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Raven Solomon: Walking In Her Purpose
There are those who happen upon their purpose and there are those who walk in it; Raven Solomon is the latter. The Charlotte, NC native defied the odds, overcoming poverty, bullying, battles with anxiety and devastating loss to become Valedictorian of NC State University and later a corporate executive at Frito Lay. It’s in those moments of tragedy, triumph and loss that her character was shaped & her tenacity was fueled which ultimately led her to establish an inspirational platform as a speaker and corporate coach. Following her parents divorce, Solomon, her mother and two siblings moved from the comfort of the home they once knew into a tiny…
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The Gent’s Life: More Than Fashion
NC State alum and owner of The Gent’s Life, Rob McKiver, isn’t your typical fashion designer. Growing up in Long Island and Queens, he’s a shining example of the quintessential “New York State of Mind” we often hear about in songs. Hustle, innovation and an unrelenting desire to live life on his own terms have proven to be a recipe for success for the entrepreneur. As a clothier, promoter, blogger, public speaker, activist and most importantly father; McKiver is using his love of fashion to spearhead an entire movement. Even as a child, McKiver was expressing his individuality through fashion. He recalls being the kid in the picture with a…
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Modish Vine: The Style Blueprint
Frequently we hear about the absence of fathers and male figures in the lives of men which is often the catalyst for who they become. For Raleigh native, Chiwionne Mason, owner/visionary behind Modish Vine, it was the presence of strong male figures that set him on a road to becoming a man and ultimately an entrepreneur. Mason was fortunate to have two male influences, his great-grandfather “Pop Pop” and father, shape and mold him into manhood. In additions to their influence, Mason was also a member of the ROTC at his alma mater, Broughton High School. As such, upon graduation Mason embarked on a career in the United States Marine…
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Shenette Swann: Constantly Evolving
There are no boxes or labels vast enough to describe the constantly evolving talent that is Shenette Swann. A classically trained vocalist, percussionist, dancer, author and motivational speaker, Swanns’ gifts came naturally and were nurtured by parents who are both artists in their own right. Her mother a professional singer with a band as a teenager, her father a drummer and her aunt a professional opera singer; music was a living and breathing member of the household. Born in NC to a military family, Swann lived in multiple states throughout the U.S. Her exposure to various cultures was instrumental in shaping not only her world view but her musical palate.…
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Solitude Scents: Discovering the Gift of Solitude
LaToya Adkins moved to Durham NC in search of a change of scenery but stumbled upon her path to entrepreneurship. Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI following graduation from high school; while most of her friends were going off to college hours away from home, Adkins made the decision to attend UW Madison which was only about an hour and a half away. There, Adkins received her bachelors in Legal Studies and Spanish followed by her masters in Social Work. A couple of years into her career, she decided the time was now to move and experience life away from the comforts of home. In October 2015, Adkins packed…
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Moni B Cosmetics: A Kiss of Confidence
Born in Harlem but raised in the Bronx, NY native Moni “Moni B” Brodie has been enhancing the confidence of women with the stroke of her brush for over two decades. A makeup artist since the age of 19, Moni B has turned her passion into a lucrative business called Moni B. Cosmetics, LLC which launched in 2014. The beauty maven has used her platform to create numerous opportunities to further the reach of her brand including motivational speaking, most recently adding talk show host and producer to her long list of credits. She’s managed to accomplish all of this while balancing her most important role as a single mother…
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Andrea Sheree Benjamin: Elegance & Design in Harmony
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 That’s the scripture that kept playing in my head during my interview with Andrea Sheree Benjamin, owner of Elegant Harmony. Not because she mentioned it but because that’s the confidence and conviction that she exudes when it comes to her faith and her business. Born and raised in Raleigh, NC, Benjamin received her degree in Business with a concentration in Spanish from North Carolina Central University but it was her experience as an event coordinator for Adventure Landing that helped her to discover her passion for event planning and design. Benjamin’s love of all things shiny and full…
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K. Scott Weddings: Infusion of Love and Culture
Often, brides who choose to tackle the task of planning on their own are close to pulling their hair out right up until the moment they walk down the aisle. I suppose that’s why God created wedding planners! One such godsend is Keisha Scott, owner of K Scott Weddings which is based in Greensboro, NC. Born and raised in Jamaica, Scott’s family moved to New York during her youth. As a young adult, Scott attended UCONN to study pre-med and eventually switched to nursing. As a nurse, Scott often found herself setting up and planning events around the hospital as well as at church. It wasn’t until she planned her…
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Chakara Conyers: Epitome of a Hustler
Mom, community activist, author, social media/marketing specialist and business owner are just a few of the titles that Chakara Conyers holds. Methodically building her brand by finding voids and fulfilling needs; she is successfully running multiple businesses simultaneously. Growing up in the Southside of Raleigh, Conyers’ didn’t live a life of luxury but it was filled with a strong sense of family and community. Today, Conyers is building a brand that’s deeply rooted in those same values. “I love writing. I love creating. I love marketing.” beams Conyers. She has managed to put each one of those talents to work, first as an author of two books, Hard Dreams and…
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Vegan Flava Cafe: Flava is Essential
When a business is born out of pure happenstance, you know the product is good! That was the case for Vegan Flava Cafe. Yah-I Tafari and his wife, Ma’at Maakhera Amen, who is also co-owner, spent time traveling from state to state attending natural haircare shows to promote and sell her book, Whatz In Your Womb. Finding it difficult to locate vegan food on the road, they began to prepare their own. Always willing to share, they soon had people lining up for Amen’s book as well as a plate of vegan food with flava. The following year, they became food vendors at those same events as a result of…
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JQ Sports PR: Growing Brands One Client at a Time
Jaquese “JQ” Smith knows her way around 94 feet of hardwood. She’s played at the collegiate level, coached and is currently 1 of 3 hosts on DNA sports talk radio. All of that aside, JQ’s passion lies in her ability to “Groom athletes for success” which was the goal she had in mind when she formed JQ Sports PR. With two high school athletes and her first professional client, JQ is well on her way to establishing her brand within the PR community. JQ Sports PR offers two levels of service. For student athletes, services such as SAT prep and guidance, community outreach, media coaching, recruiting exposure, academic/social media monitoring…
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The Bath Place: From Necessity to Passion
As a young child, Kimberly Clayton Thigpen, possessed the entrepreneurial spirit. She and a childhood friend spent afternoons in the yard crafting homemade earrings and necklaces out of tree bark. They would round off the edges and drill holes in the center, eventually selling them to neighbors. As a young mother, Thigpen spent her early adult years working in the security that corporate America often provides. That is until 2009 when her husbands eczema prompted her to come up with a solution for his frequent flareups. Thigpen recalls the experience vividly saying, “The first time I made soap, I absolutely fell in love with it.” His need for relief from…
