style

Style Resume Feature: Lakika “Shay” Scott

March 9, 2017

I look forward to days like this where I can highlight and share such wonderful and inspiring people. Joining us in the salon today is Lakika “Shay” Scott, a Compliance Executive and a Designer. As a business professional and creative, she is determined to incorporate her skill set and professional experiences into future business endeavors. In 2014, Lakika created her own brand of socks and accessories called, Shoobangz. During which she’s also managed to maintain leadership positions in the corporate world. Lakika has showcased her designs in various fashion shows and participated as a vendor in small business showcases. Most notably, Lakika was able to participate as a volunteer in Nashville Fashion Week. This experience showed her two things; forecasting fashion is a must and the fashion business is extremely competitive and as tough as it comes! Lakika considers herself to be a student of fashion in the sense that she’s committed the past few years, gaining experience in almost every aspect of the fashion industry. As an artist/creative/designer, her personal style reflects her unique personality, but more importantly embodies individualism. Let’s learn a little more about this corporate and style leader.

Experience:

What is your current occupation and how long have you been in your career?

I am a Contractor Compliance Specialist for the State of Tennessee’s Healthcare and Finance Administration. I have been in this role for almost three years. I am a part of a very small team that oversees the Service Center Contract for TennCare. I serve more specifically as a Liaison between business units, because of my ability to build and endure business relationships. I also ensure the Contractor remains compliant per the contractual agreement on behalf of the State of Tennessee. All the while, I am a designer (Shoobangz) and a fashion student, as I am currently enrolled as a student at the Sewing Training Academy (Nashville, TN) to learn more apparel design techniques.

Education:

Where did your style originate and who or what are some of your influences?

My very unique, but chic style originates from my love of the arts. I was an artist long before I was interested in fashion. As an artist, I love the use of color which can be used to express moods and movement. So, years ago when my friend finally convinced me to wear heels, I was immediately drawn to brands like Dollhouse (shoes) and Betsy Johnson style apparel, because of their vibrant colors and funky style. I’ve since evolved and become inspired by the sophisticated style of artist/actress, Janelle Monae.

References:

Who are some of your favorite designers? What stores do you prefer to shop?

My favorite apparel designer is Christian Siriano, known for his intricately designed red carpet dresses. His attention to detail and flare is impeccable and inspiring. I am inspired by shoe designers, Manolo Blahnik and newcomer Christopher Coy. This may come as a surprise, but I am an avid thrift store shopper. Small vintage boutiques are my newest interest and my loyalty currently belongs to Trendy Pieces Boutique downtown Murfreesboro.

Career, Beauty and Style:

Do you think personal style is important as it relates to your work? If so, how?

Personal style is an extremely important aspect of our lives, and work is no exception. We spend a significant time at work and although the enforcement of dress code policies may restrict some aspects of style, it doesn’t take away the ability to have style. There are currently too many cutting edge options in professional attire for one not to take advantage and find their style niche in the workplace.

How would you personally define the word beauty?

My definition of beauty is freedom of expression. Outer beauty is extremely subjective, but a confident woman, wearing whatever she wants, with a soul that radiates through her pores is undeniably beautiful. Whether she is wearing a bathrobe or a snow suit, she will shine and her outer garments become accessories.

If you had a dream career/occupation what would it be?

My dream career would be in Fashion Forecasting. I am fascinated with the unpredictability of fashion trends and I would love to be a part of the industry that determines and projects the next trend or style.

What’s the best advice you could give someone seeking a new career?

When seeking a new career, I would advise seeking positions with advancement and growth opportunities. We are all good at certain things, but we were all once beginners. We tend to seek positions that are comfortable and similar to our previous experiences. However, sometimes it is that unlikely role or position that grows and develops us. Years ago, I would’ve never imagined overseeing a project/contract. I had to be open to new things and understand the job market is continuously changing, so you must adapt and grow with it.

Quote that keeps you motivated:

My favorite quote:

“Bloom where you are planted”

Where to find Lakika:

Shoobangz

Instagram/Shoobangz

Facebook/Shoobangz

Style Resume Thursday: LaNise Walker

October 20, 2016

Excitement is overflowing, as we have the super smart and fashionable LaNise Walker in the salon today! The Detroit native is hipping us to a little about herself and the awesome Goody2shoes Mobile Boutique. While others may scroll through Instagram liking Beyoncé’s latest video, LaNise Walker found a lucrative obsession for fashion trucks and essentially her calling as an entrepreneur. In 2015 she established Goody2Shoes Mobile Boutique and dawned a new era of convenient, fashion on demand in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Goody2Shoes delivers the flyest shoes, handbags, and other accessories to various venues by offering a revolutionary on-the-go approach to shopping. Fiercely fashionable, this young innovator is following her passion ensuring every customer leaves with a smile from finding just the right accessories to slay.

