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Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth Carter and professional motorcycle drag racer Dystany Spurlock shared their stories of success and self-care with a room full of women in red at the 17th Annual Morgan Stanley Leadership Breakfast in Purchase, New York on Friday, Feb. 6. Held in partnership with the American Heart Association, the annual gathering encouraged attendees to don crimson in recognition of American Heart Month.

“For 17 consecutive years, the Go Red Women’s Leadership event, in partnership with the American Heart Association, has been an important initiative for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management where we continue to serve women from diverse backgrounds and experiences, raise awareness of the silent killer, and champion women’s heart health,” says Sandra L. Richards, Managing Director, Head of Global Sports & Entertainment and Segment Sales & Engagement, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. “My colleagues and I are committed not only to education and prevention of this issue, but to ensure we maintain a forum where trailblazing women whose leadership and lived experiences inspire action and deserve recognition can convene and celebrate one another.”

The theme, “First, fearless, and ful src=”https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/02/MorganStanely_GoRed_SandraRuth-scaled.jpeg” alt=”Costume Designer Ruth Carter And Professional Drag Racer Dystany Spurlock On Success, Sacrifice, And Self-Care” width=”400″ height=”266″ />Richards and Carter – Donna Alberico

Though her filmography spans decades, Carter has grown more selective with time, choosing projects that feel ful>higher rates of heart disease.

“I do somatic yoga, it helps me remove the stress,” she says. The practice has been proven to alleviate the tension leaders can face at work. “When I do a little yoga practice, I go, ‘I am fine. I am great. I feel wonderful.’ So, I think we need that kind of energetic release.”

For Spurlock, fearlessness meant breaking barriers in a different arena by becoming the first Black woman in NASCAR.

Hersrc=”https://media.essence.com/vxcjywbwpa/uploads/2026/02/MorganStanley_GoRed_DystanyCrystal-scaled.jpeg” alt=”Costume Designer Ruth Carter And Professional Drag Racer Dystany Spurlock On Success, Sacrifice, And Self-Care” width=”400″ height=”266″ />Filmmaker Crystal McCrary McGuire and Spurlock – Donna Alberico

“I was working two jobs, I was a tractor-trailer driver, I was also doing Instacart just to be able to take care of home and for me to be able to race,” she adds. “The average person probably wouldn’t have done it; they just would have given up.”

Alignment ultimately proved pivotal in her partnership with Foxteca. Shared vision and values reassured her that they were the right fit to elevate her racing career.

“When we first met, I wanted to hear what their vision was for what it is that they thought I should do, and it was exactly what my vision was for myself,” she says. “They also saw why I do it, which is to show the other little boys and girls that look like me that they can do it too.”

In addition, visualization has helped Spurlock stay focused and intentional. It’s a mental discipline that strengthens executive function and serves as a powerful stress reliever. Beyond racing, she has established a foundation introducing children to the many careerrel=”tag”>health and wellness Ruth Carter

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