Posts tagged with "entrepreneur"

Interview with Melissa Snover

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Everyone loves good vitamin gummies, but what if there was a way to customize them? That’s the idea behind Nourished, led by Melissa Snover, an entrepreneur and top UK female entrepreneur according to Business Leader. I had the opportunity to interview Snover about her career and Nourished.

How did you get into 3D modelling and nutrition?

I founded my first company when I was 23 and have been developing innovative products to bring to the consumer market ever since. When running a gummy candy business called Goody Good Stuff, I became frustrated by the limitations of mainstream manufacturing and in 2015 started looking into 3D printing technology to create bespoke products on demand. This led me to launch Magic Candy Factory which 3D printed customized confectionery in retail outlets, amusement parks and private events – depending on the customer’s requirements. It was this technology that gave me the inspiration and foundation to create Nourished and personalize the way we take vitamins and make our nutrition regimes more enjoyable, convenient, and effective.

What are the benefits of personalized gummies?

Many of the vitamins made using traditional manufacturing methods can be largely ineffective by the time they reach the consumer. They often come from lengthy supply chains, are sat in a warehouse or on a store shelf for months and most importantly – are not produced with the individual’s needs in mind. At Nourished we combine 7 different superfoods, nutrients, and vitamins into one delicious and sugar free gummy, which are totally bespoke to the end user. We 3D print each stack on demand to ensure optimum efficacy and can change the customer’s customized blend each month as their goals and lifestyle also change.

How did you develop the idea behind Nourished?

I have been an avid consumer of supplements since my 20s and used to carry around with me a large transparent bag of various supplements and vitamins, and accidentally dropped it on the airport floor in security. Crawling round in my suit and heels picking them, I thought there must be a better way to do this and then I thought, well I have a 3D printing food business, maybe I can do it?

From there I sought to find a way to simplify the way we take vitamins and make the combinations 100% customized to the consumer.

How did you feel about being included in Business Leader’s list of Top UK Female Entrepreneurs to Look Out for?

It was a huge honor to be recognized amongst such inspiring and impressive peers, and I am extremely grateful to Business Leader for celebrating female entrepreneurship. I am a passionate and proactive supporter of women in business, so this is very close to my heart, and I was delighted to involved.

Why use the personalized packaging?

Personalization is at the heart of everything we do at Nourished, and we didn’t want to stop at our packaging! Each of our individual wrappers are printed with the name of the customer, as well as being 100% plastic free and home compostable in just 32 weeks!

How important are visuals when it comes to Nourished products?

Our Nourished stacks not only taste amazing, but they also look beautiful as the 7 layers of active ingredients each come in a different, vibrant color. Our mission at Nourished is to change the way people think about nutrition, and this means upgrading from popping pills and choking back on tablets each day. Our 3D printed vitamin gummies are the perfect visualization of what the future of nutrition can look like.

Why should people choose Nourished?

At Nourished we believe that of all the things we personalize – our health should take priority. We use only the highest quality ingredients and pioneering manufacturing methods to ensure our customers receive truly bespoke nutrition, with the highest impact possible. All our ingredients are vegan, GMO free, sugar free and free from all major allergens and our packaging is 100% plastic free; meaning Nourished is as good for the Earth as it is for our customers!

Do you have plans to release new products in the future?

We are constantly launching new active ingredients into our product range and optimizing our technology to ensure we stay at the forefront of personalized nutrition. We are also currently developing a personalized protein range and are planning on breaking into the pet market next year!

Stephen Gillen Q×A

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By: Emily Bunn

Stephen Gillen is an bestselling author and established entrepreneur who has gained success with his biopic “The Monkey Puzzle Tree,” alongside various business, media, and film projects. Looking towards the future, Gillen is soon to release his highly-anticipated book, “In Justice, Love, & Honour.” He also recently signed a worldwide TV deal with Film Volt, in which his The Stephen Gillen Crime Files channel will be broadcast on all major platforms. 360 Magazine sat down with the author to discuss the creation of his latest text and other upcoming projects.

What has working with someone so closely related to in the historic incident, namely Joseph Loney?