Experience:
What’s your current occupation and how long have you been in your career?
I have two careers- Learning Specialist most days and shoe lover EVERYDAY! I have been in the education world since 2003. I started as a middle school Math teacher and transitioned into teaching adults for corporate America in 2008. While my love for fashion and shoes started in my childhood years, I became an entrepreneur in 2015!

Education:
Where did your style originate and who or what are some of your influences?
My style came from the women in my family. They were creative, original, ahead of their time, and fearless! These women entered rooms and owned them with their charisma and eye catching presence. I like to say it was something I grew up loving and learning. Besides them, I am influenced by food. I know that sounds weird, but if you can imagine a picture perfect plate, there’s probably lots of color, the right amount of each ingredient (proportions), a great foundation, and a some extra. That’s how I dress; I love mixing colors and basics with a popping shoe and statement jewelry!

References:
Who are some of your favorite designers? What stores do you prefer to shop?
From St. John’s classic knit staples, to Nicki Minaj’s über trendy leggings, I have so many! As you can tell, I like to mix brands- high with low, so I shop anywhere from Neiman Marcus to consignment shops! My go to places for something to wear right away are Zara, Forever21, JCPenney, and TJMaxx.

Do you think personal style is important as it relates to your work? If so, how? I believe that you should dress in what makes you feel good. We do our best work when we feel our best. Yes, to a degree I think personal style is important because we should be comfortable with who we are and that should reflect in how we present ourselves and in our quality of work. At the same time, I am a firm believer that everything isn’t work appropriate. There are heels too high, skirts too short, tops too low and clothing fitting too close.

If you had a dream career/occupation what would it be?
It may sound cliché, but I have started working on my dream, helping other women showcase their personal style and feeling confident while doing so! 🙂

What’s the best career advice you could give someone seeking a new career?
Be yourself. Be prepared. Remain humble yet honest. Always ask questions. Be coachable; no one likes a know-it-all!

Quote that keeps you motivated?

Romans 8:28

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

This keeps me grounded and helps me remember to take the good with the bad because everything is working out for the good! God is always taking care of me.

To keep up with LaNise and Goody2Shoes Mobile Boutique follow her Instagram @goody2shoesbtq or shop her website for great fashion finds! If you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you can meet LaNise this Saturday, October 22, 2016 at the Fashion Truck Takeover.

Style Resume: Faith Wimberly

September 29, 2016

Career and Style Summary:

The Career Salon is proud to feature Faith Wimberly, for our Thursday, Style Resume Series. Faith serves as one of the Lead Recruiters for Sales Empowerment Group. She is an MBA with a broad range of experience in Business to Business sales, Corporate Sales Recruiting, Leadership, and training both in corporate America and in the non-profit sector. Faith currently serves as Founder of The Empowerment Group, a nonprofit that focuses on community development. She has won various awards, one being “40 under 40” from WVON radio station for her work with mentoring girls and working with women in the community. She brings a variety of experiences in the work place that allows her to connect with people and help them reach their goals. When Faith, is not at work, she can be found hanging out with friends and family, traveling, laughing, singing, and spending quality time with her husband and two beautiful children. The Career Salon is honored to highlight such a mover and shaker!

Experience:

What’s your current occupation and how long have you been in your career?

I am currently a Senior Lead Sales Recruiter for a small boutique recruiting firm, in a hip area of downtown Chicago. Lots of good eats and hang out spots in this area and great shopping as well. Since college I have spent most of my career in a professional Sales role, but I have also done recruiting as well. I have been in my current role for over two years and I love it. I am pretty certain, connecting and helping people via finding their dream job, and helping clients hire top talent is where I am meant to be. My career, all of my experience and quests landed me here and I am happy camper. This role is going to open doors for bigger opportunities in my career. #StayTuned

Education:

Where did your style originate and who or what are some of your influences?

My mother was pretty stylish growing up and so were both of my Aunts. I especially loved playing in my Aunt Sissy’s shoes and clothes as a child. Like most, I appreciate certain trends and I follow fashion bloggers and Hollywood to check out what’s hot and best for me. I love a good mix of Trendy, funky, classic and chic. Hip hop (old school) was always an influence as well.

References:

Who are some of your favorite designers? What stores do you prefer to shop?

