Business Profile: Kimora Lee Simmons

I had to highlight Kimora Lee Simmons, President and Creative Director of Phat Fashions, because she is a member of my generation, a Mom Mogul, and from St. Louis! Since I'm just putting my Mom Mogul boots on, it's important for me to see that there are people who are doing it quite successfully. Her industry and way of life is different from mine but I am impressed by her ability to balance it all.

Kimora started her career in fashion as an international teenage model. Over the last 12 years, she has created a fashion empire - a lifestyle brand - with Phat Fashions and its labels. She has a diverse income stream with a career product portfolio including the previously mentioned fashion empire, a highly reviewed book Fabulosity: What It Is and How To Get It, highly rated reality show Life in the Fab Lane, and several other business ventures... she has a total of 20 businesses! Finally, she's philanthropic and gives back to several causes including a scholarship to young ladies in our hometown.

Check out this recent interview with Access Hollywood with words for how she views her life at this time:



Lessons to learn from Kimora Lee Simmons:

• Consistency is key to establishing a lifestyle brand. Although the products are different, the message is the same throughout - fabulous!
• Maintain relationships that keep you grounded to keep your head on straight and give you a calm spirit.
• Appreciate all that life has for you and go after those experiences you want.
• Do not be afraid to walk away from a partnership that is not good for you.
• Always think of fresh ideas for your business and include others in this brainstorming.
• No matter what your background is, be confident in what you are doing.

Keep up with Kimora on her official website: www.kls.com.

11 Friends You Haven't Met; but Need to Know

Today we have a guest post by A. Michelle Buckley, a fellow member of Black Business Women Online. You can find more information about here at the end of the article. Enjoy!

We all talk about collaborating to expand our business and generate more leads. How often do you actually do it? We all talk about connecting and cultivating relationships. How often do you take the time to have dialogue?

I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some friends who could truly make a difference in your business. These women are professional, insightful and inspiring.

Collectively, they can provide you with a wide variety of assistance and resources for your business including: creating and perfecting your elevator pitch, human resources, cultural diversity, sales and marketing, lifestyle, branding, non-profit/community engagement, networking, social media, beauty and lifestyle.

1. Barbara Lopez with Brightfarm Introductions – Barbara masterfully helps you create an introduction to your business that reflects your specialty and your personality. Her capacity to ensure that your introductions are fresh and memorable is exceptional.
2. Deena Pierott with Mosaic Blueprint – Deena has a connection for whatever ails your business. Although she is a cultural diversity expert, her vast and dynamic social network of women, urban entrepreneurs and corporations is built on collaboration.
3. Ayesha Mathews-Wadhwa with PixInk – You are your brand and Ayesha’s brand development ensures that your brand identity and personal values are not only in sync but clear and well defined. Her brand cultivation genius helps discover what makes you unique.
4. Natalie MacNeil with She Takes On the World – Home of all things “women entrepreneur.” Natalie features successful women entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship articles, valuable resources, and a free directory for women-owned businesses. She has received numerous awards and mentions for her work and blog content and is a constant source of fresh ideas and encouragement.
5. Sylvia Browder with Browder Consulting – Sylvia empowers women to achieve success through entrepreneurship. In addition to running her own consulting practice, she volunteers as a SCORE counselor and provides women entrepreneurs with the resources and tools they need for continued success. Her support for women entrepreneurs is personal and heartfelt.
6. Adrienne Graham with Empower Me! and Fearless Networking. This power broker provides a variety of platforms that enable women to maximize the value in their networks and connections. Adrienne is all about the power and empowerment of women entrepreneurs and the author of “Go Ahead Talk to Strangers: A Modern Day Guide to Fearless Networking.”
7. Yolanda Webb with E’Lon Beauty – Yolanda publishes an amazing and unique online beauty magazine. Her magazine not only presents all that is beautiful on the outside, but her publication also nurtures the inside beauty of all women.
8. Patricia Weber with Professional Strategies – Pat is the consummate sales coach for introverts. She understands the anxiety and apprehension introverts have in operating their business and skillfully coaches them through practical communication, sales and networking techniques.
9. Jacintha Perrera with Island Getaways – This is not a “fly by night” travel service. Jacintha is a travel expert specializing in South Pacific getaways and special interest retreats. Her customized travel expeditions are once in a lifetime experiences. Be sure to check out her travel blog and virtual tours. When you need to getaway, you need to contact Jacintha.
10. Crystal Martin with Crystalwashington.com – Crystal is a social media and social networking guru. Her simple tips and tools will get you up to speed with effective and efficient marketing strategies that will enhance your capacity to meet and acquire appropriate clients.

Please take some time to explore their sites and introduce yourself. I’m sure each of them will welcome you into their fold with a warm smile and kind word.

A.Michelle Blakeley is the Founder and CEO of Simplicity, Inc.; a progressive small business development firm. She manages her clients’ business expectations and prevents information overload via Micro Business Therapy™ and Micro Business Action Plans. She is featured in Forbes.com and the Financial Post as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter and the host of Simple Truths for Women Entrepreneurs on BlogTalkRadio.com.

When You Give, You Receive

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 Tonight, I went to see the movie Invictus and was blown away by its storytelling, its overall message, and most of all Clint Eastwood! In case you do not know, Invictus is based on the true story of how former South African President Nelson Mandela used the game of Rugby to unite his nation after the fall of Apartheid. As I was watching the movie, I saw lessons that could be used in business and any other leadership role. Really, I just gathered lessons on how to be a better human being.


One lesson that I would like to share with you is about giving. This rugby team was struggling in the beginning of the movie. At one point, President Mandela ordered the team to do rugby clinics in the local neighborhoods - teaching others the game they were so passionate about. The team unwillingly participated but ultimately had a good time and began winning some games! I drew several nuggets from this storyline, but want to highlight one...

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Recommendation: August Turak: Business Secrets of the Trappists

Last night, I went to a lecture by August Turak at Duke's Sanford School of Policy. It was co-sponsored by Leadership North Carolina and was so close to home, I had to attend even though I had no idea who August Turak was and was leary of the topic. August Turak is an entrepreneur who spent several years visiting with the monks at Mepkin Abbey in SC. This was such an inspirational speech, I recommend anyone who gets a chance to go hear Turak speak and be transformed! It was based off of Turak's 4 part article series in Forbes magazine, Business Secrets of the Trappists. He was transformed by his experience with them and now spreads the gospel through a business filter. 

My biggest takeaway from this speech was the importance of the "transformation of being" and how going through this process can help you reach your greatest potential. He applied this concept to organizations as well. The greatest way to get to this is by being connected to a community of people who also want to go through this process (and staying away from those who are negative and against it). Attending this session gave me confirmation for a route I'm considering with my new business.

Definitely attend seminars like this to get inspiration for your business. Especially if you live near colleges and universities, they always have free, public lectures given by very prominent speakers. Check out a few of the lecture schedules for business schools in the Triangle:

Duke's Fuqua Distinguished Speaker Series (also has video archives of previous speakers)
NCSU Wachovia Executive Lecture Series
UNC Kenan-Flagler Dean's Speaker Series & Weatherspoon Lecture (also has video archives of previous speakers)