PRETTY WOMEN
HUSTLE
APRIL 2022
SELF CARE BASICS
VACAYS & YOUR HEALTH UNSUNG EMPOWERMENT
ASHIA HALL MUHAMMAD BLACK GIRL PLANNING MAGIC
CONTENTS 07
27
COVER FEATURE: BLACK GIRL PLANNING MAGIC
Ashia Hall Muhammad
A MOUNTAIN OF HOPE Natashia Hagans
16
ARE YOU READY FOR A VACATION?
31
SELF-CARE TIPS FOR 2022
34
Amanda Sherman
Latrina Caldwell
TIPS TO UNPLUG AFTER A LONG WORK WEEK Rosie Basquin
THE PRETTY TEAM
Pretty Women Hustle Magazine APRIL 2022 Cover Image ASHIA HALL MUHAMMAD CEO/Founder Publisher Jakia Cheatham–Myles Lead Editor Adrienne Michelle Horn I A.M. Editing, Ink www.iamediting.com Graphic Designer/Copywriter Raquel de Lemos Raquel Writes Content www.raquelwritescontent.com
Info@Prettywomenhustle.com Instagram: @Prettywomenhustlemagazine Facebook: Pretty Women Hustle Magazine TikTok: @Prettywomenhustleonline WWW.PRETTYWOMENHUSTLE.COM WWW.PRETTYWOMENHUSTLEONLINE.COM
PRETTY WOMEN HUSTLE MAGAZINE
ATTIC
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JANUARY 2016
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Ahhh... the fresh smell of spring. The snow is gone (somewhat, lol). Everyone knows Tennessee’s weather is problematic. We are grateful for a new season, a new month, and a new opportunity to take advantage of the goals we have set and the resources we have surrounding us. This issue will highlight female creatives from different industries, while focusing on women-owned brands from around the world. Our contributors have provided tips to help women in business stay on track while going full force in their purpose. On the cover we have Ashia Hall Muhamad, a Best-Selling Author, Educator and Entrepreneur, who has met with us to share her passion and purpose for creating products for creatives. Allow our issue to continue serving as a reminder to “Dream! Dream big! And never stop dreaming!” Until Next Time, Stay Pretty and Paid!
Jakia Cheatham – Myles FOUNDER/CEO PRETTY WOMEN HUSTLE
MEET
WRITTEN BY: CHANDRA GORE
Nia Simone
She has appeared on Good Morning Texas, sang the National Anthem at the Texas Rangers game, and was a regular ensemble performer at the Dallas House of Blues Gospel Sunday Brunch. Nia Simone’s first single, “Oh No, Not Me,” was released on March 14, 2022, with an EP release date slated for the future. The sultry anthem is a nod to self-empowerment and knowing your worth, with a dash of self-love and positivity. Displaying a broad range of vocals and catchy lyrics, “Oh No, Not Me” is Simone’s first release following her spotlight at Revolt, and highly anticipated given the accolades she received from many legends in the industry. Touted as a “superstar” by 2-Time GRAMMY award-winning rapper Rapsody, Nia Simone is at the cusp of her career and ready for what lies ahead.
A Dallas, TX native, Nia Simone is a multidimensional vocalist and winner of the 2021 Revolt TV Summit Talent Competition. A current student at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA, she began performing at the tender age of five years old. Nia realized her talent at an early age and developed her gift as a performer. She was accepted into one of the top-performing arts schools in the country, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, where she trained in various music genres, including classical, gospel, and rhythm and blues. Nia Simone is a sought-after performer and has been the highlighted talent for events and shows throughout the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex and beyond. She was selected as one of five finalists to perform at the renowned Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, California.
“I knew that I wanted a very empowering, relatable song that says, ‘I know my worth and ‘I’m not going to settle,’” the award-winning singer said. “It could be for relationships or friendships. It’s you saying, ‘No, we’re not going to do this’ and sticking firm to it. Like the song says, ‘Oh no, not me,’ not today.” Nia Simone cites influences from Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Chloe, and Halle, amongst others, for her allure with nods to R&B, Soul, Gospel, and many other genres of inspiration for her diversity of sound. A Dallas native and now Clark Atlanta University student, Nia Simone is artfully blooming into the artist she envisioned to be – one intuitively held since the adoring age of five. For more information on Nia Simone, visit RealNiaSimone.com or @real_niasimone on Instagram. “Oh No, Not Me” is available for download on all platforms and can be previewed at RealNiaSimone.com.
