F E AT U R E S
MAY COVER VALERIE FITZGERALD
– BUSINESS
16 21
UNLEASHING YOUR POWERFUL BRAND
25
STAYING RELEVANT IN A REVOLVING WORLD
SHARON BADAL’S SUCCESS AT TRIBECA
5 EDITOR’S LETTER 7 MANAGING ME 15 MONEY WITH MICHELLE 22 STILETTO STATEMENT 26 LIPSTICK CHRONICLES
ISSUE 20 MAY 2013
Published by The Lioness Group. Founder, Natasha Clark.
Editor-in-Chief Katelyn Gendron Art Director Leonardo Pilares Director of Photography Denise Smith Columnists Crystal Senter Brown Kristina Chapell Aliyah Cherrisse Brenda’s Child Erin Corriveau Michelle Perry Higgins Contributing Writers Carley Dangona Lamara Hunter Paige Cerulli Emily Thurlow Jennifer Sawyer
Š2013 Lioness Magazine is the first online magazine geared toward female entrepreneurs. We deliver sharp and compelling information on a variety of topics that are relevant to female entrepreneurs and professionals. Our mission is to elevate, educate and support female professionals. We celebrate the unique challenges and achievements of women in business. We believe women are multi-dimensional creations who flourish, personally and professionally, when they take time to nurture their spirits.
welcome to editor’s letter Katelyn Gendron
The Primary Dilemma is a puzzle I struggle to put together The struggle is ongoing. It’s one that many are having at this moment and I doubt that few could have crafted a more appropriate name for it: The Primary Dilemma. It describes the challenge many women face balancing childcare and professional obligations as the primary caretaker and working mother. Paige Cerulli has penned an interesting read for this month’s issue, interviewing the study’s author, Lynn Hall. It’s true, we all struggle to balance our personal-professional obligations but I often wonder whether our drive to succeed professionally supersedes our maternal instincts. Are women having fewer children because the cost of living continues to increase or because we simply don’t have the time for our jobs plus more than one or two offspring? Does it deter some women from having children all together? Some say we can have it all and our cover story, real estate mogul Valerie Fitzgerald, certainly proves that one can. Fitzgerald is a mother and a successful business owner in California, as well as an author and the center of her own HGTV reality show, “Selling LA.” This being the month of Mother’s Day – not to mention my growing number of pregnant friends, as well as the ticking of my own biological clock– has prompted my obsession over the subject. I find myself inspired by those working mothers who are the subjects of our articles but also those who contribute to our publication as writers. Your personal-professional success gives me, and hopefully our readers, confidence that we can be great at both without having to sacrifice one for the other.
Katelyn
Are You An Entrepreneur? We want to hear from you Send your email to lionessmagazine@gmail.com
LIONESS MAY 2013
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Managing Me
No pressure – chase your dreams guilt-free By Brenda’s Child
One of the hardest things about pursuing your dreams is when people don’t understand the time and energy it takes for you to do so. When I do a disappearing act because I need to relax and regroup, it seems that everyone else around me is in shock that I’m lounging for the day or that I need a nap. Does this sound familiar?
And then there are people who become indignant when you can’t hang out with them as often or you don’t go to every event in the city. To your friends and family you seem to have become a recluse, a hermit. And when you are questioned, you become ridden with guilt. Does this too sound familiar? As much as we try to make time for everyone in our lives while juggling our careers and home life, as women it’s important that we don’t feel guilty about doing whatever is necessary to accomplish our goals. I’m not talking about being ruthless and cutthroat (we still have to be ladies). What I do mean is that you have right to dreams, chasing them during the day and while sleeping peacefully at night.
We must clearly articulate the aforementioned to our loved ones so they won’t take our actions personally, and if anything they might lend a hand in taking some pressure off of you. If they don’t understand, well, then at least you tried. Either way, you owe it to yourself to chase your dreams guiltfree.
Brenda’s Child has made it her life’s mission to inspire people through poetry and stories and through leading by example with courage, confidence, and integrity. She emphasizes self-love, worth, and value. She also feels obligated to tell the truth ... even if it hurts. Visit www.brendaschild.com
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Ask an Entrepreneur
1) How long have you been in business? Since November 2010.
2) Why have you chosen to dedicate yourself to this particular business/industry? In massage school I became fascinated with the human skin; the beauty of it and the important role it plays in our health. As I grew my skill set, educated myself about natural health and beauty alternatives, and worked with a variety of Melanoma Awareness organizations, I knew I wanted to help people care for their bodies in a better, healthier way to make them feel beautiful and loved. 3) What makes your business/product unique? Aside from being a mobile business, we are dedicated to doing our treatments without harmful chemicals. There is a disconnection in the industry between glamorous spa treatments and truly natural skin care. It’s my goal to bring these two ideas together. For this reason, at SkinCatering we make all of our own massage oils, our own skincare, and use only freshly, hand-blended products for all spa treatments so that it’s custom to your needs and sensitivities.
Photo courtesy of SkinCatering
Leanne Sedlak,
owner of SkinCatering,
and a Licensed Massage
Therapist. SkinCatering is
a mobile spa but is based out of Bella Vita Salon &
Spa, 491 Granby Road,
South Hadley, Mass.
4) You could have worked for anyone and would have been successful, why become an entrepreneur? Working for someone else has a sense of security to it, not to mention, a regular paycheck. However, working for someone else has limitations to it that I was no longer willing to accept for myself. I dream way too big to just be “One Thing.” The last job interview I went to sealed the deal to work for myself. While I listened to all the exciting challenges I could work on and be a part of, something snapped. I realized that all this creative energy I was going to put into someone else’s company [I] could just as easily be put into my own brand. I knew I was finally being honest with myself when I was offered that job and I turned it down. The next day I committed 100 percent to my business. 5) What was the last moment in which you said to yourself, why did I go into business for myself? There was one particular day that had been rather challenging. I felt defeated, despite my best efforts to stay positive. Calling an early end to the day, I curled up in bed, pulled the covers over my head, and poured my heart out via tears into my lab’s yellow fur. Just as I started to think about how much easier it would be to just punch a time clock, my phone beeped. Head filled with self-loathing and eyes swollen from crying, I looked at the text expecting yet another kick in the teeth, so to speak. Surprise, surprise, it was a message from a client thanking me for my mission and expressing how confident her teenage daughter is now, since her face cleared up by using our skincare. Just like that I felt back in the game. My life’s purpose was validated and I knew I had to keep going. 6) Every female professional should have __________. Something that when they put it on or have it with them, they feel invincible. A Power Piece, like a piece of jewelry, a briefcase, or a special outfit.
7) If you could steal some business mojo from another mogul, who would it be and why? Rachel Zoe is one of my favorite female business owners to look up to. She loves glamor and fashion without apology. She is able to laugh at herself easily and loves her family deeply, incorporating them into the business and making time for them daily. She often speaks of her humble beginnings with gratitude, expressing how those experiences have shaped her career ... I used to worry that my purpose wasn’t deep enough, that I could be using my talents to make a bigger impact. However, the truth is, helping support a person’s self-esteem is important work. Doing what I love enables those people with the “bigger purpose” to continue to do so. My business is a safe place for them to get the care they need to feel rested and loved, where they can recharge their energy so they can go out and continue to change the world. It makes me very happy to know I play my part in that process. 8) What is your business motto? Cater To Your Spirit!
9) If you could give other entrepreneurs three tips, what would they be? A) Be open to experiences that wouldn’t normally be your “cup of tea.” You never know which opportunity will lead you to a person or opening that propels you forward in a big way. B) Be decisive. If you’re one foot in, one foot out, your business will flounder simply from indecision. C) Get a business coach or become involved in mastermind group. Entrepreneurship isn’t for sissies and having other professionals cheer for you and give you feedback helps you feel supported to keep moving forward. 10) Has there been a piece of technology or software that has been a lifesaver to you? My online booking system called, “Booker.” It has an app that allows us to book appointments and take payments on our cell phones for our mobile appointments, and it allows clients to book their appointments online while they’re thinking about it, instead of waiting for us to be open to call, or leaving a voicemail.
11) What is your goal for the next year? My goal is to add to my special team and to expand our home base option. There is a growing need for our kind of services and I want to be able to help support more “movers and shakers” as they do their work.
12) When someone is telling their friend about your business, what do you hope they say? I hope they say they had an amazing experience with us and that their spirit feels rejuvenated! LIONESS MAY 2013
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Valerie Fitzgerald
has been selling properties in the greater Los Angeles area for more than 20 years. She is president of the Valerie Fitzgerald Group, a Coldwell Banker real estate firm, and author of “Heart and Sold,” a book that chronicles her journey into the real estate business, offering tips that can be applied to every aspect of life. Fitzgerald and her team are featured on the HGTV show “Selling LA” that airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST. By Carley Dangona
show how we work with the buyer; how we work with the seller. And, all of our stories are true. Nothing is staged. Everything you see is exactly the way it would be going if the camera wasn’t there,” she explained.
“I didn’t really get drawn into real estate. I had a baby, my daughter Vanessa, that I needed to support. I always say that real estate chose me,” Fitzgerald said, noting that she moved from New York City to Los Angeles, Calif., without a background in real estate, earning her license at night.
“First and foremost I wanted to create a great life for my daughter. My love for her was my absolute driving force to make something happen and be successful. I call it how I raised my baby and my business at the same time,” Fitzgerald added.
She attributed her success to a persistent, stick-to-it nature, which sees the positive in every situation. “Negativity can be rattling around like a monkey on your shoulder. You have to remain focused, organized and determined. You have to be willing to embrace it all, make your to-do list and move ahead,” Fitzgerald said. “On ‘Selling LA’ we teach what we do. We
“I hope that I’ve shared and taught people what it’s like from a business point of view. We call it a ‘docu-lifestyle’ business show. The business part of our show is not about our emotions,” Fitzgerald added. “Real estate is not about our emotions; we’re not supposed to be emotional, we’re supposed to carry the torch for our clients who are emotional. “The ‘Selling LA’ experience has been great. It’s helped with my branding worldwide. It’s also showing the real deal how real estate is done. The station works with my schedule. We do it three it hours at a time.
“It’s almost like having another full-time job. It’s adds to my ability to multi-task. It’s been a good experience,” she continued.
Fitzgerald noted that he daughter has a significant role in her business and the show. “I never know what Vanessa’s doing on the show. She doesn’t tell me in advance. I see what she’s doing when the show airs. I am absolutely blown away that she can respond and know the answers to so many of the situations that she’s in on the show. It’s jaw dropping for me. You never know if your child is listening and I guess she was listening quite a bit. She’s done a great job,” Fitzgerald stated.
“I think the thing that all new people, whether it’s my daughter or other people that work with me, don’t have yet is the thicker skin when things get difficult and clients get really tough,” she added. “You put all this work into a sale to make it happen and it’s about to fall apart. It’s a skill to not get emotional in that situation and to be able to lead your client through it, separating yourself [from the fact that] you might need that commission check and to serve the client to make sure the outcome is in the client’s favor.”
Fitzgerald stressed, “The clients need to know that they are your focus.”
“I had to develop those skills over the course of my career. I was also that bouncing off the wall person in the beginning too. The idea in real estate is that you can’t work on just one thing. You have to have quite a few things in the pipeline – possibilities. Any number of things could fall apart,” she recalled. Despite her success, Fitzgerald isn’t pushing her daughter into real estate.
“For her career, long-term I hope that she’s super happy. My daughter is very much into nutrition. She’s only 25 – she’s not fully committed to a real estate career as her life choice. She’s not completely committed to the career that I have. If she wants it, great,
Continued on page 13
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Valerie Fitzgerald because I have a business that she could be a big part of,” she said.
“Ultimately, it’s going to be her choice in what she wants to do,” Fitzgerald added. “She kind of fell into this. I say many times that you kind of bump into your life. She’s on the show, she makes deals here and there, but she still has to find her personal commitment for what she really wants.”
Fitzgerald confessed that while she still has “a very bad habit of working six or seven days a week,” she makes time for family, friends and fun. “[My job] is still something that I enjoy doing,” she said.
“There’s always something next. I have an entrepreneurial spirit and am always creating. I love everything I’m doing,” she added. “I have been single now for three or for years, so I guess I need to make more time for that.”
Fitzgerald said she receives hundreds and emails a week from people that have read “Heart and Sold,” that describe the book as “cathartic” because that they are struggling with the very same issues
She quoted a saying she recently heard, “Experience is what you get when you don’t get your own way.” Fitzgerald admitted, that she gained the practical knowl-
edge in the book from making her own mistakes in her personal and professional lives. “We think our problems are unique,” she said, adding that we all face the same basic struggles. “There are no coincidences in life – everything matters. The voice of doubt is very different from intuition. Your subconscious can sabotage you all the time [if you let it].
“One of the most important abilities I think people need to have is blind faith,” she continued. “You have to trust something will happen. I think that anybody can get what they want if they really want it badly enough. You just have to get out there and do it.”
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Money with Michelle
Tips to get the most out of your vacation dollar By Michelle Perry Higgins
With summer just around the corner, one of the best ways to relax, unwind and enjoy the fruits of your labor is to go on a rewarding vacation. But as much fun as a trip may be, it can also place a strain on both your mind and your bank account if you don’t first start off with a budget.
I believe that the key to maximizing your time, money and, most importantly, relaxation is effective budgeting long before you leave for your destination. You can really pump up the fun factor by eliminating money worries before you even pack your bags.
Two of the biggest obstacles that potential vacationers run into are a lack of forethought when planning their vacation and a tendency to underestimate the financial impact of a vacation. It’s hard to relax and have fun if you’re worried about opening your credit card bill when you get back. Lack of planning can result in stress and a sense of worry when you should be out
having fun.
I suggest researching travel websites for the best deals and factoring in extraneous costs such as baggage fees, rental car fuel, parking, and insurance. By seeking out the best prices before you leave, you will not only save money on unexpected expenses, but will also help relieve stress while you relax doing what you enjoy. To make it easier to financially prepare for your trip, here are three key tips that will help get your vacation off the ground.
1. Determine the budget for your trip – Once you’ve decided on your destination, identify the overall financial plan and duration for your trip. Figure out how much you will spend on the basics like airfare, accommodations, meals and transportation. Then determine your additional spending on things like food, shopping, and excursions.