Some of the designers I love are Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Diane Von Furstenburg, BCBG, Marc Jacobs, Elie Saab, Givenchy and Tracey Reese. Of course, being more practical (hello? Lol) I tend to shop at Top Shop, Nordstrom (who always has super different styles from different designers to try), H&M, Zara and gotta love a quick stop at Forever 21 to piece some things together.

Do you think personal style is important as it relates to your work? If so, how?

I think it’s important to be true to who you are and to always be the best representation of yourself both inside and out. In my line of work, recruiters come a dime a dozen, and being a fashionista isn’t very important depending on the industry. However, it’s always important to stand out with confidence no matter what your style may be. That speaks louder than anything else.

If you had a dream career/occupation what would it be?

This is a great question. I have wanted to be and do different things throughout my life and I have always been of the mindset that it’s never too late to try! I wanted to be an Attorney, a real estate mogul, owner/operator of community centers throughout the city of Chicago, radio personality, you name it. I think my dream at this point is to be the captain, owner, and operator of whatever it is I do. I want to be CEO and call all the shots, while being a resource for others and helping people.

What’s the best career advice you could give someone seeking a new career?

Talk to people in the field and reach out to them. Network and connect with others via LinkedIn and other avenues. Never be afraid to step out, introduce yourself, and sell yourself. No one can sell you, like you can. If you can afford it, seek out a professional resume service (I have just the person you need :)) and invest in yourself and your future. Lastly, never, ever give up. You may have a million interviews and get NO’S… But always KNOW, that NO’S lead to YES and a door will open just for you!

Quote that keeps you motivated?

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” -Philippians 4:13

Thanks Faith, for stepping into the salon to chat!

Shop Talk: Brand Yourself like a BOSS

September 27, 2016

We are so excited to have THEE marketing genius of Julie Huval, President and Director of Strategy for Benchley Design in the salon today for Shop Talk. Julie is a walking brand and a highly sought after speaker on all things marketing, brand, analytics, and other smart people things, so it is our pleasure to make the introduction and have her speak about how to brand yourself like a BOSS!

by Julie Huval

“Word of mouth.” A lot of times we think of that phrase when it comes to hearing about a new restaurant, the funny outtakes video on YouTube, or that amazing book our friend read on the beach. But “word of mouth” also applies to individuals. It is called personal brand.

Personal brand = Someone’s “word of mouth” about you

In the realm of career development, personal branding can be a huge boost. Your ideal employer may already know a lot about you because of “word of mouth” from your professional network. Your peers may acclaim you are a creative, able to work through difficult situations, and shocked the pants off your client because you delivered ahead of schedule on that really big project. That’s an amazing personal brand.

Or your personal brand can be a huge door slam on opportunities. What if your “word of mouth” sounds something like …

And, thanks to our digital world, there are a lot of people with a personal brand that they would like to fix. Pronto! So how do you develop a personal brand?

Develop your legacy.

What do you want to be known for? At the end of your life your legacy is the culmination of your life’s work: what you stood for, what you fought for, what you educated other people about. Your legacy may be helping your community get out of poverty or you want to be the best/favorite educator in your district or you want to be a renowned architect. This step is not “What do you want to be when you grow up?” but a bigger picture idea of how do you want to affect the world. As you start to develop your legacy start acting on it. Don’t wait for “the right time” to get started … just start. Overnight successes took years of practice to get to where they are.

Be authentic.

Don’t try to be something you aren’t. Instead, be open and honest. This is the awkward phase. You will not be applauded by everyone for being authentic because authenticity means different. But stick to your authentic self. It is what makes you stand out from the crowd. Break the mold, discover new stuff, and continue being you.

Promote yourself.

This step can get tricky. Promoting yourself feels wrong. This is the pinched nerve part of personal branding. However, if you don’t start supplying other people with your “word of mouth” messaging then you are leaving it up to them to create it for you. You can help them craft their words in this step. But you need to have the first two steps in place in order for your messaging to take hold.

A good personal brand can go a long way in life … not just your career. More opportunities will open up so you can continue to build your legacy because people are excited about your authentic approach and they found out about all of it through your self-promotion.

Look out for my next post about correcting your dreaded digital personal brand! Get ready to delete some photos and inappropriate posts.

For more information on Julie and Benchley Design visit her website at benchleydesign.com.

