Blavity's Summit 21: June 8 - 9, 2018
Blavity's Summit 21 Conference is taking place in Hotlanta. In its third year, the conference has changed its name and location for a 2-day experience filled with masterclasses, fireside chats Angela Rye and Sarah Jakes Roberts, and panel discussions led by some of our favorite business and beauty influencers and content creators. Last year, health lifestyle blogger and digital marketer Luckey and beauty writer Samantha Callender attended the conference in Chicago and left with a notebook full of tools to help with their personal brands.
What to Expect
Expect to meet women between the ages 21-35 with various professions. Although the summit changes cities each year, expect to meet regional tastemakers, as well as women from other major US cities. "Women traveled from all over the country, which was amazing because now you're connecting with women from any industry you can think of from media to tech, beauty, finance, law, it was insane," Luckey shared.
Luckey
The summit displayed a variety of women with a diverse background, but the magic in the room made for two days of awesome learning. "From the panels, I learned some industry insight from some of the most powerful and influential game changers across the country. From entrepreneurial panels teaching about ways to grow, and also how to legally protect your brand to discussions on the current landscape of media, I learned how to approach and leverage my career from various angles," explained Samantha.
"I learned how to approach and leverage my career from various angles."
"I would say this summit is definitely one of the few that caters to women at every level of her career. Whether you're in the aspiring stages coming to listen to your 'mentor in your head' rock her panel discussion, or if you're a seasoned entrepreneur looking to pivot and gain new knowledge, this event pretty much covers it all," shared Luckey.
Their Favorite Moment
Luckey's favorite part of the summit was seeing black women in C-level positions and entrepreneurial women. Samantha's top takeaway was being able to receive great branding and business advice that went beyond social media and dived into the legalities and financial components of branding.
Samantha Callender
How To Elevate Your Networking Strategy
Luckey suggests you get acquainted with who is attending by making a list of who you plan to connect with. "You should connect with key players and leave no stone unturned. Do your homework to find out the basic answers to questions you may have so you can make 1-2 unique, specific inquiries. NEVER walk up and just ask for an opportunity without presenting yourself as an asset first. They want to know what you can do for them, not the other way around. Also be respectful and professional. They don't like when you approach them like you're homegirls," Luckey shared.
Samantha took a different approach and made sure not to isolate herself during the conference and use every opportunity to connect with other attendees. "During the breakout sessions and lunch, I made sure to not just sit in a corner and check my phone or eat alone, but to strike up conversations with people around me. Make conversation with everyone around you, because there are so many great women there who aren't panelists. The person sitting right beside you could be a great resource as well. I also made sure to attend the events outside of the main conference (the dinners, happy hours), to continue conversation but to also make those personal connections with folks outside of business," Samantha said.
"Make conversation with everyone around you because there are so many great women there who aren't panelists."
Best Place to Network Outside of the Conference
This year's conference is held in downtown Atlanta near a plethora of restaurants, bars, and hotels. Make sure way to the Marriott Marquis is across the street and great for post-summit drinks at Pulse with your new connector or schedule a meet-up with a speaker or attendee at the hotel's Concierge Lounge for an intimate conversation.
Click Next Page to learn tips & tricks about navigating American Black Film Festival conference:
- How to Network Effectively at Conferences - YouTube ›
- HOW TO NETWORK AT CONFERENCES ›
- Pro Tip: How To Maximize Networking At Conferences ›
- How to network at conferences even if you're not a natural — Quartz ... ›
- 6 Secrets to Better Networking at Conferences | Dave Kerpen | Pulse ... ›
- How to Network at a Conference: 15 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow ›
- 5 Ways to Make Conference Networking Easier ›
- 21 Networking Tips That Will Rock Your Next Conference ›
- How to Network at a Conference: 101 Tips From Marketing's Best ›
- How to Make Networking at Conferences Feel Less Icky ›
- Why Conferences Are the Best Place to Network - The Muse ›
- Networking Conferences Statistics ›
- Top Conferences for Networks and Communications ›
RELATED
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
“The ease of accessing content via the internet has made this industry less dependent on location. Performers and artists are now able to distribute their work from anywhere with a high-speed internet connection,” IBIS World, a data research firm, reports.