A MOUNTAIN OF HOPE By Natashia Hagans
The eyes can’t see where things are going The hours are longer Sadness lingers around People’s minds wander around for hope The type of hope that is reflected in the mirror The type of hope you reach for So many want to but can’t Is hope lost? Can it be found in the sky, earth, or sea? Does it have a gentle smile? Is it in the reflection of people? Is hope far away? Will hope be found in a jellybean jar? In a dark alley with no night stars? Can it be found in the sun or moon? Is hope foreign to all? Maybe hope is on the edge of a ladder Or at the tip of a cliff In a rainforest with lions, tigers, and bears Hope come out where ever you are No hope is not far You see it in your smile The heartfelt prayer you pray on each day Hope is the people’s melody So sing folks as loud as you can Maybe a little gentle tone But sing, baby About a mountain of hope
ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
Gwendolyn Young Gwendolyn Young is the go-to Business and Operations Management Consultant for six-figure CEOs who are ready to greet their next level of growth. Gifted with both strategic and tactical acumen, Gwendolyn has rightfully earned her stellar reputation as exactly what she is—an indispensable strategic partner who advances every organization that she steps into. The brilliant brain behind several successful companies, Gwendolyn spent 15+ years advising corporate executives who implicitly trust her to devise the systems and solutions that significantly increase their profitability. Leveraging that deep expertise, Gwendolyn founded Your Virtual Admin Expert, a results-driven agency of professional administrative problem solvers who replace overwhelm with operational excellence and ease. Masterful at what she does, Gwendolyn has an innate sense for what makes businesses tick—and profit. Understanding how every aspect of an organization should flow together, she ensures that no opportunity is lost. A woman who can recover $40K worth of written-off receivables with a single workflow, Gwendolyn wows high-performing leaders with her ability to quickly uncover ways to boost their bottom lines.
With all her notable achievements, most of all, Gwendolyn is a transformational mentor. Turning her leadership into legacy by teaching others, she coaches new virtual support professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs to success. A business boss who has built her own six-figure company from the ground up, Gwendolyn has helped her clients launch new companies and increase their revenues by double-digits. Gwendolyn has also been celebrated as an award-winning nonprofit leader for her life-changing work with young women throughout the Chicagoland area. Never meeting an obstacle that she couldn’t overcome, every day is a triumph for Gwendolyn over her chronic illness. An open book, she regularly shares her wisdom with women to teach them how to escape the confines of corporate to build businesses and lives that allow them to prioritize their health and families.
If you could describe yourself in four words, what would it be? Driven, Ambitious, Giving, and Fun What inspired your start in helping companies achieve true success? Being in the healthcare industry, I saw firsthand how all the parts of an organization affected the patient, and that is where my love for operations and efficiency came into play. I took that love for administration and operations and honed my craft as an administrator to help small businesses succeed. With 15+ years in the industry, what has been your career’s most rewarding and challenging part? Leading other people! I have such a high level of personal drive, ambition, and accountability that it requires balance when working with others who may work differently than I do. I’ve had to learn how to become a more patient, engaged, and effective leader and learn how to hire the right people who share my values and heart for service to support our clients. What services do you currently offer for entrepreneurs and new businesses? We currently offer online business management support and general admin services to professional service providers who have become overwhelmed by all the day-to-day management of their business.
What message do you hope women walk away with your brand? That they don’t have to choose between doing the work they love and taking care of themselves. I hope they are inspired to reach higher heights and understand that their unique gifts, experiences, and voices matter to the world. Where do you hope to see your brand in the next 35 years? I hope to see our brand working with corporate and/or government agencies training them on administrative functions and/or working with them on projects. What is your definition of a Pretty Woman Who Hustles? A Pretty Woman Who Hustles is one who understands what she’s hustling for; she has purpose and drive, and she looks damn good doing it!
UNSUNG EMPOWERMENT Written By: LR Wilson
This month's empowerment article is a tad bit different. April is the designated month for Autism Awareness, and I have had the pleasure of loving friends and family who are caregivers to children with autism. Those women are my empowerment focus this month. My best friend, Penny Nelson, is the proud mother of two sons. Her older son has autism, and he is non-verbal. She is empowered every day as I witness her advocating for him and making sure that his voice is heard through hers. She is an amazing mother and will let nothing or anyone take her power away. That's what an Empowered Woman looks like for me. My daughter, Che Williams, is the mother of my granddiva, Aubrii Phoenix, who has autism. Che has worked tirelessly on behalf of my granddiva, who is very verbal (sometimes too much, lol), to make sure she is not treated differently due to her autism. She advocates for Aubrii when she can't advocate for herself. Aubrii is ten years old now and wrote a book at nine years old, along with some adults, about her daily living with autism. It speaks to kids, parents, teachers, and more to help them understand what she goes through as a kid. Her book, Aubrii's Adventures: A Day In The Life Of ASD, is available on Amazon. Empowerment looks very different to everyone. Small victories of speaking up for yourself or advocating for others is empowerment at its best. The next time you see or hear the word empowerment remember these two amazing women and others you know, who might even be you, that are empowering others through their empowerment. LR WILSON, EMPOWERMENT LIFESTYLE COACH
ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
Nariyah Simms Nariyah Simms is a sharp-witted serial entrepreneur who is passionate about producing tangible results. Before venturing into her present business field, Nariyah worked as a Tax Consultant and Financial Consultant for 15 years. Her extensive career trajectory includes owning multiple businesses, such as a hair salon (her first love), a cleaning company, and working as a successful credit consultant. For over 4 years, Nariyah has dealt with providing credit restoration to individuals suffering from incorrect reporting data on their credit reports. She astutely places her clients in a position where they can successfully open bank accounts, build their dream home, purchase new vehicles, and obtain favorable financing options. Nariyah is a board-certified credit repair specialist through the CCA, FCRA, and FDCPA. She has obtained her BCCC and CSCC certifications and is well-versed in filing consumer reporting complaints, preparing credit bureau disputes, and analyzing credit reporting data for well over 4 years, adding to her expertise in the field.
