​ Introduce yourself and profession to our readers:

My name is Ayo Thomas Founder and Editor in Chief of WOE (Women of Excellence) Magazine

What inspired you to pursue this area of interest?

I have always had a vision to launch my own publication since 2001. However fear of the unknown and failure delayed my process. In 2005, I launched a women’s ministry called WOE Fellowship to Educate, Empower and Encourage women to live a lifestyle of excellence. After several years of meeting in small intimate spaces, I decided to increase my platform by stepping out on faith to pursue my life long dream. I launched WOE Magazine in partnership with Nordstrom in Annapolis MD July 2016.

 What advice would you share with those interested in a similar pursuit?

My advice for anyone who desires to launch  a magazine is to do your research to determine niche, create a solid marketing plan to gain exposure, and be confident in your vision The magazine industry is very competitive so you will have to think creatively on how to stay relevant.

Discuss a professional challenge and how you overcame it:

My professional challenge was overcoming fear of the “unknown” and fear of failure. I had a great vision but feared failing by mentally falling into the statistical survival rate of magazines in the first year. Also I feared not knowing enough to even step out on faith to pursue my dream. Until one day I realized that fear is a destiny destroyer hindering me from chasing after my dreams. So what if I failed, at least I will gain life lessons to apply for future endeavors. Also I decided not to focus on my weaknesses or what I did not know by partnering with others who strengths were my weaknesses to fulfill my vision.

What is next for your brand/business in 2016?

We are currently working on our 2nd issue for Fall/Winter 2016 and planning an amazing event to kick off in January 2017 called #NoFilter Girl Talk Experience. An event bringing women together sharing real and raw stories about their journey to success.

 How can readers connect with you online and through social media?

Readers can connect with me online via social media IG (Iamayotthomas)  
Facebook Ayo Thomas and my website is www.ayothomas.com
To connect with WOE Magazine via social media:
IG and Facebook (WoeMagazine), Twitter WOEMag

​On Saturday, October 29th, at the Balzer Theater, in downtown Atlanta, Book Publisher and Playwright - Ardre Orie presented her newest episodic stage play, Lipstick Monologues: Traces of Her Lipstick, in front of a sold out audience. Traces of Her Lipstick, was the final installment of the Lipstick Monologues brand series, written and produced by Ardre Orie. The series began in 2014 with the original Lipstick Monologues, followed by Love & War(2015), A Heroine in Heels (2015), and finishing this weekend with Traces of Her Lipstick (2016). 

The final installment, Traces of Her Lipstick, wove together the heart-rending story of a 20 year marriage filled with love, lies, betrayal, and lust.  Ardre Orie, created "Traces Of Her Lipstick" to reveal the inner most thoughts of women within troublesome marriages. Her hopes are to start coversations that lead to emotional healing and provide courage to women dealing with these scenarios. 
Continue the conversation on social media with @LipstickMonologues @IamArdreOrie and #TracesofHerLipstick #LipstickMonologues


Additional Photos Available HERE. Visit LipstickMonologues.com for updates.

Photo Credit: Lifestyle Blogger, PRIIINCESSS

Introduce yourself and profession to our readers:
Hey Glambitious readers!  My name is Evelyn Cooke and I am the CEO of Gingerbread Trimmings which is a holiday company specializing in hand-crafted decorations with twists inspired by cultures from all over the world.  Each item is made with love, and each purchase helps fund the growth of the Evelyn Cooke Dream Big Scholarship Program.  This program, founded in 2014, focuses on financial support and mentorship for college-bound high school minority seniors and while we currently serve a local need, it is our goal to expand nationally and to international students.

What inspired you to pursue this area of interest?
I have always been a creative and artistic person.  I focused primarily on drawing and painting from childhood all the way till high school where I even got some of my work in museums around New York.  After burying that part of me while I studied marketing and worked, the one time a year where I found creative release was at my family's annual Christmas Tree trimming party the day after Thanksgiving.  It was tradition here that each family member hand-make their own ornament for the tree to mark that year and each year I become more competitive to have the best ornament (though some of my nephews' works gave me a run for my money).  Holidays have always been the time of year where my family felt normal and just happy to be with each other, so it all just made sense to try to share that feeling with the world.

What advice would you share with those interested in a similar pursuit?
Just start.  Whatever it is that you like doing or making, just do it and put it out there.  It doesn't need to be perfect, and you don't even have to know 100% for sure if someone would buy it but if you start now, and you take everyday as a new opportunity to improve your branding, work, plan etc. in a short amount of time you will blossom into a whole new force to be reckoned with.

