Embracing Excellence

www.exeleonmagazine.com
I N - F O C US

ROBIN ALBIN:
THE BRASH
AND BOLD
ENTREPRENEUR

Carrie
I N - F O C US

Interview
with Model
and Colbert
A ST O RY O F C O LO R S

Entrepreneur AND MORE

ReShonda
Parker

Alicia
Sable-Hunt
PAT I E N T - C E N T R I C
M O DE L L EA D S TO S U C C E S S
Empo w ering
WOMEN TO FOLLOW
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CONTENTS

12 ALICIA SABLE-HUNT
CONTENTS

32 CARRIE COLBERT
CONTENTS

50 AK BROWN
Exeleon Magazine Presents

#MyJo
urney
Coming Soon...
 Cover Story

Alicia
Sable-Hunt
Patient-Centric
Model Leads to
Success

12 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 Founder & President
Edwards-Hunt Group

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 13
Cover Story

Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship empowers progress, prosperity, and
sustainable solutions for social problems. In fact, modern
trends show that women are the driving force of
entrepreneurial growth — not just in the present but also
for the future.

One such powerful woman that dictates her own de inition

of business success is Alicia Sable-Hunt. She is the
President of Edwards-Hunt Group (EHG) — an
organization focused on the development of patient-
centered clinical research programs in cancerous and other
disease conditions. Additionally, she is also a registered
nurse and has invested over 25 years working in the ields
of clinical research and nursing.

As an experienced businesswoman, Alicia believes her

'power' stems from knowing herself. “There comes a
moment in a woman's life when she looks in the mirror and
inally applauds her successes and is no longer ashamed of
her failures, identi ies her many strengths and
acknowledges her insecurities, feels worthy but is not
willing to settle, just yet. At that moment with an
overabundance of emotions, I inally felt powerful. The trick
is to have more and more of these moments,” she shares.

Speaking on behalf of all entrepreneurs, Alicia feels that

everyone is in a perpetual state of achieving their vision
and the next milestone — for their customers, employees,
investors, and lastly, themselves.

Inspired by this belief, she integrates the same thought into

her leadership. Perhaps, the most dif icult lesson she “Putting patients
learned was that leadership does not come with the job
title. first in clinical
“Opening a business and donning the title of President, did research.”
not make me a leader,” she clari ies. Leadership requires
knowledge, experience, humility, empathy, and con idence.

14 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
Leadership is a state of mind and a an entrepreneur. In fact, her mother,
way of existence. an optician, co-owned an optical
store. “I was working for my mother
MOVING THE NEEDLE IN LIFE as the assistant to the eye doctor.
SCIENCES SPACE The patients regularly referred to
me as the nurse. Simultaneously,
Alicia had never intentionally set my boyfriend's sister was in
out to become a registered nurse or nursing school,” she fondly recalls.
She credits the universe that had
her back and put her in the right
place at the right time which
resulted in her being accepted to
nursing school. “Truthfully, I didn't
know what nursing entailed until I
was in school.”

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 15
16 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 Cover Story

Taking a trip down memory lane, she recalls

two seminal moments in nursing school. The
irst was during her irst semester where her

Rise of a
clinical instructor accused her of being
intellectually lazy and told her to either step
up or not return. “I was shocked. To this day I
High-Powered can still feel the fear and subsequent
determination to succeed that she instilled in

Entrepreneur me at that moment. I chose to step up,” she

asserts.

The second was during her last semester of

nursing school. She shares, “I was a student
While many entrepreneurs indulged in thoughtful
in the pediatric oncology unit helping to care
experiments throughout their prime years —like
for a child that received a bone marrow
starting a lemonade stand, or girl scout cookies sales
transplant. It was detailed, complicated care
—it does not hold true for Alicia.
that we were providing the child while
teaching the parents about the treatment
She says, “I grew up with a single, entrepreneurial
plan. By the end of the shift, I realized that my
mother blazing her own pathway before doing so was
actions helped someone in need.”
acceptable to society at large. Creating my own future
is the only way I know to exist. Is it nature or. nurture?
She continues, “For the irst time ever, I
No idea and I don't care!”
understood what it meant to be a nurse. I am
still humbled that I had a brief opportunity to
Soon after, Alicia dipped her toes into the traditional
be part of that child's and family's
healthcare environment working at a big hospital. She
experience. I still feel the joy and sense of
tried to conform to both — society's and her
wonder of caring for that child. It was on this
profession's expectations — of a nurse. When that
day that my passion, career, and life's journey
didn't work, she applied to a big pharmaceutical
began. It was on this day that I became Nurse
company and was rejected. The supervisor that
Alicia.”
interviewed her said something to the effect of “You're
not going to be happy in this structured environment.
LAUNCHING HER PASSION PROJECT —
You need to work for yourself.” She recognized an
EDWARDS-HUNT GROUP
unusual spark about Alicia, one that she wasn't aware
of yet.
As a young, single woman with a grand idea
to create a line of nutrition bars for adult
Later, Alicia turned towards travel nursing, wherein
cancer patients, Alicia made the decision to
she was in control of her career. She says, “I had the
quit her high-pro ile job for a leading non-
honor of working in some of the best hospital systems
pro it organization that was founded by a
and with the best healthcare professionals in
patient determined to cure a little known
America.” This enabled her to grow her clinical
cancer through patient-directed and patient-
research knowledge and make an impact on the
funded clinical research.
oncology population from one patient at a time (in a
hospital setting), to a small group of patients receiving
new oncology treatments in a single clinical trial, to “I had no plan, no temporary source of
participating in the clinical trial development process income, just an idea and more arrogance than
that impacts the entire patient community. money. When I submitted my resignation to
my boss, the CEO and Founder, she elucidated
the numerous ways I was failing her

