Destined to Disrupt

In this week’s episode - we continue the conversation with  Ryen Williams - The Storyteller 

 Ryen is the Founder of Under Her Empire - a community of creatives of color — dreamers and passionate doers — who connect and inspire others through video, stories, and artistic expression.  It is a  collaborative, inclusive, and soul-focused platform that offers content as nourishment for audiences hungry for substance. The aim is to help drive actionable change around how individuals and brands think about content to create a joyful, uplifting, and inspired world for everyone. 

Please be sure to stay tapped into Destined to Disrupt. We drop weekly episodes about design, disruption, and diversity. Please follow us @destined2disrupt on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Streaming on all platforms. 

Welcome to the Disruptors!

Ryen Williams
Under Her Umpire
Instagram: @uhempire

• Please be sure to stay tapped into Destined to Disrupt. We drop weekly episodes about design, disruption, and diversity. Please follow us @destined2disrupt on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Streaming on all platforms. 

Welcome back to Part II of our episode with Eugene Lumpkin - The Strategic Designer. 

Dive deeper as we talk about the intersections of design, disruption, and diversity with Eugene. We start the conversation by discussing the context of diversity and leadership as it relates to nationalities within Europe. We share our love for Parsons School of Design - Global Executive Strategic Management (GEMS) and how the program has driven us to solve problems through diverse and inclusive design. Eugene tells all about how he is using 3-D digital design, sustainability, and innovation to transforming and disrupt the world of fashion in Europe. 
 
Find out more about Eugene's design and concept studio  - Atelier Tens https://www.ateliertens.com/about/

Check out Eugene made to fashion house and clothing line - La Maison Quincaillerie
https://www.m-qc.com/

In this week’s episode - we have Eugene Lumpkin - The Strategic Designer

Eugene is a multi-disciplined multi-faceted designer that uses creativity and design thinking methodology to come up with innovative ideas to solve problems, not only fashion but social and ecological problems alike. 

Growing up in the Midwest, he completed his degree in Clothing Design from the University of Minnesota. He began designing private label collections for Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, the Takashimaya department stores, and a signature collection for American designer Alexander Julian. He extended his portfolio of work into Canada and started his own label out of Italy. All this happened before landing in New Year city to further advance himself working for the world-renown Perry Ellis. 

Eugene and I met through our exclusive Global Executive Master's program studying strategic design and management at Parson School of Design. The unique opportunity has given Eugene the opportunity to envision, research, study, and design new sustainable business models in apparel that will help improve the lives of people and create more balance and well-being for our planet. 

Eugene and I instantly vibe as we are both passionate about sustainability and both talk about how to incorporate strategic design and design thinking as tools to revolutionize the fashion and apparel industry. 

We recorded this episode with Eugene from his studio, in Brussels Belgium,  Atelier Tens.

You can follow Eugene's journey
LinkedIn Eugene Lumpkin
IG: Design Studio @ateliertens | @ateliertens 
Management Brand- MQC- Maison Quincaillerie | @maison_qc 

We continue the conversation with Dyandra Raye - The Sustainable Vegan Designer of Joanne Verney. Dyandra declares the importance of seeing more inclusion in the luxury industry. She opens up on how she was able to raise money for her brand to cover daunting expenses and start-up capital. She also discusses the importance of minimizing debt early in the business - A major gem.   After countless applications and pitch decks, she finally scores the grant and publicity she needs to take her business to the next level!  Tap into this episode as Dyandra carefully describes how she started and how she is staying sustainable and accessible in the luxury industry.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram for a special promo code exclusively for the D2D tribe and Joanne Vernay fans!

@destined2disrupt on Instagram
@joannevernay on Instagram 
@joannevernayofficial on Facebook

In this week’s episode, we have Dyandra Raye - The Sustainable Vegan Designer  of  Joanne Verney 

Dyandra tells us about how disrupting her lifestyle habits (going vegan) opened up a whole new avenue as a plant-based luxury shoe designer and advocate. 

Her fashion journey started by sketching when she was a child and writing business plans on cardboard. After attending Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and obtaining a degree in Economics. She took her talents to New York to pursue her dream in fashion by becoming a wardrobe stylist and digital influencer for celebrities and brands.

During this time she dug deeper into education and pursued a Master's in Global Fashion Enterprise to learn more about the business of fashion. While learning to sew, visiting factories overseas, and constructing business plans, she began working with brands that had a mission to not only provide fashion and beauty to the world but in a healthy way! Using her eye for detail and quality plus her bold style and aura, Jo-Anne Vernay will fill the void of fashionable vegan footwear worldwide.

Ready to learn more about this Disruptor? Tap in. 

Join us again as we continue the conversation with Robert Ector, the iconic photographer to the stars. Rob educates us on the importance of photography in society and culture. He also tells us all about what it's like being on the scene during Paris Fashion Week. Think Hunger Games -  the fashion elite do not come to play nice at all! We dive deeper into the "Why" behind his photography and how design has influenced him. We talk about his latest creative endeavors, his inspirations, and why the DETAILS matter. 


Welcome to Destined to Disrupt!

In this week’s episode, we have Robert Ector the iconic photographer! 

Cleveland, Ohio native, Robert Ector, has earned the respect of international audiences as well as his industry peers. As a personal photographer to stars such as Mary J. Blige, Wendy Williams, Steve Harvey, Toni Braxton and La La Anthony, Ector’s captivating images have quickly helped cement him as a recognizable talent in the entertainment and fashion industry.

Robert tells us about how he got his start in the industry, his extensive time abroad in London, Paris, and Italy photographing runway shows for elite designers such as DOLCE AND GABBANA, VERSACE, and FENDI, and his latest project DETAILS - a 400-page masterpiece capturing fashion weeks all over. We talk about what it takes growing up in a small town when you are destined for greatness and how creative confidence is a major key to making it out! 

Join us again as we continue the conversation with Badara, The Creative Director.  We talk about his latest creative project +  film Transmission. He shares gems on how to creatively collaborate,  listening to your body, and using your natural gifts. 

Badara Ndiaye is a Senegalese-born, former Division I basketball player turned Model, Artist, and Creative Director in Paris, France. His striking, unusual, perspective on the world of fashion is what really impressed me and his remarkable height cannot go unnoticed. Steeped in academia - studying Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychology at the Florida International University in Miami, Florida; Badara tells us about how his perceived setback due to a basketball injury, set him up for a completely different career path by breaking into modeling. Towering at 6’11, his experience as a contributor and editor at various major digital fashion outlets,  working with top fashion icons, as well as luxury brands internationally have allowed him to develop a distinctive creative eye. Badara has been featured on top international publications such as GQ Australia, GQ Spain, GQ Italia, GQ Spain, Vogue Italia, ELLE South Africa, the Wall Street Journal, Harper’s Bazaar, etc. 

Badara has taught courses at the Parsons School of Design as an expert in marketing specializing in color. Badara continues to amplify his true purpose as an artist by sharing his love for aesthetics and culture to deliver powerful messages through his photography, films, and up-cycle clothing. 

 Badara Ndiaye is a Senegalese-born, former Division I basketball player turned Model, Artist, and Creative Director in Paris, France. His striking, unusual, perspective on the world of fashion is what really impressed me and his remarkable height cannot go unnoticed. Steeped in academia - studying Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychology at the Florida International University in Miami, Florida; Badara tells us about how his perceived setback due to a basketball injury, set him up for a completely different career path by breaking into modeling. Towering at 6’11, his experience as a contributor and editor at various major digital fashion outlets,  working with top fashion icons, as well as luxury brands internationally have allowed him to develop a distinctive creative eye. Badara has been featured on top international publications such as GQ Australia, GQ Spain, GQ Italia, GQ Spain, Vogue Italia, ELLE South Africa, the Wall Street Journal, Harper’s Bazaar, etc. 

Badara has taught courses at the Parsons School of Design as an expert in marketing specializing in color. Badara continues to amplify his true purpose as an artist by sharing his love for aesthetics and culture to deliver powerful messages through his photography, films, and up-cycle clothing.