Cortney Cleveland

Madame Noire

When a child is going through a hard time, it is a mother’s instinct to comfort them. To protect them. To find a way to make their life easier. Akira “Jael” Byrd of Birmingham, Alabama turned her maternal instinct into a business plan. After helping her young daughter navigate the difficult terrain of transitioning from relaxed to natural hair, Jael realized many grown women needed that same support. And Natural Hair Box was born.

Natural Hair Box is an exclusive monthly subscription service that delivers natural hair and beauty products. The service is offered by Jael’s company, Natural Hair Company, and focuses on providing products that contain gentle natural ingredients.

The company released their first subscription in April 2013. Getting her venture off the ground required more than a little multi-tasking. Jael still works full-time as an auditor, and is a mother and wife. We caught up with the entrepreneur to find out what inspires her hustle and how she manages to do it all.

Madame Noire: Describe Natural Hair Box for those unfamiliar with the product.

Akira “Jael” Byrd: Natural Hair Box is a new service offered by Natural Hair Community. Each month members receive a sturdy craft box with our logo cloaked over the top. Inside you find a minimum of five products that are all natural hair goodies from brands that mirror our mission in providing amazing products that contain amazing ingredients. Our featured products do not contain parabans, sulfates, silicones, mineral oil or petroleum. We are a huge supporter of small businesses so our features are often local finds.

Our goal is to deliver an incomparable experience each month and we understand that it starts with providing beyond expected customer service and quality products.

MN: Your professional background is in auditing. How did that prepare you to run this business?

AB: Being an auditor is about the details, organization, processes, timeliness, open communication, accountability, balancing and resolution. These are all huge aspects of the basic make-up that shapes how I manage Natural Hair Box.

MN: What inspired you to get involved in the natural hair industry?

AB: My oldest daughter was relaxed for about four years, and her once thick coily hair, became lifeless and limp. After months of transitioning with braids, she began wearing her natural hair out at school and that is when it all went downhill. She’d come home upset and crying. The kids teased her because she didn’t have a relaxer anymore.

As a mother, I comforted her as much as I possibly could. As time went on, the more she became comfortable with her hair, the less she paid attention to her classmates. After months of reassuring her, helping her mentally transition, I found that there were grown women going through the exact same thing. Only, they were transitioning at work, dealing with natural hair issues alone or didn’t have the support from family. This is why Natural Hair Community was founded. We began filling in the gaps and providing the information and support virtually through articles and my personal natural hair experience.

MN: What difficulties did you and your daughter run into transitioning to natural hair? How did they inform your business plan for Natural Hair Box?

Jael: Putting things into perspective, I stopped relaxing my daughter’s hair in 2005. It felt as if I broke a commandment. “Thou shalt not stop getting relaxers.” Some kids are so cruel and so were some adults. My daughter was dealing with constant teasing and name calling all because I stop relaxing her hair. But the funny thing is, when she became confident with her hair, the teasing turned into compliments. Go figure.

MN: It seems the success of Natural Hair Box depends on a strong network - of retailers and customers. How do you build and maintain this network? 

AB: Our members come first. This is why we encourage feedback and reviews because we want to be sure we are delivering an incomparable box and experience each month. We give our members a voice and we are responsive to their input because understanding our customer’s experience is how we make a better box.

Persistence - I have met some amazing women and it is true, iron sharpens iron. Months before we launched, I reached out to several brands to introduce Natural Hair Box. I will be honest, there were some that didn’t reply, but those that did were a blessing (God sent). That was definitely a wake-up call that persistence had to be my new middle name.

My goal is always to develop an ongoing professional relationship with all the participating brands in some capacity. Being available to support their business ventures and bring their business visions to fruition is how Natural Hair Box sets itself apart.

MN: What are the keys to your success in juggling full-time work with entrepreneurial projects?

AB: I truly believe that changing the direction in my life is what I am supposed to do. I feel that I have to live my life according to His purpose. As I break from just living and begin experiencing life, it is more rewarding every day. Bringing my husband and children on board definitely makes it successful and defines us [as] a family-owned business. Working with my husband as close as I do is amazing and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My thirst to understand and help make natural hair journeys easier through products and information fuels my desire to go after the goals that I have set for Natural Hair Community.

MN: What are some sacrifices you’ve had to make for the success of Natural Hair Box?

AB: Sleep! I no longer get my eight hours of beauty sleep. I burn the midnight oil a lot, because I am at work for nine hours of my day. I still take time for family because they shouldn’t miss out. I do not spend too much time on any one project. Once I learned that I can’t do everything in 24 hours, my progress increased and my frustration decreased. I know my 10-month-old is happy because we share the same hours in the middle of the night.

MN: Did you always envision yourself as an entrepreneur? What has the experience of starting your own business taught you?

AB: I knew since I was a little girl that I would have my own business because that is what my momma told me. “Have your own. Work for yourself.” However, the challenge was changing my mindset from thinking that I would have a brick-and-mortar vs having an online service. My husband, who has always supported my vision for Natural Hair Community and Natural Hair Box, was instrumental in mentally working through different concepts and techniques that I still find useful to this day.

Having my own business has taught me that any and everything is possible. If my mind can conceive it, it is possible. I have leaned on my faith more than ever. There are a lot of uncertainties that I cannot control.

MN: What’s the next for your company? 

AB: Natural Hair Community is holding fast to its original foundation of providing information and support. We look forward to hosting events and to bring more natural hair product options to our members through Natural Hair Box.

Madame Noire

Baltimore, Maryland native Khalilah Williams-Webb is known for bringing style to the sidelines. She styles some of sports’ biggest names in the game (and fashion), most notably Carmelo Anthony. But Khalilah is more than that, much more. When she’s not hunting for size 14 shoes and extra-long trousers she works as a stylist for power players like Carol’s Daughter founder Lisa Price, and an image consultant for brands like Samsung and Foot Locker. Most recently she took on the role of shopkeeper at her new boutique, Shirley + Alice, (named for her fashionable grandmothers) in the legendary neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. She’s come a long way from cocktail waitressing and working the floor at Express and Tommy Hilfiger.

