CEOMOM October 2018

October 2018

THE EMPOWER YOU ISSUE DR. SAPNA SRIRAM

HELPING WOMEN ACHIEVE OPTIMAL HEALTH DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY

KATRINAÂ MCGHEE

TEACHING YOU THE POWER OF SELF WORTH

5 TIPS FOR RAISING STRONG GIRLS DEVIN ALEXANDER NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR & CELEBRITY CHEF

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CONTENTS 05 FROM THE EDITOR For our Fall 2018 issue we are focusing on empowering you. We discuss the power of collaboration among women, knowing your self worth and more.

10 MEET SOULAIMA GOURANI This international speaker and businesswoman gives tips for going global.

48 MEET MARILYN JONES Meet Marilyn Jones, founder of B Fragranced.

She discusses the power of collaborating with other women business owners.

54 SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE YOU WANT TO BE LIKE “Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.” Author Unknown

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14 MEET DR. SAPNA

EMPOWER. SELF WORTH. YOU. Editor-in-Chief Vonna Matthews Contributing Designer Photo Editor Cover Photographer Contributing Photographer Contributing Photographer Contributing Photographer Contributing Photographer Contributing Photographer Contributing Photographer Contributing Writer Contributing Writer

Taly Melo Krystal Jackson Gooseberry Studios Umoja Turner Ben Graham Carine Bader Ebony Jamison, BrownSkinBeautiful Delfondo Herron Jack Adams Ann Marie Sabath Wendy Snyder

Editorial Office Little Elm, Texas 75068 +1-972-302-9150 | info@ceomommagazine.com CEOMOM Magazine is published by For Her Media Little Elm, Texas 75068 | +1-972-302-9150 www.ceomommagazine.com

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR EMPOWERING YOU MIND, BODY, SOUL...

In 2018, we have seen many definitions of empowerment. Thought leaders and influencers are challenging the way we empower ourselves and others. It's no longer about words that inspire for a moment, but transformational messages followed by action that incites tangible change. You can no longer empower with just words, you must now equip and educate to transform. Motivation is only good for the moment, it lacks staying power. Transformation goes beyond the moment to impact the way we think, believe and move through the world.

As women, I believe that when we're empowered, the world changes. We are the foundation of our cultures, our nations and our homes. In this Fall 2018 issue, we aim to empower you to collaborate with fellow girl bosses like 4 beauty entrepreneurs we interviewed who are working together to build their individual empires. We want to empower you to go global with your businesses with practical tips from international speaker and entrepreneur, Soulaima Gourani, and create your own lane like Maya Nassar-Maalouf, Lebanon's first female body builder, and cover mom, Dr. Sapna Sriram, who is changing the face of patient care. Speaker, senior executive and author, Katrina McGhee, is redefining self care and teaching us the power of knowing our self worth. True empowerment is complete when it is passed down to younger generations. Family coach, Wendy Snyder, is giving us tips on how to raise strong girls.

We hope after reading this issue you are more than motivated. We want you to take the practical information and ideas provided and use them to elevate your life and rethink how you see your self worth. We challenge you to go beyond the normal methods of self care to make yourself a priority everyday. Simply put...this issue is to empower YOU.

Editor-in-Chief VONNA MATTHEWS

Vonna Matthews

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Photo Credit: Sam Manns

When she’s crying. -- Teach her to look to her feelings. Instead of telling her to not cry, acknowledge her upset and ask her how she’s feeling.

When she’s being bossy. -- Instead of telling her it’s bad, acknowledge that she has a strong and healthy desire to be in charge, but she needs to practice doing it respectfully. Then roleplay!

When she’s down on her body. -Girls will hear about their looks all their lives. Use this as an opportunity to emphasize a part of her that is strong. If she’s a swimmer, talk about her strong arms or if she loves to dance, emphasize how graceful she is.

When she’s upset at a friend during a playdate. -- Don’t jump to the rescue.

Remind her that you have her back, but she is strong enough to tell her friend she doesn’t like that behavior.

When she’s pushing all your buttons. -Don’t take away your love or tell her she’ll get treats when she’s “good.” Kids need to know you will always love them, no matter what mistakes they make.

“Kids are always going to challenge you--that’s part of healthy development,” explained Snyder. “The backbone of positive parenting is reminding them they are loved unconditionally so they can have the confidence to take risks.”

To learn more tips like these, check out Snyder’s Fresh Start Family Course and Membership Community.

About Wendy Wendy Snyder is the founder of www.FreshStartFamilyOnline.com and a Positive Parenting teacher and family coach. Her mission is to help families parent with greater purpose and intention by creating healthy, respectful, and cooperative relationships. She is a Certified Parent Educator of Redirecting Children’s Behavior (RCB), The Joy of Parenting (JOP) and an advocate for families. Grab her free guide to parenting with firmness & kindness HERE.

5 TIPS TO HELP YOU RAISE STRONG GIRLS Here are just 5 tips for reframing everyday interactions so she can grow up feeling EMPOWERED! CEOMOM | 6

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SOULAIMA GOURANI: LECTURER, CORPORATE COUNSELOR, AUTHOR & ENTREPRENEUR

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f you get the opportunity to hear Soulaima Gourani speak, you will be transformed by her out of the box thinking and unapologetic pursuit of what she wants. Inspired by the desire to prove the naysayers wrong, Soulaima is an international force with over 20 years experience as an entrepreneur and global phenomenon. Soulaima Gourani is a motivational speaker, philanthropist and a Ted Talk Mentor who does approximately 200 public talks per year around the world. She is an advisor to major companies such as Samsung, LEGO, DELL, Microsoft, Stanford University, BMW and Cisco on customer loyalty, strategic networking, change management, employee motivation and future of business.

In March 2012 Soulaima was selected as one of the 192 management leaders in 2012-2017 by the World Economic Forum. CEOMOM Magazine interviewed this transformational wife, mom and businesswoman to unlock the key to her exponential success.

Who is Soulaima Gourani? What is your professional story?

I am Danish, Moroccan and Jewish and was raised in Denmark. I grew up as the only brown person in my all white community. All of my life I felt very alone.

Coming from a troubled family, I ran away from my family when I was 13 and ended up living in foster homes, the streets and with friends. I was kicked out of school in 7th grade and was told I would never reach 35. My dad and my uncle were discussing whether or not I would become a teenage mom. I thought, if that is what they believe will happen to me I will make sure to beat the odds. Even though I wasn’t good at school and was kicked out, I convinced myself that I would become one of the most powerful women in Europe. I was angry and wanted to prove people wrong. I was not driven by purpose, I was driven to prove people wrong. Every time I was let down, I never stayed down, because I knew what I was supposed to do in my life.

I could never get a job so when I was 20 I decided to leave Denmark to find work, forcing me to move abroad. The first 20 years of my life I felt traumatized, angry and poor however I knew this was just a test. I convinced myself this would soon be over. I had to motivate myself, because I had no people in my life who supported me. People couldn’t see my talent. I learned that it doesn't take a lot of energy to convince yourself when everyone around you says you will not make it. When most of my friends were buying dresses and shoes I was buying books to develop myself.

I grew up in the old economy that said if you wanted to be successful you had to work for a really big company so I became a sales representative, responsible for big accounts like Hewlett-Packard. I was fired in 2007 when I was pregnant. I decided from there that I would no longer be employed by anyone. I no longer trusted people to take care of me when it comes to my career. At that time, I had no idea how to make money on my own, I had never had a client of my own. I knew I was good at selling so I began to tell people that I had no job but I would like to help them with their selling and contracts. I had a huge international network.

Today I work in 25 countries. I was previously the cofounder of a bank in Europe. I’ve written 3 books and co-written 16. I am on the board of a lot of companies all over the world. My life is like a fairytale. I really want to inspire all women. Sometimes you have the hardest beginning. What is going to make or break you is your ability to take all of that adversity and turn it into something you can strive on. I could not have given all of these talks if I had not gone through all of my pain. I still remember every second of my pain. I challenge myself to remember what I’ve gone through.

What is the first step to expanding your business globally?

First of all, your products and services have to be ready for export. You have to think about what will be a great market. You call people like me, trade agents.

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There are plenty of people like me out there who used to work for embassies. We teach you how to become ready for export. One of the first steps is to build an office and partnerships. When you have a very small business, exporting is a big risk, so you have to determine if you really want to grow. There's a lot of work that comes with exporting such as more legal procedures. Smaller to medium entrepreneurs are less likely to export because the United States is such a huge market. Most of the world admires American products. If you are in Scandinavia you are used to thinking, “I need to export.” In America, the global mindset is not always there, however I think small American companies can export. You just have to make sure you want to do it. It allows you to travel more and gets you excited about global business. I would never sell to one market. You have to have a portfolio of markets.

Evaluate your products and services and determine what global markets you can enter. There may be some countries that fit your product culture better such as Africa. If you start looking into these things you will find a lot of data to determine what markets will be best for you.

Start exporting to a place you want to go. Don't export to a place you don't want to go.

What obstacles do women owned businesses face when participating in global trade? What are some ways they can overcome those obstacles?

As a woman if you do global trade you will be traveling. It is safe to travel to most countries however you must plan ahead. Always get picked up at the airport and research what good and safe hotels are in the area. Start this process even if you’re just thinking about global sales.

When it comes to the work environment as a female exporter, be aware that most production plants are in China, Bangladesh or Eastern Europe. If you have anything to do with production, understand you will have to go outside the cities. I would advise that you get a local guide that can help you get from point A to point B safely. If it’s not production but consulting or financial services, those happen inside the city limits. I have been doing trade for 20 years and I do a lot of dining and wining and traveling. I feel safe in most places. I have only had a few incidents. In most cases if men see you are doing business and you are good at what you do, they will respect you. As a woman, if you go to Dubai or the Middle East I suggest you have someone accompany you.

Men do business differently than women. Men like to build relationships. Most men want to take you out for dinner and get to know you. In some countries they will drink a lot so you have to be prepared for the social side of business. You don't have to be extrovert, but you have to have that capacity to be extroverted for that period of time. If you have a spouse it is very important that your

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spouse supports you. You can not fight outside your home and then come home and get into another fight. Being an exporter is like hunting. Unless you have a spouse who is with you 100% you will not be able to do this. Support from home is very important. And you need to trust people. If you don't trust strangers, exporting is not for you. Traveling is the healthiest thing you can do for your business if you want to be innovative and make sure your products are worth the price. You can not stay in your city or state and be innovative. You have to go to industries in countries that are different from yourself. Spend 30 percent of your income for traveling. If you do that you will always stay relevant.

What advice would you give to a new mom who wants to start her own business?

My advice for a mom who wants to start her own business is to get a part-time job to pay your bills. It took me 3 to 4 months to breakeven with my company. When it comes to determining whether you should wait or start being an entrepreneur now, I believe now is best. Being an entrepreneur is one of the best things you can give your family. I think it is hard for you to be employed and have a baby. To me these 2 things do not go hand in hand. A lot of the moms I know who are employed have less freedom. I understand that society gives us this kind of safety in being employed, however I believe there is no real safety in working for someone else. They can fire you at any moment.

It has never been easier to build a network. You have technology nowadays. Technology is one of the biggest revolutions for women. Most businesses are online anyway. If I was young and just thinking about becoming a mom I would start trying to build my online business now.

Find something you can sell. If I had a baby I would figure out how to spend less time at work and spend more time investing in my future. I would work so I could become independent 3 to 4 years from now. As long as we don‘t own our own assets or our own careers we will spend the rest of our lives begging for our rights.

Society injects us with guilt and fear and life is not about being safe. Life is about being free. Did you know a girl's confidence peaks when she is 9 years old? I think this is a tragedy. Being an entrepreneur is not about taking risks, it’s about being good at planning.

To learn more about Soulaima Gourani, visit http://soulaima.com.

As long as we don‘t own our own assets or our own careers we will spend the rest of our lives begging for our rights.

Always find ways to reinvent what inspires you.

That could mean going out and networking with other moms. Stay on top of what inspired you to enter into your field.Â

Dr. Sapna

DR. SAPNA IS CHANGING THE FACE OF PATIENT CARE THROUGH INTEGRA HEALTH CENTRE Like many women, Dr. Sapna Sriram wears many hats; wife, mom, TV personality and chiropractic physician. What makes her ability to manage multiple roles even more compelling is her innovative approach to patient care, making her a trendsetter in integrative medicine. As the cofounder and CEO of Integra Health Centre, Dr. Sapna specializes in sports injury management and helping athletes with optimal performance. She also helps many women achieve optimal health by aiding in pre and post pregnancy related pains and injuries.

Dr. Sapna empowers, because she is comfortable stepping outside of her comfort zone to shift the culture, providing holistic healthcare to her patients.

CEOMOM caught up with Dr. Sapna in between TV tapings, diaper changes and patient rounds to discuss the future of her health clinic and why integrative medicine is so important to her.

Tell us a little about your professional background.

What does a clinical director do? What does it mean to be an injury and movement expert?

As a clinical director I have the amazing job and opportunity to direct patient care for our entire patient demographic, ensuring that our entire team is living up to our model which is to provide integrative care. We offer all of our services under one roof, working as one team. My job is to make

sure we eat, live and breathe patient care to have the outcome we want to give them, solutions where they are not having to seek help for their health concerns outside of our office. We cover their mental health, nutritional health and more, under one roof.

I want to make sure our model is being delivered from all disciplines and we are working cohesively as a team so that no part of the patient experience is being neglected. That is one side of what I do. I also retain a practice. I still work a full caseload with patients. A lot of my practice deals with functional movement. I am still dealing with a lot people of in pain. I instill principles that have an integrative method of treatment. I focus on quality of movement, helping people move better.

Tell us about Integra Health Centre. What products and services do you offer?

It is an integrative health care clinic. Everything is under one roof. One of the biggest challenges I always found was that some of my limitations were there were only certain services I could offer. That wasn’t always enough to meet my patients’ comprehensive health needs. The reality is when a patient is being referred to someone else you lose communication. You don’t hear back on what is going on with them or get updates. The patient ends up navigating their healthcare for themselves. We thought, “Why can’t we do that, meet all their needs?”

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We have managed to combine complementary medicines. Patients are not just seeking a pharmaceutical approach all of the time. They are looking for what we pretty much do which is complete family medicine. Our services include respiratory medicine, cosmetic medicine and sports medicine. We also have a rheumatologist. In addition, we do psychotherapy and massage therapy, as well as acupuncture and shock wave. I always felt so many people would get better sooner if their patient care was provided in one place. If you have one specialist looking at your health and then you go to someone else, they are not communicating and information gets lost.

In 2016 you won the Most Promising Wellness Crusader Award presented by Anokhi.

Congratulations! What separates Integra Health Centre and your philosophies on health from competition?

I mean first of all in health care I don’t view us as having competition. We have all signed up to help people feel better. I see everyone as my colleagues. My competitors are my friends. We are always working together to improve patient care. What makes Integra Health Centre different is we are looking for ways to keep healthcare holistic using a full service model. That is ultimately our philosophy on what we believe is going to get a patient better. That is what separates us. We use that to educate the public as much as we can.

As an industry expert you talk a lot about pregnancy and women’s joint and muscle health. What do you wish more women knew about pregnancy and muscle health and preventing postpartum injuries?

I think women get all excited and focus on being pregnant and morning sickness. People don’t really put a lot of emphasis on preventative care to reduce the effects of pregnancy and what you can do to set your recovery up later to be optimal. Always protect your body and do what you can to take care of your body. If they know what to expect before hand, that helps the transition.

Where do you see Integra Health Centre in five years?

For us in five years we want to expand our services geographically and offer holistic preventative care. The concept of medicine is changing. People are moving outside of the solution of one doctor. That for us will be really important for expanding our model geographically and online. There are so many opportunities to educate and help the community in many different ways. We are also getting into the concept of telemedicine, it will be a really great opportunity.

It’s obvious that you are passionate about what you do which I believe is the first stepping stone to success.

What is your advice for a mom who is trying to find her passion beyond motherhood?

I think even when you are inspired about what you do you can start to lose your passion, even when you are doing what you love. Always find ways to reinvent what inspires you. That could mean going out and networking with other moms. Stay on top of what inspired you to enter into your field. I know moms who used motherhood to start new careers. For me, I am passionate and blessed to do what I love. My calling is always growing. The person I was a year ago or even a month ago is different. Your priorities change. You have to find ways to keep that passion.

Dr. Sapna, you’re a media personality, wife mom, chiropractic physician and the list goes on. What are your top three tips for managing it all?

Top three tips: 1. Have a very strong support system. It is almost impossible to do it alone. You are always going to have mom guilt. I would be lying to you if I said I don’t feel that constant pull thing. For me I am so blessed that I have an amazing husband who values what I do and always helps me figure out my priorities.

2. Always have a check-in and don’t be so hard on yourself.

It is so common as a mom to be hard on yourself. It draws back to having a good support system. You are only human. You can’t accomplish it all with one go.

3. I think number three is getting our ish together. Get organized. My head can be really scattered. I am constantly finding ways to stay organized. If you want to do it all you have to have someone to help you.

What has been most surprising to you about being a career driven mom?

I would say the judgement from other women has really surprised me. In Canada women get a one year maternity leave. We need to support each other wholeheartedly and not be so judgemental. It’s the breastfeeding moms against the formula moms; the daycare versus the nanny. We all have such a hard time raising our children. As women we are so hard on each other. You will get comments that will just shock you. Negative comments are inevitable, just stay focused on you and what works for you. Don’t take every comment you hear personally. You have to keep your circle of people positive. You don’t have time for that.

If you want to be successful and grow and set the right example for your kids, stay focused on the positive.

To learn more about Dr. Sapna, visit http://www.drsapna.com.

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arah Lux-Lee

CREATING COMMUNITIES FOR PARENTS THROUGH MINDR With the growing trend of women entrepreneurs and leaders, many organizations are dedicated to empowering women while creating a community of unapologetic go-getters who are shifting how women connect and relate to success. Coined the “TED talks of the parenting world,” Mindr is not your ordinary women’s empowerment group. It takes a more holistic approach by creating communities for parents, both mom and dad, through dialogue, shared interests, community initiatives and baby friendly events. Sarah empowers, because she negates the notion that becoming a parent makes you less of who you are. She believes it not only makes you better, but positions you to be more creative and to have a greater impact on the world.

CEOMOM chatted with Sarah about why parenting is empowering and how mothers are more than nurturers and caretakers.

Who is Sarah Lux-Lee? I'm an Australian living in New York City, and a mother to an active toddler. In a past life, I was a corporate lawyer and government advisor. I came to New York to get my Masters in public policy, and when I had my daughter Ella only a few weeks after graduation, I was amazed at the intensity of the transition to being a new mom. It can be very difficult to find like-minded people to share the experience with. That’s how Mindr started – I wanted to give new parents access to a community of peers who they could connect with not just about the kids, but about all of their shared interests, passions and professional and personal goals.

What is Mindr? What is the mission and vision?

Mindr is a social enterprise that empowers parents both in the workplace and at home. We recognize that becoming a parent makes you stronger in so many ways. From being a ruthless time manager, to considering differing perspectives with an open mind, to being able to negotiate with an unreasonable partner, parenthood gives you skills that are mission-critical to any employee, leader or community member. We envisage a society where parents are recognized and celebrated for those strengths. Our mission is to support organizations and families in pursuit of that goal.

From hosting TED-style events with Nobel Peace Prize laureates where crying babies are welcome, to bringing 600 strong women and their babies to the United Nations on International Women’s Day, to helping create workplaces that genuinely work for parents, we are giving new parents a voice both within organizations and on the international stage.

What has surprised you most about motherhood?

I have been surprised by how much you see when you slow down to view the world through a child’s eyes. Ella will pause to point out a pretty flower, or the way the light is coming through the trees, and suddenly there’s magic in something I’ve walked past so many times without noticing. I’ve always been a busy person, so the reminder to pay attention and live in the moment is refreshing. I didn't know how grounding having a child would be in the day-to-day.

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How has motherhood impacted your career goals?

I always had an interest in entrepreneurship, but becoming a mother really pushed me to give it a shot. For one thing, motherhood has brought out a lot of my creativity and outof-the-box thinking – I think that stems from the constant problem-solving we do as parents. I was so inspired by the fellow parents I met when Ella was a newborn, and so struck with the difficulties many of them faced when they returned to work. Suddenly, giving entrepreneurship a shot didn’t seem so terrifying, because the problem was so clear – parents, and especially mothers, are routinely underestimated and undervalued in the workplace and in society – and I knew I could do something about it.

Mindr is about cultivating community among parents – what should moms look for when they are building their own communities?

For us, it’s about helping people to find their tribe. I recommend looking not just for others who happen to have a child the same age, but people with deeper shared commonalities – whether those are professional goals, personal interests, intellectual pursuits or just hobbies.

When you connect as humans, you’re much more likely to connect as parents.

Photo Credit: Mia Oh

I recommend looking not just for others who happen to have a child the same age, but people with deeper shared commonalities – whether those are professional goals, personal interests, intellectual pursuits or just hobbies.

When you connect as humans, you’re much more likely to connect as parents.

On March 8 (International Women’s Day) Mindr partnered with the UN Foundation’s Global Moms Challenge to co-host the World's Biggest Mama Meetup.

Why was this campaign so important? What was your biggest takeaway from the event?

Traditionally, society has acknowledged mothers as carers and nurturers, but we tend to be under-recognized as intellectuals, professionals and leaders. At Mindr, we know that mothers and parents are unbelievably strong, especially when we are united. Our campaign at the United Nations this year really demonstrated that power. Almost 600 women and hundreds of babies, toddlers and children descended upon United Nations Headquarters, for an incisive discussion about empowering mothers in the workplace and in every area of life. The event was supported by some groundbreaking leaders, like United Nations Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu and actress and advocate Sarah Michelle Gellar. We also coordinated satellite events for mothers in more than 60 cities around the world on the same day. Even with everything we planned for, we were not prepared for the groundswell of engagement and passion that we saw on the day. Our biggest takeaway was the extent to which mothers are prepared to show up, when given an opportunity to come together over a shared commitment and purpose.

To learn more about Mindr and get connected, follow the organization on Instagram at @mindrnyc and visit their website at www.mindrglobal.com.

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POLISHED EXISTS to gather young professional women to navigate career and explore faith. www.polishedonline.org

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aya

MAYA NASSAR-MAALOUF MAKES HISTORY AS LEBANON'S FIRST FEMALE BODY BUILDER

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aya Nassar-Maalouf has transformed her love for fitness into an empire that includes television appearances on networks such as MTV and LBC, a huge social media following and a history making bodybuilding career.

As the first ever government endorsed fitness bikini bodybuilding competitor in Lebanese/Arab history, Maya is proof that not only can you reinvent yourself, but you can create a path that positions you to stand out among the crowd.

CEOMOM caught up with this Lebanese superstar to learn more about how her fitness career began and to get tips for starting your own fitness journey.

Who is Maya Nassar-Maalouf?

I would say that my background is very multicultural. I have a Dutch mother and a Lebanese father. I was born in New York so I guess you would say I’m American. I grew up in Africa and I lived in England. Now I live in Lebanon in a suburb outside of Beirut. I have a passion for helping people. I have no background in fitness. I used to work as a journalist for Time Out Beirut. I used to be someone who was very unhealthy. I never exercised. I used to eat very bad food. I suffered from asthma so I would have difficulty breathing just going up the stairs. During this time I gained a lot of weight and became very insecure. This is when I had my turning point. I literally started going to the gym overnight. I did lots of research about how to eat healthy. With time I lost weight and started to look into doing fitness competitions. I would travel to England since we didn’t have competitions in Lebanon. I won a competition in England and started to get attention in Lebanon. The Lebanon minister of sports endorsed me and gave me recognition to represent Lebanon abroad. That’s when I started to get media attention.

How did your fitness career begin?

During my fitness journey I was so passionate about fitness and living a healthy lifestyle that I became certified in fitness training and sports nutrition. I wanted to change other people’s lives the way I had changed my own.

What is your philosophy on fitness and nutrition?

I think it is something that makes your life better. I see it as a reward. I believe a lot of people see it as a sacrifice or a punishment. They believe that if they follow a certain lifestyle it restricts them from living their lives. In the long run it makes you stronger and healthier and you feel better inside.

What advice do you have for a new mom who is trying to start or maintain a workout routine?

They have to get the clearance from their doctor before starting any exercise regimen. I also recommend consulting with a fitness professional.

Consult with a professional trainer at a gym as well as a nutritionist to help you start a nutrition plan. A lot of gyms will have a daycare for moms who need to take their children to the gym. If a mom can not go to a gym or afford a gym membership there are a lot of workout videos that will help them work out at home. Maybe they can even get a treadmill or inexpensive workout equipment to use in their home. There are so many ways a mom can get started. The most important thing is a healthy diet. Also I have a home exercise guide on my website which moms can follow. It’s something I created to help other people who want to exercise at home. I also have a mobile app that people can follow to help them develop a diet plan, as well as at workout at the gym.

What has been the most rewarding part about being a fitness trainer and nutrition expert?

I would say the most rewarding part is hearing feedback like, “You’ve changed my life.” I think there's nothing more rewarding than knowing you have made a difference in someone else’s life. I have helped young women who have struggled with eating disorders. I’ve helped elderly people who felt they were going to be cripple or end up in a wheelchair. I see my work as a passion. It is very rewarding and satisfying. It gives me purpose to work really hard and go out of my way to change someone’s life.

Congratulations on being a new mom. What has surprised you most about balancing a fitness career with being a mom?

It is very challenging. Being a mom alone is really a full time job. It makes you aware that you have to plan in order to manage your life. I tell people with no kids you have no excuse to not start a fitness plan. It is possible, you can even be active with your kids. Go for a jog, put your baby in a stroller or do a workout at home while your baby takes a nap. I believe if someone wants to be fit they can. It makes you a better mom if you are healthier and fit.

It also makes you a better role model, teaching your kids how to be active and live a healthy lifestyle.

What upcoming projects do you have?

Right now I am a gym owner. This summer we opened a second branch of my gym, Start Living Right. I started my diet and training in May. This past September I started competing again and won three trophies including first place bikini beach body. Of course, I plan on continuing to bond with my son.

To learn more about Maya Nassar-Maalouf, visit http://startlivingright.net.

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It makes you a better mom if you are healthier and fit. It also makes you a better role model, teaching your kids how to be active and live a healthy lifestyle.

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evin

DEVIN ALEXANDER IS EMPOWERING YOU TO INDULGE WITHOUT COMPROMISING YOUR HEALTH Media personality, New York Times bestselling author, The Biggest Loser chef, nutrition expert and new mom, Devin Alexander, is not just about helping people lose weight, but rather equips people to shift their attitudes about healthy eating and living.

Devin teaches that you can enjoy the foods you love using nutritious ingredients and cooking methods.

Believing that healthy eating shouldn’t be overwhelming, Devin has written several books to educate and provide readers with the practical tools they need to start a healthier lifestyle, including one of her latest books, You Can Have It: More Than 125 Decadent Diabetes-Friendly Recipes.

Devin has a beautiful daughter she is hoping to adopt from foster care. Giving her a newfound passion, Devin is hoping to pass down her love for cooking and inspiring others through healthy living to her daughter. CEOMOM chatted with this celebrity chef about her new book, her personal weight loss journey and how her recipes are changing lives.

What inspired you to become a chef?

I weighed 200 pounds as a teenager. I had one grandmother who taught me how to cook, so I reversed engineered the foods I loved to get fit. I moved to LA planning to be a screenwriter, but when I got out here I was volunteering at charity events, cooking, and some celebrities started wooing me to cook my healthy decadent foods for them.

How did your fitness journey begin particularly as it relates to weight loss?

I would cook with my grandmother as young as four years old and was hooked at a very early age. I am dyslexic so I never liked reading as a kid. When I would go to the library to do mandatory reading for school, I would get cookbooks instead of novels or other books. I knew so much about calories and cooking that when I happened upon an article that said if you lose 100 calories a day, you’d lose 10 pounds in a year, I realized that I didn’t have to diet to lose weight.

How did you get involved with The Biggest Loser?

At a time when no one cared about healthy food I had realized that I was able to change a lot of people in real life and help them on the journey that I had gone on. I would read Craigslist postings looking for TV shows that might do a healthy cooking segment.

One of the first shows I got on was You’re Invited on the Style Network. I pitched them throwing a party for someone who lost weight. That lead to my being on Discovery Health’s National Body Challenge. And then I got my own show on Discovery Health Channel. And my first book deal for “Fast Food Fix”.

Around the time the Book was going to be released, the publisher got a deal to publish The Biggest Loser Cookbook, they recommended me. And I had already been “stalking” the producers of The Biggest Loser so, they just pulled me in.

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At a time when no one cared about healthy food I had realized that I was able to change a lot of people in real life and help them on the journey that I had gone on. Â

What has been the most rewarding part about working on The Biggest Loser?

The letters that I get from people have been the most rewarding. There was one experience in 2006 when I was sent to Finger Lakes County in New York to do a cooking demo. The promise was that people were going to get a free copy of The Biggest Loser Cookbook. They didn’t tell people that they had to “sit through” my cooking demo to get the book. At first, some people were up in arms. By the end, people were wanting to talk to me so much so that they needed security to get me away from the crowd.

In the cookbook, I will use light mayo and then low fat mayo.

While, at first glance, it might look like just swap light this and light that. But it is the way you combine these things and the basic techniques I learned in culinary school that make them magical. Through my 45 minute demo they learned a number of techniques and expressed how it totally changed their lives. That’s the part that I love. Totally flipping someone’s mind. People don’t know that healthy food can taste delicious. You can see them go from totally sluggish to this is really exciting. I can make food that is really good.

There are plenty of cookbooks where people say the food tastes good and it doesn’t. I want when people say it’s good, it’s good.

What advice would you give to a new mom who is overwhelmed by the desire to lose baby weight?

Get referrals. Read reviews of books. So many times we go to a movie and it’s horrible. Cookbooks are the same. Cooking is art. If you have a bad healthy recipe it could be that you cooked it incorrectly or the cookbook is equivalent to a bad movie. If you ask friends who are living a healthy life and cooking healthy recipes for their favorites, you might change your view of healthy food. I really do think the flip was when I was able to eat what I wanted and that I didn’t have to give up my Italian favorites or chocolate. I had to learn how to satisfy those cravings. Make sure you are leaving calories for foods you really want and crave but eat healthy most of the time.

You have written several cookbooks focusing on turning popular dishes into healthy meals. What is your favorite meal to cook?

I honestly love making homemade pasta even though I rarely do it. I feel hugged and I love people’s responses to it. I love the thoughts it brings up about my late grandma.

I thought I was going to be one of those stroller moms.

My question now is how do people have time between the baby’s feedings and the nap schedule and everything else that motherhood throws on you? I work from home.

That makes it a little bit easier however I do have to prepare. Today at lunch I took my daughter for a walk. I live on a hill so walking her up the hill once makes me sweat. I also realized that I couldn’t wait until my angel went to bed to eat my dinner. So I started having her watch me cook and I’d talk her through everything I was doing like she was watching a live cooking show. She seems to love it because I am paying attention to her as I do it. I also started making my dinner multiple meals at a time. It’s all preparedness. Even just having smart options on speed dial or having your assistant make your dinner or having a nanny who can cook your dinner can make all the difference in the world. Don’t wait until you are raging hungry and/or ready to pass out for the night to eat.

What do you hope people get from your cookbook, You Can Have It? It can be overwhelming and daunting when you get certain diagnoses. So instead of focusing on the list of things you can’t have, it’s about focusing on the amazing dishes YOU CAN HAVE [IT] whether you’re living with diabetes or just want to be fit. I’ve gotten letters saying that the book is a godsend for many people who were really overwhelmed at the notion of giving up their favorites and following doctors orders. Some of the desserts like the Dark Chocolate “Pudding” takes seconds to put together. It is great for midnight snacking for those with a huge chocolate craving because It has so little sugar in it. There are a ton of other easy recipes like party appetizers. Life isn’t supposed to be lived in a vacuum. These are recipes that CEO’s can include in their events. For working moms out there, there is a sriracha turkey breast. It’s a easy as mixing a bit of light mayo and sriracha, putting it on the turkey breast and popping it in the oven. I hope to give people more options.

Like most CEO’s I want there to be a big bang. The number two preventable cause of death in this country is diabetes. One in three people have prediabetes. I wanted to tackle that something that could make the biggest splash and help the most people.

You have an extremely busy schedule with TV appearances, book signings, and being a mother, etc. How do you balance being a working mom with maintaining optimal health?

I am working on that. I really am. I did gain a couple pounds, less than five. It was hard, though.

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empowering you

to leverage your self worth

KATRINA MCGHEE IS TEACHING THE POWER OF KNOWING YOUR SELF WORTH & WHY WE SHOULD REDEFINE SELF CARE

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ith a career that spans over 20 years, Katrina McGhee unapologetically equips women to discover, embrace and leverage their self value. As a thought leader, author, former senior executive and mother, Katrina’s mission is to position women to maximize their impact on the world. She teaches women to move beyond making ourselves the last priority to take our rightful seats at the table.

CEOMOM had a powerful conversation with Katrina about what led her to start Loving on Me, why it’s important to raise up women leaders and a few of her upcoming projects.

For those who may not know you, who is Katrina McGhee?

I am an author, a speaker, a mom, and a senior executive. I am like so many of your readers - a busy woman who gets things done.

Loving on Me Academy just completed its Inspire.

Equip. Ignite. 12 Step Leadership Course. You talk about leaders’ struggles with accountability, motivation and communication. Why do you think those areas are so challenging for leaders, specifically women?

I have been privileged to be a senior executive for 20 years, mentoring and promoting amazing women who love to do life saving work that changes the world. I have noticed that in our success, we often still struggle with self-worth. The confidence gap is real. We ask ourselves, “Can I do it? Am I the person to do it?” As a result we often lose out on new opportunities because we take ourselves out of the consideration set. We also struggle with how to effectively communicate. To be seen as leaders, we have to learn how to articulate our ideas in a way that they are seen, heard and adopted. I try to give people practical tools to communicate with confidence.

At the same time, as nurturers we sometimes struggle with accountability. We give people a pass on inappropriate behavior, over and over, instead of using accountability as a motivator to help our teams be their best. When women boost their confidence, by building their competence in key areas, we learn to be better leaders, mentoring and coaching others to greatness. One important thing I’ve learned is, we do what we do because we believe what we believe. If I can shift your thought process, inspiring you to believe you can achieve your goals, it boosts your confidence. Challenge yourself to get out of your comfort zone. Continue to learn. Continue to read.

What was the defining moment in your life that inspired Loving on Me? I created Loving On Me in 2012 after a professional calamity became a personal crisis. I was a mess. I still loved what I did, but I realized that in trying to control everything I lost control of myself. I took time out from being a marketing executive to focus on me. I went on a journey to learn to value myself and not just what I did. That’s what started Loving on Me. I wanted to chronicle my journey to unconditional self-worth. This is what is happening.

This is how I am drowning. Women started to say, “That is where I am struggling, too. I am overwhelmed, too.” I was tired of being on the hamster wheel trying to prove my worth. In order to stay on track I had to learn to lead in every aspect of my life. Now I’m blessed to teach others to do the same.

KM

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At CEOMOM we believe that self care is vital to maintaining work/life balance. It’s something that women too often neglect. What is the first step to making self care a priority?

I started this new campaign called 365 Self Care. It is putting you at the top of your to do list. It reframes our thinking of self care. We treat ourselves like puppies doing great things to get a treat. We are not performing to get a treat. Self care is an everyday intention to love ourselves more. It begins by setting the tone for our day. A lot of us wake up and grab our cell phones. Whatever someone posted or called about sets the tone for our day. I challenge us to set the mood of gratitude. Before your feet hit the floor be grateful. It totally reframes how you see the day. It’s also about scheduling joy breaks. When I started my own business I often found myself busy 8 hours a day. I started blocking off these 15 minutes sets of time to do something good for me. I’d go for a walk, call a friend, or grab my favorite mocha coffee. I intentionally put these breaks on my calendar so that I could shift my brain to thinking more positively. Stop scheduling yourself for meetings for 8 hours a day. Stop running in the hallways. End your meetings at the 55 point in the hour so you can walk with intention instead of race to your next appointment.

Remember, everything you do speaks about you. So affirm your authority over your own life with these words - I can do it. I can schedule that 5 minutes. I retreat into myself for 15 minutes and get powered up. I love to get out and enjoy the sunshine. I can be still and still be productive. When you step away from it all, you are more productive. When you listen to what your body tells you, you can be your best.

I would prefer people would look at themselves through the lens of abundance. Perfection for me is a part of a process.

We are constantly being perfected. As long as you don’t let failure stop you, you are being perfected. We perceive that there is only one way to a goal. If I would have looked at life that way in my 20’s as a young single mother, I would have stopped. My whole life has been about finding alternate ways to accomplish my goals.

Within the past 2 years, wage inequality and sexual harassment have been at the forefront of national conversations on gender. What role does self worth play in the fight against wage inequality and sexual harassment in the workplace?

When it comes to sexual harassment we should respond in sisterhood. This is a sensitive area, and when other women confide in us, our first priority should be our sister’s healing and well-being. When they are fearful, let’s bolster their courage rather than feed their insecurities. When they ask for our help, lead with love and affirmation. Don’t bully them with what they “should” do. Instead ask questions like, What can I do for you? How can I support you? Would you like me to go with you to report? As important is when we observe inappropriate behavior that we courageously take action.

Refuse to be complacent. When you see something, say something. We have the power to affect change by speaking up for others.

A part of Loving on Me is teaching women to realize self value. Often our value is based on external things such as status, material possessions and profession. How can women shift their attitudes about self value to reflect who we are rather than what we have?

The challenge is from the womb to the tomb there is a war on our self worth. It is a constant life battle. Life continues to present you with opportunity to say I am not worthy. You have to set your own core beliefs about who you are, and the value you give to the world. My faith gives me a wonderful picture of my worth. I am passionate about who God says I am. The key is for you to define you, and stop valuing yourself on your job. When you understand who you are, and know that you’re enough, you can get off the hamster wheel of trying to constantly prove that you are worthy.

Do you think perfection is the enemy of self value? Why or why not?

I think perfection is the enemy of achievement. I am a big proponent of always doing your best and delivering excellence. What is perfection for you may not be perfection for me. I challenge people to make excellence their standard.

Even when you mess up and fail you can fail your way forward.

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You have to set your own core beliefs about who you are, and the value you give to the world.

Here’s the thing about pay equity - You don’t want to be paid what you are worth. Your self-worth cannot be contained in a salary range. Instead, you want to be paid competitive compensation based on your skills, education and expertise. When you learn to disconnect your selfworth and salary range, you can get in the driver’s seat of your career. You can negotiate from a place of confidence, knowing the market value of your education, competence and skill. It allows you to have a logical discourse instead about your compensation instead of an emotional debate about your worth. When you let your worth be defined by a salary range, you are transferring your power over to the person who is setting that salary range, rather than defining you for you.

This is why it’s so important to prepare and position women leaders. If we want to address gender inequality in pay and stop sexual harassment, we need more women leaders at the table. When we have diverse boards, companies do better financially and culturally. The way to change that is to prepare those women to lead. My goal is to surround them with support by creating this tribe of empowered women ready to lead and succeed.

We often ask, when it comes to managing family and career, is balance obtainable. I want to ask you, is balance something we should obtain? If not, what should we be seeking instead?

There is no such thing as work/life balance. When you live according to your priorities you can be a balanced person.

Balance is not something you find, it’s something you create.

No one can tell you what a balanced life should look like for you. The balance of my life looks different than someone else’s. The balance is based on what you want, not how people tell you that you should be living. It is what works for your life. When you're a balanced human being you are at peace about the decisions you are making. Success is on your terms. Does it mean all of the dishes are done? Do you look amazing at all times? Heck no! It simply means that you are happy, at peace, and living the life that best suits you.

To learn more about Katrina McGhee and Loving on Me, visit https://lovingonme.com. You can catch her on the WFF Leadership Development Tour as a featured keynote speaker, where she will empower women with strategies to accelerate their career.

Get Katrina’s new book, Be Bold. Be Brilliant. Be You: Lessons from the C-Suite to Catapult Your Career, available this November.

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LET'S REDEFINE SELF CARE

REVAMP YOUR WELLNESS ROUTINE We often look at self care tools such as massages and facials as being an unnecessary indulgence, but regular self care is a critical step in your overall wellness routine.

Now is the perfect time to reboot your self care routine for a happier and healthier you.

To help further enhance your routine, below are a few tips and tricks for relaxation from Massage Envy’s wellness professionals and partners. Massage Envy believes that a healthy lifestyle should be accessible to everybody, and with their membership model, it’s easy to add therapeutic massages and facials into your regular routine.

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1. Make self-care a daily habit. " 77% of people in the United States regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress, according to Stress.org. Stress can zap our productivity and sometimes even make us sick. The irony is that what's causing our stress--the pace of life and the never-ending demands--are the very things that keep us from doing something about it. We're busy taking care of business, and for many of us, self care is one of the first things that come off our list. I think that's a big mistake and comes with a heavy cost, which is why I dedicate time every day, to taking care of myself no matter what's going on. That might be a massage, but it can also be a run outdoors or a walk on the beach or just talking to my kids. The point is to make it a daily habit."

--Joe Magnacca, CEO of Massage Envy

3. Focus on total body care.

“When talking to clients about relaxation I love to express the importance of total body care. I think clients get to experience complete relaxation whenever a dual service is booked. This allows for both massage and skin therapists to enhance and focus on providing a complete and total body relaxation. Whenever I try to relax I love to book a 90 min healthy skin facial. It allows my skin professional to go in depth with my skin and my concerns all while allowing myself to completely relax and enjoy the benefits of a facial.”

--Diana Durazo, Lead Esthetician for Massage Envy 4. Adjust your wellness routine based on your stress level.

“Chronic stress can cause an over production of “stress hormones” which can lead to sleeplessness, headaches and even digestive problems. If a client is going through a particularly stressful time, I like to recommend that they come in for a massage every week if possible. This will help limit the physical effects of stress since regular massages have been proven to decrease cortisol and get us back to balanced.

--Melissa Johnson, Lead Massage Therapist, Massage Envy

2. Make the most of your “me time.”

“Wellness requires taking time for yourself, so be sure that you are making the most of your “me time.”

For example, whenever I get a massage at Massage Envy I like to enhance my session by adding a CyMe Boost serum. These highly concentrated formulas are mixed in with the massage oil or cream and deliver skin enhancing benefits to the entire body. By adding this one small addition to my massage session I am able to take care of my skin, mind and body at the same time.”

--Beth Stiller, Chief Commercial Officer of Massage Envy

5. Take time to just breathe.

“Breathing seems obvious but sometimes when you’re stressed your body forgets to breathe normally. Taking a second to do some deep breathing naturally relaxes your muscles and in turn, your mind.”

--Hailey Ostrom, Professional Golfer & Massage Envy Ambassador

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empowering you

to value collaboration

NICOLE MEET NICOLE LOVE OF NATURALLY FLAWLESS SKIN

WHEN DEVELOPING A SISTERHOOD OF ENTREPRENEURS THERE ARE TWO IMPORTANT QUALITIES, HONESTY AND POSITIVE ENERGY.

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icole Love, co-owner of Naturally Flawless Skin, has created a skincare line that is as refreshing and rejuvenating as it is natural. As a mother of 5 girls, Nicole understands firsthand the challenges that come with maintaining beautiful and healthy skin. Along with her partner, Ka’Terra, Nicole uses natural ingredients such as almond oil and tea tree oil to develop products that are as effective as they are gentle. CEOMOM interviewed Nicole to learn more about the vision of Naturally Flawless Skin.

What inspired you to create a natural skincare line?

I have always had combination skin where one day my skin would be really shiny in my T-zone. Another day the other parts of my face wouldn’t be as shiny, but I would break out. I got tired of buying over the counter items that weren’t doing anything for my skin. My business partner and I started putting together our own concoctions. We would use ingredients such as almond oil, avocado oil, aloe vera plants and tea tree oil.

We started to see results. We decided to do this for everybody. I also have 5 girls. My oldest daughter is 17 and she hit puberty early. She started breaking out with dark spots on her face and chest. The store bought products were hurting her skin even more. She tried our products and started to see results. My 16 year old also started using our products as well as my 7 year old who has eczema. We started to make a plan to make our products affordable and available to everybody.

We wanted something that didn’t have all of the harsh chemicals. It took about 3 years to custom formulate our products and get the business up and running.

Is your family involved in any aspect of your business?

How do you balance your time when it comes to managing a family of 7 and a growing business?

You have to work hard and have determination to manage my household. My girls use the products all of the time. They post on their social media pages. That’s all they do. I want them to focus on school. My husband gives his input and promotes at his job.

My day consists of waking up at 7 am. I have to drop my kids off at school. I work my 9 to 5 job while I am working for my business. I also work from home. I am either running to the store, making phone calls or returning emails. My day is busy from the time I hit the floor until everyone is sleep.

With the natural skincare market becoming more saturated, how does Naturally Flawless Skin stand out from competitors?

Our products are custom made, tested and formulated.

We make sure our products are affordable and smell good. There are no toxins or parabens in the products.

What are your favorite Naturally Flawless Skin products?

We have a moisturizer which we launched last year. I love our cleanser, because it gives me that minty feel and sensation. I also love the moisturizer because it’s not too thick and it’s actually really light and leaves your skin feeling refreshed and soft, plus it doesn’t have a scent.

When developing your own sisterhood of support among women entrepreneurs, what qualities are important?

When developing a sisterhood of entrepreneurs there are two important qualities, honesty and positive energy. You want to surround yourself with people who can be honest with you regardless of the situation, and know they have your back. They can share their stories and struggles so you might not make the same mistakes they did. You want your entrepreneur circle to be filled with positive energy. On those days that you want to give up or you are just having a bad day, they can lift your spirit and help you find the rainbow in the storm.

Where can our readers purchase your products?

Right now, we are exclusively online. You can purchase our products at http://www.naturallyflawlessskincare.com.

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Meet Marilyn Jones

TO ME, IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE AMONGST LIKE MINDED PEOPLE, NOT ONLY IN YOUR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH, BUT ALSO IN FAITH.

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he perfect fragrance can be just the final touch you need for a night out, a day at the office or a casual outing. The beauty of it all, B Fragranced allows you to celebrate YOU with their exclusive ME brand. Inspired by her mother, Marilyn Jones started B Fragranced to help consumers embrace their individuality by wearing a fragrance made just for them.

CEOMOM caught up with Marilyn to learn more about her inspirational fragrance and why creating a sisterhood of women entrepreneurs is vital to professional growth.

Tell us about B Fragranced. What products do you offer? What are some of your signature fragrances?

B Fragranced is a fragrance and beauty company based out of Chicago. We cater to both men and women, offering the best perfumes and colognes, along with our hand & body lotion, in the market. Our classic fragrance, Embellish, is our signature scent for women and Essence of ME would be the go to cologne for men!

What inspired you to create B Fragranced?

I’m number eleven of twelve children born to a devoted mother and father. Unfortunately, at the young age of five, my mother lost her battle to breast cancer.

Growing up I had no memories of my mom besides her smell. This birthed a passion and a zeal to create fragrances as unique as the individual who wears it! I always had a love for perfumes and lotions that grew stronger in later years. Our flagship fragrance, Embellish, doesn’t smell like my mother once did, but, the blueprint of the business certainly embodies her.

You have a sisterhood with other women business owners in the beauty industry that includes networking, attending events together, promoting each other’s products and more. Why is a sisterhood among women entrepreneurs so important to professional growth?

My philosophy on sisterhood is that we’re better together than apart! It’s so important to be role models

for the generations behind us so they can see that it's cool to be friends, not enemies. We don’t compete with each other, we complete one another. We always have or share ideas in business if we think it would be great for the other person. We’ll have an idea that comes to mind and we will text each other right away so that we don’t forget it, even if it’s a late night thought. To me, it’s important to be amongst like minded people, not only in your professional growth, but also in faith.

Congratulations on launching the brand ME in 2013.

What is the story and meaning behind ME? Thank you. We branded the creative process of making what "you" wear the pinnacle of a two-letter word characterized as ME. Often times we as women can be territorial when it comes to sharing what we’re wearing. Or there’s a certain perception of “Having it all” or “You’ve Arrived” when you can tell others that you are wearing a Gucci or Tom Ford fragrance. I always thought that we’re really giving the power to others so with saying that you’re wearing [ME] that aids in empowering who you are! Brand who you are.

Be courageous. Be beautiful. More importantly, B Fragranced. Leave your memory and mark!!

As a wife, mom and beauty entrepreneur you know the importance of self care. How does B Fragranced inspire moms to make self care a priority?

Self-care is important, especially when you are a beauty entrepreneur. You have to love and care for yourself before you can expect anyone else to. As mothers we get so use to helping others before we help ourselves, but you have to create a balance and enforce it. Set up non-negotiable rules. If it’s your gym time, your salon time or your nail appointment, keep the appointments!

Being an entrepreneur, wife and a mother is challenging, so having an awesome family and/or great friends that you can relax and release with certainly helps. My friends and I have trips planned, like this past summer, that I always look forward to.

To learn more about B Fragranced,visit http://www.bfragranced.com.

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YOUR SISTERHOOD SHOULD CONSIST OF WOMEN WHO WILL ROOT FOR YOU FROM THE SIDELINES.

Melinda

MEET MELINDA HERRON OF 103 COLLECTION As consumers become more educated and aware of the dangers of harsh chemicals in skincare products, the demand for natural and chemical free beauty products increases. Along with her husband, Delfondo, Melinda Herron has developed a beauty brand for men and women that uses potent and plantbased active ingredients to provide optimal results without allergic reactions. 103 Collection is quickly becoming a global brand with customers in Paris, Kuwait, Africa and of course the United States.

CEOMOM chatted with Melinda about the inspiration behind 103 Collection and future plans for the brand. Melinda also shared tips for developing your own sisterhood of girl bosses.

Tell us about 103 Collection. What products and services do you offer? What would you say is your signature product?

My husband and I founded 103 collection three years ago. We were inspired by the allergic reactions we were experiencing from the skincare products we were using. We started to research the ingredients in these products and learned that some of the chemicals were harsh and could lead to cancer. We started mixing some things in the kitchen to create products that would work for men and women. That eventually evolved into a facial scrub, our shaving cream and jelly and a beard product for men. We evolved into a healthcare brand for consumers who want to lead a more healthy lifestyle.

Our beard product has been our most popular brand, because it has a limited number of ingredients. More health conscious consumers love that it is a more health based product. We eliminate a lot of the harsher ingredients, giving it a coconut and shea butter base. It also has castor seed oil and hemp oil.

We have a new one that is made up of bamboo and teak which comes from a wood. The natural oils in it produces a lot of the aromas which is very intriguing to a lot of people.

What inspired you to create 103 Collection?

I have been an entrepreneur since I was 19. My background is in cosmetology. I was a very successful cosmetologist for 10 years, but felt there was something more. I started doing different events for family and friends and people would contact me for advice. I started an event planning business, but felt that was not something I could pass on to our three boys. We knew we wanted to start another business that our sons would take pride in and feel comfortable taking over.

We wanted to do something in the beauty industry, but wasn’t dominated in the market.

You have a sisterhood with other women business owners in the beauty industry that includes networking, attending events together, promoting each other’s products and more. What is the first step women should take to develop their own sisterhood of women entrepreneurs?

Make sure the women you surround yourself with have the same mindset as you. Have a group of women around you who understand that you need motivation or if you are having a bad day all you need is someone who will pray with you. Your sisterhood should consist of women who will root for you from the sidelines. They don’t feel like you are their direct competition. Although we are all in the beauty industry, we feel blessed when one of our friends makes it to the next level.

As a brand that’s been around for a few years, how are you ensuring that 103 Collection stands out from similar products that are household names?

At 103 Collection, we listen to our consumers. They set the stage for the new products we introduce. We go to expos and meet them in that creative space and they tell us what they like and give us insight on what we should be doing next. We don’t try to compete with other brands. We stay in our own lane and listen to our consumers. We can’t keep our Bamboo and Teak Beard Bundle in stock, it keeps selling out.

As a wife, mom and beauty entrepreneur you know the importance of self care. How do you balance self care and being a woman with many roles?

I think balance is a day to day challenge. We can have things planned out with our kids and family business, but things change. Kids are going to take the majority of your time with activities, etc. I have to have my time with my husband. I also have to have my girl time to laugh and have a good time with friends. When it comes to balance, things change with time.

It is what fulfills your cup at that moment.

To learn more about 103 collection, visit http://103collection.com.

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Photo Credit: Jason Web, Twin Vision Production

I’VE LEARNED FROM EXPERIENCE THAT IF EVERYONE YOU’RE WORKING WITH IS EQUALLY INVESTED IN THE OVERALL PURPOSE AND END GOAL, GREAT THINGS HAPPEN.

Ka'Terra

MEET KA'TERRA ASHBURN OF NATURALLY FLAWLESS SKIN When you talk to Ka’Terra Ashburn, co-founder of Naturally Flawless Skin, her passion for helping others have the most beautiful skin possible is not only evident, it’s contagious. Ka’Terra and her business partner Nicole Love, have created a skin care system that is as effective as it is natural. Their mission is to provide natural skin care that works without harsh chemicals and reactions. CEOMOM chatted with Ka’Terra for part 2 of our Naturally Flawless Skin feature.

What inspired you to partner with Nicole to create Naturally Flawless Skin?

Nicole and I have been friends for a long time. We met at a previous corporate job. I have a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. I have struggled with acne for many years and was having issues with chemical based treatments. Prescribed skin care products weren’t giving me the results I needed. The results were actually quite harsh. With Nicole’s business degree and my biology degree, we felt we could form the perfect partnership to create natural skin care remedies that would work. We started experimenting at home and creating concoctions until we found the results we were seeking. We were able to see what naturally works for various skin ailments we were experiencing. I have horrible acne on my chest and my back. It really impacted my self esteem. We both had the same desire to correct problems like mine in a healthy way.

People are developing all of these unusual ailments like rare cancers that we didn’t have back in the day. We believe it’s partially due to the harsh chemicals we are putting in and on our bodies.

Is Naturally Flawless Skin your introduction into entrepreneurship? Describe your professional background.

I work full time in the research department at the University of Chicago. We work to find better cures for cancer and other diseases. We test various remedies from prescription drugs to over the counter medications.

I am very passionate about my skin and because I have suffered with so many skin ailments since the age of 10, I am into helping others. I want to help others in a way that is not common. We aim to educate individuals on the proper way to take care of their skin. We want to get back to our natural roots.

What have been your most valuable lessons as a beauty entrepreneur?

My most valuable lesson as a beauty entrepreneur has been to move in silence. I’m very open about my life, my beliefs, my goals and aspirations. Unfortunately we live in an era where people are competing opposed to empowering, and hating instead of loving. I learned that being too open about everything isn’t the smartest way to go. With every new level of success there are new challenges and obstacles. You have to be very selective about who you share your world with and always remember that everyone isn’t rooting for you, some are simply looking for opportunity, for the next best idea, or even a way to deter you from achieving your dreams and goals.

As part of a sisterhood of women business owners you know the value of collaboration over competition. How has collaborating with other girl bosses helped you grow your business?

Collaboration is great when it’s with like minded individuals.

When teamwork happens the way it’s supposed to happen, it’s a true blessing. I’ve learned from experience that if everyone you’re working with is equally invested in the overall purpose and end goal, great things happen. You will find yourself working faster and innovating better. On the other hand, if you're truly passionate about something and God has given you a vision, it may be difficult to collaborate with others who don’t share the same passion. Make sure that if you collaborate, your energy, your work ethic, and you dedication match.

Where do you see Naturally Flawless Skin in five years?

In five years the plan is to expand the brand’s lineup, giving our clients access to a myriad of natural products that are not only effective but are healthy for you. We want to get the brand into retailers countrywide and acquire commercial property, giving our local customers the option to pick up opposed to waiting for shipments. We also want to do live product demonstrations. Our goal is to increase brand awareness as we expand to deliver, meet, and exceed expectations.

Learn more about Ka’Terra and Naturally Flawless Skin at http://naturallyflawlessskincare.com.

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Photo Credit: Jackie Parker

LET'S GET REAL

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE YOU WANT TO BE LIKE By: Ann Marie Sabath

“Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are.”

—author unknown Did you know that the four people with whom you spend the most time are who you become in the future? Scary, isn’t it? This fact alone should make you very selective about the company you keep.

Think about the individuals with whom you spend your leisure time.

Perhaps you go to dinner with certain people once a month. Or you go to the movies with someone who insists on choosing the films that aren’t even of interest to you, but you concede rather than going to the movie of your choice all by yourself.

Whatever the case, recognize that—for better or worse—over time, these people become influencers of your interests, actions, and even how you think.

Make a list of the four people with whom YOU spend the most time. Now, I am not asking you to disinherit your family members. Nor am I recommending that you change jobs—at least not for now. I am talking about the individuals with whom you choose to spend time outside of your family and work lives.

What are the five qualities that these individuals possess? Are they punctual?

Fiscally responsible? Well-read? Are they good listeners? Have a thirst for knowledge?

Or are they me, me, me people? Are their reading interests shallow by your standards? Are they constantly sharing their tales of woe without bothering to ask what is going on in your life?

Ask yourself, “Are you reinvigorated after spending time with these people or are you emotionally zapped?” Evaluate the ROI (return on your time investment) with these individuals by asking, “What have I gleaned from these people?” Are you now more fiscally responsible? Have you started reading books based on their author recommendations? Have you acquired a passion in opera, theater, ballet and/or classical music as a result of their interests?

If you realize that you are merely filling time with one of more of these individuals, adjust your relationship by getting together with them less often.

You may recognize that the value of the interactions with these people is that these relationships are not based on what they bring to you. Au contraire!

Rather, these relationships have value based on YOUR interests, experiences and knowledge. In other words, what you bring to the relationship table. If that is the case, then categorize your time with these people as that of “paying it forward.”

At the same time, give serious thought to the interests that you would like to develop and with whom you should surround yourself in order to expand your horizon. Heed counsel from the maven of advice, Oprah Winfrey who has been quoted as saying, “Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.” She certainly is right.

You will gain much satisfaction by giving your time to others. You also will experience a sense of gratification by being intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and/or physically stimulated by the individuals with whom you choose to surround yourself.

Photo Credit: Seungho Choi

You will gain much satisfaction by giving your time to others. You also will experience a sense of gratification by being intellectually, emotionally, spiritually and/or physically stimulated by the individuals with whom you choose to surround yourself.

It is called the Circle of Life. After all, in the big picture, you have to give to receive.

Ann Marie Sabath is the founder of At Ease Inc., the 31-year-old New York City-based business consulting firm. Her ninth book, What Self-Made Millionaires Do That Most People Don’t: 52 Secrets for Creating Your Own Success, was just published by Career Press. “Surrounding Yourself with People You Want to Be Like” is one of the 52 Secrets. For more information, visit www.annmariesabath.com.

CEOMOM | 55

WE HELP YOU GET WHAT YOUÂ NEED IN LIFE.

3 JUICING

RECIPES To Shake Off Pounds And Boost Your Energy

INGREDIENTS 1 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk 1 cup frozen berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries) 1 cup baby spinach 1 cup chopped kale or chard ½ tsp. pure vanilla extract 4-6 ice cubes

INSTRUCTIONS Combine all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth and creamy.

WE HELP YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED IN LIFE. ROCKIN’ GREEN SMOOTHIE CEOMOM | 57

CINNAMON SWIRL INGREDIENTS 2 cups full-fat coconut milk 1 cup chopped apple ½ cup packed baby spinach 1 tsp. Ground cinnamon, or ½ tsp. Liquid cinnamon Several drops of stevia 4-6 ice cubes Add protein powder

INSTRUCTIONS Put all the ingredients in a blender and process until creamy.

WE HELP YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED IN LIFE.

Photo Credit: Cherie Calbom, Sipping Skinny, (Lake Mary, FL: Siloam, 2018),

About Cherie Calbom Cherie Calbom, author of The Juice Lady’s Sipping Skinny (www.juiceladycherie.com), holds a Master of Science degree in whole foods nutrition from Bastyr University. She is author of 35 books, including The Juice Lady’s Anti-Inflammation Diet, The Juice Lady’s Big Book of Juices and Green Smoothies, The Juice Lady’s Turbo Diet, The Juice Lady’s Living Foods Revolution, The Complete Cancer Cleanse, and Juicing for Life with over 2 million books sold in the US and published in 23 countries. She has worked as a celebrity nutritionist with George Foreman and Richard Simmons, and has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows and in scores of magazine articles. She appeared on QVC for over 13 years with the George Foreman grill.

Known as “The Juice Lady” for her work with juicing and health, her juice therapy and cleansing programs have been popular for more than a decade.

CEOMOM | 58

INGREDIENTS

1 qt. purified water 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar (raw) 2 tbsp. lemon juice 1 tsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. cinnamon Dash of cayenne pepper Several drops of stevia to taste

INSTRUCTIONS Mix all ingredients together. Drink a glass 20 minutes before a meal.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR FAT BLASTER

Motivated Mom Retreat Sept. 14-16, 2018 Hosted by LaToyia Dennis with Keynote Speaker, Cookie Johnson & the Motivated Mom of the Year Award Recipient, Jonnetta Patton Designed to celebrate the extraordinary mom in each of us, the Motivated Mom Retreat is described as the event of the year for entrepreneur moms, working moms, stay-at-home moms, aspiring moms and other mother figures.

Jonnetta Patton, mom of music superstar, Usher, received the Motivated Mom of the Year Award at the national retreat, which was held at the Hilton DallasRockwall. Author, philanthropist and wife of Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Cookie Johnson, was the keynote speaker.The retreat also included a Dads Edition Panel moderated by Rock-T of the Rickey Smiley Morning Show. Panelists included Hollywood actor Flex Alexander, Jorge Narvaez, influencer and founder of RealityChangers, and gospel recording artist, Myron Butler.

CEOMOM interviewed Jonnetta Patton about her latest business venture, J's Kitchen Culinary Incubator, and what the Motivated Mom of the Year Award meant to her.

Tell us about J’s Kitchen Culinary Incubator and what makes it so special.

J’s Kitchen is a shared kitchen with professional business services. Our mission is to help serious culinary entrepreneurs establish ownership in a sustainable business.

What makes us different is we are a brick and mortar destination for inspired culinary entrepreneurs with a nurturing environment that fosters growth. We have the tools for success.

What inspired you to create this new concept in the culinary world?

By speaking to my personal chefs about the pitfalls of shared kitchens, I decided to research shared kitchens. I found the operations of shared kitchens to be a simple process.

I decided to open a shared kitchen, but I wanted to be different so I added professional business services. With my business success in music management and chef's passion and skills, my new venture J’s Kitchen Culinary Incubator just made sense and was needed in the culinary world, per my conversation with Certified Master Chef, Daryl Shular, CMC. Chef Shular was my first management client. Chef Shular has one of the highest honors in the culinary industry. There are only 68 Certified Master Chefs in the world and Chef Shular is the only minority that has been awarded this honor by the American Culinary Federation, ACF. How did being a powerhouse in the entertainment industry prepare you for your new role as the founder of J’s Kitchen Culinary Incubator.

First, I reinvented myself! I transformed my management business skills into a culinary career. The culinary and music Industries are similar. Chefs are artists!

They both have skills and are passionate in their perspective fields of business.

They both have Big EGOS! There is no difference, just a different industry.

First, I reinvented myself! I transformed my management business skills into a culinary career. ~ Jonnetta Patton

Photography by: Ariawna Talton of Miss Ari Photography.

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Real Beauty Real Women for “Pucker Up for Change”

Congratulations on receiving the 2018 Motivated Mom of the Year award. What does this award mean to you?

Receiving the 2018 Motivated Mom of the Year award was a major benchmark on my life and business journey. Respect is earned and being honored is respect that is willingly given. At 60, I decided to do something for myself with purpose. I enjoy being instrumental in the evolution of others.

Receiving the honor of “Motivated Mom of the Year", touched my heart. First, I love being a mom and grandma. Second, I am MOM around the globe, which is earned respect. I have worked hard for others and now I’m on a mission for myself. My first goal for J’s Kitchen Culinary Incubator was met with a bonus. My first goal was to make the two year mark in this new venture, I made it! The bonus was, I received the “Motivated Mom of the Year” award! I appreciated the respect received for my hard work!

Thank you LaToyia Dennis and Motivated Moms!

CEOMOM talked to the founder of the Motivated Mom Retreat, LaToyia Dennis, about her passion for inspiring moms and why a retreat like this is needed.

Tell us about The Motivated Mom and what the organization does.

I started the Motivated Mom platform by accident. I run an organization called The Chance to Learn and we host summer reading camps for 3 to 5-year-old kids to prepare them for kindergarten. The school district loved the program, but felt that the students' moms were not engaged. They asked me to talk to them. I talked to the moms, and at the end all these mainly single moms felt that they couldn't be engaged, because of limited CEOMOM | 62

resources. I decided I wanted to motivate moms to be great women so they can be extraordinary moms. A friend of mine who was in position at Prudential at the time said, “Hey, I am going to give you $50,000 to do a tour. You’re the Motivated Mom.” And so I launched this platform and I did my first tour in Chicago and 200 moms showed up.

Why is an organization like The Motivated Mom so important?

Having a support group is incredibly important. I want to create a platform and be a voice that assures moms that they are great women and extraordinary moms when they have the courage to take care of themselves. I share my highs, lows, ups and downs with moms. I talk to them about my failures, successes, and lessons learned without shame or guilt, in hopes that they would feel comfortable accepting those things about themselves. When you know that you are not the only person experiencing epic fails and the imperfections of motherhood, you learn to enjoy the journey even more.

What makes The Motivated Mom Retreat different from other events for moms?

The Motivated Mom Retreat was created to help moms improve their self care. It’s a retreat designed by and for moms. We just want moms to take the time to retreat so that they are more “present” with their children.

Learn more about Motivated Mom at https://www.motivatedmom.org/.

GLAMCON 2018

LET’S GIVE BREAST CANCER SURVIVORS AND FIGHTERS A DAY TO REINVIGORATE THEIR INNER AND OUTER BEAUTY Lofty Spaces 816 Montgomery Street, Dallas, TX 75215 October 20, 2018, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Visit www.glamconevents.org for more details.

October 20 | 10AM | Lofty Spaces

Keynote Speaker, Crystal King www.glamconevents.org

THANK YOU

BEAUTY SPONSORS GLAMCON THANKS YOU FOR HELPING TO MAKE OUR GLAMOROUS CONQUERORS FEEL BEAUTIFUL!

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