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Future’s Mother, Stephanie Jester, On How She’s Supporting Women With Nonprofit EmpowHer


Black women are often the powerful forces behind music’s biggest brands. Business manager, real estate broker and philanthropist, Stephanie Jester is one of those women.  She is the COO of record label Freebandz Global Music, founded by her son, Grammy Award winner Future. 

An advocate for philanthropy, Jester co-founded the FreeWishes Foundation with Future and his sister, Tia Wilburn, to serve underrepresented communities in Atlanta neighborhoods. 

 A single mother, Jester has also taken lessons from her own struggles and turned them into wisdom and knowledge for others to grow. Four years ago, her goal to elevate women led her to launch EmpowHer, an organization that supports women through mentorship, professional coaching and therapy provided by Atlanta’s top clinical counseling service, Affirm Wellness. 

For(bes) The Culture spoke with Jester about merging business and philanthropy and why she’s passionate about elevating the lives of other women.

For(bes) The Culture: Can you tell me about your journey to becoming the businesswoman you are today?

Stephanie Jester: About 18 years ago, I worked in corporate America, but I always knew I had that entrepreneur spirit. I also knew that there was more to me and more I needed to do. I wanted to get my business management degree. But first, I went back to school and got my real estate license. I then opened my real estate company and started pursuing my other dreams. I learned that to be a successful entrepreneur, you must be focused, persistent and consistent. From there, everything else will follow suit. 

For(bes) The Culture: What does being a business manager for Future entail? 

Jester: One of the things I can say about being a business manager is that it involves every aspect of an artist’s professional life. It takes a lot of vision and foresight. I am involved in touring, legal, financial, and managing their teams. I must oversee the brand and hire the right people to fulfill each position within the brand and company so that the artist remains on top and financially secure.

For(bes) The Culture: How do you balance this with philanthropy?

Jester: I would say the balance to do the things I love comes with having a great team, delegation and trusting your team members. With a great team, you can do a whole lot. So, I have been able to departmentalize everything within the company. There is a department for every business operation with two or three individuals to make up the business management. 

For(bes) The Culture: Tell us about EmpowHer. What inspired you to launch this nonprofit?

Jester: EmpowHer is all about elevating the next woman. I knew my calling was to help elevate and inspire women to be great. Four years ago, I decided to launch EmpowHer with my first-ever retreat. Not knowing how the event would turn out, the retreat consisted of mental health, physical fitness, and different sessions that we put together in a private location. We created an oasis where ladies can come in and feel comfortable knowing that whatever they say is confidential. It is also a place where they can release themselves, and so when they return home, they feel rejuvenated and refreshed. 

For(bes) The Culture: What are some specific initiatives EmpowHer will be doing this year? How should initiatives for women go beyond Women’s History Month?

Jester: Outside of the retreats, as a certified life and professional coach, I connect and coach women while providing them with the tools they need to live their best lives.  This is the true functionality of EmpowHer. It is something that I do 365 days a year. I offer coaching sessions each week in conjunction with licensed therapists and wellness educators.  

For(bes) The Culture: How are you merging The FreeWishes Foundation and EmpowHer?

Jester: The FreeWishes Foundation is a separate organization from EmpowHer, but they will work together to address the mental health aspects. We plan to put together programs that cater to mental health for our women, youth, and seniors. FreeWishes has done everything from giving away scholarships to annual thanksgiving and Christmas drives. We have had computer literacy programs for senior citizens, and as you know, we created the global ‘Mask On’ campaign at the beginning of Covid-19. 

The foundation functions to serve the community’s everyday needs, while EmpowHer specifically serves women’s wellness. Right now, we are doing ‘Wellness on Wheels’ for senior citizens. This is a drive-through event where we supply the seniors with food and their wellness needs and supplies. Even during these uncertain times during this pandemic, we have a duty through the foundations to make sure our seniors are taken care of because they paved the way for us.  

This week, we present a new project entitled ‘Future’s Closet,’ which is a seven-week virtual auction event that will showcase items that have been personally worn and selected by Future. The proceeds are going to the FreeWishes Foundation.

For(bes) The Culture: Why is wellness important to you?

Jester: I speak with a lot of individuals, specifically women. I know from all the women I have met mental health is essential. Success is not just about money. It is knowing who we are as individuals and being well mentally and physically.



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