We caught up with Khalilah to learn more about what propels her success and the motivation behind her new retail venture.

Madame Noire: Where does your love for fashion come from?

Khalilah Williams-Webb: My mother and my grandmothers. As a young child, they use to bring me along with them as they shopped; shopping and dressing me up as a child! It honestly came so naturally because I grew up around it!

MN: You’re widely known for styling Carmelo Anthony, but you have a lot going on! Describe what your brand entails and what guides you when pursuing new ventures.

KW: My brand entails styling, imaging consulting, and running a my new boutique. But most importantly, maintaining my image as a great mom, wife, and family figure. When pursuing new ventures I love to be challenged.

MN: With so many ventures pulling from your creativity, how do you stay inspired to come up with fresh ideas?

KW: I strongly believe in taking  time out to refresh and rebuild!  But I also do a lot of research and draw inspiration from old movies, magazines, etc. I also have to give credit to my great team. We collectively come up with creative ideas to be ahead of the game.

MN: What prompted you to make the move into retail?

KW: It has been a dream of mine to open a vintage store since I moved to NYC two years ago.When my husband Richard and I found out we were expecting a baby,  I made the decision to slow down with styling, and to put my energy into my love for vintage. I began hosting trunk shows, first in my husband’s gallery, “House of Art”,  then in a mansion converted to a school (the ambiance was perfect). I started to realize with the amount of inventory I amassed and the demand, I needed a storefront.

MN: Do you approach styling men differently than dressing women?

KW: My approach to styling is no different. I make to adhere to what the client is looking for, and put my own twist to it.

MN: How is Shirley + Alice different from the other vintage boutiques that populate Brooklyn?

KW: I wanted a boutique that had a cozy and homely feel; as if  you are playing dress up at your girlfriends house or your mother’s closet as we all did as a kid. A place where you could feel welcome, have a glass of wine, conversation and do what women want to do most — shop! I want it to be an experience, not just a place to buy a piece of clothing.

MN: What made Bed-Stuy the perfect home for Shirley + Alice?

KW: It’s the neighborhood I live in, the neighborhood I first moved to when I came to NY, the neighborhood my husband’s Gallery is located, it’s where we spend the majority of our time. We love the community, the support and the growth of the neighborhood.  We love Bed- Stuy!

MN: How have online resources for vintage fashion like Etsy and eBay impacted the vintage fashion business? How do vintage stores like yours compete?

KW: You don’t compete, you join! Not everyone likes to shop online, so we have a brick-and-mortar for those who want the full experience of being in a store, touching fabric and trying on pieces. And to reach a larger audience, there’s eBay and Etsy, it’s a perfect way to build your clientele without having to incur the cost of building a website.

MN: You recently collaborated with Nigerian designer Adeleke Sijuwade. How is that partnership reflective of your brand and your goals for Shirley + Alice?

KW: We carry several independent designers in the store, Olori Collection was the first feature designer in the store. The collection is exciting, bright, bold and unique. We  always want to be that go-to-place for unique items and the topic of fashion conversations.

MN: What was the hardest thing you had to overcome in your career?

KW: I think one of the hardest things recently is being able to balance career and family. Making the transition was a little more difficult than I imagined, especially with having children. But it’s life and the adjustment was much needed and wonderful. I love that my entire life doesn’t revolve around work, and that I have built boundaries and limits at this point in my career. Being a mom, wife, business owner and self -made brand is an honor and pleasure. I feel blessed everyday to be where I am now.

MN: What’s next?

KW: My aspirations for the store, Shirley + Alice:  to be put on the map as one of the top destinations for vintage, indie designers, and unique clothing. As for my career, there are several things on the horizon that I can’t speak of momentarily but stay tuned. In the meantime, I welcome all to come by Shirley + Alice Boutique by Kweb Kollects Vintage and have a fabulous shopping experience.

Uneku Atawodi is a businesswoman. A philanthropist. A government worker. A world traveler. And an international professional polo player. She’s 25 years old. How has this young woman accomplished so much with such little time on earth? She started with not taking no for an answer.

Actually, Uneku was born with a health problem — bronchial pneumonia — that can still cause some breathing issues. But that hasn’t stopped her. Twelve years ago, Uneku fell in love with horses. She was introduced to the sport of polo when business opportunities led her father to move the family from Pakistan back to the Arab-influenced Nigerian city of Kaduna, where polo was a weekly ritual. It’s an activity more common for families than sitting at home. “The first time I watched it, and saw the aggression and speed and love for the game the players had, I fell in love,” says Uneku.

Unswayed by discouragement from her family, Uneku made up her mind to become the best player she could be. And she did. But not without finding time to get a bachelor’s degree in Equestrian Science and a master’s degree in International Business with Spanish. She even found ways to pursue business ventures and use her platform to effect change through government and nonprofit work. Now Uneku has come to the States; Atlanta to be specific.

We caught up with the business-minded equestrian to find out what brought her to America and what drives her success.

Madame Noire: What resistance did you receive to your involvement in polo?

Uneku: Oh a lot! It was so awkward, because the adults were pretty straightforward about it! “Neku, you cannot play because you are a girl, go cook!” “Neku, a woman’s place is not on the horse, you won’t get married.” I think my fascination with polo grew from the resistance though. I was a curious child, and constantly hearing [I was a miracle baby led me to] believe that I was invincible! I used to say, “Mummy, He cannot try to take me twice! Calm down!”

Madame Noire: How has being Black and female influenced your experience as a polo player? Do you think it has impacted your career at all?

Uneku: Well I studied Equestrian Science, so if anything now it has positively impacted my life path. It allows me to give other children the opportunity to have the sport open doors for them, like it did for me! I have played in so many amazing countries around the world and have met so many amazing people, most of whom have helped me in my career decisions, and have led me to some very successful business choices.