It was great working with Joseph to get a real human feel behind this story of what the real-life fallout and struggles translated to for everyone involved. It can be the small or big things, it’s all relevant in such a massive, emotional, historic and trauma-driven story. I want to know, feel and understand what it was really like, and to pinpoint the details and exclusive parts of the story not known or perhaps published. That [way] I can not [only] do justice to everyone involved and the victims, but [also] translate it authentically and with the right information and emotion for my readers. For me, having a real expert experience of what it is to live lives like this and what these characters would have been feeling, was a fascinating expose of everything that went on. I understood the ‘humanness, challenges and fears’ of the people behind this unbelievable story. It was always a great privilege and each had an amazing story in their own right.

Did you always have an interest in history, or did something about the incident concerning Fredrick Sewell and his band of robbers particularly pique your interest in the subject?

The story actually came to me through Joseph Loney, who contacted me because of his great love of the story I wrote about my life, “The Monkey Puzzle Tree.” We started talking over time and the more I understood about his journey and his father’s journey linked with Fredrick Sewell and the history surrounding it, I began to see what a massive narrative it was. Not just because of the historic angle and what actually happened, but [also] how the journeys of the main characters were incredibly linked in paradoxical and emotional ways. There were unbelievable links in this story – like Fredrick Sewell, Joseph Loney Senior, and Gerald Richardson (the policeman killed) were all the same age, but [each] ended up in a way you would never imagine. Fact really is stranger than fiction, and as I crafted this story, I cared very much about [what] all the characters went through and how they all ended up. This is one of the many elements that makes it an un-put-down-able read, which at the moment is being highly desired by the world’s top publishers.

What has it been like signing with Global Aggregate Film Volt for your channel?

It was a great moment. We have always worked so hard, and I have such wonderful people around me, like Daphne, my partner, and the rest of the team. It was good to then be invited in to do the awesome work … together at Film Volt. Mark is a cool guy, well respected, and very influential in the industry. He has a very strong and talented work ethic. We’re very similar in ways, so for all of us involved in the partnership with such a connected and influential worldwide distributor, it offers us great opportunities for the future to do the fantastic work we are all focused on together.

I have a very unique history, skill set and experience/profile, so [I] am [an] individual in this space and for what we are shaping on the Crime Channel. My crime channel, called ‘The Stephen Gillen Crime Files,’ is now in the process of being on all major TV platforms around the world. We aim to consistently deliver raw, highly produced and coveted content that will really add value and make the difference to audiences and people’s lives around the world. We have a world class team behind us now to make that happen and [are] committed to really raising the bar in content creation. With such a massive reach to such vast audiences, the future is very exciting.

What do you plan to discuss on your worldwide crime channel? Are there any specific cases you want to shed more light on?

We have many great and riveting formats under development, [that are] really out of this world and well-formatted. I’ll be continuing interviewing my YouTube model ‘The Big Shift,’ which interviews big name global crimes [and] many high-ranking organized crime figures and mobsters. But, we have other out of the box enthralling shows [too]. They are being released very soon so can’t say too much. But what I can say is [that] they are very professional throughout and crafted to entertain a wide scope of audiences in the genre, [the show is] very gripping and appealing to all. Most are really emotionally charged, which will really pull in, shock, and excite audiences. Other are focused on redemption and atonement, real hard-hitting, true stories that are amazing. [These stories] aim to be targeted, [and] to bring light, learning, closure and information to people so [that] these awful events may not happen again and there is improvement [for the] next generations. Other formats will be cliff hangers and work with viewers ‘outside the box,’ in the way this genre usually works. We want to thrill, shock, inform, improve and entertain as much as possible, focusing on the unbelievable stories that people really want to watch and hear about. It’s going to be content not to miss, I promise you.

How long did the process of researching for “In Justice, Love & Honour” take?

Research for ‘In Justice, Love & Honour’ took around six months to research, but possibly longer as even when I was writing, there was other important bits of information I needed. It was a real emotional journey… My family tell[s] me [that] when I’m writing not only do they not see me, but [also they] can’t talk to me I’m just so immersed in the characters, story arcs, plots and narrative. It’s how I write and why the writing is always so powerful, it’s a[n] emotion process that is finely woven and really burned, translated and detailed in a masterful and human way on the page. I also feel a lot of responsibility, and really work tirelessly for it to be as cleverly-crafted as possible for my audience and readers.

