CEOMOM Spring 2020

Spring 2020

2020

DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK

5 TIPS TO ENVISION THE BEST VERSION OF YOU

DAYNA BOLDEN INSPIRING WOMEN TO LIVE BOLDLY SIMONA GRACE HELPING MORE MOMS GET INTO OFFICE

KATE CROCCO TEACHING WOMEN TO THINK LIKE A BOSS

ENVISION HER BOLD

e u ss I e l b u Do

WHEN BEAUTIFUL SKIN IS ALL YOU NEED www.mixiavenue.com

CONTENTS

06 MEET ESÉ AZÉNABOR Esé Azénabor’s love for fashion began when she was a little girl in Nigeria, Africa. From bridal to couture evening wear, Azénabor is one of the most sought after designers across the globe.

12 CREATE A NEW BUSINESS IN 5 EASY STEPS If you have been dreaming about your own business, it’s the best time to start one. Start the journey toward your dream with these 5 steps.

24 2020: DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK The COVID-19 pandemic has put the world on pause. What we will be like once this is all over is up to us.

26 MEET DAYNA

58 MAKING FAMILY MEALTIME SUCCESSFUL Here are a few tips for parents to make family mealtime successful on most days of the week.

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ENVISION HER BOLD Editor-in-Chief Vonna Matthews

Contributing Designer Photo Editor Cover Photography Dayna Bolden Photography Contributing Photographer Contributing Photographer Contributing Writer Contributing Writer Contributing Writer

Taly Melo Krystal Jackson K. Marie Taylor S. Hunter Emmanuel Oyeleke Meshali Mitchell Holly Caplan Noni Robinson Kelley Johnson

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

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

Photo Credit: Emmanuel Oyeleke

ESÉ AZÉNABOR: THE INTERSECTION OF ART, FASHION AND CULTURE

E

sé Azénabor’s love for fashion began when she was a little girl in Nigeria, Africa. Inspired by her best friend’s mom, she learned how to sew and design dresses at an early age. Influenced by art and her culture, Azénabor’s designs are impeccable, intricate, elegant and breathtaking. You know an Esé Azénabor design when you see it.

It was no easy feat transitioning from a career in accounting to being one of the most sought after couture bridal and haute evening wear designers in the world, but Azénabor proved that her love for fashion was more than a hobby. In November 2019, she debuted her Paradise Collection which was inspired by her beautiful daughter, Elah. With more than eight collections, Azénabor is showing no signs of slowing down. One of her latest projects is a collection of Covid-19 protective masks which benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Trammell Crow Hancock's 2020 LLS Man of the Year campaign.

CEOMOM Magazine spoke to Azénabor about her latest collection, Paradise, her design process, and the challenges of adding motherhood to her demanding career.

Who is Esé Azénabor?

She is a woman, a founder and the designer of Esé Azénabor. She is a mom. She’s a wife. She’s fabulous.

You are a self taught designer? What sparked your love for couture fashion?

I have been a designer since I was eight. I would make clothes for friends and family members and myself. It is something I always loved to do. It started with my neighbor back in Nigeria; her daughter was my best friend. During the Christmas holidays my friend would wear the nicest gowns and beaded shoes, all handmade by her mom. My sister and I spent a lot of time at her house. To us, she was a magician. She would create the most amazing gowns. I didn't understand what she was doing at the time, but I was fascinated. She would give me samples and I would take them back to my house and create something for my dolls.

My love for designing dresses grew as I got older. My family wanted me to be a doctor or lawyer so I swept my love for fashion under the rug. I went to the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada for accounting. I later moved to Texas to get my master’s degree at Southern Methodist University. Being on my own for the first time allowed me to venture out and try the fashion thing again. My friends loved my designs and encouraged me to make dresses for clients. I initially thought it would just be a hobby and I would keep my real job.

I created my first collection in 2012 and the reception was amazing. I put my master’s on hold to see where this fashion thing would take me. I spent a lot of money on this collection without having the clientele. At first, I didn't know the Dallas fashion scene. I didn't know who my client was. I finally found my client in 2016 when one of my brides wore a dress from my beaded collection.

Now, we have brides from Australia, Africa and all parts of Europe, including London. I’ve been extremely blessed.

God is awesome.

Describe the Esé Azénabor woman.

She is bold. She is not a wallflower. She understands art.

She understands passion and creativity. She loves to travel and she is very international. She is a strong, hard working woman. She is a businesswoman and a philanthropist.

Walk us through your design process? How has becoming a mother impacted your design process?

We are predominately custom based. A client comes into the showroom and we sit with them to understand what she is all about, what she likes and doesn’t like, where she is going, and the occasion for the garment. We start with the material. Our materials are handmade in our showroom or in different parts of the world such as Turkey, Brazil and Paris. It starts with the sketch and the muslin which is a mockup of the dress. With every custom piece, we make sure the initial measurements are right.

Once the mockup is done, we transfer it to the actual material. My client then comes back for a fitting to make sure everything is as she wants it.

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Photo Credit: Marcus Owens

Photo Credit: Marcus Owens

My daughter, Elah, was my inspiration for my Paradise Collection.

She just turned one and when I'm with her I feel like I'm in paradise.

Photo Credit: Chris Jones

How we create a complete collection is different from our custom design process. I draw inspiration from what I am inspired by at that time period in my life. I sit with my design team to develop a story that I want my audience to understand. We start out with the material for the looks. It takes eight months to a year to complete a collection.

My daughter was my inspiration for the Paradise Collection.

Before becoming a mother, I was never a lover of pink. It is now my favorite color, because of my daughter. Going through the process of being a new mom, breastfeeding while creating, and learning to take breaks, was very stressful. However, I would not trade this part of my life for anything in the world.

She has inspired me with a new found love that I can not explain. She has made me stronger.

Every mompreneur has to decide what’s best for her when deciding the right time to go back to work. How did you decide when to get back to work? Describe your transition.