Madame Noire: What do you think is keeping more Black women from entering the sport? How can we change that?

Uneku: There is an influx of all cultures entering the sport, and that comes from the sport being popularized in modern times, and getting to more people. I guess in America, it is the wealth bracket. It is seen as an expensive and elitist sport. But I find the polo community to be one of the most welcoming sporting communities, and if you approach a club with your interest, you might end up with a beautiful new life experience.

Madame Noire: You value education a great deal. Why was it important for you to get your bachelor’s and master’s degrees?

Uneku: I quickly realized that to advance in the sport I love, one would need to be a successful individual. My dream was always to own a polo resort, and from traveling around the world playing, I learned that most polo communities are financially successful from the real estate. I am also inspired by conceiving a business model and seeing it come to life. My mother used to say I had a bit of a short attention span, popping up with various business ideas everyday. I sold cookies at 11 and made a 300 percent profit, so you bet your a$$ I thought was Bill Gates!

My international business degree helped me understand how different countries around the world operate in business, and because I knew that I loved traveling the world, I knew that I would want to do business with various people around the world also, and understanding their cultures as it pertains to relationships and business intrigued me.

An education is very important, it helps you understand how basic things in the world work and revolve, and helps you answer “Why?” Which we should always ask. That inquisitive mind of a child shouldn’t be stymied. So even as adults, train your brain to always want to understand things, in sports, in life, in love. Understand why.

Madame Noire: Can you talk about some of your business ventures and how you balance it all with your sports career?

Uneku: I love my nature-inspired boutique hotel and lounge in Abuja, Bamboo Lounge. The name is inspired by polo sticks made out of bamboos. I also work as a Special Duties Officer at the Ministry that governs my Nation’s capital. I feel like I help to bring worldviews and a new way of thinking to the sometimes archaic and bureaucratic way of doing things that African governments tend to stick to.

Madame Noire: What was the proudest moment in your career?

Uneku: This year, being chosen to represent my country as a Global Shaper, in the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland. The Global Shapers are young entrepreneurs which the WEF deems to be positively shaping the future of the world we live in. To be chosen as a part of that organization, as an equestrian! An equestrian who went to business school! I was in awe that such a powerful body recognised my small achievements and chose me to represent them. For once, I was incredibly proud of myself, and realized why my friends and family sometimes say they are proud of me!

Madame Noire: What was the most difficult thing you’ve had to overcome?

Uneku: Getting over my insecurities and fears!

Madame Noire: What are you looking forward to accomplishing in Atlanta?

Uneku: I am looking forward to hosting a great day of polo on the 23rd of June, at the Atlanta Polo Club, where we are hosting a picnic day out, with an impressive polo match supported by strong equestrian heritage brands such as La Martina and Burberry, to help raise awareness for my charity, Ride to Shine and help bring an awareness to African orphans.

Madame Noire: What are your goals for your sports and business career?

Uneku: I would love to spread the word that polo is cool! I hope to leave a positive impact on the world and the lives of my kids at Ride to Shine. For them to come back years later when I am old and tell me their own stories from visiting the world, and gaining invaluable life experiences too!

Madame Noire: Can you share a lesson that you feel has been key to your success?

Uneku: “Never take your eyes off the ball!”

Madame Noire

Type HBCUs in a Google search box and the search engine quickly suggests items asking if the institutions are “still relevant,” “racist,” or “good.” The assertion that colleges and universities created to combat racism and educate Blacks when other institutions denied them entry are now racist is more than a little ridiculous. The judgment of whether they are good or not depends on what you value. These institutions don’t have the same amount of resources as behemoth state universities or Ivy League institutions, but they still manage to produce the likes of Spike Lee and Oprah Winfrey.

Are they relevant? HBCUs represent three percent of colleges in the United States and are responsible for 21.5 percent of the bachelor’s degrees awarded to Black professionals. This small slice of the higher education pie churns out 60 percent of all engineering degrees earned by Black students, educates half of the country’s Black teachers, and produces 40 percent of all Black health professionals.

HBCUs are certainly something special. I asked graduates of these historic institutions to help me identify exactly what that certain something is. Here’s what they had to say.

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Madame Noire

Sweeping statements about morality and religion populate the debate over same-sex marriage, while the financial consequences often go unaddressed. The financial impact on the Black community isn’t even an afterthought. But for some African-Americans, love is one of the biggest barriers to achieving wealth.

Marriage As A Contract

Many forget the financial safety net legal marriage provides. “There are roughly 1,100 benefits, rights, and protections conferred on married couples on the federal level. And hundreds more benefits, rights, and protections that married couples receive under state law,” attorney Camilla Taylor, Marriage Project director at Lambda Legal, a national organization advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and people with HIV, tells Black Enterprise.

Eight states currently allow civil unions or domestic partnerships. Another nine and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage. Twenty-nine states ban same-sex unions.

The government has never viewed marriage or divorce as the jurisdiction of religion, but as the forming and breaking of a legal contract. Under the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act, the federal government does not recognize any state-issued marital contracts. Until DOMA is struck down, the progress made for gay couples at the state level has limited benefits. And the financial consequences trickle down to the simplest life decisions.

Imagine you…

Want a buy a home for your family? Unlike heterosexual couples where a home is automatically passed on to the surviving spouse in the event of their partner’s demise, your partner will have to pay a gift tax if they were added on to your deed.

Want to start a family?Some health insurance policies don’t cover maternal care costs; even more don’t offer domestic partner benefits. States that don’t support same-sex unions won’t allow you to be put on the birth certificate of non-biological children born during your partnership. This will affect your ability to list the child as a dependent on your health insurance, make medical decisions for the child, or even enroll them in school.

Want to care for your sick partner? If you live in a state that doesn’t recognize your marriage, getting health insurance will be an obstacle. Some employers have special programs that offer health insurance to domestic partners, but those benefits are federally taxed as additional income.

