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Millennial Women On What Inspired Them To Choose The Careers They Love
"You can't be what you can't see." I often heard that phrase as a child, and for many of us, it rings true. (And if not in the literal sense, it points to the fact that what we witness--our environment, parenting, and education experience--certainly impacts how we see the world and move within it.) When it comes to our career choices, many of us have been inspired by the women we've been impacted by, whether within our personal circles or professional networks.
We had a few awesome millennial women tell us about who inspired them to choose their career paths and why those women played a role in providing that motivational push to pursue their dreams:
Courtesy of Tia Hazelwood/The Cravingz Kitchen
Tia Hazelwood, Chef, The Cravingz Kitchen
Finding Her Niche: "What inspired me to become a chef was the lack of influence in this industry where I am from. There are not many instances of creatives making a big break from my hometown, and I want to change that. I want others to look at me and be inspired that they can also make their dreams come true. This is not just for me; It's for those that do not think it's possible."
The Woman Who Inspired Her Choice: "My mother, Tre Jacks, inspired me to choose my career and to not give up. She is one of my biggest cheerleaders. When I explained to her why I wanted to take this path, she was 100% supportive. I watched my mother take back her adulthood and pursue her business of fashion. This taught me that even being a wife, mother, and grandmother, your dreams can still happen in due time."
Empowered By Examples Of Strength: "The talents and attributes that I seek to embody from others as a woman in business are endurance, uniqueness, and the ability to pivot. Things will not always go as planned, but being able to pivot and weather the storm will overpower any areas of lack."
Courtesy of Tracy Aliche
Tracy Aliche, PR Executive, Tracy Aliche Consulting
Redefining Public Relations: "I love that I get to share the stories of purpose-driven brands and dynamic founders that may not have otherwise been afforded the opportunity to be featured in the top national media outlets that I secure for my clients."
The Woman Who Sparked It All: "I was inspired by Nigerian and esteemed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's ambition to boldly pursue a career path doing what she loved despite the cultural resistance and societal obstacles she likely faced. As a burgeoning storyteller, I love Chimamanda's ability to tell complex stories, particularly around themes that have historically been told from a singular narrative."
Continuing A Legacy: "As a Black PR executive, I will not only continue to create my own narrative but advocate for and highlight the stories that need to be told, despite the odds. I aspire to always move without fear, consistently act with intention, and boldly share my voice with the world."
Courtesy of Mia Hall
Mia Hall, Director of Programs, The Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation
The Woman Who Inspired Her Path: "Karin Buchholz inspired me to work in philanthropy and specifically how to leverage the power of 'celebrity' to make an impact on the world. I met her when I was a rising sophomore at Hampton University, working with PowerPlay, NYC, and she was the vice president of community relations and fan development for the New York Knicks. I had interests in working with children and in sports, and while many people I told that [to] said I'd be a great gym teacher, Karin showed me that I could increase the breadth of my impact by going into social responsibility at a multimillion-dollar corporation.
"As a woman of color who grew up in (as she described) a low-income household that rose to becoming a top professional tennis player and high-ranking executive, Karin helped me to see myself in her and dream bigger than I ever imagined."
Greatness In The Making: "Karin always told me, 'Extraordinary people are those willing to do what ordinary people are not,' and I still keep that in mind today. I also appreciate her compassion and drive to give others opportunities, just as people gave to her growing up. Lastly, Karin never gives up, no matter what, and I look to do the same each day."
Closing The Gap: "The impact I plan to make is helping to close the achievement and wealth gaps by raising funds and creating partnerships that will provide literacy programs (financial and reading) for millions who need them the most. I will also support those involved in helping the Black dollar to circulate at a greater level in the Black community. Finally, I want to help reconstruct the narrative of Black people and those of low socioeconomic status through sustainable initiatives and storytelling on my podcast Parables from the Projects."
Courtesy of Antoinette Warren
Antoinette Warren, Senior Integrated Planner, Finn Partners
The Power Of Storytelling Through Marketing: "I remember being 13 years old, tuning into The Oprah Winfrey Show daily because of how Oprah was always able to draw her audience into the stories she told and the interviews she conducted. Today, I'd say my list of women who've inspired me has evolved. From women like Issa Rae to Shonda Rhimes and Ava DuVernay. While these women work in entertainment and television, they're phenomenal storytellers. Marketing is essentially storytelling."
The Oprah Connection: "I admire Oprah's ability to connect with people emotionally. The ability to connect with people is essential for effective marketing."
Making A Difference: "I want to become a thought leader in this space and be a go-to trusted advisor for crafting effective storytelling and marketing strategies."
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Blair Underwood Initially Turned Down 'Sex And The City' Because 'It Was About How Samantha Was Fascinated By Dating A Black Man’
Actor and heartthrob Blair Underwood is opening up about why he turned down Sex and the City the first time he was offered a role. Many fans of the HBO series may recall Blair's time on the show in which his character was dating Miranda (Cynthia Nixon). However, he was previously offered another role where his character would date Samantha (Kim Cattrall).
During his interview with AV Club, the Set It Off star revealed that he was uncomfortable with the initial offer due to the character's fascination with him being a Black man.
“I actually did say ‘no’ the first time,” he said. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.'”
But that didn't stop them from reaching out again. This time he was offered to play Dr. Robert Leeds, the love interest to Miranda and he decided to go for it. "So they were nice enough to call about a year later, and I said, 'Well, is it gonna be about race?' And they said, 'No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!' And I think it really did only come up maybe once," he recalled.
"It did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about 'a Black doctor' that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as 'the Black guy.'
"I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, 'No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.' And it was amazing."
Blair has had a wide-ranging career playing everything from a lawyer on L.A. Law to playing Madame CJ Walker's husband on Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker. And during his interview, he revealed another role that he initially turned down, Set It Off. The movie, which is considered a classic in Black culture, stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. Blair's character, Keith, played a banker and love interest to Jada's character, Stony.
He explained why he said no at first and eventually accepted the offer. "I had initially said “no” to that. Because I was playing this historic, iconic African-American historical figure in Jackie Robinson, and the time, y’know, there was Boyz N The Hood, and Menace II Society was out there, and I’d finished playing this noble Negro… [Laughs]," he said.
"And I’m reading the script, and there’s a scene where Jada Pinkett’s character—Jada Pinkett-Smith now—was going to sell her body so she could make some money to send her brother to college. And I remember, honestly, I threw the script across the room. I was, like, “I don’t want to do this. I want to do something uplifting for the Black culture and Black characters, and I don’t know if I want to see this.”
After a conversation with the movie's director F. Gary Gray and the actor's manager encouraging him to finish reading the script, Blair had a change of heart. What he first thought about the movie turned out to be totally different.
"So I finished the script, and I saw that the character they were asking me to play was really the love story in the midst of all of this turmoil of all of these characters, the four ladies: Queen Latifah, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, and Jada," he explained.
"It was so well-written, it was such a great platform for them. And to be able to play the love story and the storyline that gave Jada’s character a leg up and a way out of this world, something to hope for, to wish for, someone to love her… I said, 'You know what? I’d like to be a part of that.'
"And I’m so glad I did, because that film resonates to this day. People all the time come up to me and say that they love that movie. So I’m glad that I did it."