Where It Begins(WIB) January 2021 issue on Entrepreneurs. by Where It Begins

JOURNEYS OF

ENTREPRENEURS FOR 2021

Start 2021 strong

'It COST To Be the BOSS'

DAVID FRANZ

CONTENTS JANUARY 2021 EMILIE PERZ 04 ROB MALLOY 06 DAVID FRANZ 08 MUG$ AMILLION 10 WILLIAM MAT THEWS 12 AUBREY SIMONE WILLIAMS 14 SHELLY CLARK 16 KEVIN THORNTON 18 DERIYUN MCGEE 20 EVAN LEAPHART 22 ELIZABETH DAVIS 24 EMME RAIN 26 KRYSTAL DUHANEY 28 TONYA ROBERTSON 30 TAE LEE 32 ROZALYN & GABBY GOODWIN 34 NICOLE BROWN 36 T IFFANY WILLIAMS 38 CANDY WASHINGTON 40

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Founder – Cece Hymes

W.I.B (Where It Begins) is an Independent agency with the aim to always be innovate 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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“ It’s important to understand the role of the yoga teacher which is to help heal and hold space for people going through a crisis. ”

EMILIE PERZ

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us can you tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I’ve been a dedicated yoga practitioner for over twenty years and have used this practice as a way to uplift and elevate the world around me. Sadly, my father passed away while I was transitioning from high school to college. Shortly

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after, I began suffering from stress induced panic attacks that left me in the hospital. Months of heavy antidepressants only made matters worse, so at the advice of a friend, I tried my first yoga class. The breath techniques (pranayama) practiced at the end immediately sedated my anxiousness and gave me a feeling of power over my mind and body

connection. I made a promise to carry on with yoga every day, and ten years later, it led to a full-time career. Q. What inspired you to want to get into Yoga & Fitness? A. I began practicing yoga after my father’s sudden death when I was 17. I was always a super active child and I excelled in many

things including horseback riding, running, singing, theater, radio, art. Immediately following my father’s death I began suffering from crippling anxiety that left paralyzed with fear of socializing and being in public. I even switched schools in an effort to restart my life. A friend invited me to yoga in hopes that the practice would help with my daunting panic attacks. I was hooked that very first class. It’s incredible to think that one self-help tool can lead to a life of helping and healing others. But truth be told, this practice transforms your life by awakening you to your unlimited potential. Q. Tell us about “Sequential Body” and the motivation behind it? A. Sequential Body is an ondemand yoga and fitness channel dedicated to community and wellbeing. I designed this online channel during the pandemic as a way to bring like-minded conscious people together to celebrate in yoga, fitness, and personal transformation. Our classes are ultra-unique blending heartfelt themes with movement, music, and laughter. We have innovative classes such as Beauty Fit Flows (BFF) and Beauty Boosts (BB) to sculpt bodies into perfection while tuning into the heart. Unlike other platforms, Sequential Body beauties can text me daily for inspiration, help and guidance. It’s the perfect fitness platform to stay motivated and inspired.

A. We are pivoting directions in early 2021 to start speaking out about the integral need to employ yoga teachers in medical settings such as clinics and hospitals. Whether we are talking about addiction or injury, yoga teachers are aligned with an arsenal of therapeutic practices to help manage pain, depression, anxiety, etc. I couldn’t think of a better time than now for yoga teachers to be working alongside doctors to treat the human spirit; especially when we are living in an onslaught of fear, worry, and doubt. Our future society is going to be affected by PTSD from the Covid- 19 pandemic. It’s important to understand the role of the yoga teacher which is to help heal and hold space for people going through a crisis.

Q. Who is your sports hero? A. I love Serena Williams, dedication to her sport is inspirational and it’s great that she’s been a trailblazer for and role model for all women especially women of color. Q. Can you tell us one of your favorite styles you most enjoy teaching? A. I love heated power yoga that involves lots of movement. It’s great to be able to be able to provide students a quality full body work out while also helping them heal their minds and bodies through the addition of heat. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years?

is necessary for a kinder, more connected society. This is a beautiful thing. Q. What are some of the challenges you’ve experienced as an International Yoga educator? A. Prior to COVID, it was a struggle to make time to visit all the places where I’ve left my footprint in for example, I have students in Mexico City and London that I wouldn’t be able to teach due to physical distance. However, now with SB I’m able to teach via live stream, I’m able to connect with teach students all over the world. Q. How important is mediation to your Yoga Practice? A. It’s crucial. When leading a meditation, I try to be clear, concise and very articulate with everything I say because I know my students are listening and digesting what I say. I practice mindful meditations and focus on heart language I want to elicit and express in the classroom. Often times, I pick a feeling, such as gratitude, and meditation on my own hearts experience with it to create the theme, tone, mode of class. Q. Do you have any workshops or projects coming up this year? A. Not at the moment, but be sure to read the latest updates on SB. I have some exciting things in the works but I’m not able to share just yet.

Q. How has Yoga changed your life? A. It’s made me come to believe Mind, body, connection is real, and employing yoga teachers in medicine

Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. On IG, @EmiliePerzYoga.

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“ You are the CEO of your life and lifestyle. Handle it according. Always keep you in mind because if you don’t take care of Number one you going to feel like a Number 2 (Think about it). ”

ROB MALLOY WIB Magazine

tional, impulsive actions. In this book, I give my personal views and some suggestions on how to approach new situations with preparation and understand that everyone has a different perspective and vantage point. If you are only open to people thinking how you think, then you’ll find yourself confused and frustrated with people who are just being who they are. Now is that fair and productive? Hahaha, I digress.

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us to tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I am Rob Malloy. Father, Entrepreneur, Veteran and Fitness Coach. Oh, and I wear a lot of hats, like literally, I’ve stepped into fashion recently. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to help others reach their goals. Q. Who or What motivated you to be an entrepreneur? A. My Family motivated me towards entrepreneurship. My Dad served and retired from the Navy. My mom took care of the house. And of course, once my kids came along (All Four), I knew I needed to do something that could create unlimited opportunities. An entrepreneur is just a label for someone who refuses to accept limits when it comes to creating something out of nothing from starting Businesses to finances to collaborating with other entrepreneurs or organizations. Q. Tell us about your experience being a fitness coach and how you started “KVF”? A. Being a fitness coach was not a choice it was decided for me. After my military career was over, learning how to function in the “civilian world” was a real challenge. I developed bad eating habits, slacked off exercising (even stop playing basketball which is my favorite sport). I had a family and it was not looking good for me. I developed type II Diabetes, high blood pressure, you name it. I had to make a decision quickly because my life depended on it and my family depended on me.

Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? A. 1. Discipline - Doing things because you know that it needs to be done and not just when you are motivated and feel inspired. 2. Patience - Remember you are building an empire and legacy. Things will evolve throughout the process. Embrace make adjustments and move forward. 3. Get really good at minding your own damn business and focus on who and what you are. You have a special gift to give to the world and only you can deliver it! Q. Can you tell us any of your entrepreneurial tricks you discovered to keep you focused and productive in your day to day busy schedule? A. USE YOUR CALENDAR. You are the CEO of your life and lifestyle. Handle it accordingly. Always keep you in mind because if you don’t take care of Number one you going to feel like a Number 2 (Think about it). Q. I also see that you are an Author and have a book called “Uncomfortable Conversations”. Can you tell us more about the book and the motivation behind it? A. It’s one of those things where you know that a conversation needs to be had, but you really don’t want to hear the answers to the questions or learn somethings that you may not be interested in. I do feel they are necessary to get a better understanding of how things can and will happen when you’re able to have dialogue with someone. It can help with the decision-making process vs emo-

Q. What is the biggest factor that has helped you to be successful? A. My Belief system. I’ve learned that when it boils down to what you can and cannot do, it’s a mindset. I’m truly thankful God has given me a mind and free will so that I can make decisions. It’s really easy to be influenced by others without us relaxing what’s happening. We see others fail and it can deter us from pressing forward, yet we all have our own path. Failure is a stepping stone to a personal blueprint on how to be successful. Q. Do you have any new projects or events coming this year? A. I’m excited about this very moment and even more excited about 2021. The luxury lifestyle brand of Mantle is on the way. KVF will continue to help Veterans and their families in even more innovative and creative ways. Stay connected at all times! Q. If you can give any advice to someone that wants to be an entrepreneur what would it be? A. If You can work hard, long hours, little sleep, sick and still get to your job and perform to get a raise and the end of the year. You can put in that same work to build your own Empire. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A.  IG &  TW: IamRobMalloy  Rob Malloy  robmalloy.com

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“ My greatest fear is apathy - the lack of caring. That is, caring for others, caring for our world, or caring for the art we create.”

DAVID FRANZ

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I am a songwriter, musician, music producer, record label owner, TV show host, entrepreneur, and educator. I explore my soul, heart, and mind and write songs about what I find. I dig into the technical side of recording, producing, mixing, and mastering music to turn chord progressions and lyrical fragments into fully actualized pieces of art. I am the show host for the Artist’s Mind, the Artist Spotlight, and Underground Sun Live. As the founder 8

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and head of the independent record label Underground Sun, I executively produce a team of creatives, artists, and business-minded folks to help navigate the realities of the music business. And as a content manager at LinkedIn Learning, I help to educate the world in the areas of video, motion graphics, animation, illustration, and music. Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? A. Drive/persistence. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, then

no one else will. Your passion is the inspiration and your dedication is the motivation. Helping others succeed. As an entrepreneurial manager, enabling the success of the people that work with you is your main goal. If they succeed, you succeed. Openness to change. Learning from experience or mistakes, you may need to step away from your original vision and create a new path. Having a flexible mind, which enables the ability to pivot from one goal to another, is important when starting a new business.

Q. Tell us about your record label (Underground Sun) and the motivation behind it? A. The name Underground Sun is very intentional. It starts with honoring history: Sun Studio and Sun Records in Memphis produced some of the best early recordings. The term “underground” refers to movements, artists, or genres that aren’t yet in the mainstream. Combined, Underground and Sun refer to shining a light on artists that aren’t known, but that deserve greater appreciation. Q. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear? A. My greatest fear is apathy - the lack of caring. That is, caring for others, caring for our world, or caring for the art we create. With so many options these days, it’s difficult to get attention for any cause, be it fundraising for people in need, helping to not ruin the earth, or supporting artists and their artistry. I focus on the latter: the arts help us to understand our humanity. To me, supporting the arts is equally as important as feeding ourselves and taking care of our planet. Q. Tell us about your book (Pro Tools)? A. The right time and place, mixed with the audacity of youth and the willingness to work on zero sleep, enabled me to write the first book about using Pro Tools while I was a student at Berklee College of Music. Producing in the Home Studio with Pro Tools was a collaboration between Digidesign (now Avid) and Berklee College of Music, where I got to combine the technical innovations of the Pro Tools software with the soft skills of music production and engineering that I had learned (and was currently learning) at Berklee. It was trial by fire, or rather, trial by sleep deprivation, and it forced me to ramp up my music production and writing chops insanely rapidly. The impact of the book on my life’s journey cannot be underestimated, as it set me on a course down the double-lane highway of music production and education that I’m still on.

Lennon, the cleverness, honesty, and musical prowess of Paul McCartney, the deep soul and guitar mastery of George Harrison, and the jovial nature and solid grooves of Ringo. On the music production side, the suave musicianship of George Martin, the engineers who pushed the boundaries beyond their white lab coats, and the no-limitation sonic imagination of the band members inspires me every single day. Honestly, I aspire to incorporate all of those aspects into myself with the goal of becoming a superhuman musician/producer that can write and help others produce songs that become classics and change the world for the good. Q. Can you tell us a business-related book that have inspired you the most? A. I read a lot of books across a wide variety of topics: science, biography, business, philosophy, and fantasy. In some way or another, they all teach me about business. To me, business is about storytelling and connection. While not technically a business book, The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler has certainly guided some of my leadership practices. One of the book’s main themes is compassion, which contributes to developing a deeper connection, allyship, and empathy. Lately, I’ve been using the tools I’ve been studying in this book more than anything else in my day-to-day business affairs. Q. Do you have any new projects or events this year? A. In 2020, I started hosting a monthly Underground Sun livestream that was a mix of live and pre- produced video content. In 2021, we will take the lessons we learned from those

shows and focus on creating high quality pre-produced video content for the Artist’s Mind and Artist Spotlight shows, as well as hosting livestreaming events in the studio and for live music performances. Early in 2021, Underground Sun will be launching a new artist named Star Dunes, with a fulllength album and accompanying long-form, dance-based music video for the entire album. We will also be releasing music and videos from several of the other artists on the label… but all of that is a secret! Q. What is the best advice you can give to someone who wants to be an entrepreneur? A. Your fortitude will be tested, over and over again. You will question yourself. You will question yourself to the point where you absolutely annoy yourself. You will not sleep. You will have short moments or long weeks of freaking out. This suffering is natural. It’s human. It’s normal. Accept that it is part of the journey. Acknowledge it when it appears. Do your best to not give in to the negative feelings. Find solace in the fact that every entrepreneur has felt what you’re feeling. Talk to others about it. Don’t hold it in and think you’re alone. Discussing these feelings doesn’t make you a failure. Instead, it will help you to be stronger, help you to cope with the feelings, and reduce your internal suffering. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. UndergroundSun is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Feel free to reach out! Find me, David Franz, on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

Q. Who has been your greatest motivation? A. The Beatles and ir George Martin. I’ve tried to embody the best bits of what I’ve gathered from studying their collective creative process. On the songwriting side, I tap into the raw emotion and poignant lyrics of John WIB Magazine

MUG$ AMILLION

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. My name is MUG$ Amillion, also known as Lee Evans “The Write Hook”. I am an award-winning recording artist, Billboard songwriter, Music Consultant/ Instructor for The MICC (Music Industry Crash Course), and more recently the author of “Indie Music Major Business: A Guide To Your First Royalty Check”.

A. I wrote the book Indie Music Major Business based off of my hands-on experiences and knowledge gained thus far, from being in the music industry. I wanted to be a direct example to readers, specifically starving artists like myself, who struggle to understand the business side of this industry and fail to reap the benefits from their talent to make music. I’ve always been big on advocating for the artists and I feel that by empowering them with the proper education and steps to take, will ultimately put them in a better position to succeed.

Q. Who motivated you to be the man you are today? A. Honestly, several people play a major part in my current motivation, but I would have to credit my grandfather John Frank Bond for my inspiration to want to build a legacy to leave behind. Q. Tell us about MICC (Music Industry Crash Course) and what courses you offer? A. The MICC (Music Industry Crash Course) is an educational curriculum that I created to give upcoming recording artists and music professionals of all backgrounds some of the basic music business knowledge needed to start obtaining royalties from their music. The course covers topics such as Music Publishing, PRO (Performance Rights Organizations) song registration, Copyright registration, Split Sheets, and more.

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Q. Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years? A. Working out of my Nashville office on Music Row 3-4 days a week and traveling across the country on the remaining days doing speaking engagements, and educational workshops/ seminars. Managing 2-3 songwriters/ producers, as well as maintaining a stable balance of family time with my loved ones. Q. Tell us about you book “Indie Music Major Business” and the motivation behind it?

Q. How do you handle adversity and doubt being in the industry? A. Trials and tribulations are a part of life in general, so I don’t approach difficulties in the music business any different. I am grounded by my faith in God and I lean on the positive energy and encouragement of my close circle to keep me going when time get rough. I always say to myself that it is ok to take a break, just don’t STOP going! The moment that you actually quit; you guarantee that you will not make it... Q. Do you have any projects or events for 2021?

A. We are actually rescheduling the official book signing for January 2021 and will be celebrating 20 years of my brand Money United with Game, in conjunction with the fist “Indie Music Major Business Concert Connect,” a live performance showcase and networking event for independent artists. I plan on putting some time into building my nonprofit organization We Owe Us Foundation, as well as releasing some more music.

Q. What’s the biggest factor that has helped you be successful? A. Aside from God’s favor and surrounding myself with the right people, I can’t stress it enough that getting myself educated on the business side of the music industry is the primary reason for my success! Q. Can you tell us what has been your most satisfying moment in business? A. Getting an office space for the company was definitely a highlight moment, but to be able to hang my #1 Billboard plaque on the wall, that my mom surprised me with as a birthday gift was priceless!! Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. They can follow me on all platforms @MUG$_Amillion.

“ Aside from God’s favor and surrounding myself with the right people, I can’t stress it enough that getting myself educated on the business side of the music industry is the primary reason for my success!”

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WILLIAM MAT T HEWS

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. Thank you for having me! My name is William Matthews, and I am from Houston. I have spent over ten years working with many of Houston’s top social, corporate, and non-profit institutions, and my work has included community outreach, project management, workshop felicitation, fundraising, and keynote speaking. For the past five years, I have been a public and community affairs professional with a substantial knowledge base in the areas of corporate relations, civic engagement, and real estate development. Additionally, I have written guides to personal finance and event planning, and planning on releasing my third book, “Everything I Needed to Know About Corporate America” in 2021! Q. What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur? A. I especially love the freedom and flexibility that it gives you. You are the director of your own movie and you get to decide which projects you choose to work on and who you choose to work with. You dictate your supporting cast, plot, budget, and the final edit of your “movie.” It’s rare to get that level of decisionmaking and power while working for someone else. Q. Tell us about your book “Everything I Needed to Know About Corporate America”.? A. I’m currently working on my third book, “Everything I Needed to Know about Corporate America,” with its goal being to help recent college graduates to people in

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mother’s entrepreneurial spirit and witnessed her juggling employees, clients, and several leadership roles, all while never compromising her role as a mother.

“ When I think of being successful, I think about being rewarded with fulfillment." mid-management positions. I am particularly interested in writing this book for young black and brown individuals who are interested in getting a corporate job and are concerned about systemic racism in the corporate atmosphere. After my experience working in a corporate job, I realized that there were many important tips and tricks that I didn’t know beforehand. For individuals who don’t have the right mentors or parents who worked in a similar field, this transition is much harder. In the book, I discuss interview etiquette and the ins and outs of having a first job, stories about race relations within the corporate workplace, and how to establish your personal brand at work. I will be releasing the book in early 2021 and can’t wait to share it with the world. Q. Who motivated you to be the man you are today? A. It took a village, but I give much credit to my mother who was the one to motivated me to pursue my career. She always told me to follow my passion and stay true to who I am. I was fortunate that my hero walked through the door of my home every night. I’ve always admired my

Q. Out of all the places in the world you have seen which one has been your most memorable one? A. I have been blessed to travel to 5 continents and 17 countries, but my most memorable visit was to South Africa after graduating from the Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy at Southern University. I had goosebumps visiting Robben’s Island, learning more about partheid, and watching wildlife up close and personal in a safari in the heart of Johannesburg. This trip forever changed my life. Q. How do you define success? A. Success to me is defined by what you were able to learn and the lives you were able to impact along the way. I don’t define success by job titles, money, or tangible things. When I think of being successful, I think about being rewarded with fulfillment. Before agreeing to something, I ask myself, “Can this experience be used to help improve my life overall?”. If the answer is yes, then I do it! Q. What advice can you give to someone that wants to be an entrepreneur? A. I’d recommend a few things! First, don’t let anybody tell you who you are. It’s important to find this out for yourself and then stick with those values throughout your career. What type of leader are you? What values are important to you? Don’t sacrifice these important qualities for a seat at the table- other great opportunities will come. Next, surround yourself with people who hold you accountable, and who don’t simply agree with everything you say. Surround yourself with likeminded people who will support you and help you reach your personal and professional goals. Read books and autobiographies on successful people in the field you are trying to break into. Finally, make sure you follow your instinct. My instinct has not stirred me wrong. When

something doesn’t feel right, it’s usually not the right path for me. Q. Are you working on any new events or projects for 2021? A. As I mentioned previously, my third book, Everything I Needed to Know About Corporate America, will be about how people can thrive as they enter the workforce. Some of these topics include obtaining a work-life balance, requesting a raise, dealing with a bad boss, and collaborating on projects. I also wanted to give a voice to the BIPOC individuals in the workforce who may feel like they don’t belong. My main goal for this book is to show the importance of giving your all to your work without sacrificing who you are. Your job doesn’t define you, but while you’re there, it is essential to define who you are. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years? A. By God’s grace, I’ll be happy and healthy. I am a big-picture thinker and believe it’s important to plan for the future, but I believe it’s important to live in the moment and embrace where you are and what lessons the universe is trying to teach you right now. I’d love to do more TED Talks, become a New York Times Best-Selling Author, or host an international traveling show; however, the main thing for me to remember is the sky is not even close to the limit. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. You can check out my website at williamsmatthews.com, and stay up to date with me on social media here:  @williamsmatthews  @mrwsmatthews YouTube: https://www. youtube.com/channel/ UCyGmAnxn0uISfV5_8txNBgQ If you are interested in purchasing my books, feel free to visit my Amazon Author Page here: https://www.amazon.com/ William-S.-Matthews/e/ B00K7I258K?

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AUBREY SIMONE 14

WILLIAMS

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Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I am Aubrey-Simone Williams and I am currently a Senior Producer for a major corporation. I am also the Founder and Artistic Director of my theatre company, TheACTivists. Q. Who motivated you to be the woman you are today? A. My mother. She has always been an entrepreneur and the breadwinner in the household. She is the reason I am so independent and why I consider myself a “Go- Getter”. Q. Tell us about “The ACTivists” Theatre company and how it got started? A. I was coming out of a teaching job and one of my student’s parents - Erika Respress inspired me to be more than just a teacher. She inspired me to turn my passion into a business. I also wanted to serve those in the way that I had been served: using theatre as healing and therapy for traumatized and abused individuals. I wanted the unheard to be heard and my theatre company provides a space for that.

Q. In your experience, what is the most important quality in a TV Producer?

Q. How has your experience been being Senior Producer for Fox Digital (Fox Soul TV)?

A. Organization. You have to be organized as a TV producer because things are constantly changing at a very rapid pace.

A. It has been great! It’s definitely a steep transition from theatre, in terms of structure, but I’m enjoying the change and it’s helping me with being able to adapt to situations quicker than I normally would. FOX SOUL is expanding rapidly, and I am glad to be one of the founding producing members of the network. I have been there since it’s humble beginnings, so seeing its growth is mind-blowing.

Q. How was it training at “The Shakespeare Globe Theatre” in London? A. It was an amazing experience. I received training and insight on acting, stage combat, production, stage management, costuming, and so many other things that I can’t even name. I was also the only African American in the group, so it was also a culture shock. Q. What is your approach to delegation of responsibility? A. I am actually not as good at delegating responsibilities as I should be. I am a control freak and I always feel like it isn’t done right unless I do it myself. I’ve learned to let go of some of that over the years, but the control element is still there. I’m just always wanting everything to be perfect.

Q. Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years? A. Still working in the TV industry and owning my own brick and mortar theater building. Q. Are you working on any events or projects for 2021? A. Yes! If the world opens up, we are scheduled to take my play “Black Matter” off- broadway, so I am super excited about that. I also am preparing to have another book in the works. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. I can be found on:  @_theactivists  @masterofthearts.

“I wanted the unheard to be heard and my theatre company provides a space for that"

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“ I want to create a space where I can speak into the lives of other people in whatever way God allows me to."

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SHELLY CLARK

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. Thanks for taking the time to interview and chat with me. Who is Shelly? I’m a first-time author. My hallmark work was published in mid2019. I’m a small-town girl originally from the great state of West Virginia and now reside in Charlotte, NC with my husband. I’m an accountant and CPA by trade but at my core I’m a teacher…whether on the job or ministry at my core I’m a teacher. Q. What motivated you to be an author? A. It was motivated by a need to encourage and inspire other people. At one point in my life, I had the opportunity to minister to others in church and when I left that ministry, I figured that door was closed only to realize that God was opening the door to

ministry through writing. I’m learning to not put God in a box. Q. Tell us about your book “Beyond the Cracks” and the motivation behind it? A. If I had to sum it up in one word, I would say that it is about Hope. I really want people to realize that God’s grace and mercy is available to them no matter where they find themselves. There is hope for all of us. My motivation is to inspire and ignite others to live their best lives in and through Christ.

Q. What is the most difficult part of your writing process? A. In writing my first book, I revisited a lot of the painful moments or cracked places in my life, so I “felt” the words that the readers see on the page. I hope as a writer that what I’m saying connects with the audience. Q. Tell us what the most important elements of good writing? A. I’m a newbie at this so I’ll answer your question from a reader’s perspective. I love to read. The most important elements of good writing to me, as a reader, is the writer’s ability to connect with the reader, keep the reader engaged and to inspire/ ignite something in them. I think this happens by painting a picture with your words so well that the reader can “see” it. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years? A. I want to create a space where I can speak into the lives of other people in whatever way God allows me to. If that is through public speaking, writing, whatever…I’m open to it all. I believe that God needs people who are willing to reveal Him in the earth through our walk. We may be the only “Jesus” some people see because not everyone is going to walk the four walls of a church. I desire to walk alongside others in whatever capacity God allows. Q. Can you tell us your favorite book you ever read? A. The Shack by William Paul Young. Q. Are you working on any new events or projects right now?

A. Yes. Working on a 21-day journal/devotional to couple with my book, Beyond the Cracks. It’s well overdue but I believe I’ll get it out when the world needs it. Q. What are some things you do on your spare time? A. I started working on my health and my weight and in doing so discovered that I enjoy walking. It has done so much for my physical and mental health. My husband and I are movie buffs too. We binge watch shows on Netflix sometimes. Q. What does the words “Writers block” mean to you? A. I feel like I’m experiencing it right now…lol. Seriously, I think that sometimes distractions cause writer’s block for me because it’s difficult to sit down and focus. Right now, there is so much uncertainty and crazy making in the world it’s difficult to turn it off. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. You can find me on:  /  : @shellyrozzelclark. You can also connect with me and purchase a book on my website  beyondthecracks.com.

The book is also available on Amazon.com in paperback and e-book form. I’d love to connect with readers to hear how my work has impacted their lives.

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“ I changed my thoughts of what I believed to be true about being successful coaching black men and the opportunities just started coming."

KEVIN THORNTON

WIB Magazine

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. Kevin Thornton, and I am a life coach, holistic health coach, author and radio show host. Q. Who or What motivated you to be an entrepreneur? A. It was part of the journey. As I embarked on this journey of self-evolution, I began to realize that entrepreneurship was for me. The stress and intense expectations that my corporate job was putting on me was affecting my mental and physical wellness. They expected so much from me but will only give me 1.5% raise for what all you did. If I am going to go through all that stress for little reward, I might as well work for me and do what I am passionate about and I control my worth. Q. Tell us about your experience being a life coached by Iyanla Vanzant? A. That experience was amazing. I was doing a boot camp class one day and I was sitting in my car waiting for the class to start. Iyanla was on Michael Baisden Show and stated she was being led to offer a free 9- week coaching to the first 100 black men that email her. I had access to her and her team life they do on Fix My Life. The work was intense, but I grew and learned allot. During this process is when I realized becoming a life coach was my calling and how passionately I wanted to use this calling to become a vessel to help heal our black men. Q. How has your journey been being a certified life coach? A. The journey being a life coach has been rewarding but it has also been a journey. What I mean by that is that I knew that I wanted to focus on black men, but I allow people place their negative energy on me to believe that I wouldn’t

be successful with that focus. So, in the beginning my focus was women and even though I felt good being able to help them it was a void their because I know healing black men is my calling. I changed my thoughts of what I believed to be true about being successful coaching black men and the opportunities just started coming. I must give Therapy of black Men credit. It is a website with a directory of black male therapist and life coaches for men to find. Being in that network has truly help my growth and evolution as a life coach. Q. I see you also have an internet radio show called “Wellness Architect” tell us about your show? A. It is a show that you can see on YouTube and Roku. The intentions of the show are to inspire, educate, and motivate others to create the healthiest version of themselves mind, body and spirit. We discuss all forms of wellness, mental, emotional, physical, etc. I also used the show to monthly have a men’s roundtable discussion as a platform to give men a space to talk and release and be safe while doing it. Finally, my intentions for the show is to use the platform to also, showcase blacks in a more positive light compared to what mainstream media do. Q. Let us talk about your book “20 Beautiful Men” and the inspiration behind this book? A. The inspiration was to give men a platform to inspire others through

stories to help people walk in their purpose. Someone saw me on social media and asked me about being part of this movement. Instantly jump on board with it because it is in alignment of who and what I am. I am thankful for all the support of the book and I was nominated 2020 ATL Hottest Author for the book. Those who would still like to support the book and the movement can do so by going to www.paypal.me/kev211. The book is $20.00 and those who purchase the book will get a special gift along with the book. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years? A. In three years, I am looking to have a seven- figure online platform with my coaching, book sales, YouTube, and other merchandise. All in alignment to help inspire my community to become their best selves. Q. What is one thing that you would say to someone that wants to be an entrepreneur? A. It is a journey and not a sprint. Know you are worthy of it and whatever amount of energy you put in when you work your job, put that same energy into your business. Q. Are there any new projects or events you working on for 2021? A. A new book entitled Waking Up Winning Vol.2, I have a new show I am going to do on YouTube called Conversations with Coach Kevin and I am going to different cities to do some popup sin classes. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A.  Kevin Thornton The Wellness Architect  @thewellnessarchitect  @mrkevinthornton.

WIB Magazine

“ My concepts actually come from things that I have either experienced or dreamed."

DERIYUN MCGEE 20

WIB Magazine

Q. Where do your ideas or concept come from when writing? A. My concepts actually come from things that I have either experienced or dreamed.

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. Hello, my name is Deriyun McGee, I am a writer basically. I am an author of 5 books. 3 children’s books, 1 adult self -help book, and my first novel will be released by Feb. 2021 Q. Tell us about your company “Remote Vision Production and how you got started? A. Remote vision Productions is my company I started in 2020. It covers my books, movies, and music. I came up with that name based on seeing the future, past and present through my writing. Q. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? A. When I was in 6th grade, I used to write poems to the girls I liked. Once I got to high school, that changed because the girls where into older guys and writing poems was too sweet for them. They were into dope boys, thugs and rappers back then. A few friends of mine started a rap group and that’s when I started writing. Once I graduated, I went to community college and took script writing and film classes. One of my teachers was Lisa Rosenthal, she was a writer for the Prince of Bel Aire. She always compared me to Will Smith, and she told me that I had what it took to make it as a writer.

Q. Tell us about some of your books? A. All of my children’s books rhyme. Johnny and The Light was my first book. I decided that I needed to put God first if I want to be successful. I based that book off of an incident that happened to me as a kid. I woke up one night and saw a shadow spirit standing over my bed, it was terrifying at that time and I couldn’t move. I called on the Lord in my mind and it ran way. My next book Believe in You and Others Will Too is a motivational book teaching kids to have confidence in themselves. “How to Deal With Death” and “Missing Your Loved Ones” is based on my personal experience on dealing with grief. I have lost my mom, dad, brother, and grandfather. I share the things that keep me going in that book. Don’t Be a Bully is a book in which I speak to the kids and give them reasons they should not be a bully. That book is also my first all-black children’s book. My new novel “Rewind” is my masterpiece. It’s based on reality manipulation and a few conspiracy theories. My books are available on Amazon also. I look to turn my novel into a movie in 2021. I’m completely stoked about that.

A. I plan on turning my novel “Rewind” into a motion picture. Q. Who is your favorite author? A. Dr. Frances Cress Welsing. Her book the Isis papers woke me up. Q. Can you give any tips or advice to people that wants to be an author? A. You have to just make the time to do it. Be sure to finish what you start. Most people have great ideas, but they don’t complete the project. You have to be patient with yourself above all else.

Q. What has been the most satisfying moment in business? A. Selling my books face to face and seeing the reactions of people that read my books and hearing the feedback is priceless. Q. Are you working on any events or projects for 2021?

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EVAN LEAPHART

WIB Magazine

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. My name is Evan Leaphart and I am simply the idea guy behind Kiddie Kredit. I’m a serial entrepreneur who truly believes that credit education is one of the biggest steps we can take to achieving economic equality in this country. Q. Tell us about “Kiddie Kredit” and the motivation behind this App? A. The motivation was simple. Let’s reduce the number of youths who fall into traps of bad debt early. Let’s build a solution that is preventative and not corrective. Q. I see that you are the Co-Founder of “Black Men Talk Tech” can you tell us more about this collaboration? A. This was a partnership with the wonderful women at Black Women Talk Tech. I am passionate about the city of Miami that I currently reside in and even more passionate about being a part of something that provides resources that directly can benefit the black community. Q. What business related books have inspired you the most to help with your business?

A. Biggest one is 7 Habits of Highly Successful People. I have read that at least 5 times over. Sometimes it’s not how many books you can read but how much you apply from the ones you do. Q. Do you believe that there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur? A. Determination. The ability to keep going! Q. Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years? A. Yapping about the same stuff haha. Just on a higher level, more users, more kids’ lives affected for the better. More of the same, but in a good way. Basically, I’m on this mission for the long haul. Q. If you had one piece of advice to give to someone just starting out, what would it be? A. Find mentors you trust and that have your best interest. Don’t just spend time talking to people on the same level with you. Connect with those within your space who have gone further. Quickest way to level up in my opinion. Q. I see you had partner up with “Social Mama App” how was that experience?

A. I love that team over there. It was really a pleasure to do that IG live. I hope they will see this because we need to collaborate again on something soon. Q. Tell us a little about your journey on how you got to where you are today? A. This all started out with a few white boarding sessions with my guy Matt Cohen. From there we just built it out, found team members and continually piled up wins. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. On social media you can find me @evanleaphart or us @kiddiekredit on IG and Twitter.

“ Let’s reduce the number of youths who fall into traps of bad debt early. Let’s build a solution that is preventative and not corrective.”

WIB Magazine

ELIZABE TH DAVIS “ My motivation for moving forward with entrepreneurship was actually forced upon me.”

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Q. How do you build a successful customer base? A. Making sure the customer is number 1 on your concern list when developing your products and helping them feel involved in the process helps keep them coming back and builds brand loyalty. We put systems in place to ensure that our customers’ complete experience is seamless. As well, it is important that all customer service reps under Shedavi have proper training to keep them up to date on what they should know about our products and much more. We also emphasize empathy when dialoguing with our customers. Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? What motivated you to be an entrepreneur? A. Hailing from the near Southside of Chicago, IL., Elizabeth Davis is the Queen of Healthy Haircare. Hello, I am Elizabeth Davis. Nice to meet you. I am the Founder and CEO of Shedavi Hair/Skin/Body care. I originally had a career in Construction Engineering but my passion for beauty and business allowed me to pivot pretty smoothly into my dream life and the commander-in-chief of one the nations most valued hair care brands, Shedavi. My motivation for moving forward with entrepreneurship was actually forced upon me. When creating Shedavi, I was still working full time and building a version of perfection with Shedavi on the side and getting my family to assist me with sales. Before I knew it, the sales and revenue increased and called my attention to Shedavi full time. Q. Tell us about your business “Shedavi” and how it got started? A. Since creation in 2016, Shedavi™ has taken the industry by storm. Nationally cherished and globally celebrated, Shedavi™ is the premier haircare, beauty, and wellness brand for those who appreciate a holistic approach to everyday self-care rituals. After years of research and experience with natural remedies for beauty, our founder, Elizabeth Davis, chose to infuse the power of Ayurvedic healing into the DNA of our products. To date, Shedavi™

and Elizabeth has received notable press mentions from well-known publications, including Forbes, CNBC, MadameNior, Black Enterprise and The Oprah Magazine. Q. What process do you use to determine which products would best fit the needs of a customer? A. We do not “just” sell products. We focus on helping our customers create a wellness lifestyle that inspires simplicity, consistency, and transformation from the inside out. Our products are all-natural, handmade, and ethically sustainable with a focus on hair, skin and nail health. Not only do we service our clientele by providing superior products, but we also offer free wellness education through our online store and online VIP customer community, TheSheHive, on Facebook. Q. What are some tips for women to have healthier hair? A. - Make sure you monitor you’re eating habits and create healthy eating regimes, because what you eat can contribute to proper hair growth. - Create a proper hair care regime that allows you to take proper care of your hair and if you cannot manage it on your own, seek professional help to assist you in achieving your hair growth goals - Research and Learn your hair types and what your hair and scalp need. - Take your vitamins! Vitamins replenish the nutrients your hair needs to grow healthy.

Q. What makes your products different from others? A. Our products are all natural and plant based to ensure maximum nutrients and health aids for healthy appearing hair. Q. Can you tell us what Ayurveda is and why it is good for people to use? A. According to the dictionary, Ayurveda is the knowledge of life and longevity. It is a botanical remedy used to assist in proper skin/ hair care treatment and relieve the body of discomfort. Here at shedavi we give life and longevity to your body, skin, hair, and nails. Q. Do you have any new products or anything you’re working on for 2021? A. We will be launching some new products, but in the meantime, we invite you to visit our website or follow us on social media to stay up to date with Shedavi. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. You can learn more about Elizabeth’s hair care company, Shedavi,  shedavi.com and join Elizabeth and her audience of over 169k fans and followers on:  @Shedavi Hair  @queenelizabethdavis  @shedavi  @shedavi

WIB Magazine

EMME RAIN “myself make a daily habit of is making vision boards with print outs and posts that can influence the frequency around me."

WIB Magazine

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I am an international bestselling author, keynote speaker, mentor, and alchemist with a diverse background in leadership, speaking, training, personal development, healing, publishing, and entrepreneurship. My passion for empowering authenticity and results have made me a highly sought-after expert and leader. I have had the opportunities to host television shows on major cable and television networks. FOX KTVE has called me “one of Louisiana’s foremost experts on mindfulness.” I have also been featured on radio stations and podcasts. Q. Who or What motivated you to be the businesswoman you are today? A. Coming from a harsh background, I had no choice but to create the life that I deserved. Reprogramming my mind from poverty, I had to learn how to hold my head high, uncover some mistakes made, and quickly pivoted. After such trauma, I began to detach myself from all restricting rules and unrealistic expectations and tied myself to authenticity that will allow for success: and from this shift, “Magickal Mystic was created”. Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? A. - A winning mindset. Knowing that success is a choice and a thought away is the first step to maximizing your success. More often than not, entrepreneurs alike, struggle with their perception of their reality and if we all just readjust how we process our life to a winner’s mindset, everything has the power to shift. - Learn how to monetize your knowledge and experience. We are now in

the time of multi- streams of passive income and learning how to create digital products to monetize the knowledge and experience you have acquired over your lifespan will set you up for success. - Being organized and staying on top of a task. Even though this is overused and seems simple, this skill is the key source to maintaining a stress-free life full of room for opportunities. Q. Can you tell us some key activities you would recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in? A. Some activities that I, myself make a daily habit of is making vision boards with print outs and posts that can influence the frequency around me. Secondly, having firm and future tense affirmations that aligns with what you want to come. And lastly, creating and listening to your manifesting playlist and I am not referring to meditation music but everyday music that shifts your mood and resonates with the life you desire. Singing the parts that reflect the life you want. Q. Let us talk about your multi-million-dollar e-commerce & online learning business and the journey behind it? A. My business was built as a need from the customers. I listened to what my target audience was looking for and what answers that needed to be answered. I took that information and developed products, classes, and services that were specifically tailored to my audience for the concerns they needed addressed. All my businesses became a hub for organized knowledge and support. This journey has been so full of new level openings that allowed me to explore my resilience, my strong belief in the practices I preach, and success.

Q. What has been one of your greatest accomplishments you have had being an entrepreneur? A. I Made $35,000 for each release of our signature fragrance product lines, “Millionaire”, and “Get Money”. Q. How would you define success? A. My definition of success is being able to live life in full abundance and exactly how I dictate. Q. What kind of programs and advice do you give to people to achieve wholeness and success? A. My coaching approach to people who want to be successful is to first create a mindset conducive to success. Next, we create action plans personalized for their specific goals. Q. Tell us about “Magickal Mystic” and the creativeness behind it? A. Magickal Mystic is all about freedom of the soul. We live in a world of energy and mysticism. Life itself is magical. I wanted to create a company that made it okay to believe in the power of your own mind and will. Magickal Mystic is about a holistic approach to life which allows you to unify all the moving pieces with love and appreciation rather than shame, fear or ignorance. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A.  group: (Divinity Academy)  (EmmeRainOfficial)  (@emmerainofficial)  www.emmerain.com WIB Magazine

“ My inspiration came from my very own breastfeeding journey. When deciding to breastfeed my first child, I was faced with so many difficulties and was provided very little to no assistance."

WIB Magazine

K RY S TA L DUHANE Y

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. Hi, I am Krystal Duhaney, CEO of Milky Mama, a Registered Nurse, International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, a Mother of two (one of my favorite titles), and a wife. I created Milky Mama to be a hub for support and education for budding families looking to breastfeed. I enjoy helping mothers and families everywhere explore feeding options for their children and receive community support during the most beautiful time of their life. After struggling to breastfeed with my first child, I understood the need for Milky Mama and was determined to create a more successful breastfeeding journey for my second time around and others. Since creating our Milky Mama community brand, I have crafted a delicious and nutritious range of lactation cookies, brownies, lemonades, smoothie mixes, and herbal supplements which are made from high quality ingredients tailored to meet the nutritional and developmental needs of breastfeeding mothers and infants. I am committed to empowering mothers with knowledge that allows them to make informed decisions about their maternal health. Q. What motivated you to want to be an entrepreneur? A. My overall intention for Milky Mama is to help breastfeeding and pumping mothers worldwide (to date we have helped 1 million mothers) by providing a platform where they have 24-hour access to resources and a community to assist them in their journey. My inspiration came from my very own breastfeeding journey. When deciding to breastfeed my first child, I was faced with so many difficulties and was provided very little to no assistance. I was discouraged by my nurse when I expressed my difficulties. She simply advised me to stop against my strong desire and understanding health benefits of breastfeeding. Q. Can you tell us about Milky Mama and how your business got started? A. After having my second child and

returning to work, I struggled with my milk supply and realized that there were very few resources for breastfeeding mothers in the same predicament. I knew then that I had to come up with a solution that would help to increase my milk supply. Using my knowledge as a Registered Nurse and love for baking, I developed a milk-making cookie recipe and fell in love with the results. My lactation cookies dramatically increased my supply. Soon after, I decided that I could not keep my discovery a secret and had to share this with other mothers who were going through a similar situation. So, in November of 2015, Milky Mama was born. Today, Milky Mama’s product line includes delicious Lactation Cookies, Brownies (which are my favorite), Emergency Brownies, Lactation LeMOOnade, Lactation Smoothie Mix, and Herbal Supplements. Along with offering tasty treats and beverages, Milky Mama has also generated a following of women who help support each other and other women on their journey. Milky Mama facilitates weekly Live social media chats, an online breastfeeding course, virtual lactation consultations, and a lactation support group. Q. If there was 1 message you could really drive home (about lactation) what would it be? A. Educate your family and close friends especially the BIPOC community on the breastfeeding journey and the health benefits. We find that the older generation may not be as informed about breastfeeding or the benefits. Q. What are some common misconceptions (about breastfeeding) you would like to debunk? A. Many mamas-to-be think that their breastfeeding journey will be smooth sailing, but that is not always the case. Although breastfeeding is a natural process, it is

also a learned skill for you and your baby. All babies are born with the reflex to root for their mother’s breast. But mothers need to know proper positioning techniques and signs of a correct latch. This requires a lot of patience, time, and bonding with your baby. Q. Tell us about your breastfeeding support group? A. It was also important for me to create a village of support because I needed it and I craved it. Having the extra support is so vital. It is heartwarming and a huge passion of mine to give breastfeeding support. I receive so many responses from customers sharing their experience and because they eat my treats, they are going strong with lactation. It is so amazing what a little extra support can do. Q. What challenges do you face as a woman owned business in the medical industry? A. Coming from the medical industry myself there are very few challenges I face. My focus is on the mothers and families that I assist and making sure that I am providing them with a wealth of knowledge and support. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Social Media Links:  milkymamallc  milkymamallc  milkymama1

WIB Magazine

“ I’ve always been actively involved in the field of education and technology in various capacities from a kid all the way to college. ”

DR. TONYA ROBERTSON

WIB Magazine

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Please tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. Hi, my name is Dr. Tonya Robertson and I am the Founder & CEO of Focused Training Solutions. In my company, we curate instructional learning tools designed to optimize employee performance in the workplace. Q. How did you get into learning & Development strategist? A. I’ve always been actively involved in the field of education and technology in various capacities from a kid all the way to college. As I transitioned into creating my own business, I did so with the employee voice in mind. Growing up, I always felt like I did not have a voice. That baggage went with me into all of my workspaces and kept me from speaking up, advocating for myself, and sharing my workplace learning needs. As a result, I was overlooked and often undervalued. So, my plight has been to put the learner’s needs first in all development considerations, but in a fun and effective way. Q. You have developed a multimillion-dollar training for the government, how has that journey been? A. In addition to serving businesses, we also serve the government. As a government contracting agency, my business has obtained new partnerships and has been afforded the opportunity to be involved with learning and development projects on a much larger scale. It’s been an awesome experience thus far. We look forward to additional awards, partnerships, and ways by which we can be impactful in our community. Q. I see you have been doing Instructional Design for more than 20 years. How did you build that successful customer base? A. Always producing quality work, sharing information with others often, being reliable, admitting if I made a mistake, and giving a little extra to my customers has allowed me to be successful.

Q. What are the three reasons why adding new skills is important for your business? A. 1. It will add more value to your business. 2. It will keep your business relevant 3. It will boost your employees’ work productivity, empowerment, and engagement. Q. What are some of your most favorite accomplishments? A. Being the first in my family to obtain a doctorate degree and overcoming the labels, statistics, and negativity spoken over my life as a 16-year old pregnant African American church girl. This makes me proud as a mom because I always want to model what is possible. I understand that they will choose different paths, but I always want them to understand the laws of abundance and understand that they can be, do, and have ANYTHING! I will always remind them to never accept the limitations of others as their own. Q. Can you tell us what your

design process is? A. Once we have a general idea of the learner’s needs, we design with gaming concepts in mind first. The intent is to really come in on developing meaningful interactions that incorporate storytelling, choices, consequences, and feedback. Most importantly, though, is the learner’s needs. Employee voices matter and we take special care to make sure we delicately design learning tools to meet their needs.

Q. Tell us what your favorite theories are regarding Instructional Design? A. It’s a tie between the Active Learning Theory and the Constructivist Learning Theory. I’m a firm believer that we all analyze, rationalize, synthesize, and develop new ideas or refurbish old ideas through our filtered experiences. However, I also believe that we learn best by doing. Our creation considerations always bridge between these two theories. Q. Does your design address different learning abilities? A. Absolutely! There is no way around this. This is the most gratifying component of design for me...understanding that we are all different and that we do things differently. Designing for different learning styles helps us understand how to tailor a pedagogical approach for the varying abilities of the learners. On the other hand, it is one of the most under-recognized areas in most workplaces. Learning and design in the workplace, more often than not, is typically handled as a one size fits all situation. This is usually the case because the organization benefits from cost savings when learning activities are designed in a streamlined manner. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. People can connect with me by visiting my website focusedtrainingsolutions.com as well as following me on Facebook.”

WIB Magazine

TAE LEE

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"After I went to college and could not find a job in my field, I had to figure it out. I started waitressing at a restaurant and realized that this was not my calling. From there, I never looked back. Entrepreneurship here I am. “

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Please tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. My name is Tae Lee and I am the founder of Never Go Broke, Inc. We are a financial literacy company that gives individuals a foundation to become successful in managing their money for the future. We help more people to build generational wealth and not debt. We give our clients a financial blueprint, financial guidance, seminars that give continuing financial education, and workshops that give hands-on step-by-step information; all of which are designed to take successful money management to the next level. Q. What inspired you to be an entrepreneur? A. Life experiences inspired me to become an entrepreneur. After I went to college and could not find a job in my field, I had to figure it out. I started waitressing at a restaurant and realized that this was not my calling. From there, I never looked back. Entrepreneurship here I am.

Q. Tell us the biggest factor that has helped you to be successful? A. Having mentors, a strong support system and tons of trial and error have helped me become a successful entrepreneur. Without those three important factors, I would not be who I am today. Q. What business-related books have inspired you the most to help with your business? A. The books Failing Forward, Cash Flow Quadrant, Make Your Bed- Little Things That Can Change Your Life, and The Wealth Choice are books that have helped me continue to grow and develop my business. Q. How do you define success? A. Success is the freedom to live your life on your terms happily. Q. What is your main goal for your business? A. The main goal for my business is to help at least 10,000 people become financially free and create generational wealth.

Q. Can you tell us one of your biggest accomplishments you have had being an entrepreneur? A. Since I have become an entrepreneur, my biggest accomplishments have been building a game for my business and a financially literary program to help people become financially free. Q. What challenges do you face being a women entrepreneur? A. My biggest challenge that I have faced being a woman entrepreneur is balancing both work, home and family life. It can get overwhelming, so taking the time for yourself is a must. Q. How has Covid impacted your business? A. COVID-19 has shown us that regardless of how good your business is, it can fail. We have not gone under, but we are paying more attention to our business model and strategies moving forward. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Readers can follow me on :  @nevergobrokeinc and visit my website:  nevergobroke.money.

WIB Magazine

“ We wanted to create my own brand and business to save families time, money and frustration when styling their kids’ hair. ”

ROZALYN & GABBY GOODWIN WIB Magazine

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Please tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. Hi, my name is Gabby Goodwin and I am Rozalyn Goodwin and we are the Co-Founders of Confidence by Gabby. With our company, we have created the patented GaBBY Bows and plant-based natural hair care products designed to save families time, money, and frustration. Q. What inspired you to create your own brand and business? A. I wanted to create my own brand and business to save families time, money and frustration when styling their kids’ hair. Q. How is it being a six-figure entrepreneur at a young age and balancing school? A. It is an honor, but it can also be very jam-packed. With all the work from school, business, and my personal life, I have learned to use my time wisely and that’s a great skill to have. Q. Tell us about your company “Gabby Bows” and the motivation behind it? A. Yes, my motivation behind creating GaBBY Bows was when I would leave for school, I would leave the house with my hair done nice and neatly with my bows clipped perfectly on the ends. When I would come, most of the bows at the end of my hair would be missing from my hair or barely hanging on to the ends. We created the first patented double-face double-snap barrette to solve the age-old problem of disappearing hair barrettes. GaBBY bows are engineered to prevent hair slippage. Q. Can you tell us about “Girl Boss” and how it empowers other young entrepreneurs? A. Girl Boss is an entrepreneurship academy that teaches young girls how to save for college and learn entrepreneurship and life skills like sales, marketing, budgeting and public speaking. In the beginning, I was not as confident and courageous as I am now, but entrepreneurship changed that for me. Creating this academy has allowed me to empower other young girls to be fearless and fulfill their dreams through entrepreneurship.

Q. Who have been your biggest supporters building your business? A. My biggest supporters have been my family and friends. My parents have helped in every area of the business, whether that is using their own money at first to start the business or pushing me out of my comfort zone to gain confidence. My other family and friends have helped with many other different things as well. Q. What advice can you give to other young girls and boys that want to start their own business? A. My advice to young girls and boys is to believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, nobody else will, so be passionate about what you do and others will become passionate about you. Also, don’t be afraid of hearing the word NO. I always say, “N.O. is just an abbreviation for Next Opportunity”. Even if you have heard 100 no’s’, you can keep pushing to get to that next opportunity you want. Q. How excited were you when you found out your bows were going to be sold at target? A. It was very exciting to hear that my bows were going to be in such a big box retailer like Target. It’s probably every business’ dream to get a major opportunity like that, and I’m honored to have that opportunity. Q. Tell us some things you like to do in your free time? A. In my free time, if I’m not working, I love spending time with my family and friends, dancing, and playing on my electronics. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. To learn more about the duo and their work, visit www.gabbybows.com today. Also, join their Facebook Community at www.facebook.com/therealgabbybows .

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“ All entrepreneurs need to be flexible, understand their industry, and have the ability to convince others of their dream. ”

NICOLE BROWN WIB Magazine

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. In 2015, I created Izzy & Liv, a lifestyle brand dedicated to making black women feel included, celebrated and uplifted with products that are a reflection of themselves and the things they love. As CEO, I want to put Black women in the spotlight in everyday items from graphic tees to home decor to a monthly subscription box, which has filled a void in the market and turned Izzy & Liv into a million-dollar brand. Q. What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur? A. All entrepreneurs need to be flexible, understand their industry, and have the ability to convince others of their dream. Q. How did you get your idea or concept for your business “Izzy & Liv”? A. I named the company after two of my children Isabel (Izzy) and Olivia (Liv) because I wanted them to feel represented in the world in which they lived. Though it’s gotten better, there is still a huge lack of diversity in media and markets at large. I decided to finally pull the trigger, leaving a 20-year-career in marketing, after my fourth child was born prematurely. The experience made me realize that life is too short to not follow your dreams. So, I started with T-shirts that made Black women feel heard and expressive. Now, the company sells designs celebrating Black women on products from gift wrap to blankets. We even started subscription boxes!

Q. Tell us about your Brown Sugar box and what is so unique about your box? A. Our boxes have built a huge online community! Our boxes feature products from various black-owned businesses, not just our own, which has made people really gravitate toward the box. After launching in 2017, members in our 15,000-strong Facebook group started to hold unboxing parties. They call themselves “Brown Sugar Babes”! Q. Do you believe there is some sort of formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur? A. The biggest key is to understand your audience. For example: The Brown Sugar Boxes just came about naturally when trying to figure out how to best serve our customers. Q. What are some of your challenges being an entrepreneur? A. One of the biggest challenges is dealing with the stress of being on your own. Taking that leap of faith is no joke and requires a lot of strength and support.