Discuss a professional challenge and how you overcame it:
My biggest challenge has been a battle of believing in myself without the permission of others.  I took a stable path into Corporate America after I graduated. After a year of struggle to feel grounded and deep depression, I realized that no matter how great of an environment they may have, that I would never be fulfilled if I relied on another company to own my passions. I decided I needed change so I started by finding each and everything that brought me joy, and I did it every day.  From that, I found out so much about myself, what I loved and was I was good at but didn't necessarily want to do forever.  One thing that did stick however, was crafts, especially for holidays - thus Gingerbread Trimmings was born.

What is next for your brand/business in 2016?
For the rest of 2016, Gingerbread Trimmings is moving full steam ahead in new item creation and filling orders so that we may ultimately become a one-stop shop for everyones holiday needs.  Our goal is to increase our social media presence, brand recognition within the black community and diversify of offerings.  By Christmas, we hope to double our current amount of listings based on customer and community feedback and see consistent sales.

How can readers connect with you online and through social media
Readers can check out my shop at www.etsy.com/shop/GingerbreadTrimStore 
 To stay connected to the latest GT updates, they can also follow us on
Instagram (@GingerbreadTrimmings) and Facebook (@GingerbreadTrim)

Introduce yourself and profession to our readers: 
Greetings! My name is Hillary Berry and I am a professional makeup artist based out of South Florida. I am also a licensed Esthetician with licenses in Eyelash Lash Extensions and Body Wrapping. Makeup has been my passion and my ministry for so many years! Feels like forever! I started my business, Berry Beat by Hillary Berry - a subsidiary of Berry Enterprise, LLC, in 2015, and I am so grateful for God placing this purpose in my life. Being able to minister to women on their natural beauty while accentuating their outer beauty, is a feeling that I cannot put into words. I am more than fulfilled and overwhelmed with joy to see the reaction on my clients' faces when I am complete with their beauty sessions.

What inspired you to pursue this area of interest?
God is who inspired me. He sent an angel to my baby shower on my birthday, with a VERY powerful message that would resonate within me for the rest of my life. God spoke through the young lady and told me that this is what I was CREATED to do. This inspired me to go after this dream FULL FORCE and I have not looked back since. It's funny because I was always into makeup since I was a very young girl but never knew that I was going to become a makeup artist. It's amazing how God turns life full circle!

What advice would you share with those interested in a similar pursuit?
My advice to those who are just starting: DON'T STOP!!! No matter where your skill level is, there is always room for growth. (I AM STILL GROWING!)  Remember, you have to fail in order to win, so keep pushing, keep your eye on your dream and KEEP GOD FIRST!

Discuss a professional challenge and how you overcame it: 
I was scheduled to do makeup for a fashion show, which was a charity event. This meant this was a unpaid event for me. I was very excited to meet the ladies and I was so grateful to be apart. In my experience, whenever I have participated in fashion shows, I would always end up doing more than I bargained for. This fashion show was no different. I was actually fine with it though. However, after doing the fourth girl, I became feeling extremely light-headed and nauseous. I did not know what came over me. I was even leaning on the makeup chair, while doing makeup, to support the weakness I was feeling. Amidst me feeling the worst I have felt in years, I pushed through and finished the last girl because they depended on me. There was a room full of people waiting on these girls to give their most confident selves, and I could not let them down. I did not give up and I did not give in! I am so grateful that I pushed through and finished the job to the best of my ability.

What is next for your brand/business in 2016?
The next level for my brand in 2016 is the launching of my website. I have worked so hard to put this together and to finally see my dreams become a reality is truly a blessing. I anticipate selling different types of merchandise with my brand's logo on them, as well as showcase my work.

How can readers connect with you online and through social media? 
Please Connect with me! I would love to meet you all!
Instagram: @Berrybeat_byhb
Facebook: Hillary Berry MUA and Berry Beat by Hillary Berry Makeup Page
YouTube: Berry Beat by Hillary Berry
SnapChat: BerrybeatMUA
Website: www.BerryBeatBeauty.com
​

Introduce yourself and profession to our readers:
Hello Luvs, I’m fashion designer, Charla Ruschelle, clothing brand CR Clothing Co.(CRCCo.) and shop owner of Concoction theWork_Shop, where I clothe, create and consult…keeping women and men Fashionably Fly!

What inspired you to pursue this area of interest? 
I was blessed to be gifted with the skill of sewing ,and being able to pursue my love further in fashion designing, as well as, fashion merchandising. My skills in sewing were passed down to me at the age of seven. My grandmother was a home economics teacher and  my mom also knew how to sew, as it was something that was part of a skill women should have… I guess our domestication. When it came to needing a costume or a performance garment, my mom would be the one to make it. I also had major influences from my next door neighbor and her mother-in-law, who both were seamstress.  I had all these women of color exuding the skill my way, along with, them all being well sophisticated women always put together from head to toe. Sewing is my go to for meditation and therapy, and designing has always been an outlet for me to be originally independent when it came to style. 