Want to take advantage of your federal benefits? You will receive fewer social security benefits than partners in a heterosexual marriage. The federal government will not recognize your same-sex spouse or non-biological children. And your partner will not qualify to receive your social security benefits.

Want to take care of a loved one after your death? While traditional husbands and wives have unlimited transfer of assets, you and your partner must piece together financial and legal protections for your assets after your death.

Want to start a new career? State marriage laws will limit what job offers you can take. If an attractive job offer is located in a state with discriminatory legislation you could lose more than you would gain from the opportunity.

Same-sex partnerships are so financially cumbersome that firms are creating divisions that cater to the LGBT community. Wells Fargo even developed an Accredited Domestic Partner Advisor certification in 2010 that specializes in the unique challenges same-sex couples face in estate and financial planning.

Dollars and Sense

According to a Gallup special report on the LGBT population in the United States, 4.6% of African Americans publicly identify as LGBT. That means currently at least 1.9 million Blacks will never be able to reach their full financial potential.

If the obstacles posed to millions of individuals’ financial dreams doesn’t mean anything, consider that a 2004 report by the Congressional Budget Office suggests that federally recognized gay marriage would reduce the budget deficit by about $450 million a year.

Maybe it’s time to stop viewing this issue in sweeping indictments. Maybe it’s time to stop thinking of our government as the purveyor of morality. Didn’t that ship sail a long time ago? Let’s look at this issue through a lens our government understands: the good old-fashioned American way of cash money.

Marriage is a legal structure that allows people to depend on each other, so they don’t have to depend on the government. And it doesn’t make much sense, or cents, to block the prosperity of a growing population of our country.

Angelina Jolie is a siren, a vixen. Exotic and curvy by Hollywood standards, she made a name for herself slinking across red carpets and film sets as the walking embodiment of sex. She’s the dark-haired beauty who stole the sexiest man in America from America’s blond sweetheart.

She’s the stuff of Hollywood legend. Making her announcement that she recently underwent a preventive double mastectomy all the more jarring.

In a New York Times op-ed, Jolie describes her decision-making and treatment process following the discovery that she carried a “faulty” gene, BRCA1. The presence of which sharply increases her risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer (her mother passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 56 after battling the disease for a decade).

“On a personal note, I do not feel any less of a woman,” she writes. “I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in now way diminishes my femininity.”

Jolie didn’t have to go public. Not even a whisper of her condition had leaked to the press. She could have had reconstructive surgery, walked the red carpet and rolled her eyes as blogs wondered if she had a boob job. Instead she used her personal struggle and celebrity to give a platform to a serious issue.

This approach falls in line with the humanitarian Jolie has become. An evolution that began when she started working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees after being exposed to humanitarian crises while filming the Lara Croft franchise.

“She’s the biggest name of all, and I think given her prominence and her visibility not only as a famous person but also a beautiful actress, it’s going to carry a lot of weight for women,” said Barron H. Lerner, a medical historian and the author of “The Breast Cancer Wars” told the New York Times.

The cost of testing for mutations of BRCA genes comes in at more than $3,000. Why the high price tag? The biotech company that discovered the gene filed a patent for it in 1995, giving them a monopoly on products that can test for mutations. The Supreme Court is still deciding whether a corporation can file a patent based on a gene invented by Mother Nature and present in every single cell in every single person on earth.

Jolie’s situation is seen as special and high-risk by the medical community. Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are estimated to cause only 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers and 10 to 15 percent of ovarian cancers among white women in the United States. But statistics for other racial and ethnic groups are not available. Odd, given that African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer than their White counterparts.

Studies show that few Black women younger than 50, a population disproportionately afflicted with and dying from early-onset breast cancer, undergo genetic testing. Only one third of Black women aged 50 or younger who met national guidelines for genetic testing for breast cancer had been referred for such testing.

Moreover, the high cost of healthcare in this country — and the fact that many still lack coverage — make it cost-prohibitive for many to take basic tests, like a mammogram, let alone receive treatment.

Family history and financial status are thought to influence their treatment choices. “Through our study, we determined that 34 participants met national guidelines for BRCA testing,” study co-author Tuya Pal, M.D. said. “But only 13 reported that their health care providers referred them for genetic counseling and/or testing.”

Now that Jolie has the world talking, maybe the issues surrounding breast and ovarian cancer will get more attention.

Looks like America’s (or at least Bravo’s) favorite housewife just lost a storyline. NeNe Leakes’ much talked about role on The New Normal has come to an end. NBC recently dropped the show due to low ratings. So what’s next for reality television’s biggest success story?

Leakes’ IMDb profile gives no hints of future work outside of her current gigs on Bravo and The New Normal creator Ryan Murphy’s hit show Glee. That’s not to say the outlook on NeNe’s career is bleak. Far from it.

According to OK! Magazine, Leakes is the highest paid housewife in Bravo’s history, grabbing a $1 million paycheck (plus bonuses) to appear on season 6 of Real Housewives of Atlanta. It’s unclear whether this figure includes her salary for her upcoming spinoff, I Dream of NeNe, chronicling her wedding with ex-husband Gregg Leakes. And Glee is set for two more seasons, though the scope of NeNe’s role in the series is unclear.

NeNe joined Housewives to advance her acting career. She’s succeeding in using the show as a launching pad. She is seen as the queen bee of the show’s revolving cast of women and a template for other reality stars to follow. But can she make her success last, or is she destined to be a pop culture footnote?

Ryan Murphy, whom she calls her fairy godmother, has been her sole co-sign in Hollywood. Her work with him is the only time we see NeNe not playing herself. And let’s be honest, even when she’s reciting a script, she’s still being sassy, neck-rolling NeNe.

NeNe’s one-note performances aren’t necessarily a weakness. You don’t have to be Viola Davis to have a successful acting career. Character actresses, performers who specialize in playing eccentric or unusual people rather than leading roles, are paying their rent every month. Shout out to Rosie Perez, Jenifer Lewis, and Loretta DeVine.