I did the wrong things. When we do it again, I want to take three months for maternity leave. I went to work two weeks after having Elah. I remember pushing and thinking, “I hope they haven’t turned my showroom upside down.” I had a major client call after having my baby. I picked up the call. I didn't know how to disconnect and separate work from this new phase of my life. My body started breaking down. I started getting a lot of pain and going back to the hospital, all because I didn't get the rest I needed. I had Elah last May, and we had an overflow of brides that year. I didn't know how to delegate, although I have an amazing team. I felt like I could do everything. Elah is my first baby; work was my first child.

Your work is luxurious, and ethereal, with impeccable detail.

What are your greatest design inspirations and influences?

My greatest influences are my culture, my childhood and the places I have visited.

How has the way you approach your business changed since becoming a mother?

I have to plan and delegate more than before so I can have more time for my daughter.

What was the inspiration behind your latest line, Paradise?

My daughter, Elah, was my inspiration for my Paradise Collection. She just turned one and when I'm with her I feel like I'm in paradise. So I wanted to create a collection that represented everything beautiful to me.

What can we expect from Ese Azénabor in 2020?

Our Bridal collection will be carried in Bridal Stores in Atl & LA. We also want to expand to more markets.

To learn more about Esé https://www.eseazenabor.com/.

Azénabor,

visit

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5 Easy Steps to Start Your Own Business With the recent events, for many entrepreneurship has become a viable alternative to generating income. If you have been dreaming about your own business, now is the best time to start one.

Start the journey toward your dream with these 5 steps. #1 Step: Business Idea This step might seem obvious, but it is an essential one. If you have been dreaming about a business for a while now, you might already have an idea on what you want to be doing. But you have to be sure that there is a demand for it. The best way to be sure about a demand is to create a business that solves an existing problem. The Guardian writes: “If you identify an issue that someone else hasn’t already solved, chances are there will be a market for it.” #2 Step: Business Plan Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said that a goal without a plan is just a wish. In order to turn your dream into reality you have to make a plan for it. A business plan is a written document with business goals, methods on how to reach them, and a time frame to do so. There is no single right way to write a business plan. So you have the freedom to create one for your specific ideas. #3 Step: Business Name With the business idea and plan ready it’s time to think about the name of the business. And it can be quite a challenge.

You want the name to be unique, but simple to remember. It should be selfexplanatory but not too long.

In addition to all of that, Arnas Stuopelis, Chairman of the Board of hosting provider Hostinger, warns: “Before deciding on your business name, check if the domain with that name is available. It can be harmful to have different a business name and website address.”

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look at this as a journey and go forward one step

at a time #4 Step: Business License A business is not a business without a permit. And it is vital to get your documentation right. It might seem complicated at first, because different locations might have different requirements for the permit and it’s not that easy to google them out. But you can seek guidance from your local community. Most cities have local small business associations where you can get all the answers you need. #5 Step: Business Team Starting the business is not that hard. The difficult part is to maintain it. And to make it easier for you, you should do it with a team. If you have connections and resources, Alan Hall suggests an ultimate team of five: The leader, who would encourage, motivate, reward and provide feedback; The expert, who would understand the market: competitors, customers, trends; The financial guru, who would handle accounting, finance, strategy and cash flow;

The strategist, who would help to grow the business by researching, comprehending and reporting on opportunities and challenges down the road; The executor, who would know what needs to be done, when and how.

In the beginning of the small business, the team of five might sound too big and it’s ok. But it doesn’t mean that you have to do everything alone. Your family and your friends can and should be on your team. Not necessarily business-wise, but as people who would support and encourage you.

Today can be the beginning of your new business. To make it happen you should work on your promising business idea. Write a well thought out business plan.

Create a vivid business name. Get all the legal work done. And put together a determined team. It might seem like a lot at first. But look at this as a journey and go forward one step at a time.

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Kate Crocco EMPOWERING WOMEN TO THINK LIKE A BOSS Kate Crocco believes that being a boss starts with your mindset. Believing that you can be whatever you are called to be starts with a mindshift that translates into action. Crocco works to help ambitious female leaders uncover what’s been holding them back, dispel the lies they have believed about themselves, and step into an authentic CEO mindset.

Crocco shared with us what it means to think like a boss, both as a woman and a mother, and why faith plays a role in how she sees herself.

Who is Kate Crocco?

I am a mama to two sweet little girls. My oldest daughter turned three in April. The past three years have flown by. My youngest daughter is about 18 months. They're both sweet beautiful, little girls. I love being a mom to my daughters. I'm also a wife and a business owner, and I'm living a life that looks different from what I envisioned as a younger version of myself, as a college and graduate student. Although it’s quite different from what I imagined, I'm grateful for how it turned out.

Tell us about your roles as a psychotherapist and Confidence and Mindset Coach. What does your work entail?

As a confidence and mindset coach I am able to use my skills as a psychotherapist to niche down and work with women entrepreneurs on all of the lies, fears and insecurities that come with owning a business. This business was born with me starting my psychotherapy practice in 2014, and going through all sorts of lies and

beliefs myself. I believed that I wasn't qualified to be a business owner, because I didn't have a business degree or I was too young to start a business. I believed that people wouldn't take me seriously. I told myself that I wasn't brave or confident enough. I needed to unpack those lies and identify them for what they were. Eventually, I overcame them. I then realized how normal they were.

Going into business, you think it is all about setting up the different systems, having the skills and even the equipment to run a business. What we don't understand is that it's about our mindset. If we aren't sold on ourselves, no one else is going to purchase our products or services. I always say, “Your business is as healthy as you are internally.” If you are struggling internally, your business is not going to do well or it's not going to do the best that it can do. As a confidence and mindset coach, I work with women to debunk the same lies that I told myself. No matter where you are in business, self doubt and believing lies are going to come back. The more you grow, the more you're going to struggle with them in some way, yet the faster you are going to be able to overcome them, because you've been through it before. You have that memory, you have the evidence that you have already moved past it before, so you can move past it even faster now.

