Day: March 10, 2021

For Women’s History Month I will be sharing the stories that define and provide examples of women empowerment, uplifting stories of personal triumph and businesses that are inspiring and are making a difference for women. Women’s History Month is a declared month each year that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.

I want to introduce you to Tonya Franklin.

Tonya is an internationally-selling award-nominated author that is a business empowerment educator where she teaches and trains clients to take their passion and turn it into income. As a virtualpreneur, she provides small businesses and career professionals with professional development/customer service, event marketing, PR, marketing and branding as well as content writing services that help to give them the support they need and additional time to work in growing their business. Tonya recently added consulting to her brand and uses her own start-up experiences and transparent struggles as an entrepreneur to provide start up consulting for new small business owners and side hustlers looking for momentum to springboard their dreams of business ownership. She takes her over 20 years of experience to craft customized services and give empowering experiences to her clients for them to achieve their next success level.

Here is HERstory:

My story starts with fear and being comfortable in being caught between a rock and hard place. Losing my job, losing my home, and then my husband leaving, left me in a place that was not only hard, but despairing. In a matter of 10 years I lost everything and ended up homeless with my three children…twice… I was three years in my business but didn’t have a secure roof over my head, but every week, I was going online sharing my business wealth with my audience, speaking on live and virtual panels, working with clients….while homeless. In 2019, my life looked like it was turning around, and one of my major clients bailed. It took me an entire year to get back up again. I was determined to not be homeless again. My journey has not been easy or a crystal stair, but it has been a journey of determination and rediscovery. In 2019, I took the leap of rebranding and focusing more on my passion of marketing and PR. Per encouragement from colleagues, I also added start up consulting to that brand as well. Not only was my business getting a do-over, but so was my life. My entire mentality as a businesswoman elevated, propelling me to not compare myself to my past nor compare myself to others who were succeeding. My definition of success became my own and continues to soar by leaps and bounds, and I’m simply enjoying the ride.

Her business is MJS Virtual Collaborative.

What does women empowerment mean to you?

Empowerment means being a cheerleader, a shoulder to cry on, a safe pace to be flawed, and being comfortable in your story and knowing that your story won’t outshine your sister’s story. Coupling your story with your sister’s becomes a greater light.

What advice or words of inspiration would you like to share with someone?

Even if you have to step back; never give up. And don’t define your success by what someone else is doing! Know your purpose and define your life by your own standards. Own your purpose; know that you are enough!

What do you want your legacy to be?

With each person I come in contact with, I want to be known for being a game changer and changing lives. I want my children to not only inherit a financial empire, but my tenacity, my strength, my humanity, and my work ethic.

What inspires you?

Seeing other women who were told “no” go out there and make their dreams come true!

She has authored business development books and faith-based fiction including her internationally-selling novel, “Devil in Disguise”, and she has also authored a faith-based devotional, “A Woman Not Ashamed” and business development books for faith-based entrepreneurs. All books are available on Amazon.

What does self care mean to you?

This is an area I’ve struggled in, but I’m learning that self care is so important. I think it is all about putting you first: whether it’s taking your own time out and laying on the couch with your favorite drink and binge-watching your favorite show, or taking a walk to clear your mind while burning calories, writing out your thoughts, ideas, feelings, and dreams, or simply just saying “NO” to tasks or jobs that overwhelm your plate. Whatever will make you be the “best” version of you, take care of YOU.

When did you realize entrepreneurship was right for you?

I’ve always desired to be in charge. My mother always said I was bossy, and as a child, I would be offended, but as an adult I learned to take it and fuel my purpose. I’ve always wanted to be in control of my own destiny and have the freedom to share my gifts with others. Entrepreneurship is my comfort zone.

What are the goals you most want to accomplish in your business and personally?

Aside from financial goals, I want to be more comfortable in my purpose and learn how to take my own advice that I give others. My goal is within the next five years, I want to be one step closer to solidifying my empire and have developed solid partnerships to be the game changer I know I’m destined to be.

What’s next for you in your business/brand? What can readers look forward to from you?

I’m looking forward to reviving some e-courses and I’m working on a book that is for entrepreneurs.

Website | Facebook | Instagram

For Women’s History Month I will be sharing the stories that define and provide examples of women empowerment, uplifting stories of personal triumph and businesses that are inspiring and are making a difference for women. Women’s History Month is a declared month each year that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society.

I want to introduce you to Kinyatta E. Gray.

Kinyatta E. Gray is a Best Selling Author, Celebrity Travel Influencer, Podcaster and CEO of FlightsInStilettos, LLC. Kinyatta launched FlightsInStilettos in 2018 to inspire women to put their best selves forward when traveling. In that same year, Kinyatta also launched the Glam Girl Beach Towels, which have been spotted around the world. Kinyatta wrote and published her first book in 2019, a memoir, called 30 Days: Surviving the Trauma and Unexpected Loss of a Single Parent as an Only Child. Kinyatta’s aspirations to become an author were as a result of a heart-gripping moment in her mom’s final moments of life. She committed to honoring her mother’s legacy by becoming a published author. Kinyatta’s mother wanted to be a published author but passed away in 2018 before ever realizing her dream. Therefore, Kinyatta went the rest of the way for her mother. In 2020 Kinyatta released three more books, they are: Passing As Straight, From Section 8 to C.E.O and So, You Want To Be An Author. Rising in success, Kinyatta’s books and beach towels has been featured in a variety of press outlets such as Fashion Bomb Daily, Urban Magazine, Sheen Magazine, Medium, Mogul, IHeart radio and Pandora “The Madison Jaye Show”, Thrive Global, Bookstr, Sheen Magazine, Blog Talk Radio, EnSpire Magazine, Faces of Success Radio, Bllaklabel, Spotlight Over the City, Marie Driven, Black Talk Radio, Let’s Talk With Rodney, and Women For the Culture, just to name a few. Also, The Davi Magazine based in London has featured Kinyatta’s books and brand FlightsInStilettos. Kinyatta’s memoir was also a 2019 sponsor of “Christmas with Carol” hosted by Carol Maraj, mother of Hip-hop icon, Nikki Minaj.

Here is HERstory:

My story is one of grit, courage, determination, becoming unstoppable, and a commitment to honor my mother’s legacy. In 2018, I successfully launched my dream business, FlightsInStilettos, LLC. Things were going exceptionally well; my signature beach towels were being spotted worldwide, and my efforts had garnered a significant amount of press. In October of that same year, my beloved mother, Beverly E. Carroll, suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. The horror, shock, and pain of it it all brought all of my hopes and dreams to a screeching halt. Many people thought that I’d never recover from her loss. I didn’t think I would make it either because I spent the better part of 2019 being suicidal. By mid-2019, after months of mental health intervention and love and support from my family, I began to shift my thinking, which led to a change in my actions. I decided to turn my pain into purpose and find a way to honor my mother’s legacy in my words and deeds. I released my first book in 2019, called “30 Days”. My book talks about losing my mother and the importance of listening to your inner voice. I never had any desire to become an author but did so to honor my mother’s legacy. She had always wanted to become an author but did not accomplish that before her passing. I then decided to continue forward with my beloved business, FlightsInStilettos. Not only did I genuinely love and enjoy the nature of my business, but I was also confident that my mom would want me to carry on doing what I loved. This is why I stated in the beginning that my story is one of grit, courage, determination, and becoming unstoppable — because it took all of those qualities to make the firm and empowering decision to turn my pain into purpose.

Her business is FlightsInStilettos, LLC.

What does women empowerment mean to you?

When I think of women empowerment, I think about women who make decisions and stand by them, who live according to their own convictions, and women who support, inspire or influence others to step into who they are meant to be.

What advice or words of inspiration would you like to share with someone?

My words of inspiration are to live your life in the way that you want to be remembered. Your legacy is what will outlive you. You can decide today how you want to be remembered. It is those memories of you that will live forever in the hearts and minds of those who loved you.

What do you want your legacy to be?

I think about my legacy daily, and I encourage others around me to live their life in the way that they want to be remembered. I want to be remembered as a fierce, unstoppable, loving, honorable, daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, author and brand originator who turned pain into purpose, fueled by the desire to honor my mother’s legacy.

What kind of impact do you want to have on those around you?

I want those who come in contact with me to be inspired to live life according to their own convictions, and to know it’s never about where you started, but about your determination, will and grit to get to where you are going. Become unstoppable. Turn Your Pain into Purpose. Design Your Legacy.

She has authored a total of 5 books: 30 Days, Passing As Straight, From Section 8 To CEO, So, You Want To Be An Author (ebook), and I Survived (ebook).

What’s next for you in your business/brand? What can readers look forward to from you?

In January 2021 we launched FlightsInStilettos Magazine! FlightsInStilettos®️ Magazine is a new quarterly magazine for occasional travelers that’s all about trending travel style, affordable travel destinations, lifestyle, and so much more! We are head over heels excited to feature our very first cover girl – the beautiful, legendary, award-winning, multi-talented surfer Nique Miller on our April 2021 issue!

FlightsInStilettos®️ Website | Instagram

Kinyatta Gray Website | Instagram

FlightsInStilettos®️ Magazine Instagram