Style Resume: R. Rene

September 22, 2016

Career and Style Summary:

The Career Salon is super excited to introduce a super sharp professional and style contributor to the site, R. Rene. R. Rene is an Operations Consultant who currently resides in Washington, DC . She’s a true professional dedicated to improving the quality of life , business, beauty and branding while impacting communities across the globe . R. Rene is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University where she obtained her B.S. in Health Administration\Biological Science. She is currently enrolled in John’s Hopkins University where she will receive a Dual Master’s degree in Nursing and International Healthcare Leadership. She has been recognized in many industries for her bold personality, creativity and the fearless nature in which she engages teams to recognize workplace value. Her ability to connect with people on a personal level when navigating processes on her quest to address and resolve organizational issues has equipped her with the key characteristics needed to promote both corporate and individual CHANGE. We admire R. Rene as a stylish, savvy, on-the-go professional and she works hard to help others with their personal brand. You can find out more about R. Rene here.

Experience:

What’s your current occupation and how long have you been in your career?

Currently a Lead Healthcare consultant with a Top 500 Firm. Nineteen years of Healthcare experience and 11 years of documented consulting success in business, healthcare operations, process improvement and technology. With a great passion for helping others I have been able to provide a quality yet effective work experience that allows myself and others to create and maintain positive relationships across multiple industries and teams. From Strategic Planning, Implementation, Training and overall business optimization I have successfully managed multiple projects to include up to 300 providers and multiple ancillary roles.

Education:

Where did your style originate and who or what are some of your influences?

My style originated from my great -grandmother the late Mrs. Effie Mae Woodard- Green. She was the epitome of class and grace . She was simply put a ” lady”. She taught me the importance of representation and owning what you represent at the early age of 5 years old and her style nuggets have followed me throughout my journey. From pearls, hair-styling and more she was my go-to girl ensuring my look was appropriate for both the church and the workplace. Style to me is more about character and poise than it is about clothing and appearance what do you carry on the inside! My influences have always been the likes of the graceful – Audrey Hepburn and believe it or not Angela Bassett and Phylicia Rashad are also favs. Their STYLE is full of such confidence, grace and boldness it makes a statement for itself.

References:

Who are some of your favorite designers? What stores do you prefer to shop?

I love sooo many designers and do not preference one over the other but to name a few Rachel Roy, Kate Spade, Ann Klein, Chanel, Gianvito Rossi, Calvin Klein , Rebecca Minkoff , Jimmy Choo and more.

Ha, I am a Nordstrom Rack,TJmaxx , Ross and online boutique junkie for the most part. There is not one of the above designers that you cannot find at a discounted price or store. I love the model of ROSS – Dress for less – You don’t have to break the bank to stay in style!

Do you think personal style is important as it relates to your work? If so, how?

Very much so, your personal style is important as it relates to your work because one should always present as a walking brand no matter the occupation. Your personal style can be the one thing that sets you apart from others in the room , it can be the one memorable thing that the right people notice at the right time that places you in a position you did not even ask for all because your presentation was well done.

If you had a dream career/occupation what would it be?

My dream occupation would be a Chief Operations or Vice President for branding/relationship management division of a major magazine or fashion company. This would be give me an opportunity to be the face of the brand behind the scenes while utilizing my ability to improve the quality and process of internal and external relationships throughout the organization.

What’s the best advice you could give someone seeking a new career?

The best career advice I can give someone is ” Think Bigger” – So many times we get into careers that we wholeheartedly love but we don’t see beyond that. I encourage all no matter what their occupation to think BIGGER even where they are . What else can I do here? What skills do I have that I can offer a different department or people around me in the workplace to make an even bigger difference.

Quote that keeps you motivated?

“Ask, All they can say is No” – Kathy Borrus

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me Strength ” Philippians 4:13

We look forward to R. Rene’s great style advice and forethought on fashion trends for any career!

The Salon is Now Open!

September 9, 2016

This is 36. Today is my birthday and the launch of what I hope to be a great resource for people in whatever career they’re in. I want people to walk confidently into an interview, salary conversation with the boss, or a client meeting exuding their personal style and creating a path to walk in purpose .

Why “The Career Salon”?

My dad was a part-time barber growing up. People young and old came to the barber shop for haircuts and wisdom. It was a melting pot of topics and you could even take a chance on dominoes or checkers. In the barber shop there were seasoned people giving soapbox (sometimes hilarious) speeches, sports rhetoric, and advice from life experiences. I also went to the hair salon with my mom to get the proverbial “tea” on celebrity or neighborhood news, fashion trends, etiquette, and oh yeah a new style for the week. Those environments were so interesting to me, as it celebrated and discussed so many things in one single place.

So this is it, the place where there is NO filter, we rid the internet of ridiculous interview advice, ill-fitted pants suits, and go behind the scenes of the recruiting and acquisition functions to achieve that next great opportunity with style.

Welcome to The Career Salon!