Born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ, in a single-parent home, Nariyah faced many obstacles. In the era Nariyah grew up in, she was always taught “whatever goes on in this house, stays in this house,” so suffering in silence seemed to be the norm. Financial literacy also was not something taught. After surviving domestic violence (DV) in two marriages, Nariyah diligently sought out holistic healing and activities devoted to helping others who were survivors. In doing so, Nariyah started two non-profit organizations, “Michelle’s Daughter, Inc.” dedicated to Women, Men, and Children who are DV victims and survivors, and “Project Rahab,” dedicated to at-risk youth. Nariyah also studied and became certified as a DV Liaison and served as an at-risk youth counselor for two years. Each attempt at survival exposed to her the importance of maintaining great credit when you don’t have cash and good spending habits when you do. In 2017, Nariyah began helping close friends, their friends, and family members repair their credit and budgeting their finances.
After being a victim of identity theft, she studied consumer laws, government laws, and credit laws. In 2020, Nariyah bravely launched Star Stellar Credit Repair Solutions, LLC. Nariyah learned more things in the financial business aspect and started adding more services to her brand quickly. In 2021, Nariyah took all her NEW additional services and rebranded and relaunched, exposing the NEW business named GWAP Financial Services, A Trust Company - God. Wealth. Assets. Prosperity. At GWAP Financial Services, their mission is to enable the underserved by taking the credit population to build and fulfill their dreams, desires, goals, and ambitions abundantly!
Who is Nariyah Simms in four words? Resilient, Independent, Hard-Working, God-Fearing
What inspired your start in finance? After surviving domestic violence in two marriages, each attempt at survival exposed to me the importance of maintaining great credit when you don’t have cash and good spending habits. Having to survive on my own with my newborn baby at the time is what also taught me the importance of having good credit and good money management habits. In 2017, I started helping friends and family with credit repair, budgeting, and debt consolidation. My Best Friend Keith M. Miller, Sr., was my biggest cheerleader after educating him financially while he was picking up the pieces after a bad divorce. Soon thereafter, I started my company Star Stellar Credit Repair, which was later rebranded to GWAP Financial Services, Inc. What services does GWAP Financial currently offer? GWAP Financial Services, Inc. currently offers education in financial literacy and personal finance, credit repair, business, and personal funding, tax preparation, business credit building, life insurance services, home buying preparedness, and our NEWLY added Business University, which is online self-paced education to help the entrepreneurs at heart learn how to build their business in any industry. What is your favorite part of what you do? I would have to say helping others reach their financial goals and the relationships I build with my clients outside of servicing them.
What are 4 financial tips for new entrepreneurs? 1) Make sure you regulate your OWN personal finances first and foremost. Often, we get so caught up in building our brand and growing our business that we neglect our finances. Plan for your retirement and budget, don’t spend frivolously and unnecessarily, and most importantly, SAVE!!! 2) Reinvest in your business. When your business starts to increase sales and profit, put some of that money back into marketing, expand on different platforms, and start hiring to alleviate some of your self-delegating tasks because time is really money. 3) Build and maintain your personal credit. I cannot express how important this is. If you ever need business capital or cash flow, lenders always consider new businesses high risk and will want to see how you have been maintaining your own credit. It does not matter if your business made 1 Million dollars in the 1st quarter. If your credit is poor, they will not entertain the idea of lending you money. 4) Be TEACHABLE. Ongoing education is absolutely necessary for entrepreneurship as business needs and the environment evolve. It never hurts to consult with a financial advisor to help provide expertise when you’re uncertain as well. What is your definition of a Pretty Woman Who Hustles? A Pretty Woman Who Hustles is determined in success, a goal-digger who pursues and progresses while working hard to achieve her goals while consistently training her mind, body, and spirit. Her outward beauty is an added bonus.
www.gwapfinancial.org
ARE YOU READY FOR A VACATION?
After the last two and half years of dealing with COVID-19 and its shenanigans, everyone should be ready for a vacation. Whether it is a getaway for one or you will take the whole family, it is well deserved. If you can set aside time, you are encouraged to schedule vacation time with your family. Doing so has an unlimited number of benefits.
