Where It Begins (WIB) May Issue Women Empowerment by Where It Begins

We Empower We Stand Strong We Educate

Celebrating Women of The Future

Exclusive interview with the most dangerous woman in the world

Fredia Gibbs

CONTENTS MAY 2021 Kimberly Pinkston 04 Fredia Gibbs 06 Kimberly Gowdy 10 Zhe Scott 12 Chef Claudia Diawara 15 Jackie Keller 18 C. Renee Wilson 20 Tamika Harden 25 Monica Brown 27 Maisha Rush 29 Malikka 32 JaLia S 35 DREA Kelly 38 Chong Kim 40 Julie Manriquez 43 Chelsea Beyerman 46

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40 Founder – Cece Hymes

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.

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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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Kimberly Pinkston Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I am Kimberly Pinkston and I am the CEO of Pretty In Pinkston, Inc. Q. What are your top five value goals? A. Faith, Positivity, Knowledge, Instinct, and Determination. Q. Tell us about your business “Pretty in Pinkston” and the motivation behind the brand? A. Pretty In Pinkston Inc. is a conglomerate of my different businesses. I have Pretty in Pinkston Skincare, which is a plant-based vegan skincare line with a focus on all-natural products to maintain that melanin glow. Pink Network is my TV station which is on Roku that is geared towards women. We feature, fashion, art, entertainment, motivational speakers, faith-based content, music, film makers, etc. Pretty In Pinkston Professional Runway is where I teach students runway and we usually participate in NYFW, this year we have been invited to participate in Paris Fashion Week in October.

The motivation behind these projects is giving back to the community and making a difference in the world. 20% of all of our proceeds go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society to help find a cure and to our scholarship fund that helps send the young ladies I teach to college. I specifically focus on teaching young black girls because we need more faces in the fashion industry. As African Americans, we spend a lot of money on fashion and I feel we

should be more than adequately represented. Q. You have an annual fundraiser for multiple sclerosis society can you give us more details on the event? A. Absolutely! March is MS Awareness Month. Since I have MS, I try to do my part to contribute to the cure. We hold our annual fashion show to raise money to benefit the MS Society of Atlanta. This year it was a virtual show due to Covid-19. We did very well, we went beyond our expectation. I am happy with the outcome. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years? A. Making moves like Oprah! I am building an empire and I hope to leave a legacy for other

“I am building an empire and I hope to leave a legacy for other female entrepreneurs to follow. ” female entrepreneurs to follow. Q. How do you encourage our young female leaders? A. Know who YOU are. And most importantly, stay true to your vision. Trust your instincts. Q. How would you describe your future in three words? A. Blessed, Favored and Gifted. Q. Are you working on any new events or upcoming projects? A. Yes, we are. I am working on a few new television shows with our production crew for our network and a new fashion line coming out soon. Q. What are some goals you would like to accomplish? A. Goals I would like to accomplish are being able to give a business grant to other female entrepreneurs and implementing a business program in the publicschool systems, nationwide, to help kids pursue their dreams. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Everyone can follow me:  @prettyinpinkstonatl

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Fredia Gibbs

Q. Tell everyone who you are, what you do and where you’re from? A. My name is Fredia Gibbs, they call me Cheetah, I’m a former 3-time world champion kickboxing, multi kickboxing. Played professional basketball, track and field, a little bit of everything. I enjoy winning. I’m from Chester, Pennsylvania, a small urban city outside of Philadelphia. Q. How did you get the name cheetah and what does that represent? A. We all know cheetahs are fast ha-ha. Basically, I attended a high school where our high school colors were orange and black, I was on the basketball team as well as ran on the track team. My mom used to come to my meets, I remember for track, I’ll never forget, she always used to watch me run the 3rd leg on the 4x4 relay team. One day I was zooming around to pass the baton to our 4th legger and we won!! I’ll never forget my mom saying, “Sissy you look like a cheetah running around there

with that orange and black.” So that’s how I acquired that name, the cheetah. I just kept it with me. Q. Who are some women that influence you to be the woman that you are today? A. Oh Geesh. Well I was raised by some pretty strong, intelligent women. Obviously my mother, she was an extremely strong woman. My grandmother, my father’s mother, as well as my mother’s mother. They were the first, you know, women in my life who were very strong. Outside of my family as a young kid growing up, my role model was Christy Love, back in the 70s 80s. Wilma Rudolph as well, she was someone who looked like me as a young child growing up. So, I certainly looked up to her and Oprah Winfrey!

Q. How did you become the most dangerous woman in the world? A. Ha-ha that’s a funny title. How I became? I actually fought the most dangerous women in the world. I was a 3-time world champion at kickboxing, and I was given the opportunity to fight on an international pay per view world championship channel called Battle of the Masters. It was going to be showcased in San Jose, California. I accepted the fight and asked them who I was going to be fighting, they said “you’re going to be fighting this girl from France and her name in Valerie B. Henning, her record is 27-2, oh and by the way, she’s the most dangerous woman in the world”. I was like “the most dangerous woman in the world? Y’all got to be kidding me! Y’all are always putting me in there with some tough people. Every fight yall give me, I always got to fight for my life. Now you put me in a ring with the most dangerous woman in the world. Holy cow!” I’ll

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et to that point, in order to leave with my hands raised. So, to answer your question, it was so deeply spiritual, it was like I was making my transition from Earth to Heaven and I was standing here in front of God and I had won with my hands raised because He had assigned me. At that time He had crowned me with my crown and said, “you may enter these Golden Gates”. That’s how deeply spiritual and powerful it was to me and that impact, I feel it until this day. You dig?

never forget when they told me that, so I called my mom and told her they had me fighting the most dangerous woman in the world. My mom was like “how the hell is she going to be the most dangerous woman in the world when you are. You go out there and tell her Isaid that you are the woman that your mama warned her about”. Cause they were promoting her all over the world. Spending like $500k of marketing from Europe to the USA introducing her because the plan was to introduce her to the world since it was popular in other countries. The plan was to introduce kickboxing to America because it was super big in Europe and the other countries. I was obviously the underdog and I went out there and I’ll never forget walking toward the ring and heard a bunch of people yelling “that’s the black girl who came here to get knocked out” and that really surprised me. It kind of pissed me off a little but I just said a silent prayer saying, “tonight Father, we are going to shock the world”. Sure enough, we went in there and it was a tough fight. I really had to fight for my life, it was hard. In 8

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the 3rd round, my leg got tired. I already had a couple cuts over my eye and I just said another solid prayer: “Father, my legs are getting tired, I need your help”. At that time, it was on and popping, he answered! Threw a kick, came back with an overhand right. She went ahead and I spinned a second overhand right, the impact knocked her out. BAM! That’s when I shocked the world in front of 1.5 million people on national pay per view and made American history, becoming the first African American female kickboxing champion for the first time ever GLOBALLY! I’m the first! Standing alongside Jack Johnson. Q. So how did you feel when you won the world championship on the time of your mom’s birthday? A. Do you really want to know? People always ask me that question and I have to really think about it. First, I was like an awe feeling of an everyday person but then I really had to dig deep down into my soul and just retrospect about that moment of how special it was. All the adversity, trials and tribulation and distractions that I had to encounter and endure in order to

Q. Yesss! Okay so me asking, do you think of yourself as a fighter or a warrior? A. I am a warrior! You know. But don’t get me wrong like Oprah said back there in the color purple, “I got to fight for my life, all my life I got to fight.” That’s all of our lives; we all got to fight, that’s why in Ephesians God gave us as souls, the armour of God for us to wear and protect because we got to fight. So, you know I consider myself a warrior, a fighting warrior. Q. What would you say to your bullies and how did they help you get to where you are today? A. What I would say to them is thank you. What I would really say is, in my experience with the bullies and people who bullied me from a young age; I would just say thank you one and two: you guys really need to check yourselves. When you bully children it really has a very lasting, lifelong effect on them I know that it has on me. Just the fact that I became this great champion and I’m sure it has on other people but more so what I’ve learned in observation of bullies is that every last one of them who used to tease me about my body is now fat and out of shape. Every last one who used to tease me, they don’t compare to where I am today. If kids are being bullied at home; they need to find counseling to help themselves so that they don’t go out and project onto other people what they are receiving at home. That’s what I learned.

