Got an idea, but not sure how to launch and market it? We chat with with NYC based tech entrepreneur and journalist Wize - the Creative Director and founder of Indie Creative Network, an on-demand media production and distribution company. Wize talks about his dream driving journey, going to college in the US, working in Barbados for a while, coming back to New York City and eventually launching his own network. Wize shares the lessons he learned launching and marketing Indie Creative Network from the ground up as well as tips that others creatives and lifestyle entrepreneurs can use as they market their own dreams in drive. As Creative Director at Indie Creative Network, Wize uses his expertise in risk management, podcast production and demographic analysis to produce and distribute 27 talk and music mix shows based in 5 different countries. Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Enjoy!
IN THIS PODCAST WE DISCUSS:
- Why Wize's mother is his biggest inspiration
- The power of Google University
- The importance of researching trying to figure it out before asking for help
- What happened when Wize went back to Barbados to live & work for a year
- Wize's highest paying freelance gig
- Why Wize turned down a glorious West Coast job
- The joys of fatherhood
- The early days of the Indie Creative Network
- Using data to inform your content creation
- Tips for creating your own network
- The importance of SEO in building & marketing to your audience
- The power of hashtags & using different social media platforms
- Monetizing your platform
- Why Indie Creative Network is so important
- Wize's biggest motivation
*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/wize-indie-creative-network
*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join
*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free
Follow Dreams In Drive on Social:
*twitter.com/dreamsindrive
*instagram.com/dreamsindrive
Follow Wize on Social:
*instagram.com/therealwize
*twitter.com/therealwize
*www.indiecreativenetwork.com
Follow Rana on social:
*instagram.com/rainshineluv
*twitter.com/rainshineluv
Being a dream driver isn't only about chasing the dream, but also about keeping up with all of life's many other responsibilities. With life being hectic at times, what are the best ways to truly juggle everything? How can we learn to successfully manage it all? We chat with publicist Alli Rodriguez about her dream driving story and the ways that she has been able to balance the many facets of her life including the 9-5 career, the "dream", family, relationships, school, and self. Though all of our experiences and life circumstances are not the same, it IS possible to find ways to carve out time for our dreams and stay sane. Make sure to join in on the conversation online (@dreamsindrive) and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Enjoy!
IN THIS PODCAST WE DISCUSS:
- How Alli knew she wanted to be a publicist
- Creating opportunities for yourself
- Pivotal points early in her career
- Building relationships
- Letting passion drive you
- Taking breaks
- Juggling everything & settling boundaries
- Facing her father's varying position on what it means to be a woman
- Finding herself & distancing herself from toxic relationships + haters
- Building confidence & cultivating strong relationships
*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/alli-rodriguez
*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join
*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free
Follow Dreams In Drive on Social:
*twitter.com/dreamsindrive
*instagram.com/dreamsindrive
Follow Alli on Social:
*instagram.com/allirodriguezpr
*twitter.com/allirodriguezpr
Follow Rana on social:
*instagram.com/rainshineluv
*twitter.com/rainshineluv
Think politics don't affect you? Think again! "There are a lot of things taking place at the local, state, and federal level but our voices are not in it...so where does this leave the future of politics if we are not at the table?" In this episode, Lauren Bealore discusses why it's so important to be politically engaged and how having a seat at the table is crucial - especially for men and women of color. Some of the topics we discuss are the state of millennial and politics, the power of having people of influence in lobbying, donor, and policy positions, developing strategic partnerships, the generational gap, entrepreneurial trends we should be taking advantage of, and much more! Lauren is currently the Corporate Relations and Events Manager for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, a national lobbying organization that focuses on protecting conservation issues by holding elected officials accountable. Lauren is also an appointed and elected official, serving as a City Commissioner for the City of Southfield’s Total Living Commission and Precinct Delegate for Precinct 19 of the City of Southfield. Join in on the conversation on social (@dreamsindrive) and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Enjoy!
IN THIS PODCAST WE DISCUSS:
- Why Shirley Chisholm was her childhood inspiration
- Studying social relations & policy at Michigan State
- The state of millennials and politics
- Why millennial voices need to be at the political table
- Why we need more people of color in policy, donor & lobbying positions
- What it's like working at a lobbying organization
- How money controls politics
- Lauren's "houseparties" story (social capital + social enterprise)
- How to yield your upward mobility to benefit others
- Developing thick skin
- Building strategic partnerships & raising money
- Why we need to capitalize on the future of tech
- Challenges Lauren faced in her career
- The generational gap in politics
- How to avoid burnout
- How you can be more politically engaged
"I want to make impact. I want to help small business owners be successful and feel fantastic about themselves." With a mission like that, how do you make it happen? We chat with Melody McCloskey, co-founder and CEO of StyleSeat, the leading destination for booking beauty and wellness appointments.Melody co- founded StyleSeat in 2011 to simplify the process of booking beauty appointments. With StyleSeat, industry experts are provided a place to showcase their work, connect with clients, and build their business while clients can discover new services and providers and book appointments on the go. Melody opens up about her journey building a top online booking service that not only helps stylists earn more but also serves a huge market need. Building a technology company is no easy feat and Melody discusses what entrepreneurs need to focus on if they want to be successful as well as some of the challenges she is currently facing within the business. To date, StyleSeat has powered over 50M appointments in over 16,000 US cities and has powered over $3 billion in appointments.
*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/melody-mccloskey-styleseat
IN THIS PODCAST WE DISCUSS:
- What inspired Melody as a child
- How Melody leveraged her college internship to get a full-time job
- The art of perfecting your hustle
- Curating your friendship circle
- Why Melody sat on the StyleSeat idea for two years
- How to find courage to get started
- How to know when your idea is special
- The importance of validating your idea + surveying your test market
- Basic business fundamentals
- The early days of StyleSeat
- Tips for raising capital + fundraising
- Why obsession + passion for your vision is important
- What Melody tells every new employee
- How to use data to grow your business using the top 5 metrics method
- Switching from a free to paid model
- Navigating challenges
- The importance of looking and feeling your best
*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join
*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free
Follow Dreams In Drive on Social:
*twitter.com/dreamsindrive
*instagram.com/dreamsindrive
Follow Melody on Social:
*instagram.com/melody
*twitter.com/melodymcc
*www.styleseat.com
Follow Rana on social:
*instagram.com/rainshineluv
*twitter.com/rainshineluv
When you're starting (or thinking of starting a business), it is crucial to have a strong LEGAL foundation. But how? On this episode we chat with attorney Efe Ukala on the top legal mistakes you should avoid as your pursue entrepreneurship. Efe discusses key legal topics that you need to navigate. It may not be the sexiest of topics, but it definitely is an important one! Efe currently serves as a Vice President of Legal and Compliance at Kuramo Capital Management, an investment management firm, where she manages the firm's legal initiatives. She also currently serves as the Vice President of the Association of Black Women Attorneys New York. Make sure to follow on social @dreamsindrive and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Grab your FREE Dreams In Drive resources at www.dreamsindrive.com/free. Enjoy!
*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/efe-ukala
IN THIS PODCAST WE DISCUSS:
- How Efe knew she wanted to be a lawyer
- The #1 legal mistake many entrepreneurs make
- Why service professionals also need to get their business registered
- When to trademark & protect your brand
- Why you need to check trademarks before you choose a business name
- How to avoid brand infringement
- How to decide the right type of legal structure for your business
- Why you need to be diligent with your contracts + partnerships
- Why you need to always negotiate
- Efe's passion for hair + how she has helped Etoile Blue legally
- Legal tips for working with influencers + marketing your business
- The importance of ethics
- What motivates Efe when she feels like giving up
- The best investment Efe made in herself as a lawyer
*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join
*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free
Follow Dreams In Drive on Social:
*twitter.com/dreamsindrive
*instagram.com/dreamsindrive
Follow Rana on social:
*instagram.com/rainshineluv
*twitter.com/rainshineluv
What do you do when you're super passionate about a specific subject, but can't find a space to engage with a community that shares your love? YOU CREATE YOUR OWN COMMUNITY. How though? Is it even possible? What are the steps to take? We chat with Berry, the creator of the online directory for podcasters & podcasts of color - Podcasts In Color. Berry discusses her own dream driving story, what inspired her to launch Podcasts In Color and how it morphed into a much-needed vibrant, engaged online community that brings together creators of color who might not otherwise have known about each other. Berry candidly opens up about her experience, podcasting lessons she has learned, opportunities + connections she has helped to create, and what excites her about the future of podcasts. Make sure to follow on social @dreamsindrive and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Grab your FREE Dreams In Drive resources at www.dreamsindrive.com/free. Enjoy!
*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/berry-podcasts-in-color
IN THIS PODCAST WE DISCUSS:
- What inspired Berry as a child
- What inspired Podcasts In Color
- Challenges launching the Podcasts In Color website
- Why building a directory is tough
- Handling competition
- The power of the niche + diverse voices
- 3 tips for launching a new podcast
- What launching Podcasts In Color taught Berry about herself
- The power of engagement
- Our mutual love for Myleik Teele's #mytaughtyou podcast
- Monetizing the Podcasts In Color platform
- One thing Berry knows for sure
- Navigating past moments of darkness
- The future of podcasting & Podcasts In Color + listener Q & As
*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join
*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free
Follow Dreams In Drive on Social:
*twitter.com/dreamsindrive
*instagram.com/dreamsindrive
Follow Berry/Podcasts In Color on Social:
*www.twitter.com/podcastsincolor
*www.instagram.com/podcastsincolor
*www.podcastsincolor.com
Follow Rana on social:
*instagram.com/rainshineluv
*twitter.com/rainshineluv
How do you build professional connections and mentorship opportunities that last? In this episode, we uncover tips and strategies to use to genuinely network & connect your way to success. As part of our DRIVER'S ED series, we chat with Gabrielle N. Simpson, a communications and media expert (and one of Rana's mentors.) Gabrielle has been recognized for her industry-wide accomplishments, commitment to diversity & inclusion and dedication to sharing global stories on multiple platforms. She is a career mentor and NYU Graduate Adjunct Professor where she teaches integrated marketing, digital and social media, advanced public relations, media relations, corporate communications and event planning courses. Gabrielle discusses how networking helped launch her career, the art of informational interviewing, how to stand out, organic mentorship, and much more! Make sure to follow on social @dreamsindrive and use the hashtag #dreamsindrive. Grab your FREE Dreams In Drive resources at www.dreamsindrive.com/free. Enjoy!
*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/gabrielle-simpson
IN THIS PODCAST WE DISCUSS:
- What inspired Gabrielle as a child
- Life in New York City as a college student & young professional
- The art of informational interviewing
- How to be consistent in building your network
- How to stand out
- Finding mentors and building sustainable relationships.
- The mistake many millennials make when reaching out for mentorship
- The power of organic mentorship
- Why the professional friendships you make matter too
- How Gabrielle managed working in corporate communications + being a professor
- Challenges Gabrielle is currently facing in her own career & life
*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join
*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free
Follow Dreams In Drive on Social:
*twitter.com/dreamsindrive
*instagram.com/dreamsindrive
Follow Gabrielle on Social:
*www.twitter.com/_giftofgab_
*www.instagram.com/_giftofgab_
*www.giftofgabrielle.com
Follow Rana on social:
*instagram.com/rainshineluv
*twitter.com/rainshineluv
What's the secret formula for securing press and/or media coverage for your brand or business? Not quite sure how to leverage publicity and make connections with the media? As part of our DRIVER'S ED Series we're chatting with Charell Star- the voice of “Not Just a Girl in a Dress” a lifestyle blog Charell shares inspiring stories and trending news that helps her audience define their own version of success. Charell talks techniques and strategies you can use to secure press & media coverage for your personal brand or business. On air, you will find Charell speaking about the latest styles, technology and trends as a contributor for Marie Claire, Fox5 – Good Day New York, NBC New York Live, Second Look TV, and various broadcast and digital media outlets. As a journalist, she creates engaging pieces for online and print outlets covering technology, business, fashion, and beauty, providing women with advice and tips they can leverage to enhance their lives. Use the hashtag #dreamsindrive and make sure to follow us on social @dreamsindrive. Download our FREE episode show notes at www.dreamsindrive.com/free. Enjoy!
IN THIS PODCAST WE DISCUSS:
- The pop star that inspired Charell as a youngster
- How Charell got her start in public relations
- The difference between public relations & marketing
- The 4 questions to ask to know if you're ready for publicity
- How to get press without a publicist
- How to get media contact information
- What to say in a pitch that gets read
- A big pitching NO NO
- The importance of relationship building
- PR lessons learned working at big agencies
- How to leverage social media to build your own community
- What an "influencer" truly is
- Earned vs. paid media
- How to work with brands as an influencer
*SHOW NOTES: www.dreamsindrive.com/charell-star
*SUBSCRIBE: www.dreamsindrive.com/join
*RESOURCES: www.dreamsindrive.com/free
Follow Dreams In Drive on Social:
*twitter.com/dreamsindrive
*instagram.com/dreamsindrive
Follow Charell on Social:
*www.twitter.com/charellstar
*www.instagram.com/charellstar
*www.charellstar.com
Follow Rana on social:
*instagram.com/rainshineluv
*twitter.com/rainshineluv