According to a study by the American Psychological Association, vacations make great stress and anxiety relievers. Science routinely provides evidence that vacation days are great for your mental and physical health. What it boils down to is all work and no play will stress you completely out! You need to ask yourself several questions as you prepare for that exciting getaway. 1-Where do I want to go? 2- What does my budget look like? 3- How long will I be staying? 4- How am I getting there? Each year, a large number of families decide to take a vacation. However, there are even more families that do not. Which type of family are you? There are several reasons why folks can not go on vacation. The most common reason is the cost. Many of us believe that taking a vacation has to be an extravagant adventure. It really doesn’t matter where you travel to. It could be just a day outing to the closest amusement park, camp overnight at a state park, or travel around the world; each can be considered a nice relaxing, stress-free vacation. While preparation advice and tips may assist you, they are often hard to go by. This is because not everyone vacations at the same location. When preparing for a spring or summer vacation, you are encouraged to choose three to four destinations. While cost is a number one ball buster, many families cannot take a vacation due to their busy schedules.
To accommodate families, quite a few will go away during spring break, while others will do the summer months, especially if children are traveling. Spring and summer vacations are popular because they are often the only time a family can take a break from their daily activities. Perhaps, the greatest benefit of scheduling a spring or summer vacation with your family is the amount of time that you will be able to spend together. In this day and age, many families can rarely spend time together. Long work hours, homework, and busy sports schedules often prevent a family from enjoying fun activities. In some cases, summer vacation is the only way a family can spend uninterrupted time together. While these are the most common times to enjoy, folks do partake in winter break as well for a nice getaway, depending on the location. Scheduling a vacation with your family will allow you to forget about work-related issues and other life chores that you are responsible for. These are some of the problems and issues that only a vacation can cure. Whenever you leave home, no matter where you are traveling, you are always encouraged to have the proper forms of identification. If you do not have a driver’s license, you can easily obtain an id card from your local county office building. If you decide to leave the country, you will need to get a passport for everyone traveling.
However, you can also go online and get a durable, high-quality Child Travel ID card for your upcoming trip. If your child has any medical conditions, you can obtain a safety ID card in case of an emergency. You should bring along all health insurance and auto insurance cards. Should you need care or get into an automobile accident, this information will come in handy. If you are not prepared to get away this year, start early to plan for next year. Here are a few things you can do. Start your research early. This will give you enough time to plan your destination and save for it. By planning early, you will be able to take advantage of any special discounts. While you are putting your vacation together, you want to be able to search out family-friendly hotels, like adjoining rooms, suites, kitchenettes, and other layout options that will make a big difference when traveling with kids. Some hotels are better for families because of the amenities that they offer. No matter your vacation destination, you will also need to consider the climate and bring the appropriate clothing. Bathing suits, shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops are common appeal found at beaches and aboard cruise ships. While you may be expecting warm and sunny weather, it is still advised that you prepare for the worst. Raincoats and an umbrella may be a great addition to your summer clothing. If you are visiting a tropical location in the summertime, remember hurricane season. An added choice to make while taking your vacation is to make sure you add travel insurance to your budget. When booking your hotel stay or resort destination, don’t forget to read the fine print. If you need to cancel for any reason, you want to know how much of your money you will be able to recover Amanda Sherman, Travel Advisor APS EVENTS AND TRAVEL
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT Tamera Foley, PH.D. Tamera Foley is an Independent Consultant for Education 4 All Now LLC. Dr. Foley began her professional career in education over 30 years ago. She has conducted training in various areas of education. As a life-long learner, she has presented to students in Limon, Costa Rica, through an invitation from the United States Embassy. Dr. Foley spent a month exploring special education supports and services in Hungary and the Czech Republic through a Fulbright Scholarship. She has worked supporting
the
schools
where
she
was
an
administrator in the area of literacy as well as academic evaluations of students with disabilities. Dr. Foley assisted with implementing the Reading First grant while serving as a principal. Dr. Foley has previously worked as an Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, Director of Secondary Special Education as well as a principal and teacher. She worked directly with students with disabilities as well as the at-risk population. She has been a mentor and a coach to former teachers throughout her career. She has been an advocate of literacy, ensuring that all students were provided an opportunity to improve academically.
Dr. Foley has led district initiatives such as the
I am always learning and still taking classes. I like
implementation of The Family Health Center at
to keep up with what is going on globally,
North Clayton High School, Asthma Friendly
especially in the entrepreneurial and education
School Initiative, Positive Behavior Interventions
spaces. The two keep me interested in seeking
and Supports, and Implementation of Kurzweil to
information to improve and build my businesses.
improve student and parent literacy, dropout prevention, literacy, and others initiatives that had a
You are the author of four amazing books for
direct impact on the teaching and learning of
children and families. What message do you
students in Clayton County Public Schools.
hope readers take away from your work? The message that I want readers to take away from
Dr. Foley has also worked in the area of Mental
my work is that we must listen to children, inquire
Health for the State of Alabama Department of
about their social-emotional health, and have
Mental Health in Developmental Disabilities. She
discussions so they feel safe and relevant—
leads a Facebook Group entitled Support for
encouraging parents to keep up with the research
Children in Trauma. You can listen to her weekly
about children to address their needs.
informational sessions on issues relating to trauma and mental health. She has recently published four
Where do you hope to see your platform in the
books.
next 3-5 years? In the next three to five years, I hope to have my
Dr. Foley served as an educational source for
books in libraries across the country, on store
ThinkInclusive.us Article, “What to Do When the
bookshelves in major stores, and as a part of the
School Wants to Remove IEP Services” in 2020.
school curriculum, addressing social-emotional
She has also been interviewed on the radio,
learning.
podcasts, and other media for her work in trauma and social and emotional learning. Dr. Foley is
If you could give a word of encouragement to
passionate about her work with and for students
the next generation of writers, what would it be?
and is an advocate for all students.
Write and publish! Take time to research the topic you want to write about to see if there is a need. Look and review books or articles in the genre you
What inspired your love for education?
want to write in. Know your audience and your
My love for education was inspired at an early age.
ideal reader. Seek professional assistance.
I loved to read and was curious as a child. My mother was a substitute teacher in the South and
What is your definition of a Pretty Woman Who
later became a daycare teacher until retirement. I
Hustles?
was a babysitter and enjoyed keeping the children. I
A pretty woman who hustles is a woman who
wanted to become a teacher who could help
knows what she wants, makes every effort to
children, which led me to a career in special
achieve her goals, and takes care of herself
education.
spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. They are professionals who are experts in their fields and are
You are a lifelong learner and educator. How does
your
career
align
entrepreneurial endeavors?
with
known for excellence in their endeavors.
your Connect
with
Dr.
https://linktr.ee/TameraFoley
Tamara
Foley:
Written By: Chandra Gore
MEET REAL ESTATE POWERHOUSE
Tashea McDougald Celebrity realtor, educator, and author, Tashea K. McDougald entered real estate in 2011 as a dual career agent, working full-time as a paralegal. After work and on the weekends, she worked as a realtor. Fully focused on success, she sold over $1 million in volume while balancing a full-time job. This success inspired her to want to aid new and part-time realtors in their career path by publishing How to Be a Successful Dual Career Real Estate Agent. This guide shows agents how to find success as parttime or full-time agents. By mentoring agents to foster a “can do” attitude that will keep them encouraged and on their path to success, Tashea strives to keep inspiring each agent she works with. Selling over $10 million in sales volume as a fulltime agent, it is only right that this powerhouse continues her success by launching the Tashea McDougald Team, powered by Samson Properties and Exit All Seasons Realty, where they help clients throughout VA Beach, Richmond, Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Downstate New York. She has built a nationwide presence, supplying the compassion, proficiency, and handson service needed to help any buyer or seller.
When listing a property, The Tashea McDougald Team prefers a comprehensive strategy. After helping clients fully prepare their homes for the market, they share it over everything from the regional MLS to a blend of targeted digital and social media campaigns. In the meantime, they use the cutting-edge systems at Samson Properties and Exit All Seasons Realty to cultivate a unique network of potential buyers around each listing.
The Tashea McDougald Team is committed to their buyers, carefully guiding them to the right home for their best interests. In fact, they often become good friends with their clients over the course of their transaction, keeping in touch long after the deals are done and ensuring nobody falls through the cracks. Through the years, they have earned a fantastic reputation among clients and colleagues alike, with the majority of our business coming from referrals. We stay focused on the standards of openness and integrity that have set us apart in the first place. “Clients know we will put them first. We do not see them as a commission; rather, they are calling on us to help them make a life-changing decision, and we take on their trust with a great deal of honor.”
This all-woman team consists of Nacie Grigsby, M.S. Realtor, Vivian Gayle-Wilks, M.S. Realtor®, Valeria Crespo, M.S. Realtor®. This team is deeply committed to the philanthropic effort of serving #100Famiies through Real Estate.
Celebrity Realtor Tashea McDougald is a woman to watch. Her motto, “No Excuses,” shows her drive and tenacity that catapults her to continued success.
www.tasheamcdougaldteam.com
PRETTY BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Tiffanie Page – Collazo The P.A.U.S.E. Coach
Tiffanie Page-Collazo is Pennsylvania. For over successfully served in the sectors and is known as a author.
a native of Erie, 25 years, she has private and nonprofit leader, innovator, and
Tiffanie served in two positions at The Erie City Mission; Director of Development, Marketing, and Communications and the Director of Strategic Development & Grants. She completely rebranded the organization, diversified fundraising options, and helped lead its 2013 Capital Campaign.
Throughout her career, she has been responsible for providing leadership in development, media relations, grant management, relationship building, board relations, project management, and team building. Through these experiences, her desire increased to assist people with achieving their personal goals and dreams.
Tiffanie spent a short time with The Women’s Roundtable as Executive Director. Her work with Erie Arts and Culture as Community Organizer began the development of the amazing Chroma Guild. This guild supports the development and collaboration of artists of color.
She worked at The Erie Community Foundation as the Director of Community Impact, spearheading the Donors Choose partnership and assisting in the development of Erie Gives. She was the first employee of color at The Erie Community Foundation.
Tiffanie is a graduate of Project Blueprint and the Jefferson Educational Society’s Civic Leadership Academy. She is a Certified Speaker, Trainer, & Coach with the John Maxwell Team. She is also a trained facilitator for the ICE HOUSE Entrepreneur Course.
In 2019, Page-Collazo launched her agency, Diverse Collaborations & Consulting, a multifunctioning agency. Branches include Diverse Collabs, which offers content solutions for small businesses, trainers, and coaches, and Collazo Coaching, which offers group and 1:1 coaching. Tiffanie is the creator of The P.A.U.S.E. Personal Development Method, the only 5-tier personal development method that teaches women how to slow down so that they can level up. This system focuses on prioritizing self-care, affirming self-talk, usurping your power, strategic life planning, and executing/achieving that plan. She helps women ready to break free from imposter syndrome, burnout, and overwhelm. She stated, “it is high time to stop apologizing, own our awesomeness, and take up space with confidence.” Page-Collazo continues to contribute to the community as a writer, organizer, and presenter. Past publications and organizations with which she has been involved include the Erie Times-News, Jefferson Educational Society, the Erie City Mission’s Capital Campaign, St. Martin’s Center Erie’s Best Coffee event, HerPOWER 200 Women United Event, Athena Erie, and the Gannon Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC) Women in Leadership Development (WILD ) Conference. In 2018, her hard work and dedication was recognized by the Mercy Center for Women, which presented her with the Women Making History Award.
What inspired your start in coaching? For over 25 years, I successfully served in the nonprofit sector. I was responsible for providing leadership in several areas throughout my career, including development, media relations, grant management, relationship building, board relations, project management, and team building. In all of those experiences, the concurrent theme was development, and it fed my soul. So I will say that I had been coaching/consulting for years before, “ making it my business” and going full time doing what I love.
My coaching was on full display as I mentored an entrepreneur for her debut on the Discovery Channel’s Undercover Billionaire: Comeback City television series. If you could describe your coaching style in four words, what would they be? Intentional, Empowering, Trustworthy, Experienced. What message do you hope your clients take away from your platform? I love this question. Listen, I was just like many people. While in a senior leadership position, I worried about what people thought of me. I felt like an impostor. I was burnt out. I was overwhelmed by microaggressions about my race, education, and life choices. I had to P.A.U.S.E., which allowed me to slow down so that I could level up. I want them to know that it is definitely okay to do so. And it’s a beautiful journey. Where do you hope to see your brand in the next 3-5 years? As a Certified Life Coach, I help women who are ready to break free from Imposter Syndrome, burnout, and overwhelm. I believe that it is high time to stop apologizing, own our greatness, and take up space with confidence. So, I hope to help women around the world find their truest selves and passion via my personal development method, The P.A.U.S.E, the only 5-tier personal development method that teaches women how to slow down so that they can level up. This system focuses on prioritizing self-care, affirming self-talk, reclaiming your power, strategic life planning, and executing/achieving that plan. What is your definition of a Pretty Woman Who Hustles? One of the first things I say to a new client is, “I encourage you to take all of the pieces that life has dealt you and create something beautiful, resilient, and colorful! People are always going to talk, so you might as well be awesome!” #MAWBA. A Pretty Woman Who Hustles is that woman. She is aligned with who she is and has decided to get what she wants. She is the epitome of #MAWBA www.collazocoaching.com
BLACK GIRL PLANNING Ashia Hall MAGIC Muhammad PWH FEATURE
Ashia Hall Muhammad is a best-selling author, educator, and entrepreneur. In 2019, she created her handcrafted stationery brand Mocha Planner to help fill the void of diversity in the stationery space. Due to her understanding of book layout and design, she created her first editable Canva planner template course.
Following the success of this template course, Ashia established Let’s Do Launch, where she teaches a variety of online courses to assist entrepreneurs in launching their own planner and journal line. Since 2020, she was taught over 2000 women worldwide. As her teaching business grew, she decided to transition her planner and journal line from handcrafted products to using a printon-demand service. Embracing the concept of working smarter and not harder, the print-ondemand concept allowed Ashia to operate Mocha Planner and Let’s Do Launch simultaneously. In 2022, Ashia added coloring books to her brand and transitioned to selling products from the Mocha Planner line on Amazon KDP. Her coloring book, Black Girl Magic: Positive Affirmations Coloring Book, became an Amazon #1 Best Seller in March 2022. Muhammad believes that everyone has something they can teach. She established the Launch My Course course to help other black creatives put their expertise on display and teach.
Ashia holds a bachelor’s degree in history, a master’s degree in higher education and is currently completing the requirements for her doctorate in higher education. She has enjoyed a 21-year career in higher education. She has one son, who is a college freshman. She enjoys shopping, journaling, and volunteering in her spare time.
Outside of entrepreneurship, who is Ashia Hall Muhammad in five words? Mother, Daughter, Sister, Educator, Servant Leader What Inspired your brand “Mocha Planner”? Mocha Planner was inspired by the lack of diversity in the stationery space in 2019. I wanted to create planners, journals, and coloring books for women of color with images that looked like us. Often, brands take images of clip art and just change the complexion to brown, hoping to pacify the need for diversity. I am intentional in making sure that our products showcase images with the same hair, nose, lips, and hips reflective of the people in our community. It is my goal that whenever you see a product from Mocha Planner, you can immediately identify with the image on the cover. I want clients to feel like our products truly represent them. How would you describe your creativity in creating each product? I let my creativity flow. There are times that I sit down to create a product, and the design changes as I am working. I try not to force my designs or make things fit in places they do not. I initially will have a general idea of the color scheme and images I plan to use, but I need them to fit together organically. If they do not, I scrap that idea and continue with what feels natural and what looks good. hat message do you hope women take away from your platform? I hope they take away that anything is possible if you are willing to use your creativity and put in the work.
What can creatives expect when registering for your planner course? My planner course started with me wanting to assist clients with the interior of their planners. I provide a variety of planner templates and instruct clients on how to edit the templates to fit their branding. The templates that I created are made to fit inside planners and journals, so I am very deliberate in making sure the margins are within the printing guideline. When clients leave my course, they will understand using the Canva software, how to design their covers and how to edit the template to match their cover. Because I am an educator by trade, I offer a question and answer portion so clients can ask questions and get answers in real-time. This allows me to connect with the clients and guide them along the process of making their planners. Some of my clients create handcrafted planners, and some use services such as LuLu and Amazon KDP to publish and print their products. The question and answer session allowed me to address those questions and guide them along their journey. Earlier this year, you launched several products for female creatives on Amazon. What was the motivation behind this release? When I started in 2019, I created handcrafted planners and journals on my kitchen table. As the volume of orders picked up, I began looking for a publisher. Once the pandemic of 2020 hit, it became more difficult to order supplies to get products made in a timely manner. I started researching print-on-demand companies that could print my products and mail them directly to my clients. I tried another company in 2020 and eventually shifted to Amazon KDP earlier this year. Essentially, the designs that I was previously selling on my Mocha Planner website are now available for purchase on Amazon. Amazon Prime shipping is also a plus when clients need their products fast. What tips do you have for entrepreneurs to maximize their products on Amazon? The main tip would be to have a marketing plan to inform their customers about their product. Amazon has over a million books listed. Without a marketing plan, your planner or journal will be just another product on Amazon.
While targeted keywords and a detailed description will help potential clients find your product on Amazon, it is still important to note the volume of products that possibly are using the same keywords. Using social media platforms and paid ads will help get their product in front of their target audience. Posting about their products often maximizes visibility. Paying attention to their numbers and utilizing the social media platform gives them the best return in engagement and purchases.
What is your definition of a Pretty Woman Who Hustles? A Pretty Woman Who Hustles is a relentless woman figuring out what is needed to achieve her ultimate goal and doing whatever is needed to make that happen.
How are you currently balancing self-care and entrepreneurship while pursuing your doctorate in higher education? My self-care regimen is journaling. I have been a “journaler” most of my life. Proper time management is also important. I have set times where I devote to research and time to the business. My long-term goal is to retire from education and run Mocha Planner full time.
Where do you hope to see your platform in the next 3-5 years? In the next 3-5, I hope to continue to make products that speak to the beauty of African American women. I want to expand and create selfcare journals, manifestations planners, financial planners, prayer journals, and other products. I also plan to present the Launch My Course platform to increase the number of women teaching in the creative space. I believe every woman has a skill set they could teach based on something they are passionate about, just as I teach about female entrepreneurship in the stationery space. If you could collaborate with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Oprah Winfrey. I remember watching new brands introduced on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and they would really blow up after Oprah mentioned them in one of her segments. That type of publicity would be amazing for Mocha Planner.
