B.O.S.S. Issue 11

BOSS ISSUE 011

E-Magazine of Today’s Young Black Leaders 1/13

.

.

.

Be your Own Success Story

.

In 2013

Lady BOSSES are...

Changing

the

GAME

Wendy Raquel Robinson

gives us an exclusive interview about what it takes to be a B.O.S.S.!

MELINDA EMERSON . . . g n PATRICE WASHINGTON i r u t a e LATRESA “TREE” CUNNINGHAM f o s l A & MEGAN PIPHUS ISSUE 11

1,000

0

Articles about; Drugs Sex Violence Nudity Stereotypes Negativity

0,000

VIEWS about Education and

Entrepreneurship

B.O.S.S. E-Magazine

Derek Anderson

ARCHIVED INTERVIEWS

Tony Gaskins

Ashthon Jones

Melinda Emerson

The Evolution of U

Bianca Knight

Warrick Dunn

Brian Angel

Urban Magazines

Lamman Rucker

ured Feat Inter vie

Each of us, famous or inf aren't, we should behave a ous. Because you can be s

Interviews are the backbone

of our magazine. The personal testimonies of the successful “Bosses” we speak with are priceless. Every issue will have featured interviews that you definitely do not want to miss! These interviews are enlightening, informative, and will, without a doubt, shape your life. What do you want to be when you grow up? Yeah, there’s an interview for that!

WENDY RAQUEL ROBINSON

ACTRESS PRODUCER DIRECTOR ENTREPRENUER Audiences know Wendy Raquel Robinson as the sexy and feisty sports manager ‘Tasha Mack’ on BET’s #1 rated scripted series, The Game. This groundbreaking role has earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series” and three nominations for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.” With another record-breaking premiere and continued rating success, “The Game” has shown its staying power and has viewers eagerly waiting to see what going to happen next.

The fresh, funny, upbeat dramedy follows the relationships of professional football players and the women who love them created by producer/writer, Mara Brock Akil. As the #1 sitcom debut in the history of cable TV, The Game continues to leave audiences on the edge of their seats as infidelity; ambition, loyalty and be-trayal collide to make the upcoming sixth season the most compelling yet.

Robinson’s artistic background in acting, dancing, directing, writing, producing and choreographing displays her passion as she strives for excellence in her career as an artist. A cum laude graduate of Howard University with a BFA in Drama, Robinson enticed viewers for six years as the no-nonsense Diva principal, ‘Regina Grier’ on The Steve Harvey Show.

Robinson’s feature film credits include Focus Features Something New, directed by Sanaa Hamri; Rebound, opposite Martin Lawrence where she portrayed Lawrence’s love interest; Two Can Play That Game opposite Morris Chestnut, Vivica A. Fox, Monique and Anthony Anderson; Miss Congeniality starring Sandra Bullock; and With Or Without You opposite Cynda Williams and Guy Torry. Robinson also appeared in the zany comedy, Ringmaster starring Jerry Springer, A Thin Line Between Love and Hate opposite Martin Lawrence and The Walking Dead opposite Eddie Griffin.

Additional independent film credits include He’s Mine Not Yours opposite Nicole Ari Parker (Soul Food), Tamala Jones, Kevin Hart and Mike Epps; and successful DVD releases, “35 & Ticking”, directed by veteran radio personality Russ Paar and “When the Lights Go Out”, directed by Alvin Moore.

Robinson’s television credits include a guest-starring role on ABC’s hit drama, “Grey’s Anatomy”. She received three NAACP Image Award Nominations for “Best Actress in a Comedy” for her work on “The Steve Harvey Show”; she landed a recurring role on ABC’s “All of Us”, and appeared as a series regular on Fox’s variety sketch show “Cedric the Entertainer Presents!” and NBC’s

famous, is a role model for somebody, and if we as though we are?cheerful, kind, loving, courtesure someone is watching and taking deliberate and diligent notes. ~~ Maya Angelou

ews

“Minor Adjustments”. In addition, Robinson has held additional recurring roles on “NYPD Blue”, CBS’s “Yes, Dear”, Fox’s “Getting Personal”, UPN’s “The Parker’s” and “One on One”, as well as ABC’s hit animated show “The Proud Family”.

“Performing in front of a live audience is one of the most unique experiences in the Theatre Arts,” says Robinson. She ignites the silver screen and television with a unique energy and passion that result in authentic performances; Robinson is explosive with solid energy on a theatre stage.

Her theatre performances include “Extremities” directed by Brent Jennings where she gave a riveting performance in the story of an intended rape victim; she also co-starred in stage adaptation of Eric Jerome Dickey’s novel, “Cheaters”, opposite recording artist, Brian McKnight. Robinson received rave reviews for her performance and sold out audiences across the country. Additional theatre performances include, “The Vagina Monologues” (V-Day-L.A.), “Black Woman’s Blues”, “Agnes of God”, “A Midsummer’s Night Dream”, “The Colored Museum” and “Vanities” for which she received an NAACP Theatre Award for Best Choreographer and Best Actress Nomination.

Robinson has received many accolades for her work in the community. When not working on set, Robinson focuses her attention on youth and the performing arts at her conservatory, Amazing Grace Conservatory. She has served as Celebrity Spokesperson for the Los Angeles Black Business Expo & Trade Show; she is the recipient of various honors which include the recipient of the Black Women’s Network (Atlanta), Jenesse Center Silver Rose for her work in nurturing young people in the performing arts; Howard University Distinguished Alumni Award, Disneyland, KJLH 102.3 FM Proven Achiever Award, and is a coveted Woman of Courage honoree. Robinson partnered with Ad Council and was featured in a national educational PSA, encouraging high school students to get their G.E.D. Robinson continues to yet, reveal the many facets of her life, specifically hosting opportunities such as: Co-Host for the 2012 BET Awards Post-Show, 40th Anniversary of the Freedom Awards (Memphis); Co-Host 2012 “Gospel Goes to Hollywood” (Los Angeles); Co-Host on “The Steve Harvey Moring Radio Show”; “All-State Gospel Fest” in Baltimore, just to name a few.

Wendy is no doubt, one of Hollywood’s busiest actors in the entertainment industry and the sky is the limit … the boundaries are infinite for Ms. Robinson.

Robinson currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her husband and two dogs.

7 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

Mission

O

O

Mission Statement

ur Mission is to provide minority, and underserved youth with an outlet to discover their potential through literary content and accessible role models to evoke the spirit of “believing in one’s self� while teaching them how to create, pursue and believe in the path of becoming a professional.

8 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

www.boss-emag.com

It gives me great honor to present to you, the first issue of 2013, Boss Ladies! This issue, by far, may be one of our greatest issues to date. Not only does it feature great, powerful, inspirational, motivating women, but it has actual "real life" content that will motivate anyone to strive for more. This is what B.O.S.S. is all about, becoming your own success story, and that is what each of our Lady Bosses represent.