Love her or hate her, NeNe Leakes is an entertainer. Now is the time for her to prove she can hold her own without famous fans giving her gigs. Leakes is at a crossroads and there are a few roads she can take:

1. Tyler Perry Avenue. Outside Madea’s Christmas slated for the end of this year, Mr. Perry has been hanging up the dress in favor of giving other actresses a chance to bring boisterous characters to the screen. Atlanta is small. I’m sure NeNe can bring up her open schedule over cocktails. Or ask best buddy Kim Kardashian for his number.
2. Black Rom-Com Way. From Baggage Claim to The Best Man reboot, black romantic comedies are making a comeback. Ms. Leakes would fit right in as the mother-in-law, aunty, or sassy coworker. These things write themselves.
3. BET Boulevard. The cable network is surely feeling confident from successes in scripted television like Real House Husbands of Hollywood and The Game. NeNe might even be able to land her own show.
4. Token Drive. It’s 2013 and every network show needs a Black character, the sassier the better. NeNe’s proven more than once she can hold her own in an ensemble cast.

NeNe has a large fan base, sufficient talent, and enough star quality to keep pushing her acting career forward if she chooses. What do you think Ms. Leakes next move should be? Should she keep her house in Hollywood or stick to reality?

Madame Noire

After a boom in bakeries, some say the cupcake business might be slowing a bit. But seriously, who doesn’t like a cupcake?

No one is mixing ingredients like New York City businesswoman Ashleigh Fitzwilliam. The full time publicist, who somehow finds time to pursue a Master’s degree in public health, recently launched Intoxicake NYC, a niche brand that infuses adult beverages in childhood treats.

Intoxicake NYC is already expanding outside its original product line of liquor-infused cupcakes and milkshakes to include a larger range of sweet treats, apparel, adult-toy gift boxes, and a line of fragrances. Fitzwilliam credits her West Indian heritage and Britney Spears as the inspirations for the brand. She noticed no one in the market was taking advantage of culinary traditions like the recipes for rum cake and coconut drops her Jamaican mother and Trinidadian father had passed down to her. Cue Spears’ hit “Toxic,” playing in the background of a brainstorm session, and the rest is history.

After the excitement of the launch, Ashleigh is now learning the hard lessons of her new industry. “In the food industry, ultimately, you have to learn your market,” she says. “That’s something I didn’t put too much emphasis on, because who wouldn’t love cupcakes?” Ashleigh quickly learned that her customer demographics were highly segmented. She had to account for health issues like diabetes that hindered sales of her goods. And realize the importance of aligning her brand with not only hip hop artists, but behind the scenes influencers who could hire her for events. But the entrepreneur has taken it all in stride.

When you take in Ashleigh’s success, it’s hard to believe Intoxicake NYC was just launched in September on Facebook. “I had an idea and my mother told me ‘You know Ash, you have a great idea, don’t release it yet, get everything in order, and then release it,’” she remembers. “That impulse to know how others would view this market overtook me.” Ashleigh put together a logo on Microsoft Paint, drafted a description, and released it to her network. “I was astonished at the response I got!” She said. “People began placing orders as soon as I put it up there.”

“This experience of owning my own company has truly put my  skills and expertise to the ultimate test,” says Fitzwilliam. “If I can’t promote my own brand successfully, how can I truly promote others?”

Social media continues to play a major role in Intoxicake NYC’s success. Ashleigh has learned to approach tools differently. She relies on Facebook to connect with industry colleagues who can provide contracts and Twitter to promote her product to general consumers – an audience she wants to tap into more.

“I see Intoxicake as a franchise,” she says. Which is why she visits some of her industry’s top brands, companies that don’t even know she exists, to understand how their customer service and chains operate. “It all begins in the initial stage where you analyze the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors and implement that early on so your legacy can carry on into the future. So when I am a franchise, those values are already instilled in my company structure.”

The next step for Ashleigh and her “Caketenders” is to Caribbean-ize her brand, expanding beyond American flavors like Cosmopolitan and White Russian to include cultural staples like pineapple ginger and mango rum. You can hear Ashleigh’s excitement for the journey ahead in her voice.

“For me, it’s about having an idea and actually being able to manifest that idea in real time,” she says. “The gratification that you feel when you had an idea that was embedded in the sinews of your brain and instead of everyone else, you decided to take that idea and run with it and actually manifest that idea: that is something that is very valuable to me.”

Madame Noire

Who says you have to go to some stuffy industry conference to network? It’s summertime! The hot sun and long days get everyone – including professionals you need to know – out of the house. Give yourself a break. And while you’re in a good mood, make an effort to get to know the people around you. You may be surprised who’s getting their life next you.

Here are a few events to get your summer plans started.

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Madame Noire

If you need proof of how much the business of coming out has changed, take a look at the career trajectory of Ellen DeGeneres. The TV star saw ratings on her self-titled sitcom tank when she wrote her gay lifestyle into the script. Fast-forward 16 years and the openly gay, married comic is the queen of daytime talk shows.

Now we have news that Washington Wizards center Jason Collins has come out — on the cover of Sports Illustrated, no less — and he’s greeted with support from across the NBA, from the public, and even past and current Presidents and politicians.

Prejudice against members of LGBTQ community still exists but being a bigot just isn’t acceptable anymore. For many in the LGBTQ community, we’re living at a time that was decades in the making. On the flip side, we’ve also reached the point where stars are accused of coming out for profit. Who saw that coming?

Questioning Intentions

The media and fellow celebrities still question whether Frank Ocean’s admission that a man was the subject of love songs on his debut album “Channel Orange” was a ploy for publicity.

Ocean received a warmer welcome out of the closet than many expected. Especially considering he operates in the world of hip-hop where misogyny and homophobia are accepted as the norm. Collins is taking on a similarly biased industry, becoming the first openly gay actively playing professional athlete. He admitted to Sports Illustrated, “I’ve endured years of misery and gone to enormous lengths to live a lie.”

Collins’ announcement is no doubt the product of a difficult internal struggle and required great bravery. But some are already questioning his intentions. New York radio station Hot 97 asks if the move was “a tactic to gain sympathy and notoriety in hopes of getting signed because, let’s be honest, he’s not even close to being a decent player even for his position at center.”

It sounds cynical but let’s entertain the notion for a moment. Collins is at the end of his career and a free agent that, before his announcement, no team felt pressure to add to their roster. Now, if Collins isn’t picked up, it may look like the NBA blackballed him.

Acceptance Outweighs Backlash

Bigotry, even if it’s only perceived, is bad for business. Sure, Collins will have to endure a more sinister type of trash talk from less open-minded sports fans, but no one with real money to lose is to going to say anything to welcome the wrath of GLAAD and jeopardize their career.

With his announcement, Collins secures a loyal demographic that will keep money coming in long after he leaves sports. Advertisers have been reluctant to use gay spokespeople in the past but that’s changing (see Ellen DeGeneres’ deal with Cover Girl, and companies like Starbucks and Target’s support of gay marriage).

“The market is more receptive. He might be the right player at the right time to benefit from that,” said Paul Swangard, managing director of Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon. In addition to potentially expanding his current deal with Nike, Collins could also benefit from speaking engagements and book deals if he chooses.

The day is coming when coming out just won’t be a big deal whether you’re rich and famous or not. For now, we’re at a crucial point of change where, for public figures, coming out is less career death sentence than saving grace. The experiences of DeGeneres, Ocean, and Collins show others that we live in a time where being authentic can expand your opportunities if you’re brave enough to be the first to speak up.

Madame Noire

Last week, Rihanna added another accolade to her resume, becoming the first artist in the history of Billboard’s Pop Songs radio airplay chart to tally ten number one songs. No disrespect to Mariah Carey, who had at a handful of number ones before Billboard launched the chart in 1992, but, Rihanna’s achievement cements her status as the quintessential pop star of the 21^st century.

Say she sings like a goat. Say she dances like she’s on the last five minutes of her shift. Pan her side projects. But fix your lips to say that Rihanna hasn’t mastered the business of music. The numbers don’t lie.

How is the Barbadian provocateur pulling off massive success in an industry changing so quickly even veterans have trouble keeping up? If you pay attention, she teaches lessons everyday. And we’re taking good notes.

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Madame Noire

Remember when getting a tattoo was the rebellious thing to do? Now it seems like everyone has one. According to a 2010 Pew Research poll, 23% of Americans have a tattoo; that percentage increases to 40% for millennials. But that doesn’t mean every company wants their employees inked up. A professionalism survey by the Center for Professional Excellence at York College found that 61% of human resources managers said a tattoo would hurt a job applicants chances.

Some businesses have caught up with the times, but these are usually companies and industries that court creative types. In fact, tattoos can be a plus for designers, fashionistas, and other professionals looking to portray themselves as artsy and free-spirited.

Workers looking to break into more conservative settings have to be more careful about their body art decisions. According to the CNN:

“Eight percent of people with tattoos report trouble at work,” from being forced to hide them to being restricted from performing certain tasks,” [Amy Derick, co-author of a study on tattoos by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology] says. For example, a grocery store employee with a tattoo on their hand might be asked to perform tasks less likely to bring them into contact with the public, like stocking shelves instead of working a register.

It’s not just the location of tattoos you have to worry about. Subject matter can present challenges as well. Marc J. Scheiner, a senior associate specializing in employment law at Duane Morris, tells the New York Times, “No federal law prohibits employers from making a hiring decision because of a tattoo. But clearly you can’t discriminate on the basis of religion, so if someone has a religion-based tattoo, that may call for different analysis.”

What’s a tatted up businesswoman to do?

Do Some Detective Work

Scope out the company culture before you put your tattoos on display. The nature of the job and your potential company’s personality will determine how welcome your body art is. One career counselor recommends visiting the employee parking lot to see how they are dressed and whether they show their tattoos. Take your cues from them.

Go Shopping

If your employer isn’t ready for your permanent forms of expression, use it as an excuse to expand your wardrobe. Cardigans, blazers, long sleeves, tights, and thick bracelets make great fashion solutions for professionals looking to cover up.

Think Before You Ink

That neck tattoo might need to stay on your wish list until you start your own company. Before you put something permanent on a prominent part of your body like your face and hands, weigh the creative payoff against the daily hassle of disguising it or being turned away from opportunities. Some entrepreneurs use prominent tattoos as a sign of their devotion to work independence. Just be absolutely certain you’re ready for that commitment.

Make Yourself Over

Where fashion fails, makeup picks up the slack. Sure, you could slap a band-aid on smaller tattoos, but who wants to go around looking permanently injured? Dermablend, Ben Nye, and tattoo artist Kat Von D’s tattoo concealer with Sephora are all great ways to cover up your tattoo. These liquid foundations are more powerful than regular makeup, which will only dull the appearance of your body art. Make sure to test it out a week prior to your interview or special event to prevent mishaps.

Think Like Super(wo)man

Don’t view masking your tattoos as being fake. Instead imagine going to work as your version of Clark Kent. There’s corporate you and superhero you. Look at yourself in your work outfit and chuckle at what your coworkers would think if they knew what you looked like under all that corporate drag.

Madame Noire

Anyone can come up with a good idea. But, selling that idea is what stands between most people and success. A pitch is a short presentation of your idea. It could be a 10-minute presentation along with audio/visual assistance in front of a crowd. Or a two-minute fast-talking sell in an elevator.

Whether you’re selling yourself to an employer for your dream job, or wooing investors for your startup idea, it’s important you know how to convince your audience to believe in your product. Again, having a good idea is not enough. We live in a competitive world. If you can’t communicate your idea (or who you are) and its value to your audience, you might as well have not thought of it at all.

Daniel Pink, author of five best-selling books about changing the world of work, identifies six new pitches for the 21^st century in his book To Sell is Human. Think of pitching as an intriguing invitation to have a conversation. We profile the six pitches here and look at ways to prepare for the big sell once you have your audience’s attention.

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Madame Noire

At the beginning of the year, USA Today asked if college degrees were still worth it in this economy. The sight of fresh graduates moving back in with mommy and daddy or settling into service industry gigs makes it easy to question whether higher education is the smart route to take. Even a law degree isn’t a guarantee of a job these days.

But studies show that a college degree still makes a difference in your career. Jobless rates and wage drops are still higher for workers with only a high school diploma. “Degree inflation,” a trend where employers change minimum job requirements to include degrees for positions that once upon at time only needed a diploma plays a part in this.

A college degree doesn’t get you as much as it once did, but it still gives you an advantage over your less credentialed competition.

So, what degrees give you the highest return on your investment? US News & World Report cross-referenced degree programs with starting salaries to find out. We picked out the common specialty areas from the list and added a few from Forbes’ research here.

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People love to add slashes to their titles, conveying they are double and triple threats. Nowadays it can get a little gratuitous, reflecting ego more than experience. That’s not the case with Eunice Kindred. She’s a true renaissance woman bringing her love for art, music, and dance into her creative expression. She’s an artist, a DJ, a choreographer, and a dance instructor, on top of holding down a full-time position as an art director for a major advertising agency in New York City.

That may sound like a heavy load. But Kindred finds every aspect of her life enriches another. “It’s good to have all these influences because I never know what I can pull from to come up with an idea,” she says. “Being involved with so many different things gives me a richer background to pull from… Managing all of it can be a challenge, but I do what I love.”

Raising And Rebuilding An Artist

Kindred has been a multifaceted creative for as long as she can remember. Blame her father’s boom box blasting in the delivery room. When people outside of her family expressed concern that little Eunice should focus on one thing, her parents always encouraged her to pursue what she loved, whatever it was.

She found appreciation for her paintings early on, selling pieces for over $1000 as a high school student before attending Harvard University’s Visual and Environmental Studies program. After college she pursued graphic design professionally, only recently deciding to dive back into the art world. But New York galleries weren’t so anxious to welcome her into the fold.

“They saw me as a new artist when in reality I’ve been painting for so many years,” she said. “It was kind of like starting from scratch, but it was humbling to have to know all the stuff I had to change to be successful. Finding galleries to accept my work and even the process of pitching [my work] was new to me.”

Campaigns, Hurricanes, Music, and Paintbrushes

What’s a girl to do when she wants to jump start her art career, and the establishment isn’t on board? Kindred turned to Kickstarter.com, a crowdsourcing site used to fund everything from motion pictures to charity projects. She billed her exhibit, Soundtracks: Freestyle Part I, as her re-coming out as an artist. She built a network of 130 supporters that gave her the push she needed to make her first art exhibit in five years happen on her own terms.

“Once you put a end goal with a date and time it forces you to make it happen,” Kindred said. “It’s like when you tell all your friends you’re going to do something it forces you to do it. Once it was funded, it was like, okay now I really have to make this happen. And now that the show’s happened I still have all these backers that supported me that I can reach out to.”

One thing she didn’t count on was Superstorm Sandy. The 2012 hurricane flooded her Manhattan neighborhood, forcing Kindred to finish her pieces by the light of the sun, and carry jugs of water for her paintbrushes up flights of stairs. But, she persevered and held her exhibit on March 14, 2013.

Kindred calls Soundtracks her “creative Super Bowl.” It combines everything she does into one major expression: every painting is based on a soundtrack of music, each stroke of color done to the beat.

Tips From the MVP

Pursuing her creative passions has helped Kindred be a more creative businessperson. But operating in the business world has helped her become a better artist. After all, there’s a business to art as well.

“Negotiating, speaking with galleries, vendors, and clients makes you more of a force to be dealt with,” she says. “People take you seriously. I can draw pretty pictures but I can also talk to you.”

Kindred advises fellow artists to never be afraid to push their work, something she had to work on as a self-described shy person. To avoid the “starving artist” title, always be ready to present your work or give out a business card, and be open-minded to alternative avenues for getting your work seen. She’s not above approaching a restaurant owner about how great her work will look on their walls.

Her advice to businesswoman is equally simple: be 100% behind what you do and yourself. “Don’t doubt your skills or your background,” she says. “That comes across when you’re presenting or pitching something. Be prepared for anything and on top of your game.”

Madame Noire

Creativity can’t be taught. But we’ve all got it in us. Even the most left-brained individuals have an artist inside of them waiting to be set free. All you need to do is create circumstances that allow your creative expression to flow out. If you think your creative muscle is in need of some flexing, here are some exercises to get you started.

For a more in-depth experience, check out The Artist’s Way. In addition to inspiring the creative exercises listed here, the book provides a 12-week program to tap into higher creativity.

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“Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny.” – Mahatma Gandhi

It’s easy to discount the things we say, as “just words.” The mistake starts in grade school when we’re taught that stick and stones break bones but words never hurt. Truth be told, words are not only reflections of the way we view the world, but studies show they also influence our emotions and actions.

Are you guilty of using words that sabotage your success? Check out these common phrases that invite negativity into our lives, and try to cut them out your vocabulary.

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Most of the barriers holding you back from reaching the same level of professional success as men are in your own mind. That’s the message behind Sheryl Sandberg’s much talked about bestselling memoir/manifesto Lean In. Many Black women are responding with a resounding, “speak for yourself.”

Sandberg admits that as an Ivy League graduate and COO of Facebook, she has access to privilege other women don’t. But she still believes women can break down institutionalized barriers by changing the way they think. What about the women who were “leaning in” before there was a book about it? Is “leaning in” enough for Black women to succeed?

