Q: What inspired you to found your own company?

HARMONY VALLEJO: I had been in the industry a long time before I actually decided to start my own company. The decision came because I believed I had a unique skill set that could be used for not only something bigger but something that would ultimately support others. It’s our responsibility to provide support to those who need it if we can, and after establishing a pretty good foundation, I was able to hone in on our niche. Besides, who doesn’t want to be their own boss?

Q: Why did you choose to support nonprofits and ethical businesses?

HARMONY VALLEJO: I adore what I do because I have the opportunity to have a career while supporting multiple charitable initiatives. We all have a responsibility to do good in the world, and with the way I’ve structured my business, we’re able to provide the help that these organizations need in order to support their communities. In short, we take the pressure of marketing and backend operations off their plates. I’m able to use years of experience to create meaningful changes in people’s lives, and to me, that’s a dream come true. 

Q: What inspires you to go to work every day?

HARMONY VALLEJO: My team needs me, for one. I am the CEO of the company and I need to be there to provide guidance and support where they need it. Other than that, I would say the biggest inspiration I deal with is the amazing people who work for these nonprofits. They come to work every day because they want to help others. They’re so dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the world, so being able to work closely with them and help ease their burden truly makes me so happy. And seeing them thrilled when they gain more followers on social media, or how happy they are when we provide branding support – all of these things make it so easy to come to work. 

Q: Can you explain why you think nonprofits need help with their marketing? 

HARMONY VALLEJO: Sure! Nonprofits often have a strong passion for their cause, but they may not have the expertise or resources to communicate their message to their target audience. Marketing is crucial to any organization, including nonprofits. It helps them raise awareness, attract supporters, and generate donations. But many nonprofits face challenges when it comes to marketing, from limited budgets and limited staff to a general lack of marketing expertise. As a result of these things, they might struggle to stand out. 

Q: What do you think the future of marketing looks like for nonprofit organizations?

HARMONY VALLEJO: That’s an easy one. It’s about the digital revolution, which continues to speed up every year, it feels like. But overall, this is an incredibly positive change for nonprofits. They just need to harness it. With social media and online fundraising platforms, nonprofits can reach a wider audience and engage supporters in more meaningful ways. Having said that, there’s still something to say about developing face-to-face marketing to create a meaningful relationship for a long-term donor relationship. I am interested in seeing how these two methods of delivery work cohesively. 

Q: What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs like yourself? 

HARMONY VALLEJO: My advice would be to stay passionate about your goals and be open to learning from failures. Perhaps most importantly, you have to be agile and willing to adapt to changing circumstances. You should also take calculated risks, stay true to your values, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Entrepreneurs aren’t an island, and they don’t get anywhere alone. 

The post Harmony Vallejo, CEO and Founder of Universal Events Inc.  appeared first on CEO Medium.

My career to date has been free-flowing and non-traditional. I’ve always worked with entrepreneurs as I love the pressure, challenges, opportunities for learning, and being part of something new and big, that this path presents. I’ve worked in many sectors in many countries including Canada, the US, the UK and Africa. I’m lucky to have always enjoyed the freedom to get fully involved in projects and to work with uniquely talented individuals on exciting initiatives. 

One day I realised I had a choice, I could continue working for one amazing entrepreneur or use all that I’d learned to create a business that enabled me to work with many amazing entrepreneurs to create a real impact. 

Kinship Kollective was born in September 2019, which allowed me to partner with entrepreneurs and help them overcome any obstacles stopping them from achieving their business goals. At the heart of the company is execution consulting which saves entrepreneurs both time and money by reducing their vision into execution-focused parts that let the people and the business move forward towards their objectives. 

What does your typical day look like?

There isn’t a typical day in my life, which is why I love what I do! Every day is different, and my priorities are different, with tasks ranging from prepping products for a marketing launch and overseeing a team to achieve a set goal to conducting 2 hours of interviews. 

I am in charge of my time and productivity, which I manage through time blocking. This lets me truly focus on specific client work and tick off tasks for the day efficiently. 

How do you achieve a work-life balance?

Working with entrepreneurs means non-traditional hours and work patterns and projects, but that’s the beauty and fun of it all as no two days are the same. The balance comes from doing work you really enjoy and creating time for things that provide meaning. As it’s the little things that make all the difference, I’ll always make sure I find time for workouts, and meditations and to fill my fridge with healthy and easy-to-prepare food when I know I have an intense couple of work weeks ahead. 

Are there any routines you’ve begun or ended during the last year to enhance your life?

Yes, meditation has been central to my well-being, and I’ve taken steps to ensure I meditate daily. It’s all too easy to put off meditation if I’m feeling overwhelmed so I now set a calendar reminder to meditate every day so that I’m responsible for making this happen. If the timing is off then I’ll set a new time in my calendar. This way, I can check back through my calendar to see if I’ve had a good week, and wellbeing-wise, and know to make changes for the following week if needs be. 

Which books and podcasts do you enjoy and would recommend?

I like listening to Tim Farris’s podcasts when I’m driving – he’s always interesting and speaks to intriguing people. Books, I just adore! Where to begin? Among my favourites are The Heroine’s Journey, Traction, Power vs Force, The Death of Expertise, and Mind. 

Whose interview on work-life balance would you like to read?

Rather than just one person’s thoughts on this, I’d ideally like a compilation book filled with contributions from global leaders and non-conformists, bringing insights from diverse industries and backgrounds on what work-life balance means to them. The book would end with an overview of similarities and differences, and a final summary of thoughts. 

Any final thoughts you’d like to share with our readers?

We’re all unique and have different strengths and drives. It’s important for everyone to understand exactly what they have to offer and what motivates them to be the best person they can be and then set boundaries that support and protect and ensure they can achieve the best version of themselves. 

The post Execution-focused consulting with heart: an interview with Jenna Bayuk, founder of Kinship Kollective appeared first on CEO Medium.

What motivated Erika to found Beyond Governance?

Beyond Governance was born in 2019 when Erika identified the opportunity to provide boards, executives and fellow Governance Professionals with tailored advice and support from seasoned Governance Professionals. With a mission of helping organisations find practical solutions to challenges around culture, decision-making and people, Erika is changing the face of governance and helping the C-suites, Chairs and investors to realise their organisation’s full potential.

What sets Erika and Beyond Governance apart?

At Beyond Governance, Erika’s unique drive and inquisitive spirit have resulted in a culture that stands out from the rest. Focusing solely on ex-in-house personnel for their services, they provide practical solutions based on real experiences instead of theoretical knowledge. The remote working environment also allows them unprecedented flexibility to work anywhere in the UK and beyond, while enjoying better productivity and work-life balance. What sets Beyond Governance apart is how they have built a strong organisational culture remotely.

Erika is a unique person, with unique qualities. With a naturally curious and ambitious mind, Erika asks the hard questions and has a forthright approach to her business. Beyond Governance does things differently.  

At Beyond Governance, Erika has crafted a remarkable corporate culture that champions talent and collaboration. She has brought together some of the best professionals in the industry with not only expertise and capabilities but also those who are personable team players, possess an upbeat disposition, maintain high ethical standards and harbour true enthusiasm for their work. Despite their clients always coming first, Erika ensures her staff are content in life as well; rewarding each of them equally through activities like networking days, invitations to awards or simply having fun at “team outings”. All members regardless of position or seniority can benefit from these unique experiences – guaranteeing everyone ultimately feels valued within the company.

Erika is dedicated to Beyond Governance’s sustainability and has worked hard to gain a B-Corp accreditation, proving that their values extend beyond words. They strive for profitability while also honouring their mission of supporting stakeholders and making decisions in the best interests of each individual client they serve. This has been shown in their twice awarded ‘Best For the World’ B-Corp award putting Beyond Governance in the top 5% for governance in the world amongst all B-Corps. 

Erika’s Road to Becoming CEO

Growing up in a working-class family with little support from her teachers, Erika was determined to make something of herself. She harnessed an incredible drive and resilience that saw her defy all expectations – exceeding her predicted GCSE results. 

Erika’s life was changed dramatically when a close family member experienced unexpected health issues, leading her to divert attention away from achieving the A-level grades she needed for Cambridge University. Rather than giving up hope entirely, Erika persevered and chose Reading University as an alternative route – where she studied Law as an undergraduate before progressing on to a Master’s in Commercial Law at Bristol University. Thanks to this dedication and hard work, Erika soon found herself training within KPMG’s Company Secretarial division; fast forward nine months later, however – after committing wholeheartedly towards impressing those around her – a promotion came knocking. Thereafter began what proved integral in propelling Erika’s already fantastic career further into uncharted success.

Erika became the youngest person in the industry to move into the highest governance and legal role in a London-based FTSE 250 organisation, Low & Bonar plc (FTSE SmallCap engineering company), at only 32 years old. This was largely due to the hands-on experience that she gained at numerous large corporations at InterContinental Hotels Group plc (FTSE 100 dual-listed in New York), Premier Foods plc (FTSE 250 food manufacturer), ICAP plc (FTSE100 financial services), and The Restaurant Group plc (FTSE 250 hospitality company).

At just 32, Erika’s ascension to a C-level position is remarkable – particularly in this challenging industry. Her experience and resilience enabled her to effectively navigate an ever-changing landscape of corporate issues: from share price collapse and external pressure group protests, through investigations into fatal incidents or fraudulent behaviour, even up the highest levels of management. In spite of these obstacles she never stopped pushing for answers; when faced with difficult questions that often had no answer it wasn’t enough for Erika who persevered until she found out all there was to know by herself.

Erika has explored the power of individuality and is unapologetically authentic as she steps into her role as CEO at Beyond Governance. Being a mother to twin girls, who are both so similar yet unique from each other, had been one of the greatest influences that encouraged her managerial skills. She aims to incorporate this valued mindset within her company by empowering employees with self-acceptance and allowing them the freedom in expressing their individualism without judgement or apology.

What do the coming years look like for Beyond Governance?

Beyond Governance is striving to empower organisations by equipping them with the knowledge they need on governance practices. This will ensure that they are up-to-date and prepared for any potential challenges ahead. There is enormous potential for governance to drive increased profits, employee retention and recruitment as well as improve the general operations of organisations. Taking what they have learnt over their combined 150 years Beyond Governance is set to change the face of corporate governance in the UK and internationally.  

Erika Eliasson-Norris, CEO of Beyond Governance, has always worked in the ‘eye of the storm’. Her career included navigating controversial board decisions, shareholder rebellions, a share price collapse to the brink of insolvency, high-profile anti-management stakeholder protests, survival-focused business division disposals, corporate manslaughter investigations, forced CEO and Chair removals, c-suite fraud investigations, FCA dawn raids, unexpected radio appearances, liquidation evading emergency finance and more. These challenging and extensive experiences afforded her the top governance and legal position in a London-based FTSE 250 organisation at the age of 32 – the youngest person in the industry to take on this c-suite-level role. Following frustrations over the lack of tailored, realistic, practical advice for c-suite Governance Professionals, Erika left her corporate career in 2019 and founded Beyond Governance.

The post Erika Eliasson-Norris, Founder and CEO of Beyond Governance appeared first on CEO Medium.

The desire to make people have confidence in their faces led the high spirit in Lulu Siciliano to establish two beauty companies, namely: Microbeau and Evenflo Colours. For the sake of her clients and students, LuLu wanted to develop game-changing products that always provide stable great results.

Over the years, Lulu Siciliano has thrived in her business because she conceives customers’ thoughts before manufacturing any product. She always comes up with products that she can admire first, which has propelled her success. Lulu is keen to listen to the various challenges that artists face and what led to the production of the PMU pigments that are specifically designed for women of color. One thing that she believes in and desires for her customers to have is love for their faces without makeup, and PMU artists who are using her products can perform better and safer procedures for their clients, enjoy the process, and getting great healed results every time.

As an empowered immigrant woman, Lulu Siciliano challenges all women and others to believe in themselves and remain positive. Lulu is an inspiration to all people who want to get into business. She holds that nothing is impossible since not knowing to speak English in the US did not deter her from excelling. 

Concerning her funding, Lulu Siciliano confirms that she funds her beauty companies through funds she receives from her current business. She has invested much in research and development to make her business outstanding. Lulu Siciliano ultimately desires that all women be empowered. 

Her parting shot is to encourage all people to dream big and have achievable investments. Before beginning any business, one should thoroughly research and fully understand what they are about to undertake. Doing business will not be easy for people who want to rent expensive spaces yet lack a clear strategy and income. There is much to business that involves proper planning and decision-making. 

For monumental and life-changing Pmu products or services, feel free to reach out to Lulu Siciliano: the founder of Microbeau and Evenflo Colours beauty companies, through her email at lulu@microbeau.com. Remember to visit her website and Instagram handles for more thrilling and impactful beauty tips and information. 

Instagram: pmubylulu; evenflocolours; microbeauofficial. 

Website: Microbeau.com

EvenfloColours.com

The post Lulu Siciliano’s Insurmountable Impact on the Beauty Industry appeared first on CEO Medium.

Tell us about who you are and what you do?

I started as a freelance Graphic Designer and Illustrator after graduating from university with a degree in graphic communication. Fast forward a good few years and I’m now the Director of my own company, CoconuTacha! I specialize in creating uplifting, bright, and happy designs and sell these as art prints, greeting cards, notebooks, clothing, and more in my online shop www.coconutacha.com. I also create behind-the-scenes content over on my Instagram and YouTube channels which people seem to love – especially the foiling process that I often feature! I also started a Patreon channel last year which gives subscribers exclusive access to videos, tutorials, podcasts, and physical monthly goodie boxes full of CoconuTacha goodies – some available in the shop but some exclusive to my Patreons.

Tell us more about how you first created CoconuTacha?

CoconuTacha was born whilst I was studying at university as a way to fund my studies and earn a little extra cash on the side. My design style has changed over the years as I’ve improved and gained more clients, however, my ‘vibe’ has remained the same – always positive, bright, uplifting, and colorful! I struggled with anxiety during my late teens and early 20’s and so creating these lovely designs was a way of escapism and telling myself that everything would be okay – fast forward to the pandemic and 2020 and these designs appealed to hundreds of thousands more people experiencing similar feelings. Whilst the situation was/is horrible, it was reassuring to know that my illustrations and designs were helping make people feel a little less alone in their struggles. I also delved into organizing, creating new planners, notebooks, and to-do lists as the demand grew for work-from-home offices. I noticed that my audience had changed and I needed to meet their demands, and so stationary was at the top of my priorities. Of course, these had to be bright, colorful yet functional, and serve their purpose. Next was comfy clothing and a whole new project began…

We’d love to hear a bit more about the behind-the-scenes runnings of CoconuTacha, go into detail and tell us about how everything works:

As I am the creator of CoconuTacha, I’m very involved in my business and like to make sure that I have a ‘personal touch’ so that CoconuTacha never seems faceless. I like to know the person behind the brand and know who I’m buying off, so I try to do that as best as I can. When noticing the needs and wants of my clients were changing last year, I took a chance on a project that I’ve always wanted to try – clothing! I set up a Kickstarter and advertised it everywhere. It was fully funded and more so and I got to design my dream sweaters featuring 4 different designs. They are perfect to lounge around in (which a lot of us got to do last year!), staying comfy whilst also looking cute and colorful. They did so well that I decided to add 2 t-shirt designs to CoconuTacha’s collection this year!

What are the challenges you go through daily?

Oh, there are SO many! Today, for example, I’ve been trying to stay on top of finances; sorting my pension, my student finances, my tax savings, national insurance contributions, insurances, personal income, etc. the list goes on and on! I have hired an accountant to help me with everything financial which is a huge relief, but I still like to do my best and stay on top of everything so that I know what’s what. There are also other challenges such as Imposter Syndrome, which I think we all go through at some point. Sometimes it’s hard to push the creativity out there and feel worthy. But you just have to look back at how far you’ve come and silence that little voice in your head.

How do you manage your finances? Any fundings received?

I’m not sure whether I’m proud or ashamed, or perhaps feel a bit silly when I say that CoconuTacha was funded purely by myself and my hard work. I know now that there are grants available out there to start-ups, but I was very unaware of this at the time. I had a full-time job when I started CoconuTacha, which meant that I had a stable monthly income and a lovely safety net to fall back on. I also think I had the benefit of being young and naive when I decided to go completely full-time self-employed! It’s such a scary thing and I’m still learning that as time goes on. It never gets easier! It takes guts and good calculations, savings, and more to go from being employed to self-employed. As for managing my finances now, I use a Starling business account to keep track of all my expenses. I recently opened a Penfold pension account too – something that I only recently learned about and highly recommend if you are self-employed! As I mentioned previously, I hire an accountant to keep track of my monthly expenses, incomings, and outgoings. It makes things a thousand times easier for me and I can spend more time focussing on designing new products for CoconuTacha.

Tell us your future vision for CoconuTacha. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?

Well, my first dream was to be able to do this full-time. I did that. My second dream was to be able to buy my first house and get a mortgage. That was so TOUGH! But I finally managed to do that recently. I guess my next goal is to just stay afloat for a while… but that sounds boring, haha! My ultimate dream is to have a studio space elsewhere, perhaps even a co-working space where I and my best creative buddies can all group together and work on our things simultaneously whilst bounding ideas back and forth. Sipping tea and coffee together, collaborating on big, creative projects, and creating the most amazing things. Right now, my studio is in a spare room in my house which I love! But I do see myself moving into something bigger elsewhere in the future. I also see CoconuTacha expanding its product ranges even more, especially within the clothing and accessories category!

What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?

Don’t let anything or anyone stop you from doing what you love, be true to yourself, and don’t shy away from putting yourself, your designs, brand, etc. out there! You have to start somewhere.

You can follow CoconuTacha on Instagram, YouTube, and Patreon here:

www.instagram.com/coconutacha

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6sALfhCrKdMjBijIINL8Nw

https://www.patreon.com/coconutacha

Company Name: CoconuTacha Ltd.

Email address: coconutacha@gmail.com

Website URL: www.coconutacha.com

The post Building an Illustration-Focused Business from Scratch appeared first on CEO Medium.

Her success stems from her ability to find out exactly what the client is looking for in a home. Whether it is a rental property, investment property, or forever home. She is extremely known for going out of her way to find the right fit. She is part of a well-known realty company located in the prestigious 5th Avenue district of New York City.

She is a real estate agent and has a team at Sotheby’s International Realty. With her expertise in high-end luxury listings, she is able to assist her clients to find just the right home for them. She is also able to devote all of the necessary energy to home sellers as she does her buyers. No one knows the Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island City real estate market better than Celeste.

On a more personal note, along with being a dedicated professional, she is also a devoted wife and mom. Celeste Pandhi is married to her husband Jimmy, they have twins Maya Amara and Carter Gabriel. The family also has an additional member of the family, their furbaby that they rescued named Shilo. 

Being able to balance her personal and professional lives and continue to excel in selling high-end luxury real estate listings. This is a testament to her drive and determination to help people find the right home for them. Along with her many accomplishments as a real estate agent, she is also a master facilitator.

She has a global network of real estate brokers from all over the world and the United States.  Her drive and determination to succeed as a real estate agent no doubt stem from her formative years. She learned about discipline and determination from experiences as a competitive ice dancer. Thanks to her training with some of the most recognizable ice dancers in the world, she achieved her US and Canada gold medals at the age of eleven.

Acknowledgments for her achievements 

• The Top 21 Real Estate Agents in New York City by Expertise 
• Top 5 Female Realtors to Follow by Yahoo Finance 
• Top 20 Real Estate Professionals by Yahoo Finance 
• Top 100 New York Real Estate Agents on Social Media by Property Spark 
• Top 20 NYC Real Estate Agents on Social Media by Property Spark 

When it comes to selling real estate, Celeste Pandhi goes all out for each and every client and delivers her best whether you are in the market to list your residential property or buy your next home she will find the perfect home for you. 

The post Celeste Pandhi has proven that a woman can be ultra-successful in real estate. appeared first on CEO Medium.

Lashiivo is a brand that focuses on, as the name suggests, lashes. They sell high-quality lashes and lash accessories to customers around the world, but they also teach. Yes, Lashiivo offers courses to train others in how to become lash technicians. Lloyd, the founder of the company, has crafted a course that is easily digestible and can be completed anywhere in the world. For that reason, she has accumulated a group of some 20,000 lash professionals that represent her brand all over the globe. 

Lashiivo, however, is far more than a company that sells lashes. Its website delivers professional content regularly and its Instagram is rapidly growing, already connecting with 20,000 followers. Why is this? Because Lloyd understands her customers and knows how to deliver content to her audiences. Indeed, the brand is showing no signs of slowing down. As the company gets more attention, Blaze Lloyd looks to the future. She sees an expansion for her business that will allow her to bring her brand to millions of people across the world. 

Lloyd has plans to open warehouses in other countries outside of Canada, starting with the United States. This will allow her to rapidly expand her business and bring more products to more people. In addition, it will enable her to have a larger presence in areas where she already has trained professionals representing her brand. 

Indeed, Lloyd has pulled off nothing short of a miracle with her new business. In a time when most people could do little more than stay inside, Blaze Lloyd created and developed a business with dedication and precision. If her goal is to expand her company, there is no doubt that she will be successful in her ventures. As Lashiivo becomes more popular and its products and professional technicians spread, the brand will continue to evolve into a more holistic version. For those interested in the beauty community, or those who simply appreciate the value of hard work, Lloyd’s new enterprise is something you should certainly keep an eye on. 

The post The Beauty Brand Launched During a Pandemic appeared first on CEO Medium.

After the tragic loss of her brother, Charda’ Tabb found comfort and renewal in her faith. Though the trauma stays with her, she channeled the energy and forged forward with her inspiring a line of apparel and accessories. The Queen behind the Crown is a faith-fueled creative. She’s responsible for the fashion brand phenomenon known as Finer CreationZ. Her focus on positivity has helped her prosper and build a company that continues to thrive and grow. 

Finer CreationZ Brand provides a variety of services such as styling and photography, but is best known for its unique sophista-chic fashion line “The Finer League”.   

Their purpose is to help women express their true identities regardless of where they’re at on their journeys.

Can you tell us about yourself? What fuels you? 

My name is Charda’ Tabb, 35, and I’m a native of Camden, NJ. I hold a Bachelor Degree in Communications and Master’s degree in Administration. I am a woman fueled by faith, a mother, a serial entrepreneur, an executive, and a true queens’ queen.

I think about the birthing of my brand, and there was nothing finer about my beginning. It was created during a journey to renew my faith while coping with the tragic loss of my brother.  Though the healing process has been trying, I continue to channel positive energy and create purposeful fashion with a focus on positivity. With this, it helped me prosper and build a company that continues to grow and thrive. The best part is it helps women identify the queen within. 

I reign through life with a crown full of positivity and hold firmly to the mantra  that “I am fearfully and wonderfully made, so everything  I touch will prosper”-Charda’ Tabb 

Was there something specific that inspired you to create your brand?  

The idea of Finer CreationZ was born in December 2016, during a time where I was seeking peace and purpose. I had had a series of losses and disappointments that led me to a breaking point. 

One of the most painful losses was the murder of my older brother when he was just 32 years old. His murder is a trauma I have never fully recovered from, but a very important piece of the legacy that is Finer CreationZ.  

In times of uncertainty I drew closer to God, and in 2016 was baptized. During my baptism, the Bishop preached on being renewed and having to be put in the furnace flames over and over by the potter to be refined. Those words penetrated deep. 

I very much wanted to be refined. While growing spiritually was enlightening it also was very uncomfortable. I went on a spiritual fast that would consist of 100 days of peace, positivity, and prayer. 

During this time I began making jewelry, learned how to sew, and took an interest in photography.  At the close of my fast, I had dozens of earrings, custom shirts, and even more requests for one of my special creations. This catapulted my journey of peace to purpose and manifested Finer CreationZ.

Since that time Finer CreationZ has exploded into much more than a few accessories and ideas. Finer CreationZ now has its exclusive fashion line. The Finer League offers styling services, photography, and much more!

Tell us more specifics about your brand, and what it’s all about.

Finer CreationZ specializes in creating unique experiences through our styling and fashion options. Finer CreationZ is committed to providing dynamic fashion & style that allows women to be the truest version of themselves no matter where they are in their journey. 

We thrive off of the belief that all women are extraordinary and ever-evolving, as is their style. We curate our services to fit the individuality, boldness, and fierceness of our customers.

Do you have a thought or idea that you’d like to share with our readers? 

“Each day we are all presented with opportunities. What you choose to do with them becomes your legacy. I would encourage every entrepreneur to go into each project or service with two things, God and purpose.

What challenges did you face while building your business? Are there any day-to-day challenges that you find yourself facing? 

The most difficult part of entrepreneurship for me has been running my business alone and being unaware of resources available to take my business to higher platforms. 

In recent years my products have become more detailed and require more time to complete. It’s difficult bedazzling 100 mirrors that take 3 hours to compose. 

Determining what manufacturers will maintain the authenticity of the product and level out cost-wise has been hard.  I’ve learned that I have to charge for time, and not be apologetic about it.

How have you funded your business? 

The Finer CreationZ brand has solely been funded by my own money. I haven’t received grants or assistance.

What’s next for your business? How far do you hope to go? 

My goal for the future is to get The Finer League fashion mainstream at Walmart, Target, and other local department stores.

Do you have a message for those who want to create a business of their own, while making a living with their creations?  

If I had to advise a fellow creative, my advice would be to always do your very best! In moments where you don’t feel like you won, remember “YOU DID YOUR BEST.” Do not become obsessed with having instant success, building a legacy takes time.

Get in touch with Finer CreationZ on 

Email Address: finercreationz@gmail.com 

Website: www.shopfiner.com 

Instagram: finer_creationz

The post Charda’ Tabb and Finer CreationZ appeared first on CEO Medium.

From a college student with no experience in virtual support in 2008, Kimberley Reyes is now a Certified Online Business Manager and Certified Asana Pro with over 10 years of experience building and scaling businesses with digital entrepreneurs, leaders, and change-makers from all over the world.

With her degree in European Studies (International Relations) from Ateneo De Manila University, multiple international certifications, and training under her belt, she creates a unique blend between human connection and strategy to support clients in organizing their businesses and setting them up for growth.

She now makes consistent 6-figure months as an Online Business Manager and Virtual Assistant Agency Owner. But, what makes this all the more interesting is that she does this while raising her four children with her firefighter husband.

However, it wasn’t a smooth journey. When she started offering virtual support, she was widely criticized by others and was discouraged to continue her work because it wasn’t “real” work. While her colleagues went on to enter corporate jobs, she was “just” working from home. She also struggled as she built her business from the ground up with four kids while her husband was in service.

However, she didn’t allow the blocks to stop her from achieving her vision of going global and helping provide job opportunities for women through her business. She worked long hours to fund her training and stayed in instead of going out with friends to get her certifications done. And, with the support of her husband and children, a close-knit mastermind, and a “Rest if you must, but don’t quit” attitude, she achieved her vision and continues to make it bigger so she can impact more lives.

Then, the pandemic hit. While others struggled to make ends meet, her business thrived. She grabbed the opportunity of businesses shifting online by providing support during and after the transition.

Through her work as an Online Business Manager and Virtual Assistant Agency Owner, she hopes to support more business owners in growing their businesses without the burn out and huge financial losses through data-driven decision-making.

By supporting these businesses, she also hopes to provide more job opportunities for women, mothers especially.

Most importantly, she hopes to become an inspiration for other women who want to impact lives through their life story and their work.

Her advice to those who want to follow in her footsteps is best captured by a question asked in her favorite book, Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”

Kimberley Reyes’ expertise is in establishing systems, launch strategy and management, and team growth and management. She works closely with 6- and 7-figure entrepreneurs who are ready to get off the hamster wheel of doing all the things themselves and step into their CEO shoes.

To learn more about how she can support you, book a discovery call at www.momonduty.com.

Company name: Kimberley Reyes OBM

Email Address: kim@momonduty.com

Website: www.momonduty.com 

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ektreyes 
Instagram: instagram.com/momondutyblog

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Why Fifth Bull? The Founder, Hannah Carlson’s world-renowned story started in Pamplona Spain on July 12, 2014. She decided to have a once in a lifetime experience and Run With The Bulls. Unfortunately, she was struck by a 900 lb. “teenage” bull directly in the stomach. She blacked out instantly, was tossed into the air, landed on her head, and woke up 8 hours later in the Pamplona ICU with a fractured skull, a bruised brain, concussed, and lost her sense of smell for 14 months. She survived a traumatic experience, something that she would never forget. With this she leverages her motto, “We create legacy experiences with positive impact” for all that work with Fifth Bull. 

Tell us about who you are and what you do.

I am the Founder of Fifth Bull Agency but also the Co-Founder of Experience Events. Within Fifth Bull, I manage and run the PR/Marketing side while being the overhead on the Talent Management Division. I conduct write-ups for our clients in large publications like Bloomberg, Forbes, Entrepreneur, etc while composing brand campaign monthly strategies for e-commerce sales.

Our company is composed of in-house creatives, producers, and talent who come together to make our clients’ brand message come alive.

At Experience Events, I am the on-site producer for our client’s events. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we are held off on conducting in-person events but our hybrid and virtual events are still playing a major role in corporations and small businesses that are trying to connect with their employees and customers. 

Tell us how you created this brand and what was the sole idea behind it.

This company was started because I could not get a corporate job, that is the truth. I graduated with 3 degrees, I had a lot of experience as an intern for multiple companies. But, once I graduated, I could not land a job after 80+ interviews along the East Coast. A year later, I was living in New Jersey, working as a bartender and I started noticing I had a lot of networking power and was giving advice away to people for free. I decided I can turn this into a business, so I started drawing up logo ideas at a pool party, had a friend turn it into graphics and I started an LLC.

The purpose of this company is to help female business owners share their light a little extra. Our company is focused on leveraging voices with a purpose to bring back true philanthropic ideas for the next generation to benefit from.

Go in detail and tell us about how your brand works. You may keep this from the audience’s perspective.

Fifth Bull Agency represents in-house and network talent and creatives. We are a full-service creative agency, a one-stop-shop for a brick and mortar or e-commerce company to speak with. Developing a brand’s message from start to finish, and promoting it to social networks through commercial-style production. Having direct contact with creatives and talent is the hardest part, Fifth Bull makes it easy to control the outcome of our client’s brand image in the marketplace. 

What is your giveaway idea through this interview?

I believe that someone can 10X their company. But, you cannot forget the network that got you to that point. I have had the experience of working with friends who built their own companies so large that they hand me off to a new hire within their company for new business inquiries. I do not operate our company like this. If a personal connection of mine decides to utilize my services and support my brand, then the least I can do is take their call myself and conduct business with them directly to represent my company with the best customer service. You are never too big to be humble.

Explain the challenges you went through while you were working on brand creation. What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis?

The challenge for any small business, figuring out how to target new customers. It’s pretty easy for someone passionate about their brand to speak about their brand, but conveying that message to someone’s need, that is the tricky part at the beginning. Once you get the flow of your brand message, your next ongoing challenge is; developing your message across social platforms – retaining and creating new customers daily, monthly, annually.

How do you manage your finances through the services you offer. Any fundings etc received?

We started the agency through angel investors and raised funds for certain projects. Many professionals would not advise pursuing angel investors, however, I do. If you know your income and financial plan over the period that you had agreed with the investor and can be paid off in time, absolutely utilize this opportunity instead of potentially ruining your credit by using your own money.

Tell us your future vision about the brand. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?

The future of the agency is to become a global opportunity to leverage women-owned businesses in the direction of success. Whether that is through hiring them as talent, helping their voices get recognized through the press, producing for their brand’s message, etc. Fifth Bull will go as far as possible to impact lives around the world and inspire women to take leadership roles in their industries. Fifth Bull Agency does not need to become a household name but a name in the marketing industry others can recognize and rely on for brand messaging. 

What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?

I would advise the young hustlers, the go-getters to risk it. You have one life. Go travel, go build that empire, go date that person. Take the risk because, in the end, we look back at the memories made and never regret them as long as you are happy doing it. 

I tell my employees you are here to make yourself a better version. If the challenges stop in this field of work for you then by all means go and explore another avenue or company. Always be learning, always educated to grow yourself into the best version possible to impact the masses and leave that powerful legacy behind. 

The worst thing someone can tell you is No… But never be that someone. 

——

Fifth Bull Agency LLC

Email Address(es) :

 hannah@fifthbull.com

inquiries@fifthbull.com 

Website: www.fifthbull.com 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/the.hannahcarlson

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