lioness magazine - may 2013
DESCRIPTION
For the Female EntrepreneurTRANSCRIPT
5 EDITOR’S LETTER7 MANAGING ME15 MONEY WITH MICHELLE
22 STILETTO STATEMENT26 LIPSTICK CHRONICLES
MAY COVERVALERIE FITZGERALD
UNLEASHING YOURPOWERFUL BRAND16SHARON BADAL’SSUCCESS AT TRIBECA21STAYING RELEVANT INA REVOLVING WORLD25
– BUSINESS
F E A T U R E S
ISSUE 20 MAY 2013
©2013 Lioness Magazine is thefirst online magazine gearedtoward female entrepreneurs. Wedeliver sharp and compelling infor-mation on a variety of topics thatare relevant to female entrepre-neurs and professionals. Our mis-sion is to elevate, educate and sup-port female professionals.
We celebrate the unique challengesand achievements of women inbusiness. We believe women aremulti-dimensional creations whoflourish, personally and profes-sionally, when they take time tonurture their spirits.
Editor-in-ChiefKatelyn Gendron
Art DirectorLeonardo Pilares
Director of PhotographyDenise Smith
ColumnistsCrystal Senter Brown
Kristina ChapellAliyah CherrisseBrenda’s ChildErin Corriveau
Michelle Perry Higgins
Contributing WritersCarley DangonaLamara HunterPaige CerulliEmily ThurlowJennifer Sawyer
Published by The Lioness Group.Founder, Natasha Clark.
welcome to
LIONESS MAY 2013 5
Katelyn Gendron
editor’s letter
The struggle is ongoing. It’s one that many are having at this moment and I doubt that few could have crafted a more appropriate name for it: ThePrimary Dilemma. It describes the challenge many women face balancing childcare and professional obligations as the primary caretaker and work-ing mother. Paige Cerulli has penned an interesting read for this month’s issue, interviewing the study’s author, Lynn Hall.
It’s true, we all struggle to balance our personal-professional obligations but I often wonder whether our drive to succeed professionally supersedes ourmaternal instincts. Are women having fewer children because the cost of living continues to increase or because we simply don’t have the time for ourjobs plus more than one or two offspring? Does it deter some women from having children all together?
Some say we can have it all and our cover story, real estate mogul Valerie Fitzgerald, certainly proves that one can. Fitzgerald is a mother and a suc-cessful business owner in California, as well as an author and the center of her own HGTV reality show, “Selling LA.”
This being the month of Mother’s Day – not to mention my growing number of pregnant friends, as well as the ticking of my own biological clock–has prompted my obsession over the subject. I find myself inspired by those working mothers who are the subjects of our articles but also those whocontribute to our publication as writers. Your personal-professional success gives me, and hopefully our readers, confidence that we can be great atboth without having to sacrifice one for the other.
The Primary Dilemma is a puzzle I struggle to put together
Katelyn
Are You An Entrepreneur?We want to hear from you
Send your email to [email protected]
LIONESS MAY 2013 7
Managing Me
By Brenda’s Child
One of the hardest things about pursuingyour dreams is when people don’t under-stand the time and energy it takes for you todo so. When I do a disappearing actbecause I need to relax and regroup, itseems that everyone else around me is inshock that I’m lounging for the day or that Ineed a nap. Does this sound familiar?
And then there are people who becomeindignant when you can’t hang out withthem as often or you don’t go to every eventin the city. To your friends and family youseem to have become a recluse, a hermit.And when you are questioned, you becomeridden with guilt. Does this too sound famil-iar?
As much as we try to make time for every-one in our lives while juggling our careersand home life, as women it’s important thatwe don’t feel guilty about doing whatever isnecessary to accomplish our goals. I’m nottalking about being ruthless and cutthroat(we still have to be ladies). What I do meanis that you have right to dreams, chasingthem during the day and while sleepingpeacefully at night.
We must clearly articulate the aforemen-tioned to our loved ones so they won’t takeour actions personally, and if anything theymight lend a hand in taking some pressureoff of you. If they don’t understand, well,then at least you tried. Either way, you oweit to yourself to chase your dreams guilt-free.
No pressure – chase your dreams guilt-free
Brenda’s Child has made it her life’s mission to inspire people through poetryand stories and through leading by example with courage, confidence, andintegrity. She emphasizes self-love, worth, and value. She also feels obligated totell the truth ... even if it hurts. Visit www.brendaschild.com
LIONESS MAY 2013 9
1) How long have you been in business? Since November 2010.
2) Why have you chosen to dedicate yourself to this particular business/industry? In massage school Ibecame fascinated with the human skin; the beauty of it and the important role it plays in our health.As I grew my skill set, educated myself about natural health and beauty alternatives, and worked with avariety of Melanoma Awareness organizations, I knew I wanted to help people care for their bodies in abetter, healthier way to make them feel beautiful and loved.
3) What makes your business/product unique? Aside from being a mobile business, we are dedicatedto doing our treatments without harmful chemicals. There is a disconnection in the industry betweenglamorous spa treatments and truly natural skin care. It’s my goal to bring these two ideas together.For this reason, at SkinCatering we make all of our own massage oils, our own skincare, and use onlyfreshly, hand-blended products for all spa treatments so that it’s custom to your needs and sensitivi-ties.