“ I was a 3-time world champion at kickboxing, and I was given the opportunity to fight on an international pay per view world championship channel called Battle of the Masters ”

Q. What’s the next big thing for you? Are you working on any projects or events that are coming up? A. Yeah. Wow. Thank you very much for asking. I did a 9 minute 43 second YouTube video called the “Most Dangerous Woman: The Fredia Gibbs Story.” It actually went viral and entered two film festivals, it has reached a lot of Hollywood heavy hitters and that means all diversities. I’ve been approached by some heavy hitters and were looking at doing an autobiography of doing a Fredia Gibbs story. Then looking at doing a feature film, from the feature film we’re looking at doing a tv series. So many great things. One more

thing I want to add is that the state of Pennsylvania historian, his name is Phil Damiani director at the sports legend museum at Pennsylvania; they’re making a seven-foot bronze statue in my honor. The sculptor's name is Jennifer Fudaski, she’s a famous sculptor. She made Mike Smith's seven foot statue in Philadelphia and a bunch of other celebrities. My statue will be the first in Pennsylvania but more importantly, it will be the first martial art combat statue of a female on the entire planet, alongside Bruce Lee. That’s truly an honor, especially being an African American woman.

Q. Congratulations! What would be your advice to the next generation of female leaders? A. That’s a very good one. The best advice that I can see is to find someone who looks like you that you can look up to, who’s very positive, living a good life, saying the right thing, doing the right thing and making the right things happen. You want to pretty much emulate them and be passionate about your goals. Set them; they do come true, be passionate about them and just understand that if someone says that it can’t be done; smile and reply “maybe it can’t but I and you won’t be the ones who said so until we tried” because there are a lot of people out there who are going to tell you that you can’t do something. If you listen to them, you can’t! Just go ahead and believe in yourself. That’s the most important thing. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Everyone can find me on all social media: @IamFrediacheetahGibbs.

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“ My proudest achievement, outside of being a wife and mother, is writing my book, The Colorless Womb "

Kimberly Gowdy 10

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and negotiation skills which make me feel very powerful.

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I am Kimberly Gowdy, a wife, mother, friend and recently I became an author. I’m a Christian, I studied Marketing at Cheyney University, an Insurance Professional, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. Q. How do you define your purpose in life? A. My purpose in life is to use my God-given talents and abilities in a way that not only benefits me but also benefits those within my circle of influence. Q. As a Boss Babe how do you balance personal Tribulations & Being Successful in Business? A. It starts with self-care. As a woman, I am uniquely able to balance multiple tasks as they come my way, but also as a woman, I sometimes neglect the things needed to strengthen my well-being. Now I take time to meditate, pray, and exercise. I also feel no conviction when I have to say no. Q. How has your experience been being a licensed Strategic Account Executive in 40 states including the state of Georgia? A. Being licensed in 40 states allows me to discuss and retain business across state lines. Having to keep track of state-specific mandates and laws can be a challenge, but it’s an opportunity to grow my blocks of business. I work predominantly with men and they rely on my expertise

Q. Can you tell us a little detail of your journey being a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha charter member? A. I was volunteering for the Obama Campaign. A group of Alpha Kappa Alpha women who were interested in chartering a chapter hosting our phone banking event. Naturally as an AKA, I was drawn to their efforts. I began to work with them and ultimately, we chartered the Psi Omega Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. I love it because it embodies sisterhood, supports community initiatives and awareness and has a positive impact based on role models who are a part of the organization. For instance, Kamala Harris, Phylicia Rashad, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and more! Q. Tell us about your book “The Colorless Womb” and the motivation behind it? A. The Colorless Womb is a story of selflessness. It is a beautiful story of pain, heartache, perseverance, and triumph, some of life’s experiences that can either break us or make us. It’s my story where I struggle to conceive and carry a child to term amidst misfortunes—three miscarriages and being trapped in an abusive marriage with my former spouse who valued his drug addiction more than me. It’s my journey in search of alternative ways to have a family while I’m confronted with racial and societal pressures of parenthood but after seven failed surrogacy attempts with two embryos left, the biggest surprise comes in an unexpected package.

my son was born, I poured love into being a great aunt, an amazing godmother, spending time blessing others. Sometimes blessing others takes the focus off our misfortunes. Before long, your blessing will meet you headon. Q. What awards or achievements are you most proud of? A. My proudest achievement, outside of being a wife and mother, is writing my book, The Colorless Womb. I knew that I had a story, we all do, but putting pen to paper, or in this case, fingers to keyboard, is something not many people take time to do. I’m glad I finished what I started. Q. Are you working on any new events or upcoming projects? A. I am working on MOBY, which stands for Mommy Older Baby Younger. This is a group I put together to give support to women who become Mothers at 35 or older. This is a unique demographic with specific challenges, e.g. interacting with much younger moms, because your children are the same age, physical stamina to keep up with younger children, looking older than the other moms, all of these can make older motherhood a bit more challenging. I am also working on a second book. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. You can follow me on:  and  @thecolorlesswomb_

Like and follow me on:  The Colorless Womb.

Q. So many women are infertile and sad thinking there are no alternatives, can you give any encouraging words for them? A. First, realize that God will give you the desires of your heart. Infertility was one of the most stressful challenges I’ve faced. Watching those around me receive the blessing I so desperately wanted…. a child. It is natural to cry, to feel left behind, angry and disappointed. Before WIB Magazine

“ I started my first agency with no savings and no business plan. Just my instincts in 2012."

Zhe Scott 12

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Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. My name is Zhe Scott, and I am the CEO of the Digital Marketing Company: The SEO Queen. My company is the leading black owned SEO company that helps black owned, woman owned, and tech companies get more clients and revenue without paying for advertising. Q. You are also known as the “SEO Queen” how did you become that? A. After I graduated from MIT I worked for Raytheon as a web applications developer. I did that for a year and then worked on my Masters in Public Policy. During this time, I never stopped loving technology. To graduate from MIT definitely takes passion for science and technology. After finishing my Masters in Public Policy at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor I pursued a career in public service as a volunteer and in my professional life I honed in on SEO. Some

years after I graduated from grad school, I worked for a series of tech companies where I sold content management systems, built websites, and did SEO. When I graduated from College SEO was not really a thing because search engines were in their infancy. After being on food stamps and struggling to live I finally walked away from a company that I built the book of business up from $0 to $500,000 in recurring revenue in 2 years. I realized that I had to take my professional destiny into my own hands.

I started my first agency with no savings and no business plan. Just my instincts in 2012. I ended up getting pregnant with my second and final child in 2013 and my first agency struggled, and all the fortune 500 companies I applied to were interested in hiring me, but I never made it past 3 rounds of interviews. I gave up on Corporate America at that point, moved to California and started planning the brand: The SEO

Queen in 2015 with the help of my day 1 business coach: Fraser Hay. Q. Who has been your biggest influencer in your life as a woman? A. I think this is a difficult question for me because I am multidimensional and multitalented. At first (blush) I can say right now that I am the biggest influencer on me. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard no from my parents, companies, clients and more. I am determined and my mom can tell you that I am a very determined person.

If I am really looking at the entirety of my life, I have to give honor where honor is due. The first persons to influence me were my parents. They inspired me in so many ways and are the foundational reason why I am the success that I’m today. They have poured into me as much wisdom and experience that they can, and I am inspired by so many people. Musically I am inspired by Karen Briggs, Sade, and Janet Jackson. Karen Briggs is the baddest violinist that I have ever seen. David Spradley who co-wrote Atomic Dogg is also a long-time dear friend that really mentored me in the music industry. Business wise, Fraser Hay opened my eyes to see the value of my experience, education and what it really takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Dr. Deena Brown gave me permission to step out of the box of the expectation of what a successful career looks like. She encouraged me to be unapologetically myself and always see the synergy in my life.

My journey has been an intricate one. As an MIT alumni I can’t help but look at my own life with a very analytical point of view. This observation has caused me to seek out experts in areas that I have questions in. My coaches and influences span the personal, professional, and spiritual and many more:

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Tai Lopez, Neil Patel, Marquel Russell, Dr. Jeanine Staples, Bennie Randall, Rev Brig Feltus, Patricia Wilkerson, Q. Williams, Aunty Virginia, and Mike Muse, At the end of the day, it really comes down to me to take what has been said and taught to me and act on it. No one can manifest the influence of anyone unless I do it. So, I think I would say I am my biggest influencer because of my passion for learning and ability to ask questions. Q. How do you define your passion and purpose in life? A. My purpose in life is simply to show love. When I went through the darkest times in my life, I remember what if felt like to be diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. I remember what it felt like to be a young black MIT graduate with a stellar track record and still face rejection after rejection personally and professionally. My passion and purpose is to build a company where underestimated individuals like me can come, grow and thrive whether they are business owners, team members or community members. Q. Tell us about your book and the motivation behind it? A. My forthcoming book: Black, Brilliant, and Maybe Bipolar (blackbrilliantandmaybebipolar. com) is part memoir and part self-help. I share my mental health and entrepreneurial journey in this book. I was motivated to write it because so many people suffer from mental health challenges. I know what it feels like and I want to be the support that I created for myself for others. The key for my mental health was really asking the right questions and adopting 100+ strategies, tools, and practices to listen to body, mind and soul. Just like my single: Elevate, I had to elevate my mind and spirit, body and soul. It is human nature to assume. Some of us assume that we are alone, and I want to break down those assumptions and empower those who want support for their mental health while striving for their next greater goal to get the support, wisdom, fellowship and community that they desire.

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Q. What has been the biggest achievement or award you have received in your career? A. This is a great question. Last year in September 2020 in the midst of the pandemic the Los Angeles South Chamber recognized me with the HOPE Award as woman business leader. This award was such a surprise! I never thought that my peers in the Los Angeles South Chamber would think that I was worthy of this honor. I still see myself as a budding entrepreneur. I still have such a long way to go as a business leader, CEO, and Business Owner. Q. Do you have any new events or upcoming projects? A. Yes, I do! I am extremely excited to announce that the inaugural, Reach More Clients Power Conference is happening on July 29, 30, and 31st 2021. This new conference has been prepared with the goal of holding space for businesses and brands to come, network, and get the mentorship, information, and support that they need in order to ensure that the end of the year season is their best ever! I have experts in search engine optimization, social media marketing, paid ad marketing, sales, mindset, publicity, operations and more taking the main stage. I can personally guarantee if a person takes the actions given at this conference their company will make more money. Tickets are already on sale on seoqueen.com/ conference. The early bird rate is 50% off. General Admission tickets for three days starts at $75, and the VIP experience which includes a swag bag, and a choice of a strategy session with me AND one other expert is a great value. Visit my company website for more information and details. Q. How would you describe your future in 3 words? A. Undeniable, Blessed, Success.

Q. What advice can you give to the next generation of female leaders? A. Don’t Quit. Ask Questions and Seek out Answers. No, you are not crazy. This world is full of propaganda and a multitude of agendas. Listen to your soul and spirit and learn as much as you can so that you can experience the joy of living a life that you choose. As women we worry so much about those that we care for and about. We don’t need to stop doing that. We simply need to apply that same energy to ourselves so that we can show up more full, more effective and emotionally intelligent. We need to charge what we are worth, follow through and be the best that we can be. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. You can connect with me via email, website, phone or social media:  zhe@seoqueen.com  617-475-0964  @theseoqueen  @theseoqueen  @ZhetheSeoQueen  theseoqueen If you would like to chat with me one on one, please go to: seoqueen.com and click Speak to The SEO Queen.

Chef Claudia Diawara WIB Magazine

try to set boundaries with my clients and learned how to say “no” politely. Q. What motivated you to be a chef? A. What motivated me to be a chef is really my passion for food, the different flavors found in foods, and its cultures. Food is a language that everyone understands and brings people from all walks of life together. Having a nice meal is like a celebration — I love seeing people happy and leaving with a smile. That is true motivation right there, every time.

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. My name is Claudia Diawara and I am a private chef and a caterer in Atlanta, Georgia and Miami, Florida. I’m also a travel chef, so I basically travel wherever and whenever my clients need me to go. Q. Do women in your profession have a hard time getting promoted? A. The women in my profession are mostly underestimated and because of that we have to work extra hard. I’ve said the statement before, and did receive some backlash — but unfortunately, it’s true, it is a male dominated world. Most male chefs aren’t happy that I say this and just tell me, “just shut up and do your job.” I've earned my place in the kitchen, I have the

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knowledge and the skills, and I've never had a problem earning my stripes. Q. How do you balance work and life responsibilities? A. Unfortunately, it’s very hard to balance both. Especially because the clients that I work for are used to getting everything they want right when they want it. I’ve had instances after a 16-hour workday, where they came to knock on my door at 3am for a sandwich. It’s really hard to find true balance in this industry, especially if your job is on the line if you respond with a “no, it’s 3am.” I do however

Q. Tell us about “Green Lab Kitchen” and the motivation behind it? A. Green Lab Kitchen started as a meal prep company and blossomed into a successful catering company and Private Chef Service. It’s nice to help other like-minded people to jumpstart in this business and provide those with quality and delicious food. Q. How was your experience doing a contortionist act for “Cirque Du Soleil”?

A. Cirque was something I always loved. I loved the different cultures, especially as I grew up in a white family and being the only one with darker skin. As a little girl, I was always looking to find someone that looked like me. So, when I saw this contortionist who had the same skin color as me, I knew I wanted to do it. I worked very hard, and I made it all the way to Montreal. I really loved every minute of it Q. What advice can you give to other women that would want to be in culinary arts? A. I would advise other women to stay true to yourself and do what you love. Most importantly, know your boundaries and set them early on. Something else to note, is that your social life will change— the long hours will make you lose friends but really just embrace the journey ahead.

Q. Can you share any tips on meal Prep? A. My main tip for meal prep is to not make too many meals at once. Most likely you will not eat them and who really wants to eat week-old food? Do it for fun and to stay healthy, it’s also a great way to just plan your meals if you're very busy through the day. This at least guarantees that you have one good meal a day. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Sure! Please follow on:  @chef_claudiad  @GreenLabKitchen and Green Lab Kitchen

“Do it for fun and to stay healthy, it’s also a great way to just plan your meals if your very busy thorough the day. This at least guarantees that you have one good meal a day. "

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“Several things stand out, but I am convinced that when you do something you are passionate about and truly believe in, your work becomes your pleasure."

Jackie Keller 18

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Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I am one of the two Founding Directors of NutriFit LLC and SimpliHealth LLC. My companies are healthy food companies that offer a variety of services and products, ranging from highly customized personal catering programs to culinary education to healthy food products. Q. Who motivated you to be the woman you are today? A. My father had the most influence on my entrepreneurial spirit and inclinations, and from both of my parents, my very strong work ethic. Q. What made you want to get into the Culinary career with the Westin Hotels? A. I started on the culinary path very young and went to chefs’ school at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris while still in college. After my undergraduate degree, I began a hotel career and my love of food landed me on the Food & Beverage side of the business. Q. Tell us about some of your achievements and awards you have received in your career? A. Numerous citations of merit from the City of Los Angeles, plaques and thank you awards from the charitable organizations that I’ve done volunteer work for (i.e. American Cancer Society, American Heart Association), and recognition of my business as a healthy workplace by the State of CA. As for achievements, I am particularly proud to be one of the (relatively few) National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coaches, which is the gold-standard of certification for coaching. Q. Can you tell us your experience being on the Board of Directors for the foundation for the “Women’s President Organization”?

A. I’ve served on the board for nearly 5 years. Our function is to serve the educational needs of the women who belong to the WPO. I’m very proud to raise money and awareness for these remarkable women, all of whom own multi-million-dollar businesses. Q. What are your top five values in life? A. Authenticity, honesty, compassion, integrity and a sense of social responsibility. Q. Tell us about your book “Body After Baby” and the motivation behind it? A. I was fortunate enough to have two children of my own, and help hundreds of women going through the pregnancy and birth process who needed nutritional support and/or meal service. It’s a universal “mom” thing, and so many struggles with post-partum weight and well-being. I wanted to share helpful and inspiring stories, tips and tools for getting through it easily.