When I started my business in 2014, I worried about simple things like having a conversation or setting boundaries with clients. Those thoughts would snowball into something bigger and bigger. Today, I may struggle with the same thoughts or insecurities, but I have the experience and skills to overcome them faster. I now know that harping on this thing for a week or several weeks doesn't change the situation. If anything, it makes the

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LIVING OUR LIVES IS ABOUT BEING IN THE MINDSET OF NOT NEEDING OUTSIDE VALIDATION. outcome less favorable, because I am more attached to the situation and there's more emotion involved.

Therefore, my response or interaction may not be as clear. When I talk about it today, it may seem easy for me, but I tell the women I work with that it is going to take time to shift your mindset and stop believing the lies you’ve been telling yourself about who you are and what you can do. It’s practicing the same positive thoughts and actions everyday. It’s putting yourself out of your comfort zone and doing something hard every day in order to get to that place where these are new patterns, habits and behaviors that become ingrained in you. It’s like learning to ride a bike. It’s challenging in the beginning, but eventually it's something that you do without even thinking.

You recently released your book, “Thinking Like a Boss: Uncover and Overcome the Lies Holding You Back from Success.” What does it mean to think like a boss? What are some of the lies women believe regarding their ability to achieve success?

The definition of thinking like a boss is being able to think forward and step into the behaviors that are going to get you to the place you want to be. It’s doing things that are uncomfortable, because when you do uncomfortable things consistently, they become easier.

Thinking like a boss means learning to make decisions in your business based on your own desires and needs, and not allowing other people’s opinions to dictate that. It’s taking control of your life and living it with freedom.

Some of the most common lies are lies around not

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having enough time. There's not enough time for me to pursue my dreams or pursue my calling. Or I can't be a good mom and have a successful career or successful business. I think we often think that things in life are either or. We can either be a great mom or we could have a successful career and not have kids. That’s a lie I really struggled with before becoming a mom, and ended up believing. I believed that if I wanted to be successful in business, kids were not an option. It wasn't until becoming a mother that I was able to change that mindset and realize that you can choose both. It may look different than what you expected, but it is possible to have both.

Other lies are feeling that you're not ready and you need all of your friends and family to be on board and understand what you're doing. Sometimes we may be the only person who believes in our dreams. If that dream is that big for you, and you really want to make it happen, you are going to have to do it despite the lack of validation you get from others. Living our lives is about being in the mindset of not needing outside validation. Keep your head down or keep it straight, and do what you want to do or are called to do, without looking around.

What is the one thing you hope women take away from the book?

I want women to believe that they can make their dreams a reality. We often tell ourselves that we can't do something. We compare ourselves to others. We say that another person is more talented or has more experience and qualifications, or money. We assume that it must be easy for them. I don’t think we should focus on those presumed disqualifiers. The odds may be against you, but that doesn't mean that you can't win. I encourage women

I've been able to step more into the role of a boss and CEO after having kids and having so much less time, because I've learned to set boundaries.

Photo Credit: Erica of Sweet Alice Photography

to look for the stories of people who were disqualified. Every odd was against them and despite that, their resilience and willingness to listen to that small voice that told them they can do it pushed them to take the small consistent steps needed to accomplish their goals. I believe that when there are more odds against you, you have a higher chance of going out there and making things happen. When things don't come easy, you learn to get creative and find other ways to get the resources you need. I have a mentor who says, “If the dream is in you, it is for you.” If you can take the necessary actions, it’s possible you can make that dream a reality.

What role does your faith play in the way you coach women to develop a boss mindset?

My faith is the belief in God. Those times when I looked around and felt that I wasn’t getting validation from the people I wanted to receive it from, or I wasn’t sure if I believed in myself, I would look in the Bible and scripture and see that God is for me. God believes that miracles can happen for me, and that all things are possible through him. That keeps me going. Whatever your belief system is, replace those lies with those beliefs over and over again. Filling your mind with those words is just another powerful way to help you get through difficult times. For me, it's listening to an uplifting podcast or sermon and sharing those words. It’s filling my mind with positive words rather than lies.

What we think about is what we believe, and what we believe is

how we're going to act. It’s important that you start with your ears. Start with what you're putting into your ears and what's going into your head and your heart.

Faith has played such a huge role for me. When there are people who don't believe in me and when I don't believe in myself, I know that God still believes in me.

Why is it important for moms to think like a boss?

First of all, moms are superwomen. If all moms could think like a boss, the world could be such a different place. If moms could think like a boss enough to be able to set boundaries and set limits and see who they want to be, things could be so different.

So many women do what they think they should do, what they need to do, or what other people are wanting them to do. We don't always think about what's best for ourselves. I've been able to step more into the role of a boss and CEO after having kids and having so much less time, because I've learned to set boundaries. I've learned to set limits. I ask myself all the time, “Is me saying yes to this opportunity the best decision for my family?” Me saying yes to this, whatever it is, means spending less time with my family. If moms could set more boundaries, there's so much that could be done. Moms would feel even more empowered and fulfilled in their calling as a mom, and in their careers or businesses if they would set more boundaries.

Photo Credit: Erica of Sweet Alice Photography

As you look at your next steps, what do you envision for Kate Crocco?

My desire is to bring my business to a place where I can be even more present for my family. That's my number one vision, to be more available. I also want to make a bigger impact in the world. In the past, I thought it had to be one or the other; make a bigger impact in the world, or be a better mom, and be more present for my family. These days I believe that I can do both. I'm so grateful, because the opportunity to write a book has opened doors for me to do that. My dream is to have this book reach thousands and thousands of people, and inspire them to begin believing in themselves even more, all while being that example for my girls.

To learn more about Kate Crocco and to get her book, Thinking Like a Boss: Uncover and Overcome the Lies Holding You Back from Success, visit https://www.katecrocco.com/.

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5 Reasons Why Your Business Website Should Have A Blog Create engaging content to drive traffic to your site and increase your audience.

Before deciding which goods or services to pick, people tend to research them online.

In this scenario, your business website can help to make a memorable first impression.