2. Know what’s important to you – You should be realistic when it comes to budg-
eting so that you can actually enjoy yourself. If you want five-star luxury you’re probably not going to be happy in a budget motel. Consider staying five nights at your dream hotel, instead of 10 nights at a place you might not like. Choose wisely, keeping in mind your needs and wants as well as your resources.
3. Return to a happy home – Coming back from a vacation can be a bit of a downer, so you should make sure everything is in order before you leave. There’s nothing like coming home to a mess after you’ve just enjoyed some wonderful time away. Make sure you take care of the bills before you leave to avoid late fees and an increase in monthly expenses while you are away.
A well-budgeted vacation can prove to be a memorable and relaxing experience for you and your family. By establishing a realistic budget, saving for it throughout the year and sticking to it while you’re gone, you can help make sure that you’ll spend more time enjoying your vacation and less time worrying about your pocket book.
Michelle Perry Higgins is a financial planner and principal of California Financial Advisors in San Ramon, Calif. Higgins specializes in wealth management, and has built a successful practice advising executive professionals into retirement. Her passion for financial management has helped hundreds of individuals better understand investing and financial planning. For more information, please visit www.calfinad.com.
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Managing the Primary Dilemma: The Working Mother
By Paige Cerulli
When you had your first child, did you find returning to work to be a struggle? As a working mother, is it difficult to balance your parenting obligations with your working life? Do you find yourself struggling to understand how best to handle your dual roles?
When Lynn Hall of New Jersey found herself in the same position, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Hall, a marketing executive for 18 years, first faced this conflict when she returned to work after the birth of her first child. Her daughter was in daycare at Hall’s job, but when her daughter was sick, it was up to Hall to stay home with her. Hall’s husband also worked a demanding job, but with a longer commute and frequent required travel. When her daughter was sick on the day that Hall had to give an important presentation at work, she discovered that in her obligation as the primary day-to-day parent, she was facing a significant problem – the Primary Dilemma.
The Primary Dilemma refers to the conflict that the working, “primary” parent faces in trying to balance their work and parenting obligations. Hall’s realization that her desire to both work and be physically present for her daughter caused her to revise her plans as a working mother. She determined that she needed to find an employer closer to home that offered a flexible working schedule, which she eventually did.
After having her fourth child, Hall decided to investigate the idea of the Primary Dilemma further. She wanted to survey other mothers to see what kinds of conflicts they faced when returning to the workforce, with the ultimate goal of being able to help women plan for and understand the process of returning to work as a parent.
Beginning in 2009, Hall conducted an electronic survey of working mothers. “I began with a list of people within my own connection of contacts and asked them to push it on to their next set of contacts. In total, I’ve surveyed about 300 different people right
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now. The survey is posted on the Primary Dilemma website and on Facebook, and I think that continuing to add to that body of information is important,” she explained.
Hall put her experience in market analytics to use and analyzed the survey results herself. She said that the largest surprise in the data was its consistency. “The consistency of the responses was particularly interesting; it ended up informing what I categorized as the Five Working-Mother Methods. The choices and constraints that [the respondents] schematically continued to reference, and the way that they identified themselves within their families or within the workplace – the consistency of the implications of the choices we’re making was surprising,” she said. The five methods include: • The Workable – A primary career and/or wage earner • The Equalizer – Fully engaged in both work and parenting • The Fully Loaded – A single parent • Obliged – The primary physical parent who works because a second income is required • Parentess – The primary physical parent who elects to work.
Hall compiled information about the Primary Dilemma to help women facing the conflict of work and motherhood. “The goal is to inform working women on how to be more aware of the choices they’re making, and to appreciate the fact that they’re never going to feel entirely in balance,” she said. “Balance is a very elusive goal, and we’ve all been socialized to seek it. The Primary Dilemma is trying to get women to a place of understanding their own choices and how they can optimize their personal and professional successes without some of the angst that some women go through.
“I think it resonates very strongly,” Hall said of the project’s reception. “Women feel like they hear themselves in the conversation. For some women, it creates a level of frustration, not with the content, but with the
reality. There’s a lot of talk right now concerning how working mothers often forego their own ambition. Everyone can be ambitious, but there are still realities among women that working and motherhood will create a dynamic that women just have to live and make the best of. Many women wish there was an easy solution, and the Primary Dilemma doesn’t have that easy solution. What it does offer are resources – based on where you’re at in your profiling, there are different ways you should infrastructure your childcare and your work environment. The Primary Dilemma gives you lots of guidance in that way.”
Hall offers group workshops and individual coaching and consulting, all of which have been highly successful. “I often see that the Primary Dilemma gets people to better childcare solutions very quickly,” she said. “I see women making choices about how they have career conversations, and how they make career or job selection. I’ve even had people tell me that the Primary Dilemma has influenced how many children they’ve decided to have. It enables people who are earlier on in being working parents to envision the implications of the choices that they’re making.” The Primary Dilemma study is ongoing, and Hall states that the research will continue. In the future she hopes to apply the idea of the Primary Dilemma to a topic beyond motherhood. Hall stated that there are aspects of working motherhood and parenthood that she’s continuing to develop more fully in the Primary Dilemma.
Hall called for all mothers to find a sense of contentment. “Our society encourages a sense of discontentment,” she stated. “We’re not in balance, and we haven’t achieved our career goals – we’re taught to always work toward something more. Be content with where you’re at in the moment.” For more information, visit the Primary Dilemma’s website at www.primarydilemma.com.
Roselyn Sanchez, Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez and Judy Reyes star in the all-new Lifetime drama, “Devious Maids,” premiering June 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Photo courtesy of Guy D’Alema
Lifetime premieres ‘Devious Maids’ June 23
Lifetime will premiere its highly-anticipated new drama “Devious Maids,” executive produced by Marc Cherry (“Desperate Housewives”) and Eva Longoria (“Desperate Housewives”), on June 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The ensemble all-star cast, Ana Ortiz (“Ugly Betty”), Dania Ramirez (“Entourage”), Roselyn Sanchez (“Without a Trace”), Edy Ganem (“Livin’ Loud”) and Judy Reyes (“Scrubs”), portray five maids with ambition and dreams of their own while working for the rich and famous in Beverly Hills.
In “Devious Maids,” murder and mayhem collide in the mansions of Beverly Hills’ wealthiest and most powerful families. Class warfare has never been as fun and dirty as it is in the tony enclave where the staff is as clever, witty, outrageous and downright devilish as their employers. Whoever holds the dirt holds the power, and before the season is over, illicit affairs will be revealed and deep dark secrets exposed as we learn the sordid details behind a shocking murder of a beloved housemaid. The series centers on a close-knit group of maids who are bonded together by their
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jobs, life struggles and the melodramatic “upstairs-downstairs” universe that engulfs their employers.
Rosie (Ramirez), a widow who left her son back in Mexico when her husband died, works as the maid and nanny for a pair of self-absorbed and successful actors, Peri and Spence Westmore (Mariana Klaveno, “True Blood,” and Grant Show, “Swing Town”).
Aspiring singer Carmen (Sanchez), hopes that her pop star employer Alejandro (Matt Cedeno, “Days of Our Lives”) can help jumpstart her career, but Odessa (Melinda Paige Hamilton, “Mad Men”), his very loyal housekeeper and her boss, will stop at nothing to stand in her way.
Zoila (Reyes) is the senior maid for Genevieve Delatour (Susan Lucci, “All My Children”), a co-dependent, emotionally unstable wealthy woman. She works alongside her teen daughter Valentina (Ganem), who has a crush on Genevieve's handsome son, Remi (Drew Van Acker, “Pretty Little Liars”).
In the series premiere, the women turn to one another for support when their friend and fellow maid Flora (Paula Garces, “CSI Miami”) is brutally murdered at the home of her employers, Evelyn and Adrian Powell (Rebecca Wisocky, “American Horror Story,” and Tom Irwin, “Grey’s Anatomy”), at one of the largest society events of the year. Meanwhile, newcomer Marisol (Ortiz) is hired to clean the home of Taylor and Michael Stappord (Brianna Brown, “Homeland,” and Brett Cullen, “Damages”), a newlywed couple with a complicated love history. But Marisol has ulterior motives and when someone she loves becomes wrapped up in Flora’s murder, she goes undercover to learn the truth.
Inspired by the hit telenovela, “Ellas son la Alegría del Hogar,” “Devious Maids” is produced by ABC Studios. The series was created by Cherry and is executive produced by Cherry, Sabrina Wind (“Desperate Housewives”), Longoria, Paul McGuigan (“Scandal”), Larry Shuman (“Kissing Miranda”), David Lonner, John Mass and Televisa USA’s Paul Presburger and Michael Garcia.
Love of film brings Badal to new heights of success at Tribeca By Katelyn Gendron
Sharon Badal’s love of the movies was born at age 14 as the lone usher in her father’s New Jersey movie theater, and it is because of her admiration for the medium that she’s staked claim to success within one of the most challenging professional territories.
Badal, head of short film programming for the Tribeca Film Festival, and an associate teacher at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, may have come from humble beginnings as an usher but she’s had a storied career holding positions with such industry heavyweights as United Artists/MGM, Warner Brothers, Sony, and Walt Disney Feature Animation. Ask Badal how she’s been able to work for companies most only dream, and she’ll reply that it was hard work, perseverance and lots of luck.
“I knew I wanted to be a part of the movies, I just didn’t know how,” she said. “I found out that I’m a terrible director but a great producer. [Producer] Jane Rosenthal has been a great champion for me. I attribute my duration at Tribeca to her support; all those years in the industry [I attribute] to having great mentors.
“I say to my students, especially to my female students, that you find your own path. I never think of myself as a woman, but a person. Gender doesn’t play a role to me at all. I think [women in the industry] get frustrated because of the statistics that are thrown at them. It’s almost like you’re discouraging them from the start,”
she continued, noting that the industry is dominated by men.
Male or female, Badal said it’s important to dedicate oneself to their craft, which is why she keeps a rigid schedule in order to whittle down the more than 2,800 short film submissions into a comprehensive 60-film Festival lineup.
“It’s funny because everyone says, ‘Wow, you have such an easy job, all you do is watch movies all day,’ but it requires an enormous amount of discipline. There are between 1,200 and 1,500 submissions I watch myself and I take the job very seriously. The filmmaker trusts that I’m going to watch it clear headed and open hearted and I have to know what my life rhythm is. I set blocks of time early in the morning because I am bright eyed and bushy tailed. I need to be fresh. I have to be excited and want to love every single DVD that I put in,” she explained.
“The first cut is the deepest for the filmmakers but the last cut is the deepest for us [as Festival organizers]. With short films there are no rules, it’s the experience and payoff. If you have me with 16 minutes and the ending falls apart [it won’t make it]. The cream floats to the top for us,” Badal continued.
Last month’s Festival featured 60 short films, 30 of which were world premieres, she noted.
“Part of what happens is that filmmakers have put us at the top of their wish list. They want to launch their film at Tribeca.
Sharon Badal
I’ve been fortunate that we’ve received so many Academy qualifying submissions and the Festival screens to big audiences. There’s something to be said for that world premiere status,” Badal said.
When asked how Tribeca has been able to maintain its prowess within the industry, she replied, “You’re a victim of your own success. I’ve already set the bar for myself. I have to go higher and do better and it means taking more risks.”
With the Festival’s conclusion last month, Badal now has time to achieve more balance between her personal and professional lives, until October when she must begin another five months of viewing submissions.
“Part of my survival [in the industry], and I do have the battle wounds to prove it, is that I do have a life,” she said. “I love my family and my friends and I don’t just live to work because life is too short. I have the whole pie, the size of the slices changes throughout the year but when I leave work, I have fun … I have my niece who’s 17 and relationships that have come and gone but it’s all part of who I am.”
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Stiletto Statement
Fashion just won’t cut it
By Aliyah Cherrisse
What if I told you that your confidence goes beyond your fashion selections? What if I challenged you to take a deeper look at yourself? Our self-worth is not contingent upon the latest trends or fashion’s must-haves; rather it’s how we view ourselves. Let’s face it, you get all dolled up to have a girl’s night out and as you sit forcing yourself to enjoy the night, your friends have no idea that once you get home, you’re going to curl up and cry yourself to sleep. All you can think about is, “I hope no one notices that you can’t see my eyelashes because I completely forgot to apply my mascara.” When we doubt ourselves so will others. When we point out to others what hasn’t been noticed, we draw attention to our own insecurities as opposed to any supposed physical flaws.
I can only speak vaguely because that was once me. I hated to take a picture straight on, without makeup, or without being completely dolled up. I just felt as though I wasn’t pretty enough. I thought that without the makeup,
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nice clothes, and defined eyelashes that I just didn’t fit the bill. I was hard on myself, had a hard time accepting compliments, and was very consumed with shopping. Shopping was like my guilty pleasure; instead of eating I would shop because it made me feel better for the moment. Once that moment was up, I found myself shopping some more.
However, one day I had to ask myself, exactly whose standards am I trying to live up to? I then decided to change my way of thinking. No more will I shop for the hottest name brand knowing that it wasn’t in my budget. I shop for what fits me nicely and what would be flattering to my body. I decided that I didn’t have to wear makeup every day, like a painkiller, it would be more on an as-need basis. I stopped trying to appeal to society’s definitions and decided that I was way more comfortable in my sweats, slacks, or flats versus that extremely high-heel, the toxic makeup that I was actually allergic to, and that dress that I could not wait to take off. Just read back to my other two columns and believe me when I say, with comfort comes confidence.
Please don’t confuse my words, for maintaining your appearance is not a bad thing at all, however, please be sure you do it within your means and your comfort zone. Don’t go out and buy a heel you know you cannot bare to walk in because it’s the latest shoe trend. Trends fade but those insecurities will be there way after those trends if you don’t face them. I would suggest you don’t purchase a dress that is not only unflattering to your figure but it may also send out the wrong message as an attention getter. Be old-fashioned ladies and leave something to the imagination.
