Tag Archives: Young Professionals

Affordable Fashion Stores for Young Professionals

Posted in Fashion by

It’s no doubt that the fall weather has already creeped up on us on the East Coast.  Fall is probably my second favorite season, after summer of course. For those of you working in corporate or business environments and want to save money, I’ve made a list of my favorite affordable places to shop.

ASOSAsos

One third of my closet consists of items from ASOS. I even did one of my graduate term papers on the company, that’s how obsessed I am with their products. From dresses to work attire, they make sure you get the best bang for your buck. I recently  interviewed Grammy Award nominated Chrisette Michele, who also  mentioned that  ASOS is one of her favorite places to find cool items.

H&MH&M blazer

If you’re looking for trendy, fun, or runway pieces, then H&M has you all covered. You can stock up your professional wardrobe for an affordable price.

LoftLoft

Loft is an extension of the Ann Taylor brand, however their styles are more casual, preppy and target a younger crowd. Check out their 60% sale going on right now!

TJMaxx/ Marshallstjx

You’ve heard the commercials “ TjMaxx you should go.”  It’s definitely one of those best kept secret stores. Personally, I love TJ Maxx’s selection of outerwear. As the cold weather sets in, be sure to go there and check  it out.

Thrift/ Consignment Stores

I found some of my favorite and most eye-catching pieces while thrifting. Over the years, Beacon’s Closet  in New York has become my go-to thrift store. However, feel free to check out your local thrift shop.  Here are some stores to start your search: Plato’s Closet, Goodwill and Salvation Army

 Where do you guys like to shop for your work clothes? Leave a comment below.

Are You an Employedpreneur?

Posted in MUSE: Food For Thought by

Employedpreneur [em-ploid – pruh-nœr] : An ambitious professional who undertakes launching or running a business while working a full-time job.

This past weekend I caught up with a friend of mine. As we conversed, I asked her about work, expecting to hear the usual…“it’s going well.” Instead she told me, how she’s been putting additional hours towards building her own business. Yes you read right, after clocking 9- 5 making somebody else’s dream come true, she’s putting the extra effort to pursue hers.

Recently, I’ve noticed the same pattern amongst my peers when I browse my social media newsfeeds; from personal trainers, hair stylists, make up artist, photographers, public relations consultants, millennials are actively pursuing their passion while also being employed. With an unstable economy, millennials are tapping into finding their passion and making it their “Side Hustles”.   For some a 9-5 is  being used as a fundraising mechanism to pursue their passion. With that being said here are a few tips for being  an Employdtrepeneur.

Be Organized

Whatever it takes, post it notes, journals, reminders on your phone, get yourself organized.

Do Research

Find out as much as you can about the industry you’re planning to get into. Once you have a great amount of information, draw out the big picture and tackle each task individually.

Keep It To Yourself

People talk, and most of the time they have nothing beneficial to say. Unless you have a group of people you trust or are experts in the field you’re planning to delve into, the world doesn’t need to know.

“Work Hard in silence and let success make the noise.”

Don’t Procrastinate

It will be challenging but don’t give up. I don’t know about you but if I decide to put off task that I’m supposed to do today for tomorrow, my subconscious is constantly reminding me about it.

Don’t give up

Remind yourself of the reasons that got you started in the first place. As one of my mentors mentioned, it will be downright unbearable, you will get upset and even cry, but the results will all be worth it.

Pray about it

Consistency, Determination and Hard work with a sprinkle of prayer leads to positive results.

Let me know how you are managing being an Employtrepreneur.

IMG_7943-1.PNG

On the Rise: Akilah C. Thompson

Posted in On The Rise by

School: North Carolina A&T State University

Major: Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Business Economics

Founder and CEO of ACT Inspires INC.

Akilah C. Thompson

Akilah C. Thompson

Have you ever thought, “What is my purpose in life? What is my passion? Where do I go from here?”
While many people struggle with these questions, few follow up on the sentiments behind them. This, however, was not the case for successful Deloitte Tax LLP manager, Akilah C.Thompson, who made her mark in the world of accounting at a very young age. After years of working in corporate America, Akilah threw in the towel, following a rotational trip to India. Akilah simply did not feel as if she was fulfilling her purpose. She walked away from a six figure job and a comfortable life, to embark on a journey to inspire “others” to unleash their BEAST and become their absolute BEST. Read more on her journey below.

Tell me a little bit about yourself.

I was raised in Long Island, NY and I left the area to pursue my Bachelors in Accounting & Business Economics at North Carolina A&T State University. After spending six years in corporate America as a Tax Accountant, I decided to pursue my other talents, and started my trademark company ACT Inspires Inc.

I am now an inspirational speaker, teen guru and certified life coach, which allows me to literally transform lives.  Under ACT, I aim to inspire people through speaking, acting, modeling, fitness and writing. I am also the Executive Director of  a nonprofit, Generations Inspired Inc, where we focus on empowering youth and young adults to achieve their fullest potential through innovative, interactive, informative, and inspirational programs. Under Generations Inspired, I created I AM BEAUTY which is an empowerment program for teen girls 11-18 years of age, which has now blossomed into six to ten week development boot camps, girl talks, coaching, and much more.

Where were you five months after graduating from North Carolina A&T State University?

I was a Tax associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where I had the opportunity to work with large entertainment clients such as Omnicom and Viacom providing them with corporate tax compliance services. During this time period I began volunteering on the New York National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) board. Under the supervision of NABA board member, Natara Holloway, who is now the Vice President of Consumer Products for the NFL, I created and spearheaded flagship NABA NY events such as “Meet the Firms” and “Reflect and Inspire.”

Let’s cut to the chase, what made you take the leap of faith, to leave corporate?

Honestly, I was at the point of my career where I was praying to get fired. I had totally lost the fire and desire to be constrained to my cubicle for some weeks almost 100 hours!  I would have dreams of wanting to get the call that it was my last day.  I normally strive to be an overachiever, so this feeling of almost wanting to fail was alarming and I knew it was time to move on. So I did.

Who helped you during your transition period, after leaving Deloitte?

One of my good friends Otwan, who had also left corporate America to start his own company, supported me in my decision. He told me “Akilah you’re talented, ambitious and you know how to network. You don’t need a 9-5. Do this… write down everything you know how to do well and research how much money you can make. Once you do that, I can assure you that you won’t feel like you need to ever work for anybody.  To this day that was the best advice anyone could have given me.

Tell me about your latest projects.

I will be partnering with Hempstead High School to have a girls summit titled  ”Keeping it 1000.” which we will discuss teen issues with a 1,000+  girls. Also, I have the “I am B.E.A.U.T.Y.” Girls Guide and a blog coming out this fall.

What does the phrase “My Freshman Year of Life” means to you?

It’s anytime you embark on new territory and have to learn the ropes all over again. It’s an adventurous time of exploration and self-discovery.  This is my third time being a freshman, first being a freshman in college, and then being a freshman in corporate America and now as an entrepreneur.

What advice do you have for people who are at jobs that they don’t like?

  1. Discover what gives you joy and satisfaction.  Passion will lead you to your purpose.
  2. Find out if you can use your passion where you are currently working.
  3. Do something about it! If you are working somewhere you hate ,  ultimately it will start effecting your psyche and confidence. Anytime you get to a place in life where being mediocre is cool, it’s time to go! Get to the heart of the matter and do something about it.

If you were to write a letter to your younger self about being an entrepreneur, what would it say?

Don’t be afraid to lose everything and everybody to gain everything and everybody.

Sincerely,

Akilah C. Thompson

Stay connected with Akilah

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter