SHE WAS BORN A CHEERLEADER,

cheering for others has been the key to her success!

It was 1989 when a skinny, loudmouth little girl’s name was called. The final two names would make the senior cheerleading squad at North Shore High School in Houston, Texas. Before the name could be called out, an immense crowd rushed to the floor in pure excitement. Tomeka had become a senior cheerleader, not knowing then that she would spend a lifetime cheering for everyone she’d encounter in life.

TOMEKA B. Holyfield , a woman who exerts herself far and above the call of duty, has been cheering for women around the world for years. Having a call on her life to “HELPPPP” people do, be, and have everything life offers—the result of wanting for nothing as a child. Tomeka quickly became known as The Lady with Big Dreams — the lady who makes things happen. While she was making things happen for herself, she noticed she was simultaneously assisting others to realize their dreams and their potential, and finding more satisfaction in helping others — a gift she’s had most of her life.

Watching someone else make their goals or win is energizing and inspiring to some, making them more determined to reach their goals. But to Ms. Holyfield, it’s just a natural reaction.

“I’ve always been everyone else’s biggest cheerleader.” She continues, “Let me explain: I am always excited to celebrate other success stories. Whether they are in my industry or not, I will celebrate someone’s success. It’s just something about seeing people prosper, grow, and succeed that makes me want to celebrate.”

Growing up in a home with an everything-isattainable environment, Tomeka always had opportunities to explore possibilities which shaped her into a positive go-getter who knows what she wants and never settles for anything less than perfect. A person who laughs at inhibitions and keeps her eye on the prize, one would think she is self-absorbed. But this is the farthest adjective for Ms. Holyfield.

“I’m the person who will share your success and use my platform to lift others,” she says. “I share events, opportunities, and my networking resources. And have always believed that someone else’s success and opportunities have nothing to do with what God has for me and my destiny.“ She adds,” always being happy for other entrepreneurs has brought me great joy and success.” amotivator since birth, Ms. Holyfield has been Helping, Empowering, Loving, and Preparing people for their PURPOSE, PLAN, and PLATFORM. At events for various industries across several continents, she has inspired and encouraged people from all walks. Her charismatic delivery and transparency commands attention on every stage she appears. But it is her knowledge and understanding of her audience and her message that keeps their attention.

Ms. Holyfield’s journey began with a determination to show the world that any and everybody had a Purpose, Plan & Platform, and she would be the one to HELP them put it into play. Little did she know, her journey would not be in Texas but in Atlanta, GA, where she would move without a job, no place to live, and no friends. It was more like the next phase of the unknown. Some would say this is ludicrous, however, she followed her dream. A dream came to her one night, and within one month, she became the Executive Director of the Evander Holyfield Foundation, a position that allowed her to touch lives on another level and gave her valuable experience in combining corporate entities with non-profit visions.

Two months later, she would begin a journey with gospel music’s Premiere Saxophonist and recording artist, Angella Christie. of Angella Christie Sound Ministries (ACSM), traveling extensively nationally and internationally. She worked for both companies for two years before retiring her executive director position and becoming a road manager for ACSM — a position she held for over twenty years!

As CEO of HAG , Helpppp Agency Group , Ms. Holyfield’s voyage to success is one of surviving insurmountable circumstances, drawing outside the lines, and measuring her success to her own timeline and heartbeat. She is fierce, focused, and faithful in building what has now become an empire. For the past 16 years, she has developed three companies, one non-profit foundation and six faith-based productions.

In 1997, while still in college at Texas Southern University, she rolled up her sleeves and got busy. Becoming a change agent and voice of victory for the underdog, Ms. Holyfield started The HELPPPPing Hands Foundation, Inc.

This endeavor eventually led to the 2006 launch of her company The Helpppp Agency, a production company and strategic branding/ public relations agency. The Helpppp Agency houses and produces six faith-based properties during Grammy® Week, Oscar Week, NBA All-Star Weekend, MLB All-Star

Week, MLS All-Star Week, the Global Shero Awards during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and RCM Media Productions, Corp., a production company where The Helpppp Agency still house some of their high-profile events.

In 2016 she took a year off from her production company to restructure, revamp and revitalized herself. “The best decision I’ve ever made,” she says.

When a mentor suggested she expand her portfolio and create another arm of her businesses, she accepted the challenge.

“I took classes at Georgia Tech on government contracting. Yes, government contracting. How to secure some of the same type of work I was already doing, but now restructuring it to meet the needs of other entities.”

Her hard work and vision led to an expansion. She created Business Solution Services (Helpppp Agency Biz Solutions), a solutions service and government contracting company — sister company to her branding, marketing, and production company that work hand and hand providing event management services, professional services, and commodities. Eventually, more growth birthed the HAGHelpppp Agency Group in 2017 to combine and house all of Ms. Holyfield’s companies under one umbrella, which has now become a multi-million-dollar empire.

