In this inspiring episode of From Vision to Creation, Alexander sits down with Terri J. Vaughn — award-winning actress, director, producer, and creator of the hit Netflix series Miss Governor. From her breakout roles in Friday and Don’t Be a Menace, to becoming the unforgettable Lovita Jenkins on The Steve Harvey Show, to winning three consecutive NAACP Image Awards, Terri has built a career defined by talent, consistency, and purpose. But beyond the screen, Terri is a force for representation and creative empowerment. Through decades of navigating rejection, breaking stereotypes, and challenging Hollywood’s limited narratives about Black women, she has emerged as a storyteller determined to create space for voices too often overlooked. Her 20-year journey to launching Miss Governor — and the incredible story behind how it finally got made — is a testament to persistence, faith, and vision. In this conversation, Terri opens up about her childhood in San Francisco, the unexpected path that led her into acting, the emotional toll of constant rejection, the responsibility of representation, the importance of community, and why laughter is one of the greatest healing tools we have. She also shares how she co-created Miss Governor, how London Breed’s story inspired the show, and how Tyler Perry helped bring her dream to life. If you’re passionate about creativity, storytelling, representation, or the real behind-the-scenes journey of building a career in Hollywood, this is a must-watch episode with one of the most resilient and purpose-driven voices in entertainment. 🎙️ Hosted by Alexander Schmieding In this interview, you’ll learn: How Terri went from a pageant monologue to touring nationally as a stage actress The moment she realized acting was more than a dream — it was her purpose Why rejection is unavoidable in Hollywood, and how she learned to rise above it How The Steve Harvey Show changed her life (and how it changed audiences' lives) The deeper calling behind representation and why she protects her characters The real story of how she transitioned into directing and producing Why she co-founded Nina Holiday Entertainment and later launched TJV Enterprises The 20-year journey to creating Miss Governor and why it almost didn’t happen How London Breed inspired the series Why laughter is healing — and why Terri is committed to bringing joy into the world Her advice to young creators and the one thing she’d tell her younger self In this interview, we discuss:  2:54 Early Life and Influences 6:06 The Defining Moment: From College to Acting 11:55 Breaking Into Hollywood: Early Roles and Challenges 34:36 The Power of Positive Energy 35:38 Lovita's Impact and Representation 42:19 From Acting to Producing  48:21 Founding TJV Enterprises and Creating Miss Governor 1:10:02 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts Episode Resources: https://www.instagram.com/terrijvaughn https://www.instagram.com/fromvisiontocreation https://www.instagram.com/alexschmieding https://www.tiktok.com/fromvisiontocreation Subscribe for more conversations with visionaries turning ideas into reality. This podcast is brought to you by Proper Placement — a full-service marketing agency helping businesses grow through social media, paid advertising, PR, email marketing, and more. Learn more at www.properplacement.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices