Dreams In Drive

What do you do when you're invited to interview the cast of one of your favorite TV shows? You accept, of course! In this episode, I give a #behindthescenes look into my first press junket experience where I interview six key cast members of the Stars show POWER: Omari Hardwick, Lela Loren, Lala Anthony, Rotimi, Nature Naughton, & Joseph Sikora. We discuss how this opportunity came to be and some of my key takeaways at the end of the day. I also include my interview with the cast where they focus in on #dreamdriving-related questions around the themes of hustle, legacy, and self-awareness. This is episode is a little departure from normal, but I hope that you still enjoy.

Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) and remember to use the hashtag #dreamsindrive.

QUESTIONS ASKED: - What do you want the audience to consider when thinking about what it means to be a successful hustler? - What kind of legacy are your characters trying to leave? - Is Tommy missing Holly or trying to forget about her? - What has this season taught you about you are as an individual?

*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/power-cast-interview

*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join

*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free

*FACEBOOK GROUP: www.dreamsindrive.com/facebook

Follow Dreams In Drive on Social: *twitter.com/dreamsindrive *instagram.com/dreamsindrive

Follow Rana on social: *instagram.com/rainshineluv *twitter.com/rainshineluv

What does it take to be the leader within your industry? (Especially one that may not be so welcoming to you at first?) We chat with Cora Harrington, Founder and Editor in Chief of The Lingerie Addict, the largest lingerie blog in the world. Cora was inspired to launch The Lingerie Addict after struggling to find an online resource where she could learn more about beautiful lingerie options. Cora opens up about how this "hobby" of hers later transformed into her leaving her non-profit job and running the site full-time. Cora opens up about the major career wins and challenges she has faced along the way including learning the "business side" of running a popular online blog. We even discuss how being a Black woman in the lingerie industry plays into her proudest moments surrounding all that she has been able to accomplish over the past few years. Despite the odds being against her in a myriad of ways, Cora learned to "be willing, able, and enthusiastic" about her successes." Cora's been featured as a lingerie expert on The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Racked, and is currently working on her first book. Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) using the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Enjoy!

WE DISCUSS: - What inspired Cora as a child - How Cora transitioned from working in the non-profit world and running The Lingerie Addict full-time - The reasons Cora decided to stop using a pen name while running her business - What Cora did when she first started running The Lingerie Addict full-time - The type of sponsorship opportunities The Lingerie Addict offers + how to figure out how your rates - The power of having a niche, targeted audience - How to teach yourself how to run a blog as a business - Professionalizing your brand - How Cora honed in on the brand focus & built The Lingerie Addict audience - Challenges bloggers often face growing their brand (cash flow, copyrights, trademarking, etc.) - The side-effects of being super-niche - The power of relationship building - The difference between being in the lingerie industry vs. being a fashion/beauty blogger - Working through self-doubt & time management - Tips for building a strong team & running a successful site - Being a Black woman in the lingerie industry - Cora's take on legacy

*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/cora-harrington-the-lingerie-addict

*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join

*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free

*FACEBOOK GROUP: www.dreamsindrive.com/facebook

Follow Dreams In Drive on Social: *twitter.com/dreamsindrive *instagram.com/dreamsindrive

Follow Cora/ The Lingerie Addict on Social: *instagram.com/thelingerieaddict *twitter.com/lingerie_addict *www.thelingerieaddict.com

Follow Rana on social: *instagram.com/rainshineluv *twitter.com/rainshineluv

"The worst way to play the game is not knowing the rules." How do you figure out just what you should be doing with your life? Whether it be knowing what role you should play on your entrepreneurial journey or figuring our what's next on the career ladder, there are steps you can take to solidify your future. We speak with Alexandra Cavoulacos- Founder & COO of TheMuse.com, a career platform used by 50+ million millennials to find a job, learn professional skills or advance in their careers, and by hundreds of companies looking to hire or grow their employer brand. She's also the co-author of "The New Rules of Work," a modern playbook to help millennials navigate their careers. Alex talks about her own path to entrepreneurship and gives advice for others trying to figure out what "career" means to them and how to get the most out of it. Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Enjoy!

IN THIS PODCAST WE DISCUSS: - What inspired Alex as a child + growing up and attending school in France - Why Alex decided to leave her science career dreams & major in political science at Yale University - Why internships are important - How The Muse got started - The importance of feedback coaching & personal development - How to be more direct with your approach - The rules of the business world - The democratization of information - How career impacts your intimate life - What to do if you have an entrepreneurial spirit within a career - How to find the perfect career just for you - Why taking control of your personal brand is crucial. - Are cover letters dead? - Navigating offer negotiation

*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/alex-cavoulacos-the-muse

*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join

*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free

*FACEBOOK GROUP: www.dreamsindrive.com/facebook

Follow Dreams In Drive on Social: *twitter.com/dreamsindrive *instagram.com/dreamsindrive

Follow Alex Cavoulacos on Social: *twitter.com/acav *www.themuse.com

Follow Rana on social: *instagram.com/rainshineluv *twitter.com/rainshineluv

You've got this "big idea" - this SOLUTION to a problem that you know people will love and NEED. What's the next steps? How do you go about validating your ideas and figuring out how/if you can actually build a sustainable business model around it? We chat with Morgan DeBaun, CEO of Blavity and a serial creator passionate about living life to the fullest. Morgan has led Blavity to become one the fastest growing digital media startups and a top destination for black youth culture. Morgan talks each step of the business-building process and what you must do to keep momentum alive and grow your brand. She is one of only 12 Black women to raise over 1 million dollars in venture funding and has been featured on Essence, New York Magazine, Teen Vogue, Nylon, and a finalist for 2016 TechCrunch Founder of the Year. Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Enjoy!

IN THIS PODCAST WE DISCUSS:- What inspired Morgan as a child - The early days of Blavity + the core problem that Blavity was trying to solve - How to validate your idea & outline your target personas/ user personas - Why data is important + important metrics to focus on - Major pivots in the Blavity story - How to monetize your media platform - How to know if you audience is valuable - How to be the best - Understanding your core competency + positioning - Major challenges experienced building Blavity - How to build a strong team + building credibility + "digital receipts" -The unglamorous side of entrepreneurship - Why Blavity is a tech company*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/morgan-debaun-blavity

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*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free

*FACEBOOK GROUP: www.dreamsindrive.com/facebook

Follow Dreams In Drive on Social: *twitter.com/dreamsindrive *instagram.com/dreamsindrive

Follow Morgan DeBaun on Social: *instagram.com/morgandebaun *twitter.com/morgandebaun *www.blavity.com

Follow Rana on social: *instagram.com/rainshineluv *twitter.com/rainshineluv

Did you know practicing self-care and self-exploration can have a HUGE impact on your #dreamdriving journey? We chat with Nnenna Stella- Founder of The Wrap Life, a premier online-retailer for head wraps - about the importance of self-care and how it led her to discover and re-new parts of herself - which eventually led her on the path to entrepreneurship. Nnenna reveals, "I was really tired. I was tired of not knowing and searching. I knew that I had to get it together. I can't half do this. I have to figure it out. I have to figure out why I feel this way. I have to figure out why I keep repeating patterns." Since she started the company in January 2014, The Wrap Life has connected with women all over the world, inspiring creativity and self expression. After experiencing the empowerment of her transition from waitress to entrepreneur, today Nnenna uses The Wrap Life platform to inspire women around the world to embrace the joys of self-exploration, self-care and self-expression. Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Enjoy!

SOME OF TOPICS WE DISCUSS:- What inspired Nnenna as a child - What moving to California introduced Nnenna to the importance of self-care - Obstacles Nnenna created that got in her way early on - The power of relocation & banishing fear - Moving to New York from Los Angeles - How acknowledging strengths led Nnenna to entrepreneurship - How to be consistent in goal setting - Being honest & confident with yourself. - How Nnenna grew The Wrap Life brand - Tips for growing your brand on social - The power of outsourcing - The importance of self care & how to get started - Love's impact on Nnenna's journey - Nnenna's proudest moments

*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/nnenna-stella

*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join

*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free *FACEBOOK GROUP: www.dreamsindrive.com/facebook

Follow Dreams In Drive on Social: *twitter.com/dreamsindrive *instagram.com/dreamsindrive

Follow Nnenna Stella on Social: *instagram.com/nnennastella *twitter.com/nnennastella *www.thewrap.life*

Follow Rana on social: *instagram.com/rainshineluv *twitter.com/rainshineluv

You're in the middle of building your brand, figuring out next steps in your career and then your world gets twisted upside down. What do you do? How do you manage - even at all? In this episode, we chat with podcaster Sarah Vega, host of Dique! - a self-help podcast with a twist that caters to the Latino demographic and is trying to break the stigmas that come within the culture. Podcaster Sarah Vega talks working with through dark moments along her #dreamdriving journey and how she was able to find faith, hope & new beginnings. We chat her early dreams of being a fashion editor, working at top NYC media outlets, her Kanye West experience, and even working with Rihanna. Sarah then explains how she ended up working as a Corrections Officer in New Jersey. Sarah opens up about this life-changing period in her life, battling depression, suicide attempts, and homelessness and what she did to get re-focused and re-energized to start over. Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) and use the hashtag #dreamdrive. Enjoy!

SOME OF TOPICS WE DISCUSS:- What inspired Sarah as a child & why she wanted to be a fashion editor - Why she turned down a scholarship to FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in NYC - What happened when Sarah met Kanye West - Working at The Source & Complex Magazine - How Sarah got her break in fashion working for Rihanna's stylist - Which matters more: networking or talent? - Why Sarah turned down moving to LA - How Sarah ended up working at a Corrections Officer in New Jersey - Why Sarah got fired from her law enforcement position - Battling homelessness, depression and suicide attempts - Why Sarah questioned God - The day that changed Sarah's life - How Sarah is looking to bring light to issues within Latino/a culture

*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/sarah-vega

*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join

*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free

Follow Dreams In Drive on Social: *twitter.com/dreamsindrive *instagram.com/dreamsindrive

Follow Sarah Vega on Social: *instagram.com/_sarahvega_ *twitter.com/_sarahvega_ *(Podcast): https://soundcloud.com/svegadique1

Follow Rana on social: *instagram.com/rainshineluv *twitter.com/rainshineluv

Want to launch (or currently launching) your own online community, but not sure what to do next? BAUCE Magazine founder Liane Membis gets real on what it takes to launch a successful platform, get funding, work with investors, build a team...and more. BAUCE Magazine is a lifestyle site for self-made women of color. A digital media enthusiast at heart, Liane is a web designer-developer that loves technology, art and damn good storytelling. She currently works in marketing for one of the world's leading technology companies and spends her time outside the office empowering women through mentoring and service work. Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive.

SOME OF THINGS WE DISCUSS:- What inspired Liane as a child - The pressure Liane felt after she graduated from Yale - Working in journalism and realizing was NOT for her - How Liane got the idea for BAUCE magazine - How to do research & figure out your site idea - The importance of data & analytics - Why you should understand the technical components - Lessons Liane learned about herself along her journey - How Liane got a small private equity to invest in BAUCE - How getting investors has changed her business - 3 tips for working with investors - One aspect of having an investor that isn't so fun - How Liane juggles a full-time job and running BAUCE - Building a strong team - The importance of bravery, resilience, and asking for help

*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/liane-membis

*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join

*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free

Follow Dreams In Drive on Social: *twitter.com/dreamsindrive *instagram.com/dreamsindrive

Follow Liane Membis on Social: *instagram.com/limembo *twitter.com/limembo *www.baucemag.com

Follow Rana on social: *instagram.com/rainshineluv *twitter.com/rainshineluv

What keeps you going? We chat with Maria Karmina Landicho - journalist and media executive and on-air host at Myx TV - the only English-language multicultural Asian American entertainment cable network in the United States. Maria-Karmina is also the creator of the series "Be My Guest." Maria-Karmina shares her journey of coming to America as an immigrant child, to being homeless with her parents and siblings, to then finding her way in the industry as a half Asian American on-air personality. Maria-Karmina talks leaving her corporate job and giving herself a six month timeframe to figure out how to make her dream come true. Maria-Karmina also discusses the highs and lows she has experienced throughout her #dreamdriving story and what keeps her motivated to keep going. Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Enjoy!

SOME OF THINGS WE DISCUSS:- What inspired Karmina as a child - Growing up in an immigrant household - How Karmina knew journalism was for her - Leaving her comfortable corporate career - How to know when to jump - Thriving in a male-dominated environment - How she landed at Myx TV - The realities of being an Asian American woman in media - Tackling personal life issues on your #dreamdriving story - Leaving toxic and abusive relationships - How Maria-Karmina's life is changing- Tips for growing your brand & platform

*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/maria-karmina-landicho

*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join

*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free

Follow Dreams In Drive on Social: *twitter.com/dreamsindrive *instagram.com/dreamsindrive

Follow Maria-Karmina on Social: *instagram.com/mariakarmina *twitter.com/mariakarmina *www.mariakarminaofficial.com

Follow Rana on social: *instagram.com/rainshineluv *twitter.com/rainshineluv

Sometimes you have a dream, but the dream doesn't always work out how you want it to. What do you do? How do you cope and continue to push on? We chat with McKenzie Dawkins - writer, YouTuber, dancer/choreographer and social influencer whose love for self-love, body positivity, female empowerment, and natural hair care can be seen throughout her work. Mckenzie takes us on her journey post-college and all the twists and turns she has had to navigate. She shares her tips for fighting fear and doubt, accepting your gifts, believing in yourself, refueling her passions, and continuing towards the end goal. Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Enjoy!

SOME OF THINGS WE DISCUSS:- What inspired McKenzie as a child - Why McKenzie chose to attend Princeton University - Figuring things out in college + things McKenzie may have done differently - Lessons learned from internships at Ebony & Elle - Launching BWPW - a blog centered around female empowerment - Finding a dance community- The importance of journaling - How McKenzie accepted her gifts - The sneaking suspicion that you're special - How to believe in yourself even when you don't believe in yourself - How the term "just believe in yourself" can be isolating - Why McKenzie started a YouTube channel - What "hard work" truly means *SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/mckenzie-dawkins-interview

*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join

*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free

Follow Dreams In Drive on Social: *twitter.com/dreamsindrive *instagram.com/dreamsindrive

Follow McKenzie on Social: *instagram.com/kenzie_kenz1 *twitter.com/kenzie_kenz1 *www.bw-pw.com

Follow Rana on social: *instagram.com/rainshineluv *twitter.com/rainshineluv

How have you worked through challenges and discouragement? I'm back at it with another round of listener questions! This time around we talk moments of inspiration, other inspiring business podcasts I love and recommend, navigating through setbacks, the power of words in branding, and keeping it professional via email. Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) using the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Enjoy!

SOME OF THE QUESTIONS I ANSWER/THINGS WE DISCUSS:- Acting on moments of inspiration - What are some women in media & podcasts that inspire you? - What have been some of your favorite wins from starting your career journey? - How have you worked through challenges and discouragement? - The power of branding, your words + perception - How do you keep it professional via email?

*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/episode-81

*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join *RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free

*Follow Dreams In Drive on Social: *twitter.com/dreamsindrive *instagram.com/dreamsindrive

*Follow Rana on social: *instagram.com/rainshineluv *twitter.com/rainshineluv *www.ranacampbell.com