Q. What are some goals you would like to accomplish in the next three years? A. Save more lives, help reverse climate change, leave a positive, lasting impression. Q. Tell us the best advice you’ve been given? A. Several things stand out, but I am convinced that when you do something you are passionate about and truly believe in, your work becomes your pleasure. Secondly, I believe that if you behave like your children were watching, you’re a lot less likely to behave in a way you’re ashamed of later. And finally, always remember that humans operate out of their own selfinterest, so it’s particularly important in business to find others whose self-interest aligns with yours. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. On Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn :  &  @nutrifitonline. But mostly, on:  JackieKeller.com  Nutrifitonline.com.

Coming soon:  TxokoUSA.com

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“ I love connecting people to what and who they need for their success, whatever that looks like for them."

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C. Renee Wilson

Q. Tell Us Who You Are and What You Do? A. I am C. Renee Wilson, a serial entrepreneur that has spent most of my working life in the legal arena, as a Real Estate Broker and subsequently formed CTS Consultants Firm, a business development company. I currently serve as the Relationship Manager for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc. (NAREB). I am very fortunate to have an opportunity to also work in my passion, creating Inflection Point experiences that trigger Tripping Points for Women and Men. I am unmistakably a woman that loves creating environments where others can feel safe enough to be vulnerable so they can grow and learn in pursuit of reaching their full potential. Q. Who Are the Women that inspired you the most? A. The two women that inspire me daily even though they are both no longer on earth is my Grandmother who raised me and my mom. From my adolescence years watching both women personally and constantly give back to individuals and their communities has truly been the inspiration for living a life of service. Both were active members of the ministry, so generosity and selflessness were always at the core of their work. I admittedly never saw myself pursuing that kind of work. As a young girl I thought, ‘"Why do they always have to do stuff for other people?" But as I got older, I started to realize that there’s something very fulfilling about doing something for other people. And so, I began the legacy of my passion building upon a two-generation foundation, Women’s Inflection Point. Today, I am grateful for the examples they left for me by the

life they both lived daily. Q. How do you define your purpose in life? A. My experiences along my year journey have led me to become very passionate about helping other women to not make some of the same mistakes I made. As I look in my rearview mirror, I have come to learn, there are no mistakes, only lessons to be learned along the way. Lessons learned and applied serve as building blocks to reach goals that are set at each life cycle stage. There’s something very special about getting women together to share, there’s so much that comes out of women talking…... I love connecting people to what and who they need for their success, whatever that looks like for them. My successes did not come without their challenges. Following every obstacle, I

experienced some of my greatest success. As I look back, the most important action was to never give up or stop. Never forget, if you don’t keep going, you’ll never find out what your full potential looks like. Perseverance and prayer are two key elements in reaching maximizing potential and it’s reflected at the core of WIP and at the core of my life experiences. No matter how many times you get knocked down you always must get back up. You must keep moving, my most favorite saying I say to my son, Darryl all the time…. "The Miracle is in the Movement!” My purpose in life is to keep people moving so they experience all the Miracles in life that God has in store for them organically and holistically! Q. Tell Us About “The Equity Movement” & Women’s Inflection Point and how you became the co-founder. A. The Equity Movement Enterprises, Inc. (EM) is a consumer-based membership organization and serves as the educational catalyst and hub for financial wellness and financial inclusion across generations. EM strives to be the Uber of financial awareness (means moving people to their EM destination) and the Amazon of financial wellness (meaning we serve as a portal to connect partners and members through the platform). The EM portal

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“ As a kid I was always into being the center of attention, in a positive way of course, but I enjoyed making people laugh, sharing factual information, and sharing my outgoing personality, so, being on TV was just a way I could do all of that, plus so much more"

features 15 Resources that provides financial guidance to every generation. EM Resources has beginners’ level to advance levels and is inclusive and has vertical integration for all targeted segments in the Movement. The intent is to permeate relationships with consumers by sharing experiences, setbacks and comebacks through Social Media, Television, Radio, Magazine (digital and print), Podcast, E-Learning Training, Mobile App, Website, and Podcast. The 15 Resources are also the Blueprint for the Equity Movement Mediums outlets.

Women’s Inflection Point (WIP) is an educational and resultdriven non-profit organization whose resources, events, and mission all revolve around helping women holistically and organically reach their maximum potential in each of their life cycle stages. The organization takes the unique approach of focusing on three tiers of the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs pyramid: Physiological (your wellness), Safety (your wealth) & Self-Actualization (yourself). “I felt it would be helpful to build the platform based on something people are familiar with,” Wilson explained. “Most people I speak with are very familiar with Maslow’s theory. Maslow’s also covered the key areas that I wish I knew and had practiced early in life.” And therein lies the revolutionary

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essence of WIP. The program is so unique not only because of its fundamentally holistic framework, but also because of the pure authenticity in its intent. At the core of WIP is a set of practices, values, habits, and skills that Wilson wished she had known at her various phases in life. Most of the work I’ve done with my client, the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), working with my Mom’s Annual Prayer Conference, and my partner Julius Cartwright, Founder of the Equity Movement has been around events and educating people over the past 20+ years, I have found that this is where my passion is and despite being a little afraid to jump, it’s the best decision ever. I absolutely love being with the attendees (women and men) at the WIP &MANCAVE events, it is truly my Happy Place!

Q. What advice do you give to the next generation of female leaders? A. Listen well, pray for patience, learn to preserve, love those who don’t love you, forgive early and be sure to learn the lesson they were sent to teach you, be grateful always, give thanks often, and love your life to its fullest even when it’s not so loveable. Q. Can you tell us some of your goals you want to accomplish in the next 3 years? A. I want to strengthen relationships with other nonprofits and help serve their constituents so that they can continue to craft the most impactful events that truly change people’s lives. When people speak about me and the events, the comments are authentically amazing. Q. Do you have any new events or upcoming projects? A. Yes Three. Women’s Inflection Point & ManCave

Experience Houston, TX - June 25 & 26 Cleveland, OH – August 20 & 21 Las Vegas, NV – October 15 & 16. Q. What is one message you want to give to your fans? A. Thank you and I pray they continue to engage because I will always strive to create incredible inflection points that trigger tipping points to help them reach their full potential. This is my life’s mission. Q. What is one fun fact about you? A. I never learned how to swim but I love being around water more than fish need water. Q. Where can readers find you? A. The can follow me at:  womeninflectionpoint.org  equitymovement247.com @ equitymovement247 works well, and for IG:  @womensinflectionpoints.

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“I led by example and used my strengths and triumphs as tools to show others, that with the right plan anything is possible."

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Tamika Harden Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I am a certified personal trainer and life coach with a passion for rejuvenating men and women from the inside out through fitness and wellness. For 16 years and counting I’ve help people transform their mind and body, reaching goals that they once thought was impossible. Q. Who or What motivated you to be a professional fitness trainer? A. Growing up overweight I endured negative comments from both children and adults. The negative comments fueled my determination to

do something about being overweight. At the age of 16 years old I used the money I earned from my part-time job to invest into a gym membership. After losing 40 lbs. I fell in love with fitness. This was the first true testament of my power, my ability to change things that I didn’t like. I used negativity to fuel my desire for change. That’s how Body By Tamika was born. Q. Was there a time in your career you felt like you wanted to give up? A. Surviving the pandemic has been the most challenging time experienced since the start of Body By Tamika in 2017. After

the lockdown I felt like giving up. Trying to get clients to resume personal training was challenging. In many ways it felt like I was restarting my business all over again. This feeling was frustrating, and I felt like giving up. For months things were tough, and my finances took a hit. But I kept reminding myself faith and fear cannot coexist. You must choose one, I chose faith. Q. Tell us about your journey being a coronavirus survivor? A. Many of us were led to believe that the new coronavirus affected only older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions. However, we quickly

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learned that this virus doesn’t discriminate, and that people of all ages should take steps to protect themselves from the virus. When I first felt symptoms, I assumed it was the flu. As my symptoms progressed, I began my quest to get tested. Due to lack of testing sites and medical equipment in my area, I was denied twice for testing. I was successful in my 3rd attempt which was about 10 days after the onset of symptoms. One can only imagine what could have happened during those 10 days if my body wasn’t fit to fight COVID-19. After learning I tested positive for the virus my challenge was protecting my 2 children and nanny. I had to monitor my family daily for worsening symptoms, all while trying to stay 6 feet apart from each other while in the home, as instructed by the CDC. Keeping my family safe was a challenge. Quarantining for 14 days after testing positive was also a challenge. I couldn’t leave my home even for essential items. Q. How do you empower women to get healthy & fit? A. I led by example and used my strengths and triumphs as tools to show others that with the right plan anything is possible. My mission is to continue to use my platform to inspire and motivate others to embrace a healthy lifestyle. My goal is to normalize the struggles and difficulties associated with starting a healthy lifestyle. We all fall off at times and it's ok. The most important thing is to not give up. Instead hit the reset button and give it another try. I want my clients and virtual followers to know that with the right plan, attitude and mindset, we have the power to change the things we are unhappy with. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years? A. Owning more than one fitness and body contouring business and expanding virtually.