You should grab people’s attention and turn it into sales. To do that, in addition to the usual information, your business website should have a blog as well. And here are 5 reasons why.

Be Up To Date There is a good chance that your goods or services are not changing every other day.

In this case, your website might seem quite static. But you can update your blog as often as you want. And it shows that the business is alive and up to date. There is a wide selection of topics you can cover. It doesn’t have to be directly related to your business.

“Even though we offer hosting services, in our blog we share our daily thoughts, lessons, and discoveries. For example, the last blog post is “How to Stay Inspired as a Web Designer.” This way we can show that we are up to date: working, improving, and sharing our insights,” - tells Arnas Stuopelis, Chairman of web hosting provider Hostinger.

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Get Organic Traffic Your blog posts are visible not only for your customers but for the search engines as well.

Corey Wainwright writes on HubSpot: “Every time you write a blog post, it's one more indexed page on your website, which means it's one more opportunity for you to show up in search engines and drive traffic to your website in organic search.” Relevant blog posts can increase your organic traffic, bring potential clients, and boost your sales.

Become An Expert If you are deeply interested in your field, you can write blog posts that review the current situation, trends or other important information. It can help you to build your own personal image as an expert on this topic. The media might start to quote your blog, or ask for your opinion on similar topics. This brings you extra coverage and increases your business reliability.

Build Relationships Another important part of a blog post is its comment section. It helps to start a discussion and build a relationship. A website can look like a one-way

communication channel. Blog posts help to change that. Forbes writes: “It helps form a more personable relationship between the company and the customer: giving a human image behind the logo.”

Improve Social Media Content Your business probably has not only a website but social media accounts as well. Sometimes it can be a real headache to decide what to post online. You don’t want to seem too pushy with your adverts and you don’t want to be too random as well. Your blog content can help with your social media and be a great reason to update your status with the latest post.

Your business website is essential for your success. You can improve it even more with the business blog. New posts can show that your business is active and up to date. Relevant topics can increase your organic traffic. If you do researches, write reviews or analyze current trends, you build your image as an expert. The comment section can build better relationships with your clients. And new blog posts can be perfect content for your social media posts. If you put your honest work into your business blog, the benefits can be priceless.

CUBICLES & CHRIST PODCAST W/ KELLEY JOHNSON

Coronavirus: A Faith in the Workplace Response Work, school, life and even church as we know it have changed. Not forever, but probably for a season. COVID-19 news and updates are rampant, and if that wasn't enough, our jobs, businesses and school schedules are evolving just as quickly.

A few moments ago, I spoke with a Fortune 100 client who shared that things are changing by the hour at her company. In despair, she asked the Lord, "What is this all for?" Then, she got my phone call, and for the first time ever, we talked about our faith. Hallelujah!

I share this story to show that God is still speaking, moving and working... despite the noise, frenzy and uncertainty.

For "such a time as this," we all have an opportunity to trust God like never before, to listen and respond to His leading like never before.

In the Coronavirus: A Faith in the Workplace Response episode, I talk about the 5 areas that are top of mind right now for Believers in the workplace and the 3 things we can do to stay salty and relevant Listen now.

Don't Call It a Comeback

Stop. That’s what it feels like the world has been doing for the past few months. Not a complete stop that eliminates all activity, but the kind of stop that forces you to sit back and reflect on what’s important. It’s the kind of stop that gets rid of all the extra, the things you have been holding on to that you may not need.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put the world on pause. It has revealed a lot about our culture, our country and our communities that already existed, but remained in hiding because of busyness and lack of reflection. It’s created two worlds, a virtual world riddled with Zoom calls and an at-home world that is either bringing families together or creating controlled chaos.

For a lot of us the shelter-in-place orders have helped to enhance a bond and closeness to our families. New family traditions are being made and conversations are going deeper. For others, the pain and abuse has continued or even increased.

This pandemic has made us look. Look at the American healthcare system, a hybrid system that is not serving the needs of all its citizens, including its workers. We’ve developed a higher appreciation for hospital workers from doctors to nurses to techs. They are our new heroes as they fight on the frontline and in the community.

We’ve had to look at the way we run our small businesses. For many, this current economic crisis is the first time we’ve had to pivot our business models, and it may be one of the best

decisions we’ve ever made. We’ve had to look at our educational system and determine if we need a more forward thinking approach to how we educate our students. We’ve had to look at the inequalities that continue to permeate our society and widen the economic, social and health gaps that leave black and brown people disproportionately impacted.

We’ve had to look at ourselves and reevaluate our focus. Are we honed in on the things that are creating transformative change or are we doing what we’ve always done for the sake of normalcy and familiarity?

We’ve seen isolation, death and healing. We’ve experienced resiliency, human compassion and servanthood. We’ve been inundated with statistics, charts and debriefs. Face coverings are now an integral part of our personal style and social distancing is a regular part of our vernacular.

Whether you see this as a new normal or the “here and now” that will eventually fade away, the evolution is happening right before our eyes.

We have been tested as a nation and united as a world. From companies continuing to leverage the capabilities and benefits of a remote work environment to the development of new businesses to the deconstruction of societal norms, don’t call it a comeback, because we will never be the same.

Vonna Matthews

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Dayna Bolden

INSPIRING WOMEN TO LIVE BOLDLY CEOMOM | 27

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YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO LEAP AND GO AFTER WHATEVER YOUR GOAL IS. IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO BE ENTREPRENEURSHIP. YOU JUST HAVE TO BE WILLING TO BET ON YOURSELF...

“If there's one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself.” ~ Beyoncé Dayna Bolden's illustrious career is a beautiful manifestation of what it means to bet on yourself.

What she thought was a hobby has blossomed into a fashion, lifestyle and beauty brand that is as empowering as it is impeccable. She doesn’t just want women to dream, she wants them to boldly execute their dreams. This wife and mother of two is a host, model, CEO of Bolden Creative Media, and a beauty and lifestyle digital content creator who aims to inspire women to live with love, passion and style. One of her favorite words is “passion” and that is evident in everything she does.

