Tag Archives: career

5 Things I Have Learned From Women Who Lunch Brunch  

Posted in Career, Empowerment, Fashion by

A couple of weeks ago, I attended my second Women Who Lunch Brunch, which took place at  Benchmark Restaurant near downtown Brooklyn. Women Who Lunch Brunch is a vibrant online community joined by a group of multifaceted professional women who refused to be boxed in.

Curated by Roodelyne Jean Baptiste, Digital Marketer & Owner of RSocks, this event discussed topics ranging from entrepreneurship, finances to relationship, and also self-love. Honestly there is nothing more that I enjoy in life besides pancakes and mimosa then being surrounded by open-minded individuals with not just dreams but set plans to achieve them. Unlike many brunches that I’ve attended over the past couple of years, this one is by far one of my favorite for a few reasons: everyone is welcoming, they give out hugs, and the attendees are very transparent about their experiences.

Guest speaker Lisa Francoeur Mesa of LinkedIn & owner of Fancyfied dropped some powerful gems during the course of our brunch that definitely helped us shaped our mindset for the upcoming year. The passion in her voice when discussing her lifestyle brand Fancyfied was truly inspiring. The crowd came from diverse background; doctors, professional photographers, designers, and real estate agents who despite their busy schedules are looking to grow and achieve more in their life

Check out these gems Lisa dropped during the bi- annual Women Who Lunch Brunch

Lisa Francoeur Mesa & Roodelyne Jean Baptiste

“People within your network can help or diminish your dreams.”

I can’t stress this enough, you are the sum of the people with whom you spend the most time. As  Kanye said, “Too many Urkels on your team, that’s why your wins low.” If you have movers and shakers well trust me, you too will find way to be one as well. However, as Lisa mentioned if your environment is toxic, no matter how long you’ve been friends with them DROP THEM.

“Carve out time to devote to your dream.”

Despite your job, make time for the side thing until it can become your full-time thing. Rome wasn’t build in one day nor will your dreams. We create excuses faster than we create our goals, but if it’s something that you want to achieve make time.

 Procrastination: You eat what you kill.

Is procrastination inevitable? No, however, don’t let it cripple you nor your dreams. Lisa’s solution to procrastination is quite simple: “Think about all the things you’ve achieved in your life and use that feeling to keep you going.” 

“How you show up anywhere is how you show up everywhere.”

For most of us, we tend to hide our personality when we are at work. However, Lisa mentioned that by being authentic to your values, others will be able to see you shine through. As my mom would say, “The right people will be attracted to you and your essence, so go out there and  be you!“

Write down your goals.

What have you done to realize your goal today? Let the reminders and goals you set for yourself haunt you. I know it can sound daunting but don’t let circumstances nor time take away from achieving your purpose in life.

Let me know how you’re planning to wrap up this year’s goals and be on the lookout for the next Women Who Lunch Brunch.

WHY WE ALL NEED SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON?

Posted in Empowerment by

As I stepped out the train platform early Tuesday morning, I came across a group of singers sponsored by the MTA- Music Under NYC . Unlike other days where I am maneuvering NYC subway traffic during rush hours, this time I found myself glued to the platform as the group sang  Lean on Me by Bill Withers.

My reaction caught me off guard as tears started to fall down my face partially ruining my makeup. Where was this coming from?  Why the sudden tears?…I was being reminded of how far I came as an individual, how far I came to accept that “failure” is not the end of it all but a lesson and that life is a roller coaster. You see this girl couple of years ago,when faced with life hurdles would keep to herself and handle business as usual. I had the tendency of blocking whatever was going on in my life and putting on this poker face. It was natural and easy to deal with and plus I was never fond of having people in my ” Business”.  I always figured that people had their own things to deal with , why would they want to hear mine? But, when you have a circle of people who LOVES you, they notice unusual patterns, such as being MIA or even the little things like your smile.

Life planMy lack of disappearance from social events, became a red flag to my friends and family and they quickly reached out. It was then I realized that I can’t go through life alone. What was I stressing about ” Life” It wasn’t going how I planned it to be ( Bratty Nat)  I wasn’t satisfied with my job amongst other things. However, even though I complained I managed to  be grateful for the things that were going well.

So as the group sang “Lean on Me” it was a reminder of where I was a year ago and how I managed to push through. If you are out there and you are having a hard time I pray for you.I pray for every twenty somethings trying to figure “life”out; just remember you’re not alone. Just learn to embrace your journey, because later you will realize that it was all part of the process.

Put aside comparing yourself from others virtual prosperity and focus on your goals. All that I ask of you is that you find someone you can lean on, a friend a family member, if anything you should always lean on the word of the Lord for comfort. At the end of the day, we aren’t meant to fight our battles ourselves, reach out to someone.

Love Always.

Nathalie C.

Learn How To Shine in Your Professional and Personal Life with Brand Maker, Rana Campbell

Posted in Career, Empowerment, On The Rise, Uncategorized by

Industry: Marketing

Hat: Founder and Editor-in-Chief, RanaCampbell.com

School: Princeton University

Major: B.A, Sociology

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Rana Campbell realized early on that in order to live a purposeful life, one must have balance in their professional and personal life, if not it can be overwhelming. In fact she set forth creating a Blog( Ranacampbell.com) to help others SHINE and be successful in their journey. Besides managing her blog and a full-time job as marketing specialist, Rana’s passion for writing has opened up endless opportunities which lead her work to appearing on The Huffington Post, Princeton Alumni Weekly, etc. Let’s find out more about her.

1.Where were you 6 months after graduating from college?

Luckily for me, I had a job before graduating from college. I was three months into my fellowship at the Vera Institute of Justice. However, I was navigating the world of what it meant to be a young professional. It was during those stages that I started both my branding consultation and writing freelance.

2.What are 3 Job search tips you have for current college graduates?

A- You have to get out there and meet people, both (online & offline). Get to know people in the industry you want to be in. Do your research and send emails. Definitely, don’t be afraid to make new relationships but most importantly be open to talk to people who are not in your industry as well. It’s usually those 3rd degree connections that are better at getting you jobs rather than your first degree.

B- Have a passion, have something that you can show/talk people. Find something that is memorable. Pursue something that is important to you

C- Think outside the box. Make your cover letter/ resume stand out. Reach out to the employer by picking up the phone.

3.How can one stay positive when life is hitting you from all sides?

I am not the best at it but I am still learning. My friend has a tattoo that says “This Too Shall Pass.” Meaning whatever you’re going through is only temporary and it will get better with time. No matter how big you think your roadblock may be, you have to step back from the situation, collect yourself and think about the positives.

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