What do you anticipate reader’s reaction to “In Justice, Love & Honour” will be like?

I know they’ll be blown away by the detail of the characters, the emotion, the masterful weaving and moving plots, the descriptive and well written writing structures and the burning humaneness carv[ing] right through it. It is not just a massively historic, true story, but an amazing and riveting character study as you are emotionally gripped by these unbelievable characters that jump from the page. Part of the allure and uniqueness of this book is, of course, I live deep in this world and [have] travelled through most of the things these characters did from a very deep angle. So, I have great value as experience [in] the internal things going on as a person goes through these unbelievably crazy and breathtaking events. It certainly is a path less trodden and my main goal was to go to the heart of it in a way no other author could as we can only go as deep as we have been before. This certainly adds a massive uniqueness to everything in this unbelievable story. The world’s top publishers seem to think so too, as they are excited and pushing hard for the chance to be the one to publish and bring it to mass audiences. It is a great privilege to do it and I’m sure it will be a roller-coaster ride for all.

Find out more about Stephen’s story and the opportunity to get a signed copy of his book HERE.

*Photos and book cover design: Daphne Diluce

Rodney

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Rodney Ramlochan is an executive, entrepreneur, and global business generator who has dedicated his career to empowering others, identifying strategic relationships, and building world-class organizations. Driven by his passion for technology, fashion, lifestyle, and culture, he serves as 360 Magazine’s global business manager. Rodney builds market position for 360 by locating, developing, defining, and closing business relationships with leading brands.

Alongside his role at 360 Magazine, Rodney serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dev-Byrne & Company, a national technology expense management firm serving premier clients ranging from global not-for-profits to Fortune 500 firms. He is a highly accomplished leader known for laser-like vision in formulating and executing cutting-edge strategies to achieve business goals.

Over the years, Rodney has held multiple roles within the business sector over the past two decades. As Vice-President and co-founder of an award-winning telecom auditing firm, he garnered an elite list of clients, taking the startup from obscurity to highly profitable in under three years. At Verizon, he oversaw large business units responsible for service delivery for enterprise clients.

Rodney completed both undergraduate and graduate degrees, with honors at New York University. He is a published contributing author who has written papers on service delivery and Total Quality Management. In addition, he has served on the Alumni Board Committee of New York University and the chairman of the board for St. Frances Cabrini Academy in Brooklyn, NY.

Michael E. Jordan – Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist

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From very humble beginnings, Michael E. Jordan has elevated the UNRL brand with core values, quality of product, and a spirit of giving back to the community.

UNRL announced that its founder and CEO, Michael E. Jordan, has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious Entrepreneur of The Year® Award, Heartland Region, presented by Ernst & Young. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, UNRL is an athletic apparel brand that specializes in creating functional athletic clothing.

After an intensive nomination and selection process, Jordan was identified as one of 36 finalists within the seven-state Heartland region. This award honors game-changing business leaders who rise above challenges using ingenuity, courage, and ambition. Nominees are evaluated based on six criteria: entrepreneurial leadership; talent management; degree of difficulty; financial performance; societal impact and building a values-based company; and originality, innovation, and future plans.

Jordan founded UNRL in his mother’s basement seven years ago with an investment of a mere $300 and has since grown the company exponentially year after year. Today, UNRL has 19 employees and is on track to reach 8 figures in annual sales. All of this was done with hard work and entrepreneurial spirit, without any outside investment or business loans.

UNRL products are sold in various retailers throughout the country including Scheels Sporting Goods, PGA Tour Superstore, various NHL, and NFL Pro Shops. One of their most notable apparel partnerships is with the social media powerhouse Barstool Sports. UNRL takes great pride in the quality of their product and their attention to how business is operated.

“It’s an incredible honor to be selected as a finalist for this award,” said Jordan. “I don’t view this as an individual achievement, this is a testament to my team. It’s been a collective effort with 100% buy-in from every member of our team. Without that, we wouldn’t be here today. I believe we are growing this business the right way, and it is meaningful to be recognized for that. I’m very grateful for all the support Ernst & Young has provided throughout this process.”