CEOMOM Magazine had the honor of speaking to Bolden about her transition from corporate to fulltime entrepreneurship, what she envisions for herself in 2020, and the power that comes from betting on yourself.

Who is Dayna Bolden?

Dayna Bolden is a wife, a mother to two amazing little kids, my daughter Aria, who is six years old, and my son Bryce, he is ten months old. I am a boss, mom and entrepreneur. I've been running my business now for three years full time. Overall, Dayna Bolden is a woman of faith and a woman that's going after her goals and dreams.

Where did you garner your love for fashion?

It started at a very young age. My mom is my fashion idol. Even when I was one, she would dress me in matching diapers and hair bows. She was all about fashion and looking good. She inspired and instilled in me at a young age the importance of making sure your clothes look good and fit well.

She has definitely inspired my sense of style and love for fashion.

You left an eight year career in corporate to build the Dayna Bolden Brand full-time. Describe your transition from a corporate gal to a full-time entrepreneur. What were some of the challenges?

How did you overcome those challenges?

When I graduated with a business marketing degree, my goal was to get a good job. I never thought entrepreneurship was for me. I didn't have family members who were entrepreneurs so I never considered it as something to pursue. After graduating, I got that great job. I worked in corporate America for eight years and I tried to climb the corporate ladder because again, that's what I thought I needed to do to be successful. I was trying to climb the corporate ladder, and I found that I wasn't getting where I thought I should be within my career, and I wasn’t feeling fulfilled.

After I had my daughter, a lot of the focus was on her and the family, and trying to grow my career. I started to lose myself in a sense of feeling happy, and motivated. I remember my husband telling me, “You need to do something. You need to find a passion and do something outside of the hustle and bustle of grinding for work, and the hustle and bustle of taking care of my daughter. What are you going to do to make yourself happy?” I love fashion, and I love natural hair so I decided to start a blog.

That's when I saw that it was something that I enjoyed doing. I love inspiring other women. I love sharing my love for fashion and my lifestyle. In the beginning I didn't think it was a career move. I wanted to do it because I loved it, and it was an outlet for me.

The Plan After about two years of blogging consistently, I saw that I was starting to get more opportunities. I was starting to get paid, and to get brand sponsorships. Two years into blogging, I was making more money than I was working a full time job. This was crazy to me. I was doing something that I absolutely loved on the side that was bringing in two times what I was making in corporate. Once I got to the position of bringing in a significant income, I saw that this was something that I could do full time. I developed a plan, and told my husband that this was a possibility for me. I worked to save $10,000. Once I got to that mark, I knew it was time for me to make the jump.

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Betting on Me One of the challenges I was facing was having to choose between my job and my passion. I was always going to choose my passion. My blog opportunities were becoming more demanding. I would have a photo shoot in Atlanta or an event in another city. I was having to constantly call off work. That became a challenge, because obviously my company wanted me to be present. I also hadn’t disclosed that I had a blog, because it was just a side gig at the time. Once it started to grow and take on a life of its own, I had to tell them that I was a blogger. More and more, my corporate job was getting in the way. I knew I had to bet on myself, and that’s when I decided to take the leap. Here we are, and I love it.

Your mission is to inspire women to boldly execute their dreams. What are your top three tips to go from dreamer to doer?

My number one tip would be to believe in yourself.

When I talk to women they are scared, which I get.

I was there. I sat at my desk, and I was scared to make that leap. But I feel like you just have to go, you have to be willing to bet on yourself. You have to be willing to leap and go after whatever that goal is. It doesn't necessarily have to be entrepreneurship. You just have to be willing to bet on yourself to either go for that promotion and tell your boss, “This is why I deserve this promotion.”

Or, jump out and start that new business venture.

Whatever it is, you have to be bold.

My second tip is to surround yourself with other women who are doing great things. You are the sum of those who surround you. If you are around people who are constantly pushing and motivating you, you're going to want to do better. They're going to be able to help you and assist you. My tribe of women are amazing, and my tribe consists of my mom. I'm very close to my mom and my sister. They are my close inner tribe because I can tell them anything, and they are going to give me the straight up no matter what. They are not going to hold back. I also have my husband who is my best friend. My tribe also includes a group of women that I have within my career circle. I've met so many bloggers and other business women who are doing amazing things and have helped me.

Surround yourself with people who are going to push you, motivate you, and ultimately assist you to get where you have to go.

My last thing is to have faith. I have God; I wouldn't be anywhere without him. Praying and having faith in him has definitely gotten me to this position.

You have grown a beauty and lifestyle brand that is as empowering as it is impeccable. What do you envision for the Dayna Bolden Brand in 2020?

Where do you see the brand in five years?

I have so many amazing things that I want to do. I feel like this is my year to level up with my brand.

As much as I love being an influencer, and I'm going to always naturally be an influencer, I don't want that to be my end all. I am already in the process of starting other businesses. I made the leap and started Bolden Creative Media which is the parent company to my blogger brand. I am also creating a legacy for my children. My daughter and I are working on a children's book line that's going to come out this year.

In addition to expanding my brand, I’ve been doing creative directing, and producing national campaigns for beauty brands. I love collaborating with other creatives such as photographers and videographers to create a visual that brings a brand vision to life.

For the past two years, I’ve been working on a skin care line. I’m super into beauty and skin so why not have my own. That is scheduled to launch this year.

In five years, I want to be a huge business mogul mom who gives back to those living in poverty, and creates opportunities for women in my community.

Finish this sentence. Envision me _____________.

Envision me going after my dreams. I'm succeeding and inspiring you to do it, too.

You’ve said that ‘passion’ is your favorite word and it is evident in everything you do. How has being a mom impacted the way you pursue passion?

My babies inspire me every single day. Everything that I'm doing and working to build is because I want to set them up to be in a good position when I leave this earth. I am passionate about showing them that they can be whatever they want to be. I don't ever want to put them in a box and say, “Oh, you have to go to college or you have to be a doctor.” I want them to see that they can do whatever they want, and be happy and successful in their chosen field. My kids inspire me, and I am so blessed to be a mom and to have the best of both worlds with a little girl and a little boy. I love being able to be the best mom for them.