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 17
 You don’t need
to be less of a
woman to be
more successful.
organization at a critical time point
and my ignorance of what bringing
a business idea to fruition entailed,”
she recalls.
The Edwards-Hunt Group (EHG)
was formed to offer temporary
consulting services to her prior
employer while they searched for
her replacement. So, she quit her
job and opened two businesses
simultaneously: One to develop a
nutrition bar for cancer patients
18
and Edwards-Hunt Group.
“My former employer became a
client for 7 years and taught me
more about building a business
than my business school and how to
be in service to the patient
community than any healthcare
setting. I quickly realized that my
clinical research work under the
Edwards-Hunt Group was an
extension of my nursing career and
illed me with joy more than
creating a food product. EHG has
now been open for 16 years.”
Regardless of where she stands,
Alicia holds client satisfaction close
to her heart. This also re lects in
her company's tagline, “Trusted
Clinical Research Operations
Professionals.”
She says, “Our clients trust that we
will prioritize their project, trust
that we know the nuances of the
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

disease and regulatory
environment, and most importantly,
trust that we will put the patient
irst in the study design and
logistics.” Therefore, there is only
one rule in her company – The Alicia became a dynamic leader
patient comes irst.
This is her mantra, her approach,
her process, and all things in
between. She constantly asks, “Are
we doing right by the patient?”
because she believes that she can
successfully integrate the patient's
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
experience into the clinical study
design and still achieve the client's
scienti ic end points within the
expected timeline and budget.
WEAVING HER WORK INTO HER development phase, then the launch
LIFE
Alicia does not believe in the
concept of work-life balance. “This
concept escapes me!” she remarks.
There are days where she spends a
big chunk of her time
simultaneously responding to
emails, managing her home
renovation, planning a fun weekend
getaway, and wondering if she
should expand EHG into a new
sector or open another business. “I
am multitasking in my business and
personal lives but don't feel bad for
me, I love my life!” she quickly
points out.
“I wake up and return to bed at the
same time every day. I prioritize my
health with exercise, vitamin
regime, and a strict diet. I make
time to play with my kitten, a
Ragdoll named Sky. I have a special
date night every two weeks. I
attend church services regularly
with my family. The continuity of
my schedule allows me to sanely
manage what others may view as
chaos,” she elaborates.
CREATING VALUE FOR OTHERS
when she realized that femininity is
a strength; when she embraced the
nurse within her; when she realized
that her ultimate goal is to sel lessly
serve the patient community; and
when she decided to reject society's
de inition of success and created
Cover Story
her own world.
On the lip side, she also feels that
“Entrepreneurship is very lonely.” It
is easy to lose yourself in the
phase, then the growth phase, rinse
and repeat, always de-prioritizing
yourself for the sake of the
company.
It is important to ind ways to
remind yourself why you chose this
pathway in life. It's about inding
perspective. It's about reconnecting
with your passion.
For Alicia, giving back to the patient
community through acts of service,
by being Nurse Alicia to a patient in
need, reconnects her to her “why”.
It reminds her that her company's
work is impactful to the patient
community, not just to her clients.
“It reinvigorates me and challenges
me to do more, better, and faster
because there is a patient at the end
of every project and program my
company develops,” she shares.
THE BEST BUSINESS ADVICE FOR
WOMEN
Alicia feels that being a woman is a
strength. She goes one step further
and adds, “You don't need to be less
of a woman to be more successful.”
As much as societal norms can take
a toll on you, she insists on carving
your own way. While this journey
will demand a lot of sacri ice to
bring your vision to life, she
suggests to “never let go of your
femininity or your moral compass.”
Another piece of sage wisdom
Alicia offers: Have an honest
19
conversation with yourself on the to keep the company operating at research programs for the disease-
de inition of success as a woman full capacity, taking care of the speci ic non-pro it sector? Should
and as a business leader. Know that revenue and pro its. EHG expand into other phases of
your de inition of success will drug and device development? Or,
change with time and experience Alicia inds herself asking how EHG should EHG focus on developing
and, that this is okay. can be more impactful to the and executing larger scale clinical
patient community? Her mind is research programs that have
PLANNING A CLINICAL puzzled with questions like: Should greater patient reach? Can I do all
REVOLUTION I expand upon the Nurse Alicia these things and if so, how quickly
brand by becoming a nurse and in what order?
An entrepreneur will always have a practitioner? Will another nursing
set of business goals in their mind degree help me be more impactful Above all, she is most excited about
to leverage the organization. to my clients and patient demonstrating— through her
According to business needs, these community? Should I expand EHG actions, that this female, nurse,
goals may differ. For some, the to include direct-to-patient care by entrepreneur is not done working
initial goal will be to get the right opening a brick-and-mortar clinical on behalf of the patient community.
resources to kickstart the company; research center? How can EHG
while for others, the goal could be build more effective clinical

20 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 We Embrace Excellence!

Exeleon Magazine features some of the

leading players in business and shares
their journey of excellence to inspire
aspiring leaders across the globe.

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www.exeleonmagazine.com
24 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