If you're a creative professional who needs a boost in income, has a bit of experience with creative projects, or wants to use your transferable skills from one job to transition into another industry, check out these top six-figure jobs for creatives:
1. Fit Model
Average Yearly Salary: $100,000+
We all know about supermodels who make six- into seven- and eight-figure salaries walking in fashion shows or posing for campaigns. And while they are the exception, not the norm, there is a specific type of modeling that an everyday professional can do to potentially earn an amazing salary. These are models who are hired by designers or clothing manufacturers to test the fit, style, and appearance of the fashions they offer, especially if it’s a niche line or department like plus, petite, maternity, or big and tall.
You don’t necessarily have to walk a catwalk or take photos, but you have to have specific measurements that fit certain niches and of course, be confident, professional, timely, and reliable in testing out the garments.
2. Creative or Art Director
Average Yearly Salary: $114,155
These professionals are in charge of the creative or visual vision of a brand, concept, or project, and they have to use skills such as research, team management, digital media, and art conceptualizing in order to do their job well at the six-figure salary level. Indeed indicates a candidate must have five to eight years of experience, know how to market themselves and their ideas, and be able to work well with clients and team members.
Delmain Dobeson/Getty Images
3. Digital Designer
Average Yearly Salary: $109,503
You’ll be able to use your strategic creativity to develop websites, web pages, newsletters, and other digital products for a company or brand, and you’ll have diverse options in terms of what industry you’d like to work in. It’s not a job just exclusive to media or advertising, as you might be supporting individual personalities, campaigns, small businesses, or various aspects of a corporation. You must have a knack for combining your ideas with skills using design programs and coding languages like Adobe Creative Suite, JQuery, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
4. Animator
Average Yearly Salary: Up to $101,000
If you are an artist or love to play around with the ways you can use art to create cartoons, tutorials, games, and other interactive experiences, this is perfect for you. There are diverse ways you can pursue this, and if you’re a freelancer, you can work with multiple clients to really stretch your range and earning potential.
Some animators can even earn extra via commissions or profit-sharing depending on experience, contract, and nature of the projects they work on. You’ll need to be trained in animation software programs as well as basic sketching and art skills. For some projects or jobs, you might also be handling budgets, editing, or creating new storylines and scripts.
5. Public Relations Managers
Average Salary: Up to $186,000
Professionals who are public relations managers (or strategists) in top business markets like New York, Los Angeles, or Washington D.C. command the big salaries and are able to combine critical, communications, and creative skills to not only manage the pitching and marketing of clients, concepts or messaging but helm the vision of taking a professional, brand or business to the next level.
You’ll need several years of experience, strategic marketing, an MBA, or a master’s level communications degree. Many who have paid their dues start their own firms, bringing the earnings well into six figures as well.
Phynart Studios/Getty Images
6. Social Media Content Creator
Average Annual Salary: 100,000+
There are millions of content creators who have hit the six-figure mark via YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. To be clear, these are creatives who have built strategy and business acumen into their creative pursuit, and some of the top-earning content creators have agents and talent managers to help facilitate their boosts in income. Some have started officially structured businesses to offer content creation, ambassador, strategy, and video content services, while others are simply fully self-employed and are hired as freelance employees.
Some are hired by brands, small businesses, and corporations to create exclusive content as employees. Brand deals and resources like YouTube’s ad revenue and TikTok’s Creator Fund also add to the earnings. For this, you must be able to multitask and schedule using platforms like Sprout Social, Buffer, or Hootsuite, have a knack for social media video production, and have a knowledge of SEO and digital marketing.
7. Digital Marketing Manager
Average Annual Salary: $124,000
In this position, you’d be leading the digital marketing strategy and operations to increase the demand for a product, tap into new customers, enhance sales, and drive traffic to a company’s website or store. A knowledge of SEO and SEM is required, with at least five years of experience as a digital marketer, as well as a knack for sales, creative visuals, and a bachelor’s degree in marketing or other digital media marketing niches.
8. Medical Illustrator
Average Annual Salary: $168,000
If you have a passion for healthcare but want something a bit more on the creative side and less on the medical or tech side, this is perfect. In this job, you’ll be collaborating with researchers, doctors, and other medical professionals to turn complex concepts into visual images that can be used in books, presentations, or other educational purposes. Experience in artistry, drawing, and sketching is required, as well as training and education in both life sciences and visual media.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by south_agency/Getty Images