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Q. Tell us some goals you are working on accomplishing? A. COVID-19 forced me to pivot my business virtually. Virtual training was a future goal of mine, COVID 19 made it happen faster. My goal is to expand my reach and build a successful e-commerce business. Currently I’m also working diligently to secure a business loan for a huge surprise business venture that I am working vigorously toward for 2022. I have declared it already done. Stay tuned!

Q. How would you describe your future in 3 words? A. Immeasurable, powerful, limitless. Q. Are there any events or upcoming projects you are working on? A. Expanding my online business and securing a new location for Body By Tamika. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A.  @bodybytamika  @bodybytamika  bodybytamika.com

“ My top 3 goals are to produce TV and film projects that focus on the views of black women, invest in more real estate and secure a C-Level position."

Monica Brown Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I consider myself to be someone who is addicted to personal and professional growth!! I’m a corporate executive, an

author and an entrepreneur. I have had the opportunity to work for several Fortune 500 companies starting with AT&T, Cox Communications, T-Mobile, Comcast NBCUniversal &

SiriusXM Pandora. Currently, I’m the Vice President of Mobile Product Development for Tucows, LLC located in Toronto, Canada. As a technology leader, I’m WIB Magazine

responsible for multi-million-dollar initiatives designed to change the landscape of the mobile industry. Q. How do you define your purpose in life? A. My purpose in life is to be an example for other determined, hard-working women to never give up on their career aspirations and dreams. I want to help others by sharing my personal experiences and giving back in the form of my time and wisdom. At the same time, my purpose in life is to focus on creating generational wealth for my family to leave a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come. Q. As a female leader what has been the most significant barrier in your career? A. The most significant barrier has been learning how to maneuver being a black female executive in corporate America. It’s no secret that the rules are different for African Americans within the confines of an IT organization. You can only imagine what it means to be a minority AND a woman at the same time. Those dynamics are the perfect storm for biased treatment whether subconscious or intentional. Q. Tell us about your new book “Only One” and the motivation behind the book? A. “Only One: How to Be a Bad Ass Boss in Corporate America'' chronicles my journey up the corporate ladder and the many lessons I’ve learned along the way. The sole purpose of the book is to communicate the following points to other black women looking to grow their career as a respected and esteemed technology leader: 1. You belong in the room, 2. You are worthy and 3. You deserve a seat at the table. I also take a deep dive into the characteristics of a successful executive and how to leverage each one to be advantageous. Q. When you began your career many years ago, did you ever

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my second book. This time, I’m writing a fictional book with characters rooted in the complex way that women love others and the things we “allow” to happen when in love. I’m praying I can complete and release the book Summer 2021. In addition, I’ve recently entered into the world of film as an executive producer for upcoming releases in Fall 2021. It’s the perfect time to pivot into a new industry treading a path I’ve dreamed about for many years.

imagine that you would be a leader in a male-dominated profession? A. Absolutely not! Although, from what I understand from friends in the media world, their challenges are not much different than mine. Different industries, same issues. It’s a bit surreal that my original career path is totally different from what I envisioned for myself, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love what I do, and my IT career has positioned me to do other things I’m interested in. Q. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? A. Confidence and resilience equals survival. Each upand-coming minority female leader belongs in the room where decisions are made and deserves a seat at the table. Lead with courage and practice resistance. Also, proactively look for a mentor to share past experiences and use those experiences as a blueprint for your career.

Q. What are some of your goals you want to accomplish in the next five years? A. My top 3 goals are to produce TV and film projects that focus on the views of black women, invest in more real estate and secure a C-Level position.

Q. Can you tell us one of your biggest accomplishments you have had in your career? A. Honestly, my biggest accomplishment has been the opportunity to mentor the next generation of technology leaders. It’s always an honor when I have the chance to shape the mind of someone who is seeking confirmation and validation. Open dialogue about their experiences helps to understand the situation, digest what is happening and manage the reaction in a constructive and professional manner. The satisfaction of knowing that my words positively influences others is beyond explanation.

Q. Are you working on any events or new projects? A. I have a few new projects in the pipeline. I’m currently in the process of writing

Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Please follow me on:  &  @msmonicabee or send me an email to:  msmonicabee@gmail.com In addition, everyone can get a copy of my book “How to Be a Bad Ass Boss in Corporate America” on Amazon.com.

Maisha Rush WIB Magazine

Literally. I showcase my family, trials, and triumphs. Using the tools and Knowledge I have obtained, I offer consulting to teach the strategies necessary to build a sustainable brand that is ready for growth which includes increasing revenue and profits, collaborations, partnerships, and support. In my coaching I make sure you are hitting your benchmarks and goals, staying focused and organized, and properly scaling your business by staying in alignment.

What motivated me to start this company was to share my knowledge of business tactics in order to get my family stable again. We were homeless and living in our car with no help in sight. We couldn't seem to find help, so we became the help we needed by starting Rush Consulting Firm. What keeps me motivated is the passion I have to help other business owners soar in their business and make a difference in their lives and the lives of the people around them.

Q. What are your top 5 values in life? A. Honesty, integrity, transparency, hard work, and selfaccountability.

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. Maisha Rush. Owner of Rush Consulting firm where we help business owners Stabilize strategize and better monetize their business through coaching and consulting. I am also a wife, mother of 10, public speaker, and author. Q. Who has been the biggest women influencers in your life? A. My mother. She inspires me to be my best authentic self. She

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taught me a LOT growing up. She has taught me even more as an adult. I don't even think she knows it. Outside of that, pretty much every black woman who has stood in the face of adversity and soared. They remind me that I have a power within me that will change the world. All I have to do is tap in. Q. Tell us about “Rush Consulting” and the motivation behind it? A. Rush Consulting firm is my life.

Q. Do women in your profession have a hard time getting promoted? A. No. My profession is based on intellectual talent so if you're good then you're good and no penis can top that. :) Q. How do you empower and educate business owners? A. I empower business owners by reminding them of their strength. I help them gain clarity in realizing how far they have become, allowing them to dig deep and apply that same strength to show up every day to obtain their goals. I educate them by teaching

them how to do proper business research and analysis in order to successfully achieve great goals that are attainable and in alignment with who they are and where they are going. Q. Are you working on any new projects or events? A. I am currently in a BREAKOUT class that is geared toward those who do not know how to structure their business life so that they are not juggling or struggling but living their life as smoothly as possible while making more money yet working less. Q. Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

A. Doing what I am doing now. Educating, empowering, and encouraging business owners to live their best life now. Q. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? A. Do it. Forget everything else. Go after what you want without hesitation or fear because you deserve all the things you want the way you want them, now. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. They can follow me at:  Rush.Consulting  Rush_Consulting

“Do it. Forget everything else. Go after what you want without hesitation or fear because you deserve all the things you want the way you want them, now. "

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“ Nursing is a wonderful profession don’t doubt yourself. Surround yourself with people who will speak life into you on your lowest days and find a mentor."