Twice the Effort For Less Reward

History says, no. Black professionals have long subscribed to the belief that they have to work twice as hard as their White counterparts to attain the same amount of success. For years, Black women have excelled at Lean In principles like dreaming big and sitting at tables where they aren’t welcome, only to see their efforts go unrewarded.

Professional black women make up only one percent of U.S. corporate officers, despite the fact that 75 percent of corporate executives believe that having minorities in senior level positions improves innovation and better serves customers. Half the Black women surveyed for the Alliance for Board Diversity Census believed they have not received the rewards and recognition they should have earned for their investment on the job.

This may explain why Black women are leaving to start their own business at three-to-five times the rate of all business. Some 1.9 million firms are majority-owned (51 percent or more) by women of color who employ over 1.2 million people according to the Center for Women’s Business Research.

Breaking Rules Effectively

Rather than working harder to succeed at someone else’s game it may be time to work smarter and succeed on our own terms. And Sandberg may be of some help. A big part of her approach to business involves understanding the playing field and reworking it your advantage. As the saying goes, you have to know the rules well to break them effectively.

Ginny Clarke, author of Career Mapping, Charting Your Course and founder of Talent Optimization Partners, tells the Huffington Post that Black women suffer from not being privy to advancement strategies their White counterparts have access to.

“Our mothers might have worked, even as professionals, but not likely in a corporate setting,” Clarke says. “Consequently, we don’t have the same exposure, awareness, confidence or executive intelligence on matters of corporate compensation, politics, etc. We also often don’t know our value and won’t ask for fair remuneration for it. We get dazzled and flattered by big numbers and lofty titles and sometime fail to question these offerings relative to our male counterparts.”

Don’t Tune Sandberg Out

Whether you’re playing the corporate game or striking out on your own, Sandberg’s lessons are worth paying attention to. She advises women on how to position their requests to get around the bias held against successful women and advocates women speaking up and working together to bring about an equal working environment.

So maybe leaning in can help Black women, but it’s not enough. While we’re waiting for the existing system to acknowledge our worth, let’s lean on building systems of our own.

Madame Noire

Misogynist rap lyrics are nothing new. But last week Rick Ross discovered the suggestion that he spike a woman’s champagne before having sex with her without her knowledge was a step too far. After radio stations banned his song, the rapper took to airwaves to plead his case.

The rapper’s apology wasn’t enough for some. (It was pretty terrible.) Protest group UltraViolet delivered 72,000-plus signatures to Reebok’s flagship store demanding they back away from their endorsement deal with Ross. The brand, who Ross name-dropped just a few beats before the lyrics in question, has remained silent on the issue. But, should brands be called in to play the role of morality police, making sure the artists who make their products cool stay on their best behavior?

Rewarding & Punishing Bad Behavior

Brands have distanced themselves from artists for bad behavior or questionable values before. T.I. lost his deal with Axe body spray after going to jail for violating probation in 2010. Chris Brown was dropped from Doublemint after his infamous Grammy night brawl with Rihanna. Pepsi cut ties with Madonna and later Ludacris when they didn’t agree with the images portrayed in their music.

When brands align themselves with artists like Rick Ross, they know what they’re getting themselves into. Ross made himself rich masquerading as a drug lord with murderous tendencies. Ross’ lyrics are horrible, but Reebok would come off a little hypocritical asking their “gangster” spokesperson to tone it down. (“We like you coke dangerous, but not date rape dangerous.”)

Companies, especially juggernauts like Reebok, don’t choose brand ambassadors haphazardly. They strategically choose public personas whose images are in line with their brand, and the lifestyle they want to sell.

Why Do Good Brands Like Bad Boys?

Cortez Bryant, co-founder of management firm handling Lil Wayne, a rapper who has also come under scrutiny for his lyrics, says that companies are willing to take a risk on artists who capture the attention of their target demographics, even when their track record is questionable. “You know, in the previous years we’ve had hard times, but people ‘get it’ for [his] brand,” he said of Wayne’s partnership with Mountain Dew. “It just seemed like where they were going with their brand, which is all about diversity and crossing barriers, is the same place we want to go.”

Would companies like Reebok dropping artists like Rick Ross make other artists rethink their lyrical content? Maybe. Hitting a person in their wallet is usually an effective way to get them to change their ways. But, at the end of the day, it isn’t Reebok’s job to change Ross.

Supplying The Demand

If Ross is selling a lifestyle the Reebok consumer wants to attain, the brand has a successful partnership. Unless their alliance with the rapper impacts their relationships with their other customers, say active women, the brand has no reason to walk away from him. Let’s be real. Ross’ controversy, like countless other rap lyric scandals will most likely fade from the news cycle, his fan base unbothered. If Reebok did drop his contract, he’d just find another brand to align with.

Brands can’t be relied on to influence artists. The more effective approach for those looking to curtail offensive messages against women may be to look at why personas like Ross and the lifestyle of drug-fueled chauvinistic fantasies he promotes are so attractive to some consumers. After all, brands and enterprising artists like Ross will always and only align themselves with what sells.

Facebook COO and bestselling author Sheryl Sandberg’s memoir/feminist manifesto, Lean In, is causing quite a stir among working women. If you missed the hype, Sandberg uses her book to address the barriers in women’s minds that keep them from reaching the same levels of professional success as men. Sandberg acknowledges systematic hurdles like work and national policies, along with cultural expectations that inhibit the progress of women. But, she believes women can dismantle these hurdles by changing the way they think.

Sandberg’s critics note that her racial, academic, and economic privilege make it easier for her to put the burden on women to simply try harder to succeed. Many women were “leaning in” long before Sandberg’s book only to bump into a glass ceiling. A study by the League of Black Women found that black women make up only one percent of U.S. corporate officers.

Sandberg’s privilege shouldn’t stop women from applying the principles that brought her success. There are external boundaries inhibiting the success of black women, but that’s even more reason for us to eliminate the ones we inflict on ourselves. Check out these 10 principles from Lean In. Does the way you view yourself hold you back?

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