4) You could have worked for anyone and would have been successful, why become an entrepre-neur? Working for someone else has a sense of security to it, not to mention, a regular paycheck.However, working for someone else has limitations to it that I was no longer willing to accept for myself.I dream way too big to just be “One Thing.” The last job interview I went to sealed the deal to work formyself. While I listened to all the exciting challenges I could work on and be a part of, somethingsnapped. I realized that all this creative energy I was going to put into someone else’s company [I]could just as easily be put into my own brand. I knew I was finally being honest with myself when I wasoffered that job and I turned it down. The next day I committed 100 percent to my business.
5) What was the last moment in which you said to yourself, why did I go into business for myself?There was one particular day that had been rather challenging. I felt defeated, despite my best effortsto stay positive. Calling an early end to the day, I curled up in bed, pulled the covers over my head, andpoured my heart out via tears into my lab’s yellow fur. Just as I started to think about how much easierit would be to just punch a time clock, my phone beeped. Head filled with self-loathing and eyesswollen from crying, I looked at the text expecting yet another kick in the teeth, so to speak. Surprise,surprise, it was a message from a client thanking me for my mission and expressing how confident herteenage daughter is now, since her face cleared up by using our skincare. Just like that I felt back inthe game. My life’s purpose was validated and I knew I had to keep going.
6) Every female professional should have __________. Something that when they put it on or have itwith them, they feel invincible. A Power Piece, like a piece of jewelry, a briefcase, or a special outfit.
7) If you could steal some business mojo from another mogul, who would it be and why? Rachel Zoeis one of my favorite female business owners to look up to. She loves glamor and fashion without apol-ogy. She is able to laugh at herself easily and loves her family deeply, incorporating them into the busi-ness and making time for them daily. She often speaks of her humble beginnings with gratitude,expressing how those experiences have shaped her career ... I used to worry that my purpose wasn’tdeep enough, that I could be using my talents to make a bigger impact. However, the truth is, helpingsupport a person’s self-esteem is important work. Doing what I love enables those people with the“bigger purpose” to continue to do so. My business is a safe place for them to get the care they needto feel rested and loved, where they can recharge their energy so they can go out and continue tochange the world. It makes me very happy to know I play my part in that process.
8) What is your business motto? Cater To Your Spirit!
9) If you could give other entrepreneurs three tips, what would they be?A) Be open to experiences that wouldn’t normally be your “cup of tea.” You never know whichopportunity will lead you to a person or opening that propels you forward in a big way.B) Be decisive. If you’re one foot in, one foot out, your business will flounder simply from indecision. C) Get a business coach or become involved in mastermind group. Entrepreneurship isn’t for sissiesand having other professionals cheer for you and give you feedback helps you feel supported tokeep moving forward.
10) Has there been a piece of technology or software that has been a lifesaver to you?My onlinebooking system called, “Booker.” It has an app that allows us to book appointments and take paymentson our cell phones for our mobile appointments, and it allows clients to book their appointments onlinewhile they’re thinking about it, instead of waiting for us to be open to call, or leaving a voicemail.
11) What is your goal for the next year?My goal is to add to my special team and to expand our homebase option. There is a growing need for our kind of services and I want to be able to help supportmore “movers and shakers” as they do their work.
12) When someone is telling their friend about your business, what do you hope they say? I hope theysay they had an amazing experience with us and that their spirit feels rejuvenated!
Ask an Entrepreneur
Leanne Sedlak,owner of SkinCatering,
and a Licensed MassageTherapist. SkinCatering isa mobile spa but is basedout of Bella Vita Salon &Spa, 491 Granby Road,South Hadley, Mass.
Photo courtesy of SkinCatering
LIONESS MAY 2013 11
Valerie Fitzgerald
“I didn’t really get drawn into real estate. Ihad a baby, my daughter Vanessa, that Ineeded to support. I always say that realestate chose me,” Fitzgerald said, notingthat she moved from New York City to LosAngeles, Calif., without a background in realestate, earning her license at night.
“First and foremost I wanted to create agreat life for my daughter. My love for herwas my absolute driving force to makesomething happen and be successful. I callit how I raised my baby and my business atthe same time,” Fitzgerald added.
She attributed her success to a persistent,stick-to-it nature, which sees the positive inevery situation. “Negativity can be rattlingaround like a monkey on your shoulder. Youhave to remain focused, organized anddetermined. You have to be willing toembrace it all, make your to-do list andmove ahead,” Fitzgerald said.
“On ‘Selling LA’ we teach what we do. We
show how we work with the buyer; howwe work with the seller. And, all of ourstories are true. Nothing is staged.Everything you see is exactly the way itwould be going if the camera wasn’t there,”she explained.
“I hope that I’ve shared and taught peoplewhat it’s like from a business point of view.We call it a ‘docu-lifestyle’ business show.The business part of our show is not aboutour emotions,” Fitzgerald added. “Realestate is not about our emotions; we’re notsupposed to be emotional, we’re supposedto carry the torch for our clients who areemotional.
“The ‘Selling LA’ experience has been great.It’s helped with my branding worldwide. It’salso showing the real deal how real estate isdone. The station works with my schedule.We do it three it hours at a time.
“It’s almost like having another full-time job.It’s adds to my ability to multi-task. It’s beena good experience,” she continued.
Fitzgerald noted that he daughter has a sig-nificant role in her business and the show. “Inever know what Vanessa’s doing on theshow. She doesn’t tell me in advance. I seewhat she’s doing when the show airs. I amabsolutely blown away that she can respondand know the answers to so many of the sit-uations that she’s in on the show. It’s jawdropping for me. You never know if yourchild is listening and I guess she was listen-ing quite a bit. She’s done a great job,”Fitzgerald stated.
“I think the thing that all new peo-ple, whether it’s my daughter or other peo-ple that work with me, don’t have yet is thethicker skin when things get difficult andclients get really tough,” she added. “Youput all this work into a sale to make it hap-pen and it’s about to fall apart. It’s a skill tonot get emotional in that situation and to beable to lead your client through it, separat-ing yourself [from the fact that] you mightneed that commission check and to servethe client to make sure the outcome is inthe client’s favor.”
Fitzgerald stressed, “The clients need toknow that they are your focus.”
“I had to develop those skills over thecourse of my career. I was also that bounc-ing off the wall person in the beginning too.The idea in real estate is that you can’t workon just one thing. You have to have quite afew things in the pipeline – possibilities. Anynumber of things could fall apart,” sherecalled.
Despite her success, Fitzgerald isn’t push-ing her daughter into real estate.
“For her career, long-term I hope that she’ssuper happy. My daughter is very much intonutrition. She’s only 25 – she’s not fullycommitted to a real estate career as her lifechoice. She’s not completely committed tothe career that I have. If she wants it, great,
Continued on page 13
has been selling properties in the greater Los Angeles area formore than 20 years. She is president of the Valerie FitzgeraldGroup, a Coldwell Banker real estate firm, and author of “Heartand Sold,” a book that chronicles her journey into the realestate business, offering tips that can be applied to everyaspect of life. Fitzgerald and her team are featured on theHGTV show “Selling LA” that airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST.
By Carley Dangona
LIONESS MAY 2013 13
because I have a business that she couldbe a big part of,” she said.
“Ultimately, it’s going to be her choice inwhat she wants to do,” Fitzgerald added.“She kind of fell into this. I say many timesthat you kind of bump into your life. She’son the show, she makes deals here andthere, but she still has to find her personalcommitment for what she really wants.”
Fitzgerald confessed that while she stillhas “a very bad habit of working six orseven days a week,” she makes time forfamily, friends and fun. “[My job] is stillsomething that I enjoy doing,” she said.
“There’s always something next. I have anentrepreneurial spirit and am always creat-ing. I love everything I’m doing,” sheadded. “I have been single now for three orfor years, so I guess I need to make moretime for that.”
Fitzgerald said she receives hundreds andemails a week from people that have read“Heart and Sold,” that describe the bookas “cathartic” because that they are strug-gling with the very same issues
She quoted a saying she recently heard,“Experience is what you get when youdon’t get your own way.” Fitzgerald admit-ted, that she gained the practical knowl-
edge in the book from making her own mis-takes in her personal and professionallives. “We think our problems are unique,”she said, adding that we all face the samebasic struggles. “There are no coinci-dences in life – everything matters. Thevoice of doubt is very different from intu-ition. Your subconscious can sabotage youall the time [if you let it].
“One of the most important abilities I thinkpeople need to have is blind faith,” shecontinued. “You have to trust somethingwill happen. I think that anybody can getwhat they want if they really want it badlyenough. You just have to get out there anddo it.”
Valerie Fitzgerald
LIONESS MAY 2013 15
Michelle Perry Higgins is a financial planner and principal of California FinancialAdvisors in San Ramon, Calif. Higgins specializes in wealth management, and has builta successful practice advising executive professionals into retirement. Her passion forfinancial management has helped hundreds of individuals better understand investingand financial planning. For more information, please visit www.calfinad.com.
Money with Michelle
Tips to get the most out of your vacation dollarBy Michelle Perry Higgins
With summer just around the corner, oneof the best ways to relax, unwind and enjoythe fruits of your labor is to go on a reward-ing vacation. But as much fun as a trip maybe, it can also place a strain on both yourmind and your bank account if you don’tfirst start off with a budget.
I believe that the key to maximizing yourtime, money and, most importantly, relax-ation is effective budgeting long before youleave for your destination. You can reallypump up the fun factor by eliminatingmoney worries before you even pack yourbags.
Two of the biggest obstacles that potentialvacationers run into are a lack of fore-thought when planning their vacation anda tendency to underestimate the financialimpact of a vacation. It’s hard to relax andhave fun if you’re worried about openingyour credit card bill when you get back.Lack of planning can result in stress and asense of worry when you should be out
having fun.
I suggest researching travel websites forthe best deals and factoring in extraneouscosts such as baggage fees, rental car fuel,parking, and insurance. By seeking out thebest prices before you leave, you will notonly save money on unexpected expenses,but will also help relieve stress while yourelax doing what you enjoy.
To make it easier to financially prepare foryour trip, here are three key tips that willhelp get your vacation off the ground.