T H E B R A S H A N D
B O L D E N T R E P R E N E U R
R
O
B
I
E ntrepreneurship is a journey full of
twists and turns, and for some, like
Robin Albin, it's the thrill of
unpredictability that drives them to be better.
N For Robin, unpredictability is a catalyst for
creativity. She thrives on the unknown, using it
A as a driving force to push her business to new
L heights.
B
From her love-hate relationship in the
I corporate space to her falling in love with
N branding, from building her own brand to
becoming a globally recognized entrepreneur,
Robin Albin's journey has been anything but
predictable.
In this Interview, Robin discusses her journey,
the highs, and the lows, and how instead of
resisting on unpredictability, she leaned on it
to thrive as an entrepreneur.
What according to you makes one a entrepreneur?
powerful woman? How do you integrate the
same thought into your leadership? Leadership came late to me. I struggled with
A powerful woman – or for that matter, a
powerful man - is someone who is comfortable
in her or his own skin. She – or he – doesn't
need to be the hero of the story.
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
IN – FOCUS
That's why I chose the title “Brand Sherpa”. A
Sherpa is someone with terri ic experience. A
Sherpa not only charts your path up the
mountain, but knows the logistics, tools and
resources needed to scale.
Sherpas are focused, resilient, and tough, yet
possess a great deal of empathy. A Sherpa is a
caretaker – who understands the abilities –
and limitations of the entire team.
The role of a Sherpa is to empower and inspire
people through courageous and thoughtful
leadership. They de ine success by how many
climbers they help reach the summit.
Supporting and challenging the team so they
become the best. In business, that means
having the patience to pause when conditions
seem unfavorable. And having the clarity and
perspective to keep everyone on-mission.
Talk to us about your growing up years.
What is your earliest memory as a leader /
Imposter's Syndrome for a good part of my
early career. Constantly believing that someone
– or everyone – would ind out that I was a
fraud who couldn't write her way out of a
paper bag.
25
IN – FOCUS
I came into my own when I became a
Creative Director and head of both women's
accounts and new biz at a medium size
agency. By that time, I was in my 30s.
What prompted your interest and account for being too outspoken aka BRASH.
subsequently your foray into the Which led to an introduction to another
branding space? Skunk Works project this time at Esté e
I have always been something of a MissFit. A
square peg in a round hole. And for many
years, I struggled trying to follow the rules
versus trusting my instincts and ideals.
I've since learned that being an outsider can
actually be a huge creative advantage and an
inspired form of leadership. It's been my
secret sauce and a key ingredient in my
personal happiness, creativity, and success.
As a consequence, my entire career has been
a series of detours and unpredictable
disruptions followed by moments of
incredible serendipity. Being in the right
place at the right time and open to
opportunities that some seem risky. I've
become a master of the jig and jag.
For instance, I quit a toxic agency job where I
was a VP Creative Director managing a team
of 12 with no idea what was next. It turned
out great and changed my life.
Less than 2 weeks later, I landed a sweet
engagement to form a Skunk Works for a
former client which morphed into my irst
agency BRASH (an acronym of By Robin
Albin and Susan Hunter). We created a
virtual model long before the idea existed.
Our job was to once a month bring our client
white space business opportunities.
For three years, we brought them ideas for
new products, new brands, promotions, and
retail store concepts. When the company
was bought by P&G, the gig was up. But we
had built our agency and reputation. And
wherever our former clients went
26
afterwards, they called us. As a result, we
worked for a who's-who of brands for many
years.
During that time, I was ired from one
Lauder where I became one of the Founders
of the Origins Brand. This role led to
tremendous visibility and again changed my
life and my career.
Through these experiences I fell madly in
love with branding. I love inding the needle
in the haystack. The kernel of creativity that
will stand out of the sea of sameness. I love
solving big hairy challenges, the stumpers
and head scratchers that keep clients up at
night. And I love inspiring and challenging
teams to go beyond their comfort zones.
Talk to us about your agency –
Insurgents. What was the idea that led to
its start?
After BRASH disbanded (my partner chose
to retire), I accepted the “perfect job on
paper” as SVP of Conceptual Innovation on
the Esté e Lauder brand. Essentially an in-
house entrepreneur charged with creating
the future expression of the mothership
brand. I knew the players and the politics. I'd
been a consultant there for over 25 years. I
igured I had less than a 10% chance of
succeeding. But what did I have to lose?
While I de initely did not succeed, I learned a
ton.
After I left Esté e Lauder, I thought I'd just be
a “gun for hire”. But soon found myself
competing for projects against some pretty
cool and established boutique agencies. I
decided to form a band of pirates, essentially
BRASH 2.0. And named it INSURGENTS.
I wanted to do an agency my way. I only
work on projects I believe in. There has to be
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 27
IN – FOCUS

there, there. I only work on brands

that do something good for the
world. And I will only work with
nice people.

As a serial entrepreneur, what
have been some of the biggest
learnings for you in this journey?

I believe the messed-up things that

happen in life - the stuff you think is
going to sink you forever – actually
present moments of incredible
opportunity.

Here what I learned along the way.

Ÿ Don't be afraid to take a baseball
bat to the piñ ata. There are
some wonderful surprises
inside ready to shower you.

Ÿ Fitting in is overrated. It makes

a nice corporate PDP
(Professional Development
Plan) that may get you a small
raise and bonus. But having a
strong point of view makes you
interesting. It creates
conversation and causes people
to feel something. Beige is
boring and it rarely looks good
on anyone.
if you were to start again? And my grumpiness became
Ÿ Above all, give a shit! Being obvious. So much so that my boss
passionate about your work is I never had a ive-year plan that told me in my semi-annual review,
the only way to make it said, “travel up this corporate “Robin you are not corporate.”
successful. If you don't give a ladder and with the goal of
shit about the product or the becoming an Executive Creative She was 100% right. I am de initely
service – the work will likely be Director at some advertising not corporate. Give me freedom to
shitty. When you fall in love with agency. And given my 3-year stint in call my own shots. Make my own
the work, you develop high Corporate America, I doubt I would hours. Binge work then take a
standards and will ight for have succeeded. break.
what's right – down to the last
detail – even if everyone else Despite the relative autonomy my I thrive on the networking and the
thinks that you're absolutely particular role at Esté e Lauder ability to meet new people and do
nuts. afforded me, I felt sti led. The something different every day. The
structure, the politics, the slow unpredictability excites me.
Looking at this journey, what pace, the endless meetings, and
would you have done differently never-ending No's frustrated me. My greatest accomplishments,

28 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 IN – FOCUS

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR ASPIRING AND EMERGING

WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN THE BEAUTY AND LIFESTYLE SPACE?

The world is not waiting for another beauty Make an emotional connection with your
brand. Today, beauty brands are a dime a audience. What you stand for is what makes
dozen. With each new one a slight variation on you stand out. It drives customer loyalty and
the previous one. Copycats. Who cares! trust.

Your brand value must go beyond what you do
– or make – or sell.
Have an authentic idea and point of view that you
are willing to go to the mat for. Ask yourself:
“What's not good enough about the status quo?”
Then tell us how you will ix it.
Be able to answer these 5 whys. Why is this a
great idea. Why is it unique. Why is now the
perfect time for it. Why do you understand the
problem better than anyone. And why will it
succeed.
Then execute the bejesus out of it. Vividly. And
consistently. At every touch point. In product
development, brand experiences, PR, services,
web, and store design.
Develop a culture, customs, gestures, behaviors,
and idiosyncrasies that are distinctive and truly
unique to your brand.
The result will be a beloved brand with the
power to burn its way into the hearts and
minds of your teams, stakeholders, partners,
and customers so they believe what you believe
and become diehard evangelists.