Without a doubt, we all have had a woman in our lives who has influenced, impowered, or motivated us to be better than what we are. From a mother, to a sister, to a wife, to a grandmother (or "Nana," as some grandmothers today wish to be called!) to a clergy member, to a doctor, or to a teacher... behind EVERYONE there is a strong woman pushing us.

My strong woman has and will always be my mother. If you look up "strong" in the dictionary, there is a picture of my mother. Of course, my family has gone through a lot in life, but having my mother who grew up in southern Mississippi, accomplishing the things that she has, no matter what obstacle presented itself, she truly is my picture of "strength". It isn't only the recognized and praised things that she is great at, it's the little things that she has done over the countless years of service she has provided to so many. I would be remissed not to mention my mother, in a publication that I publish without mentioning Linda Clay, the lady who has made all of this possible. She pushed me as a young man and she continues to push me to fight against mediocrity and achieve greatness.

I remember one time as a child, I told her that I wanted to invent a flying car. She stood there, looked at me, didn't laugh, didn't joke, and said with the most serious face, "ok, let's go." She immediately dropped what she was doing and took me to the library. She made me get every book I could find about cars, engines, and planes, then made me write a book report on each one. I never did invent flying cars, but I did learn what it took to be prepared and the work that was necessary to be the best I could be if I ever did. That is what I am most thankful for.

My dad taught me how to be a man, but my mom taught me how to be a "great" man. She never supported my "excuses," only my plans. There have been so many different "seeds" my mom planted in me which have helped me over the years, but none greater than the importance of loving God, loving yourself, and education.

Each summer, my siblings and I never took a vacation. We read, read, and read some more. I think I read more books as a child than I did in my college years! My mother instilled in all of her children that education is the component that would seperate failure from success. Without that push, I would not be working on this magazine today.

We have compiled a number different women in this issue, but we know there are many more out there who don't receive any recognition at all. We would like to thank those people, especially the teachers, for all they do and no one writes about.So, as we all venture into the new year with great aspirations and great plans, let us take a moment to acknowledge the "push" behind many of our successes, the woman who encouraged us to strive for more. Thank you and may God bless you in 2013.

Howard J. Clay is available for speaking engagements, clinics/seminars, as well as appearances for organizations, corporate and school events. He may be contacted at howardjclay@hotmail.com for booking.

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Howard J. Clay Jr.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Please include your name, address and telephone number.

Letters may be edited for clarity or space

What CAN I be when I grow up?

B.O.S.S. Magazine is Here!

This E-Magazine will make sure to point you in the direction of your destiny!

Have you Subscribed yet!

Don’t WAIT subscription is FREE.!!!

EMAIL discoverboss-emagazine@live.com

B.O.S.S E-MAGAZINE

MAILING ADDRESS 849 Franklin Rd Suite 708 Marietta, GA 30067

What Successful Teens Read

TELEPHONE 317.681.2818 SUBSCRIPTIONS

www.boss-emag.com 10 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

EDITORIAL Editor in Chief : Drea Elizabeth CONTRIBUTING WRITERS DRDesha Jazmyne Byrd Drea Elizabeth Derrick Hayes Jeff Clay ART JC3 Entertainment ADVERTISING Marketing Director : Jeffrey Royce Promotions Manager Linda Tatum

tent con

“Every man builds his world in his own image. He has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice.” ~ Ann Rand

In Every Issue INTERVIEWS

24

1ST FIRST HEALTH & FITNESS COLLEGE DESTINATION YOUNG BOSS

32

ARTICLES BOOK OF THE MONTH STUDENT OF THE MONTH ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT

50 11 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

photo credit: Derek Blanks

COVER Story

o t t n a w “If you best at be the ou do, what y ve to be you ha in it. “ trained

e

When looking for a woman to grace the cover of our first ever womens’ issue, Wendy Raquel Robinson was an EASY choice! Everything she represents is exactly what we believe to be a Lady Boss who is changing the GAME!

Changing the GAME

B.O.S.S.: What did you want to be when you were younger?

Wendy: I guess the question should be, “What didn’t I want to be?!?” (Laughs.)

When I started, I wanted to be a dancer, then I wanted to go into child development, then I wanted to “save the world”. Acting just sort of fell into my lap. It was like a childhood dream, but it was something that I was always exposed to at a young age. There came a point in time for me to go to college and I thought, oh my God, there is nothing else I want to do. I wanted to be the best at acting, so I majored in drama.

B.O.S.S.: What type of student were you in high school?

Wendy: HA! Well, academically I was great; my parents stayed on me and made sure I made good grades. But, you kn things, from cheerleading to dance to other clubs. You know how some schools have cliques and crews? I was a floater and I did just that.

B.O.S.S.: Why did you choose to attend Howard University?

Wendy: Why not Howard? There was a recruiter who came to my high school and when he started naming the Alumn further and started [researching schools], I learned that each HBCU takes the time out to really invest in you. You can tion and go further into the topic covered in class. With professors who were in the in Not only as a black woman, but as a woman with purpose. I was surrounded I had a purpose when I left. That was more than just going to school an

B.O.S.S.: You graduated Magna Cum Laude. Why was that impor Wendy: You know what’s funny? I wasn’t striving to have that. I I was doing that it just came along with the accolades. I wasn out with honors… I had such an amazing experience at H just affected me as a person and that reflected in my g well. If I would have intentionally set out to [get ors], I wouldn’t have graduated Magna Cum Laude. It just kind of

COVER Story

now, I was a little ADHD and I had a lot of energy! (Laughs.) I was talkative, I was social, and I was involved in a lot of r… I floated around with everyone. I went to school in the ‘hood, so you had to be able to hang a little with everybody

ni that went there like, Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad- everything kind of chimed and it all made sense. After I went n have relationships with all your professors, in terms of sitting down and breaking bread, or really have a conversandustry, I could ask them about what their experience was like. More importantly, I got a consciousness of who I amby such incredible role models at Howard University that it just really changed the scope of my outlook and I felt like nd getting an education.

rtant to you?

I was so invested in what n’t trying to come Howard, it grades as t hon-

happened. When you are doing something that you love and are so invested in it, you can’t do anything but excel in it.

B.O.S.S.: How has your education helped your career?

Wendy: If you want to be the best at what you do, you have to be trained at it. A carpenter gets onthe- job training; a doctor has to go to medical school… The same thing applies to acting or whatever you do. In order to be the best and have the range between the drama, the comedies, the satires, understand all their components and how they work together, you need to study and train and learn so that you can respect the craft and approach it from that capacity. So, in terms of education, you have to read and learn the literature and comprehend it.

Our professors [at Howard] would always say, “there is no such thing as a dumb actor.” If you can’t read, then analyze and pick up on the persona of what the character is. It’s very, very critical [to train]. With a lot of young people seeing the way reality shows are going and saying, “Oh, I can do that,” yes, you can, but at the same time, you want longevity. You don’t want to come [into the industry] and then after the lifespan of your show have people asking, “what happened to such-and-such?”

You want to be able to have a sustaining career. I think the more you know about this business and the more you know about your craft and your art, the longer and further it will take you.