Jordan said that he has high expectations for the UNRL brand in the future; articulating plans to surpass the $10 million annual revenue marker within 12 months and reach the $100 million milestone by 2029. In doing so, continuing to donate 15% of net proceeds to nonprofits including the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital.

“I am very competitive by nature. I’ve been an athlete my whole life,” said Jordan. “I pride myself on continuous improvement and doing things the right way to leave a positive legacy on the industry. The Entrepreneur Of the Year® Award has my respect because it’s a challenge against the best in the business, and we have something to prove. I want to win this.”

Regional winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award will be announced in late July. The National Entrepreneur of the Year Award will be handed out on November 13.

ABOUT THE ERNST & YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD:

Entrepreneur Of the Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth, and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur of the Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur of The Year™ title.

ABOUT UNRL:

UNRL is a clothing brand that bridges the gap between functional and casual. Their clothing is designed to take you from the office to the gym, or the airport to the golf course. UNRL creates all products with three principles in mind: style, comfort, and versatility. Everything is crafted from scratch with premium hand-selected materials and tailored for a great fit. UNRL is here to instill confidence in the athlete that strives to do more.

Georgia Tech Wins Entrepreneurship Competition

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Georgia Tech Team Wins at Global College Entrepreneur Pitch Competition

Insight Optics, from the Georgia Institute of Technology, won third place at the Third Annual TiE University Global Pitch Competition held on May 15-16, 2021.

Representing TiE Atlanta, the Insight Optics team consists of Dr. Aaron Enten and TJ Lagrow. Their business venture delivers a mobile-adapted platform which enables primary care physicians to efficiently detect early signs of avoidable blindness before permanent damage is done. The team was mentored by Greg Cory, Neeti Dewan and Eric Ensor from TiE Atlanta.

The team received a $5,000 cash prize sponsored by the Naadam Foundation, and a $4,000 grant from the REAN Foundation. Insight Optics was “best in class” at the Startup Bootcamp hosted by TiE Silicon Valley in early May.

Insight Optics competed with 27 winning teams from across the globe including teams from TIE Chapters in seven countries across three continents. The teams were mentored by local TiE chapters and supported by global workshops, startup bootcamps and mock sessions. There were 526 startup teams with 1432 students that participated in local TiE chapter college competition rounds.

First prize went to TiE Toronto’s ALT TEX whose founders are from York University and the University of Toronto. Their venture focuses on sustainable textiles engineered from food waste by tackling two serious issues — food waste and the high levels of pollution caused by the fashion industry.

The second prize winner was TiE Dallas’ SURVIVR whose founder is from the University of Texas at Dallas. The company aims to make communities safer by providing immersive and humanized police training using virtual reality.

Chapter winners went through a semifinal round on May 15. The virtual event was viewed by over 500 audience members from around the world, and TiE Atlanta’s executive director, Amyn Sadruddin, was instrumental as the MC for a semifinals track. Worldwide teams pitched diverse business ideas such as bio-toilets, career fulfillment tools for higher education, technology-enabled artificial limbs, and tech kits for 21st century education, among others.

The event also featured a fireside conversation between Prof. Jagdish Sheth from Emory University in Atlanta and Mr. Ronnie Screwvala of Mumbai. The co-founder and chairman of Upgrad, an online edtech startup, Mr. Screwvala inspired young entrepreneurs to take risks. His book “Dream With Your Eyes Open” is a commitment to champion entrepreneurship and learn from failure.

This year, TiE University extended the concept of entrepreneurship to form a stronger ecosystem, even more strategically focused to dovetail multiple enablers, said Dr. Paul Lopez, Founder and Co-Chair of the TiE University Program. Thanks to the generosity of sponsors, this year’s total cash prizes were $65,000, plus in-kind awards of over $600,000 to empower college entrepreneurs.

Eight university teams made it to the finals of the global pitch fest. In addition to the top three winning teams, the other finalists were TiE Austin’s Clocr, a digital legacy management and emergency planning platform; TiE Chennai’s Kitab, a digital PDF-Reader that redefines the way technical literature and textbooks are consumed; TiE Dubai’s Small World that connects NGOs and high school students; TiE DC’s Early Intervention Systems that builds software and algorithms to enhance elder-care; and TiE New Jersey’s Sulis, a low-cost water sanitization device.

The keynote speaker on Finals Day was Sheel Tyle, Founder/CEO of venture capital global firm Amplo. Interviewed by TiE Coimbatore’s Pradeep Yuvaraj, Tyle has some advice for entrepreneurs, Whether you spend time doing something small or doing something big, it actually takes the same time. If you’re going to spend your precious time on something, do it where your time has the greatest impact on the world.

About the TIE University Program

TiE University, an initiative of TIE Global, aims to foster entrepreneurship among college students. University startup teams gain access to learning resources, mentorship by successful entrepreneurs and opportunities to participate in Hackathons, Startup Bootcamps, and Pitch Competitions. These interactions and experiences help startups take their business from a campus idea into a viable business.

About TiE Atlanta

TiE Atlanta is a top five chapter of TiE Global, a nonprofit consisting of 61 chapters in 14 countries, that generates prosperity through development of entrepreneurs in all stages by creating community and beneficial relationships to support them. TiE Atlanta develops entrepreneurs and startups through mentoring, education, investment, and networking. Learn more at their website.

5 Ways Pay Stub Creators Can Help You

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Over 93 percent of Americans get paid via direct deposit.

This is super convenient for them (who want to wait in line to cash a check at the bank?). However, it can also present challenges if you don’t receive a pay stub every time you get paid.

If this is the case for you, consider generating your own pay stubs. Listed below are 5 benefits you can enjoy by doing so.

1. Rent an Apartment

Often, when you’re applying to rent an apartment, you need to provide proof of income.

If you get paid by direct deposit, you might not have this information readily available. Generating your own pay stubs ensures you have the documents you need to verify that you can afford the rent.

2. Stay on Top of Your Earnings

Generating pay stubs also makes it easier for you to manage your finances and keep track of your earnings.

When payment information is right in front of you in an easy-to-read pay stub, you’ll be able to pick up on potential issues and correct them sooner. You may also be able to budget better since you have a clearer idea of what you’re bringing in.

3. Qualify for Loans

You can also create pay stubs to apply for an auto loan more easily. When you generate your own pay stubs, you can present them at the bank or car dealership and get approved for a loan faster.

4. Pay Employees Faster

If you run a business, you definitely ought to consider generating pay stubs yourself. This helps you to get your employees paid faster since you can print the stubs right there in the office, rather than waiting for them to be mailed to the employees’ houses.

5. Avoid Employee Payment Errors

More than 82 million workers have experienced paycheck errors at some point in their lives.

When you use a pay stub generator that comes with an accurate pay stub calculator, you’re less likely to make errors and pay your employees an incorrect amount. This makes life simpler for everyone at the company, including you.

How to Make Your Own Pay Stubs

You get to enjoy all these benefits when you make your own pay stubs. As a bonus, it’s also easy to make pay stubs online.

There are lots of tools out there (many of them are free) that you can use to create pay stubs for any purpose. When looking for a pay stub generator, consider the following:

Price
Ease of use
Template options
Customer support

Consider whether or not the generator provides a pay stub example, too. This gives you a chance to see what the pay stub will look like and ensure it doesn’t leave out any important information.

Start Generating Pay Stubs Today

As you can see, there are lots of reasons to make pay stubs yourself. If you want to experience these benefits, follow the tips outlined above and start using a simple pay stub creator today.

Do you need more help managing your money or making plans for the future? Check out some of the other resources on our site today.

Kash Doll × Thumbin

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KASH DOLL RELEASES NEW TRACK “THUMBIN”

LISTEN HERE

“Kash Doll is sharp, headstrong and savvy” – Billboard

“One of the most promising acts of female rap’s current class” – Nylon

“Kash Doll has established herself as a pioneering force in the industry.”– MTV

“Kash Doll has established herself as one of hip-hop’s leading female voices.” – XXL

Stars in 50 Cent’s New Starz Series ‘Black Mafia Family’ Due Out Later This Year

Emerging as one of the culture’s most undeniable voices, gold-selling Detroit rapper, entrepreneur, and actress Kash Doll unleashes her new track “Thumbin” today via Republic Records.