What advice would you share with those interested in a similar pursuit? 
I speak often to students, as well as, adults interested in the fashion and apparel industry. I ask them, what are they interested in and what have they started doing to pursue their interest? I always tell them figure out what you are good at, learn more about fashion, because there are more options in the fashion industry then just being a “Fashion designer.”  I give them that common phrase, “ the starving artist” ,because it’s an art and you have to love it. It’s definitely a financial investment and you having to be willing to take on the expense. You have to be willing to invest in your talent, recognize your strengths, weaknesses and being real with self. Once you are able to figure that all out, then you set your goals and ensure that you have efficinet education that can take you to higher levels and provide an assortment of opportunities. 
 
Discuss a professional challenge and how you overcame it:
I think I’m still going through the challenges and getting closer everyday in overcoming what may present itself. I’m still not where I want to be with my businesses. As a fashion designer, my goal is to be in closets of women who love to find small brand designers and love the story behind the brand , as well as, love that the clothes they wear represent them, and that the actual designer, me, literally put my hands to work in creating something they will keep forever, because it’s timeless. From marketing, to production to running a physical shop, it’s all me. So with that, the challenge becomes managing it all. I’m not one to give up, especially because I know my talent, there are people out there who already have me in their closets and many more will want it too. Just don’t give up… I live by my alma mater from Clark-Atlanta University, “ I’ll find a way or make one", and that’s what I do.

What is next for your brand/business in 2016?
For my clothing brand, Charla Ruschelle Clothing Co. (CRCCo.), I’m working on a luxe collection. This collection will be my renewed and rebranding, so I may submit to participate in the 2017 Essence Festival StyleMarket. And with my boutique shop, Concoction theWork_Shop, I’m just continuing to market to Atlanta as an authentic  boutique by a fashion designer, who sews for her own clothing brand, takes custom re-make request for CRCCo., provides wardrobe consulting, minor alterations, quarterly sewing classes, as well as, host monthly shop and sips highlighting other local creative businesses. A hidden treasure with so many gems to offer, #GetConcocted.

How can readers connect with you online and through social media.
​For the shop, Concoction theWork_Shop, Facebook and IG @concoctionccc, shop address 1102 Airline Street, Atlanta, GA, Shops @ West Inman Lofts. And for the clothing brand , CR Clothing Co. (CRCCo.) Facebook and IG @crcco. Website: www.clothecreateconsult.com

​Introduce yourself and profession to our readers:
Hello All! My name is Darnica Gordon and I’m the Owner & Editor of Christ It Up Magazine.
 
What inspired you to pursue this area of interest?
I’ve actually always loved magazines, but never in a lifetime would I have thought I would actually run one. God basically showed me this is what He wanted me to do. At first, I thought it was a vision for me to pass on to my husband, but God said no, no.
 
What advice would you share with those interested in a similar pursuit?
Don’t be discouraged. It is hard getting past the basic information the internet provides. A lot of other magazine companies don’t want to help in fear of competition. And it makes it a little more difficult when you have no background in the area. (Raises hand)
 
Discuss a professional challenge and how you overcame it:
One of the professional challenges I face is providing a quality product with a small budget. I use low budget tools that allow for my product to showcase at the quality it deserves.
 
What is next for your brand/business in 2016?
Making it to 2017! No, on a serious note, to expand our horizons. I would love to be more accessible for our readers i.e., in stores, beauty salons, etc.
 
How can readers connect with you online and through social media?
Readers can connect with us through our website: christitupmagazine.com
Facebook: Christ It Up Magazine
IG: @christitupmagazine
Twitter: @chrisitupmag
 

Introduce yourself and tell us about your company Exclusive Xscapes:
I’m Carla Stevenson, owner of Exclusive Xscapes, LLC and CEO of The FLY Bellas Travel Group.  When I was growing up in Baltimore, MD, I always felt drawn to life beyond my own borders; whether those were the boundaries that existed in my environment or those that existed in my own mind.  In my early adulthood, I was fortunate enough to have the experience of living abroad and the experience was life changing.  Learning about other cultures and their way of living was transformational for me and sparked me to want to know more.  That’s when I really began to indulge my interest in travel.  The experiences have been so transformational for me that I decided to help other women stretch beyond their own borders and through that desire my company was born. 
 
What inspired you to create the FLY Bellas Travel Group? 
I had already formed the Exclusive Xscapes brand and several of my clients from that business shared with me that they would love to travel and to visit the exclusive locations that were available, but didn’t like to travel alone.  I get it, traveling abroad alone can be intimidating.  Still, the idea of these women missing out on the experience of a lifetime for lack of travel companion wasn’t something I could ignore.  From that, the idea of connecting these women from all walks of life (The women of FLY Bellas are single, married, have families, no children,  professional, fashionable, have jobs, entrepreneurs, introverts, social butterflies and much more)  together in friendship and in fun; the added bonus of traveling together came into focus and FLY Bellas was born.  We don’t want for the first time you meet your FLY Bella sisters to be on an Xscape. We create a sisterhood so you never have to fear creating memories alone.  FLY Bellas is both a Travel and a Social Group. We work as a team to plan monthly social events so that we can build and maintain our FLY Bella bond   To sum it up, we are FLY women of all walks of life but share one definite thing in common, the passion of Travel.
 
What advice do you have for females that want to travel more but have budget restrictions?  
​The first thing is to commit to yourself! You’re committed to your job, your family, your church and or education.  Make the commitment to do something for yourself and dream big – dream beyond your borders.  Once you identify a trip that you would like to take, explore the many payment options that we have available and budget and commit to making that monthly investment toward yourself and your dreams.   
 
What would you say are the most popular travel destinations for female entrepreneurs?  
Many of the FLY Bellas are female entrepreneurs who, like myself, are dedicated to the success of their businesses despite their need to unplug.  With that said, the goal here is to provide them a rich and empowering experience that allows them to Relax, Relate and Release.  Whether it’s relaxing in the Hot Springs in Sedona or on the beach in Fiji; the pampering in a luxury suite and spa, that we consider a staple, or the enlightening and meaningful experience of relating to other cultures when we travel to Dubai, Cuba or South Africa for example; our destinations are designed to provide enough variety to accommodate and offer needed respite from the busy schedules of the female entrepreneur.
 
Are there any upcoming travel events with FLY Bellas? 
We have lots of exciting trips coming up at the suggestion of our members and through our own research on the most fabulous and luxurious destinations that offer exotic locations and unique experiences to make our Xscapes truly unforgettable!  2017 will be exciting for FLY Bellas!  Domestically, we will attend Jazz in the Gardens, the BET Awards and the Essence Festival among many others.  But our International Xscapes are truly magical. In Late 2017 we will travel to Fiji, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Jamaica and Cabo San Lucas with a few other amazing Xscapes in the wings.  We are extremely excited about the trips themselves, but the outings and experiences that we go the extra mile to include really make these trips once in a lifetime experiences.
 
What is next for your company and brand in 2016?  We are embarking on a number of initiatives including increasing our membership base within existing chapters and establishing new ones, Launching a group for more mature women, launching our clothing and accessories selection, increasing our web presence and of course there are the TRIPS!
 
How can readers find you online and through social media? 
Website. www.flybellas.com
Facebook and Twitter: @FlyBellas
Instagram: @Fly_Bellas
Join FLY Bellas and join our Private page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/FLYBellas/

Introduce yourself and profession to our readers: 
 
I am Nefateria F. Robinson, a Certified Professional Coach, and the Owner of Go Get It, Inc.  and I inspire women to A.C.T.; activate their faith, commit to their financial plan and take action so they can so they can invest in their dream of entrepreneurship. 
 
What inspired you to pursue this area of interest?
 
 I was taught the importance of being a good steward over your finances and how important good credit was at a very earlier age.  I learned how to balance a checkbook and the importance of balancing it in the 4th grade. One of the first scriptures I learned was "Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."~Romans 13:8  When, I wanted to leave my full-time job to become a full-time entrepreneur I knew the best way to make that transition less stressful was to get my finances in order.  I don't want anyone's financial issues to prevent them from pursuing their dream of entrepreneurship  
  
What advice would you share with those interested in a similar pursuit? 
 
To A.C.T.!  Activate their faith, by studying and meditating on the word of God.  Commit to their financial plan, whether that is eliminating debt before going into full-time entrepreneurship or knowing what you want to make once you are a full-time entrepreneur and doing what it takes to make it happen.  Take action, it doesn't matter, how many scriptures you know, how many blueprints you have if you do not act on those scriptures and blueprints you are just wishing and not living your dream. 
 
Discuss a professional challenge and how you overcame it: 
 
Becoming overwhelmed with the workload and ideas I want to implement.  To deal with the overwhelming feeling, I pray and recite scripture.  Then, I ask God what idea/s I should pursue.  The ones I get the green light on, I go ahead and  write everything down that has to be done to complete the idea.  Then, I only focus on step 1 until it's complete and then move on to the next. 
  
What is next for your brand/business in 2016? 
 
An official launch in January 2017.  I am coming out with all guns blazing!  I will be completing everything I have started and implementing all strategies I have studied. 
 
How can readers connect with you online and through social media?

website: www.nefateriarobinson.com
Social Media FB, IG and Periscope @NefateriaRobinson
​