Entrepreneurs Building Empires

ENTREPRENEURS BUILDING EMPIRES

Transformational

Career & Business Growth Strategist

ISIMEMEN “ISI” ALADEJOBI

ISIMEMEN “ISI” ALADEJOBI EVA JANE MIC GERONIMO KEN JAMES KUBOTA THE WAR THAT WON’T BE FOUGHT WITH GUNS NEELAM LWIS MARISSA STAPLEY AYA ITO BSHARP MUSZIK MAN ON THE MOON JANYELLE MILTON EBONÉ F. BELL SHAD HELMSTETTER, PH.D. LIZ HILLIARD

CONTENTS

DECEMBER 2022

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W.I.B (Where It Begins) is an Independent agency with the aim to always be innovated in each approach taken to projects and making sure excellence is given in a projects execution when it comes to media marketing, branding, networking and management.

Founded by the well experienced and ever growing force; D.C native - Cece Hymes, the most important and integral aspect of W.I.B is that branding for both Creatives and Businesses is taken to the next level with each and every project undertaken.

We’ve continued to represent a very diverse and well acclaimed roster of emerging talents in the entertainment, and businesses!

With a determined persistence for continued excellence, our Founder – Cece Hymes, with a college Degree in Business Management, has also worked within radio and with many companies such as: RDE Entertainment, H.I.G.H Entertainment and Caribbean Gospel Records Ltd.,

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Cece Hymes Founder

42 Keisha Evins

Contributing Writer

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"If you feel like you deserve more out of life, you're right!"

ISIMEMEN “ISI” ALADEJOBI 4 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK

Q. Let’s talk a little bit about your journey and how you got to where you are today.

A. My journey is much like that of many Black women I meet and ultimately end up coaching. I did everything society told me to do.

I earned the degrees and landed what some consider to be “good” jobs. I realized once I did those things, I was not fulfilled. I didn’t feel settled in my skin about having degrees, a work ethic and a paycheck because my compensation did not match the passion I put into performing in the workplace. I felt like I was doing the most for the least.

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do.

A. Thank you so much for having me. I am honored! My name is Isimemen “Isi” Aladejobi, and my official title is Transformational Career & Business Growth Strategist.

However, I’m just a woman passionate about helping women, particularly women of color, change their lives

by upleveling in their careers. You see, women of color are some of the most unseen, unheard, undervalued, and underrepresented in the workplace. I believe it is my job, my position and my purpose to help women get to the bag and build the lifestyle the deserve. Through my work, I help push women to refocus their mindsets on living a life where they feel fulfilled in every area in their faith, their families and their finances.

I quickly realized that the life I wanted could only be materialized if I dared to trust all the gifts God gave me and put them to work. To try to appease my internal struggle with feeling fulfillment, I almost went back to school to get my doctorate. I knew that was the wrong move to make to get my desired result. So, I changed my mind! (Ladies, you’re allowed to change your mind any time you’re not being served well in your decision making.)

Instead of pursuing that degree, I decided to go all in and bet on myself to support other women in gaining a sense of peace in their lives. I took all my knowledge from teaching and leading to create a coaching and consulting company that helps women build and live their best, fulfilled lives.

Since 2015, I have trained more than 7,000 women and worked with more than 300 clients to help transform careers and businesses.

Q. How would you define your purpose?

A. My purpose is God-given to be honest and it is only actualized when I’m in service to others – be it my family, my clients or myself. My purpose is to identify and pull the gold out in people’s lives so they can live their calling and live rich and fulfilling lives. My focus is women and women of color; however, my message is global. I help people recognize and realize that when God created them, He put something unique and

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Q. Why does a Black woman deserve more from Corporate America?

A. That’s a loaded question! Well, I would ask, why not? Statistically speaking, Black women are the most educated group of professionals. We are the most hardworking. We are naturally nurturers, and we provide, and we cover, and we sacrifice deeply.

And not only do we do that for our families, but we also do that in our place of work. We go the extra mile, do the job well, and quite frankly, we deserve a seat at the table. We deserve to be pulled into the big meetings and assigned the big projects. We deserve the promotions. We deserve it all because we are the crème of the crop. You put us on anything, and we flourish. It’s time that our titles and money match the amount of sacrifice we give and the number of gifts and talent we bring to the table in the workplace.

worthwhile in them. By connecting and working with me, I help them define that “something,” polish it, and put the value into words so they can use it to make more money for their family and impact the world.

Q. Can you describe what these three words mean to you Faith, Family, and Finance?

A. For me, faith, family, and finances are my anchor. I get warm and fuzzy when I talk about my faith and my family. Faith means identity. It means knowing God and being known by God. It means walking closely with Christ and with the people who matter to me most – my family. Family and faith keep me grounded. The work I do, as it pertains to helping others gain more in their finances, reminds me of who I am and where I came from.

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I marry faith, family and finances in my life because, through my faith, I’ve supported and sustained my family alongside my husband. I can maintain my family in a way that brings me so much joy. When you have the proper finances, you are free to do what you desire. I want that freedom for every woman I encounter personally and professionally.

Q. Can you tell share a few tips to help our readers get what they are worth in the marketplace?

A. First, if you seek more in your career, make sure you have a pulse on salary negotiation tactics. You really can’t ask for more if you are unsure of what “more” looks like in your industry.

Next, focus on building your brand within the company and learn how to network appropriately. Make sure, you are building a positive rapport with your co-workers and superiors.

Sometimes what they have to say about who you are and what you bring to the table can make all the difference.

Also, hone in on your strengths and weaknesses. The things you excel at, get better in them. Wherever you lack, either focus on getting better or have people around you that are

good in those areas. There is nothing wrong with having an arsenal of people to lean on professionally.

Last, use LinkedIn! It may not be as entertaining as other social platforms but when it comes to showing your best face professionally, using LinkedIn properly can open the door to incredible opportunities.

Q. What has been one of the most significant accomplishments you’ve received in your career?

A. I’ve had more than a few significant accomplishments over the past few years in business.

Building a business that has helped women earn over 2 million dollars more in their careers is no small feat.

I must say that launching “Fulfilled,” my signature coaching program, has been life- changing for me because of it’s impact on those I’ve been blessed to serve. “Fulfilled” is a transformational career coaching program for black women and women of color that shows them how to land their dream jobs, skyrocket their salaries, and ultimately live fulfilling lives.

When I think about my career and my clients, “Fulfilled” is helping my clients triple their salaries and open up their minds to what is possible for them. When someone you help goes from making $70k to $250k, you can’t help but be proud and want to keep going!

Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events?

A. Absolutely! I’m a visionary so new projects are always on the horizon. I recently released one of my signature salary increases trainings that everyone should take that training shows people how to increase their salary by 5,200 K in the next 90 days. If reading that gave you goosebumps, you should dig in and go to www.isimemen.com/start to get the goods.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. If you have Google, you can find and follow me! But for ease of access, I love engaging with my audience on Instagram at @Isimemen and Linked in at Isimemen Aladejobi.

"Women need to not compare themselves against anyone else but embrace who they are and learn to enhance that and show in their own power!"

EVA JANE

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Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do.

A. I was raised in Columbus, Ohio and I’ve been a professional makeup artist ever since I moved here in 1993.

I attended Ohio State University and majored in fashion but when I came here the jobs I found were in makeup and it just stuck! I have primarily worked within the television industry, and I earned my Emmy® Awards in 2001 and 2002. I was on set at a television station one day and it was there that the idea for my flagship product “The Makeup Bullet®” was born. I began the journey to become a U.S. patent holder and was able to connect with beauty lover’s retailers and distributors all over the world! And share my invention with them. The Makeup Bullet® launched in 2013 and since then I have expanded my product line with other beauty tools and more recently gels for defining the eyes and the brows. I am a beauty entrepreneur. I am a wife. I am a mother. I am an indie filmmaker. I am an author too. My book “Innovative Beauty: Keys to an Inventor’s Success” tells the story of how The Makeup Bullet® came to be.

Q. What made you want to pursue a career in beauty and cosmetics?

A. When I started out as a makeup artist, I intended it to be a steppingstone into the fashion industry. I always enjoyed makeup and was good at it. When I relocated to Atlanta, my career in makeup was supposed to be temporary!... or so I thought. I can’t say that there was a point where I decided makeup was it; what I can say is that I really enjoy people and I have chosen to express my gift in artistry through makeup. The craft allows me to be around people

and give them something that empowers them and imparts joy into their lives. The connections that I have been able to make through the beauty industry have given me fulfillment these last almost 30 years.

Makeup chose me and I am glad it did.

Q. How would you define your mission?

A. The mission for my company Eva Jane® Beauty is “Making Beauty Easier™.” I want women to be empowered through my products and information I can share with them to become the best version of themselves so they can face the world in their own unique authenticity, integrity and power. When you feel like you look your best, it gives you confidence to show up as your best self. No matter how much time a woman has or doesn’t have to get ready for her day, I want to give her the tools to look her best.

Q. Let’s talk about your business and the motivation behind it.

A. The reason I started out in the product side of the industry in creating The Makeup Bullet® was to be an example to my children that there are no limits. That entrepreneurship is a desirable path, maybe even the best path and that if they don’t want to work for someone else, they can create their own company and that would be something that didn’t seem far-fetched to them. Both myself and my husband are entrepreneurs so for my sons it’s native.

They are my motivation when it comes to success in building my brand and building my company, they have oftentimes gone with me to shows they see me in the industry they know when I’m traveling that I’m doing it for them they don’t feel as though they’re missing out on anything because I’m their biggest advocate. They know that I will show up for them and have shown up for them. I do what I do to show them that there are no limits. There are ebbs and flows of course and I’m very thankful that I have a partner in this in my husband that we can share parenting responsibilities.

Q. What are your top 3 bestsellers?

A. Right now, my customers are LOVING my EVA JANE® Silicone Detail Angle Brush. It is the perfect tool for applying creme and gel cosmetics to enhance the eyebrows and the eyes. The sculpted silicone angled head gives the user the ability to create sharp lines, hair stroke effects and crisp winged eyeliner with ease. It cleans up quicker and completely with a few swipes unlike traditional makeup brushes where product gets caught in the bristles. It keeps its shape value after use unlike traditional brushes as well. The Makeup Bullet® - HiDef Cosmetic Finger Sponge in the single and triple pack is of course my flagship product and has international recognition so it remains at the top of the pack as far as sales. My new EVA JANE® 4 Piece Travel Makeup Brush Set comes in black and blush pink and when paired with the EVA JANE® Spoolie gives you a complete set for your entire face.

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Q. Where do you see your brand in the next couple of years?

A. I will continue to expand the color cosmetics side of my line. Right now, I have the EVA JANE® Eye x Brow Definer Gels and I do want to add lip colors as well. They will likely be named under “The Makeup Bullet” brand.

Q. Can you tell us what keeps you passionate about helping people look beautiful?

A. I really do love people and meeting new people.

I was raised and an only child and my friends were everything to me. I supposed I always wanted to make people happy and through the gift of makeup I learned that I could give people a happiness that was rooted in elevated them. Makeup artistry has less to do with what I can do but with what my client can be and being able to show them that reality is so gratifying. Now, I am able to do that through the product side of the business through The Makeup Bullet®. When they pop it on their finger and they are able to apply their makeup

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evenly and with ease, it is like I am able to give them a gift. Women need not compare themselves against anyone else but embrace who they are and learn to enhance that and show up in their own power! That is what my line EVA JANE® represents and that is where my passion for beauty lies.

Q. Do you have any specials for the holidays?

A. Keep your eyes on EvaJaneBeauty.com. I will likely have some bundles and coupons for people to save on! Right now, there are bundle deals on Amazon for the shoppers there!

Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events & where can the readers follow you?

A. I have been invited to participate in some pop-up events during the holidays so follow me on social media. You can find my products on my website EvaJaneBeauty.com and on Amazon.com.

On social media IG: @EvaJaneBeauty @iamEvaJane @TheMakeupBullet Twitter: @EvaJane & @TheMakeupBullet.

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MIC GERONIMO 12 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK

do again I would. So, he inspired me a great deal to go back and do another project. I am excited about it, and I got a lot of surprises about it which I can’t talk about right now. I can say I worked with Scarface, Pimp C, and Nipsy.

Shout out to my west coast family that helped. It is out now.

Q. Which song stands out to you more on this project?

A. In terms of things that sticks out, The Bag sticks out this one was with Drill. I have one with Roddy Ricch that sticks out. I have one called 110 with Battle Cat, felt good to pay homage to my west coast family. All of them stick out. I do not think I’ve ever been this locked in on a project. The pandemic played its part in pushing this project.

Q. Tell us who you are and what you do.

A. My name is Mic Geronimo, and I am a rapper from Queens, New York.

like Saweetie, Megan Thee Stallion, City Girls, GloRilla and Cardi B of course.

It is a lot of them out there that’s doing their thing.

Q. Let us go a little bit into your journey and how you got to where you are today.

A. I Started as a DJ when I was 15 or 16 years old. I grew up around a very prestigious well-known hiphop producer, Large Professor, he actually was responsible for the majority of the Elmatic album. He was like my big brother growing up.

Being around him placed me in the presence of other DJ’s and people that influenced me. I took everyone’s advice and took music seriously. A mutual friend of mine and Irv Gotti, Chucky Madness, introduced us and I entered a talent show, and that is how I put my first single out and the rest was history.

Q. Let’s talk about your project and the inspiration behind it.

A. So, the album is called 3016, and my inspiration for that is my father.

He passed away a few years ago and his badge number for the NYPD was 3016 so that’s where that came from.

He asked me to go back in the studio before he passed away and I told him If I ever felt like that is what I wanted to

Q. What do you think is missing in the rap game today?

A. I do not think anything is missing.

Music goes through its stages. It goes through changes and adaptations.

People were used to some things that evolved into something else. Like lyrical content is not as important as it was when I first came out. Now everything is more about the vibe and the way it makes you feel. It’s not as thought-provoking as it used to be.

It is where it is supposed to be till it is supposed to become something else.

Q. What do you think would be one of your greatest

Q. Who are your top five rappers of all time?

A. Whenever people ask me that its unfair because I do not think it will be the same five all the time. I would say Rakim would always be on my list. Slick Rick, LL, Lil Wayne, and then it’s hard to do the last one because I feel like I would be leaving out some.

Q. Since you named the males, what about female rappers.

A. My favorite females are Queen Latifah, I like Rhapsody, I do not think she gets enough acclaim, Lauren Hill, Nikki Minaj, and Eve. I

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accomplishments so far?

A. My Kids, hands down. They gave me a sense of accomplishment, joy, pride, and love that you couldn’t get from anything in this world. I think they are the most symbolic of any accomplishment and represent that the best.

Q. Drop a few positive gems for us and your fans.

A. Well to the fans I would like to say thank you, I am very appreciative and humble. I love them the same way that they have love for me, and my life would not be the same without them. I would say don’t waste a minute or a day. Don’t forget you are always surrounded by everything you need to get anywhere you want to be or get anything you want.

Never get in your own way. If you choose your paths pursue it to the fullest. Go hard or go home.

Q. What is one fun fact about yourself?

A. Well, I have always loved to draw.

I had a black sketch book and would draw comics. I went to school for visual art. I opened my sketchbook for the first time in years during the pandemic.

I am a perfectionist about drawing as well as I am with music. I will share it with you all when I find my book.

Q. Out of all the places you have performed, which is your favorite.

A. I loved Japan. Loved the energy out there. Denmark Copenhagen, I loved it out there. I really love performing at home in NY. France, the west coast, I just loved to travel around the world period.

Q. If you could change places with one person for one day, who would it be?

A. That’s a hard one. Jeff Bezos or Warren Buffet. Jeff Bezos because I imagine his life is so far of a stretch of what most people’s lives are. Warren Buffet for the same reason, but because he also got to and age where you could never say you didn’t know what he was doing. He’s been in the same realm for years, he’s like the wise old man that just sits on a rock. He has the world in his hands and the whole world goes to him for advice. He’s quiet and you never hear anything bad about him.

Q. Other than your project coming out, what else can we

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expect from you in the next couple of years?

A. I don’t know, you tell me! (lol) Expect me to be dad for the rest of these years. I’m just having a blast with my project. My outside endeavors, I have been running a business for the past 15 years. Hopefully expanding that. I enjoy doing film and voice overs. Whatever opportunities presents itself and it makes sense and it’s the right thing I’m all for it. So, you can expect to see me busy for the next couple of years.

Q. What’s the best piece of advice that you ever received in your life?

A. Its funny cause I read a book and the author posed a scenario where you are in a funeral parlor, and you first come in you don’t recognize the people then you walk in a little more and the people become familiar to you. Then you walk some more, and you recognize the family and friends. When you get to the casket its you, and the author asked, “What do you want these people to say about you?” when you figure that out that’s how you lived your life. So, I think reading just changed everything.

You must know what you want people to say about you and once you decide what you want to be remembered for then that’s how you will live your life. I think it’s true and has merit to it. The other one is you have two eyes two ears and one mouth, so you listen and look twice as much as you speak. Those two things have taken me a long way.

Q. Tell us a little bit about the

challenges and hurdles you had to go through to get where you are today.

A. It wasn’t easy, the cliché, anything that’s worth something it’s never going to be easy is true. So, for every night that I’ve had that I thought, this was unbelievable, this is surreal this isn’t real life this is amazing, there were also as many dark days. Things like now what do we do and now how is this going to go, do I have the energy.

It’s not at all easy, because you must give every part of you and then some to whatever it is you are working for.

On those days you don’t want to do something you have to do it. Those days when you don’t have all the answers sometimes you just have to make it work and have patience. You must think that you are on the right path. There are going to be things that get in the way but if you stay focused, do not panic and perpetually trying to move forward then you will be fine.

Q. Tell everyone where they can get the album and follow you for more information.

A. Music is available on all platforms; it is under my label QMB. In terms of social media Instagram @MicGeronimo TikTok and twitter… real Mic Geronimo, Facebook is the Mic Geronimo fan page. The webpage is micgeronimomusic.com and the YouTube and SoundCloud is Mic Geronimo. So, I am not that hard to find.

W W W. N ATA L I A M B E A U T Y. C O M

"Even if it's not mainstream, when you pursue something that simultaneously make you happy and bring others value, you'll notice a community and career form around that."

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Q. Thanks for interviewing with us, tell everyone who you are and what you do?

A. Hi! My name is Ken James Kubota, and I’m a Juilliard-trained classical cellist. I’m known to mistake a cello for a guitar and find myself exploring genres outside of my training. You can often find me playing pop covers through my YouTube Channel JHMJams, or performing originals, jazz, and folk with my trio Empire Wild. Otherwise, I spend my time being a cello teacher!

Q. Who influenced you to want to be a musician?

A. Initially my parents! My mother is a professional pianist, and my father is an amateur flutist. I grew up listening to them play chamber music with each other and their friends.

I naturally grew jealous of their activity and insisted that I learn an instrument so I can join them.

Q. Let’s talk about your fall tour and what we can expect from Empire Wild.

A. This is my first time embarking on a five-week tour. Our shows will be a variety pack of genres, spanning from originals to pop, classical, jazz, and folk music! We love all music and put together a collection of our

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favorites that resonate with us - good music is good music, regardless of the genre, right? It’ll primarily be a midwest tour that consists of Ohio, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin!

Q. What has been one of your greatest moments you’ve had in your career?

A. I get excited whenever people reach out to me and tell me how what I do has impacted their life in a positive way. It’s comforting and reassuring to know that my passions have value and meaning to the world. Aside from that, receiving a masterclass from Yo-Yo Ma and getting accepted to Juilliard was definitely a dream-come-true!

Q. Do you have a name for your Cello?

A. I do! I have two cellos - one named Claire and the other named Aurora.

Q. Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

A. I try to revolve around things that bring me joy. So, in the next five years, I just hope to keep doing things that

make me happy that also bring value to the community around me. I like to have big goals like winning a Grammy or selling out Madison Square Garden, but simultaneously being flexible and adaptable for a variety of things life throws at me.

never been to Spain so it would be great to visit somewhere like Barcelona and have their paella. Perhaps Greece and other Mediterranean countries as well as a variety of Asian countries! I even have a food Instagram page @ japanesehungryman.

Q. If you can go anywhere in the world and perform, where would it be?

A. Food is a great passion of mine, so wherever I can find delicious food! I’ve

Q. Behind the scenes what has been your biggest challenge?

A. Musically speaking, there are a few that come to mind. Freshman year of Juilliard, we had orchestra seating auditions, and I spent the summer preparing for it. I was nervous for the audition, but I thought I played decently. When I received the comments and the scores afterwards, the judges had given me scores of 3/10, 0.3/10 and 0/10 with a note of a re-audition request. That was a tough thing to face first thing in a brand new school about to embark on a career in music. I definitely struggled trying to get back up from that after having my self-esteem and self-worth shattered.

Q. Are you working on any new projects or events?

A. Yes! I have exciting collaborations coming up that will be released through my social media, performances around the country, and working on creating some digital products as well. You can keep up to date on all of them by following me on social media!

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. You can find me at my website, www.kenjameskubota.com or on social media @kenjameskubota on TikTok, Twitter and Instagram as well as YouTube under JHMJams.

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The WAR that Won’t Be FOUGHT with GUNS By: Bishop

T

he U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and Special Forces are the best trained defensive units in the world. It is often said that the United States is one of the safest places on the face of the earth.

The borders of the US are heavily guarded by Homeland Security, The Coast Guard, and the National Guard since the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001. Terrorist around the world have publicly declared their hatred for the United States and its allies for many years. Terrorist groups like Isis will try anything to harm or even kill American soldiers and civilians.

However; the threats that we will be facing in the future are not of the conventional nature.

There is a war being waged against the US in cyber space.

Most of the population has no idea that our government, independent businesses, and financial institutions are under constant

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attack. Many people may not see cyber threats as a big deal compared to suicide bombers and nuclear explosions, however, the danger is very real. Many governing bodies are years behind with programs that specialize in protection against cyber-attacks. The infrastructure of our country is very vulnerable and the most likely target for an attack. If executed correctly an assault on

our critical infrastructure will cripple millions of people. Our economy and way of life would be cast back to the 1950’s with the stroke of a key. If terrorist can carry out a cyber-attack of this magnitude, life as we know it will come to a screeching halt.

A

countries infrastructure is the machine that makes it thrive. In my opinion, the key components of a countries infrastructure makes the citizens’ lives more comfortable. What makes up a countries infrastructure?

Transportation, communication, sewage, water treatment, electric systems and facilities that are necessary for economic prosperity make up our infrastructure. This also includes technical structures such as roads, bridges, tunnels, and financial institutions. There are thousands of companies and facilities that operate different facets of our infrastructure.

The companies’ networks are monitored by the Federal government, however, they are not always truthful about the cyber-attacks that they discover. If a major corporation’s systems and networks are being compromised by an unknown cyber attacker, they tend to keep that information private. Businesses withhold valuable information from the FBI, so it won’t affect their revenue and future investors. I believe this creates a major weakness within itself. An alarming number of the companies are being operated on old analog systems that were created before the internet was a part of daily operations. The analog systems have been upgraded and are not equipped with the necessary firewalls to properly secure the networks they operate. The employees are not capable and do not have the skills to maintain a proper level of security.

There is limited consumer and enduser understanding or technical skills to counter the growing cyber threats.

In many cases in the corporate world, a weakness is clearly found where organizations have porous controls around intrusion detection and monitoring, incident response or computing forensics. (Harrop & Mattenson 152).

The federal government is not immune to cyber-attacks. Harrop and Mattenson mentioned that, “The Department of Defense is believed to be probed millions of times a day

by malicious cyber actors. By September 2011 the Department of defense had identified over 70 Million malware threats against its networks” (150).

The growing threat of a catastrophic cyber- attack is very real. Governments around the world are beginning to pay close attention to cyber space. “The US recognizes cyber space as its fifth domain in the already existing tandem of domains such as land, sea, air, and space” (Harrop & Mattenson 150). In 2009 the US made an addition to The Department of Defense adding US Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM).

Cybercom’s purpose is homeland security and protection against cyberattacks. There has been historic cyber-attacks in the past carried out against small governments. Viruses were uploaded to all major networks including government databases as well as power grids. The types of viruses used to disrupt and cause major downtime are evolving and becoming more dangerous each day. In 2010, a handful of countries were attacked by a malware program called Stuxnet. This malicious virus was programmed to attack unique systems. The virus Stuxnet was programmed to find the weakest entry point of a system and take over, stealing all available information.

In the late 90’s industrialized countries around the world begin to pay attention to threats to their cyber space.

Countries begin to work together as well as share information relating to cyber resilience. In the late 90’s the Clinton administration introduced a program that centralized the United States combat against cyber terrorism.

Clinton’s program was somewhat of a spearhead in the sense that, there had never been an urgency of government influence at the forefront of cyber security. Clinton made all of the information acquired on cyber threats classified. The Obama administration made minor changes to Clinton’s classified program in 2008, the main one being it was no longer classified information. Obama proposed a policy that allowed the government’s private sectors to provide information to facilities and companies that make

up our infrastructure. In an article that I read about the critical infrastructure the authors stated that, “It is common knowledge that information technology (IT) based information systems are vulnerable.

Hence, it is possible for terrorist to utilize information systems to attack their adversaries” (Bapna & Hua 102).

The threat to our infrastructure is forever present. There has been a worldwide surge in the way we use technology. Everywhere you turn someone has their eyes glued to a smartphone. The more we depend on the internet the more vulnerable we become. To effectively deter cyber terrorism and the end-user awareness of cyber threats must be prevalent throughout society.

The United States and the United Kingdom are making a gallant effort to work together to gain ground on cyber security and stop the inevitable.

Works cited Harrop, Wayne, and Ashley Matteson.

“Cyber Resilience: A Review Of Critical National Infrastructure And Cyber Security Protection Measures Applied In The UK And USA.” Journal Of Business Continuity & Emergency Planning 7.2 (2013): 149.

Publisher Provided Full Text Searching File. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.

Larkins, Tim. “U.S. Government Slow To React To Cyber Attacks.” National Defense C.743 (2015): 26. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 Apr. 2016.

Hua, Jian, and Sanjay Bapna.

“How Can We Deter Cyber Terrorism?”

Information Security Journal: A global Perspective 21.2 (2012): 102-114.

Computer Source Web 20 Apr. 2016.

WHERE IT BEGINS 21

"Being authentic is your superpower."

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NEELAM

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do. A. My name is Neelam and I’m a rapper as well as a modest fashion influencer. I’m known for showcasing activism through my music. I created a space dedicated to shifting the consciousness around Muslim women and highlighting a worldwide sisterhood!

Q. How did the journey with the music start?

A. My journey with music started when I shifted from modest fashion to doing rap covers. My videos quickly circulated around the web going viral with repost and high accolades from P. Diddy, Will Smith, Erykah Badu, World Star Hip Hop, The Shade room, and the list goes on. I made my television debut rapping at the BET Hip Hop Award Cipher with Erykah Badu as my DJ and I strive to continue to make waves with spreads in Vogue Arabia, features in Forbes, and many more.

Q. Let’s talk about your new EP and the motivation behind it.

A. I named it Anomalous because it means deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected. When you think of a female rapper, how she looks, what she talks about, you wouldn’t think of someone like me.

My mission is to bring something different to the rap game particularly with female rappers. Women are so multifaceted and dynamic, so I want that to be reflected more in mainstream rap. Like all my EPs I spoke from the heart and strived to reflect the times we’re in.

Q. How do you keep up with the trends in fashion?

A. I don’t. Trends come and go but the best

way to stand out is to be creative and authentic. I love fashion. My fashion reflects my mood in a dope modest way. A lot of times the way I look speaks to people before my mouth does so it’s really a reflection of me.

Q. What do you think is missing in todays’ music waves?

A. Just balance. Back in the day I could listen to Lauryn Hill and Lil Kim blasting on the radio. Music was way more diverse back in the day I hope that comes back around.

Q. What has been one of your greatest accomplishments you’ve had in your career?

A. It was really dope to get a spread in vogue. Also meeting Beyonce and Jay Z was a core memory.

Q. Tell us one fun fact about yourself?

A. One fun fact about me is I’m an

extreme home body lol. Being able to make money from home really didn’t help. When the world shut down for the pandemic, I was like OK nothing’s really changing for me.

Q. If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?

A. Being your authentic self is your superpower.

Q. Are there any events or upcoming projects you are working on?

A. I’m always working on new music, and I have some dope collaborations coming up. I’m also working on a brand that will drop soon that I’m so excited about it. I will be dropping a new music video shortly as well.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. You can follow me on Instagram at @neelam_ TikTok @itsneelam_ Facebook@Neelam.

WHERE IT BEGINS 23

"I'm not Perfect, I'm Original."

LWIS 24 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK

Q. What has been one of the most memorable moments you’ve had in your career?

A. Definitely performing. I don’t think you’re capable of being a true artist if you can’t command a stage. I give it my all every time no matter what. That’s what passion is about.

Q. If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A. It will be at Wembley stadium. All the greats in the industry have done it at least once, that’s the lane that I am striving for. I just remember watching legendary moments happen in that arena. So, let’s just say that I have some work to do to say the least (laughing…).

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do.

A. I’m LWÎS & I make Timeless music for the world to hear.

Q. What makes your music unique?

A. What makes my music unique is that I am unique, I’m not trying to be in anybody else’s lane. Authenticity is my advantage being a new artist in the game and I plan to definitely give my ups, my downs, my experiences, your experiences, the world’s experiences to where we all Can share this art together.

Q. What do you think is missing in today’s music?

A. What’s missing in hip-hop authentic storytelling about your experience instead of following with the next guy does. I mean it’s cool for the moment, but it quickly shows the listeners your intent, which is to be a clone and copy instead of standing out.

Q. Let’s talk about your EP “Blossom Deluxe” and what we can expect from this project.

A. You can Expect growth. When I decided to do a two-part EP And call it Blossom, I knew my intent was to grow with sounds and ways to deliver my life on tracks without compromising. So, all of my “Lords” Will definitely enjoy this project!

Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events?

A. I have so much going on that I just want people to watch and see. Of course, they will be updated by following all of my socials in which I am very active on. I like to keep some type of mistake in a day and time to where people are naked with their art. Sit back, watch and enjoy the show.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. You can follow me on these following platforms: Instagram: @lordlwis TikTok: @lord_lwis YouTube: Lwîs Music: Lwis Spotify: Lwis Website: blossom-merch.myshopify.com

Q. Let’s talk about your single “2099” and the motivation behind the song.

A. In General is a Record that was made in 10 minutes tops! For me, the beat dictates where I want the track to go, and soon as I heard the beat it took me back to my Memphis days as a youth.

Then I began to mix it with some of my experiences so it became quite easy for me to make the song. The reception has been more than crazy.

Q. Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

A. Within the next five years I will have at least one timeless full body of work under my belt. I only need one Grammy, so that’s also on the musical bucket list. And being a major staple in the business side of things. Because I love this culture so much and want to learn so much from it.

WHERE IT BEGINS 25

MARISSA STAPLEY 26 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do.

A. I have worked as a newspaper journalist, magazine editor, creative writing teacher -- and am now the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Lucky, The Last Resort, Things to do When It’s Raining, and Mating for Life.

"Being chosen as a Reese's Pick was the biggest thing that ever happened to me in my career."

My work has been published in fifteen countries and two of my novels, including Lucky, have been optioned for television. I also co-write holiday rom-coms (The Holiday Swap, All I Want for Christmas) under the pen name Maggie Knox. I live in Toronto, Canada with my family.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about your journey and how you got to where you are today?

A. My journey hasn’t been simple.

When I finally did write a novel, got an agent, and sold the book to a publisher, the publisher went out of business just a few months before my book was scheduled to release.

It was devastating. We were unable to find another home for the novel, I had two young children at that point and was close to giving up on my dreams. My agent encouraged me to stay the course, and I kept writing because of her encouragement and because even though I was feeling low, writing was my passion and I needed to do it. My next novel also didn’t sell either, though – and I had to dig deep to find the faith and determination to keep on. I wrote Mating for Life, which would turn out to be my debut, originally as a collection of short stories that were just for me – for my own mental health, basically. I loved writing fiction and needed it to be a part of my life but was having trouble believing I’d ever get published.

Eventually, I turned those stories into a novel – and that novel was published in 2014 by Simon & Schuster. That’s when my journey really began. I could write an entire book on all the ups and downs I’ve

experienced but I’m so happy and proud that I stayed the course. Becoming a Reese’s Book Club Pick has been the most exciting gift of my career, and I’m grateful every day that I get to keep doing what I love.

Q. What made you want to be an author?

A. I have always wanted to be an author, since childhood, when I was bookish and shy, happiest when reading or writing stories. Both my grandparents were journalists, and so was my dad. In high school, I interned at the newspaper my dad worked at and learned the art of finding the stories in everyday life – and the discipline of hitting deadlines. When it comes to daily newspapers, there is no deadline leeway! I went to journalism school and worked at newspapers and magazines for several years, always dreaming of finally taking the time to write that novel. Eventually, I did – but see above, it wasn’t an easy path to published author.

Q. I got a chance to read your book “Lucky” which is a great book. How did you come up with the characters and concept for this book?

A. I was on a ski trip to the U.S. with my family and as we pulled into the ski resort, the radio station we we’re listening to have a program on talking about unclaimed lottery tickets.

They were discussing some of the reasons lottery winners didn’t come forward – and mentioned a ticket with a huge payout in that state that was about to expire, unclaimed. One of the radio personalities suggested that maybe a person would leave a ticket unclaimed if they had a warrant out for their arrest. I was fascinated by that. As I mentioned earlier, my days working at newspapers taught me too always be on the lookout for stories. I knew there was a story here, and I filed it away, hoping I’d eventually think of a character to go with this plot.

WHERE IT BEGINS 27

A few months later, while on a bus trip (which feels appropriate, given how much time Lucky spends on buses), Lucky came to me. I don’t know how else to say it. It feels like she sat down beside me on that bus and told me her story. I was working on another novel at the time, but started texting my agent telling her about this new idea and by the time I reached my destination, we were both all in. Switching gears and writing Lucky rather than the novel I was working on was a risk – but I’m so glad I took it because Lucky changed my life.

Q. Who are some of your favorite authors?

A. Lauren Groff, Meg Wolitzer, Emma Straub, Toni Morrison, Elizabeth Strout, Julia Glass, Zadie Smith, Alice Munro, Lauren Fox, Claudia Dey, Haruki Murakami, Margaret Atwood, Emily St. John Mandel, Brit Bennett, Ann Patchett, Cheryl Strayed, Carole Shields, Jennifer Close, Celeste Ng, Rebecca Kauffman, Uzma Jalaluddin, Maria Escandon, Barbara Kingsolver …

I have to stop now, but I could do this all day!

Q. How do you deal with writer’s block?

A. By switching gears. For example, this morning I had trouble getting the flow going so I went to my to do list and started working on interviews I had to do, such as this one. Rather than sit and stare at a blank page -- or an unruly and needing to be edited page -- I will also try to get up and go for a walk, but to be honest, don’t always take my own advice on that!

I’m always juggling multiple ideas, and writing generally comes easily to me, but I tend to get a bit blocked and de-motivated when it comes to editing.

This is one of the most important parts of the writing process – books are made in the editing. But it’s also hard work and you have to be fully present and ready to give it your all.

Q. What has been your greatest accomplishment you’ve received in your career?

A. Being chosen as a Reese’s Pick was the biggest thing that ever happened to me in my career, followed closely by becoming a New York Times bestselling author as a result. The

TV development has also been very exciting and could lead to some other huge accomplishments for me, fingers crossed! But I also think it’s important to celebrate each accomplishment and victory – and writing a book is a big deal, as is having it published. There are other, smaller victories I hold dear too, such as touching a reader’s heart or making someone’s life better with my work.

Q. What advice can you give to others that want to be writers?

A. The best advice I’ve ever received was: stop talking about writing a book, stop reading other people’s work and feeling frustrated thinking you could do better, get your ass in that seat, and get to work! I was also once told that publishing is a marathon, not a race, and this is certainly true. I’m only partway through my marathon. Making sure I make wise choices and keep myself as strong as I can is important – because I hope to be on this marathon for a long while!

Q. Are you working on any upcoming events or projects?

A. I have a multi-faith holiday romance forthcoming (Putnam/ Penguin, October 2023) with bestselling author Uzma Jalaluddin called Three Holidays and a Wedding.

My next solo novel, The Lightning Bottles (Simon & Schuster, October 2024), takes place in the 90s and is about an alternative music megastar (think Kurt Cobain) who goes missing at the height of his fame. The story follows his wife (who is also his bandmate) as she embarks on a life-changing European road trip to find out if he’s still alive—and if they can reconcile after all they’ve been through.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. I’m on Instagram @marissastapley.

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AYA ITO WHERE IT BEGINS 29

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Can you tell everyone who you are and what you do.

A. My name is Aya Ito, and I am a singer, songwriter, performer, and activist based in Chicago.

Q. What made you want to pursue a career as a vocalist and songwriter?

A. Growing up music was always being played in my house and in the car. I would write out lyrics to every song I liked in order to memorize them so I could sing and perform them. I was obsessed with watching music videos and live concerts to the point where before and after school, the TV would be on a music channel. (I probably have more songs and lyrics memorized than anyone you know). Being able to bring so many people together to enjoy one show I sometimes believed I was truly incredible. On top of that, I always felt happiest when I was singing and still do, especially in front of a crowd.

I always enjoyed randomly making parodies of songs I liked. I taught myself guitar and piano and eventually started writing originals to chord progressions. Once I started collaborating with producers, I felt the sky was the limit in terms of songwriting. It can be like therapy for me to write music.

Q. How was the transition coming from Japan to the U.S.?

A. I was only two years old when we moved to the U.S., so I don’t remember much about the transition, but I do go back often, and I really feel like I have two homes. Whenever I go back to Japan, I never feel like it’s enough time, so I do want to start going back for extended periods of time.

Q. Let’s talk about your debut EP “Just Might” and the motivation behind it?

A. It was inspired by many conversations I had with friends and strangers who all seemed to be going through similar experiences during the pandemic. Introspection and seclusion led many of us to realize how important meaningful relationships are and how hard it is to survive without connecting with people. The EP starts off with a heartbreak and ends with the opposite. “Just Might” talks about the many faces we have when we are on the quest for love. It can be ugly, loving,

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Q. How would you define the music you typically create?

A. I’d say it is definitely relatable, and I like to think it’s catchy as well. Genrewise, it is mostly R&B and pop mixed together, although I take influences from many different genres.

Q. What are some goals you want to accomplish in 2023?

A. I would love to do a tour, at least around the U.S., but ideally internationally as well. I definitely would love to do a Japan tour. Some other goals are to have a song of mine put in a big tv show or movie, collaborate with a musician I am a fan of, open for a big act, release more music, and put a big show together with crazy lights, dancers, an awesome big band, and maybe even have some fire blast up from the stage. sexy, confusing. As a gift to my fans, I have also included some of my own recipes - like my Japanese hambagu- to go along with each song. I love to cook, especially Japanese food and I wanted to share some of the dishes I make at home since it is such an important part of my life. I always say my love language is cooking. On the same day, I will also be releasing 2 Japanese songs. The English counterparts to my cover of “If You Let Me” and of the last song on my EP, “To Keep You”.

Q. If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A. I would love to perform at the Tokyo Dome because that is where I am from, and I have never attended a show there but have seen photos and it would just be a dream come true.

Q. Tell us one fun fact about yourself?

A. I am a two-time Rugby state champion (high school) and I also dabble in flow arts, like aerial silks, hula hooping, and pole sport!

Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events?

A. I am always writing, so I am hoping to put together an album. We are also hoping to produce a music video for “Spellbound”.

While I was in Japan this summer, we filmed part of the video because we are hoping to do a Chicago meets Tokyo concept!

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. Please follow me on Instagram @blaziansensation and on TikTok @blazian.sensation. To purchase the EP (which will give you access to the recipes) visit ayaito.bandcamp.com and follow me there!

Are you young, talented and need a space to pursue your dreams? Welcome to The Vision Room, where creativity comes alive. www.visionroomnj.com

@_thevisionroom

"It would be nice to do some traveling performing our music and bringing joy to people who love good music and love to vibe and groove."

BSHARP MUSZIK 32 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK

Wayman Tisdale, Chris Coleman, Eric Moore, Teddy Campbell, Aaron Spears, Ben Tankard, George Benson, Gregg Karukas just to name a few.

Q. If you could perform anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A. We would like to perform in New Orleans as it is so rich with music and jazz and cultural aspects. We would perform in Dubai as well for the elegance and beauty of the city.

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do.

A. We are Bsharp Muszik. A Neo Soul smooth jazz band.

us the ability to do what we do. He is the inspiration and foundation behind our music and a lot of the songs speak about him and his love and love as a whole.

Q. Tell us a little bit about your journey and how you got to where you are today.

A. We started out playing in our local church for years. Then we started creating songs and melodies that we recorded on our phones. Then we thought this could be something more and created melodies into songs and perfected the songs into something that could be recorded and released to the public.

Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years?

A. We plan on dropping another studio album and seeing ourselves doing shows and booking paying gigs. Maybe a local tour or regional tour. It would be nice to do some traveling performing our music and bringing joy to people who love good music and love to vibe and groove.

Q. Let’s talk about your music and the motivation behind it.

A. We love music as a whole. We grew up playing it and loving it. God is the center of what we do and gives

Q. Who are some of your music influencers?

A. We have so many…but if I could name a few, it would Fred Hammond, The Winans, Brian Culbertson, Oli Silk, Brian Simpson, Moonchild, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild, Jared Lawson,

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

A. To be yourself and stay in your lane. Do what you do and be the best at that!

Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events?

A. We are working on our sophomore album. We are excited about this follow up album to our debut album “Songs in the key of groove”. We know we have to bring the heat on this one!

We also have our Bsharp Lounge coming up in December. We bring in local artists in Orlando and they perform their music, and we play some smooth jazz and neo soul as well. It’s a real dope vibe and people like it. We hope to keep it going and allow it to grow.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. You can find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ bsharpmuszik on Instagram @bsharp_muszik and our website at bsharpmuszik.com.

WHERE IT BEGINS 33

MAN on The Moon

By: Preston Turner

I

’m a very accomplished traveler, and I recently came back from Edinburgh, Scotland. I have traveled to almost 50 countries, and this is the first time feeling like a man on the moon. What does that mean, you say? I’m used to seeing Africans or Black- Americans in every corner of the planet now. When I landed, the vibe was off, but not severely. Walking through Edinburgh Airport, I only saw one person of color. Which stuck out to me, and maybe that is weird to notice. Taking that drive from the airport to my hotel was about 35 minutes and seeing no people of color was starting to become a theme for Edinburgh. In all fairness, I’m not saying there are no people of color in Scotland, but after spending most of my time in Edinburgh and Stirling, it became abundantly clear I was “Alone.”

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Backtracking a little, but the few people I trusted with my travel plans looked at me like, “Why visit Scotland,” and my response is always the same “Why not.” I want to see the world and visit as many places as possible. The running joke in our community is Black people only want to visit Atlanta, Miami, Las Vegas, and Tulum (The new ATL). There are plenty more locations, but I see these locations more than most on Instagram. It always comes down to two main points: getting out of my comfort zone and living my “Traveler” dreams. The first point is self-explanatory, but maybe the word traveler is unclear to some. What is a Traveler or Tourist? A traveler, to me, wants to become one with the community by interacting with locals, eating local cuisine, and supporting locals by many different means. A tourist, to me, is someone who wants to visit the hotspots or in-style locations, only wishes to visit Instagrammable points of interest, shy away from meaningful contact with locals. Before anyone gets upset, these are my definitions, and a person will be both simultaneously or one or the other.

With that background, going to Scotland is not high on the priority list for trips and even living there. I started Travel in My Lifetime LLC because I want to inspire everyone to travel, especially those who look like me, to see the world. After reading this or seeing my travel vlog on YouTube you will stop and think about going off

the beaten path. There are some exciting places that people have yet to learn about, and you could be the one to introduce them to the masses.

Sometimes it takes someone else to go through it to bring it to light and share it. Edinburgh and Scotland, in general, were so beautiful and rich in culture. The people were kind, friendly, and willing to help me as I navigated the city. If you’re into architecture, look no further because you will be blown away by the gothic-style buildings. I want to leave you with this…. Travel now because tomorrow is not promised. Stay blessed!

Preston Turner YouTube: @travelsofpreston Instagram: @travelsinmylifetime

WHERE IT BEGINS 35

Q. Can you tell everyone who you are and what you do.

A. My name is Janyelle Marie Milton, founder of J Marie Premium Sneakers.

I design sneakers.

Q. Let’s talk about “J Marie Premium Sneakers” and the motivation behind it?

A. I was at a point in my life where I was faced with concerning health issues and at that time, I wore nothing but heels

and dresses. It got to a point where that was no longer an option for me because heels would leave me feeling achy and sore, so I was looking for an alternative. I tried different sneaker brands looking for comfort, yet everything was either too masculine, childish or athletic, so I started my own brand and started designing sneakers that I liked.

Q. What makes your sneakers more unique than other sneakers?

A. J Marie premium sneakers are 100% Italian leather in premium finishes like faux zebra, python and crocodile in VIBRANT colors and BOLD prints, our sneakers are not massed produced but handcrafted.

Q. Where do you see your brand in the next 3 years?

A. I’d like to see my brand in stores like Macy’s, Saks, Nordstrom and online with ecommerce sites like Far Fetch and My Theresa.

Q. How do you come up with the styles for your sneakers?

A. If I see a color or pattern that inspires me, I create mood boards based off that and try those colors and patterns on different silhouettes on different parts of the sneaker until I have an AHH HA moment- I know it’s a great design when I fall in love with it myself!

Q. Can you tell us what are your best 3 top seller sneakers?

A. Born in the 80s retro trainers the pink and turquoise ones. After that the black ones and then Pink Croc.

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JANYELLE MILTON

Q. What has been one of the challenges you’ve had building your company?

A. Actually, I haven’t had anything in particular that I would say has been a challenge- the brand has been on an incline since its inception- it just gets better and better.

Q. Tell us about the “Walking in my shoes” episodes and how it got started?

A. I thought it would be a great way for fans of the brand to learn more about the woman behind it and see different sneakers from the line in action.

Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events?

A. Yes, I’m looking to add apparel and accessories to the product mix.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. They can follow me on Instagram @ jmarieshoes85_premiumsneakers and TikTok at @jmariepremiumsnea.

WHERE IT BEGINS 37

"I define my purpose when my passion and meaningful work align."

EBONÉ F. BELL Photo by: Robin Kenyetta

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Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do.

A. I’m the owner and Editor of Tagg Magazine, the country’s leading LGBTQ women’s print publication.

In addition to being a business owner, I’m also a DEI keynote speaker.

Q. How do you define your purpose?

A. I define my purpose when my passion and meaningful work align.

Q. Let’s talk about “Tagg Magazine” and the motivation behind it.

A. After seeing a lack of LGBTQ women, especially queer women of color, represented in local publications, I decided to start a magazine and website to tell our stories, provide resources, and create events.

And, as far as the name Tagg, I wanted a name that said connecting and linking. That’s when I kept coming back to “Tagg” because when you play the game of tag, you have to reach out and touch someone. Tagg, you’re it!

Q. How would you define Women’s Pride in your own words?

A. I would define Women’s Pride as celebrating all forms of womanhood and our accomplishments within and outside our communities.

Q. What has been one of your greatest accomplishments you’ve received in your career?

A. There have been many accomplishments in milestones, but the biggest is getting to celebrate Tagg’s tenth anniversary this past September. It’s been amazing to see how far we’ve come and the difference we’ve made in the queer women’s community.

Q. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A. If I had to pick one place, I’d love to go to Tokyo, Japan. I’ve wanted to visit for several years and just haven’t gotten around to it. It’s on my vision board!

Q. Behind the scenes, what have been some of your challenges in building your business?

Photo by: Maya Santori

A. Like many other businesses, one of our biggest challenges we faced was keeping Tagg going through the pandemic. We lost almost half of our revenue that year. However, thanks to community support and a couple of grants, we were able to keep queer women’s media thriving, allowing us to celebrate ten years this year.

Q. Are you working on any upcoming events or projects?

A. Right now, we’re working on our upcoming new year’s issue.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. They can follow me and Tagg Magazine at @ebonebell and @taggmagazine on all social media platforms. And www.taggmagazine.com and www.ebonebell.com.

WHERE IT BEGINS 39

40 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK

Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D. Q. Thanks for interviewing with us, tell everyone who you are and what you do?

A. I am a researcher and writer in the field of positive self-talk and personal growth. My first career was as a linguist; I was a Spanish/ English interpreter in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and it became clear to me from studying foreign languages that the words we learn to use literally change our thoughts and our attitudes. So, I decided to study both behavioral psychology and neuroscience to find out exactly how our brains become wired with either the wrong internal language that works against us and causes us to fail, or the right internal language that works for us and helps us succeed.

Q. How would you define your purpose.

A. My own purpose in life was clear to me from a very young age. I knew from about eight or nine years old that I wanted to learn how to help people get better, and live better lives. I still have the same goal, so anything I do is based on whether or not it will help others.

Q. Let’s talk about your new book and the motivation behind it.

A. My latest book is “Negative SelfTalk and How to Change It.” In that book I bring together all the best of what we have learned about self-talk and programming—how our self-talk actually rewires our brain—and what to do about it. Because people are very busy these days and may not take a lot of time to read, my goal was to condense all the important information on self-talk and put it into one, very short, easy-to-read book that anyone could read in about an hour.

"I've always been a student of human behavior, and I am especially interested in researching neuroscience that tells us what works and why" Q. What has been one of the biggest accomplishments you’ve received in your career?

A. An accomplishment that I am happiest about was reaching my goal to have my books available in many languages and in many countries throughout the world. Recently, my book “What to Say When You Talk to Your Self” was published in Russian, Chinese, and in five languages in India, bringing the total to more than seventy-five countries in which my books on self-talk are now being read.

Q. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

A. I’ve always been a student of human behavior, and I am especially interested in researching neuroscience that tells us what works and why. Why some people are successful at life and others are not. My focus is on how our own thoughts— our self-talk—literally wires our brain to help excel at living or causes us to struggle and fail. That ongoing research is the foundation for all of my writing.

Q. If you could tell your younger writing self-anything, what would it be?

A. I would tell my younger self, or anyone else, to set clear, strong, simple goals, break them down into small steps, write them down, review them often, take the steps, and keep moving. I’ve always followed that same advice, and it always works.

Q. Are you working on any new projects or upcoming events?

A. For many years I’ve been writing

and producing positive self-talk audio programs for people to listen to, to help them change their self-talk.

Recently, I’ve had an app developed so people could listen to daily selftalk anywhere they are. So now people all over the world are listening to positive self-talk on their phones and tablets. Because it’s an app that people can listen to, I’m now adding live training and coaching sessions that help people change their self-talk and stay on track.

Q. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A. I’ve been fortunate to travel a lot, and to many countries, speaking to audiences about self-talk. Right now, I’m very content to stay close to home, and do most of my speaking to audiences via Zoom.

Q. How do you deal with writer’s block?

A. I think, because of writing on a laptop or tablet that makes it easy to erase, delete, or start over, I never have writer’s block. When in doubt, I just start writing—anything at all— maybe it will lead somewhere, and if I don’t like it, I can always delete it. Doing that has wired my brain to always be ready to write the next sentence, whatever it is, and keep moving, and doing that has worked very well for me.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. I can be found on Facebook at Self-Talk Plus+, and people can sample listening to self-talk audio programs at www.selftalkplus.com.

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LIZ HILLIARD 42 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do.

A. I am Liz Hilliard and the owner of a fitness business called Hilliard Studio Method, here in Charlotte, North Carolina. We stream the workout to clients in all 50 States as well as several countries. So, we are everywhere!

Hilliard Studio Method is a workout based on my background in Pilates, but we add more resistance with weights, bands, gliders, balls and barre work for a 50-minute workout that provides massive results. I started it in 2008 and here we are still standing and even growing despite the pandemic.

I enjoy teaching and focusing on the business of Hilliard Studio Method, but now that it’s a well-oiled machine I have continued finding creative outlets in my podcast called “Be Powerful with Liz and Lee” and a book called “Be Powerful, Find Your Strength at Any Age”. Book number two is in the works!

Q. Who are some of your influencers that motivated you to actually start your studio?

A. That’s a great question and an easy one for me to answer. The motivation came first from my daughter, who was getting ready to get married and wanted to tone up. That’s when I came up with the idea for Hilliard Studio Method. When your daughter or your child comes to you needing something, what do you say? “Yes, I will make it work.” I combined my Pilates certification with strength training to give us both amazing results at very different stages of our

lives. My daughter’s body changed. She went down two sizes before her wedding and at 50 I lost belly fat. Usually, women going through menopause tend to put on belly fat and lose muscle and bone strength, but I found the antidote to that. Today, we have clients in age from 14-78.

Q. Can you give us some tips for people that want to get fit and stay healthy?

A. Yes, movement is the key to overall health. No matter what you’re doing during the day, don’t sit. If You’re on the phone for a business call, stand, don’t sit. The body in motion is a healthy body. The more specific things that change your body are getting your heart rate up and resistance training. You can use body weight, bands or dumbbells to strengthen muscles and protect joints.

We all want to look good and I think that’s a great motivator that in turn keeps us healthy.

At Hilliard Studio Method we combine many moves with the resistance to keep the body engaged and working. Resistance is one of the things that increases our metabolism, so that when you are sitting for work or throughout the day the body is still humming like an engine and burning calories, which in turn builds muscles and reduces body fat. So, it’s a win-win for looking good and feeling good.

Q. Your podcast, what makes your podcast different than others?

What are some topics you discuss on your podcast?

A. The theme of our podcast is Be Powerful and we cover everything from Fitness and Wellness, Inspiration and Motivation to Current Events.

We explore the things that help make you your most powerful, real self. We look at the challenges and failures that shape people and what lessons help us grow. What’s unique is that I am a 68-year-old woman in a relationship with a 43-year-old woman and we both come from a background of being heterosexual. While our relationship is unique, the things we discuss are universal to all partners. It’s basically how to navigate life authentically.

Getting real with yourself. We can tell ourselves a lot of untruths and lie to ourselves about who we are, about what we feel, because we think we’re trying to fit into certain boxes or certain ways that society is supposed to see us. When we can escape and find our own freedom through living our own real authentic selves, we can create and be people we couldn’t even imagine and expand into doing things that you would never even have dreamed about. We are an expansive, freedom talking, real talking relationship duo of two women that hit all the demographics.

Q. So, what has been one of your greatest accomplishments so far in your career?

A. My career has been building this business to where it is today.

The accomplishment of starting in 2008 during a recession and surviving the pandemic is something of which I’m very proud. My biggest accomplishment has been to stay creative and curious. If you do those two things, you can build your business or your life in the most successful way, and we’re getting ready to physically expand. We’re going to open up in another city in about 6 months in the spring of 2023.

We’re now offering entrepreneurs or investors in our field to open up studios in their city. I’m proud of that and of my staff that stuck with me from the beginning.

Q. What other projects are you working on?

A. Well, the podcast project is one of our favorite things. In fact, we have expanded, and we’ve got lots of

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listeners now. So, we are expanding that out to different horizons. We were just on national TV talking about relationships, so I think there’s a 2nd book in me that might have to hit. The business is growing, things on my horizon are expanding, and I’m proud of not just my business, but my personal life also. I have never been happier in my life. I always say my 60s are my greatest decade because I finally grew into myself and allowed myself to be who I am. I say the earlier you can do that, the better.

Q. Can we discuss the first book that you have?

A. Yes. The first book I did was published in 2017 and you can buy it in studio or online. It became an Amazon bestseller: I think because people really wanted to know how somebody in their 60s could stay in shape, but it really turned into the book that turned the page of my life because I wrote about authenticity and the importance of finding your truth, finding your power, owning it, and then acting from your power. Your power doesn’t always mean a place of strength either. On the side of my wall in my studio is a big sign that says, “Be Powerful” and what that means is wherever you are in that moment to own it, to be honest with it, and to accept it. Once you accept who you are and are honest with yourself, then you can expand and live authentically through the world and then you can create and be anything.

Writing that book, I literally fell in love, first of all with life. I realized I was living smaller than I actually am. And then I fell in love with Lee. So those were two things that were jolting to me, and I am proud of that piece of literature I wrote. I think that book was just the beginning. I have so much more story to tell. We were recently on The Tamron Hall Show and she encouraged me to keep writing, and that’s exactly what I’m doing!

Q. What are some of the challenges you had to go through in order to build your studio and to build your brand?

A. The very first challenge I had was being a 50-year-old in a 20-year-old market. If you are going to open a business, a workout business, or a

44 WIB PROMOTING NETWORK

fitness business that is your own method, you’re going to go and compete with national brands. You’re going to have to have something pretty darn special. So, I had to believe in myself and I did that in 2008. That was a challenge, I had to believe in myself, and in my city.

I saw the national brands coming into the city and I thought, well they have a lot of backing financially, but what they don’t have is me. I’ve always used competition to make me better. As a matter of fact, I welcome competition. I support competitors because we make each other better. So yeah, my biggest challenge

was to become a national brand all by myself, on my own, which I have and now we’re expanding.

Q. Where can the readers follow you?

A. Well, I would love for you and your readers to follow me! You can find me on Instagram @lizhilliardhsm and the studio @hilliardstudiomethod Our website is hilliardstudiomethod.com and I hope you’ll join us by listening to the podcast, reading my book and working out with us wherever you are to be your most powerful self!

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