When you respect yourself, so will others. I would also say this; ladies, less is sometimes more and in this case I ask that you keep it natural with the make-up. Select a lip color that adds to your face effortlessly, a little bit of liner and mascara, and just a soft or very clean smoky eye can take you a long way. The makeup trend that everyone is dipping and dabbing in is actually not so trendy but more so “clownish.” Keep it simple; especially when you know at heart, you are a simple person who really
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Stiletto Statement enjoys simple things. Besides, everything you see in a magazine is not for everyday wear, it was meant just for that magazine photo shoot. Get to know who you are, what you like, what it is you really want and let those things work for you. Get familiar with your flaws and if you can do anything about them, do it! Worry about the things you have control over, and let the rest go. Once you face yourself, believe me you will be able to face the world. Once you understand that at the end of it all, you’ll always be different, you know your faults, and you can acknowledge your shortcomings, there will be nothing for anyone to hold over you and those insecurities will begin to fade. You’ll find yourself telling people to “tell me something I don’t know!” Now if that’s not a
confidence booster, I don’t know what is. Having complete control over your emotions, appearance and finances brings such peace and with that comes happiness. Believe me, I’m still working on getting these things right and with that I am content just knowing my change is coming.
I could really go on and on with this topic, I promise I could, but I believe you get the point, besides, this is just my view based on my experiences and encounters, which I am sure someone reading this can relate to. Let me close by making my message clear: There will always be someone who is a bit prettier. There will always be someone who is a bit smarter. There will always be someone who is a bit younger. However, they will never be you so
just live your life! If we consume ourselves with fitting in when we were made to stand out we will miss the blessings that God has set for us. So as a last tip, if you’re one of those who must keep up with the Joneses but honestly know you can’t afford it, T.J.Maxx, Marshall’s, Burlington Coat Factory, and even consignment shops should become your best friend.
“Don’t ever be afraid to help yourself, love yourself and build your confidence level up. We are our own worse critics, so take the time out, figure out what you don't like, and then take the steps to fix it. Don’t be afraid, for God gave us the spirit of love, use that love on yourself first!" – Signing off, Aliyah Cherrisse!
Aliyah Cherrisse, born and raised in Atlantic City, N.J., has grown to be a very educated, vibrant, and driven intellectual. As a graduate of Morgan State University, with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Marketing, Aliyah has put her studies to use in branding herself as the “Multimedia Personality” she is to-date. Currently pursuing her love of entertainment, Aliyah is known for her titles of “Fashion Show Production Assistant, Radio/TV Personality, Curvy/Full-Figured Model, Red Carpet Correspondent, Host, and Blogger,” but let's not forget to mention: this is all while being a single mother! With no intentions on slowing down, Aliyah anticipates what God has awaiting ahead for her!
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Staying relevant in a revolving world By Zee Elise
When you work in the nonprofit world, your business is people – you serve people, recruit people and rely on people for funding. You know their time is limited and that there are hundreds of other commendable organizations vying for their attention.
The average person is bombarded with more than 3,000 marketing messages per day. How does a small nonprofit with a fixed budget compete with that? Denise Cogman, executive officer of Springfield School Volunteers (SSV) in Massachusetts, said it’s all about volunteers. “I have always believed that our current volunteers are our best recruiters. By sharing their positive volunteer experiences with friends, family members and co-workers they are much more effective than any SSV staff member could be while manning a table at a recruitment event or speaking to a group of people about volunteering,” Cogman said. “When we effectively and appropriately manage this valuable resource at our disposal by actively encouraging our volunteers to ‘refer a friend’ we have seen success.”
Volunteers are SSV’s backbone. Last year more than 2,000 volunteers went into the Springfield Public Schools as Read Aloud participants, academic tutors and mentors.
SSV has always been pro-active when it comes to working with other organizations and staying involved in the community. Cogman gives back to the city and keeps the organization visible while serving as director on boards such as the Human Service Forum and Behavioral Health Network. She also sits on two boards that revolve around social work and philanthropy at two local universities.
She explained that partnering with other organizations is important because it is a valuable way to share and transfer knowledge. It
helps to build their capacity and allows them to maximize the quality of the services they are able to provide. For example, Cogman said partnering with organizations such as Mass Mentoring Partnership and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County on their Mentoring Program has not only increased their knowledge and skills as it relates to mentoring, but has also allowed them to improve the quality of their mentoring program through collaboration.
“As leaders of nonprofit organizations we are always looking for community members to support our organizations in a volunteer capacity – as board members, by serving on a committee or, in our case as tutors, mentors, readers and friends. I feel it is extremely important to lead by example,” Cogman said. “How can I encourage community involvement and talk about the importance of giving back if I’m not doing it myself. If I expect people to see our mission as meaningful and worth their time I have to find that value in other organizations as well and demonstrate my belief in the value of what they are doing to help our community by giving back.” To maximize your budget and staff, every nonprofit should at least have these three basics in their recruiting toolbox:
1. Social Media – Consider social media outlets that make the most sense for your organization. You need to go where the people are – they are online. 2. Marketing Materials – You should always have up-to-date, simple and easy to access marketing materials. Even if it is just a onepage flyer saying who you are, what you do and where they could find more. 3. Megaphone – A satisfied volunteer, fundraiser or client is the best bullhorn there is. Encourage your associates to spread the word about their positive experiences with your organization. Ask for testimonials. Use them to craft inspiring posters and/or multimedia campaigns.
