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Showing posts from August 28, 2016

BOSS Spotlight: Meet The "Media Executive" Kyra Kyles

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Kyra Kyles, The Editor-in- Chief and Senior Vice President of Digital Editorial for EBONY Media  Operations, LLC. One of WVON and Ariel Capital’s “Top 40 Under 40 Game Changers” and  Chicago Defender’s “40 Under 40 to Watch,” this Chicago native is a sought-after speaker on issues  of race, gender, class and media diversity. Outside of EMO, Kyra is co-founder of a content  production company, Myth Lab Entertainment.   TheBOSSNetwork: What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career?  Kyra Kyles:  One of the obstacles I faced in my career was making sure not to be literally Black listed. Essentially, as an African American journalist, you are sometimes asked to cover areas specifically because of your skin color. My goal is to always ensure that we have balanced and equitable coverage of People of Color, but occasionally, I would have to fight back if I saw that I was being pushed toward certain assignments due to ethnicity. To

BOSS Spotlight: Meet The "Life-Style Connoisseur" Ashley Austin

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Ashley Austin , M.S., is a writer, stylist, and media maven with an entrepreneurial spirit. Working in advertising with her passions for food, fashion, DIY, and all things glam. When she’s not on the clock Ashley enjoys traveling, reading and discovering new trends. Catch up with Ashley at   UptownBelle.com .   TheBOSSNetowrk: What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of  starting your business or career? AA : Believing that I had to be a master at everything. I soon realized that this was impossible and started to vet professionals that were a good fit for me and my business. Outsourcing professionals like hiring a lawyer, accountant, and a graphic designer helped me save more time and money in the long run. It also relieved some stress and allowed me to focus on the areas that I was great at writing and styling. BN: What inspired you to break into your particular industry? AA : I love being a resource for women. There seemed to be a limited urban pers

Self-Worth And Added-Value: Why You Must Bring Both To The Corporate Table By Jacqueline Miller

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Do you generate a profit for your organization? No matter where you appear on the organization chart, if you are to be viewed as an asset, you must be able to demonstrate your value. Your company is investing in you and will inevitably be asking, “What’s in it for us?” Unfortunately, it can be difficult for a woman to embrace the true value that she brings to her organization when she is struggling to see much value in herself. However, many companies fail to address the latter, because there is often a disconnect between an employee’s personal life and the P&L statement. Multiple studies continue to indicate that happy employees are also more productive employees . How realistic is it to expect that a woman who is struggling and overwhelmed at home and with self-worth, would also be a highly-productive employee? The organizations that make the “ Best Companies to Work For ” lists appear to be proactively addressing these issues. I applaud them and am optimistic that

BOSS Spotlight: Meet The "Parenting Partner" Deborah L. Tillman

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Deborah L. Tillman , President of the Parenting Movement, Speaker, Author, CEO of Happy Home Child Learning Center, “America’s Supernanny” on Lifetime TV. Labeled “A Force for Good” by The Washington Post, Tillman became frustrated with he poor quality childcare her son received; quit her job and started her own school. TheBOSSNetwork:   What were some obstacles that you faced in the beginning process of starting your business or career? DeborahTillman : One of my major challenges was finding a team of teachers that were connected to my vision who would have the commitment, character and courage to step out on faith and go through the process with me. Another challenge was learning how to delegate tasks so that people were placed in positions where their gifts and talents could be most effectively utilized. BN: What inspired you to break into your particular industry?  DT : My PAIN inspired my Purpose:DESPERATION comes to mind. Having gone through seven horrific childcare p

You’re Not Special: EVERYBODY is Replaceable By Kimberly A. Ferguson.

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We have all heard it said at some point in our professional careers: “Everybody is replaceable.” It may be a short sentence --- only nine syllables --- and just three words in length, but this phrase can be heavy. It can carry so much weight – that it makes it difficult for any truly dedicated, conscientious worker to swallow and digest. Why?  Well, because: those three words tell an employee that no matter what value he/she brings to the table, someone else can be hired to do the same job and have the same impact. Are You Irreplaceable? Beyonce sings songs about it. Stephen Covey wrote chapters on it. We have always thought of ourselves as “irreplaceable”. As children, we were brought up to believe that we bring our own distinct value . . .  that we are special. Then we entered the workforce to learn that we were not the only  special  employees. That old adage, “one monkey don’t stop no show” was proven to be true. While we have seen employees try to “stop the show” with