Listen to “Thumbin:” HERE

On this bag-chasing anthem, Kash Doll rips through bars as fast as she counts cash over simmering trap hi-hats and a sample of crisp dollar bills flapping. Flexing without apology, she flosses on the immediately irresistible hook.

It arrives on the heels of her knockout collaboration with DJ Famous— “Bad Azz” feat. Mulatto & Benny The Butcher, which has amassed 9 million streams and counting. Beyond features from REVOLT, Pitchfork, Brooklyn Vegan and more, UPROXX claimed, “Kash Doll, DJ Infamous, Mulatto, and Benny The Butcher show why the competition is mad with ‘Bad Azz’.”

She also asserts herself as a 360-degree entertainer in 2021 by joining the cast of 50 Cent’s new series ‘Black Mafia Family’ on Starz later this year.

Kash Doll continues to make waves. Receiving critical acclaim from Vultureand Marie Claire, Essence praised, “If there’s one rapper who can teach us a thing or two about remaining confident, it’s Kash Doll.” Meanwhile, she guested on “Friday Night Cypher” from Big Sean’s chart-dominating Detroit 2 and joined forces with HoodCelebrityy for “So Pretty.”

Detroit native Kash Doll has impacted the music industry with a commanding force, dropping street-earned truths with her throwback wordplay and powerful bars. The one-two combination of spirit and sass announced her as fiery female force in 2019 after quietly amassing 30 million-plus on-demand streams, garnering the BMI Social Star Award and “Issa Wave Award” at the BET Social Awards, securing a new management deal with Title 9 Productions and inking a recording contract with Republic Records. An unbelievable story brought her to this point. Losing her dad on just her first birthday, she always held down multiple jobs to support her mom and siblings. And at 18, she started investing in herself eventually opening two beauty bars and funding her own music career. She made waves on the 2014 independent debut mixtape, Keisha Vs. Kash Doll. Following 2016’s Trapped In The Dollhouse, she developed a presence as a touring force and earned coveted co-signs from Drake, Big Sean, Rick Ross, Remy Ma, and many more. The 2018 The Vault mixtape captured #1 on multiple mixtape sites as her debut single for Republic Records “Ice Me Out” and its 2 Chainz-assisted official remix clocked 85 million-plus total streams. Last year, Kash Doll also released a project solely for her fans titled Brat Mail to thank them for all their continued support. The project garnered over 30 million global streams and features the breakout single “Check.” Shortly before Brat Mail, Kash released one of her biggest singles to date, “For Everybody,” which racked up over 101 million YouTube/VEVO views independently. Outside of music, this boss runs Kash Doll Enterprises and does charity work around her hometown. Her city bestowed the “Spirit of Detroit” Award upon her. Additionally, in 2019, Kash Doll released her debut album Stacked, received a 2019 BET Award nomination for “Best Female Hip-Hop Artist,” garnered critical acclaim for her album from Billboard, MTV, UPROXX, BET, Forbes, Nylon and more and toured with Meek Mill. This year will be full of brand-new music, acting and more from the Detroit star.

FOLLOW KASH DOLL
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Big Sean × Myra Anderson

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BIG SEAN & HIS MOTHER MYRA ANDERSON LAUNCH WELLNESS VIDEO SERIES PRESENTED BY THE SEAN ANDERSON FOUNDATION TO COMMEMORATE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

Today, multi-platinum artist, entrepreneur and philanthropist, Big Sean, and his mother, Myra Anderson, have announced the launch of their wellness video series presented by their non-profit, the Sean Anderson Foundation. Beginning May 1st, a new video will be released every Saturday during the month of May at 12pm EST/9am PST to commemorate Mental Health Awareness Month. The videos will live on the Sean Anderson Foundation’s IGTV HERE and will also be featured on the Sean Anderson Foundation website HERE.

In each episode, Sean and Myra will have a 10 – 15-minute candid conversation surrounding a specific area of wellness. Topics include mindset, sleep/circadian rhythms, meditation, diet/exercise and the emotional freedom technique (EFT).

“I feel that Mental Health Awareness Month is the perfect time to talk with my mom about some of the things I have learned from her that have helped me along the way, and I hope will help others,” says Big Sean.

