinking, a warning about over‑dependence on AI and automation.
6. The Westward Bound Program bridges STEM, life skills, and personal development.
Built on the acronym “WEST”—Wisdom, Endurance, Strategy, Tracking—the program supports youth, adults, and entrepreneurs seeking direction and resilience.
7. Mentorship, community, and relationships are central themes.
Dr. West’s success was nurtured by professors and role models at her HBCU—mirroring how Jacque and Robyn now uplift the next generation.
8. Her story resonates globally and intergenerationally.
From college students to young children to adults, the principles from her memoir and program promote self‑belief, vision, discipline, and perseverance.
Notable Quotes
(All taken directly from the transcript.)
On Dr. West’s impact
On Juneteenth and recognition
On STEM access
On Dr. West’s genius
On technology & mental health
On resilience & aspiration
#SHMS #STRAW #BEST
Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.