Badass Boss Karleen Roy On How She Balances SoulCycle With Planning Parties For Cardi B & Migos

Finding Balance

Feb. 10, 2019 07:37AM EST

In xoNecole's Finding Balance, we profile boss women making boss moves in the world and in their respective industries. We talk to them about their business, their life, and most of all, what they do to find balance in their busy lives.

When I think of Karleen Roy, the first thing that comes to mind: Dope AF.

That's because the Howard alum has made a name for herself in the entertainment industry in more ways than one, all while showing what true hustle and grind looks like (while doing it fabulously, of course). And while we live in a time where places like Instagram make the journey look cute, Roy is no stranger to hard work and sacrifice (and she'll tell you in a heartbeat).

Not only has she worked for some of the greatest names in media (hello, she was Diddy's executive assistant for YEARS), but she's also the founder of The Vanity Group, a boutique luxury lifestyle management company specializing in event production, luxury concierge services and talent relations for some of the biggest names you can think of.

Luxury cars and exclusive vendors? That's all Karleen. A tight deadline while accommodating some of the wildest requests from celebrities? Yep, that's also Karleen. Oh, and the Memphis-bred fashionista who still has time to slay on the gram? Yep, you guessed it.

We wanted to know how Roy juggles it all from friendships, to her high-demand job, to finding peace in the down moments, so we chatted with her for this month's installment of Finding Balance.

What is an average day or week like for you?

There is not an average day for me. One day can be a chill day where I'm just catching up on emails, and the next day, I could be flying to Miami without prior notice to plan a party for Migos.

What do you find to be the most hectic part of your week/your work?

It's a challenge for me to find balance between my work and personal. Honestly, if I had a better handle on managing my clients, I could probably be more efficient in my day! I try to "design" my day with my day planner (I use the notebook DAY DESIGNER) — it's really helpful because when you fall off track, you can go back and read what you need to accomplish for the day, week or month. That's exactly what I need.

Do you practice any types of self care?

I have a routine in the morning and at night. My morning routine usually consists of: wake up, watch/listen to short motivational videos, check the Bible verse of the day, and then I'm off to workout by 7:30am. I try to start my work day by 10am. And in the evenings, I read a book to wind down.

How do you find balance with:

Friends?

I believe you should show up to the moments and life milestones that count. Text, GroupMe, and Marco Polo groups. My friends are my village.

Love/Relationships? Dating?

I have a boyfriend. Most days, he's amazing…other days, I want to strangle him. He's great at understanding my crazy and being very supportive.

Exercise?

I workout faithfully. Health is wealth. I want to be strong, lean, yet juicy, and live a long fruitful life. How we treat ourselves now will determine our bodies later in life. I workout maybe five times a week, usually at SoulCycle. In the summer, I run in Central Park.

What about health? Do you cook or find yourself eating out?

I eat out mostly, besides breakfast. I try to make breakfast every weekday morning. My evenings are usually up and down, so I'll cook, depending on where the day takes me! But cooking takes too much time and preparation, I'd rather order out if I had to choose.

Do you ever detox?

Yes! BluePrint cleanse usually after the holidays or an exhausting work project.

When you are going through a bout of uncertainty, or feeling stuck, how do you handle it?

I remind myself that I'm the shit!! (*Kanye West vibes*) I made it this far…God don't bring you to leave you!

And honestly, what does success mean to you?

Success is achieving the goals you set to achieve in all areas of your life. Not someone else's life or goals, but what you designed for your own life.

For more Karleen, be sure to follow the inspiring experience curator on Instagram and check out her luxury lifestyle management agency The Vanity Group.

Badass Boss Karleen Roy On How She Balances SoulCycle With Planning Parties For Cardi B & Migos

What is an average day or week like for you?

What do you find to be the most hectic part of your week/your work?

Do you practice any types of self care?

How do you find balance with:

Friends?

Love/Relationships? Dating?

Exercise?