1. Determine the budget for your trip –Once you’ve decided on your destination,identify the overall financial plan and dura-tion for your trip. Figure out how much youwill spend on the basics like airfare,accommodations, meals and transporta-tion. Then determine your additionalspending on things like food, shopping,and excursions.
2. Know what’s important to you – Youshould be realistic when it comes to budg-
eting so that you can actually enjoy your-self. If you want five-star luxury you’re prob-ably not going to be happy in a budgetmotel. Consider staying five nights at yourdream hotel, instead of 10 nights at aplace you might not like. Choose wisely,keeping in mind your needs and wants aswell as your resources.
3. Return to a happy home – Coming backfrom a vacation can be a bit of a downer, soyou should make sure everything is in orderbefore you leave. There’s nothing like com-ing home to a mess after you’ve justenjoyed some wonderful time away. Makesure you take care of the bills before youleave to avoid late fees and an increase inmonthly expenses while you are away.
A well-budgeted vacation can prove to be amemorable and relaxing experience for youand your family. By establishing a realisticbudget, saving for it throughout the yearand sticking to it while you’re gone, you canhelp make sure that you’ll spend more timeenjoying your vacation and less time worry-ing about your pocket book.
18 LIONESS MAY 2013
Managing the Primary Dilemma:The Working Mother
By Paige Cerulli
When you had your first child, did you findreturning to work to be a struggle? As aworking mother, is it difficult to balance yourparenting obligations with your working life?Do you find yourself struggling to under-stand how best to handle your dual roles?
When Lynn Hall of New Jersey found herselfin the same position, she decided to takematters into her own hands. Hall, a market-ing executive for 18 years, first faced thisconflict when she returned to work after thebirth of her first child. Her daughter was indaycare at Hall’s job, but when her daughterwas sick, it was up to Hall to stay home withher. Hall’s husband also worked a demand-ing job, but with a longer commute and fre-quent required travel. When her daughterwas sick on the day that Hall had to give animportant presentation at work, she discov-ered that in her obligation as the primaryday-to-day parent, she was facing a signifi-cant problem – the Primary Dilemma.
The Primary Dilemma refers to the conflictthat the working, “primary” parent faces intrying to balance their work and parentingobligations. Hall’s realization that her desireto both work and be physically present forher daughter caused her to revise her plansas a working mother. She determined thatshe needed to find an employer closer tohome that offered a flexible working sched-ule, which she eventually did.
After having her fourth child, Hall decided toinvestigate the idea of the Primary Dilemmafurther. She wanted to survey other mothersto see what kinds of conflicts they facedwhen returning to the workforce, with theultimate goal of being able to help womenplan for and understand the process ofreturning to work as a parent.
Beginning in 2009, Hall conducted an elec-tronic survey of working mothers. “I beganwith a list of people within my own connec-tion of contacts and asked them to push iton to their next set of contacts. In total, I’vesurveyed about 300 different people right
now. The survey is posted on the PrimaryDilemma website and on Facebook, and Ithink that continuing to add to that body ofinformation is important,” she explained.
Hall put her experience in market analyticsto use and analyzed the survey results her-self. She said that the largest surprise in thedata was its consistency. “The consistencyof the responses was particularly interest-ing; it ended up informing what I categorizedas the Five Working-Mother Methods. Thechoices and constraints that [the respon-dents] schematically continued to refer-ence, and the way that they identified them-selves within their families or within theworkplace – the consistency of the implica-tions of the choices we’re making was sur-prising,” she said.
The five methods include:• The Workable – A primary career and/or
wage earner• The Equalizer – Fully engaged in both
work and parenting• The Fully Loaded – A single parent• Obliged – The primary physical parent
who works because a second income isrequired
• Parentess – The primary physical parentwho elects to work.
Hall compiled information about thePrimary Dilemma to help women facing theconflict of work and motherhood. “The goalis to inform working women on how to bemore aware of the choices they’re making,and to appreciate the fact that they’re nevergoing to feel entirely in balance,” she said.“Balance is a very elusive goal, and we’veall been socialized to seek it. The PrimaryDilemma is trying to get women to a place ofunderstanding their own choices and howthey can optimize their personal and profes-sional successes without some of the angstthat some women go through.
“I think it resonates very strongly,” Hall saidof the project’s reception. “Women feel likethey hear themselves in the conversation.For some women, it creates a level of frus-tration, not with the content, but with the
reality. There’s a lot of talk right now con-cerning how working mothers often foregotheir own ambition. Everyone can be ambi-tious, but there are still realities amongwomen that working and motherhood willcreate a dynamic that women just have tolive and make the best of. Many womenwish there was an easy solution, and thePrimary Dilemma doesn’t have that easysolution. What it does offer are resources –based on where you’re at in your profiling,there are different ways you should infra-structure your childcare and your work envi-ronment. The Primary Dilemma gives youlots of guidance in that way.”
Hall offers group workshops and individualcoaching and consulting, all of which havebeen highly successful. “I often see that thePrimary Dilemma gets people to betterchildcare solutions very quickly,” she said. “Isee women making choices about how theyhave career conversations, and how theymake career or job selection. I’ve even hadpeople tell me that the Primary Dilemmahas influenced how many children they’vedecided to have. It enables people who areearlier on in being working parents to envi-sion the implications of the choices thatthey’re making.”
The Primary Dilemma study is ongoing, andHall states that the research will continue.In the future she hopes to apply the idea ofthe Primary Dilemma to a topic beyondmotherhood. Hall stated that there areaspects of working motherhood and parent-hood that she’s continuing to develop morefully in the Primary Dilemma.
Hall called for all mothers to find a sense ofcontentment. “Our society encourages asense of discontentment,” she stated.“We’re not in balance, and we haven’tachieved our career goals – we’re taught toalways work toward something more. Becontent with where you’re at in themoment.”
For more information, visit the PrimaryDilemma’s website at www.primarydilem-ma.com.
20 LIONESS MAY 2013
Lifetime premieres ‘Devious Maids’ June 23Lifetime will premiere its highly-anticipatednew drama “Devious Maids,” executive pro-duced by Marc Cherry (“DesperateHousewives”) and Eva Longoria (“DesperateHousewives”), on June 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.The ensemble all-star cast, Ana Ortiz (“UglyBetty”), Dania Ramirez (“Entourage”),Roselyn Sanchez (“Without a Trace”), EdyGanem (“Livin’ Loud”) and Judy Reyes(“Scrubs”), portray five maids with ambitionand dreams of their own while working forthe rich and famous in Beverly Hills.
In “Devious Maids,” murder and mayhemcollide in the mansions of Beverly Hills’wealthiest and most powerful families.Class warfare has never been as fun anddirty as it is in the tony enclave where thestaff is as clever, witty, outrageous anddownright devilish as their employers.Whoever holds the dirt holds the power, andbefore the season is over, illicit affairs willbe revealed and deep dark secrets exposedas we learn the sordid details behind ashocking murder of a beloved housemaid.
The series centers on a close-knit group ofmaids who are bonded together by their
jobs, life struggles and the melodramatic“upstairs-downstairs” universe that engulfstheir employers.
Rosie (Ramirez), a widow who left her sonback in Mexico when her husband died,works as the maid and nanny for a pair ofself-absorbed and successful actors, Periand Spence Westmore (Mariana Klaveno,“True Blood,” and Grant Show, “SwingTown”).
Aspiring singer Carmen (Sanchez), hopesthat her pop star employer Alejandro (MattCedeno, “Days of Our Lives”) can help jump-start her career, but Odessa (Melinda PaigeHamilton, “Mad Men”), his very loyal house-keeper and her boss, will stop at nothing tostand in her way.
Zoila (Reyes) is the senior maid forGenevieve Delatour (Susan Lucci, “All MyChildren”), a co-dependent, emotionallyunstable wealthy woman. She works along-side her teen daughter Valentina (Ganem),who has a crush on Genevieve's handsomeson, Remi (Drew Van Acker, “Pretty LittleLiars”).
In the series premiere, the women turn toone another for support when their friendand fellow maid Flora (Paula Garces, “CSIMiami”) is brutally murdered at the home ofher employers, Evelyn and Adrian Powell(Rebecca Wisocky, “American Horror Story,”and Tom Irwin, “Grey’s Anatomy”), at one ofthe largest society events of the year.Meanwhile, newcomer Marisol (Ortiz) ishired to clean the home of Taylor andMichael Stappord (Brianna Brown,“Homeland,” and Brett Cullen, “Damages”),a newlywed couple with a complicated lovehistory. But Marisol has ulterior motives andwhen someone she loves becomes wrappedup in Flora’s murder, she goes undercoverto learn the truth.
Inspired by the hit telenovela, “Ellas son laAlegría del Hogar,” “Devious Maids” is pro-duced by ABC Studios. The series was creat-ed by Cherry and is executive produced byCherry, Sabrina Wind (“DesperateHousewives”), Longoria, Paul McGuigan(“Scandal”), Larry Shuman (“KissingMiranda”), David Lonner, John Mass andTelevisa USA’s Paul Presburger and MichaelGarcia.
Roselyn Sanchez, Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez and Judy Reyes star in the all-newLifetime drama, “Devious Maids,” premiering June 23 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Photo courtesy of Guy D’Alema
LIONESS MAY 2013 21
By Katelyn Gendron
Sharon Badal’s love of the movies wasborn at age 14 as the lone usher in herfather’s New Jersey movie theater, and itis because of her admiration for the medi-um that she’s staked claim to successwithin one of the most challenging profes-sional territories.
Badal, head of short film programming forthe Tribeca Film Festival, and an associateteacher at New York University’s TischSchool of the Arts, may have come fromhumble beginnings as an usher but she’shad a storied career holding positions withsuch industry heavyweights as UnitedArtists/MGM, Warner Brothers, Sony, andWalt Disney Feature Animation. Ask Badalhow she’s been able to work for compa-nies most only dream, and she’ll reply thatit was hard work, perseverance and lots ofluck.
“I knew I wanted to be a part of themovies, I just didn’t know how,” she said.“I found out that I’m a terrible director buta great producer. [Producer] JaneRosenthal has been a great champion forme. I attribute my duration at Tribeca toher support; all those years in the industry[I attribute] to having great mentors.
“I say to my students, especially to myfemale students, that you find your ownpath. I never think of myself as a woman,but a person. Gender doesn’t play a role tome at all. I think [women in the industry]get frustrated because of the statisticsthat are thrown at them. It’s almost likeyou’re discouraging them from the start,”
she continued, noting that the industry isdominated by men.
Male or female, Badal said it’s importantto dedicate oneself to their craft, which iswhy she keeps a rigid schedule in order towhittle down the more than 2,800 shortfilm submissions into a comprehensive60-film Festival lineup.
“It’s funny because everyone says, ‘Wow,you have such an easy job, all you do iswatch movies all day,’ but it requires anenormous amount of discipline. There arebetween 1,200 and 1,500 submissions Iwatch myself and I take the job very seri-ously. The filmmaker trusts that I’m goingto watch it clear headed and open heartedand I have to know what my life rhythm is.I set blocks of time early in the morningbecause I am bright eyed and bushytailed. I need to be fresh. I have to beexcited and want to love every single DVDthat I put in,” she explained.
“The first cut is the deepest for the film-makers but the last cut is the deepest forus [as Festival organizers]. With shortfilms there are no rules, it’s the experi-ence and payoff. If you have me with 16minutes and the ending falls apart [itwon’t make it]. The cream floats to the topfor us,” Badal continued.
Last month’s Festival featured 60 shortfilms, 30 of which were world premieres,she noted.
“Part of what happens is that filmmakershave put us at the top of their wish list.They want to launch their film at Tribeca.
I’ve been fortunate that we’ve received somany Academy qualifying submissionsand the Festival screens to big audiences.There’s something to be said for thatworld premiere status,” Badal said.
When asked how Tribeca has been able tomaintain its prowess within the industry,she replied, “You’re a victim of your ownsuccess. I’ve already set the bar formyself. I have to go higher and do betterand it means taking more risks.”
With the Festival’s conclusion last month,Badal now has time to achieve more bal-ance between her personal and profes-sional lives, until October when she mustbegin another five months of viewing sub-missions.
“Part of my survival [in the industry], andI do have the battle wounds to prove it, isthat I do have a life,” she said. “I love myfamily and my friends and I don’t just liveto work because life is too short. I havethe whole pie, the size of the sliceschanges throughout the year but when Ileave work, I have fun … I have my niecewho’s 17 and relationships that havecome and gone but it’s all part of who Iam.”
Sharon Badal
Love of film brings Badal to newheights of success at Tribeca
22 LIONESS MAY 2013
Stiletto Statement
Fashion just won’t cut itBy Aliyah Cherrisse
What if I told you that your confidence goesbeyond your fashion selections? What if I chal-lenged you to take a deeper look at yourself?Our self-worth is not contingent upon the lat-est trends or fashion’s must-haves; rather it’show we view ourselves. Let’s face it, you get alldolled up to have a girl’s night out and as yousit forcing yourself to enjoy the night, yourfriends have no idea that once you get home,you’re going to curl up and cry yourself tosleep. All you can think about is, “I hope noone notices that you can’t see my eyelashesbecause I completely forgot to apply my mas-cara.” When we doubt ourselves so will others.When we point out to others what hasn’t beennoticed, we draw attention to our own insecu-rities as opposed to any supposed physicalflaws.
I can only speak vaguely because that wasonce me. I hated to take a picture straight on,without makeup, or without being completelydolled up. I just felt as though I wasn’t prettyenough. I thought that without the makeup,
nice clothes, and defined eyelashes that I justdidn’t fit the bill. I was hard on myself, had ahard time accepting compliments, and wasvery consumed with shopping. Shopping waslike my guilty pleasure; instead of eating Iwould shop because it made me feel better forthe moment. Once that moment was up, Ifound myself shopping some more.
However, one day I had to ask myself, exactlywhose standards am I trying to live up to? Ithen decided to change my way of thinking. Nomore will I shop for the hottest name brandknowing that it wasn’t in my budget. I shop forwhat fits me nicely and what would be flatter-ing to my body. I decided that I didn’t have towear makeup every day, like a painkiller, itwould be more on an as-need basis. I stoppedtrying to appeal to society’s definitions anddecided that I was way more comfortable inmy sweats, slacks, or flats versus thatextremely high-heel, the toxic makeup that Iwas actually allergic to, and that dress that Icould not wait to take off. Just read back to myother two columns and believe me when I say,with comfort comes confidence.
Please don’t confuse my words, for maintain-ing your appearance is not a bad thing at all,however, please be sure you do it within yourmeans and your comfort zone. Don’t go outand buy a heel you know you cannot bare towalk in because it’s the latest shoe trend.Trends fade but those insecurities will be thereway after those trends if you don’t face them. Iwould suggest you don’t purchase a dress thatis not only unflattering to your figure but it mayalso send out the wrong message as an atten-tion getter. Be old-fashioned ladies and leavesomething to the imagination.
When you respect yourself, so will others. Iwould also say this; ladies, less is sometimesmore and in this case I ask that you keep itnatural with the make-up. Select a lip colorthat adds to your face effortlessly, a little bit ofliner and mascara, and just a soft or very cleansmoky eye can take you a long way. The make-up trend that everyone is dipping and dabbingin is actually not so trendy but more so “clown-ish.” Keep it simple; especially when you knowat heart, you are a simple person who really
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Stiletto Statement
enjoys simple things. Besides, everything yousee in a magazine is not for everyday wear, itwas meant just for that magazine photo shoot.
Get to know who you are, what you like, whatit is you really want and let those things workfor you. Get familiar with your flaws and if youcan do anything about them, do it! Worryabout the things you have control over, and letthe rest go. Once you face yourself, believe meyou will be able to face the world. Once youunderstand that at the end of it all, you’llalways be different, you know your faults, andyou can acknowledge your shortcomings,there will be nothing for anyone to hold overyou and those insecurities will begin to fade.You’ll find yourself telling people to “tell mesomething I don’t know!” Now if that’s not a
confidence booster, I don’t know what is.Having complete control over your emotions,appearance and finances brings such peaceand with that comes happiness. Believe me,I’m still working on getting these things rightand with that I am content just knowing mychange is coming.
I could really go on and on with this topic, Ipromise I could, but I believe you get the point,besides, this is just my view based on my expe-riences and encounters, which I am suresomeone reading this can relate to. Let meclose by making my message clear: There willalways be someone who is a bit prettier. Therewill always be someone who is a bit smarter.There will always be someone who is a bityounger. However, they will never be you so
just live your life! If we consume ourselves withfitting in when we were made to stand out wewill miss the blessings that God has set for us.So as a last tip, if you’re one of those whomust keep up with the Joneses but honestlyknow you can’t afford it, T.J.Maxx, Marshall’s,Burlington Coat Factory, and even consign-ment shops should become your best friend.
“Don’t ever be afraid to help yourself, loveyourself and build your confidence level up.We are our own worse critics, so take the timeout, figure out what you don't like, and thentake the steps to fix it. Don’t be afraid, for Godgave us the spirit of love, use that love on your-self first!"
– Signing off, Aliyah Cherrisse!
LIONESS MAY 2013 23
Aliyah Cherrisse, born and raised in Atlantic City, N.J., has grown to be a very educated, vibrant, anddriven intellectual. As a graduate of Morgan State University, with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree inBusiness Marketing, Aliyah has put her studies to use in branding herself as the “MultimediaPersonality” she is to-date. Currently pursuing her love of entertainment, Aliyah is known for her titlesof “Fashion Show Production Assistant, Radio/TV Personality, Curvy/Full-Figured Model, Red CarpetCorrespondent, Host, and Blogger,” but let's not forget to mention: this is all while being a singlemother! With no intentions on slowing down, Aliyah anticipates what God has awaiting ahead for her!
LIONESS MAY 2013 25
Staying relevant in arevolving world
By Zee Elise
When you work in the nonprofit world, yourbusiness is people – you serve people, recruitpeople and rely on people for funding. Youknow their time is limited and that there arehundreds of other commendable organiza-tions vying for their attention.
The average person is bombarded with morethan 3,000 marketing messages per day. Howdoes a small nonprofit with a fixed budgetcompete with that? Denise Cogman, executiveofficer of Springfield School Volunteers (SSV)in Massachusetts, said it’s all about volun-teers.
“I have always believed that our current volun-teers are our best recruiters. By sharing theirpositive volunteer experiences with friends,family members and co-workers they aremuch more effective than any SSV staff mem-ber could be while manning a table at arecruitment event or speaking to a group ofpeople about volunteering,” Cogman said.“When we effectively and appropriately man-age this valuable resource at our disposal byactively encouraging our volunteers to ‘refer afriend’ we have seen success.”
Volunteers are SSV’s backbone. Last yearmore than 2,000 volunteers went into theSpringfield Public Schools as Read Aloud par-ticipants, academic tutors and mentors.
SSV has always been pro-active when it comesto working with other organizations and stay-ing involved in the community. Cogman givesback to the city and keeps the organization vis-ible while serving as director on boards suchas the Human Service Forum and BehavioralHealth Network. She also sits on two boardsthat revolve around social work and philan-thropy at two local universities.
She explained that partnering with otherorganizations is important because it is a valu-able way to share and transfer knowledge. It
helps to build their capacity and allows themto maximize the quality of the services they areable to provide. For example, Cogman saidpartnering with organizations such as MassMentoring Partnership and Big Brothers BigSisters of Hampden County on their MentoringProgram has not only increased their knowl-edge and skills as it relates to mentoring, buthas also allowed them to improve the quality oftheir mentoring program through collabora-tion.
“As leaders of nonprofit organizations we arealways looking for community members tosupport our organizations in a volunteercapacity – as board members, by serving on acommittee or, in our case as tutors, mentors,readers and friends. I feel it is extremely impor-tant to lead by example,” Cogman said. “Howcan I encourage community involvement andtalk about the importance of giving back if I’mnot doing it myself. If I expect people to see ourmission as meaningful and worth their time Ihave to find that value in other organizationsas well and demonstrate my belief in the valueof what they are doing to help our communityby giving back.”
To maximize your budget and staff, every non-profit should at least have these three basicsin their recruiting toolbox:
1. Social Media – Consider social media out-lets that make the most sense for yourorganization. You need to go where the peo-ple are – they are online.