Zee Elise enjoys writing and interviewing interesting people. When she is not off hiking, Zee splits her time between writing and raising a family. She hopes to type “The End” on one of the many novels she has yet to finish. However, she blames the lure of the sunshine as her primary distraction.
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The Lipstick Chronicles
Spring has sprung: Dating tips for a new season By Kristina Chapell
In most places around the country spring has sprung; finally! We are entering the season of blossoming flowers and trees but are we ready for blossoming romance? I recently read an article, Spring Fever: 8 Dating Tips for the New Season, in which I thought the advice was good, so I will share that with you and add my personal spin to it.
1) Spring Cleaning. Spring is a time to clean the house, look through the closet, ditch clothes you haven’t worn for a while and spruce up the wardrobe. But did you think to clean out your social networks of event your contacts in your phone? These are good places to start … get rid of the negative people or the “why do I drunk text him” guy. If he really isn’t doing anything for you – get rid of him.
2) Plant the Perfect Mate. OK, this is about as weird as it sounds. While the article suggests you write down four traits you want in a partner (which I agree with) it continues to say you should actually plant a plant with those four traits in mind and watch it grow. Honestly, I am not sure about this. I am not the best green thumb gal but I do agree you should write down the top four traits you want in a partner. For me, I want someone who is driven, passionate, likes to laugh, and likes being social, a.k.a. likes to go out and not always stay at home.
3) Sporting Events. I agree with this one. Did any of you watch the Master’s last month? That is golf in case you didn’t know. No, I am not a golf watcher; personally I could care less but I did catch the end and witnessed Adam Scott win. Wow, he is
a “hottie!” And I am younger than 50 so I think it is still safe to use the word “hottie.” And by watching I also saw many men in the crowds watching. Note to self: drive to Augusta, Ga., (two hours away from me) and hang out in the bars next year. But seriously, sports breed men: ladies, go to sports games or at the very least go to the local bar or tavern and hang out with the girls for a few drinks during game time; and seem somewhat interested.
4) Join Meetup.com. I all of the sudden felt out of the loop when I realized this wasn’t a dating website. In searching for events in my area there are plenty of groups getting together – moms at home, garden clubs, business networking, community service and much more. I might have to give this a try! The article continues and advises couples too.
5) Give in to Pheromones. Apparently the change in season means more people are interested in sex when warmer weather hits. Hmm … Gone are the days thinking a cold, snowy night makes for good make-out sessions, apparently hot and steamy is the way to go.
6) Get Outdoors Together. This, I think, can apply to couples or those just dating; going for a picnic, hike, bike ride, etc., can be good for both parties. So regardless of your relationship status – get out doors.
7) Sporting Events. Yes, you read right, this is repeated. The best can be if you root for different teams … ah, the “makeup” sex. OK, I am a Boston Red Sox fan and for years somehow always dated a New York Yankees fan. The two most popularly connected teams; I always managed to date
someone who rooted for them. Never the California Angels, or Tampa Bay Rays, oh well. I have to admit, it was always fun after a game ;-)
8) Clean Your Closet. Just because you are in a relationship doesn’t mean you can’t dress for success. Stop wearing the sweats and bulky clothes all the time – in fact throw them out. You are in a relationship, you aren’t dead and neither is your partner. Besides, warmer weather means more skin so have some fun. I admit, I agree with all eight tips but I will add two more.
9) Get Out and Get Fit. We always complain we are too fat. Ladies, I know you do. Even a size 0 or 2 still has imperfections they want to change. While I don’t always agree, I can empathize. Do something about it. Spring means warmer weather and warmer weather means being outdoors so go for a walk. You don’t need a gym or a trainer to feel good. A simple walk and maybe some pushups a few days a week, as well as some crunches is all you need.
10) Watch Your Alcohol Intake. Yes, we are all guilty of this at times. But the warm weather means BBQs, drinks on the patio, etc. Watch what you are drinking and how much; sugar and carbohydrates are the ultimate culprits in alcohol so even when we think we are eating healthy, our drinking tends to increase and we blow our healthy eating on too much alcohol. Remember to eat and drink in moderation and go for less carbs and sugar. Here’s to a fun spring ladies! ~ xoxoxo KC
Kristina Chapell is a single gal in her 30s making her way in the world. Passionate, savvy, and stylish; Kristina is a social relationship builder. You can often find her on Facebook and Twitter keeping up with the latest news and always supporting causes she is passionate about such as the Alzheimer’s Association, Link to Libraries, and The Business Channel.
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