What about health? Do you cook or find yourself eating out?

Do you ever detox?

When you are going through a bout of uncertainty, or feeling stuck, how do you handle it?

And honestly, what does success mean to you?

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How They Met

The One

"A lot of people say 'when you know you know' and for me I patiently waited for the Lord to tell me that Ace was my person. When the moment finally happened, it was all excitement from then on out."

The Big Day

Early Challenges

Biggest Fears

"If I would have listened to those fears, I would have lost out on this amazing man and our beautiful marriage. When you are with someone that you know you love, don't use money, looks, culture, etc. as an excuse to break that up."

Love Lessons

"One of the lessons I have learned is that you can not treat love as a feeling. In marriage, love is action. Love translates through service."

Best Advice

For more of Ace and Roza, follow them on Instagram @rozapatterson and @callmeacelegit. You can also check out Ace's most recent album, Out of Office, here.

1. Have a Pampering Budget

Pampering is doing things like buying a pair of shoes that you don't need but you know would be killin' on you or booking a room in your favorite hotel, for the weekend, just to sleep or read in. And yes, every single woman on the planet should have a budget for that.

2. Set Social Media Hours

3. Use Your Bedroom “Appropriately”

4. When You’re Away from Work…STAY AWAY FROM IT

Start your week or day off with to-do lists. Manage your time wisely so that you can complete what's on it. And then, when you're done for the day, BE DONE.

5. Date Yourself

6. Forgive Yourself

7. Treat Yourself (at Least) Once a Week

8. Spend Some Time Outside

9. “Prune” Your Relationships

10. Take Vacation/Personal Days

11. Embrace Luxury Baths

12. Get the Answers You Seek

12. Pray and/or Meditate

14. SET. BOUNDARIES.

A wise person once said something along the lines of, the only people who have a problem with someone else's boundaries are the folks who had no intention of keeping them in the first place. Hmph. Words to live by, sis. Words to freakin' live by.

15. Create Goals. Reach Them. Celebrate Them.

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Six months later, those thoughts really haven't gone away.

1. "I'm doing a great job."

2. "I deserve grace and compassion."

3. "I'm an amazing mom."

4. "Needing a break doesn't make me a bad mom."

5. "I'm the best mom for my child(ren)."

6. "I cherish this time."

7. "I understand that to be my best, I have to take care of myself."

8. "I am strong."

9. "I can do this."

10. "I'm not alone."

11. "I am exactly what he/she needs."

12. "I'm more than a mom."

​xoNecole: You've been open about your childhood and being a runaway at just 14 years old. Looking back, how did being independent at such a young age help you become the woman you are today?

"I said to myself, 'One day, you're gonna be somebody, you're gonna make it. Those dreams that you had as a child, you didn't forget them, and since you didn't forget them, you must fight to get them.' And that's what I did."

Instead of being a victim of your circumstance you’ve been victorious in shifting your story. What was the shift in your mindset that you hope to pass down to the women in your Cabaret?

Could you take us through the moment when you decided you wanted to make the pivot from 'Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta' to create and executive produce a show of your own?

You’ve gone from being the star talent on 'LAHHA' to being the producer of your own show. Is there anything that you gleaned during your time working with Mona Scott Young that you aim to do differently in your own productions?

There is a lot of discussion around positive representation for Black women and WOC on reality TV, what do you say to folks who may not fully see the vision behind ‘Joseline’s Cabaret’ in helping these ladies make a positive change in their lives?

You say that if you didn’t have your daughter, Bonnie Bella, that you wouldn’t be the woman you are today if it wasn’t for her. In what ways has motherhood changed you?

And now, he's taking on more than just being an actor. He's also venturing into the tech space.

Whew.

"Regardless of where you are, dating is a challenge."

Do you have a story to share?

xoNecole: You've been open about your childhood and being a runaway at just 14 years old. Looking back, how did being independent at such a young age help you become the woman you are today?