Meet: Dr. Trenese McNealy!

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your latest effort:
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My name is Dr. Trenese L. McNealy, and I am the CEO of LaShay's DESIGNS, an online company with the mission to provide customers with high-quality, retail merchandises and services at reasonable prices. In addition to being a Fashion Designer, I am skilled in program, project, and grant management as the Director of Programs and Grants for a nonprofit organization in Atlanta, Georgia. I also design floral arrangements, plan events, and I am an Author. For LaShay's DESIGNS, my latest effort is my signature Mommies and Mimosas Mother's Day Luncheon. I am also in the process of adding new clothing pieces to my online store.  

If you could share a piece of advice with yourself 10 years ago what would that be?

If I could go back in time, one advice I would share with myself would be to complete the clothing line for New York Fashion Week and not to pause on my fashion company. I had the opportunity to design 10 outfits for New York Fashion Week; however, after having my son, the normal production time for me to design and sew an entire outfit increased from a few days to one month. I was working full-time and operating my business, LaShay's DESIGNS, but being a new mother, I could not balance my time; thus, I decided to cancel the fashion opportunity. Today, I still have not sewn any outfits, but I have designed t-shirts for my company. With the addition of the new clothing pieces to my online store, I will shift the focus from selling my own designs to selling other designers' clothing.       

How do you stay motivated during transitional seasons?

During transitional seasons, I am motivated by attending various online workshops, Live sessions, and by sharing my book, Mommy's Goals vs. Reality: Managing School, Work, and Family, with other women to keep them motivated as well. Mommy's Goals vs. Reality is a must-read, self-help book in which women are provided with successful strategies to manage their school, work, and family obligations as they aim to reach their goals. In this book, I describe the lessons learned from my doctoral journey, provide motivation and encouragement, and analyze strategies working, student mothers used during their academics, professional careers, and family lifestyles. I wrote Mommy's Goals vs. Reality: Managing School, Work, and Family to encourage other women not to give up on their educational or professional goals just because they are a mother or a wife. All mothers and wives can pursue any goal they aim to achieve if they are willing to work hard to succeed despite their family obligations.

What is next for you this year and how can readers support you?

For the remainder of 2020, I am launching my LLC, Dr. Trenese L. McNealy, LLC., which focuses on Project and Program Management Consultation. I am also writing my next book, A Mother's Struggle to Success. In this book, mothers get the opportunity to anonymously share their stories about how they were able to overcome the struggles in their lives to become the successful women they are today. Any women interested in sharing their success stories can contact me via social media. Finally, I am in the process of updating my 2020 Mommies and Mimosas Mother's Day Luncheon to May 8, 2021. Due to COVID-19, my 2020 luncheon was postponed to 2021. To learn more about the 2021 Mommies and Mimosas Mother's Day Luncheon, visit, Eventbrite.com. 

Share your website & social media channels for readers to connect with you:

Websites
https://lashaysdesigns.com/
https://drtrenesemcnealy.com/

Social Media
www.facebook.com/LaShaysDesigns/
www.instagram.com/dr.trenesemcnealy/
www.twitter.com/LashaysDesigns
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-trenese-mcnealy-40ba1051/