B.O.S.S.: What do you think is the state of urban education right now?

Wendy: I think it’s at a critical point right now, only because I’m working with so many young people and I see such a vast learning curve. I think it is time that we become proactive and

ISSUE #11

invest in our children’s lives, in terms of what’s going on in the school and whether they are completing assignments at home.

A lot of our young people are not being challenged academically… At least a lot of the ones I’ve seen.

They are learning history, but not learning about the people in the history. We were doing a black history piece [at Amazing Grace Conservatory] dealing with Angela Davis and the whole Black Panther movement and many of my students were like, “Who? What?” We are talking about the 70s…

Not something so far off.

We need to pass on our history to our students and instill in them a sense of pride. They don’t know

Lady BOSSES

www.boss-emag.com

where they come from or why it is important.

They don’t know that it is important to get up and do something proactive simply because they don’t realize the struggle.

We are at that point in our society where I am really very concerned. I believe teachers are underrated and underpaid, and in that, I’ve had children voice to me that it wasn’t until they went to this charter school that they actually felt like the teacher cared about them and their learning. Some of our teachers are overwhelmed- 40 students in a classroom is crazy! …with no [teaching assistant], 6 classes, taking work home they can never catch up

on, while being underpaid… It’s unfair. I think our urban schools are definitely not where they should be in order to prepare our children.

Maybe not all, but many of them are not at the place we need to be.

Those children are going to lose interest and fall through the cracks.

And guess what? They are going to end up in jail, gangs or pregnant.

I hate to say it, but it’s true. Statistics show us that. We are not engaging our young people enough to try and help them continue. And, the dropout rate is at its worst in history. This shows that somewhere there is a huge disconnect, so we all have to do our part. It’s a critical time right now.

B.O.S.S.: You’ve done a lot of great things on-screen, but a lot of people don’t know much about you off-screen. It’s motivating to see that you are able to run a school and interact positively, while making a difference daily in the lives of young people. Can you tell us more about your Amazing Grace Conservatory?

Wendy: Amazing Grace Conservatory is something very near and dear to my heart. For the past 15 years, I and my staff have been on a mission, not only to educate young people in performing arts and math, but to provide them with a home away from home. We give them a platform where they can express themselves freely without being judged. We give them self-esteem, self-pride and an opportunity to just be themselves. They also learn how to read music, they sing, they dance… They get a variety of everything so they are able to do anything. In our program, we hold annual shows. We give students everything they need, from acting to scene and character development. We even let them write their own scripts and music. I have a lot of young people who want to graduate and be in the business and some who want to do other things. I have doctors, social workers, and teachers who have applied and graduated and use the arts in their job area. So, it’s not just for young people who want to be actors, singers, or dancers, but it is for those who want to have more self-confidence and self-esteem and build lifelong friendships. A lot of my students are grown and have their own families and they bring their children to the Conservatory.

To describe AGC would be a whole other interview, but in a nutshell, I have found my purpose and it has sustained my passion in an industry where you can become irate very quickly and it has allowed me to not only share my gift, but to receive the gift of young people. It’s magical, it’s amazing.

B.O.S.S.: We are looking forward to seeing you on the screen again with the new upcoming season of “The Game”.

Wendy: I’m excited as well, can’t wait!

“I have found my purpose and it has sustained my passion... It’s magical, it’s AMAZING.” 21 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

YOUR AD HERE Discoverboss-emagazine@live.com

23 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

Entrepreneur

s

mall biz lady is doing BIG things in 2013!

Melinda Emerson B.O.S.S.: One of your missions is to end business failure. How do you get businesses that have failed into the state of mind that success is an option?

Melinda: I think that by helping people look at failure differently it changes their mindset. There is no such thing as failure. You only win or learn in business. Not succeeding the first time is a part of paying your dues.

You should never spend time licking your wounds. You have to be able to move past the scars and get focused to succeed in business.

B.O.S.S.: Have you ever ran into men who didn’t take you seriously because you are a woman in business? If so, how did you handle that?

Melinda: Absolutely. When I first started my company, Quintessence Multimedia, at the age of 26, I would find that people would walk up to my cameramen as if they were in charge of the business instead of me. I had to dress very professionally to be seen as a professional. When you are young and in business in a male dominated industry, you have to be on your game in order to remove all of the prejudices and misconceptions that people may have about you. When I was in college, I knew that I wanted to start my own company. I was inspired by Oprah, so I examined her production company and all her business ventures so I could be like her. I worked in broadcast production to make sure I knew about the components of running a production business very well.

B.O.S.S.: As a role model for women in business, how do you stay focused and keep away from negativity?

Melinda: Surround yourself with people who are “business-minded.” Keep the naysayers and dream snatchers away from your business. You definitely don’t need negativity when you are building a new business. Don’t share your ideas with everyone. Do not keep unsupportive family members or friends around you. Pull together a “kitchen cabinet” of advisors who are invested in your success. By doing this, you will have the right people in your life.

25 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

f l e s r u o y d Surroun e who with peopl essare “busin minded.�

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

www.boss-emag.com

B.O.S.S.: What would be your top piece of business advice for women who are seeking to start their own companies in 2013?

Melinda: My top advice for women who want to start a business is to develop a life plan before you ever write a business plan in order to build a business that aligns with your personal and professional goals. Find out how much money you need to make to be happy. Start with that first and then build a smart business.

B.O.S.S.: What is the biggest lesson you have learned in becoming a business savvy woman?

Melinda: The biggest lesson I have learned is that you have to have a niche for your business to be successful. You need to focus on a specific target customer to build a sustainable business. Who makes more money- a [primary care physician] or a cardiologist? The cardiologist makes more money because they have a specialty niche. Your business must specialize in serving your target customer.

B.O.S.S.: Are you a Pittsburgh Steelers Fan? Melinda: Absolutely! Hardcore! (Laughs.) I bleed black and gold as a Pittsburgh native.

ENTREPRENEUR

“...I never lose. I either win or learn, but I never lose.” @SmallBizLady

Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady, is America’s #1 small business expert. She is an author, speaker and small business coach whose areas of expertise include small business start-up, business development and social media marketing. As CEO of Quintessence Multimedia, Melinda develops audio, video and written content to help her Fortune 500 clients engage small business customers. She is a weekly columnist for the You’re The Boss blog for the New York Times. She publishes a resource blog, www.succeedasyourownboss.com which is syndicated by the Huffington Post and hosts a weekly talk show on Twitter called #SmallBizChat for today’s entrepreneurs. She reaches 1.5 million small business owners weekly on the internet. Forbes Magazine named Melinda Emerson #1 Woman for Entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter. Melinda has been featured on MSNBC, Fox News, NBC Nightly News and in The Washington Post, Fortune, Essence and Black Enterprise. She is also the author of the bestselling book “Become Your Own Boss in 12 months; A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business That Works.” Melinda is a graduate of Virginia Tech.

http://victoryh2oky.com/

B O S S

Michelle O.

L A D Y

Book of the Month

P Patrice Washington

Patrice Washington

P

Teaching Financial Responsibility

B.O.S.S.: Tell us a little about yourself and the passions you developed early in life.

Patrice: I grew up in Leimert Park in Los Angeles in a single parent home. My mom traveled a lot and I was your typical latch key kid. Compared to most of the kids I grew up with and walked home with- well, it’s just amazing that I made it out okay. You see a lot of gang violence, prostitution, and not many people went on to do anything outside of the Leimert Park. I knew at a really early age, about eight or nine years old that I wasn’t going to live here forever. I was very focused on what I needed to do so that I could have better and do more. I was serious about school and getting to college. I was accepted into a program for the gifted and talented in the fifth grade and went to Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies (LACES), that’s what saved my life. I had a passion for math until I had to learn geometry. I had great grades. I loved writing and I hated science. If I couldn’t understand how I was going to make money from something, then I didn’t understand it.

English was one of my best subjects. I never thought that I would become an author or anything, it just was natural.

I had straight A’s while growing up. Then, I went to the University of Southern California. In college, I got my first C and thought it was the end of the world. When I was in LACES, I was so involved in everything because I lived in the ‘hood and did not want to go back to my reality. I wanted to go to USC ever since I was ten years old. I remember my aunt lived a few blocks away from the school. One day, when I was younger, my cousin and I rode past the school on our bikes and I asked, “what is this place?” My cousin said, “this is a college.” It was right there and then that I made up my mind. We went into the bookstore and I had five or six dollars that I was supposed to use for food, but I used it to buy stickers. I went home and made this little “vision board” with my new USC bumper stickers and wrote, “I’m going to this college when I grow up.” When it was time to apply for colleges, USC was my first choice- really, my only choice.

Fast forward to freshman year… I really wanted to go to business school and it was so hard to get into. That was my first time getting a ‘C’ and it was graded on a curve! I used to call my mom to tell her that I didn’t belong here and that I wasn’t smart enough, but she reminded me that it was where I belonged and that when I put my mind to something it’s over and done. She told me to not 33 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

look at everyone else and focus on what I do best. So, I went back and did something I did in high school- I would look at my schedule at the beginning of the semester and predict the grade that I would get in each class. I ended up being on the Dean’s List 5 out of the 8 semesters there, while working full-time.

Going to college really helped me push myself. I did get into the business school and majored in Entrepreneurial Studies. I moonlighted in a real estate office and received my real estate license at nineteen. As a senior, I worked on this business plan, that I had a whole semester to complete on SoCal Realty. I really always wanted to be self-employed. I am just not a great employee. I ended up getting a C+ on the business plan and my professor’s comments on the assignment were that I was “overzealous,” and that I needed more time because having my real estate license for only two years was not enough education to be able to open my own office.

“Going to college really helped me push myself.”

My best friend, who later became my husband, and I got together because he was really good at marketing and wanted to help me open my real estate office. We became partners and started before we even graduated. I pur-

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

www.boss-emag.com

chased a condo where we worked out of the dining room, and after a year and a half, I had two full-time staff, two part-time staff, and an office of sixteen independent contracted real estate agents, by the time I was twentyfour.

In 2009, the market changed, I had gotten married, and had a child, all at the same time. I took that time to step back and establish what I really liked about my job and I liked the fact that I helped people who never thought that they would own a home. I helped them change their mindset, helped them get out of debt, and helped them build a practical plan to better their credit. I developed this passion to help people with their financial situations because when I got out of college, I had $18,000 in credit card debt. I would keep my money and swipe a credit card in a second! I went to church and met George Thompson, who was speaking to people about getting out of debt. So, while I was getting out of debt, I was teaching my clients to do the same. I gathered more clients by word of mouth about my services.

In 2005, I became certified as a personal financial coach. I took all of that with me when I shut down my business in 2009, moved across the country, and began blogging about things that interested me in personal finance. I continued blogging, which turned into my writing for Hello Beautiful, then Upscale Magazine, Black Enterprise, and few other things. Last year, I was speaking at college engagements, but felt like I wasn’t leaving the audiences with something they could remember. That’s when I wrote Real Money Answers: College Life and Beyond. I had an editor and design team, I marketed and did everything on my own and sold over 4,000 copies.

From that, I had more speaking arrangements and writing opportunities. I am an entrepreneur.

B.O.S.S.: Who were your mentors and role models?

Patrice: My mom made me work at a really early age. I would go to work with her on the weekends and she would farm me out to the Director of Human Resources or the general manager and they would put me to work. I’d file papers, organize things, stuff packets, and set up for presentations. They became my support system. So, when I’d get awards or become president of this or that, it was great hearing those people say, “You’ve always had a strong work ethic.” I think that after you tell a kid that or have enough people tell you something like that, you want to live up to their expectations. People can still be steered and guided to be the best they can be. But, overall, my mom has always been my number one source for information. She helped me develop my so what now? mentality. My mom always said that this is your experience now- what are we going to do about it?

Also, George Thompson, who I met at my church, was a self-made millionaire at 35. He was definitely a mentor to me.

B.O.S.S.: What are some things you are currently working on?

Patrice: My next book, which should be available in March, will be titled, Real Money Answers for Every Woman: How to Win the Money Game With or Without a Man. 75% of my clients were women... majority, black women. I think that we, as black women, experience more challenges. There may not be a man in the household, so the burden (most people see the responsibility of finances as a burden) is left to the woman. More women have to take off work to deal with children or elderly family members. It is so important that we learn about money and time management. The majority of us will earn less than our colleagues and we don’t have time to mismanage.

We won’t have the same time or ability to recoup any losses. Just because you went to college, does not mean you are going to be great with your finances or time.

This March, I will be in a documentary called, Generation One. It is about why in the AfricanAmerican community every generation has to start fresh. What happened to this idea of leaving a legacy and wealth? Why are we having barbecues, bake sales, and car washes to bury our grandparents instead of our grandparents having enough money to bury themselves and leave the next generation a piece of their wealth?

B.O.S.S.: Can you share some final financial tips with our readers?

Patrice: I am very big on the mindset. There are a lot of financial “experts” tell people to use a budget and that it will solve their problems. Or would tell someone “these are the five steps to clean up your credit” and walk away. All of those things are great skillsets, but my mantra is that it takes a personal mindset and skillset to create personal financial success. Until you recognize where you got your money mindset from you won’t be able to change things. You can’t figure out where you are going unless you know where you came from. You need to understand how you came to deal with money in the first place.

I would encourage women to not making this year about resolutions, but about results we desire… That means proper goal setting. If you are going to make a financial goal, you need to be specific. You need to have numbers, use percentages; you have to use something that is truly measurable. For example, I’ll ask people to tell me two financial goals they want to achieve in 90 days. I always hear the same things- “save more” and “get out of debt.” In turn, I tell them, “that’s nice. But what does that mean?” Those are not goals… those are wishes, prayers, hopes, and dreams. Goals have measures and when you come up with an actual goal you can take steps to obtain it. Do you desire to save $2,000 this year in an emergency fund? Great! What does that plan look like? From there we can set up benchmarks to take you closer to achieving that goal.

Lastly, it is okay to say NO. That’s a big part of our finances. If you are doing great, earning your own money, running your own business, managing the best that you can, but you don’t learn how to say “no” to the moochers and takers, no matter how hard you work, you will not reach your goal. Some of us have a tendency to want to nurture, take care of, and make sure others are okay. That’s great. But, you have to make sure you are taken care of before you try to take care of others. We think that we are helping our family and friends by giving them some of what we have to our own deprivation, but in reality, we are hurting them. When you are helping someone continuously you are not helping them seek out what they need to be selfsufficient. I have met more women who have ruined their credit because they co-signed on something for someone else. 70% of people who co-sign, end up paying for the debt. If others aren’t worried about protecting their credit, why would they be worried about protecting yours? There is a difference between helping people and helping those who act like rent caught them by surprise every month. It’s not about who likes you, it’s about you working hard, setting your goals and you being focused on you. It is not a bad thing, you’re not being selfish- it’s about taking care of yourself.

My ne should March Real M for Eve How to Game a Man

ext book, which d be available in h, will be titled, Money Answers ery Woman: o Win the Money e With or Without n.

37 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

ORDER TODAY!

www.boss-emag.com

Book of the Month

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

A salute to 100 years of Excellence.

At midnight, Washington, D.C. was painted Crimson and Cream. On January 13, 2013 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated celebrated 100 years of Service and Sisterhood throughout the world. Many came and gathered at their founding institution, Howard University (home of DST’s Alpha Chapter), where 100 years ago, 22 young women formed an organization based on service that now has over 250,000 members worldwide. The Sorority has been at the forefront of many great causes including the Women’s Suffrage March of 1913 and the Civil Rights Movement. Being a strong advocate for education, Delta Sigma Theta has supported and founded various educational programs for youth, including initiating “School America” in 1989, The Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy and Delta GEMS. Many notable Deltas, including, Shirley Chisholm, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, and Dorothy Height, have all left their mark on this country and the world. Ms. Chisholm was the first African-American woman to be elected to Congress and run for the office of President of the United States of America, Bishop McKenzie was the first female to be elected 117th Bishop of the AME church, and Ms. Height has been one of the leading ladies of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s and the longest serving national President in the Sorority’s history. Congratulations, Delta Sigma Theta, on 100 years of Excellence and here’s to 100 years more! ~Jazmyne Courtnii Byrd

1st First

www.boss-emag.com

Young BOSS

t x e N e Th

BIG

! ! g n i h t

BOSS sits down with Megan Piphus, The Lady Behind the Puppets, to see what really makes her do what she does. See what she has to “say”...

“

of ll a to in s ge sa es m ut p to er ow p e th d I ha er p ee d ut p to n ga be I n he w s t’ my scripts. Tha messages into the skits...”

B.O.S.S.: Tell us a little about yourself.

Megan: I am currently a student at Vanderbilt University. I attended Princeton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. While I attended Princeton, I took all advanced classes and was in the International Baccalaureate program. Being in those advanced classes really prepared me for college… it gave me an opportunity to go to a school like Vanderbilt. I ended up graduating from high school Valedictorian.

I was really involved in music and musical theater. Outside of school, I am classically trained in piano and guitar. I did a little bit of singing in church as well. I started performing with ventriloquism in middle school around the state of Ohio and in a couple of cases, I traveled nationally.

B.O.S.S.: What did you have a passion for?

Megan: [The passion for ventriloquism] came to me from a lady I knew who was involved in the children’s ministry. She got a group of young kids together when I was about ten years old, and she organized a trip for us to go to a puppet conference to learn about ministry through puppetry. At the conference, they also had these evening ceremonies that had different performances from puppeteers and ventriloquists.

By the end of the conference, we loved it so much that we wanted to come back the next year. When my teacher asked us what kind of classes we would be interested in taking next year, I told her I wanted the ventriloquism classes. She told me that she didn’t think I could do that, and that it seemed really hard. I went home

and told my mom that I really wanted to know how to do it (ventriloquism) because I was joining the puppet team and everything.

We found videos from the library on how to do ventriloquism… most of them were really old and from the 70s. I learned pretty fast and in about a week, I was able to talk without moving my lips with a puppet. I then started writing skits and scripts. To me, that was the hardest part, being able to write a full dialogue and put the different characters into your skit. My first performance was at my elementary school. Then after that, I performed at my church and it grew from there.

I love ventriloquism and definitely think it is fun. I loved theatrics and stage performances as a child, so that interest got me into the arts. Being able to put music in my performances was a huge draw for me. I didn’t recognize the power of it until I was in high school. Wherever I go, adults, children, and babies are really drawn into my performances and are engaged.

Whatever I am doing with kids, it doesn’t matter if I am singing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” they would still be involved with the character. I realized I had the power to put messages into all of my scripts. That’s when I began to put deeper messages into the skits. I have a character named, Baby Junebug who is a rapping baby and children love him, especially kindergarten classes because he looks like them. I remember when I performed with him at an

elementary school that was having a talent show and I did a skit about perseverance. It was very interactive and the students would sing along. They really got into it.

I decided to test out the same performance with preschoolers. They were laughing and they loved the skit. Their teacher afterwards, explained what a ventriloquist was and asked if they knew what perseverance was, and they knew it. It’s amazing what you can learn with ventriloquism.

B.O.S.S.: Who were your role models and mentors? How important were they for you?

Megan: When it comes to ventriloquism, it is a man by the name of Mark Thompson. He’s a musical

If I want to do it in the future, I have to sacrifice other things that I may not be as passionate about.” ventriloquist. He travels a lot doing ventriloquism and one time, I got a chance to speak to him at a conference. He took the time to talk to me and to keep in touch even though he travelled so much so that he could always give me advice. He was really nice about keeping in contact with me and whenever he was in Ohio, he would stop by to see how I was improving. It’s always good to meet

“In August, I will be competing for the Miss Black USA title...�

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

www.boss-emag.com

people who see something in you, who are willing to keep in contact with you, and would monitor your growth.

Also, my parents are great mentors. My father is a musician and pastor. He was always there to listen to me whenever I had a recital, letting me know if I was doing the right things and if my technique was right.

B.O.S.S.: How did you pick the themes behind your skits?

Megan: When making the scripts, I think about what would be the most beneficial for whomever I am talking to, it’s not about what I want to do or what I think is the best. Usually, when I go into high schools, I go into topics like confidence, peer pressure, or other things that would be affecting the students most. I also pray about [what message to include] because you don’t really know what can benefit others.

B.O.S.S.: Was it easy to balance between school and your passion?

Megan: I’ve balanced them pretty well these past two years. Last semester, I was performing just about every weekend. So, I had to really sit down and make decisions and sacrifices about what I was involved in around campus. It took me a while to realize that I was working three jobs. I was interning at Warner Brothers Music for eighteen hours a week, then I was a Residential Assistant on campus, and I was performing and traveling.

One thing I didn’t do was say “no” to performances because my passion is ventriloquism and music. If I want to do it in the future, I have to sacrifice other things that I may not be as passionate about. When I was on the Tonight Show on December 11th, it was during my exam week. I had to push some exams up, some back. I really had to decide how I was going to manage my time. I was studying the entire time I was in LA, on the plane, in the car and everywhere I could.

B.O.S.S.: What advice would you give to students and young women especially?

Megan: I would give advice around continuing their education. I started a program called Color My Dreams.

It promotes dreaming big and goal setting so that you are able to get to your dreams. I also recognize that your dreams may not have you go to any particular schools or that you may have to take different steps. Education is really important in your being able to reach your dreams. To young girls, I would say the same. I realize we are taking big strides with our education. There are higher ratios of women in college and we need to continue to grow stronger in the workforce and to not be discouraged by what people tell us we can or can’t do. Take that discouragement as motivation for their dreams. A lot of people think it is kind of funny that I am a ventriloquist because I am a minority, not only in the world, but in ventriloquism. Most ventriloquists that I know are older, white men. Being a twenty year old, black girl sets me apart and I use it to my advantage. Likewise, young girls can use that to their advantage as well, especially in the workforce.

B.O.S.S.: What are future projects you are working on?

Megan: My next big thing is the Gospel SuperFest in Atlanta, produced by Dr. Bobby Cartwright on March 9th. I’ll be performing and I’ll be hosting, as well.

I will be back stage interviewing performers with my characters. Until then, I will be performing around Nashville, Tennessee doing fundraisers, and hopefully, some comedy clubs as well. I am currently Miss Black Tennessee of 2013, so I will also be making appearances with that as well this year. In August, I will be competing for the Miss Black USA title. Long term, I hope to end up on TV with my own puppet show and later down the road, being behind the scenes in the music industry. I want to continue my education and go into graduate school either doing business or entertainment law to help me with that endeavor. @megpiphus

LaTresa “Tree” Cunningham

“I acco the set in l I fe whe the love mon com

Article

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

www.boss-emag.com

B.O.S.S.: Tell us a little about what you are currently involved in.

LaTresa: I am currently coaching basketball and volleyball. I’m an assistant varsity basketball coach at Riverwood High School and a head coach for A5 Volleyball, coaching a 17s team. A lot of people do not know this, but I used to play basketball. I was fortunate to have been coached by one of the greatest coaches to coach the game, Dave Mann. We won the state championship my sophomore, junior and senior year at Bishop Borgess High School. It was a lot of hard work, but worth every second of it. Volleyball has been my life since the end of high school, and playing and coaching it brings me great joy. A5 is one of the best clubs around and I am fortunate to work with a great group of coaches and players.

I also work with Samuel Hines and his program, Up With Kids Sports, where we teach children the fundamentals of basketball and discipline on and off the court. We have private trainings, group trainings, camps and after school enrichment programs, so we stay busy throughout the year.

Then there is personal training. What can I say? There is never a dull moment in personal training. My clients keep me laughing. I enjoy helping others achieve their personal goals of either starting or maintaining a healthy life style. It’s tough getting through a hard workout, but when you do, you feel so much better. You feel better physically and mentally knowing that you pushed through and didn’t give up. I like being their motivation, pushing [clients] through workouts when they feel like stopping- Giving them that extra burst that is needed. You have to push through the pain, but the rewards are priceless. No pain, no gain in the workout world. My motto is, “When you feel good, you look good, and when you look good you are happy.” I’m trying to help more people be happy.

It's about omplishing things you out to do life, and eel like en you do things you e to do the ney will me”

B.O.S.S.: How are you being a “B.O.S.S.”?

LaTresa: I am a “B.O.S.S.” because I follow my dreams and pursue my passions. I do things for happiness, not for money. It’s about accomplishing the things you set out to do in life, and I feel like when you do the things you love to do then the money will come. I have my own business, Divàshun Productions, LLC that consists of my production company and my clothing line, Divàshun, with more divisions coming in the future.

I got the idea of starting a clothing line because I got tired of not being able to go into a store and buy pants and long sleeve shirts that were long enough for me. I am 6’2” with very long legs. I have been this height since I was 13- when I was a freshman in high school! In high school, we had to wear business casual clothes as our uniform until my senior year. I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan where we got a lot of snow and at least one blizzard a year. I was such a girly girl… I only wanted to wear skirts and dresses, but sometimes my mom would make me wear pants because of the snow. This was always a task! When I was in college, the Lord gave me the idea to start my clothing line and my production company along with the name... I used to model in fashion shows and was asked to direct and choreograph a show for another organization. […] Since then, I have produced and co-produced many fashion shows and beauty pageants. My company also conducts classes to teach [aspiring models] how to walk on the runway, “modeling 101,” along with different self-esteem classes.

Ultimately, you have to love who you see when you look in the mirror and I enjoy helping boost people’s selfesteem.

51 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

www.boss-emag.com

B.O.S.S.: Do you consider yourself a mentor to youth?

LaTresa: I am a mentor to youth in many ways. Through coaching, I have the opportunity to interact with athletes and help give them a positive look at situations and life. Our words are powerful so I use my words to help uplift the young people and to build them up. I lead by example and show them that things happen in life, but it’s how you deal with those things that matter. I am a strict coach who believes in discipline. I feel that through sports, young athletes learn so much about life, and when we apply the skills we learn on the court to real world situations, we will become better people. As a motivational speaker, I enjoy the rewarding interactions and feedback I receive. You never know what someone is going through in their life. I love speaking and telling my story about how I got through certain situations. I speak on following your dreams and never giving up. When speaking to a group of girls, my message is all about GIRL POWER! Young girls have so many issues to deal with, and I am happy that I can use my words to help encourage, motivate and inspire them.

The feedback I receive after I speak is such a blessing to me. Schools and groups always want me to speak again and the comments students leave after I speak are really touching. I pray before every speech and ask God to give me the words he wants me to say and I know from the comments that I get that God answered my prayer.

Another way I mentor is by giving back. I live my life knowing that I am blessed to be a blessing to others.

Through giving back, I am able to plant positive seeds and I know that they will grow. There are so many organizations out there that need volunteers and mentors. I encourage everyone to find one that is dear to their heart and give back to it. Spend some time volunteering and see how much of a blessing it will be to your life!

B.O.S.S.: What are some of the different organizations and things you participate in to give back to your community?

LaTresa: I am one of the Women With NO Excuses with Chanita Foster’s foundation, Beyond The Game. We are a group of positive, beautiful, and caring women who come together and work hard to give back. We all have busy schedules and different things that we do, but that does not stop us from working together and helping those in need. We have fundraisers often and raise money for the orphans in Swaziland and Africa. I help out many

professional athletes with their youth camps.

Some include Alonzo Mourning, Allan Houston, Dwight Howard, Eric Matthews, Samuel Hines, Ivory Latta, and others. I love helping out at the camps because my goal is to come into contact with as many youth as possible, and hopefully I will make a positive difference in a few of their lives. If so, then I have done my job. One of the most powerful hashtags on Twitter is #WHYiGIVE by Michael Chatman on Tuesdays at 8pm EST. I enjoy participating in this with other philanthropists and positive people who all tweet about why we give to others. It is very inspiring and I have met some wonderful people through this network.

B.O.S.S.: What do you plan on working on in the future?

LaTresa: I am working on my nonprofit organization, Making A Better Me. My nonprofit is here to reach youth through sports and to encourage them to be the best person that they can be. Making A Better Me has a mentoring program, as well as “a shining star” program in place to encourage youth to follow their dreams.

Another project that I am excited about is preparing to shoot the pilot for my television show.

My show is a positive show that parents will want their children to watch. This is a long process, and I’m enjoying the journey. I am learning a lot of valuable things and meeting many wonderful people on the way. I am also still designing for my clothing line and working on my two books. The first book is almost finished. It is about dating, but not a guide to tell ladies what to do. It is a guide though. It’s going to be a great read. My second book is a motivational book for young people. This one is personal and I know that it will help many youth deal with situations.

In closing, I want to encourage everyone to follow their dreams. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it. Keep your head up and stay positive, for there is a positive to every situation. “Shoot for the galaxies and you will at least touch the planets.” I came up with this because I don’t think the stars are far enough.

Twitter: @PurpleDiva13 Instagram: @PurpleDiva13 Email: Divashun@gmail.com

“It will not be easy, but it will be worth it.”

A

Day

to Remember

January 21, 2013

Follow & NETWORK

TheHBCUCareerCenter.com supports the professional and career development of HBCU students, alumni, staff and the communities they serve!

Providing information for personal exploration, expanding career and industry awareness, managing your personal brand, finding jobs and internships as you work towards career and professional success.

FEATURES Jobs & Internships - A meeting place for Employers and the HBCU community. Create your job profile today!

Use ASKUs - Get answers to your questions about career or internship success and get FREE resume critiques Career Resources - Find information on resume writing, interviewing, studying abroad, grad school etc.

Career Blog - Get the latest, most relevant career, workplace trends and information on what employers want and what success means!

Marcia Robinson

Sign up for our blog or newsletter at http://www.thehbcucareercenter.com

@HBCUCareerCntr Keeping HBCU's Respected, Resilient & Relevant

N e H t Bw Co Ur k

More BOSSES in 2013!

Felicisa Evans, MS CEO Cardinal Learning Center, LLC 7710 Reading Road Suite 100 (Telephone) 513-300-0503 (Email) CLCCincy@gmail.com (Website) www.Cardinal-Learning-Center.org

Cardinal Learning Center, LLC a privately minority owned certified agency through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Cardinal was founded in 2009 to work and serve individuals with disabilities.

Cardinal offers a very unique twist of services for individuals. Cardinal operates seven days a week working with individuals on social skills, recreational activities, and community living.

Cardinal provides families the opportunity for each member to maintain their individualism. We offer services to lowincome families whose family member is developmentally disabled.

Please visit Cardinal's website for further detail, monthly Calendars, and Contact Information!

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

www.boss-emag.com

Tonda Peterson-Bryant

Tonda Peterson-Bryant passing out turkey dinners in her hometown of Flint, Michigan during the Thanksgiving holidays for her brother's foundation (Morris Peterson Jr. Foundation). This was an event she organized in conjunction with the Flint Urban League.

63 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

www.boss-emag.com

ARTICLE

I'm Bossy!

Boss [baws, bos]: A person who makes decisions, exercises authority, dominates, etc.

Luke 12:48 says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” In order for a woman to be at boss status, she must know her responsibilities and be prepared to put her best foot forward at all times. Now, when I say “boss status” I don't mean boss as in supervisor, I mean boss as in a woman who makes major moves! A boss woman is confident in herself and the decisions she makes. She is intentional and always thinks things through. She's a provider and a nurturer. She's highly respected and admired by all. A boss woman can be a mother, an executive, a friend, a mogul... she can be you.

When I think of a boss woman, one person who comes to mind is Ms. Tyra Banks. Tyra has made the most of her life and career and she continues to take it to another level. She took what made her successful, modeling, and paid it forward by turning it into an opportunity of a lifetime for aspiring models all over the world. She has built a pretty impressive empire too. Now, that's what I call bossy!

@TheWriteModel

Not all of the women I call a boss are well-known or famous. I've had the pleasure of being in the company of several boss women and heroines throughout my life. These women are a part of my bloodline. When I think of strength, poise and grace, I see the faces of

the beautiful women in my family. I think of my great-aunt who was a young bride and adopted three children before she finally had one of her own.

Even while raising her four children, her home was always open to her nieces, nephews and grandchildren. She has selflessly helped raise fifteen children but only gave birth to one! Now you'd think someone like that would never have bad luck, but even when life reared it's ugly head (death, betrayal by her natural child, starting over at 70) she handled it all gracefully. That's what I call a boss.

I see my mother's face when I think of a boss woman. After giving birth to me she, was devastated to learn the doctor's accidentally gave her a hysterectomy and at age 19 she could no longer have children, literally killing her dreams of giving me a brother or sister. Over the years I've watched her go through many phases, the ups and the downs... she's quite complex, but her strength is amazing.

The delicate flower I call mom is truly the biggest boss that I've seen thus far.

The list of boss women in my family goes long.

From a cousin who raised her younger brothers while their mom was on drugs to a lady cop who chased thieves, successfully ran a side business, attended film school, and picked up the pieces to her grandmother's perfect puzzle. They were the glue that helped stick their families together. Only a woman of boss status can manage all of that.

To be a boss woman, you must be willing to smile and stand tall even in the midst of pain and trouble. You must be willing to make power moves whether the world is watching or no one is watching, whether everyone knows your name or no one knows your name. A boss is a leader and she's prepared to take on ANY task that is put before her.

She's all about accomplishing and has no time for things of a petty nature. A boss does what she has to do but she doesn't rob Peter to pay Paul, she holds her own at all costs. She's creative and inventive, always thinking ahead. A boss is proud but she is not prideful, she's secure enough to ask for and accept help from others when it's needed. She's honest with both herself and everyone else, there's no room for lies. Before she'll use you to help her, she'll use herself to help you. A boss woman is an authentic woman.

Being a boss is about more than making millions of dollars or dictating rules, it's about leadership and humility. Anyone can call themselves a boss, but do they display boss-like qualities? That's what a real woman of boss status does, she talks the talk and she walks the walk! “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded.” Are you ready to be a boss?

t u o b a s i s s o b a g n “Beei than making millions mor ollars or dictating of ds, it's about leadership rule humility.” and

67 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

E V O L V E

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

www.boss-emag.com

NEW FEATURE

Derrick Hayes

D.E.R.R.I.C.K.

INTERVIEW

The #1 Encouragement Speaker Derrick Hayes gives a DERRICK Interview by asking 7 questions through each letter of his first name to give you an insightful perspective from other experts, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and up and coming super stars.

Today’s DERRICK Interview is with Mechelle Tucker, p/k/a “The Networker’s Networker” is a creative authority in power networking because of who she knows, and has become a sought after business leader in the marketplace. Mechelle is an effective networker and has been practicing the art of networking for over 7 years. Power Networking is a SKILLED ART, not an activity for Mechelle.

D is for Dream. What is your dream, goals or what have you achieved?

My Dream is to collaborate and work with Oprah, Beyonce and Michelle Obama, 3 women I passionately admire. My goal is to business network with 1 million people.

E is for Encourage. What encourages you?

People who make the impossible possible always keep me encouraged.

R is for Resource. What resources do you bring to the table that makes you unique or stand out?

I have numerous affiliations with working with mover’s and shaker’s of the economy and community based organizations as a power business broker who has represented size-able incomes for all clients.

R is for Ready. When did you realize you were ready for what you are doing now?

When my 3rd party relationships started to benefit and/or profit off of my labor of introduction, connections and advice.

I is for Individual. Name at least one person that you know that you feel others should learn about and why?

Dr. Will Moreland, Author and America’s #1 Leadership Life Trainer. In 2012 I was mentioned in Dr. Will’s newest book “Genius Potential”, where he lays out the keys to lasting fulfillment in life, it’s discovering your special gift, your Genius Potential

C is for Continue. When you fail, things look bleak or are not optimistic what makes you want to continue?

My Faith is everything. My family is my biggest inspiration. My passion for networking is why I can’t stop, I won’t stop until I am over the top.

K is for Key. What keys to success can you leave for upcoming entrepreneurs and leaders?

The 7 Keys to Sail to Success: Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Relationship, Championship, Partnership, Mentorship and Membership.

Is there anything that we did not touch on that you would like to inspire others with?

I want all entrepreneurs to know that it’s possible to have your heart desires. Never allow your actions to get desperate because only inspired actions make a positive difference.

Visit Mechelle Tucker at http://www.1stclassconsultant.com for more information.

Derrick Hayes is the author of 1 WORD Is All It Takes, Creator of Derricknyms, Developer of the app Motivation To Your Mobile, Nominator of Today’s Honoree, and blogs at the Encouragement Speaker and can be reached at info@derrickhayes.com or (706) 615-1662.

Turquoise Johnson

Hairless 4 Her

Awareness

By: Drea Elizabeth

Article How far would you go in order to stand for a cause? What would you do to show the world you are passionate about something? In what ways could you do all of these and serve your community at the same time?

A

All of these questions were answered by someone I went to school with and am now inspired by. Enter, 25-year old, Turquoise Johnson, founder and owner of Hairless 4 Her Awareness, Incorporated. Balancing being a mom to her 6-year old, autistic son, a student currently earning her BA in business administration and management with future plans of earning not only her MBA, but PhD, a volunteer, an aspiring author, and being a business owner, she is on a mission to strive for excellence. A woman with a passion and vision to change the way we view the idea and image of breast cancer.

Turquoise not only founded a non-profit organization through her home state of New Jersey, but became a true representative for breast cancer awareness spreading her word everywhere she goes. Turquoise has dubbed the month of October “30 Days of Pink” in which she will do exactly that: wear pink everyday for thirty days for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Along with this, she has shaved off all her hair! Now, readers, coming from East Orange, New Jersey, neither myself, nor Turquoise, is a stranger to appreciating our hair. Because of this, I applaud her for moving past the vanity that I know surrounded us through our friends and strangers alike, in order to share her message and prove a point with others. This may not be something I would be able to pull off with the confidence and sureness Turquoise displays, but it’s definitely an action/ lifestyle I commend and admire. So, she’s wearing pink and she cut her hair... What makes her different from other advocates? She has funded H4HA solely out of her own pocket, as well as been hands on with everything. Anything that needs money, it comes from Turquoise, personally. Imagine starting a company on a “hunch” and running said company for a year using your own money, time, and energy. That shows dedication and faith in what she believes in.

Hairless 4 Her Awareness was started in July 2011 after years of witnessing through her jobs as a certified medical assistant working with various doctors, the way women with low income were treated when it came to healthcare as well as a personal loss of one of our favorite teachers- a drama teacher, choir director, a mother figure- to this disease. When she is not working directly on H4HA, Turquoise volunteers at the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center in Newark, NJ. As a volunteer and former medical assistant, she has become friends with the women she has come in contact with. From patient advocacy to personal friendships, Turquoise has heard

ISSUE #11

Lady BOSSES

www.boss-emag.com

their pains, their joys, and their prayers. I can think of no one better to represent these women than someone who may be considered an “outsider looking in” yet understands deep in her core what it is these women are struggling with. The one thing Turquoise says is making her happy

“people are getting it. They understand what it is we do and who we are. They are learning about breast cancer and their options. They get it.” is the fact that

At the end of 2012, H4HA hosted a benefit function where a portion of the proceeds were donated to the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center in Newark. In a way, this was Turquoise’s way of giving back to the place that had motivated her to become a part of the solution. Also, she plans on securing a mammogram van to travel throughout the state to provide preliminary screenings for women aged 35 and older with low- income and/ or no health insurance.

“Did you know that a mammogram is $250, ONE vial of chemotherapy costs $1500, and a pill-- ONE pill is $2000?!” In one way or another, she wants to help offset the costs associated with this disease in order to provide more women with an opportunity to survive.

Turquoise insists that she

is not “fighting for a cure” per se, but more or less, she is fighting for awareness. “All the campaigns for breast cancer speak on saving the

‘boobies.’ No,” she says. “Let’s save the women, not the boobies.”

To conclude, Hairless 4 Her Awareness, Incorporated is more than a non-profit organization. It is a product of the countless women living with breast cancer, women who have survived breast cancer, women who have lost their lives to breast cancer, women affected indirectly by breast cancer, and one woman who wants to change the way we view the image of breast cancer.

H4HA is a non-profit organization that was put in place to promote the awareness of cancer, particularly, breast cancer. H4HA will strive to promote awareness with visual campaigns to show the world many different faces of this disease. The inspiration behind this organization came from the stories of women who have died or are in remission from this disease. Cancer is an international problem that needs to be solved. Please help H4HA fight for a cure.

Visit Hairless for Her Awareness, Inc. on the web at www.Hairless4HerAwarenessInc.org for more information.

75 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

http://harrisinfluence.com

BOSS ISSUE 012

E-Magazine of Today’s Young Black Leaders

.

.

.

Be your Own Success Story

.

save my

SON

F E B R U A R Y

ISSUE 12

Dr. Steve Perry

Subscribe Today

Don’t forget to follow!!! @Boss_Emag

TWITTER

Donate Today!

We enhance the brands of talent, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profits. Love fashion, technology and entertainment.

Coffee anyone? http://www.themiabellagency.com Follow us on twitter: @miabellagency

79 B.O.S.S. E - Magazine

The Evolution of

www.boss-emag.com

Young Urban