Malikka 32

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Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. Hello everyone, I’m Malikka. My close friends call me Ma’at. A Philadelphia Native with a passion for community outreach health and urban engagement. I am a Registered nurse by profession, I am the founder of Womb Oasis LLC a company dedicated to women’s health and fertility using holistic person Centered care. I am also the cofounder of Solutionary INC a non-profit dedicated to educating urban centers about health and wellness, civic engagement, conflict resolution and firearm safety. Q. Why did you decide on a career as a nurse? A. I had the opportunity to be a patient and undergo a pretty intense surgical procedure when I was a preteen. The care that the nurses provided me was something I will hold with me always. Being a patient can be a terrifying experience. You’re in a foreign environment you're vulnerable and you're reliant on someone else for your every need.

Q. As a Female leader what has been the most significant barrier in your career? A. The greatest barrier in my career has been finding those helping hands to pull me to the next level of my career. I remember as a nursing student I joined a few black nursing associations. I’ll never forget one of the elders telling me that nursing was very “clicky” and very “white”. She told me to be careful because nursing was a very small field, and my reputation may impact my career choices down the line. I’ve encountered many disparities within healthcare and bias both within nursing educational institutions as well as hospitals. I’ve found that connecting with more seasoned nursing professionals has helped to propel both my career and educational goals forward. Q. Who inspired you or influenced you to be the

woman you are today? A. I’ve been blessed to have some very powerful women in my life. I must thank my mother first for her grace and poise. She was my first example of dedication and selflessness. My great grandmother affectionately known as “Greatest” was the mountain doctor of our family. She had remedies for almost any ailment: broken bone toothache or splinter. I was blessed to have some excellent educators in my early years Ms. Bell (kindergarten guru) Ms. Marshall (showed me a world of science) and My 4th grade teacher Ms. Young who taught me compassion, understanding and who continues to show me a mother’s love beyond elementary school. Finally, I must give many thanks to my career mentor and angel on earth Ms. Stephanie Wroten. Stephanie scooped me up when I was depressed and had given up on my dream of nursing. She poured so much into me that I know it’s her confidence in me that allows me to pour into the cups of others. Q. When you began your career many years ago, did you ever imagine that we would be going through a pandemic? A. Never in a million years would I have imagined something like this. How do you feel about it? I have many mixed

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emotions about the pandemic. It has been the 1st time in my almost 11year career where I have felt like I may not want to be a nurse any longer. In the beginning the news networks cheered on medical staff for their dedication to serving but behind the scenes that didn’t translate into extra manpower supplies compensation or consideration. The world stood still, and we continued to work. The bad cases of Covid-19 are unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I’m thankful for the opportunity to bear witness to it with my own eyes and I’m even more thankful that many people pulled through. Q. Tell us about the things you would like to accomplish this year? A. This year I would like to see both my LLC and non-profits boom. I’d also like to re-enroll in my masters-FNP program (I took a break during covid) and expand my nursing portfolio to include travel assignments. Q. How has your experience been working in the health field? A. Nursing as a career is very vast and it's well suited for individuals who enjoy exploring many avenues of healthcare. I’ve worked within the prison systems, I’ve worked in public health, I’ve done nurse consulting, and in the private sector I’ve been a doula for more than 15 years. Q. What do you find is the hardest part about being a nurse? A. The hardest part for me continues

between friendships and family because when covid hit I was at the front lines. I’m honestly looking forward to normalcy. As a nurse I’m used to working with patients with some pretty scary communicable diseases. I was a bit taken aback by the level of fear related to illness swept across the nation. The Covid-19 was also enveloped in riots and racial tension that directly impacted the city where I live and work. It was and is a lot to juggle emotionally without a break. to be encountering health disparity, Health bias, or an inclusion issue. I feel obligated to address it, tackle it and fix it. It is disheartening every time I encounter a weakness that impacts black and brown communities. It weighs heavy on me. It is often these scenarios that I take home with me. I may worry about the level of care or safety that my patients experience after my shift is over. Q. Can you give us some tips or advice to women that want to be in this profession? A. Nursing is a wonderful profession don’t doubt yourself. Surround yourself with people who will speak life into you on your lowest days and find a mentor. Read medical books, nursing books, chemistry books and hop on YouTube there are great tools at your fingertips. Q. How has this past year been for you with the Covid-19? A. Covid-19 was a lot at the start of the pandemic I was dating, and I told my suitor we’d revisit courting when the pandemic was over. I didn’t want to be responsible for giving anyone covid. I was enrolled in a master’s program at the start of covid I withdrew from my classes because the stress of the front lines was too much. I created space

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Q. Any tips you can give us about the different vaccines for Covid-19? A. I encourage everyone to do their own research. All the vaccine shots have been released for emergency use. The CDC NIH and manufacturers are gathering data daily on the effects and efficacy of the Shots. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Everyone can follow me at:  Womboasis.com  @womboasis

JaLia S. WIB Magazine

“Don’t camp out at the crossroads waiting for someone to tell you which to take. You’ll gain more clarity on your journey, but you have to take the leap of faith."

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. My name is JaLia, I am a flight attendant by day, tech explorer by night and creator of experiences. Q. Do you understand your passion and purpose in life? A. Aahhh the infamous question haha. I’ve been on this journey of self-exploration for years and years, expecting to hear from God audibly what my passion and purpose is. What I’ve discovered this far is that I have a passion for helping people level up. That can translate to anything I’ve gained awareness of and sharing it with someone, assisting them with an idea they have, exposing students to HBCUs, creating platforms for women to connect, etc. As far as my purpose; I’m still on the quest in figuring that out. I know it has to do with helping people. Q. How do you balance work and life responsibilities? A. I take lazy days for myself. As a flight attendant, I allowed this completely new life to take me by storm with: travel, unpredictable schedule changes, time zone differences, flexible time off and practically living in hotels which can be exhausting so it has been difficult to balance which I’m still not 36

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doing a great job at haha. I take time to go to the park with my journal, sing as loud as possible in my car, have a glass of wine and enjoy time alone to decompress. Q. Tell us more about “Future HBCU Scholar’ and the motivation behind it. A. While in high school I wanted to attend a Predominantly White Institution (PWI) because I was raised in a small town with only black students around me. When I was living in Wisconsin, my peers were diverse, and I wanted to experience that again for college. I began applying to colleges and had my eyes set on two PWIs in Arkansas in which they offered me less than $5,000 per semester. I knew I didn’t want to pay for college so I decided to attend a Lunch n Learn about the Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in my town, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). The recruiter pulled me to the side and asked me a few questions; I told him my ACT score and intended major, he said he could give me a full scholarship so I enrolled that day. I love my HBCU, I don’t regret my decision at all. I just wish I was actively seeking to attend an HBCU and applied to different schools around the country for more options. My niece is a senior in high school and she said she wanted to

attend an HBCU but wasn’t sure which one. I decided to create an event for her to talk to her top schools, along with a few others and thought, why not invite more high school students to gain insight into HBCUs as well. Q. How was the first event? A. It was amazing! The students were shy at first but began asking tons of questions toward the end of the event. I was honestly discouraged because we didn’t have many sign ups but my host encouraged me that even if there is one sign up, we will show up and pour everything we’ve got into them! Our second event will be May 29th! Q. As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career? A. I’d have to say my selfconfidence. I didn’t think I was worthy enough to achieve goals or have support if I share my ideas to the world, specifically monetizing off of it. I am now at a place where I don’t allow my inner critic to stop me when there are passion projects I wish to pursue. It’s still a work in progress but I am truly improving my confidence. I have the “Daring Greatly” quote by