The moral she says is to, “always reevaluate yourself, your assets, and always be willing to learn and excel in something new that’s outside your comfort zone.” This was the winning ticket for her survival. “The time I invested in myself and the restructure of my company in 2016 was the glue for my company in 2020!”

Ms. Holyfield has spent her entire life jumping through hurdles, dodging bullets, and making lemonade out of lemons. “The COVID-19 pandemic has been the most challenging situation to date for our media production company. However, our branding agency and business solutions companies flourished.”

The strength of the “glue” was put to test in February 2020, when the company’s NBA All-Star event would be the last public event before the world literally shut down. “Had the government shut down three weeks earlier, we would have found ourselves refunding thousands of concertgoers as well as corporate sponsors.”

She admits it was a wake-up call that sent her employees into survival mode. They begin to see the entire entertainment community shut down and dismantle From Hollywood to Broadway —even the movie theaters. The turning point was when the NBA and NFL canceled the start of their season. Shortly after, all other entertainment-related entities shut down, and she says it became very clear they were in trouble.

“We realized immediately that our line of business was not essential during a pandemic,” she says. “As a CEO, I had to reassure my employees that we would survive; they would still have a job to put food on the table for their families. As a team, we became creative. We had to restructure and repivot our blueprint and workflow. We uplifted one another. We couldn’t let anxiety and depression take root.” She took a play out of her cheerleading book and made what was becoming a dismal situation, an uplifting and promising environment.

It is very rare to see a new face, although she says it has happened a few times. She has built a team she can rely on, and trust, and is confident that the job will get done. She is a delegator, however, she is still hands-on — but without micro-managing. “Someone once said, ‘Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.’ My team wins!”

The COVID-19 pandemic has had dire economic consequences, however, it has also stretched the creativity of many. Albert Einstein said, “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Holyfield along with thirty-four other CEOs collaborated on a book that led to her becoming a USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author.

Business Success Secrets: Entrepreneurial Thinking That Works is a book written for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs. It’s a fountain of advice, tips, and informative stories about what it takes to make it in business. It is also the hard-knock story of the grit, determination, and resourcefulness it took to mount the summit of a dream.

She always thought about writing a book but says she was too scared to start the process. “I was afraid others would say: ‘What right do you have to write about business?’ or ‘What makes you an expert?’ But when the pandemic forced its uncertainties on us, and the opportunity presented itself, it just made sense, so I jumped into one of the best decisions of my life. I gave myself permission to write because, hey, writers must start somewhere.”

It’s ironic how someone who was apprehensive about writing a book, was now thrust into the limelight with a new title and purpose. When asked how it feels to be a best-selling author, Holyfield pauses, smiles, and fighting back tears she humbly explains, “I was numb. We had made Amazon’s list and I was happy with that accomplishment.”

As someone who prides herself on being loyal, she has kept most of the same team for all events under the HAG- Helpppp Agency Group since the inception of her organization.

The way she found out the book was a bestseller was on an impromptu Zoom call with all the authors. “We had no idea why we were on the unscheduled call but the next words we heard were ‘Congratulations authors, we made Wall Street Journal and USA Today

Authors!’ That blew my mind.” The book has also won the 2021 Reader’s Favorite Silver Award in the Non-fiction Anthology genre.

It takes a certain type of person to boss up, pivot, and lead during difficult times even when she feels like lowering the blinds, staying in bed, and covering her head under a pillow—a scene taken out of Nancy Meyers’ romantic comedy film, “The Holiday.” But the best leaders know their people and are aware of their strengths and their weaknesses.

The pandemic wreaked havoc across the globe and the economic and social disruption was devastating. However, leaders like Holyfield, who reacted quickly and transparently, and successfully navigated through the COVID-19 crisis, were rewarded with better outcomes.

As a leader, Holyfield has a calming, unwavering presence that reassures people in difficult times. She meets pandemonium with peace and stays on track to accomplish goals through empathy and team cultivation regardless of surrounding noise.

By creating a strong team culture, Holyfield says “everyone is aligned sharing the same values, mission and work ethic, but they understand their individual purpose as well as their role within the team.”

A fan of shifting your thinking, she stresses the importance of focusing on solutions instead of problems. “Staying focused and purposedriven was the key to our survival,” she states.

“Remember, when insurmountable circumstances take place in your life, in your workplace or in your relationships, always focus on the solution aspect rather than the temporary problem at hand.”

In a nutshell, it’s looking at what needs to be done and putting yourself in a position where you’re ready for whatever comes next! She likes to remind herself that life is full of ups and downs — you are either in a storm, coming out of a storm, recovering from a storm, or preparing for the upcoming storm. However, the key is how you handle every stage of the storm. She also knows the value of taking care of her people. And stresses that the well-being of those who work close to her is a top priority, especially in difficult times.

“Eighty percent of the time, life goes accordingly to what you’ve put out you get back. Then, there is the twenty percent when life grabs you by the collar, and throws a curve ball in your life; Takes the chair from beneath you, and sometimes you feel you can’t breathe.”