insights, and creative efforts have best thinking and writing. Finally, what does the future look
come as a direct result of a But, when an idea strikes – no like for you and your brand?
disruption to the status quo, of matter time of day – or situation, it
being pushed to think out of the demands immediate attention. I I want to keep doing what I'm
box, quite simply, because the box often awaken in the middle of the doing. The way I'm doing it. I'm
suddenly disappeared into thin air. night with some random epiphany having a great time. I'm meeting
So, I de initely would not do that I must attend to. fabulous people. I keep moving
anything differently. As master of my own schedule, and forward. I'm a big believer in
because I frequently work for serendipity. I try to always keep
What does a day in the life of clients in different time zones, I can myself open to possibilities.
Robin Albin look like? How do duck out 3-4 days a week to do my Especially for projects that would
you ensure worklife balance? Cross-Fit class. I'm addicted to it. seem out of my wheelhouse.
And when I can, I sneak in a short
I am a workaholic. I'm up and at my afternoon power nap with my 3
desk generally by 5:00 a.m. 7 days a dogs.
week with 8 shots of expresso to
get me going. That's when I do my

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 29
IN – FOCUS
A S T O R Y O F
COLORS &MORE
I n a world where creativity and
business often seem to be at
odds, Carrie Colbert stands out
as a shining example of how the
two can seamlessly intersect. A
digital in luencer, Carrie has made a
name for herself by empowering
women to succeed in business and
entrepreneurship.
As the founding and general
partner at Curate Capital, she is on
a mission to provide capital,
mentorship, and strategic planning
advice to female entrepreneurs and
female-driven companies.
Additionally, through her work as a
fashion and lifestyle in luencer,
Carrie has become known for her
bold and vibrant use of color, and
she has made it her mission to help
other women embrace color and
32
–CARRIE COLBERT
express themselves boldly.
With a proven track record of
driving results, it's no wonder that
Carrie is a sought after speaker,
Beyond that, I may be biased as an
investor, but I think being in charge
of and knowledgeable about one's
inances makes a woman powerful.
I grew up in a very small Texas
panelist, mentor, and advisor. In this
interview, we to learn more about town where it was impolite to talk
her journey, her passion for about money, which I think is a
empowering women, and how she similar story to many women's
is using the power of color to upbringings.
inspire and uplift others.
When I began working for a rapidly
What according to you makes one growing energy company, that
a powerful woman? How do you changed quickly. Hilcorp embraced
integrate the same thought into a very entrepreneurial culture. Two
your leadership? key components of that culture
were an open book management
style and an ownership mentality.
To me, power begins with a deeply
All employees knew how their
rooted sense of self-awareness.
actions could impact the bottom
Knowing who you are and playing
line - and thus our own inancial
to your strengths are two keys to
success, because we all had equity
embracing your power.
in the company. I quickly realized
the power of ownership.
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 Founding & General Partner
Curate Capital

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 33
IN – FOCUS

Though I now work in a completely workplace norms to wear (in my me on social media with their
different industry, I've carried many mind) boring neutrals. But soon incredible investment
of those lessons forward in how I thereafter, I learned to embrace my opportunities, I realized I had to do
run Curate Capital, wherein I share individuality and express my more.
all inancial updates, both good and personality via my style selections.
(heaven forbid) not so good with On Instagram I coined the hashtag Little did I know that I would hear
our internal team and investors. #MoreColorPlease because I truly more “no's” in my irst fundraise
Transparency is so critical for believe surrounding yourself with with Curate than ever before in my
women to feel more invested, both vibrancy and positive energy is the life. There were tears of frustration
iguratively and literally, in the only way to live your life. It sounds and joy, moments of fear and
outcomes. corny, but something as simple as triumph, and in the end, we were
slipping on a bright pink dress or just ecstatic to surpass our initial
Talk to us about your growing up rainbow sweater can totally turn goal of $10 Million by 50%! Our
years. What is your earliest my day around. portfolio companies are each
memory as a leader? thriving as they grow at their own
From a business perspective, it was paces, and we believe so strongly in
One of my irst jobs growing up was super important to me when the women behind them.
at the small-town golf course where launching Curate Capital to use
of course it was predominately men color and bold branding as a way to While my professional experience
that played day in and day out. Very stand out from the crowd. At the may seem really disjointed, it's
quickly I learned to speak time, just a few short years ago, the actually not. Experience teaches us
con idently, upsell at the Pro Shop, sea of venture capital irms was lessons all the time if we are open
and hold my own even when pretty monochromatic. VC websites to learning. In hindsight, I can look
surrounded by those with much all had very conservative, back and connect all the dots. No
more life experience than myself. I traditional colors and branding. experience is lost or wasted. It has
think that was one of the irst Navy blue was everywhere! So, my all contributed to what I'm doing
opportunities for me to learn how branding was an opportunity to set now - which I consider to be my
to get comfortable with failure, ourselves apart from the very irst professional sweet spot, the
which is an absolutely vital skill as impression! culmination of many years of hard
an entrepreneur. work.
From spending almost two
Beyond that, I was always a high decades in the corporate sector Looking at this journey, if you
performer. I was my high school to starting a venture capital fund were to start again, what would
class valedictorian, the top of my that supports and empowers you do differently?
engineering class, an of icer in women entrepreneurs. What has
organizations many times over, and been the journey like for you?
Technically speaking there are a
so on and so forth. For me, few details of structuring a venture
performance was a way to rise It's been a rollercoaster, that's for capital fund that I would probably
above my meager beginnings. sure. Up until the point that I do differently, but those were
started Curate Capital, I had really lessons I had to learn the hard way.
Your branding uses a lot of been very blessed to see a steady Overall, I can honestly look back
vibrant and expressive colors. positive progression in my career. I and say that every moment in my
What is your association with rose in the ranks at an oil and gas life has led me to where I am today.
colors and what it represents? company, I “retired” and grew an My husband and I are raising two
Instagram following and in luencer phenomenal children while I grow
status, and then as more and more Curate Capital, and while it's wildly
Yes! I have always loved color! Early female founders were approaching
on in my career, I succumbed to the busy and chaotic at times, I

34 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 IN – FOCUS

Finally, talk to us about the

impact of Curate Capital, not only
in terms of supporting women-
owned businesses but also how it
is increasing awareness about
the untapped potential of this
market.

We're extremely unique in the

sense that 80% of our investors are
women, and the vast majority are
individual investors, not giant
private equity irms or inancial
institutions. We've also seen that
our investors are primarily from
Texas and the Midwest, whereas
most venture capital dollars are
coming from the East or West
Coast, as you might imagine. I think
all that data supports our gut
feeling that Curate Capital is
opening the eyes of a whole new
demographic and generation of
women who want to put their
money where their mission is, so to
speak.