To learn more about Dayna Bolden, visit her at https://www.daynabolden.com/.

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Simona

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Photo Credit: Jade Alayne Photography

SIMONA GRACE

HELPING MORE MOMS GET ELECTED TO OFFICE

The best advocates are those who share similar experiences or have an intimate connection to the cause. With this current pandemic, we have seen firsthand the need for Paid Parental Leave on the federal level and more legislation to support working parents, particularly moms. In American two-parent households, 7 out of 10 mothers with children under 18 are working. Research shows that primary care still falls on the mom even when both parents are working. With the costs of childcare rising, moms are often forced to choose between staying at home and having a career. Who better to advocate for the rights of working moms and families than moms themselves.

Startling statistics show that only 5% of our legislators in Congress are moms with children under 18. Simona Grace, an immigrant and single mom from Hungary founded a Political Action Committee, Moms in Office, to increase that percentage of mothers in our legislature, and change the narrative around moms holding political offices. “At the beginning of 2019 there were no Political Action Committees in the United States supporting moms. I formed a PAC dedicated to supporting and electing moms running for office at all levels of government. We need new leadership in our government, women who will champion change for working families because they have experienced firsthand having to make the tough choice between spending time with a newborn or a paycheck.”

CEOMOM Magazine spoke with Grace about her work to get more moms elected to all levels of government, her future plans for Moms in Office, and why it’s important for all women to be a part of the political process.

Who is Simona Grace?

It’s hard to describe me in one sentence, because my life story has been so complex.

If I had to describe myself in one sentence, I would say that I am someone who has overcome a lot of adversity in life. I have taken my experiences and used them to contribute good to the world. That very much defines who I am.

Tell us about Moms in Office. What do you do? What is the organization’s mission?

Moms in Office is a political organization (PAC) dedicated to supporting and electing moms running for office. It’s not easy for mothers of young children to get elected, we are here to change that. The organization supports moms running for office who truly know the life of the American mom through formal endorsements and campaign contributions.

Moms in Office PAC’s vision is to change the American political landscape to represent the true diversity of our nation.

By electing more mothers to Congress, we help new leaders get a seat at the table where decisions are being made about the lives of women and working families. If we want to see women equally represented in government, this must include moms. It is our mission to elevate the power of all moms in politics.

Moms in Office built a national coalition of mothers in politics across the country. The organization’s coalition includes politicians across the country and mothers who ran for Congress, such as Gina Collias (NC-11), Kim Williams (CA-16), Sanjanetta Barnes (TX-14). Our Executive Director Elisa Cardnell was the first mother and Congressional Candidate Moms in Office supported and endorsed in 2019. She ran for office in Texas against Dan Crenshaw as a single mom, former teacher and navy vet.

In March of 2020, she joined Moms in Office as our Executive Director to make it easier for moms to run for office and to advocate for policies that will help all working families. We are incredibly proud to have her as a part of Moms in Office and with Elisa’s leadership, we have been able to grow our grassroots movement of moms nationwide and significantly increase our donor base.

Since you have started Moms in Office,

Emerge America, A’shanti Gholar to help elect Candace Valenzuela (TX-24).

Moms in Office PAC’s vision is to change the American political landscape. what progress have you seen as it relates to moms and women in political roles? Describe your impact.

The Organization was able to endorse and financially support the campaigns of several candidates running for Congress ,such as Congresswoman Katie Porter, Candace Valenzuela, Arati Keibrich, Melanie D’Arrigo and Lindsey Boylan. This is significant because many political action committees provide formal endorsements, but will not make a financial contribution to the candidates’ campaign. Since we began fundraising, we have received donations from almost every state in the United States. We were able to empower moms across the country and provide them with an option to make political contributions in line with their ideals and their budget.

Oftentimes families won’t have a lot of extra resources, but $5 is meaningful to us. Our endorsed candidates will fight for the same causes mothers, fathers and working families prioritize, such as Paid Leave, Universal Preschool or affordable childcare. I am incredibly proud to say that Moms in Office was able to give over 90% of our fundraising directly to candidates. We are one group of resourceful moms who made this happen!

In 2020, we have hosted several successful events to empower moms in our community and to help our candidates. During the pandemic it is especially difficult for Congressional candidates to meet voters, knock on doors and continue to fundraise. We have hosted two successful events via zoom, one for Congresswoman Katie Porter and a Mother’s Day event with the President of

Federal guidelines now allow candidates to use campaign funds to pay for child care, but campaigning on the local and state level remains more difficult in many states for moms running for office. Most recently, during the 2020 general election cycle, M.J. Hagar petitioned the FEC and the Commission concluded that campaign funds may be used to pay for a portion of full-time daycare expenses for her children because such expenses would not exist irrespective of the candidate’s campaign. Our Executive director’s former campaign, Elisa Cardnell for Congress, was one of the first campaigns in the country to not just pay for childcare, but to have a part time nanny on the payroll.

We continue to advocate for campaign finance reform on the state level and as a national coalition, we are perfectly positioned to advocate for moms in politics in several states. Moms in Office hosted a successful community event in January at the Riveter. We invited Assembly member Rob Bonta from the State Legislature to talk to mothers in Los Angeles about the campaign finance reform bill he co-authored with Lorena Gonzalez (D- San Diego), and Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland). AB 220 allows candidates running for office in California to use campaign funds to pay for child care costs.

AB 220 is now a law in California, it went into effect starting with the 2020 election and these are the kind of reforms we would like to see happen in every state going forward.

How can moms get involved in Moms in Office or in politics in general across the U.S.?

I would like to encourage all moms in America this year to be more politically engaged, a lot is at stake for our children and families. If they want to contribute to Moms in Office, they can start with a five dollar donation.

There are 85 million moms in this country.

We may not have the millions of dollars of fundraising that some billionaires have but we do have strength in numbers. The more women that get involved, the better.

