Inbox Interview 5: Little Miss Mary, Student and Entrepreneur

Little Miss Mary, a handmade accessories company, is a small Ohio based business founded by rising Siena College freshman, Mary Hartwick, when she was sixteen.

After reading this interview, “impressive” is one word that should come to mind. Enjoy ©

#ShesaBoss: Describe the products you sell?

Mary Hartwick: I design and sell wallets, bags, and earrings. The messenger bags that I make are made out of recycled marching band uniforms. I sell my products at shows that are located around my hometown.

#ShesaBoss: What gave you the idea to start Little Miss Mary and how long have you been in business?

Mary: I have been in business since May 2009. I started my business because I had already started making bags and people had said that they wanted to buy one. I was also diagnosed with a thyroid disease that gave me a new perspective. Once I got better I realized I didn't want to wait to start it, there was no reason to wait.

#ShesaBoss: What's one challenge you've faced since being in business and how'd you overcome it?

Mary: Being able to juggle everything. It was hard going to high school and getting my products ready to sell at shows. I overcame it by setting aside time everyday that was just devoted to my business.

#ShesaBoss: What plans do you have for the future of Little Miss Mary?

Mary: That I don't know. I see it more as a learning tool. I learned a lot about business from it and a lot about customers. I also learned a lot about marketing and how to sell a product to a certain market.

#ShesaBoss: What are your plans for after graduation?
I'm not completely sure about what I want to do, but I'm really interested in working in a company that does international business. I love learning languages, I'm working on an Italian minor and I am pretty fluent in Spanish.

Mary is one example of student entrepreneurship and strategic professional development done right. Her destination may not be final, but the path she is traveling to her future is being paved with passion, ambition, and drive!

If you would like more information on purchasing her products please send inquiries through our contact page.

#ShesaBoss and #theGB blog

Inbox Interview 4: For Love of Wine…Music…and Partnerships

Sommelier, musician, and serial entrepreneur: Kristen Williams is part owner of For Love of Wine (FLOW) and pianist for Basso Moderno Duo, a partnership promoting the works of contemporary composers.  

Kristen is a dynamic woman who let her passions guide her career; read her interview to see where her passions led her.

Enjoy ©

#ShesaBoss: Tell us about your love of music and wine; which first inspired?

Kristen Williams: Music definitely [inspired me] first. I am told that even when I was very young, I would push other people away from the piano so I could have the instrument to myself. I loved listening to my dad's classical records and watching concert pianists on PBS; I would bang on the piano pretending I was like those pianists on TV. One day I realized that what I was playing did not make sense, so I taught myself to read music. When this happened, my parents gave me piano lessons, opening up a wonderful world for me.

As for wine…

My family did not consume much when I was growing up, so I knew it was a special occasion when we had wine at the table; it meant that people were coming over and we were having a party. As an only child, I loved the times when the house was full of people and laughter. It made me so happy that I would bounce off the walls with energy trying to get attention from mom and dad's friends. Usually during the dinner, mom would let me sip some wine from her glass and of course, I would get sleepy and give the company some rest. I associated wine with happy times.

During university at Carnegie Mellon, I studied Engineering and Public Policy and Technical Writing. Immersed in academia and so focused on doing well, I moved away from music. After I graduated, I moved to Washington DC to work in IT designing software for the Department of Defense. Working this 9 to 5 job gave me a lot of free time to hang out with friends in my free time. With the free time, I started wondering, "is this it?" and began to ask myself, "what makes me happy?" The answer became clear to me — music and wine.

#ShesaBoss: Your partner is Allan Von Schenkel; what's the story behind deciding to partner with him…two times?

Kristen: Allan is a very creative person and we work well together.

I met Allan when I was focusing on my own solo piano repertoire. I had also just helped found a new music orchestra and was teaching 30 students per week in addition to singing as a soprano soloist at DC’s oldest Catholic church. For fun I was even playing keyboards in a punk rock band. Needless to say, I was busy. Allan was looking for a new pianist with whom to partner. I was hesitant at first to start another music venture, but when we rehearsed together, the playing was very easy even though the music and the personalities we worked with were difficult.

We later moved to Upstate, NY and six months after we decided we wanted to start another business. At its conception, we viewed For Love of Wine in two parts: the business side - licensing etc, and the academic side - wine knowledge. Both sides of the business were vast. Allan gravitated to the business side and I gravitated to the wine side, leading me to achieve my first and second sommelier certifications. The division happened easily.

#ShesaBoss: What's it like being the female half of a coed partnership?

Kristen: I don't usually think about being the "female half" of either of our partnerships. As long as I know the history and understand the characteristics of the wine, or as long as I can play the music, gender doesn't matter.

#ShesaBoss: How does being a solopreneur compare to a partnership?

Kristen: I have had solo businesses before in music performance, music education and in human resources.

I prefer to be in a musical partnership. Being on stage alone is kind of lonely. As a soloist, it is hundreds of hours of preparation alone - one estimate is 8 hours of preparation per each minute of your program. Ones program is usually 90 minutes long, which makes 720 hours of total practice time for one program. Then, you are alone on stage, delivering music to an audience who may or may not like your music. Some musicians love this type of pressure. I prefer to share it.

Likewise, For Love of Wine is a good partnership. As shop owners, we work very long hours helping customers taste and choose wines, clean, teach, pay bills and do paperwork…without being in a partnership, I would not have chosen to start this venture.

I still have my small HR outsourcing company, because I love having something that is solely mine. In this role, I help small IT firms find employees, health plans etc. I like this role because I meet and help many very talented people and I can stay current in the IT world. Currently I am working with a young and vibrant company that is pushing the boundaries of technology. I am thankful that this is something that comes naturally to me. 

#ShesaBoss: What advice would you give a friend with hopes of forming a business partnership?

Kristen: If you choose to be in a partnership, get to know your partner. Make sure that you work well together, that you respect each other and that expectations are clearly established. In addition, always make sure the communication lines remain open. I have seen too many businesses fail due to the breakdown in the relationship between partners.

FLOW is located on the upper level inside Crossgates Mall near the old Border’s location. Visit the Basso Moderno Duo website to learn more about their mission and to support contemporary music.

#ShesaBoss and #theGB

Inbox Interview 03: Students, Get Ahead With Blogging!

Blogging has many professional benefits! The most obvious is its positive effective on ones writing skills. No matter what your profession or career, good writing skills are always a plus. To clients and potential employers, a blog can demonstrate your ability to communicate ideas and express opinions. Even if blogging is just a hobby, you can still reap professional benefits — just ask student and personal style blogger, Stephanie Ukpere, the face of Chocolate Laced.

#ShesaBoss: Why’d you decide to start Chocolate Laced?

Stephanie: I started Chocolate Laced because I was inspired by the many fashion and style blogs that I had been keeping up with at the time. I love expressing myself in many ways and I thought starting a blog could help me do just that while working on defining my own style.

#ShesaBoss: Before launching your blog, what kind of experience did you have with any aspect of personal blogging?

Stephanie: I didn’t have much experience at all, unless having a Tumblr counts as blog experience! I got most of my blog writing ideas from the blogs that inspired me to begin my own. I created the design of Chocolate Laced myself with only HTML and Photoshop experience.

#ShesaBoss: How do you fit managing a blog (writing, editing, and promoting) into life as a student?

Stephanie: Currently, my blog is very low maintenance. I try to post 1-3 times a week when school is in session and 3-5 times a week when school isn’t in session. Taking pictures, editing them, and writing [a post to go with the outfit] usually happens during the moments I find myself needing something to do. During my other idle times I’ll comment on other blogs, post outfits on lookbook.nu and chictopia.com. The entire process (taking pictures through publishing and promoting any single post) will usually take me about 2-2.5 hours; that’s a successful blogging day for me.

#ShesaBoss: What are your ultimate career aspirations and how has blogging helped you to obtain, enhance, or improve the skills, knowledge, experience, and/or connections you need to achieve your career goals?

Stephanie: I have so many dreams it’s hard to choose just one! As a computer science and applied mathematics major, I’ve always imagined myself using my degree to do some sort of programming or software architecture in the future.  Maybe even become a math teacher because I love calculus so much!  Blogging really is more of a hobby for me than anything and none of my aspirations have anything to do with fashion, but blogging as a whole has definitely helped me improve my networking and communication skills, which are necessary skills to possess no matter what career path I choose. Blogging has also given me more confidence to go after the things I really want to do as opposed to the things I’m just good at.

#ShesaBoss: Would you recommend blogging to other college students and what advice would you give on starting and managing a personal blog?

Stephanie: I would absolutely recommend blogging to college students for both professional and pastime reasons! You meet a lot of wonderful people through blogging and when it comes down to it, you’re doing something that you want to do and enjoy doing. My advice to anyone that wishes to start a blog is: DO YOUR RESEARCH! If you want people to visit your blog you must give them a reason to view it and continue viewing. Everything you need to know is online and there are many bloggers out there that are kind and willing to help and answer any questions you may have!

Stephanie is a junior at the SUNY University at Albany studying computer science and applied mathematics. Check out her blog here and “Like” Chocolate Laced on Facebook!

Useful Links:

Blogging As a Professional Tool - An Archivist's Perspective

Blogging As a Professional Tool - A Case Study

What benefits have you reaped from blogging? Do you agree that personal blogging can be used as a professional development tool?

#ShesaBoss and #theGB

Inbox Interview 02 :: Fashionista, Accountant, Entrepreneur!

Czhanell of C Her Sparkle describes herself as a multi-faceted, strong and open-minded woman. From the interview, you can tell she is confident and full of life. Czhanell is also another thing. Czhanell is in demand. She travels between Albany and Brooklyn, NY doing jewelry shows, catering, and more!

Between all of her projects I don’t know how she fits in personal time, but lucky for us she found time for She’s a Boss and the Golden Briefcase blog! This month’s Inbox Interview is the result! She gives a book full of insight on fashion, life and expanding your horizons! Enjoy ©

#ShesaBoss: So Czhanell, you were involved in a show February 3^rd at the Steamer 10 in Albany, NY; can you tell us more about that and how we can learn about future shows?

Backstage at the show!

Czhanell: My involvement in the Steamer 10 show came together after the producers of the show heard of C Her Sparkle through members of 4ever Young and Urban Guerilla Theatre. They wanted to add an intriguing and interesting twist to the night other than poetry and music performances. I gladly accepted and that night I had 15 giveaways for the ladies in the audience The giveaways included jewelry, clutches and stilettos from my brand.

You can learn about future shows through my consistently updated Facebook business page! The next event I will be a part of is a SIP-n-CHAT on Saturday, March 24, 2012. It is an entrepreneurial event coordinated by JL Marshall & Co in Brooklyn, NY. I will be showcasing and speaking a little bit about my brand. In May I will be resuming my popular accessory parties in Brooklyn and the surrounding boroughs of New York City; my accessory parties are a classy and elegant monthly event! I’m also working on becoming a vendor at the Cultural Arts Festivities this August 2012 at the Plaza in Albany, NY. I am focused and creating productivity in the process.  I Love IT!

#ShesaBoss: What else can you tell us about C Her Sparkle-By Czhanell?

Lady Sparkle

Czhanell: I’ve been in business since the summer of 2009. My mission is to get women to step out of bounds with fashion! As long as it works and you have the confidence level, swag (body language), and a smile to complete what you’re rocking and showcasing-THEN IT’S WELL WORTH IT! My products range from jewelry to bags to stilettos and they are very inexpensive — jewelry: $5-$40, handbags/clutches: $20-$50 & stilettos: $35-$60.  My motto is: Buy inexpensive and look expensive! It’s all about the stylish eye you have to have and how it coordinates with your confidence, style and energy — that’s what people will feed off of.

#ShesaBoss: What made you decide to start your own company and where do you hope to take it?

Czhanell: What made me decide to start my own company was how I felt about my sense of style. People say to me they would never think to put styles together the way I do, but it works and it looks amazing. I make sure that it’s classy, stylish, elegant, and reserved yet still sexy.

Growing up I’ve always been an “abnormal” kind of gal, in a positive and influential way regarding fashion!  People that know me and are getting to know me can tell you that I have my own unique, funky and sexy style. I like stepping outside of the box and trying new things from makeup designs, shoes, plain fabrics to prints, handbags, clutches and jewelry. When I wasn’t satisfied with a design my mom would always say, “Take it off and stay creative while trying something else or another look until you’re comfortable and content with the class and style of the look you’ve envisioned!”

I plan to build an empire with my brand by taking it to a completely new level — from fixed locations to traveling shows that market and promote my brand in different states and cities. I want to reach my current and potential customers through my soon to come website, radio shows, Amazon.com and other ways that I'll continue to explore.

#ShesaBoss: Do you own any other businesses or work any other jobs?

Czhanell: Yes, I own other businesses. I have a catering service based in Brooklyn, NY called CZHANELL’S CATERING SVCS. I’ve done wedding receptions as well as bridal and baby showers.  In addition, every year during the holiday seasons, I have a few faithful clients that hire me to render catering services for their family.

I am also an accountant and will soon begin preparing for my Bar Exams to become a CPA.  Currently, I oversee and manage the office and staff of a tax services company in Brooklyn, NY. The company is a couple years old now and is owned by a beautiful couple I know.

#ShesaBoss: This final question ties into our office theme for the month: How would you define the phrase “expand your horizons” and what advice can you give on the subject?

Czhanell: My definition of this phrase is what I have been speaking about, metaphorically, through this interview. It means thinking outside the box with your craft or crafts and continuing to re-invent yourself on as many levels as you can. Don’t get comfortable and complacent with where you are with your brand

Think “abnormal” because you never know where that mindset can take you and whom you will reach. Learn all that you can even if it’s not in your field, I guarantee you it will be helpful down the line and you can apply it somewhere in your world or in someone else’s world. Expanding your horizons also means growing, learning and enhancing what you already know regarding your craft. You will shock yourself when you stretch your thinking and your ability. You will begin to see doors open for you and you will notice those doors that are ajar waiting for you and your brand to make an entrance! People, known and unknown, are waiting for your gift and creativity. You will be amazed!

*some responses were edited for clarity and flow

Thanks again for being our March Inbox Interview Czhanell! You were very open and shared tons of details, inspiration, and motivation with us! In fact, we’ve saved some of her details, inspiration, and motivation exclusively for our Twitter followers! @ShesaBossNY we are your mental muse and Czhanell’s words are perfect for stimulating the mind!

#ShesaBoss and #theGB blog