She's Off Script

On this episode, we have the effervescent Angela Lewis who you may recognize from her role as Aunt Louie in FX’s Snow Fall. During our conversation, Angela opened up about the journey to her breakout role and shared advice for those that are looking to follow in her footsteps on balancing stardom with relationships, navigating Hollywood as a woman of color, how to find representation and so much more!

 For as long as Angela can remember, she has always wanted to be an actor and her parents encouraged her passion by enrolling her in theater summer programs. When the time came to take the leap into full time acting by moving to New York, she was presented with a big promotion at work and was faced with the challenge of moving right after the September 11th, 2001 tragedy.

Once she moved to New York, she said yes to some less than ideal roles which led her to where she is today.

Go Off Script with us as we glean so many gems from Angela’s path to Hollywood.

Takeaways:

* Take agency over yourself and don’t expect other people to make your decisions for you

* We are all busy so when your schedule allows you to attend a family event or spend time with friends, try to be there for them.

* Before complaining about getting told “no” make sure if you have done everything that you can do.

* When you find it’s challenging to navigate in a given space, balance fighting for what you want with standing in who you are as love and putting love out into the world.

* Make sure you are actually passionate about whatever you’re chasing. If you take stock and find there is ANYTHING else you would rather be doing, do that.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode

* Instagram & twitter: @luvangelalewis

* https://www.luvangelalewis.com

Announcements:

In an upcoming episode, we’ll be having a Q&A episode to answer some of your questions about my story, entrepreneurship, career, and business strategy, this podcast...anything really. You can email us your questions to [email protected] or slide into our DMs on Instagram @shesoffscript or leave us a comment in our private She’s Off Script Facebook community,.

Thank you so much for supporting our podcast. Don’t forget to rate, subscribe and continue sharing us with your friends and families.

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, join our Facebook community, and follow us on Instagram!

If you have any general questions or comments for the show, click here.

#ShesOffScript

In Today's episode,  I'm having my first solo eposide where I share I bit more about my background and the business I'm launching. You will get a better idea of why I thought it was so important to create this podcast as a platform to highlight the many ways women of color have found success.

I also shared my most recent project, the She Needs A Raise Challenge, where in just under 10 minutes a day we will create a compelling strategy, you can use for your next raise conversation. The challenge will take place in a private Facebook group where likeminded women will support each other through the process.

The format is simple. Starting Monday, October 29, you will receive daily email prompts each containing resources that will give you a chance to add to your raise strategy. You will receive your raise strategy map once you’ve signed up for the challenge.

Every day I’ll be hosting a Facebook Live in our private popup Facebook group where we’ll take a deeper dive into the daily email as well as take your questions.

This Facebook challenge is part of my 8-week online group mastermind for women looking to scale their careers but I’ve opened this segment up for you to try it out for free to see if you like it! I'm excited to see how much traction you make with your career just from this segment of my program.

I think the best part of this challenge is that you’ll be connected with other women growing their careers alongside you!

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode

* Instagram: @shesoffscript

* www.shesoffscript.com

* She's Off Script Facebook community

* Sign up for the "She Needs A Raise" challenge here --> https://serwaaadjeipelle.com/blog/raise-challenge/

Takeaways

* You don’t need to have EVERY SINGLE eventuality planned out before you take the leap. That will just stall you from ever taking any action.

* There is no perfect blueprint for success.

* Don’t allow the need for perfection and validation to stand in the way of your unique excellence.

Announcements:

If you’re looking for a community of supportive women who are looking to Go Off Script with their careers, lifestyles and businesses join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShesOffScriptCommunity

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, join our Facebook community, and follow us on Instagram!

If you have any general questions or comments for the show, click here.

#ShesOffScript

Are you dreaming of writing a book but wonder if you should self-publish or hold out for a traditional publisher to notice you? Sharee Miller is an author AND illustrator. Her book, Princess Hair, is a children’s book which debuted with a traditional publisher in the fall of 2017 after she had initially self-published it a few years earlier.

From an early age, she loved to draw and knew illustration would always be a part of her life. By day she works as a t-shirt illustrator for Children’s Place and by night she freelances and works on her book and illustration projects. Her new book Don't Touch My hair comes out November 6th. Sharee uses her art to encourage women and girls to love their natural hair. She adds diversity and her own unique voice to the children's book industry.

Go off Script with us as Sharee gives us insight into how she found a book agent, promotes her books and works with traditional publishers on new projects.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode

* Instagram: @coilyandcute

* shareemiller.com

* coilyandcute.com

Takeaways

* If you’re interested in being an author, it’s important to read a lot, research the work of other successful authors and attend industry events.

* Attend industry events in order to meet x and other partners in the publishing world

* It’s important for illustrators to put their work on display so they can get quick feedback

* Displaying your work on social media is a great way to attract literary agents and publicists

Announcements:

If you’re looking for a community of supportive women who are looking to Go Off Script with their careers, lifestyles and businesses join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShesOffScriptCommunity

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, join our Facebook community, and follow us on Instagram!

If you have any general questions or comments for the show, click here.

#ShesOffScript

Ever wonder how social media influencers earn a living? Whether you’re looking to become one yourself or just curious, this episode is for you. In Cynthia Andrew’s case, she balances a successful career as an attorney working in the compliance space with a very public role as an influencer. While many of us tend to keep our side hustles separate from our day jobs Cynthia, has always included her work as a blogger on her resume as she interviewed for legal jobs.

She started blogging almost a decade ago as a creative release. 5 years in she realized that if she took her role as an influencer more seriously, companies would be willing to pay her to share her opinion and people would be willing to follow her.

Go off script with us as Cynthia Andrew answers a lot of the questions you may have as you scroll down your Instagram feed. In this episode, she gives us insight into how she books paid partnerships and negotiates fees, how she manages the logistics of her influencer business, thinks about authenticity and combats the pitfalls of working this space, including trolls.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode

* Instagram: @SimplyCyn

* https://www.facebook.com/IamSimplyCyn/

* http://www.simplycyn.com

Takeaways

Always negotiate the initial offer. Start by asking what the company’s budget is rather than discussing your rate sheet. While smaller brands may not be able to pay much, bigger brands tend to have a bigger budget.

Think about the long game with agreeing to partnerships. Only agree to work with brands that align with your values.

If you’re looking to become an influencer right out of college, start building your online brand before you graduate. It would also be helpful to work with agencies that are currently managing influencers so you have a better understanding of the business side before going out on your own.

Have something of your own. We have seen how social media platforms have come and gone. Have a site of your own where you redirect your followers.

Announcements:

If you’re looking for a community of supportive women who are looking to Go Off Script with their careers, lifestyles and businesses join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShesOffScriptCommunity

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, join our Facebook community, and follow us on Instagram!

If you have any general questions or comments for the show, click here.

#ShesOffScript

In this episode Julian lets us all the way behind the curtain on how she launched both her companies, Bella Kinks, and Adwoa Beauty. When her family first arrived in the US 1982, they settled in the Park Hill section of Staten Island, New York. Amid the nation's crack epidemic, she helped her mother sell roasted meat on the street to make ends meet. Every move she made leading to her successful businesses was born out of necessity. When her husband lost his job, she took a customer service job in finance all while continuing to run her salon on the side. She worked her way up the corporate ladder until she was laid off and forced to turn her then natural hair blog, Bella Kinks into a fulltime source of income.

Her beauty brand Adowa Beauty was born out of her frustration with her clients in the natural hair industry. As she gave them strategies to increase their reach, they seemed hesitant to the implement them although she had already proven she could get results. Enter Adowa Beauty, a socially conscious lifestyle and beauty brand that caters to natural haired people.

Go off script with us as Julian gives us the details behind how she found a lab, developed the formula for her products, bootstrapped her company when no one would give her a loan and finally grew a large following for her brand.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode

* Instagram: @ AdwoaBeauty

* https://www.facebook.com/adwoabeautyllc

* www.adwoabeauty.com

Takeaways

* As an e-commerce brand, be sure you include shipping costs in the price of your products.

* When creating a new product, factor in the product development lead time. It could take years!

* Think about which retail shelves your product will sit on when you launch your product. This will give your lab a better idea of the quality of ingredients to use in your products.

* As a new company, it’s important to invest in good marketing.

* When posting on social media, be mindful of intellectual property issues when using content generated outside your company.

* When you first launch, control your distribution, know who your customer is and how they are using your product.

Announcements:

If you’re looking for a community of supportive women who are looking to Go Off Script with their careers, lifestyles and businesses join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShesOffScriptCommunity

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, join our Facebook community, and follow us on Instagram!

If you have any general questions or comments for the show, click here.

#ShesOffScript

Jewel Odeyemi lives and breathes creating wedding experiences that have rendered her brides speechless. She caught the wedding planning bug after planning her own 800 person wedding. She started taking on clients alongside her day job until she reached a crossroads where she had to decide which path she would take.

During our conversation, she shares her lessons learned, what it took for her to start growing her business and gives us insight into what it takes to keep her clients happy in a saturated market.

Go off script with us as we get a look behind the scenes of a viral wedding planner’s business.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode

* Instagram: @ touch_of_jewel

* https://www.facebook.com/TOJEvents

* touchofjewel.com

Takeaways

* Know your worth. You don’t have to say yes to every piece of business that comes your way! Not every client is for you.

* Don’t expect someone to just give you everything

* Invest in yourself and continue to hone your skills

Announcements:

If you’re looking for a community of supportive women who are looking to Go Off Script with their careers, lifestyles and businesses join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShesOffScriptCommunity

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, join our Facebook community, and follow us on Instagram!

If you have any general questions or comments for the show, click here.

#ShesOffScript

On today’s episode, Eveliz Tomety-Assiamah, the founder of Studio Eveliz shares her journey to owning a successful hair, photography and makeup studio. She felt destined for this path. Left up to her, she would not have gone to college but is grateful her parents insisted. Her stint working for Bank of America gave her a foundation and skills she now leverages to run a successful business.

While in college, she started carrying around a notepad she used to write down all the ideas she one day planned to launch. In 2011, she finally took a step by renting a booth while she was still working her corporate job. By 2013 she had quit her job and opened a 3000+ sqft studio.

Today, she’s a triple threat that is sought after for all aspects of her business. Go off script with us as we get more insight into the business of beauty and photography.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode

* @studioeveliz

* @maneregalia

* https://www.facebook.com/pg/StudioEveliz

* https://www.studioeveliz.com/

* https://www.maneregalia.com/

Takeaways

* No one is going to work as hard as YOU will on your business. When leading a team, lead by example and show you’re willing to do the “dirty work”

* Make your own decisions. You can’t rely on others for validation

* Don’t lower your expectations. Put yourself out there. Network and meet people

Announcements:

If you’re looking for a community of supportive women who are looking to Go Off Script with their careers, lifestyles and businesses join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShesOffScriptCommunity

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, join our Facebook community, and follow us on Instagram!

If you have any general questions or comments for the show, click here.

#ShesOffScript

When Funmi Oyatogun graduated from the University of Colorado, she was certain her path would lead her to work with nature and in the environmental space. After getting her masters in Environment and Development from The University of Edinburgh, she grappled with accepting multiple job offers in the US and abroad but ultimately decided to listen to her inner voice and forged  her own path in the form of TVP Adventures. Her travel design company makes African destinations more affordable and accessible.

She is helping a whole generation discover the travel possibilities in their own backyards. Go off script with us as we learn how Funmi took the leap and is trying to make an impact in the world of adventure travel.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode:

*    Instagram: @funmioyatogun

*    Twitter: @funmioyatogun

*    Twitter: @TVPAdventures

*     http://www.tvpadventures.com

*     Funmi’s vision board: http://funmioyatogun.com/2018/05/vision_board/

Takeaways

* Use a vision board to keep you focused on what you are trying to accomplish.

* Don't go it alone. Make a conscious effort to surround yourself with a balance of voices that will lift you up and keep you grounded

* Get out of your comfort zone. Life is short. Don't wait until tragedy strikes before you decide to focus on what is important to you.

Announcements:

If you’re looking for a community of supportive women who are looking to Go Off Script with their careers, lifestyles and businesses join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShesOffScriptCommunity

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, join our Facebook community, and follow us on Instagram!

If you have any general questions or comments for the show, click here.

#ShesOffScript

On today's show, we had a great conversation with Kori Hale, the CEO and founder of CultureBanx, whose news platform aims to help black professionals discover how black culture is shaping business and technology news. After almost a decade of being sure of her path, she felt convicted to the change that path from Finance to Media. She went to grad school, paid her dues with network television and decided she could make more of an impact by launching her own media company.

She is redefining what it means to be a black woman in media. Go off script with us as we learn how Kori took the leap and is trying to make an impact in the world of media.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Mentioned in this episode:

* CultureBanx’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/culturebanx/?hl=en

* CultureBanx’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/culturebanx?lang=en

* CultureBanxs website: https://www.culturebanx.com

Takeaways

* You’re never too high on the totem pole to respond to an email. You never know where a connection will get you.

* The list of things to get done in your mind doesn’t seem as long once you write it down

* Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to execute everything perfectly

* Don’t be afraid to change. Fail fast so you know when you need to change.

Announcements:

If you’re looking for a community of supportive women who are looking to Go Off Script with their careers, lifestyles and businesses join us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ShesOffScriptCommunity

Thank you so much for listening!

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, join our Facebook community, and follow us on Instagram!

If you have any general questions or comments for the show, click here.

#ShesOffScript