Anxiety and hyperventilating would get the best of Holyfield, but not for long; after several disappointments and heartaches, she decided to take back her life and business!

“I changed my perspective and begin to set the narrative of my own life.” She realized early on that her emergency was not everyone else’s emergency. Her timeline was not everyone else’s, and her dreams were hers and hers alone. She states confidently, “The moment you set the narrative of your own life, the timeframe for your own business goals, and the vision you set for yourself and your company, then and only then does success begin.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson and other thinkers in history have concluded that the real treasure in life is “the journey, the process, and the getting there.” Moreso than any destination or accomplishment, walking to the beat of her drum, Holyfield knows this all too well: How we handle the journey is how our destination will end up. If eighty percent of the time life is going well, this is when you build your strength up awaiting that twenty percent — the inevitable — it’s coming. Your time in your eighty percent space will prepare you to handle that twenty percent space. It’s all about cont. from page 22 your perspective on appreciating the time of rest and smooth sailing so that you will learn how to handle the time during the storms.

When you become overwhelmed, remember its only temporary. It’s just your twenty percent. The eighty percent full of memories and successful experiences will motivate you back to life when you are experiencing your low moments.

So, what’s the secret to her success?

“The secret to my success and the secret to your future success is simple: No one owes you anything and your emergency is not their emergency. Once you begin to operate in a space where you and you alone create the narrative of your life, success starts at that exact moment.” She continues, “I remember at the early stages of building my company, I believed everything everyone promised or committed to me on projects, sponsorships, and contracts. I was going in circles on people’s promises, people’s words, and people’s time.” She has learned not to put trust in people, but in God and faith.

“WHEN I look back at some of my most successful accomplishments, it is a result of me never giving up and trying it again and again. It’s because I never gave up despite the many failures I experienced. I kept trying again and again and again!” She reiterates, “Remember, it’s just that…a moment! Never ever quit! There is favor in the again. Let me say that again, there is favor in the again. Do it AGAIN. Try it AGAIN. Email them AGAIN. Call them AGAIN. Fill out that loan application AGAIN. Apply for that contract AGAIN. Call the bank back AGAIN. Schedule another meeting AGAIN. Hire another employee when one doesn’t work out AGAIN. Trust AGAIN. Take a chance AGAIN.”

Oprah Winfrey said, “there’s never a better time to be a woman. We are standing up for what we believe—and taking a stand on behalf of others.” Ms. Holyfield is the epitome of this quote. She speaks her mind and sticks to her guns and believes women profit from creating alliances over competitiveness. Research shows that women who support women are more successful in business.

One to never dim her light to fit in or make another feel better about themselves, Ms. Holyfield instead finds it rewarding to amplify women and push them out of their comfort zones. “I believe in relationships that touch the heart and create an everlasting partnership.”

The recipient of many awards, including ICON Magazine’s “You Surpass Them All” award at the 2021 Global Legendary Legacy Leadership Awards this year (2022), she will have the honor of passing the torch to a new recipient in New Jersey.

“I believe in divine connections. And, through Dr. Lauretta Pierce aka The Cookie Lady, I met and fell in love with both Dr. Sandrie Bermudez and her hubby the Honorable Ruben Bermudez. To have the honor to grace the cover of ICON Magazine makes me so humble and grateful. Tomorrow is not promised. Live, Love and Laugh today!”

A woman with many gifts, she is intentional with every move she makes. A strategic thinker who knows how to navigate through a crisis, and pivot at the right time is who Ms. Holyfield is at her core. As a strategic thinker, she uses critical thinking to solve complex problems and plan which allows her to accomplish business objectives, overcome obstacles, and address challenges. As a master pivoter, she plans but executes only when all options have been exhausted. As a leader navigating through a crisis, she understands that an experimentation mindset is needed. She can adapt in real-time and anticipate, experiment, miss the mark at times, then modify accordingly.

With beauty, brains, and the ability to see the value in people, Tomeka B. Holyfield is a change agent with a limitless mindset who constantly raises the bar. She is confident, aware of her strengths, and understands the power of supporting women. She doesn’t care about a seat at the table because she makes her own rules and paves her own paths. Continuously sharpening her skills, and always planning for the next, she plants seeds and puts in the work to achieve a legacy that will live beyond her last achievement.

If you would like to know what’s next for Ms. Holyfield, please follow her on social media: IG & Twitter @redcarpetmogul FB: Tomeka B. Holyfield Or visit https://helppppagencygroup.com tomeka has Been Behind some of the BiGGest names and Brands for Years! and it’s so Great to see her finaLLY step out in front. LookinG forward to watchinG this proJect Grow and conGratuLations to the Icon team.”

“conGratuLations to mY LonG time friend and cLient on this BeautifuL cover with Icons maGazine. tomeka is aLwaYs a pLeasure to work with.

-roBert ector