Q. Can you tell us your top best-selling products? A. Our best-selling products are our boxes! All of our boxes come with a T-shirt and four to five items ranging from stationary to home decor. However, we don’t just have boxes for adults, but for all ages for both boys and girls. Q. What is your advice to someone who wants to be an entrepreneur? A. Planning is one of the most, if not the most, important step in pivoting your career. It’s crucial to think ahead for any situation that can arise. With a clear vision, you’ll be able to push past the times of doubt and uncertainty to grow a successful business. Q. Do you have any new projects or events you are working on for 2021? A. We are really looking to expand our range of partners/products to showcase in our boxes in order to empower more and more blackowned businesses and the customers who buy their products.

WIB Magazine

T IFFANY WILLIAMS

WIB Magazine

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I’m Tiffany Williams, the Founder and CEO of Rich Girl Collective, an online training academy for women who are looking to turn their passion into a side hustle or a successful full-time business. Additionally, I’m a dynamic online business coach, digital marketing consultant, two-time bestselling author and speaker. Q. What made you want to be an entrepreneur? A. I, and many people I know, were heavily affected by Hurricane Katrina. From that experience, I knew I needed a recession proof job, so I embarked on a T-shirt, ecommerce business. Within a few years, it grew into a multi-million-dollar company, and I was able to quit my job. Now, I love helping women from all over do the same. Q. Who has been one of your greatest inspirations in life? A. I recently adopted a daughter, and she is my greatest inspiration. Every day, I’m motivated to not only help women become business owners, but I want to foster girls into independent, self-sufficient entrepreneurs as well. In fact, I’ve been working to create a brand for my daughter that will teach financial literacy to young children through workbooks and literature. Q. Tell us about “Rich Girl Collective” and how you got your idea or concept for the business? A. With my successful ecommerce business, my network started asking for advice on growing their businesses. So, I started a free Facebook group to field questions and named it Rich Girl Collective. From the group, I created a corresponding online membership called R.I.C.H Girl Academy--relationships, investments/ entrepreneurship, community and health/wellness-- to teach women how to create healthy lives and bank accounts. Q. Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?

A. Every industry is different, but there are key actions all entrepreneurs should take when first starting out. First, master one thing at a time so you don’t become overwhelmed. Second, grow an audience right away to create buzz. Third, don’t compare yourself to others who’ve had a different trajectory and focus on your venture. Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business? A. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It was an incredibly difficult time and I was worried that my business was over. What happened, however, was that it started to grow exponentially. That was an amazing realization: even the impossible can happen. Q. Can you give any advice to women who want to be entrepreneurs? A. Research, but not too long. Though research is extremely important and should be given ample resources, many people stay at this step too long trying to perfect their product. If there’s anything I’ve learned over the years, you can’t let perfection hold you back. Q. What key activities would you recommend entrepreneurs to invest their time in? A. Customer service can make or break a business. Implement systems and procedures to follow after a purchase to ensure repeat business. Q. Do you have any major projects you are working on for 2021? A. I’ll be adding more training and benefits to the membership for academy members. My plan is to continue growing the R.I.C.H Girl movement and to continue

“ Though research is extremely important and should be given ample resources, many people stay at this step too long trying to perfect their product.”

being God’s vehicle to uplift and empower women around the world. What can be bigger than THAT? Q. Where can the readers follow you? A.  www.RichGirlCollective.com  support@richgirlcollective.com  richgirlcollective  richgirlcollective/  RichGirlGroup WIB Magazine

“One of the most satisfying moments in my business has been interviewing other female entrepreneurs in the wellness space on my podcast.”

CANDY WASHINGTON

WIB Magazine

Q. Thanks for interviewing with us tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. You’re welcome and thank you for interviewing me. I’m Candy Washington, and I create inspiring content across film, TV, digital, and publishing platforms. I founded my own media production company called 1214 Media Productions and we’ve produced a film, Narcissist, that’s now available on Amazon Prime Video and SofyTV, we produce a weekly podcast called, Sugar Pills: A Practical Guide to Self-Care, that was just picked-up by iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. We’ve also published four books. Q. What made you want to be an entrepreneur? A. I like living life on my own terms. I just got to the point where I knew that I didn’t want to spend my life working to make someone else rich and to fulfill someone else’s dream, when I had my own dreams and vision for my life. Becoming an entrepreneur gave me my power back. Q. Tell us what makes your business so unique? A. I’m not sure that my business is unique, but it is authentic. Every story that we tell, whether it’s through films, podcast episodes, or books, is rooted in a real human experience. Our goal is to ensure that everyone can identify with the journey that our characters go on and it can make them feel less alone and more empowered to live their lives without apology. Q. Can you tell us the biggest factor that has helped you be successful? A. Having the spirit of perseverance. Knowing that I can overcome anything that comes my way and being to turn obstacles into stepping stones. I’m also intentional about how I define

“success”. Success to me is being able to celebrate the small wins, business or personal, every day. I’m successful when I’m able to be grateful and joyful for each and every day. Q. What has been your most satisfying moment in business? A. One of the most satisfying moments in my business has been interviewing other female entrepreneurs in the wellness space on my podcast. Having a platform where I can help other women tell their stories while building a meaningful and engaged community has been extremely rewarding. Q. Tell us about your film Narcissist? A. Narcissist is a psychological thriller that explores the effects that social media has on the mental health of influencers and their followers. The film follows the life of young and beautiful social media influencer and reality TV starlet Sienna James (Candy Washington) as her charmed life comes crashing down in the wake of a young follower’s suicide. She turns to her psychologist, Dr. Rory Cohen (Adam Cardon) for guidance but he might be holding the deadliest secret of them all, as the question remains, “Who’s to blame?” The film wants the viewer to question their own accountability when it comes to how they show up on social media and how they treat other people online. Q. What are some of the mistakes you wished you could’ve avoided in business? A. I think in general, the biggest mistake you can ever make in business and in life, is thinking that you’re not worthy of love, success, and happiness. The biggest thing that holds up back from being the highest versions of ourselves is the belief that we don’t deserve it. Q. If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out as entrepreneur, what would it be? A. Have a vision for your life and for your career. Knowing

what you’re working towards will be what guides you during the down times and will be your compass for when you have to make difficult decisions. Also, find a mentor. Find someone that is successful that you know, like, and trust, that can give you guidance on your career, life, and goals. Humble yourself and follow. Q. Are you working on any new projects for 2021? A. I’m currently working on a new novel and a new script about a young woman that unknowingly gets caught in a dangerous love triangle for development in 2021. Stay tuned! Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. You can join me at the links below: Instagram: @candywashington Website: Actress with Style + SelfCare Muse Subscribe to the Sugar Pills Podcast: A Practical Guide to Self-Care iHeartRadio Apple Podcasts Spotify Google Podcasts Watch Narcissist on "Amazon Prime TV." Get Candy's book on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.

WIB Magazine

Where It Begins(WIB) January 2021 issue on Entrepreneurs.

Articles inside

CANDY WASHINGTON

TIFFANY WILLIAMS

NICOLE BROWN

TAE LEE

ROZALYN & GABBY GOODWIN

TONYA ROBERTSON

KRYSTAL DUHANEY

ELIZABETH DAVIS

EMME RAIN

EVAN LEAPHART

DERIYUN MCGEE

SHELLY CLARK

DAVID FRANZ

AUBREY SIMONE WILLIAMS

WILLIAM MATTHEWS

MUG$ AMILLION

KEVIN THORNTON

EMILIE PERZ

ROB MALLOY