Connect with Ashia Muhammad Instagram: @mochaplanner Instagram @lets.do.launch Tiktok: @lets.do.launch
4 SELFCARE TIPS FOR 2022 By Latrina Caldwell
New times are approaching, and like all others, you might have set new goals and ambitions you want to accomplish during this year. Setting goals is the first step, and putting efforts to achieve them is the second and most important one. Although we set new goals and ambitions each year, most of us fall off the wagon shortly after the New Year. One of the most critical aspects of our lives that often gets neglected, especially during these recent life events, is selfcare. The concept of self-care isn't new to us. Instead, it has gained significant importance during the most recent years.
As we continue to proceed through this year, it has become essential for us to include selfcare among the missions to accomplish. Self-care means performing activities that are oriented towards improving our overall health.
Here we will list a few tips on self-care that you must start practicing for self-care to be a lifestyle or part of a daily routine. Developing a habit of performing these activities will significantly improve your overall health and bring positivity to your life.
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FOLLOW YOUR PASSION
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Reading is a habit of winners and is the easiest to achieve. Set achievable goals and develop a habit of reading at least 7-10 pages daily. You can carry your favorite book with you and read a few pages whenever you find time; for example, while waiting for dinner in a restaurant, before sleeping, while making tea, or while waiting for an appointment with the doctor. Reading new books will nourish your mind and improve your mental health.
The most significant change you need to make this year is to start following your passion. Start doing things that you love and the ones which make you feel comfortable. Indulge in activities that bring fun and joy to your life. Following your passion promotes positivity and redirects negative energy from your life. Hence, you stay healthy, fit, and active. That's how your overall health improves.
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SPEND TIME IN THE NATURE We have become so busy in our daily lives that we do not find time for ourselves. We sit in our offices or homes and do not spend time in nature. Spending time in nature is incredibly beneficial for us. Nature and sunlight are good for humanity. They improve our mood, restore our spirits, strengthen our memories, and enhance focus and clarity. That's how spending time in nature
READ NEW BOOKS
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CONSUME HEALTHY FOOD There is no doubt that the food we eat leaves a huge impact on our health. During times of stress and anxiety, it becomes so easy to consume unhealthy meals. Unhealthy meals are disastrous for our health. The best thing about eating healthy and nutritious meals is boosting our mind and body. Self-care is so important, not just sometimes but every day. For mental health & self-care tips: latrinacaldwell.com.
TIPS TO UNPLUG AFTER A LONG WORK WEEK
After a long week of working and giving to others, whether in the workplace or within your home, it is important to unplug and give time to oneself. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and you are not good to anyone when you are not fulfilled. We must practice the best versions of ourselves daily. You are the master of your mind and the creator of your universe. With the aid and wisdom from lessons you go through, you are better equipped to build a brighter future.
ROSIE BASQUIN
Continue to feed yourself and your soul with what it needs. Implement boundaries to ensure you get a healthy dose of much-needed self-care at the end of your week. Don’t know what that looks like? Try incorporating some of these activities into your weekends. GET OUTDOORS. Our bodies are connected with the earth, so I believe many of our moods can be affected by the weather. We need to connect with nature in some way. Getting outdoors not only helps us physically but it improves our brain function.
When I am outdoors, I am soaking up all the vitamin D and giving my body the fuel it needs to release those natural endorphins, making me feel good and keeping me motivated. Even on those rainy days, enjoy the pitter-patter on your umbrella as you breathe in nature. Try taking a walk, riding a bike, going for a swim, hiking, or rollerblading. MEDITATE & MARINATE. I am all for lazy days! Those days when you do absolutely nothing but lie in bed, eat junk food, and binge on your favorite shows or movies. Those days when you silence your cell phone, and you completely forget the outside world exists while you marinate in all of your funk.
Skip the makeup routine, the fixing your bed, the healthy breakfast, and go all out! This is a perfect way to really do something mindless that does not require any effort. We all deserve days to ourselves, even when that means doing absolutely nothing. COMPLETE A “TO-DO” LIST. Completing small tasks around the house makes me feel like a part of my life is together. When you accomplish small tasks, you feel more inclined to tackle bigger ones. Create time and space to tackle those at home or DIY projects you have wanted to try. Even if your to-do list has tasks like shopping, reading, or researching the latest trends on your favorite stock, writing out a small agenda for the day and getting them done provides great stress relief, productivity, and motivation. SOCIALIZE. Schedule a spa day with the girls, mani-pedi with your bestie, FaceTime date with your gang, or a massage with your significant other. Humans were not meant to thrive in isolation, so interactions with friends and counterparts are vital to restoring positive emotions. Within the community you have built, you have a support system, and you can continue to nurture your community and circle by making time for the people you care for. Set your intentions to be meaningful and thrive within those connections. Often life can put us astray, and the hobbies we once enjoyed no longer fit in our schedules. We begin to make excuses and lose track of time, but the more purposeful you become in making time for yourself, the more you will see a difference in yourself and your relationship with others. Be conscious of making time to destress and do things that fill your cup. After a long week, you deserve to be fulfilled, so take these suggestions and incorporate them into your weekly routine!