2. Marketing Materials – You should alwayshave up-to-date, simple and easy to accessmarketing materials. Even if it is just a one-page flyer saying who you are, what you doand where they could find more.
3. Megaphone – A satisfied volunteer,fundraiser or client is the best bullhornthere is. Encourage your associates tospread the word about their positive experi-ences with your organization. Ask for testi-monials. Use them to craft inspiring postersand/or multimedia campaigns.
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Zee Elise enjoys writing and interviewing interesting people.When she is not off hiking, Zee splits her time between writingand raising a family. She hopes to type “The End” on one of themany novels she has yet to finish. However, she blames the lureof the sunshine as her primary distraction.
26 LIONESS MAY 2013
Kristina Chapell is a single gal in her 30s making her way in the world. Passionate,savvy, and stylish; Kristina is a social relationship builder. You can often find her onFacebook and Twitter keeping up with the latest news and always supporting causes sheis passionate about such as the Alzheimer’s Association, Link to Libraries, and TheBusiness Channel.
By Kristina Chapell
In most places around the country springhas sprung; finally! We are entering theseason of blossoming flowers and treesbut are we ready for blossoming romance?I recently read an article, Spring Fever: 8Dating Tips for the New Season, in which Ithought the advice was good, so I willshare that with you and add my personalspin to it.
1) Spring Cleaning. Spring is a time toclean the house, look through the closet,ditch clothes you haven’t worn for a whileand spruce up the wardrobe. But did youthink to clean out your social networks ofevent your contacts in your phone? Theseare good places to start … get rid of thenegative people or the “why do I drunk texthim” guy. If he really isn’t doing anythingfor you – get rid of him.
2) Plant the Perfect Mate. OK, this is aboutas weird as it sounds. While the article sug-gests you write down four traits you want ina partner (which I agree with) it continuesto say you should actually plant a plantwith those four traits in mind and watch itgrow. Honestly, I am not sure about this. Iam not the best green thumb gal but I doagree you should write down the top fourtraits you want in a partner. For me, I wantsomeone who is driven, passionate, likesto laugh, and likes being social, a.k.a. likesto go out and not always stay at home.
3) Sporting Events. I agree with this one.Did any of you watch the Master’s lastmonth? That is golf in case you didn’tknow. No, I am not a golf watcher; person-ally I could care less but I did catch the endand witnessed Adam Scott win. Wow, he is
a “hottie!” And I am younger than 50 so Ithink it is still safe to use the word “hottie.”And by watching I also saw many men inthe crowds watching. Note to self: drive toAugusta, Ga., (two hours away from me)and hang out in the bars next year. Butseriously, sports breed men: ladies, go tosports games or at the very least go to thelocal bar or tavern and hang out with thegirls for a few drinks during game time; andseem somewhat interested.
4) Join Meetup.com. I all of the sudden feltout of the loop when I realized this wasn’ta dating website. In searching for events inmy area there are plenty of groups gettingtogether – moms at home, garden clubs,business networking, community serviceand much more. I might have to give this atry! The article continues and advises cou-ples too.
5) Give in to Pheromones. Apparently thechange in season means more people areinterested in sex when warmer weatherhits. Hmm … Gone are the days thinking acold, snowy night makes for good make-outsessions, apparently hot and steamy is theway to go.
6) Get Outdoors Together. This, I think, canapply to couples or those just dating; goingfor a picnic, hike, bike ride, etc., can begood for both parties. So regardless of yourrelationship status – get out doors.
7) Sporting Events. Yes, you read right, thisis repeated. The best can be if you root fordifferent teams … ah, the “makeup” sex.OK, I am a Boston Red Sox fan and foryears somehow always dated a New YorkYankees fan. The two most popularly con-nected teams; I always managed to date
someone who rooted for them. Never theCalifornia Angels, or Tampa Bay Rays, ohwell. I have to admit, it was always fun aftera game ;-)
8) Clean Your Closet. Just because you arein a relationship doesn’t mean you can’tdress for success. Stop wearing the sweatsand bulky clothes all the time – in factthrow them out. You are in a relationship,you aren’t dead and neither is your part-ner. Besides, warmer weather means moreskin so have some fun. I admit, I agree withall eight tips but I will add two more.
9) Get Out and Get Fit. We always com-plain we are too fat. Ladies, I know you do.Even a size 0 or 2 still has imperfectionsthey want to change. While I don’t alwaysagree, I can empathize. Do somethingabout it. Spring means warmer weatherand warmer weather means being out-doors so go for a walk. You don’t need agym or a trainer to feel good. A simplewalk and maybe some pushups a few daysa week, as well as some crunches is all youneed.
10) Watch Your Alcohol Intake. Yes, we areall guilty of this at times. But the warmweather means BBQs, drinks on the patio,etc. Watch what you are drinking and howmuch; sugar and carbohydrates are theultimate culprits in alcohol so even whenwe think we are eating healthy, our drink-ing tends to increase and we blow ourhealthy eating on too much alcohol.Remember to eat and drink in moderationand go for less carbs and sugar.
Here’s to a fun spring ladies!
~ xoxoxo KC
Spring has sprung: Dating tips for a new season
The Lipstick Chronicles
