meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Strawberry Letter

Overcoming the Odds: She became a mother at 16, dropped out of high school, now owns one of the most successful law firms in Georgia.

Strawberry Letter

iHeartPodcasts

Society & Culture, Relationships

4.51.7K Ratings

🗓️ 25 May 2026

⏱️ 31 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadioApple PodcastsSpotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily.  I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.  Keep winning!

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Attorney Tessie D. Edwards.

A family and criminal law attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia. Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and themes from the episode:


🔑 Key Themes & Takeaways 1. Early Life & Adversity

  • Tessie Edwards grew up in a challenging environment marked by poverty, teen pregnancy, and systemic injustice.
  • She became a mother at 16, dropped out of high school, and had her second child by 18.
  • Despite these challenges, she never lost sight of her dream to become a lawyer.

2. Turning Point

  • A pivotal moment came when someone told her that her daughter looked like her. That realization sparked a deep desire to become someone her daughter could look up to.

3. Relentless Pursuit of Education

  • Earned her GED, then an associate degree to qualify for military service.
  • After a brief stint in the military (cut short due to pregnancy and miscarriage), she pursued higher education.
  • Graduated from Indiana University with five children and went on to law school with her then-husband.

4. Professional Success

  • Now runs a multi-million dollar law firm in Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Has handled over 2,000 criminal cases and is deeply committed to serving families in crisis.
  • Her firm has been serving the Atlanta community for over 15 years.

5. Support System

  • Credits her success to a strong support network: her husband (who co-runs the firm), her children, her brother, and her team.
  • Emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with people who believe in your vision.

6. Advice & Motivation

  • Be clear about your goals and stay focused.
  • Don’t wait for the “right time”—start now.
  • Believe in your dream even when others don’t.
  • Use adversity as fuel for your ambition.

💬 Memorable Quotes

  • “I feel thankful but not satisfied.”
  • “My life was so divinely chosen… I was just given a dream and the courage to go after it.”
  • “Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!”

#SHMS #STRAW #BEST

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is an IHeart podcast.

0:02.6

Guaranteed Human.

0:04.3

Welcome to my show.

0:05.6

I'm Rishon McDonnell, the host of Money Making Conversations Masterclass, where we encourage

0:09.8

people to stop reading other people's success stories and start planning your own.

0:14.1

Now, you don't want to miss an episode, so please take a moment right now to follow or

0:18.2

subscribe to Money Making Conversations Masterclass.

0:21.4

It's free.

0:27.0

You can follow me on IHeartRadio app, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcast. New Money Making Conversation Masterclass episodes drop daily. I want to keep you on alert

0:32.9

because my guests provide tips on how you can uplift your community, improve your

0:37.0

financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur.

0:42.2

Now, let's get this podcast started.

0:44.5

Please welcome to Money Making Conversation Masterclass attorney, Tessie D. Edwards.

0:49.3

How you doing?

0:49.9

I'm good.

0:50.6

Thank you for having me.

0:51.6

Aggressive?

0:52.4

Very aggressive.

0:53.4

What does that mean?

0:54.7

Well, it just means I am going to say exactly what I think. I'm not. Thank you for having me. Aggressive? Very aggressive. What does that mean? It just means I am going to say exactly what I think.

0:58.2

I'm not afraid to go after it, and I will challenge you to show me that I'm wrong.

1:02.3

Okay, you know, we all know in the business world, men dominate.

...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 14 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from iHeartPodcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of iHeartPodcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.