Glamour: You’ve had a career that is impressive by any measure and are now starting a new, entrepreneurial chapter. Why did you decide this next act should include reality TV?
Bozoma Saint John: Let me answer that this way: I have had so many jobs where I am the first, or one of few, to do the job as a Black woman. Representation is sometimes a badge of honor and a burden at the same time. I have to represent the Black girls in lots of rooms. It has been both a blessing and a burden because it means that a lot of times I feel the pressure of having to be perfect because there’s no room for failure. If I fail, then all of a sudden it’s the failure of everybody around me, right?
I’ve turned a corner in my life where I am doing things that are for “brand Boz,” not for brand Netflix, not for brand Apple, not for brand Uber. I want to be the representation for women like me, the self-made ones, the corporate baddies who don’t mind wearing the red lip and lots of bundles, the ones who wear sequins on a Tuesday and feel fine about that.… I’m also excited about showing the world a different side of me. I have lots of accolades in the corporate world, but people don’t know what I’m like as a mother. You don’t see the soft moments. You don’t see me cook, you don’t see me in a relationship. That’s not a side that people have seen. So I’m excited to fill out the corners of me people haven’t seen.
RHOBH is in its 14th season and has evolved a lot over the years. What do you find interesting about joining the show at this moment in time?
I think at a very unique time because all of the women are single to some degree, whether separated or divorced.
True, I didn’t even think about that.
I just think that this is such a fabulous time in life where it’s like, okay, I’ve done a lot of my career, or some of the women have raised their kids, and now you’re at this inflection point in life where things are changing. It certainly is true for me. I couldn’t think of a better scenario to showcase my own inflection point. It’s like, yes, I’ve had a very serious corporate executive career for 25 years, and now I’m transitioning into entrepreneurship. Also, I’ve been a widow for almost 11 years, and I’m transitioning into finding love again. I’ve been a single mother. My daughter’s going to be 16, and I am looking at her growing her wings and leaving the nest soon. And meanwhile, I’m like, Ooh, am I done creating a family? Should I try again?