“Sean and I wanted to share some of the no or low-cost techniques that we have used over the years to help us attain and maintain emotional balance. In the future, we may do a deeper dive into some of these techniques and other tools that we use,” says Myra Anderson.

The Sean Anderson Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for underserved youth and their families. Previously, the foundation hosted a Mental Health Awareness panel, which explored the narrative and stigma around mental health in the Black community. Throughout the past year, Sean and the foundation have engaged in a variety of initiatives to help those in need during these unprecedented times. Sean hosted virtual fundraisers to benefit COVID-19 response efforts, as well as partnered with McDonalds for their Black & Positively Golden Mentors Program. The Detroit native was recently appointed Creative Director of Innovation for the Detroit Pistons, where he and the foundation work with the team to create opportunities and programs in the Detroit area.

About the Sean Anderson Foundation

The mission of the Sean Anderson Foundation is to assist in the education, health, safety and well-being of school aged youth in underserved communities across the country.

Sean is a living example of what can be accomplished through focus, determination and hard work. He strives to serve as an instrument of encouragement for us to help support ourselves and to support one another.

The Sean Anderson Foundation’s signature program is “Mogul Prep”, a digital and live event curriculum that focuses on developing entrepreneurial skills, preparing students for college and/or the workforce, and ultimately for a successful life. In addition, the Foundation partners with a number of existing charitable programs whose objectives are consistent with the objectives of the Foundation.

For more information about SAF, visit the Sean Anderson Foundation.

FOLLOW BIG SEAN:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | SPOTIFY

Entrepreneur Skills You Need To Know

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5 Skills Every New Entrepreneur Needs (and How to Get Them)

Entrepreneurs of Success offers tips to help entrepreneurs be more successful

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are nearly 30 million small businesses in the country. Many of them are started by entrepreneurs who have an idea or a dream but may not necessarily know what it takes to start or keep a business going. The good news is that the skills needed to do just that can be learned along the way. Taking the time to learn what they are and adopt them will help entrepreneurs to be more successful with their business ventures.

“Nobody knows everything right from the start, but if you are willing to learn along the way, then you will have no problem gaining the skills you need to be successful,” explains Sara Khoudary, founder of Entrepreneurs of Success and the Mentor Momentum Community. “Entrepreneurs are a special group of people who are usually willing to do what it takes to see their business through.”

Having the skills it takes to be successful can make running a business easier and keep it less stressful. It can also make it easier to find your way around challenges that arise, such as those we have had to deal with over the last year with the pandemic. Not having important skills can leave entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and stuck where they are.

Here are 5 skills every new entrepreneur needs, as well as tips on how to get them:

Communication skills. Being able to effectively communicate is essential in every business, whether you are selling to the public or other businesses. Improve upon your business communication skills by reading books on the topic, taking an online class, or even joining a group such as your local Toastmasters.
Patience. Not everything is going to happen overnight. Even the most successful businesses take time to grow. Overnight successes usually have years under their foundation before they suddenly take off. Learn patience by being mindful and celebrating the small milestones. It’s important to realize that things take time, and to focus more on the progress being made along the way.
Stress management. Being an entrepreneur can be stressful. If you don’t do something to manage the stress, then you may quickly become burned out or it can lead to health issues. Do something regularly that helps you reduce stress, such as meditation, hiking, exercising, journaling, etc.
Networking abilities. When you have a solid network, you will be able to get advice from others. A mentor or group of people that you can turn to with questions, to vent to, or to hear advice from can be golden. Find a mentor or join at least one group, such as Entrepreneurs of Success, that will put you in touch with others who are successful.
Hiring abilities. Many entrepreneurs need to hire people, but they are not familiar with such a task. Hiring the right people will make a huge difference in your business and can be the difference between thriving and diving. Learn hiring skills by reading books, discussing it with mentors, and attending conferences on the topic.

“Our mission is to help entrepreneurs be more successful,” added Khoudary. “When you have a support group that you can turn to, such as with our mentoring program, you will find that you get the answers you need to move forward, overcome challenges, and continue to grow.”

Entrepreneurs of Success offers a close-knit community for entrepreneurs. Members of the group are able to tap into unlimited support by a group of successful mentors, access special tools, collaborate, book club, network, and more. Memberships start at just $15 per month. The group also has a “Leaders of Impact” program that awards top mentors each year who are nominated by the community. To get more information or become a member, visit the Entrepreneurs of Success website.

Women Face A Myriad Of Injustices; Can A Better World Emerge?

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By Andi Simon, Ph.D.

What does it say about our culture when moms and their children are facing unbearable pain and trauma during the pandemic? This crisis has amplified the way women in the U.S. are undervalued, or not valued at all. While it is widely known that America lags far behind all other industrialized countries in paid maternity leave, appropriate childcare and suitable work/life balance for mothers, the challenges of the current public health crisis have brought to the fore front the severity of these issues. Why, we must ask, do mothers have to disproportionately bear the burden of household work and care for family members? To add to the unfair burden of labor, women still earn 18% less than men, often with little or no employer or spousal support.

How can this be? What are we missing in this story?

As a corporate anthropologist who worked from the time my daughters were three weeks old (having obtained no paid leave then either), I have gotten past the anger and frustration. Like many women, I have accepted this as just the way it is. But, does the workplace have to continue to operate with these unfair standards?

Before the pandemic, women made up more than half the work force at 58%. This was the highest percentage of woman in the workplace than what had been observed for a long time. Yet 40% of children are born to single mothers. At the same time as the role of men as fathers and co-caregivers has shifted, so had the role of single mothers in the workplace. Only 69.6% of men are employed full-time, and 6.3% are unemployed (5.9 million), as of February 2021. The academic dropout rate for men is 20% higher than for women: 6.2% of men don’t complete high school and 58% who start college don’t complete a four-year program (48% at private institutions).

During the pandemic, 10 million jobs have been lost. Over half these positions were held by women, often women of color. In December 2020 alone, 140,000 jobs were eliminated– all of which had been held by women.

Women, on the other hand, have generated most of the new jobs since the 2008 recession.

Before the pandemic, women owned and ran 40% of the businesses in the U.S. Many of these businesses were second incomes. Others were necessity businesses–from hair salons to “solopreneurs”–trying to thrive in a gig economy that, since 2019, has grown to encompass one third of the workforce.

To add one more injustice, our healthcare system is among the world’s worst for women.

US women have the highest maternal mortality rate among 11 developed countries. Women in the US also have one of the highest rates of c-sections. US women also face the greatest burden of illness, highest rates of skipping needed healthcare because of cost, most difficulty affording healthcare, and report the least satisfaction with their quality of care. One in three women in the US report having emotional distress. Clearly, we need to transform the US healthcare experience quickly into one that cares about women’s health.

When will men, who have the power to change our society, recognize the pain they are creating for women?

When you add it all up, women seem like superheroes. They attempt to achieve work-life balance. They worry about childcare and parent care. They try to build careers and grow businesses, often with family and friends as the major source of funding. They strive to provide healthy, safe environments for their families, sometimes with little or no help. Is this as good as it gets for women?

I venture to guess that no, it can get better. It will get better. It must get better. How? By all of us–women and men–fighting for a new, improved normal. By refusing to accept defeat, women can make a change.

About Andi Simon

Andi Simon, Ph.D, author of Rethink: Smashing the Myths of Women in Business, is an international leader in the emerging field of corporate anthropology and founder and CEO of Simon Associates Management Consultants. A trained practitioner in Blue Ocean Strategy, Simon has conducted over 400 workshops and speeches on the topic as well as consulted with a wide range of clients across the globe. She also is the author of the award-winning book On the Brink: A Fresh Lens to Take Your Business to New Heights. Simon has a successful podcast, On the Brink with Andi Simon, that has more than 125,000 monthly listeners, and is ranked among the top 20 Futurist podcasts and top 200 business podcasts for entrepreneurs. In addition, Global Advisory Experts named Simons’ firm the Corporate Anthropology Consultancy Firm of the Year in New York – 2020. She has been on Good Morning, America and Bloomberg, and is widely published in the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Business Week, Becker’s, and American Banker, among others. She has been a guest blogger for Forbes.com, Huffington Post, and Fierce Health.