Now looking back, I am confident to say that the scariest part about starting an organization was how close I came to not doing it.

You were recently named as the 2020 California Mother of the Year by the American Mothers organization. What does an award like that mean to you?

I am incredibly grateful that the American Mothers Organization recognized me as 2020 California Mother of the Year. While I appreciate this honor, I didn’t accept it without hesitation. As a single working mom there are some days I hardly get through. I am not the best mom, but this platform will allow me to help those who need it the most. I am fighting for a seat at the table for mothers where decisions are being made about our lives and I am fighting to represent the voices of mothers who are often overlooked and underrepresented.

Where do you see Moms in Office in five years?

When I founded Moms in Office as a single working mom in Los Angeles at the end of 2018, I was certainly full of doubt. I set out to do something that has never been done before. Now looking back, I am confident to say that the scariest part about starting an organization was how close I came to not doing it. In that spirit, I will set the bar high for the next five years.

I would love to see moms in office grow into a national movement of moms fighting to elevate the power of all moms in politics. I would love to look back five years from now and see bills we helped pass, such as paid leave. I would love to inspire other moms to start their own political organizations. It doesn’t matter who came first, I think forging a path for others to follow is the true measure of success.

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Pasha

Photos Provided by Pasha Oliver-Carter

P

asha Oliver-Carter

BUILDING AN EMPIRE: A FAMILY AFFAIR At 23 years old Pasha Oliver-Carter found herself sleeping on her best friend’s couch. She was working three jobs including one as an NFL cheerleader for the Atlanta Falcons, and still wasn’t seeing the financial results that would position her to have the life she dreamed about.

Knowing she was meant for more, Carter turned a $500 investment into a multi-million dollar empire. Now this wife and mother of four is one of the top women in the Direct Sales industry. Along with her husband, Stephen Carter, she created the VIP Network designed to teach people the essential steps to business success.

CEOMOM Magazine spoke to Carter about her rise to success, how to succeed in sales and business development and the impact her entrepreneurial endeavors have had on her children.

Who is Pasha Oliver-Carter?

I am married to my best friend. We’ve been married for 18 years. We have four amazing kids. I am also what you call a lifelong entrepreneur.

What are your top three tips for success in sales and business development?

My first tip is to work on you. I'm a big proponent of selfdevelopment. Position yourself to be constantly learning and growing, and feeding your mind with information that is going to propel you. Find a business mentor who will help you refine certain professional skills related to communication and speaking. Those are things that helped me. We often take for granted the need to master ourselves so that would be my first tip.

My second tip is to monitor who is around you. I realized that in order to grow I had to change my environment. In order for me to go to the next level I had to hang around people who were where I wanted to be or who were doing the things I wanted to do, and living a life that I wanted to

live. I started surrounding myself with people who were either headed in the direction that I wanted to go or they were already there. Initially, I didn't know if they would be open to sharing information with me or helping me on my journey, but surprisingly so many people were. I became the best student as people poured into my cup.

The third one I would say is take action. I think so many people have a great idea, yet they never act on it, because they want to perfect everything. They want everything to be right. They are waiting for the perfect timing. They wait for the kids to get out of school or the end of the summer to start. It’s always a reason why people are waiting. I learned from Sara Blakely who is the owner of Spanx, that you have to start before you're ready. I just finished my book, and I put it off for years. I would say to myself, I am a speaker, not a writer. I had to stop worrying about being perfect. Blakely inspired me to start before I was ready and so I just started writing the book, as well as other projects. I jumped before I was ready to fly. When I got started as an entrepreneur, I was 23 years old. I didn’t know anything about business.

I had no experience and I didn't have the revenue to start a business, but I started anyway. You have to take the first step to see growth.

For you, entrepreneurship is a family affair, cofounding The VIP Network with your husband. What advice do you have for a couple who wants to build a family business?

First, you have to be friends. That’s important. My husband and I are friends first, so we have each other's back and best interest in mind. As a couple, there are a few things that are important. Number one, you have to support each other. Often, you'll have one dreamer in the household and the other is not a dreamer. I had all these dreams that a non-dreamer may not have

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understood. One spouse may want to learn how to make millions of dollars to live in a luxury neighborhood and travel the world. The other spouse may just want to pay the bills and get by. I have seen these scenarios many times. If they don't learn how to support each other, they won’t be able to build a business together. My husband and I have a common vision so our goals are aligned. This makes the journey a lot more fun and a lot easier because you're both headed in the same direction.

The other thing I would say is, in addition to supporting each other you have to understand each other. That’s one of the things that my husband and I work on daily. We are wired differently. The things that inspire and motivate him or the things that may get him down are different for me. When he sees me at a point where I need a friend or I need someone to cheer for me, he's there for me. In that moment it's not a judgmental or pointing the finger thing. It’s, “Ok babe, you got this. Keep going, I got your back.”

You have inspired entrepreneurship in your children. What is the key to motivating kids to pursue entrepreneurship?

It was more action than words that motivated them to pursue entrepreneurship. I remember years ago I talked to them about entrepreneurship and it didn't work. But when I stepped back and allowed them to watch and experience it through our actions, they started seeing what being an entrepreneur looked like. That’s when they became interested. We started to invite them out to see other entrepreneurs so it wasn’t just mommy and daddy. We introduced them to the owner or the CEO of different companies, whether it was a skincare line or a jewelry line or a Revital U representative, we put them in that environment. They then started to see what entrepreneurship is really like.

My oldest daughter, Jayla just signed with one of the largest modeling agencies in Dallas. She landed the cover of Cheer Magazine. She’s really pursuing her modeling career. My youngest daughter, Jasmine is an artist. My sons, Stephen and Justin, started their own motivational t-shirt line. They come up with different sayings for shirts, and they love it. They’re in business together and it’s the cutest thing seeing them around the table, bantering back-and-forth with each other about what’s cool and what's not cool.

For 2020, what do you envision for yourself, your family and your business? What will be your impact in the new decade?