If no one else is going to invest in

female founders, of course it's going
to be our fellow women! We know
for a fact that companies led by
women outperform their male
counterparts, so we're not only
creating a movement, but we're also
wouldn't change a thing. I'm things to all people. I'm very clear making excellent business decisions
grateful for the chance to craft a life on my priorities during this season as well. And the best part is, the
I love. of life. My priorities are (1) taking sky's the limit!
care of myself, (2) taking care of my
As an entrepreneur, speaker, children, and (3) building my
in luencer, and mother, what business. Any invitations or
does a day in the life of Carrie opportunities that come my way
Colbert look like? How do you have to bene it one of these three
ensure work-life balance? priorities - or it's a no for me. A
different season of life may look
differently. But for now, my focus on
Well, while there are certainly times these three things is of utmost
of chaos, I'd say age has taught me importance to me.
to iercely ilter through
opportunities. I don't try to be all

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 35
IN – FOCUS
Cornerstones of a Positive
Work Culture
Having a positive work culture is one of the key aspects of a
successful and productive organization. Here, Nina Vaca, the
Founder of Pinnacle Group, shares the secrets behind the same.
W
to leave.
hen I founded Pinnacle Group, I set out to
create a place where people wanted to come
to work, where our associates would be
supported in all areas, and, as a result, would never want
I truly believe the most important thing you can provide
for someone is a job. We’ve seen tremendous growth
over the years as some of our interns have become
trusted associates and later executives while other
associates have changed roles, developed new skills, and
truly driven their careers forward. On the personal front,
we’ve seen so many of our associates start families, buy
houses, and truly flourish in all aspects of their lives
while working at Pinnacle Group.
Witnessing these stories is by far the most rewarding part
of what I do. As we’ve grown over the years, I have
worked diligently to preserve and develop our culture —
a culture that is focused on putting people first. It has
made all the difference and is one of the cornerstones of
Pinnacle Group’s enduring success. Culture starts at the
top, so I take my responsibilities as keeper of our culture
very seriously. The power of the silent example cannot
be overstated in both business and life.
36
Central to maintaining our unique blend of
entrepreneurial spirit and family feel is to create an
environment where no work is beneath anyone. We
maintain a fairly flat corporate structure, meaning that
anyone can jump in and perform any task that needs
doing. I say it all the time and I truly mean it — if I need
to grab a broom and sweep, then get me the broom!
There’s an old saying that if you take care of your
employees, they will take care of your customers. We
embrace that idea at Pinnacle Group and make sure that
we integrate the wellness and career development of our
associates into our business model. This is what
differentiates us from many other companies and allows
us to attract and retain the best talent.
Our people-first approach manifests itself in so many
ways, from customary health and financial benefits, to
fun things like theme weeks and contests, to health fairs
and wellness activities, to training opportunities and so
on. One thing that may sound frivolous, but we find is so
important and appreciated, is our snacks. It’s hard to top
Pinnacle’s snack game! While that might seem silly, it’s
a fact that people work better and feel happier when they
are well-fed, and it shows how much we value our team
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 IN – FOCUS

We want our associates to be lifelong learners, so we put

a lot of time, energy, and financial resources into training
and helping grow their careers. While I’m the
entrepreneur that started Pinnacle Group, everyone at our
company can be an entrepreneur (sometimes called an
“intrapreneur”). Part of being an entrepreneur within a
company is growing and developing yourself. To help
with this, Pinnacle provides many different resources,
from in-house training, to an online platform associates
can use to access thousands of online courses, to industry
certifications, to training programs, to college tuition
reimbursement. There is no ceiling to anyone’s
opportunity for growth and development if they are
motivated to take advantage of the resources we provide!

To thrive and help the company thrive, employees need a

members when we listen to what they like and adapt to
provide it.
Although snacks are fun to talk about, you could have a
well-fed workforce that accomplishes very little if you’re
not investing in the future of work as well. We invest in
technology to automate as much of our routine tasks as
possible. This allows our associates to focus their
creativity and judgment on solving problems and
growing their part of the business. When people’s days
aren’t taken up with mundane tasks, they are free to use
the talents and skills for which they were hired in the
first place, like creativity, service, and entrepreneurial
drive.
strong, inclusive, positive work culture. They need an
environment that allows them to develop a sense of
ownership in the work they produce and in the
organization as a whole. That entrepreneurial attitude
permeates our company. We want everyone to feel a
sense of ownership. Some associates really feel that way
because it was their original idea that got us involved in
the part of the business that they run, or it was their
outside-the-box thinking that helped us leap over a
hurdle that was in the way. And our associates know that
each of them may be the next person with a great idea or
a great fix for a problem we are facing. When associates
feel empowered to take chances, innovate, and
constantly seek improvement, the entire company
flourishes.
One key element to our success is that we work with our
associates and put them first. We understand that each
person has a set of unique needs and skills, and we work

‘‘
together to find how these can best be addressed and

t a ll t h e t ime and utilized. Because, in the end, we are all a part of the

I say i same mission. And we listen to our associates as they

need to
work closely with our customers. If a customer has a

I truly me
grab a br
a n
oo m
i t —
a
i
n
f
d
I
sweep,
‘‘ problem that needs to be solved, our associates are the
ones who hear about it first. So, everyone at Pinnacle is
in constant communication with both the customers and
other team members to make sure that everyone is heard,

e broom!
and every potential problem is solved quickly and
e t m e t h efficiently. We pride ourselves on our responsiveness,
then g agility, and creativity.

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 37
IN – FOCUS

But none of this would work if we weren’t hiring the
right people from the start. Indeed, finding people that fit
your company culture is one of the most important and
difficult things to do. We have a rigorous hiring process
that doesn’t just consider technical skills and
accomplishments (though, those are important), but takes
into account culture fit and attitude. Is the candidate
driven to be excellent at what they do? Can they move at
the pace of our fast growth? Do they have a sense of
humor? Are they a lifetime learner? We consider all of
these factors when bringing someone on board at
Pinnacle. Like I said, we want to be a place that no one
wants to leave, and, on the flip side of that, we bring in
people that we’d like to be here for a long time, too.
Today, I can proudly say that Pinnacle Group is a
company whose work culture radiates innovation,
entrepreneurship, and appreciation for our staff. This
extends beyond the HR department and is carried
throughout the organization by leaders at all levels. We
are committed to preserving and promoting our culture
throughout the company. We focus on it and invest in it.
Our executive team places a high value on making sure
that everyone believes in and contributes to a positive
culture.
Diversity in the workforce is another of Pinnacle’s
values and one of the cornerstones of our success. We
are a certified-minority- and women-owned business
committed to seeking talent from all backgrounds while
developing a robust and diverse supply chain. And when
I say “diversity,” I mean it in every sense of the word.
This includes diversity of thought, diversity of
experience, and diversity of background.
We hire successful and talented people from within our
industry, but we also look for people who are excelling
in other fields, whether that is technology, HR, legal,
project management, or any other field where we find
excellent talent. Our workforce is also incredibly diverse
in another sense: over 65% of our corporate employees
are women and 40% are minorities. They come from
over a dozen countries and all over the United States.
Why do we spread such a wide net when looking for
talent? Because we are in the business of providing and
managing top talent in a rapidly changing business
environment in which new technologies are released on a
daily basis. We have to stay ahead of the game at all
levels, and we need the best people in every single role.
We continue to grow year-over-year, and I sincerely
believe that our success can be credited first and
foremost to our dynamic and hard-working team.
Of course, every company is different and will thus need
its own carefully-crafted culture. But in any industry, it’s
important to remember that company values and
philosophies significantly impact the way employees
think, act, and perform — and that all starts from the top.
Originally Published in Medium

Author Bio

Nina Vaca is the Chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Group, a leading

global workforce solutions provider. In addition to her business
leadership, Vaca is also a civic leader and philanthropist, working
relentlessly to expand opportunities for minorities and women in
business and for women and girls in STEM fields. Her dynamic
leadership over the past 22 years has propelled the company from a
niche IT services firm to the workforce solutions powerhouse it is today.

38
IN – FOCUS

Alliso n
Wals—h
40 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

DRIVING
m at c
Un RESULTSh e d
—
L eadership is a unique and multifaceted
blend that inspires and fuels progress.
At the forefront of this dynamic force
are leaders who drive results, the catalysts of
change who infuse their teams with purpose
and determination.
Allison Walsh is an example of a powerful
leader who knows how to drive results to
ensure optimal client satisfaction. In this
Exclusive Interview with personal brand and
business coach – Allison Walsh shares about
her journey and ideas of entrepreneurship.
What according to you makes one a personal and professional development.
powerful woman? How do you integrate
the same thought into your leadership?
A powerful woman is ALL WOMEN ALL THE
TIME. The Most powerful woman, though, is
one that sees her passion and her craft
through to happiness and success. The Most
powerful woman prioritizes her needs and
her goals and makes them happen! I hold
myself accountable and teach all of my clients
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
IN – FOCUS
the importance of happiness and passion in
success, and how it takes action in order to
achieve it all.
What prompted your interest and
subsequently your foray into the
consulting and coaching space?
I started as Miss Florida in 2006 and quickly
realized that I have been able to ind success
in many things that I do. After gaining that
title for myself, I knew I wanted to help
others achieve amazing results pursuing their
goals because I am a huge fan of both
I had a few clients that I was working with,
but it wasn't until 2009 that I jumped in and
started treating the company as a priority. My
irst business was truly born during the
recession because I needed to igure out how
to help us dig ourselves out of the hole that
we were in as a result of my husband losing
his job.
41
IN – FOCUS
I knew I had experiences that I could
share and that there were clients who
wanted to learn what I had to offer, so I
igured out a pricing structure and
started hustling. They were getting
great results and word of mouth
referrals were coming in. I knew it had
even greater potential and so I decided
to partner with a dear friend to expand
the business, which was such an
incredible experience.
In 2015, I returned to a solo practice
and evolved what I offered to reach a
new clientele. Fast forward to 2021, and
my niche has continued to evolve as I
have. In addition to running my own
business, I've built other very successful
businesses along the way. Consulting
has always provided so much joy and I
am eternally grateful to the amazing
clients I've had the chance to work with.
What is the approach followed by you
when offering your services to ensure Balancing work and life are extremely
optimal client satisfaction?
I am constantly evolving, growing, and
learning. Everything I've ever done or
experienced that's moved the needle is
incorporated in my training and work.
I've seen a lot of coaches pull back and
not share, at the risk of over-sharing
and not having anything new to sell. I'm
the opposite and a complete open book.
I also know how to drive results, and
always give 110% to my clients. If I can't
provide what someone needs, I will
refer them out. To me, results are what
matter and if I am not the woman for
the job, I'll connect you with someone
who is and cheer you on as you chase
your next goal.
What does a day in the life of Allison that procrastination, especially around
Walsh look like? How do you ensure launching something new, will never
work-life balance?
42
4:30 AM: Rise and shine, meditate, light
exercise and journaling.
5:15 AM: Working on a passion project
or something that lights me up and ills
up my cup.
7:00 AM: Getting my 3 kids ready for
school.
8:00 AM: One-on-one coaching sessions
with my clients
9:00 AM: Team meetings and one-on-
ones with my team
12:00 PM: Lunch, meetings and re-
prioritizing the afternoon to ensure
deliverables are able to be completed.
3:00 PM: Grabbing a snack, meetings
and praying that my kids don't zoom
bomb any videos calls (which happens
at least once a week).
7:00 PM: Doing the dance mom shuf le,
picking up and dropping off, and getting
my little guy ready for bed.
9:00 PM: Fast asleep. I'm an early to bed,
early to rise kinda gal.
hard, as I'm sure most of the Fem-
Founder readers know! One of the main
ways that I work to ind balance is by
knowing and understanding what is in
alignment with my goals. This is both
professionally and personally. When I
understand and acknowledge what is
working with me, instead of additional
work, I am able to cut what does not
serve me and focus on what does. I focus
on integration and alignment over I got in my own way,
balance. more ways than I care to
share but now I've
Looking back at your journey, what adopted the mentality
would you have done differently that it's better to put
when starting out? things out there than to
talk myself out of doing
Stop overthinking and just go for it. I what I know I need to do.
learned so much when things didn't go
right and one of the biggest lessons is What would be your
advice for women
entrepreneurs in
result in sales (it only delays progress). today's work
environment?
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