Theodore Roosevelt as my wallpaper for reminders when I’m ready to express myself with the world. Q. Can you tell us about your podcast? A. My podcast (Love, JaLia S. Podcast) was inspired by my college internships and love for asking questions haha. I would always ask executives or my coworkers a set of 5 questions and receive amazing insight. I knew people would also gain more wisdom by hearing people’s stories and life lessons so I began the podcast. I will get back to it in the near future

because I still love asking questions. It’s just not a priority right now! Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years? A. In 3 years I’ll be 29, sheesh! I see myself well-traveled, enjoying the fruits of my labor being put in now. I know I’ll still have so much work to do but I love to smell the roses presently. I see myself working part time at an amazing tech company while flying on the side and pursuing my love of creating businesses with those I love. Speaking to young girls and women around the world about confidence and that the world of tech is attainable even if you have no technical skills! Possibly working

on a deal for my “I Am” t-shirts and accompanying items to be distributed in Targets over the country. I also hope to have at least one child by then with an amazing husband. Q. Are you working on any new projects? A. Yes! During a depressive time in my life; I created a huge flower picture with affirmations on it for reminders of who I actually am in a positive light. I still have days where I am insecure or depressed which is why I finally decided to create my “I Am” flower t-shirt for women like me who may need a physical expressive reminder of the queen they are and reaffirming what we know to be true about ourselves, despite negative thoughts. It’ll launch in July 2021 which I am extremely excited for! Q. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? A. I would advise future female leaders to follow your gut even if you’re not completely sure. If you’re at a crossroads; decide which path you’re going to take and trust that is what will be best for you. Don’t camp out at the crossroads waiting for someone to tell you which to take. You’ll gain more clarity on your journey but you have to take the leap of faith. Also, I would say don’t be afraid to make mistakes. I’m still working through this because I use to be a perfectionist; everything had to be in order before I made a move but life doesn’t work that way. Q. Where can the readers find you? A. All of my social media is : @lovejalias but if you want to connect professionally or join my journey of exploring tech, add me on:  JaLia Steward

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“ Take fear with you!” Fear is the fuel that makes the fire inside of you burn longer and stronger."

DREA Kelly 38

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I am DREA Kelly. I am a Principal dancer, choreographer, actress, and domestic violence and sex trafficking awareness advocate. I am a proud mother of three, spiritual mother to many and an Auntie sister friend. And above all a survivor!

Q. How do you define your purpose in life? A. Knowing that my life is bigger than me.

Q. Who inspired you to be the woman you are today? A. My children are my inspiration. They inspired me to share

Q. With everything you've been through emotionally, physically and mentally what motivates you to keep going?

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my story so I can help other women and mothers do for their children what I did for mine when I decide to leave my abuser.

A. My children motivate me to keep going. Knowing that I have survived domestic abuse because it was chosen for my life to be a road map for woman on how to get on the other side of tragedy. Q. Tell us about the panel “Embrace Girls Foundation” empowering young girls into success? A. This is my second year, coming down to Miami to sit on a panel to speak life, strength

and empowerment into women and girls so that they may lay a foundation to build a life of triumph in the face of adversity. Q. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? A. Always bet on yourself and you can never go wrong. Always remember you are never to dim your light so someone can shine brighter. Always be a living example so that others have something and someone to look to when they are trying to do this thing called life. Q. When you began your career many years ago, did you ever imagine that you would be a leader in a male-dominate profession? A. I always knew I would. Q. Do you have any new projects or upcoming events?

A. My talk show, “Forward Healing” has been in the works for a little over a year now. We will be debuting the pilot on the AIB Networks live streaming service https://aibtv.com/aibeverywhere/.

The air dates will be, Friday June 25, 2021- 9p -10p with a re-air date of Friday October 1, 2021 9p – 10p. I am not only the host for “Forward Healing” alongside Dr. Michael, but I am also an executive producer and co- creator of this life changing and informative content, which is much needed during this time of uncertainty and epic loss. Q. Tell us about the empowering retreats and the motivation behind it? A. It is healing through dance, and transformational speaking to uplift women. Q. What is the best piece of advice you ever received? A. The best piece of advice I ever received was from my dad, of which is my hero. He said, “Take fear with you!” Fear is the fuel that makes the fire inside of you burn longer and stronger. When you take fear with you, it is no longer your advisory, it is your alley, because you are no longer afraid of it. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. The readers can follow me at:  DREAKellyIscom officialDREAKelly  OfficialDREAKelly  OfficialDREAKelly

WIB Magazine

“ The best way to get revenge on your oppressors is to become the success they can never image.”

Chong Kim 40

WIB Magazine

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. I am Chong Kim. I am a speaker, author, producer and Human Trafficking Awareness Advocate. Q. Who have been your biggest women influencers in your life? A. My biggest female influencer is Mya Angelou. I read a lot of her books, my favorite being, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.” I related to it because of the hardships she went through with racism, feeling left out and having to be your own advocate. She didn’t have family support, nor did I. The feeling of being isolated resonates with me. I spoke to her in 2011 or 2012 over the phone. I was discussing a topic for a movie I was considering writing. She told me to “keep speaking out, my voice is my biggest weapon.” Q. Right now at this very moment what do you want most to accomplish? A. My TV series, “Every 40 Seconds.” Although I have my movie Eden and my book, Broken Silence, “Every 40 Seconds” will offer the behind the scenes look at my consultant work with the FBI highlighting various Human Trafficking cases that we worked on. It will also shine a light on other types of less known trafficking crimes that involve missing humans. Q. Tell us about the “Embrace Girls Foundation” empowering young girls to success? A. The Embrace Girls Foundation is an organization that teaches young girls to depend on themselves and others with poise and dignity, in a way that I never got to experience as a young girl. I wish I was a part of a program that taught me how to be strong, love myself, be empowered.

about the different types of trafficking, behavior detection (understanding in-depth red flags) of predators and it show you how to identify potential victims from a survivor’s point of view. This Session is tailored for community leaders, law enforcement agents and educational leaders.

Q. What is your most memorable achievement or Accomplishment you have received? A. It is a toss-up between having a movie written about me or being honored with having my name added to the Wall of Tolerance in Honor of Rosa Parks in Montgomery, AL, which means that for years on my end, my name will be written into History. Q. Tell us about “Training & Breakout sessions” and the motivation behind the session? A. After experiencing the Training & Breakout session you will leave with more information

Q. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? A. Determination has to be your strongest point, because it ignites your motivation, no matter what happens. Failures, downfalls and disappointments cannot stop you when you have determination. I often have people ask me what keeps me moving forward, and I can say “God” all day, but it's determination that God gives me to keep moving forward. Q. Are you working on any new events or upcoming projects? A. Just working to pitch my TV Series, “Every 40 Seconds.” Q. How do you educate parents, teens and young adults on the dangers of Human Trafficking? A. I teach parents, young adults and children how to detect the behaviors, specifically identify red flags of predators’ demeanor and how to identify their intent to harm. Q. What is the best piece of advice you ever received? A. I mention this in my book, Broken Silence, my son’s father, Carlos shared the most powerful words with me. He said, “The best way to get revenge on your oppressors is to become the success they can never imagine.” Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. My website is:  IamChongKim.com  @IAmChongKim  @IAmChongKim  @ChongKimLLC

WIB Magazine

The Power of a Woman We are the motivation needed to move and drift, the inspiration need to inspire and uplift, the encouragement needed to excel and shift. We take dreams and birth companies; we take adversity and birth opportunity. We are what great deals are made of and what great networking strives to attain, mixed with a certain female scrutiny. We are the components that make organizations rock, the lifeblood that persists through chaos or mutiny. We are walking lessons in sustainability, walking examples of accountability, the walking epitome of high ability. We are women. We are women of power. We put the hours in each day and the seconds in every hour. We take the lemons thrown at our names in showers then use each one to make pies, tarts, cookies, cakes, lemonade and whiskey sours. We show up when others cower. When others trip, we stand like towers. In the midst of the cold storm, we are the surviving flowers. Yet although we are empowered, we are too often seen as weak.

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Expected to invest our weeks in mundane tasks unworthy of our reach. So today, I encourage you to seek, to look closely at which part of your heart most wants to speakbegging to be unleashed, unheld, unfettered by what others think. We are no longer drowning in the fears and doubts that once made our hearts sink. We are built with a purpose and made as we should be. We uplift each other, instilling a sense of “we.” We work together to combat discrimination and shatter every ceiling. We create new business models while facilitating inner healing. We make the choice daily to balance logic and feeling. Why dramatize when we can monetize? Why get played when we can get paid? Why boot lick when we can bootstrap? Why worry quickly when we can move fast? Why move forward with reluctance when we were made to move forward to abundance? Why let fear get in the way of our charity to others when we are here to experience prosperity with others? We will not fall into or fall apart because of their systems. We are women in business, handling the business of women. ©️2021 Shalonda Degraffinried Whitmore

“Be open and be curious. Opportunities arise when you trust yourself to be present, mindful and accepting of every moment.”

