Cool Soror with Rashan Ali

There comes a time in a person’s life when things have to change. In 2008, the time had come for our host, Rashan Ali. But she could not do it alone. She needed Sheri Riley as a friend, confidante and conduit. Sheri Riley joins the show today on a very special day! Today is the day that she releases her book, Exponential Living worldwide!

This Cool Soror of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has written a fascinating book that will help you grow to greater heights in your professional and personal journeys. Exponential Living: Stop Spending 100% of Your Time on 10% of Who You Are (Penguin Random House) provides practical tools and is the guide to help busy individuals to integrate their personal desires into their life without detriment to their professional achievement. The nine Principles of Exponential Living® focuses on how personal development fuels professional growth and empowers us to live in our true power, which is peace. Peace is the New Success®

The path to this day has been a true walk of faith with a tremendous amount of sacrifice. As a top executive a LaFace Records helping to develop and market artists like Usher (who lends his hand to write the foreword for her book), Toni Braxton, Outkast and TLC, she walked away at the pinnacle of her career to start her own company, Glue Inc.

For over 17 years, Sheri served as Founder and Chief Partnership Strategist of GLUE® Inc which is a strategic consulting firm committed to “developing profitable partnerships for products and personalities”.

She knew God needed to use her in a greater space by helping other people tap into their true essence. She has done just that with not only her new book, but how she chooses to be obedient to the call. And that is the definition of Exponential Living.

www.exponentialliving.com (Get your book today!)www.sheririley.com

FB: sherihuguelyriley

IG: @sheririley

Twitter: @sheririley

Move-Out Special with Rashan Ali

Our Host, Rashan Ali shares thoughts on several transitional moments that have taken place in her life over the past few weeks. In "Move-Out Special" she encourages the collective to move out, move on, plants seeds and grow.

 

FB: RashanAli Twitter: @RashanAli IG : @RashanAli

Kirsten Daniel is a Cool Soror of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and she joins the show today. The creator and visionary behind the brand Ateaelle as well as a music industry veteran, this A-T-L native is changing the conversation about her city one tee shirt concept and one brilliant idea at a time.

Kirsten Daniel got her start in the music industry where her multi-hyphenated positions can’t be contained to just one title. Her various roles include being a Celebrity Brand Manager, Marketing Executive and Cultural Preservationist. As an Atlanta native, Daniel noticed the lack of authentic representation of her great city and thus, a brand was born.

Ateaelle (pronounced A-T-L) is a fashion start up creating apparel and brand experiences that blend messages rooted in black excellence, pop culture, hip hop, and the entrepreneurial reverence of Atlanta, GA. Their goal is to create a sense of nostalgia while evoking conversation and continued adoration throughout the city.

And the brand is doing just that. Now sold at the Atlanta Airport and online, Kirsten’s vision for her brand reaches beyond quality tees. She is on the brink of launching a Youtube video series called, “A met this girl in Atlanta.” This series will showcase women who are from Atlanta and those who now call Atlanta home and how their lives have been impacted by the city.

Kirsten Daniel embodies all that Atlanta exemplifies and she is on the forefront of changing the narrative on what it really means to represent “Old Atlanta.” Old Atlanta-the city that birthed Martin and some of the realest people you will ever meet, including Kirsten.

Social Media:

Twitter: @ateaelle IG: @ateaelle

www.ateaelle.com

The Cool Soror Podcast welcomes Danielle Frazier, a Cool Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. This medical researcher from Nashville, TN has a new outlook on life after experiencing what she called "hell" in 2011.

Going into labor with her first son, Landon, at 25 weeks after her uterus ruptured, her husband was told that she had a 50% chance of survival. He was also told that their son would not make it at all. Danielle survived and Landon lived for nine weeks. Her grief left her depressed and angry with God.

Agreeing not to talk about conception for a year, Danielle later found out that she had a higher percentage of rupture if she tried again. They explored adoption and surrogacy. Their neighbor, Amber who adopted a child and had recently had a child by natural birth, agreed to carry.

A miracle was on the horizon. Amber, a woman of European descent, received the Frazier's embryos and 35 weeks later, twins were born. Madison and Miles are vibrant and healthy three-year-olds, but there is not a day that goes by that Danielle and her husband don't think of Landon, who would have been five.

Their lives were forever changed in 2011. Danielle is set on honoring Landon's memory and will always refer to herself as a "mother of three." Because she is. He is her first child and always will be.

Social media:

FB: Danielle Frazier

The Cool Soror Podcast is always happy to feature the “Cool Bruh” segment. This episode is no different. Jay Bailey is nothing short of brilliant. He is the chairman of the Phoenix Leadership Foundation and Managing Partner of Greenwood Archer. A Cool Bruh of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is committed to living his personal motto, “Build As We Climb” and he is doing just that - one step at a time.

Jay had phenomenal success as a business man, making his first million in his mid twenties. Although he had major success by society’s standards, he felt his life had very little significance. Homeless and searching for something new, he became the CEO for the Atlanta Market of Operation HOPE, a global nonprofit organization that focused on economic empowerment. Under his leadership, HOPE’s southeastern region grew from a single person operation in 2007, to 19 offices helping more that 160,000 people buy homes, raise credit scores and increase their financial literacy by 2015.

In 2016, he along with his wife, NBC reporter Blayne Alexander, founded The Phoenix Leadership. The foundation was established to identify and inspire the Phoenix that burns within every young black male. The organization has a six-month intensive training and development series designed to expose public school students to a wide variety of opportunities and a world of opportunities.

Jay is such a visionary and in this compelling conversation, he speaks a world of truths about poverty and how it it each of our duties to sow seeds that will grow and prosper. Jay is at the forefront of that movement and our youth are so much better for it.

Social media:

Twitter: jay4hope IG: @jay4hope

FB: James “Jay” Bailey

www.phoenixleadership.org

Shani Godwin joins The Cool Soror Podcast today. This Alpha Kappa Alpha woman and Atlanta native is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Communiqué USA Inc. For more than 20 years, she’s helped companies and organizations achieve marketing success. As a visionary and talented communicator, she has the innate ability to see the big picture and lead flawless execution that gets results.

Shani launched Communiqué USA in 2002. Under her leadership, Communiqué has developed a solid reputation for getting the job done on strategy, on time and on budget. Moreover, Shani’s commitment to providing personalized service, forward-thinking ideas and strategic counsel is evident in the results she and her team continue to generate for an impressive and growing roster of clients.

Although wildly successful in her professional career, her personal life has seen its share of sorrow. A mental breakdown, an unexpected divorce that led into another unhealthy relationship left Shani yearning for an outlet. She created AudibleVoices.com where where she blogs, writes and inspires others to “speak their truth” and “find their voice.” She also authored The Love Project: 365 Ways to Love Yourself and Get the Love You Deserve, which hit the bookshelves in 2017. Both have been cathartic.

Many would question why certain twists and turns happen in our lives and Shani can definitely attest to that. But when she started to completely surrender to the universe and God’s will for her life, she found a greater purpose. She found, “A Different Why.”

Social Media: IG @audbilevoices

www.audiblevoices.com

Idunnu Tomori joins The Cool Soror Podcast. This Cool Soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. is the CEO/Founder of Misayo House, an Atlanta based online boutique of Fine Fashion Jewelry. She created the company with the desire to share her love of classic, timeless jewelry.

Idunnu was born in New York City to Nigerian parents and lived in London, England and Lagos, Nigeria before returning to the States at the age of 14. She obtained her Bachelors of Science in Psychology at Florida State University. She also obtained a Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling at Georgia State University.

Upon getting married a few weeks after completion of her graduate studies, Idunnu moved to Indiana where she worked as a therapist for several years. Her husband’s job subsequently moved them to South Africa, where she hosted jewelry parties with friends due to her inability to work on a spousal visa. A little over year later, her husband’s job moved them to Nigeria where she resumed her career as a therapist.

When they returned to the U.S., Idunnu established Misayo House as a registered company on the premise that luxury jewelry can be affordable and exquisite. Idunnu works closely with experienced manufacturers to create pieces that rival the look of precious metals and stones but without the hefty price tags. And that is the true meaning of “redefined jewels.”

Instagram: @misayohouse @misayohousebridal

Twitter: @misayohouse @misayohousebridal

FaceBook: misayohouse MisayoHouseBridal

Our host takes a moment to discuss the importance of taking some time to rejuvenate. We can only be at our best if we disconnect to reconnect. After a trip to St. Simon's Island, Rashan gained perspective on the importance of "getting away" to in turn be better for yourself and everyone around you.

FB: RashanAli Twitter: @RashanAli IG : @RashanAli

The Cool Soror podcast is happy to present “Cool Cause.” This gives us the opportunity to support philanthropic and charitable causes we stand behind. We are thrilled that Shavonne Thurman joins us to talk about her SaveShavonne.com initiative.

Shavonne is a business and investment professional with nine years work experience. She has worked for private industry, investment firms and the U.S. Government, including positions at T. Rowe Price and the IRS. While in college, Shavonne was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a debilitating disease of the central nervous system. Despite the diagnosis, she was determined to finish her education.

She holds an Associate’s degree from Pikes Peak Community College in Television and Radio. She is an alumnus of the University of Colorado, graduating with honors with a BA and a Masters in Communications. Shavonne is active with the National MS society, volunteering and participating in their annual walks, as well as doing studies on the disease. She’s an advocate for others dealing with MS and has been featured in local newscasts and on HLN.com. Currently, she uses a wheelchair because she’s unable to walk. She is trying to raise funds for a radical procedure that could halt the progression of MS and potentially give her the ability to walk normally again.

Shavonne certainly does not look like what she’s been through, but Shavonne wants Shavonne back and you can play an integral role in helping her do that! In spite of her disability, she hopes to help others in their fight against MS.

See below for ways to support:

www.SaveShavonne.com

www.redbasket.org/1249/keep-shavonnes-spirits-high for more information.

www.gofundme.com/saveshavonne

Zeta Phi Beta’s own, Renee Rowe joins the Cool Soror Podcast. The President and owner of The Wine Cellars in Smyrna, GA is a celebrated wine enthusiast and educator.

Having entered the wine industry in 1998 after graduating from The Wine School of Atlanta, she is considered an industry expert. She brings an impressive blend of experience, expertise and enthusiasm to the world of wine and food. She’s an accomplished author and writer having written articles for industry publications such as The African American Wine Journal, Essence Magazine, and The Art of Pairing Food & Wine.

One of just a handful of African-American wine merchants and educators, Renée was the first female African-American owned wine retailer in the metro Atlanta area which has been in business since 2004. In 2002, Renée founded the African American Wine Tasting Society, Inc. (AAWTS) – a national, non-profit organization dedicated to wine education where she began conducting wine classes and seminars. She currently serves as Executive Director and Consultant for the organization and offers consulting services for business start-ups, marketing and growth strategies, trade seminars, menu planning and private wine classes.

Renee has embraced every stop on her journey and planted seeds along the way. Figuratively and literally, her walk has been fermented and aged properly, just like fine wine.

www.winecellarsonline.com

Tw: @thewinecellars IG: @thewinecellars