I see way too many women with
brilliant ideas fail at execution - not
because they weren't capable - but
because they allowed their excuses
to be way louder than their WHY.
Once you lay out a plan for what
you want to do and why you want
to do it, the most important and
critical step is HOW.
You grow stronger, more resilient,
and more capable each and every
day as an entrepreneur, and I
promise you will be so impressed
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
IN – FOCUS
Finally, recommend / mention one thing
in each of this category:
One Book Entrepreneurs must read: Scale
of Fail by Allison Maslan
One Productivity Tool that everyone should
use: Jasper.ai
One Mobile App that you use the most:
Instagram.
One Movie / Show that you would
recommend: Schitt's Creek
One Quote that Motivates you the Most:
“The whole point of being alive is to evolve
into the complete person you were
intended to be.” Oprah Winfrey
One Investment Advice that you Follow:
Hire an experienced advisor to help you.
with your results if you commit to I am also really excited to continue
your “why” and “How” and stay speaking and contributing, and I've
crystal clear on your vision. also looking forward to my
company scaling. Our methods and
What does the future look like approach work, and not only am I
for you and your brand? What excited to work with new clients, I
are you most excited about? am excited to bring new coaches
into the company to help us scale.
This year will allow me to cross an
exciting goal off my list as my irst
—
book will be out this Fall! I've
dreamed of this opportunity since I
was a teenager, so I'm thrilled that
it's coming to fruition.
43
EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

INTERVIEW WITH

CEO OF BRIDGE YOUR STYLE

Please tell us a little bit to introduce yourself and your company

Bridge Your Style.

I refer to myself as a seasoned professional. In addition to having an

expansive family, that I love, I have built a career based on
relationships. My early days in sales nurtured my love of fashion
which inspired me to launch Bridge Your Style. The essence of my
brand is to ensure that women feel con ident regardless of where they
are going; I say from carpool line to cocktails. Your wardrobe can be
your armor of con idence or an expression of that con idence shining
through. I prepare my clients for what they need on any given day.

What according to you makes one a powerful woman? How do

you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

Power comes from con idence. When a person feels con ident, they
carry themselves in a certain way, they engage with people, and they

44 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 EXELEON EXCLUSIVE

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 45
EXELEON EXCLUSIVE
have the courage to take on new
things. I believe that con idence is
an important ingredient in
leadership.
I work with a lot of powerful
women leaders. We curate a
wardrobe that supports their
con idence and style in any aspect
of their lifestyle. We inspire one
another and my leadership style
46
grows out of my experience and
what I learn as this journey
continues.
What was the idea that led to the marketplace that I only carried
start of Bridge Your Style?
The designer collections that I carry
represent some of the highest
quality fashions that will take you
from the workplace to the weekend.
Before I launched Bridge Your Style,
I realized that my reputation was
closely aligned with working
women and an assumption in the
working wear.
Bridge Your Style is a promise to my
clients and community, that we can
build a wardrobe that is tailored to
their personal style regardless of
E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E

their lifestyle. I want my clients to
have the con idence that we will
build a wardrobe over time that will
support them in every aspect of
their life. It will include elements
that are on-trend and integrate
timeless pieces that never go out of
style.
What does a day in the life for what would you do differently?
you look like? How do you ensure Find people who are growing their
work-life balance?
There is no blueprint for my day,
and for the record, I don't believe in
work-life balance. I am fortunate
that I created a career that I love, so
it does not feel like work. However,
I have to protect my wellbeing, so I
will strategically block my calendar
for dinners with my husband,
babysitting opportunities with my
grandbabies, time with girlfriends,
and to travel.
Regarding the average workday, it
varies by season. As a new
collection is rolling out, I gather as
much information as I can about the
pieces. I begin to mentally pull
pieces for clients as I know they will
it into their wardrobe, or for an
upcoming event they told me about.
This time is very client focused.
When the I have the trunk shows in
residence, my days are a lurry of
private appointments. I love these
times with my clients because I get
up to date on their lives, learn about
new adventures, or just enjoy a
glass of wine with them.
In other times of the year, I network
feverishly. I love meeting new
women, hearing about their
journeys, and inding new causes
that I can support. A big part of my
W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M
EXELEON EXCLUSIVE
business that I have not mentioned, experience, and I think this holds
is our charitable work. In true across the board, invest in
connection with my larger sales and building relationships. The number
appearances, I donate a portion of of overnight successes or venture
the proceeds to a charity or cause. capital unicorns is extraordinarily
rare. Diligently search for
As a female entrepreneur, what networking opportunities and
have been the journey like for begin to religious engage in them
you? If you were to start again, with a purpose.
As a 'seasoned' professional, my companies and collaborate. Find
journey started when women did people who have some success on
not have as many options as they do their resume and ask them for
today. Up until the Women's advice or to serve on an Advisory
Business Ownership Act in 1988, Board. It takes time and diligence,
women were not able to get a but you do not have to be alone.
business loan without a male co-
signer. Thankfully, that has changed. Finally, what does the future look
like for you and Bridge Your
Today, social media, affordable Style?
digital advertising, and SaaS based
business tools have made starting a We all recently went through
business so much easier. But don't incredible changes, both personally
be fooled, keeping a business and professionally. We had to revisit
running and growing takes a lot of our business and how we deliver
work. If I were starting out today, I services. I am optimistic because
would do things differently. I would my business model is very aligned
become an entrepreneur much with how more and more women
earlier, if not from the start. It's not want to shop. However, I believe
easier but there is much more that my continued success will be
lexibility. gained not because I sell products
but because I sell a concierge
What would be your advice for service that builds con idence.
women entrepreneurs struggling Con idence never goes out of style.
to take that leap of faith in
starting their own business?
Have a plan; not the type of
business plan that sits in a binder
on the shelf but rather a plan
around how to introduce the
company to the target audience.
Also have a plan that will keep you
inancial stable for a 6-12 month,
depending on your net receivables.
In the lines of business that I have
47
 fashion
Connector
50 E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E
 IN – FOCUS

AK BROWN IS A SEASONED FASHIONPRENEUR

WHO IS USING HER JOURNEY TO GUIDE AND
INSPIRE FASHION BRANDS AND CREATIVES IN
DEFINING THEIR SUCCESS IN THE INDUSTRY.
READ HER FULL INTERVIEW WITH EXELEON
MAGAZINE, WHERE SHE TALKS ABOUT HER
JOURNEY AND THE FASHION INDUSTRY.