Julie Manriquez WIB Magazine

Q. How and when do you feel fulfillment? A. In terms of SPARK, I feel fulfilled when I receive messages from viewers, whom I may have considered to be closed-minded, that are sparked to self-examine their biases and commit to doing the work.

Q. How did you get involved with SPARK? A. I became involved with SPARK very organically early on in the pandemic. I’ve always been an activist and social justice seeker, so I attended a handful of Black Lives Matter marches in June after the murder of George Floyd. Most of these were in urban areas, but there was one located in my neighborhood in La Jolla — a conservative, predominantly white suburb of San Diego — on June 12th. Although our little slice of suburbia is more liberal than it was 20 years ago, I didn’t have high expectations. Our community turnout was surprising! The event was very well organized by students and activists outside of La Jolla and I think some of the speakers may have even changed some antiquated views in our older, white demographic. It was there that I ran into neighbors Tom and Mary Gegax. They invited me to a (socially distant :) gathering at their house to view photos from the march with some other activists and creatives from our community. Tom threw out the idea of pulling together a team to tackle creating a documentary film as a quarantine project. I was instantly on board.

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As a writer, I was thrilled to have a meaningful project to work on during a very dark time. The idea of offering a resource that could possibly be used to educate others on becoming allies during a time of racial reckoning was energizing.

Q. What do you want the viewers to get out of this film? A. I want viewers to recognize it’s not enough to simply say you’re not a racist. Check yourself. Do more. Live an antiracist life as a committed ally. There is a huge difference between using the words “I am not a racist” and “I am an antiracist.” It involves unpacking unconscious bias, addressing our inner selves and our inner workings. We have to scrutinize how and why we’ve been taught the “history” that we have learned. From there we can begin the unlearning process. Q. What has it meant to you personally? A. I learned so much more than I thought I would. I had a lot of work to do, and I still have a lot of work to do. I’m grateful for the opportunity to delve deeper.

Q. What is something that surprised you as a result of working on SPARK? A. When your eyes are open, possibilities are endless. As a result of this project, I’ve met so many wonderful people. The National Conflict Resolution Center’s A Path Forward Task Force reached out to me to join their team. Through SPARK, I’ve met local activists while volunteering and we’ve helped cross-promote our non-profit projects including San Diego’s Breakfast Block Mutual Aid (@ breakfastblock_mutualaid) and Ride for Breonna (@rideforbreonna) to raise awareness of systemic racism’s role in societal failures and policing.

It’s clear to me that people have an appetite for this kind of content and thus, the gifts that come from that interest in action steps toward change are endless.

Q. Were you ever discouraged? If so, how did it affect your creativity? A. Quarantine was definitely discouraging for all, and we were no anomaly. We were in a very unique situation — creating a film during a pandemic. Obviously logistical aspects and collaborative barriers were discouraging. Q. What do you see as the future for SPARK? A. In 6 months? In six months, I would love to see us back to “real life” and hosting a live,

official premier of SPARK. It would be so exciting to share this work in-person and establish deeper connections and engagement within communities. A year? In a year, I would like to continue to see the appetite to learn about antiracism and the ability to easily share our message of allyship. 10 years? In ten years, I hope that SPARK is considered a historical film about a problem that “was” and “is no longer.” My wish is that the idea of systemic racism will someday be considered an historical relic.

Q. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? A. I’m hoping that doors opened by this project will lead to connections to other film projects, possibly getting my feature-length political dramedy script, March, produced. Q. How do you balance work and life responsibilities? A. I fly by the seat of my pants just about every day. I like that consistency simply doesn’t exist. I wear several hats: I am a college prep counselor, yoga teacher, retreat leader, and freelance writer. I’m grateful that I’m in a place where I can be choosy with the projects I take on.

Q. How did you reach your level of success, given the sector’s gender gap and racism especially among women leadership? A. With this project, I credit executive producers Tom and Mary Gegax. They treated everyone on the project equally and all of our voices were heard. Each person was given the respect and space they deserved throughout the creative process. Q. Are you working on any new events or upcoming projects? A. I am currently pitching my original screenplay, March, which addresses how an administration that set out to stifle progress actually led to the birth of today’s reimagined women’s movement. In addition, I am working with the National Conflict Resolution Center to promote their upcoming free virtual event on May 15th, featuring this

year’s Peacemaker Award recipient, Dr. Anthony Fauci: “peacemaker-awards” Past featured speakers have been bestselling authors, Ibram X. Kendi (How to be an Antiracist), Robin DiAngelo (White Fragility), and Arthur C. Brooks (Love Your Enemies). Click on the link to register to join live or view at your convenience. There is sure, to be thoughtprovoking discussion and follow-up resources available. Q. What advice would you give someone like you that’s just starting and wants to make an impact? A. Be open and be curious. Opportunities arise when you trust yourself to be present, mindful and accepting of every moment. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A.  @julie_goes_ham Spark  spark-doc.com

Q. Who do you look up to for inspiration or mentorship? A. In terms of social justice, I look up to Stacy Abrams. I think both sides of the aisle will admit she is a force to be reckoned with! I also look up to people who emulate Ms. Abrams who are regular people in my neighborhood. They are doing the tough work of challenging a broken system. I deeply appreciate Catherine Cox, who, with a team of badasses, manages our local Ride for Breonna: a relentless grassroots movement that hosts events every weekend and educates the public on what action steps to take to bring justice for Breonna Taylor’s murder.

WIB Magazine

“ Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. Normalize your spot at the table. It’s yours.”

Chelsea Beyerman 46

WIB Magazine

a couple of years and he made me an offer that was too good to pass up, so I made the leap from the influencer team in a large, corporate digital media network to a small startup with a lot of potential. Q. As a female leader what has been the most significant barrier in your career? A. Men.

Q. Tell everyone who you are and what you do? A. My name is Chelsea Beyerman - I currently wear several different hats, working as a full-time influencer marketing freelancer, startup founder, and VP of Marketing at MOON Ultra.

Q. What are some things you would like to accomplish in the next five years? A. I am currently working to grow the U.S. presence of an influencer marketing agency, and in 5 years I aim to have that fully established with a team running under me. I’m also working on launching a brand that will fall in the beauty category with two

partners, and in 5 years I aim to grow that to a full line of products with full manufacturing capabilities. Q. Can you tell us what your top five values are? A. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Compassion, Transparency. Dependability, and Efficiency. Q. How would you describe your future in 3 words? A. Bring, Your, Sunglasses. Q. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? A. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. Normalize your spot at the table. It’s yours. Q. Where can the readers follow you? A. Follow me at :  @chelsea beyerman

Q. What women in your life have inspired you to be who you are today? A. My mom is the top and most influential person in my life. When I was born, her and my father made the then-unusual decision for my dad to stay-at-home as a parent, while she had an incredibly successful career as an OB/GYN (she has recently retired!). So, for me, I’ve always viewed being a leader as a natural path. Q. How do you balance work and life responsibilities? A. I always try to keep my priorities in perspective. A successful career is very important to me, and so is my health and my marriage, so I am always working to ensure I’m able to devote enough time to each area of my life. Q. Let’s talk about you being the VP of Marketing at MoonUltra. com and the journey of getting to that position? A. I have always worked in the advertising/marketing world and had been working in the influencer marketing area for a couple of years when I was introduced to the founder of MOON, and I fell in love with the product. Fast forward WIB Magazine

Where It Begins (WIB) May Issue Women Empowerment

Articles inside

Chelsea Beyerman

Malikka

Chong Kim

JaLia S

DREA Kelly

Maisha Rush

Julie Manriquez

Monica Brown

Jackie Keller

Kimberly Gowdy

Zhe Scott

Chef Claudia Diawara

Fredia Gibbs

Tamika Harden

C. Renee Wilson

Kimberly Pinkston