Editor's Note

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Can you believe we are nearing the end of 2021? Thankfully, I am writing this editor’s note in good spirits, as IMM has celebrated almost two years of being a brand agency providing business advice to Black female entrepreneurs who are launching brands, making connections, and building communities.

On the front cover of this Holiday issue, we have the pleasure of catching up with Alexzandra Denis, the powerhouse CEO of Avalah Beauty, a Brooklyn based company designed to bring together 100% all natural ingredients, essential oils and luxurious scents. Her main focus is to provide customers with a spa-like experience, and Alexzandra dishes on her brand and what beauty products have inspired her entrepreneurial journey along the way.

Joining Alexzandra in this issue, we also highlight LaToya Davis, CEO of Black Opulence Xperience, wife, mom, and full time Marketing and Communications leader based in Washington, DC. Her brand is the beacon in celebrating black culture with a focus on love, life, and family experiences: all things she is surrounded by on a daily basis. What do both of these women have in common, you might wonder? The cover girl of the Holiday issue in 2020, Shenea Brown, CEO of HerCollectively, LLC., virtually connected us all! In short, you can’t be afraid to make connections. Speaking of the Curating Queen, we caught up with Shenea after a year since her last IMM cover issue, and we are revealing what’s up next for her brand that is taking up some serious space.

Like in all of our magazine issues we are focused on being a positive influence to women who are managing their brands and their 9-5’s. So enjoy the last bit of 2021 and continue to keep watering those relationships that bring you the most joy!

Be blessed,

Matia Johnson-Buggs

Editor-in-Chief Instagram: @MatiaBuggs E-mail: mail@innovativemindsmedia.com

E X C L U S I V E

7

Tips

Every CEO Should Know

Great leaders all have specific traits that they display consistently. Boost your boss-ometer and find out what they are.

WRITTEN BY CASSIE O. LOPEZ PHOTOS BY JONAH DENWORTH

Everyone wants to be a leader, but maintaining great leadership qualities is not for the faint of heart. As well as good communications, confidence, commitment, and work ethic, entrepreneurs need to have just a little bit more gusto under their belt. Ready to suit up? Check out these seven leadership qualities every entrepreneur should snag.

#1. Share Their Vision

A leader with vision has a clear idea of what they need to be doing, where they are going, how to get there and what success might look like. Be sure to articulate your vision clearly and passionately when working with your clients. Ensure that your team understands the company's vision, by conveying it in a clear and cut way.

#2. Lead By Example

As a leader, the best way to build credibility and gain the respect of others is to set the right examples. Working around the clock? Don't do that. Leave time for yourself to decompress. Paying attention to quality customer service? Do that. By placing your clients first, you lead by example, which is also highlighting great values to what your brand is really invested in.

#3. Demonstrate Integrity A leader with integrity draws on their values to guide their decisions, behavior, and dealings with others. They have a strong sense of character, keep their promises, and communicate honestly and openly, as well as honestly and directly with others.

#4. Communicate Effectively Know what you mean, and mean what you say. Try to be as clean cut as possible, without beating around the bush. Sometimes you just have to "keep it real. " Communication involves more than just listening attentively to others and responding appropriately. It also includes sharing valuable information, listening, and not always talking, and asking intelligent questions.

#5. Make Difficult Decisions

To be an effective leader, the ability to make fast, difficult decisions with limited information is crucial to your business. When facing a tough decision, start by determining different outcomes. Consider the likely consequences of your decision and any available alternatives. Make your final decision with conviction, take responsibility for it and follow it through.

#6. Recognize Success

For people to stretch themselves and contribute their best efforts, they need to know their work will be valued and appreciated. Find ways to celebrate the achievements of your people, even if it’s through a simple ‘ well done, ' or remembering a birthday and sending flowers to someone who is having a hard time. As well as boosting morale, it will also strengthen their motivation to continue giving their best.

#7. Empower Others Great leaders understand that for people to give their best, they must have a sense of ownership over their work and believe that what they ’re doing is meaningful. Communicate clear goals and deadlines to your team, and then give them the autonomy and authority to decide how the work gets done. >>

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A D A L E E N A T U R A L S

ARE YOU TUNED IN?

By Alex Whitfield

"It's more than just hearing yourself talk....

On frequency wavelengths, the human voice can connect with people when words on a computer screen cannot. One huge benefit of having a podcast for your business is this: We get to hear your voice. We get to connect with your topics. We get to connect with your personality. and buy into your brand.

We get to put a voice with a name when sometimes written words behind a blog cannot give us that true connection. Besides being able to generate content, having a podcast makes it possible for you to build lucrative relationships. Here are the benefits of producing an intimate level of content to your audience:

1. Podcasts make information personal. In a podcast, the content is communicated directly to you, the listener, either verbally or through video. That’s a much more intimate way of getting information than reading it from an e-mail or document.

2. Podcasts are convenient and easy to consume. Once you subscribe to a podcast feed, new podcasts are automatically downloaded to your computer as soon as they are available. You can listen to them at your convenience.

3. Podcasts cut costs. Because podcasts are delivered digitally, they eliminate many costs associated with other forms of communication including postage, printing, and paper. 4.Podcasting is a time-efficient form of communication. You can listen to podcasts while you do other things at work or at home, or during your commute. Some types of meetings can be eliminated in favor of podcasts, saving time and improving productivity.

5. Podcasts are portable. Once a podcast resides on your computer, if your computer is portable, you can take the podcast with you and listen whenever or wherever you want. Or, you can transfer the podcast to a personal media player such as an iPod.

With so many benefits of having your own podcast, it's only fitting that you get out now and gain leads, build up a valuable library of content, build influence, and promote your products and services. Happy Marketing!