What according to you makes one a powerful woman? How do

you integrate the same thought into your leadership?

I believe power comes with true genuineness and authenticity.

Essentially, there's no way to act or look powerful, but more so being
authentic in your actions and what you set to put out into the world.
For me, my power comes from my determination and my circle
knowing if I say I'm going to do something or manifest something,
then it's going to happen.

I think, especially with women, we are told we have to be tough, and

almost mean in order to be taken seriously as a leader (I think of it
as the Miranda Priesley act in The Devi; Wears Prada). I'm not a rude
person, I'm not a mean person, and I am more of an empath than
people realize. I refuse to implement scare tactics into my leadership
that contribute to the toxicity of the fashion industry we so
desperately need to get away from.

Talk to us about your growing up years. What is your earliest

memory as a leader?

Highschool, senior year to be exact as I was one of the cheerleading

W W W. E X E L E O N M AG A Z I N E . C O M 51
IN – FOCUS
captions and was the year I really
started to come out of my shell. Fast
forward to college where I was the
student council president and really
got involved in the fashion scene
there, and that may be why I am
now back as an adjunct professor.
What prompted your interest ensure work-life balance?
and subsequently your foray into into place on really, how cheap a
the fashion space?
Fashion for me was second nature,
growing up with a mother and
several aunts and cousins who
either had the same interests as me
or nurtured my interest. As I moved
along in my degree and early on in
my career, I realized that fashion
can, should, and is meant to be
inclusive.
There's a way for everyone to
participate in fashion and make it
their own, and I'm someone that
doesn't necessarily like to “follow
the rules”. So being able to create
what my version of what fashion
was is how I really developed what
my brand is today.
As a fashionpreneur, how are you differently, or change is building my
helping people ind clarity and presence outside of St. Louis
direction in the industry?
One example of this is really
promoting the “fashion expert” and
move away from the in luencer
culture. I believe social media has
forced many of us to become the
content creators and in luencers we
don't want to be, and many of us
have a wealth of knowledge in so
many different niches in fashion.
We need more experts that can
share their knowledge and
experience, even when the day
52
comes that social media is not
bene icial to us anymore, and this is
one of the areas I focus on when I
work with multifaceted
fashionpreneurs.
What does a day in the life of AK eventually weed out what we know
Brown look like? How do you of as fast fashion. If there's a certain
Each day is different because of
everything I am involved in. A lot of
my days consist of meetings and
consultations, as well as lecture
series and panel events. Some days
may consist of creating content for
my magazine, and some days
consist of blogging on my website. I
learned after getting my master's
that I need at least 2 days to myself
and my daughter. Sundays usually
are my clean up days and relaxation
days, and Mondays are my “let's get
organized” days.
Looking at your journey as an
entrepreneur, what would you Finally, what does the future look
have differently if you were to like for you and your brand?
start again?
The only thing I would do
sooner. Part of my brand is to bring
visibility to the wonderful things
happening in St. Louis' fashion
industry, but my fear held me back
from traveling early on or making
connections outside of my city, and
I now know how bene icial it could
have been for my efforts and bigger
goal.
With new technologies and
innovations entering the market,
what do you think is the future of
the fashion industry?
Sustainability and entering into the
digital second world. Sustainability
is something that you'll see come
down the pipeline as bills and laws,
something that should have been
done years ago. I think this will
level of ethics, backed by law, put
piece of clothing can be made, the
price will go up and it will take
longer to make.
With AI technology, you now have
the capabilities to try on fashion
and even wear fashion in another
world. There are also other ways
besides the classic factory to make
clothes, which circles back around
to the idea of fashion being
inclusive and giving other designers
and brands opportunities to create
product in a way that makes sense
for them.
What are you most excited
about?
I sometimes don't like to speak of
the future because, as we know, the
future is unpredictable, but I am
hoping my future includes the
growth and progression of my
studio brand and non-pro it, as well
as continuing to be seen as The
Fashion Connector that I am.
Whatever the future holds, I just
hope fashion is involved.
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Interview with Model & Entrepreneur

ReShonda
Parker
Can you please introduce yourself and your background as a woman entrepreneur.

Hi! Mt name is ReShonda and I am a 45 year young mother of 3 beautiful children ages 24,
19 and 11!

I have been a professional fashion model for 20 plus years now. I also create one of a kind
and custom jewelry pieces and I've been a vendor at an open-air market for 6 years now.
The name of my jewelry business is " Sugar"!

I also enjoy cosplay modeling where I become different characters from X- Men's Storm to
Morticia Addams! I've always been a creative and because I have a background in fashion as
well, I create costumes. I have always loved jewelry and decided to start my own business
back in 2012. It was so amazing to see people get excited about my work and even more
exciting to see them wear my pieces!

Talk to us about your brand. What is the nature of your service or solution?

My business " Sugar " is an accessory business where I create quirky, fun, classy, one of a

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kind pieces that speak to the wearer.

Being a woman entrepreneur, what are

some of the biggest challenges that you
faced in your journey?

One of the challenges I faced was not so

much being a woman as it was competing
with big chain stores that people already
knew about. It was a little dif icult starting
out because not everyone will see your
vision, but I put in a lot of work to get my
name out there. Also sometimes being a
woman, people may not take you seriously.
You have to just show them different.

What according to you makes one an

empowering woman?

A woman who stays true to self and

doesn't allow others to sway her from her
dreams. Someone who has been through
many struggles and at the end of it still
stands. A woman who lives by example,
relies on God, and doesn't give up when
things get hard.

What would be your advice for aspiring

and emerging women entrepreneurs?

Follow your heart and chase your dreams.

Give it your all and do what you love. It'll
never feel like work. I also say do your
research, never stop learning. And pray
often.

Where do you see your business or your

brand in the near future?

I see myself doing bigger things with my

modeling because I enjoy networking at all
my events. I want to start an organization
to help young girls and women do what
they are passionate about and to never
stop striving to be their best. I also want
my jewelry to be in those big stores I use
to look in for jewelry!

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