For me 2020 is all about serving and helping other entrepreneurs. My husband and I share a passion to take that person who may have never had success and equip them to be better and do more. Our goal is to find as many of those individuals as we can and help take them from where they are to building multi-million dollar businesses. If you ask me what I feel I’m best at, it is finding that person who has a desire to build wealth but doesn’t know how, and helping monetize their dreams. It’s teaching them how they can create a successful business from home.

One of the other things that my husband and I are very passionate about is starting programs for young kids who want to be entrepreneurs. We want to cultivate those young minds and help them develop into entrepreneurs. We want to teach them how to be better speakers, how to negotiate money, and how to start a business from the ground up.

As I mentioned earlier, I just finished my book, “Women Can Have It All.” I often speak to women who are trying to figure this thing out called balance. They believe they can either be a mom or have a business. I believe women can have it all. You may not be able to have it all at one time, but you can have it all. We can have a loving marriage, children, a business and be able to do the extra-curricular activities that we want to do. The whole book is about understanding that balance is overrated. We just have to learn to incorporate everything without being too hard on ourselves. We as women don't allow ourselves to fail and make mistakes on the way to success. We have to learn to give ourselves grace.

To learn more about Pasha Oliver-Carter, visit her at https://www.pashacarter.com.

Position yourself to be constantly learning and growing, and feeding your mind with information that is going to propel you. We often take for granted the need to master ourselves.

CEOMOM | 43

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5

Tips to Envision the Best Version of You

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1. Acknowledge she exists.

It’s hard to realize or see something that you don’t believe exists.

This acknowledgment is not about what you can be, it’s about who you are NOW. Celebrate everything you bring to the table and everything you are now. It doesn’t mean growth isn’t needed, but there’s something powerful and freeing about embracing your own worth and beauty. You are the best version of you. Now, just live her out.

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2. Close in, Sis!

Some people call it removing unhealthy relationships. I like to call it making room only for the healthy ones. Closing in means moving out toxic interactions that consistently produce negative energy. If you want to realize the best version of you, you must have a healthy diet- mind, body and soul. Unhealthy relationships drain you, reducing your energy and ability to move forward. Close in so there's only space for the relationships that uplift you.

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3. Be bold.

Boldness requires movement outside of your comfort zone. It is defined as the ability to take risks and act innovatively. When you are bold you move forward with confidence and courage. If you want to unveil the best version of you, you have to do something you’ve never done. This will require a leap of faith and you betting on yourself. Greatness is not realized in the comfort zone.

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4. Up your game.

In the words of Beyoncé, “Let me upgrade you.” Only you will be upgrading yourself instead of depending on the movement of others. Up your game by requiring and producing excellence inside out. Perfection is not the goal. You are aiming for progress and elevation. The more you move in excellence the more it will become an integral part of who you are, leaving room for imminent growth. Where growth is required, greatness can thrive. Up your education. Up your skill set. Up your service to others. Up your game.

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5. Pray.

Foundation is everything. I believe there must be spiritual alignment for there to be physical manifestation. Manifestation is a journey that starts with prayer. It includes seeking, hearing, acknowledging, honoring and believing. Pray for what you want to become, believe in the answer, and trust God to provide what you need to be the best version of you.

Making Family Mealtime Successful Nutrition expert, Noni Robinson of Black Girls Eat provides tips for parents to make family mealtime successful on most days of the week Shop Together and Make Food an Activity

Some parents have great success when the family grocery shops together every week. Many delegate a task to each family member, like go find the ripest avocados, pick out the best fruit for the week, go and find the protein items on the list, or help push the cart.

Food acquisition and preparation become family entertainment every week.

Kids get to prepare meals or help prepare them if they are interested.

Some families watch the food channel so they all learn about new foods and keep the motivation high. Or they go to the farmer's markets during the week.

Food shopping and preparation becomes an activity instead of leaving the kids home and spending money doing other activities.

Plan to Fail But Don't Fail to Plan

By having enough emergency meal ingredients on hand many parents are able to overcome upsets to the regular schedule because they can make quick meals that everyone loves. They are also able to make meals between shopping trips. Ideas for these emergency meals include tacos, ravioli, soups, pasta, burritos, healthy frozen meals, stir fry, bowls, and soups.

One mom keeps chicken and noodles on hand so she can make a fast soup using leftover vegetables and bouillon cubes.

Many moms like to make a "make your own meal" using veggie burgers, tacos, salads, and chili. Bowls are very popular, too, because they can use up leftovers and allow family members to make their own bowl.

Make it Fun for You As The Cook - Keep Trying New Things

Almost all parents who are successful with family meals are doing things to keep themselves motivated and interested in food.

This includes following your favorite foodie on Instagram, looking for meal ideas on Pinterest, reading family meal bloggers or plant-based meal gurus, or subscribing to magazines and Instagram feeds to get recipe and meal ideas. Most say they try at least one new recipe per week.

Parents who are successful at making family meals on a regular basis view cooking as a positive benefit that saves time and money compared to eating out. A few commented that if you order takeout or delivery the food often arrives cold and you still have all of the cleanup chores afterward so it is not a treat unless they actually go out!

They also view family mealtime as sacred family time.

When in doubt serve breakfast.

Many people are eating breakfast foods for lunch. Avocado toast with boiled eggs anyone? Or frittatas with fruit? How about whole grain pancakes? Or smoothies? Some even serve breakfast for dinner because everyone likes it so much and it is easy and always on hand.

Health and wellness can be achieved as a family. Try our tips and enjoy mealtime as a family!

it's okay to take time off.

Some parents have a schedule for meals that is similar to the one used for work. They work Sunday through Thursday and take Friday and Saturday off. This is helpful for parents who are really stressed.

Still, others manage by never planning too far ahead. One mom is so stressed at the thought of planning too far in advance that she shops every day.

Another one shops for three days.

Whatever you like is the best idea!

Another mom uses the buffet in the Whole Foods store to bring home meals that are ready to go so she gets her shopping day off from cooking.

What a great idea!

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